One thing I have learned is that God is good all the time, even in the trials. The day after Thanksgiving in Indianapolis, there is a huge celebration downtown with about 100,000 people around the circle. Josiah and I joined forces with some others in an effort to share the gospel with people in this crowd. We were doing this primarily though the use of a gospel tract specially designed for the occasion.
I am not sure how many tracts were passed out in total, but Josiah and I passed out a few thousand. We had a great time. We got down town around 4:30 PM. We parked as close as we could hope to at a metered spot reserved for handicapped credentialed vehicles. Of course I have a handicapped license tag. After 6:00 PM the meters are free. I put in enough money to take me well beyond 6:00 PM and we went on and spent the evening spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
When we got back to our spot, there was another car there. We discovered that the local police department ordered our van and other vehicles to be towed. After paying an impound fee of $105 we were told we would find a citation on our windshield and then we would know why our vehicle was towed. When we got the lot, we discovered that there was no ticket. As of today, nobody has been able to find out why our van was towed. All that seems like bad news. Now let me give you some lessons learned.
While I was trying to find out what had happened to the van, Josiah continue to pass out tracts and talk to people about Jesus. I was very frustrated not knowing how we would pay for the impound or even how much it would be. It ended up being much less than I imagined it would be. Over the course of paying the impound fee and waiting in line for fifteen minutes (with nobody in front of me)I had the opportunity to share the gospel with a guy behind me in line. I was able to give a gospel tract to the lady at the city auto desk and at the impound lot.
It may be that one of those people needed that word from God and God needed to teach me a little more to trust in Him to supply form my needs. He was able to knock out both at the same time.
Some money has come in since the weekend. I got an early Christmas present, and I also got some money for helping a friend sell some tickets to the Colts game. Another friend gave me some cash. There are still financial needs, but I know God is in control and I do not need to worry about them.
God has been faithful to meet our needs through the faithful giving of believers that are burdened for our ministry. I must admit that over the weekend, due to the van situation and some other pressing financial needs, I allowed myself to get wrapped up in worry. As a result, I acted in the flesh. It was really cool to see my son, who also knew that things were tough, just keep trusting that God would handle things and keep on doing what God had called us to do.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The importance of a question
The election that is coming up in a few days is one of particular significance to our country for a number of reasons. I could write a long list of reasons why it is important to vote and why it may be important to get involved in politics, but the reality is that as important as those things may be, they pale in comparison to asking a simple question. I will share that question with you shortly.
I have a very good friend that is on the campaign staff of a person running for public office. He is running against an incumbent that has made it clear that he is NOT a Christian. This person running against the incumbent has made it clear in speech after speech and in talk after talk that he is a Christian. He espouses Christian values to be sure. The incumbent does not. The challenger has spoken in church after church and is depending on the backing of good Christians to help him defeat this incumbent that has made it clear that he is NOT a Christian and does NOT share Christian values. The incumbent is liberal. The challenger is conservative. I am supporting the challenger in this race without reservation and volunteered some time on his campaign today. I did this as an individual, not as a person representing A.C.T. for the Gospel.
I have purposely left out important details from this so as not to endorse any specific candidate or to oppose any candidate because that is not the purpose of this post. The purpose of this post is to point out something else entirely. Today, one of the things I was tasked with was providing this candidate transportation from an event to his headquarters which was less than a mile away, but there was quite a bit of traffic. When he got in my vehicle, I told him I had what I believed was the most important question of the campaign cycle for him. I told him that in fact, it was the most important question he would be asked in his entire life. He let me know that I had his attention. I asked him if he were to die today, did he know for sure where he would spend eternity. His answer surprised me. He did not.
We had a short discussion where I learned that he was basing his hope for salvation on his works and his attempts to keep the law. Over the course of the campaign, no one at any of the churches where he spoke had challenged him on these beliefs. I told him that I supported his campaign regardless of his beliefs, and that I knew that he was busy, but I wanted him to consider some things. I quickly and simply shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with him in the car. I gave him an audio CD of Ray Comfort preaching Hell’s Best Kept Secret and True and False Conversions. I told him that I knew that he was very busy but this was very important I asked him to listens to it. He said that he would.
I do not know if he will. I do not know if he will come to salvation. I do know that he has heard the true gospel of Jesus Christ because I was willing to take the awkward step and ask a simple question. I will continue to pray for this man. I hope he wins. I believe he would be better than the other guy. That being said, if it was a choice between him winning and him becoming a true born again Christian, I would take the latter every time.
I have a very good friend that is on the campaign staff of a person running for public office. He is running against an incumbent that has made it clear that he is NOT a Christian. This person running against the incumbent has made it clear in speech after speech and in talk after talk that he is a Christian. He espouses Christian values to be sure. The incumbent does not. The challenger has spoken in church after church and is depending on the backing of good Christians to help him defeat this incumbent that has made it clear that he is NOT a Christian and does NOT share Christian values. The incumbent is liberal. The challenger is conservative. I am supporting the challenger in this race without reservation and volunteered some time on his campaign today. I did this as an individual, not as a person representing A.C.T. for the Gospel.
I have purposely left out important details from this so as not to endorse any specific candidate or to oppose any candidate because that is not the purpose of this post. The purpose of this post is to point out something else entirely. Today, one of the things I was tasked with was providing this candidate transportation from an event to his headquarters which was less than a mile away, but there was quite a bit of traffic. When he got in my vehicle, I told him I had what I believed was the most important question of the campaign cycle for him. I told him that in fact, it was the most important question he would be asked in his entire life. He let me know that I had his attention. I asked him if he were to die today, did he know for sure where he would spend eternity. His answer surprised me. He did not.
We had a short discussion where I learned that he was basing his hope for salvation on his works and his attempts to keep the law. Over the course of the campaign, no one at any of the churches where he spoke had challenged him on these beliefs. I told him that I supported his campaign regardless of his beliefs, and that I knew that he was busy, but I wanted him to consider some things. I quickly and simply shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with him in the car. I gave him an audio CD of Ray Comfort preaching Hell’s Best Kept Secret and True and False Conversions. I told him that I knew that he was very busy but this was very important I asked him to listens to it. He said that he would.
I do not know if he will. I do not know if he will come to salvation. I do know that he has heard the true gospel of Jesus Christ because I was willing to take the awkward step and ask a simple question. I will continue to pray for this man. I hope he wins. I believe he would be better than the other guy. That being said, if it was a choice between him winning and him becoming a true born again Christian, I would take the latter every time.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
FREE OPEN AIR CAMPAIGNERS TRAINING
A.C.T. for the Gospel will be hosting free training by Open Air Campaigners Friday and Saturday 11/12 and 11/13. Friday, we will go from 6-8 PM and Saturday, we will start at 10 AM and go until about 2:30 PM with a short lunch break around noon.
After the training on Saturday, we plan to have an outreach somewhere in Indianapolis. A lot will depend on the weather. Please come join us. Please let us know if you are planing on attending so we know what size space we need. You can contact Barry at 317-728-1066 or by e-mail at barryatwell@gmail.com.
Training will be at Horizon Christian Fellowship Central 1001 E Palmer St Indianapolis IN 46203. You will need to enter in the doors on the east end of the building.
After the training on Saturday, we plan to have an outreach somewhere in Indianapolis. A lot will depend on the weather. Please come join us. Please let us know if you are planing on attending so we know what size space we need. You can contact Barry at 317-728-1066 or by e-mail at barryatwell@gmail.com.
Training will be at Horizon Christian Fellowship Central 1001 E Palmer St Indianapolis IN 46203. You will need to enter in the doors on the east end of the building.
Friday, September 17, 2010
No pain, no pain
I remember as a wrester in high school hearing the time tested philosophy that was shouted out by nearly every coach in every sport "no pain, no gain". After living with some serious pain for a number of years now, I would like to change that saying to "no pain, no pain".
I know, I am not the first to say that, but I may have a different twist on it than most. Certainly, we all must endure pain during this life. As a matter of fact, living without pain can be down right dangerous. I remember reading Tony Dungy's first book and he talks about his son being born with a condition that does not allow him to feel pain. As a result, they must be even more careful to protect him from injury because he does not have that natural protection that most of us have by way of pain avoidance. On the other hand, most people get to have most of their waking hours without pain. For most people it does not hurt to stand or to walk. For most people, they do not experience pain just sitting.
Over the past several years, I have been battling pain from a motorcycle accident. The pain was severe enough that the best hope in dealing with it was to cut half my foot off. Unfortunately, there was only a short term relief. Now the pain is even greater than it was before. Additionally, I have severe arthritis in my left wrist and severe carpal tunnel syndrome in my right wrist. Because I need a cane, and neither wrist can support me for very long, so I have to switch sides frequently, I cannot get either wrist surgically corrected.
Medication that I took to help with the pain in the foot has a side effect of weight gain. Of course, long term, that made the pain worse.
So, why am I talking so much about the pain? Is it to get you to feel sorry for me? Absolutely not. The reality is that even though my pain will be with me until I die, it is still temporary and it is still to my benefit.
In the Bible, Paul writes that for me to live is Christ, but to die is gain. He goes on to say that even though he looks forward to being in heaven in the direct presence of God, there is need for him to be here. God has a purpose for him here and now. I believe that is true for all Christians, and I know it is true for me. The pain only makes me more thankful for what I will be getting for eternity and what I will be avoiding.
In John 3 verse 36, it says that if we believe in the Son (Jesus) we have everlasting life, but if we do not believe, we will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on us.
The reality is that everyone of us has violated God's standards or laws. We have all willfully done what we know is wrong. As a result, we deserve Hell. The Bible says that every liar will have his place in the Lake of Fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and the worm does not die.
To me, that does not sound like much fun or much gain. Remember the idea of "no pain, no gain"? There is a situation where there will be lots of pain and no gain. For those that have been saved, we get to experience Heaven where there is no pain. To me, that sounds like a lot of gain with no pain. I am looking forward to the day when I can say "no pain, no pain". For now, though, I need to hang around because God wants me to tell others about Him.
So I mentioned getting saved. What does that mean? Well, first we are saved from sin and its punishment. The payment for sin is death (Hell) and the wrath of God. We are saved to a righteous relationship with God that last for ever.
So how does one get saved? I am glad you asked. In the book of Romans in the Bible, Paul writes that if we confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved.
When Paul wrote this, he did not write it in English. When it was translated into English, words had a bit of a different meaning than we think of today. The word in this verse that is a bit harder to understand in our language is the word (actually a combination of two words) that is translated confess. It actually means to assent or agree as with a covenant. In other words, we are to declare that we agree, with the conviction of a covenant, that Jesus is Lord. Additionally, we need to believe that God raised Him from the dead. If those two things are true for us, we are "saved". In the book of Ephesians, another book of the Bible written by Paul, he says that those that are in Christ (saved) are sealed by the Holy Spirit.
-If you have more questions about this, or if you would like to learn how you can -easily tell others this good news, call me. My number is 317-728-1066. I would love to talk with you.
I know, I am not the first to say that, but I may have a different twist on it than most. Certainly, we all must endure pain during this life. As a matter of fact, living without pain can be down right dangerous. I remember reading Tony Dungy's first book and he talks about his son being born with a condition that does not allow him to feel pain. As a result, they must be even more careful to protect him from injury because he does not have that natural protection that most of us have by way of pain avoidance. On the other hand, most people get to have most of their waking hours without pain. For most people it does not hurt to stand or to walk. For most people, they do not experience pain just sitting.
Over the past several years, I have been battling pain from a motorcycle accident. The pain was severe enough that the best hope in dealing with it was to cut half my foot off. Unfortunately, there was only a short term relief. Now the pain is even greater than it was before. Additionally, I have severe arthritis in my left wrist and severe carpal tunnel syndrome in my right wrist. Because I need a cane, and neither wrist can support me for very long, so I have to switch sides frequently, I cannot get either wrist surgically corrected.
Medication that I took to help with the pain in the foot has a side effect of weight gain. Of course, long term, that made the pain worse.
So, why am I talking so much about the pain? Is it to get you to feel sorry for me? Absolutely not. The reality is that even though my pain will be with me until I die, it is still temporary and it is still to my benefit.
In the Bible, Paul writes that for me to live is Christ, but to die is gain. He goes on to say that even though he looks forward to being in heaven in the direct presence of God, there is need for him to be here. God has a purpose for him here and now. I believe that is true for all Christians, and I know it is true for me. The pain only makes me more thankful for what I will be getting for eternity and what I will be avoiding.
In John 3 verse 36, it says that if we believe in the Son (Jesus) we have everlasting life, but if we do not believe, we will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on us.
The reality is that everyone of us has violated God's standards or laws. We have all willfully done what we know is wrong. As a result, we deserve Hell. The Bible says that every liar will have his place in the Lake of Fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and the worm does not die.
To me, that does not sound like much fun or much gain. Remember the idea of "no pain, no gain"? There is a situation where there will be lots of pain and no gain. For those that have been saved, we get to experience Heaven where there is no pain. To me, that sounds like a lot of gain with no pain. I am looking forward to the day when I can say "no pain, no pain". For now, though, I need to hang around because God wants me to tell others about Him.
So I mentioned getting saved. What does that mean? Well, first we are saved from sin and its punishment. The payment for sin is death (Hell) and the wrath of God. We are saved to a righteous relationship with God that last for ever.
So how does one get saved? I am glad you asked. In the book of Romans in the Bible, Paul writes that if we confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved.
When Paul wrote this, he did not write it in English. When it was translated into English, words had a bit of a different meaning than we think of today. The word in this verse that is a bit harder to understand in our language is the word (actually a combination of two words) that is translated confess. It actually means to assent or agree as with a covenant. In other words, we are to declare that we agree, with the conviction of a covenant, that Jesus is Lord. Additionally, we need to believe that God raised Him from the dead. If those two things are true for us, we are "saved". In the book of Ephesians, another book of the Bible written by Paul, he says that those that are in Christ (saved) are sealed by the Holy Spirit.
-If you have more questions about this, or if you would like to learn how you can -easily tell others this good news, call me. My number is 317-728-1066. I would love to talk with you.
Friday, September 3, 2010
My First Post
I thought I would start by explaining what drives my passion for evangelism. As Christians, we are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We are also commanded to love our neighbor as ourself, and we are even commanded to love our enemy.
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." Peter said it this way "There is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."
As a true born again believer in Jesus Christ, we must agree with those statements. If we do not, we cannot be a true regenerated believer in Jesus Christ.
If we believe that it is only through Jesus that one avoids Hell and gains Heaven, and we love people, we cannot keep silent about the way to being saved. We are compelled to tell others.
In posts to follow, I will be sharing some insights on exactly what the gospel message is and ways we can communicate it with a lost and dying world.
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." Peter said it this way "There is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."
As a true born again believer in Jesus Christ, we must agree with those statements. If we do not, we cannot be a true regenerated believer in Jesus Christ.
If we believe that it is only through Jesus that one avoids Hell and gains Heaven, and we love people, we cannot keep silent about the way to being saved. We are compelled to tell others.
In posts to follow, I will be sharing some insights on exactly what the gospel message is and ways we can communicate it with a lost and dying world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)