Friday Night Notes

a sound of abundance of rain... quite literally...
It was just passed 6:30pm when I left my work and began walking toward Pastor Tim's house, for our night of evangelism in the marketplace.  I could hear thunder and a few drops of rain fell, but I figured I could make it to the good preacher's house in short enough time, where we would both decide if our night of street preaching was cancelled.  I made it about half way when the light rainfall turned noahdic.  The rain didn't fall from up to down, it danced from side to side in a strong wind soaking me right to the bone.

By the time I arrived at Pastor Tim's door, I was totally drenched (Pastor Tim's wife had a good laugh).  It took 45 minutes to get my clothes dry, though my shoes were hopeless.  Anyway, after those 45 minutes, the storm had passed and Pastor Tim and I decided to head downtown for our night of evangelism.  I put on my aquariums wet shoes, took a couple of Bible signs, and after a short time of prayer, we headed out.

I was surprised with how busy the market was, given we had just had a pretty strong thunderstorm.  The place was packed.  I began the preaching rotation, while Pastor Tim handed out Bible tracts across the street from me.

The market was extremely loud tonight.  It was difficult to preach over all the noise, but we found a way to teach loud enough for people who walked by our preaching spot to hear something of the Gospel of Jesus.  I hadn't been preaching for more than 10 minutes when a woman walked by and said:

"I don't believe in God!"

"You will," I replied.

"I don't believe so," she snapped back.

"I know so," I replied again.

She walked away shaking her head, and making sport of me to her friend with whom she walked.  Then something interesting happened.  Not twenty minutes later, the woman came back and requested a Bible tract from me.  Without question, I gave her the leaflet, and she again walked away.  The Lord use that little tract as He sees fit in that woman's life.

Moments later, I had a conversation with a group of young women who took exception to the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality.  My response, in a nutshell, was: "Tough!"  I explained that God's standard was wise, holy, righteous and perfect.  I also made it clear that all humanity was sinful and wicked, and that it wasn't up to God to change!  I then spoke of the second birth and how God had saved me, and has been saving me for decades now.  I knew the women first showed up to mock me, but after my testimony, at least two of the four were completely undone.  Again, the Lord open their eyes and grant them repentance, if He wills!

During my second turn at Gospel preaching, I noticed Pastor Tim arguing with a very, very big man.  I knew something bad was happening.  I quickly walked toward him, cellphone in hand, ready to call the authorities.  When I arrived next to Pastor Tim, the man walked away and began arguing with a woman a few yards away.  That's when Pastor Tim told me that he had intervened on the woman's behalf; the wicked man had struck her violently, infuriating the good preacher.  Pastor Tim took my cellphone and kept an eye on the man from a distance.  The woman was no shrinking violet, she too struck the man repeatedly as they argued, but when the man raised his fist against her a second time, he called the police.  Unfortunately, by the time the police responded, the man had escaped.  What kind of wretched loser hits a woman?

After two hours of evangelism, I knew I was done.  It had been such a busy, difficult week at work, by 10pm, I was totally spent.  So, I made my way to the bus station, while Pastor Tim decided to continue for a while longer.  I trust the Lord has kept him safe and well.

Which brings me to this late hour, and the end of this edition of the Friday Night Notes.  Brothers and sisters-in-the-Lord, remember us in your prayers.

God bless you,

Rand

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Family Vacation

a nice, quiet time away...

There will be no "Friday Night Notes" again tonight, dear readers.  My family and I just got back from a camping trip.  It was a little chilly at night, but we had a really fun time.

I very much enjoyed doing some nature photography:



Have a blessed, safe weekend, dear readers.

Rand

No Notes

time to be a dad...

I was unable to go out street preaching tonight... two of my children participated in a piano recital.  They performed very well!

God bless you,

Rand

Friday Night Notes

me??? I'm just wasting my time...
I made it out of the lab early today, so Pastor Tim and I were in the marketplace, preaching the Gospel just after supper time.  It was good to evangelize in daylight, when the temperature is warmer (however, after hour two of our evangelistic effort, it got down right chilly).  We had a steady flow of people walking by our preaching spot for pretty much the whole time we were out; I gave out a significant number of Bible tracts!

The evening wasn't without its challenges however.  For example, being out in the early evening got us a couple of visits from the marketplace city monitors.  Think of these monitors like outdoor versions of "mall-cops".  You see, according to one of my city's 1,034,256,522,094 bylaws, before 8pm, Pastor Tim and I aren't allowed to stand on a street corner to evangelize.  We can walk around with our Bible signs and preach while walking, but we are not allowed to stay in one spot.  I was pretty annoyed, but managed to diplomatically request some grace stating that we were out earlier tonight by mere chance and that it was doubtful they would see us again in the foreseeable future.  It worked.

It was pretty funny, when the monitors, a young man and a young lady, spoke to Pastor Tim, he asked the young man: "How old are you?"  The young man replied that he was 23 years old.  The good preacher just smiled and said: "I was preaching the Gospel on this very street corner when you were a 1-year-old... I'm sure you understand that no matter what... I'm not going anywhere."

I laughed... and laughed... and laughed.

About an hour later, however, I wasn't laughing at all. A very drunk man who identified himself as Blair came by to express his views on religion.  He claimed he was "the closest f____ thing to Jesus Christ one could get."  As any of you can well imagine, I took exception to that, noting that Jesus wouldn't be walking around drunk out of His mind.  Well, Blair didn't like my retort and threats were uttered.  The man was quite bigger than me so I discreetly put away my tracts and readied myself for trouble.  Thankfully though, the Lord saved me out of my trouble: the man's girlfriend called him from across the street, and he left, continuing to curse and blaspheme.  The Lord have mercy on him.

As Blair walked away, a man drove by in a BMW.  He rolled down his window and slowed down just to say: "You're wasting your time."  After uttering this brilliant assessment, he drove off.  I had to laugh.  No doubt, with carnal eyes, I totally am wasting my time.  A shame the poor soul doesn't see how my Friday night efforts are the best uses of my time.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Pastor Tim and I had a few conversations with sinners tonight, but had more conversations with saints who were walking through the market.  It was nice to have regular interludes, in which we were encouraged and blessed by dear brothers and sisters.  The Lord bless them all!

Finally, had a short conversation with a man who works in the same research institute I work in.  I've spoken to him a number of times in the past during our time of evangelism and he has expressed that he admired and supported our efforts.  The man isn't saved, I'm pretty sure of that, but he sees merit and righteousness in our work.  I have prayed and will continue to pray that the Lord will give me an open door to minister further to this man... he truly is a "nice guy".

With that, dear readers, I'm off to bed.  It's been another busy week, and now I'll take what God promises to His saints in Psalm 127: "... for so He giveth His beloved sleep."

God bless you!

Rand

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:2)