What Does the Scripture Say?

Praise the Lord for a wonderful Saturday night (Jan 12th) that Grace, Stephen and I had in the Lord. On Friday evening as our little family was having Bible Time, I had the children pretty much stay quiet as I preached on 2 Timothy 1:8 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” Usually I let them ask questions while I’m teaching so they can learn more, but this time I thought they needed to practice remaining quiet. Well immediately afterwards Grace told me that she had so many questions. In the teaching, I was mainly stressing that we should not be ashamed of the gospel and that we should look forward to the blessing of suffering persecution for Jesus’ sake. A little later, Grace came to me out of the blue and asked, “Can we go preach the gospel tomorrow!?” To which, I ecstatically replied, “Of course!” So we thought about where we could go and I figured the mall might be good since it was so cold out. It was such a blessing to see that Grace was really listening to the message and the Lord had put it on her heart to apply it to her life.

Turns out that Stephen was sick and getting sicker on Saturday. But all day long they were so excited to go preach the gospel. So after their naps, really only Grace was well enough to go, but I couldn’t say no to the little guy, he was so revved up to share the gospel with folks. So Christy and Josiah and Faith stayed home sick and the two bigger ones went with me to the mall. First off, as a treat, we ate dinner at the mall. Then they had a double decker carousel, so to make sure they had a good experience with sharing the gospel, I let them go on that as well. Then it was off to a mall entrance where we could setup camp and hand out gospel tracts.

We started handing out million dollar bills, “big money” tracts, and the cartoon tracts. We wished that we had brought some Spanish tracts, but we left them in the other car. For the first hour and a half, we basically just gave out the gospel tracts. The vast majority of folks were happy to receive them. At one point Stephen gave a Spanish New Testament to a hispanic lady. Also, Stephen and Grace both brought a personal gift from home to give to some children. Stephen gave a t-shirt to a little boy as I handed the rest of the family, including the father, gospel tracts. They were kind of surprised, but happy to receive the t-shirt. Later on Grace gave a purse to a little Indian girl and the parents were totally shocked. I gave them some cartoon tracts, but they pretty much were in shock as they walked away.

So finally, it was almost 8pm and I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get into any real meaningful conversations. I told the children that we would leave at 8 and stop by McDonalds to get some ice cream. We grabbed my backpack and started to go, but Stephen asked to visit the tuxedo rental shop one more time (we had spent a few minutes in there early on, but I had to leave my conversation with the counter girl because mall security was eyeing my backpack that I had left out in the open mall area). So we went into the tux store and Stephen tried on a jacket. I got to talking with the college girl who was working there named Sarah and it turns out she was Catholic. I shared the gospel with her for about 45 minutes and it was just a great time! You could see the Lord turning on the light bulb as I explained to her justification and substitution, etc. Multiple times she would say something like, “That makes so much sense. I never thought of it like that.” etc. At one point she said that she had gone to her priest with questions about God and the Bible, but he just told her what the church teaches and that she had to believe that. During our conversation, I had Grace and Stephen recite some relevant Bible verses for Miss Sarah, to which Sarah was most happy to hear and receive. It was so neat to share the gospel as a family, as a team, to an individual whom clearly God was working on (for example she is a science major, yet had real doubts about evolution).

Ultimately I left her with a ton of materials which she eagerly accepted. I think about a dozen AiG booklets, a Way of the Master DVD, a book on Roman Catholicism and a slew of gospel tracts. She even mentioned that just that day she told her boyfriend that she wished she had someone to talk with about her spiritual questions. Praise God for his orchestrating our meeting. It was so neat to think that God used Grace as the one who initiated going out that night to preach the gospel, then God used Stephen as the one who prompted us to go back into that tux store one last time. God was working it all out, the timing of it all and preparing Sarah’s heart for who knows how long.

As we left, I told Sarah we’d come back in a couple weeks with more materials. Please pray for her as she gets through the gospel resources. On the way home (after ice cream), we were just rejoicing greatly and praising the Lord for our time. Stephen blurted out, “We should call this a ‘praise night!’” to which I heartily agreed since we were praising the Lord so much! The next day he amended his phrase with ‘gospel’. “Since we preached the gospel, we should call it a ‘gospel praise night.’” He was right again! So praise the Lord for His work in my children and in Sarah. Please pray for all the folks that received some portion of God’s truth that night.

This Saturday, we plan on going outside the building of a “Christian” rock concert and handing out gospel tracts. Pray that God would lead us once again to prepared hearts and that He would give us boldness and sensitivity to preach the gospel with His power.

Last week our church looked at 2 Tim 1:8

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.

I found this list of Bible verses regarding persecution and thought it would be a blessing to all. I meant to print them out as handouts but forgot.

PERSECUTION
Note: Suffering persecution is being maltreated by others because you area true disciple of Christ. It includes being falsely accused, unjustly condemned or imprisoned, being ridiculed, scorned, rejected, or injured. Persecution is not suffering for doing wrong toward others or for disobeying rightful authority.

1. Why do people persecute Christians, even when they are doing good?

John 15:18–21. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

2 Tim. 3:10–14. But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.

1 John 3:1. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2. Cain persecuted his brother Abel because his own works were evil, while Abel’s were righteous.

Gen. 4:2–7.

1 John 3:12–14. Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

3. Do good to and pray for those who persecute you. Love your enemies.

Matt 5:38–42. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”

Matt 5:43–48.

Matt 5:43–45. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Rom. 12:14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

4. Imitate Stephen, who prayed for his persecutors as they were stoning him.

Acts 7:60. Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

5. In dealing with your persecutors be wise and innocent.

Matt 10:16. “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

6. If and when you are falsely accused, trust God to lead you.

Matt 10:17–20. “But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

7. One need not get depressed due to severe persecution. Paul testifies to that.

2 Cor. 4:8–9. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Cor. 11:23–29. (Paul tells of the many things he suffered at the hands of his persecutors. )

8. Those who suffer for the sake of Christ will be blessed and should count it an honor to do so.

1 Peter 4:12–16. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

9. Never be ashamed to be identified with those who are being persecuted. Rather, suffer with them, if need be.

2 Tim. 1:8–9. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

10. Do not be ashamed of the gospel. Testify boldly and be ready to suffer persecution.

2 Tim. 2:3. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Tim. 2:8–10. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11. Do not be unsettled or let the devil lead you away from the faith through persecution.

1 Thess. 3:2–4. And sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

12. Jesus says that some do fall away when they are persecuted.

Mat 13:1–9. (the parable of the sower )

Mat 13:18–23. (Jesus interprets the parable. )

Mat 13:20–21. “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”

13. Some compromise the gospel to avoid persecution. Don’t be like that.

Gal. 6:12. As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

14. Believers can keep God’s Word when they are persecuted. David did.

Ps. 119:51. The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

Ps. 119:61. The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law.

Ps. 119:69. The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.

15. If persecutors threaten you, obey God rather than man, as did Peter and John.

Acts 4:18–20. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Acts 5:17–32. (The apostles went on preaching the gospel. )

Acts 5:29. But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Acts 5:41–42. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

16. Paul and Silas sang hymns while they were imprisoned.

Acts 16:25. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

17. Paul was willing to die for the sake of Christ.

Acts 21:12–13. Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

18. Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake will be blessed.

Mat 5:10–12. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

2 Tim. 4:6–8. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Rev. 2:9–10. “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

19. Hebrew Christians stood their ground under persecution and were rewarded for it.

Heb. 10:32–39.

Heb. 10:33–35. Partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

20. Be willing to suffer even for doing good.

1 Peter 3:13–22.

1 Peter 3:13–14. ‘ And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”

1 Peter 3:17. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

21. Unconverted sinners will at times heap abuse on you because you no longer join them in their sin.

1 Peter 4:3–5. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Jeremiah Burroughs (A Puritan from the 1600s) preached eleven sermons on contentment. They have been compiled into an excellent book called The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. In this highly recommended book (you can read online HERE) Burroughs takes us through the definition, implications and application of Christian contentment. It was a blessing to read through and I thought I would post the same portion of text that I gave as a handout when I preached on 1 Timothy 6:6-8 a week ago.

Burroughs offers the following description: Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition. That is the description, and in it nine distinct things have been opened up which we summarize as follows: First, that contentment is a heart-work within the soul; Secondly, it is the quieting of the heart; Thirdly, it is the frame of the spirit; Fourthly, it is a gracious frame; Fifthly, it is the free working of this gracious frame; Sixthly, there is in it a submission to God, sending the soul under God; Seventhly, there is a taking pleasure in the hand of God; Eighthly, all is traced to God’s disposal; Ninthly, in every condition, however hard it be and however long it continue.

The following is from the last section of The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs called “How to attain contentment: Considerations to content the heart in any afflicted condition”

1. We should consider, in all our wants and inclinations to discontent, the greatness of the mercies that we have, and the meanness of the things we lack. I will give you the example of a couple of godly men, meeting together, Anthony and Didymus: Didymus was blind, and yet a man of very excellent gifts and graces: Anthony asked him if he was not troubled at his want of sight. He confessed he was, ‘But’, he said, ’should you be troubled at the want of what flies and dogs have, and not rather rejoice and be thankful that you have what angels have?’ God has given you those good things that make angels glorious; is not that enough for you, though you lack what a fly has? And so a Christian should reason the case with himself: what am I discontented for? I am discontented for want of what a dog may have, what a devil may have, what a reprobate may have; shall I be discontented for not having that, when God has given me what makes angels glorious? ‘Blessed be God,’ says the Apostle in Ephesians 1:3 ‘ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.’ It may be you have not such great blessings in earthly places as some others have, but if the Lord has blessed you in heavenly places, that should content you.

2. The consideration that God is beforehand with us with his mercies should content us.
I remember reading of a good man who had lived to fifty years of age and enjoyed his health for eight and forty years exceedingly well, and lived in prosperity, but the last two years his body was exceedingly diseased, he had the strangury, and was in great pain. But he reasoned the case with himself thus: ‘Oh, Lord, you might have made all my life a life of torment and pain, but you have left me have eight and forty years in health. I will praise your mercies for what I have had, and will praise your justice for what now I feel.’

3. The consideration of the abundance of mercies that God bestows and we enjoy.
It is a saying of Luther: ‘The sea of God’s mercies should swallow up all our particular afflictions.’ Name any affliction that is upon you: there is a sea of mercy to swallow I up. If you pour a pailful of water on the floor of your house, it make a great show, but if you throw it into the sea, there is no sign of it. So, afflictions considered in themselves, we think are very great, but let them be considered with the sea of god’s mercies we enjoy, and then they are not so much, they are nothing in comparison.
4. The creatures suffer for us; why should not we be willing to suffer, to be serviceable to God?
This is an expression of the martyr, Master Hooper, which we read of in the Book of Martyrs: in laboring to work his own heart, and the hearts of others to contentedness in the midst of his sufferings, he has this comparison, and you may be put in mind of it every day: he said, ‘I look upon the creature and see what it suffers to be useful to me. Thus, the brute beasts must die, must be roasted in the fire, and boiled, must come on to the plate, be hacked all in pieces, must be chewed in the mouth, and in the stomach turned to that which is loathsome, if one should behold it; and all to nourish me, to be useful to my body, and shall not I be willing to be made anything for God, for his service? What an abundance of alterations the creature undergoes to be made useful to me, to preserve me! Then, if God will do so with me for his use, as he subjects the creatures to me for my use, why should I not reset contented? If God will take away my wealth, and make me poor, if God will take away life, hack me to pieces, put me in prison-whatever he does, yet I shall not suffer more for God than the creature does for me. And surely I am infinitely more bound to God than the creature is to me, and there is not so much distance between me and the creature, as between me and God!’
5. Consider that we have but a little time in this world.
If you are godly you will never suffer except in this world. Why, do but shut your eyes and soon another life is come, as that martyr said to his fellow martyr, ‘Do but shut your eyes’, he said, ‘and the next time they are opened you shall be in another world.’
6. Consider the condition that others have been in, who have been our betters.
Set Christ before us, who professes that the birds of the air had nests, and the foxes had holes, yet the Son of man had no place to hide his head, such a low condition was he in. The consideration of such things as these is very useful. It is likewise useful for men and women of wealth to go to poor people’s houses and see how they live, to go to hospitals, and to see the wounds of soldiers and others, and to see the lamentable condition that people live in who live in some alms-houses, and what poor fare they have, and what straits they are put to. You hear sometimes of them, but if you went to see them it would not only stir up charity in yourselves towards them, but stir up thankfulness in your hearts towards God, it would be a special means to help you against any discontent. You would go away and see cause to bless God and say, ‘If I were in such a condition as they are in what should I do? How could I bear it? And yet what reason is there that God so orders and disposes of things that they should be so low in their conditions and I so high? I know no reason but free grace: God will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy.’
7. Consider all the experience that you have had of God’s doing good to you in the want of many comforts.
It is true, when ministers only tell men that God will work good out of their afflictions, they hear them speak, and think they speak like good men, but they feel little or no good; they feel nothing but pain. But when we cannot only say to you that God has said he will work good out of your afflictions, but we can say to you, that you yourselves have found it so by experience, that God has made former afflictions to be great benefits to you, and that you would not have been without them, or without the good that came by them for a world, such experiences will exceedingly quiet the heart and bring it to contentment. Therefore think thus with yourself: Lord, why may not this affliction work as great a good upon me as afflictions have done before?
8. Be sure of your call to every business you go about.
Though it is the least business, be sure of your call to it; then, whatever you meet with, you may quiet your heart with this: I know I am where God would have me. Nothing in the world will quiet the heart so much as this: when I meet with any cross, I know I am where God would have me, in my place and calling; I am about the work that God has set me. Oh, this will quiet and content you when you meet with trouble. What God calls a man to, in that he may have comfort whatever befalls him. God will look to you, and see you blessed if you are in the work God calls you to.
9. Do not so much regard the fancies of other men, as what indeed you feel yourselves.
For the reason of our discontentment many times is rather from the fancies of other men than from what we find we lack ourselves. We think poverty to be such a great evil-Why? because it is so esteemed by others, rather then that people feel it so themselves, unless they are in an extremity of poverty. I will give you a clear demonstration that almost all the discontent in the world is rather from the fancies of others than from the evil that is on themselves. You may think your wealth to be small and you are thereupon discontented, and it is a grievous affliction to you; but if all men in the world were poorer than you, then you would not be discontented, then you would rejoice in your estates though you had not a penny more than you have. Take a man who can get but his twelve pence a day, and you will say, This is but a poor thing to maintain a family. But suppose there were no man in the world that had more than this, yea, that all other men but yourselves had somewhat less wages than you, then you would think your condition pretty good. You would have no more then than you have now; therefore it appears by this that it is rather from the fancies of other men than what you feel that makes you think your condition to be so grievous, for if all the men in the world looked upon you as happy, more happy than themselves, then you would be contented. Oh, do not let your happiness depend upon the fancies of other men. There is a saying of Chrysostom I remember in this very case: ‘Let us not make the people in this case to be our lords; as we must not make men to be the lords of our faith, so not the lords of our comforts.’ That is, our comfort should not depend more upon their imaginations, than upon what we feel in ourselves. It may be, others think you to be in an afflicted condition, yea, but I thank God, for myself I do not so apprehend it.
10. Be not inordinately taken up with the comforts of this world when you have them.
When you have them, do not take too much satisfaction in them. It is a certain rule: however inordinate any man or woman is in sorrow when a comfort is taken from them, so were they immoderate in their rejoicing in the comfort when they had it. For instance, God takes away a child and you are inordinately sorrowful, beyond what God allows in a natural or Christian way; now though I never knew before how your heart was towards the child, yet when I see this, though you are a mere stranger to me, I may without breach of charity conclude that your heart was immoderately set upon your child or husband, or upon any other comfort that I see you grieving for when God has taken it away. If you hear ill tidings about your estates, and your hearts are dejected immoderately, and you are in a discontented mood because of such and such a cross, certainly your hearts were immoderately set upon the world. So, likewise, for your reputation, if you hear others report this or that ill of you, and you hearts are dejected because you think you suffer in your name, your hearts were inordinately set upon your name and reputation. Now, therefore, the way for you not to be immoderate in your sorrow for afflictions is not to be immoderate in your love and delights when you have prosperity.
11. My brethren, to conclude this point:
If I were to tell you that I could show you a way never to be in want of anything, I do not doubt but then we should have much flocking to such a sermon, when a man should undertake to manifest to people how they should never be in want any more. But what I have been preaching to you now comes to as much.

This was great. We met with Roger Patterson to share the gospel with folks at downtown Cincinnati. Here are some pictures.

This was a tag team between Roger and Faith. Roger stopped the Mom and child with the pink and blue illusion, then Faith went over and gave them some big money. She was so cute! Please pray for this Mother and daughter.

This guy was a security officer for the park. I figured if we were gonna get busted, might as well be quick. Stephen and Grace really wanted me to give it to him. It turned out he was a Christian, was encouraged we were sharing the gospel and said he’d post the “big money” on the board back at the station. Pray for the other officers who may see and read it.

Roger had been wanting to talk with this fellow for a few weeks now. Today was the first day he wasn’t with customers so Roger shared the whole gospel with him. Pray for him.

Roger talking with a young couple. Please pray for them, that God would open their eyes to the glorious gospel of His Son.

This gentleman named Danny turned out to be a believer. The Lord did a really neat thing. Before we left, Danny asked me to pray for him and I told him I would. He then asked if I had prayer requests. I thought he meant with my church, so I told him yes. But then he asked me what my prayer requests were. So he actually wanted to pray for me! I told him to please pray that I would be consistent in my bringing up my children in the nurture and admonition in the Lord. To my great surprise, he took off his hat and prayed right then and there. Praise the Lord! That was really encouraging to me.

Roger with some teenagers. The girl in the middle was laughling a lot in the beginning. Since my family was close by on a bench, we were praying for them. My wife specifically prayed that the girl would sober up and sure enough her laughing died down. Please pray for these kids.

Now this was really special. A few weeks ago a nurse came by our home to drop off some medical equipment. In the process, she had me sign a bunch of papers and even fill out a survey. One of the questions was something like, “Have you ever had heart problems?” This made me laugh because it sounded like, “Have you ever told a lie?” and I thought, “Ok, somehow I’ve got to turn this around and have her take a spiritual survey.” But the great thing was that Grace and Stephen were drawing in the room with us and since they saw the questionnaire I was filling out they also started making some questionnaires complete with little yes and no check boxes. God totally set that up, it was too easy!! So at the end of the nurse’s presentation, I grabbed Grace’s “survey” and asked the nurse if I could have her take a spiritual survey, to which she happily agreed. So using the pretend survey which just had scribbling for words, but really did have two check boxes per question, I walked her through the law and the gospel. She was pretty surprised because I was reading scribbles, but she played along, though at times she was visibly uncomfortable (while admitting she was a liar, thief and adulterer at heart). Listen to the below MP3 to hear Grace give the story. Please pray for this nurse, that the Lord would be pricking her conscience with the Word of Truth she heard. Thanks.

 Grace on Dr. House Call: Downloads 273

Last night was amazing. We went to a county park for a festival and handed out a bunch of gospel tracts. Stephen, my four year old was all excited and was doing the pink and blue illusion for lots of folks. Toward the end of the evening, he wanted to go to the concession stand to give them some ‘big money’. It was so cute, as he started walking he told me, “I can go by myself. I’m brave enough.” So I smiled and told him I’d watch from a distance. I was far enough away that I could not hear the conversation between a lady (turns out she was the organizer of the festival) and my son. So I was shocked to hear this woman yell at my son, “You listen to me!” then more unheard conversation for a few moments with an even louder, “NO! You listen to ME!” yelled at my son again. A few moments later, Stephen walked back to me with a folded up ‘big money’ (the yeller obviously didn’t receive the tract) and I asked him what happened. He said, “She said that we’re not supposed to give out gospel tracts, but I told her yes, we’re supposed to.” Stephen had tried to give her the big money but she rejected it and told him we can’t give them out, to which he replied, “But we HAVE to give out the gospel tracts because some people may not love the Lord, like you.” It cracks me up as I think about it. I can imagine that the loudest yell probably came after that statement from my four year old.

So I asked Stephen if he had bought the apple juice that I had also asked him to get and he smiled and said he forgot. The best thing about this whole encounter was the way that Stephen handled it with the help of the Lord. God gave him the strength to not be discouraged AT ALL. The persecution just flowed off him like water off a duck’s back. Now, if it was my 6 year old girl, I can imagine her coming back to me in tears. But praise the Lord, Stephen was matter of fact about it. Late on he simple stated, “Yeah, they’re wicked.” Referring to the people who try to stop Christians from preaching the gospel. So anyways, we walked over to the concession stand and the lady comes up to me and basically is all flustered (I don’t think she realized that I was close enough to hear her yell until we walked back to her) and says that there’s no soliciting, we can’t give out tracts here. She says, “I appreciate what you’re doing, I’ve done it myself in the past, but you just can’t do it here.” Well the interesting thing is that by this time we had already given gospel tracts to about 90% of the folks who were there anyways, so I didn’t make a stink about it. I just politely said, “Oh that’s fine.” Which probably made her feel like even more of a fool. Another lady there got us our drink and you could tell she was embarrassed for the ‘yeller’. So we got our juice and walked away and Stephen turned to me and said, “We’re not going to obey them, right?” To which I replied, “Of course not. We must obey God rather than men.” It was such a blessed time. I just wish I had my voice recorder on me to record his telling of the story. Then the next morning one of the statements he said to me, unrelated to the event, was “If I go to jail for the gospel, I’ll just preach the gospel in the jail and sing praises to the Lord.” What a blessing! Please continue to pray for my little guy that God would cause him to be a mighty warrior for the Lord, walking in the strength of meekness, gentleness and humility.

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 Stephen part 1: Downloads 254
 Stephen part 2: Downloads 244

There are some good videos of Christians doing some open-air preaching on this site. I really like the one where the guy was preaching in front of the DMV. It was encouraging to see the reactions of the folks who listened. Visit http://evangelismteam.com/ click on Media, then Videos, then DMV Outreach.