Christians, Tips & Tracts

What Christians need to know and consider about eatery tipping.

There was never an issue in the past with tipping, but some new modern entitlement expectation of tips has arisen with the Z and Alpha generation. These folks were young when the 2020 riots and new looting culture began being encouraged among unsaved people. 

Tipping was always voluntary and only if you wanted to, and only if someone went extremely above what you expected. It was rare to tip. And even if there was a tip $1 was normal, then $3 or so. It has gotten out of hand today with this entitlement generation thinking they are absolutely entitled to your money and demanding about it, (as well as how much). Their love of money is at the root of all sorts of evil thoughts, words and behaviors both to those who get food delivered or even for to go. It is the employers job to pay their salary, and it is the employee's job to understand the income they signed up for and that they took that job at that wage. They are free to leave and find a more appropriate living wage for themselves

Tipping is still voluntary and it is not legally required to tip.
I am not advocating for not tipping. But each can determine as their conscience leads them.

I recently ran into some people online complaining, both unsaved and saved, about a image of an old old tract that was used long ago, that is not used anymore today. It was brought up because today servers have incorrect understandings of tips and tips are in the news a lot these days. And it has caused all kinds of arguing and strife and hate. 

Here are some regular questions and objections by both groups and some suggested recommendations and reminders.  I hope it helps you think through this topic, and also consider using that article link when you have gospel convos online related to gospel tracts and tipping. It includes several calls to action to the gospel, and resources for both believers, and the unsaved. More people see these comments and links(1) than just the person you interact with, so on some platforms like fb try to engage in the "top comments" area first, before going to all comments to search out additional gospel opportunities, as those in the top group are the ones most people will see first.

 Feel free to search up tip tract and similar wordings to locate more posts on social media platforms to engage in this topic and the helpful link to get people on both sides thinking, and it redirects to the gospel too.

Think of things you can say when you leave the link there. 

Here are a few ideas.

• I saw this recently and it made me think about this, link. 
• Christians need to use appropriate tracts based on where they are, this talks about that, link. 
• This is an old image & is rarely if ever used today, but the general discussion is good -  link. 
• This person had something good to say about this very topic, link. 
• 🤔 Have you see this yet?  link. 
• Have you had a chance to review this?  link. 
• There are a lot of things people haven't considered,  link. 
• 🤔 Some valid points made here, and here  link. 
• That question 😀 was actually answered here,  link. 
• That issue was actually disvussed here too, link. 
• There was a good discussion going on here about it,  link.
• other....

For those who say they dont trust offsite links, you can tell them:

• I completely understand. You can go to Norton link safety check to verify the link before visiting, your safety matters. https://safeweb.norton.com 

Typically it isn't those who are worried about safety, it is usually those who dont want to continue the convo nor go see what the link says, but still want to debate you and get you to say things in comments that might get you flagged, or just to be a time waster, or arguer with you. This above response will either get them curious to just go look at the link, or for those genuinely concerned, they'll appreciate you tried to keep them safe, and when they read the gospel, will also see you are trying to help them with their eternal safety as well.

Direct link to the article 

https://snsanswers.blogspot.com/2023/01/viral-tract.html

(1) Footnote:

32 people viewed the viral tract link today. Since it was originally posted 83 looked at it. 

Airplane Evangelism

Mom had her first airplane witnessing encounter!

She was thinking on the plane for a way to be a way to talk to the lady next to her about the gospel. I told her that since people talk about where they’re from, where they’re going, plans they have, stuff about life and family, that she’d be able to say that she does graphic designing for Christian materials, and be able to give a tract to the person she spoke to. Well….she said she planned to do just that. I told her it was very easy to do, and it flowed in the course of a regular conversation.


Cindy sat between her husband and my mom on the plane. Dad was in a different seating area, as they couldn’t get seats next to each other. I think in the future this is a good idea for Christians. Divide and conquer! Lol.

Mom was able to talk to them about an hour before the flight. They had to fill out the customs form when on the plane they got to Hawaii. She wanted to chat with the wife, and so she asked the husband if she was filling out a portion of the form correctly. He showed her what she needed to know and thanked him. A few minutes later the guy said something to her, and then his wife Cindy started talking to mom. The wife switched seats with her husband so mom and her could talk for a little bit. Cindy and mom talked about where they were from, ancestry; which turns out to be almost the same. How they had never been to this island, they talked about what they did. By doing this, mom got a chance (which she hoped to do) to slip in there that she does graphic art work for me on Christian websites and tracts. She wanted to bring up the gospel so she shared this with the lady. Cindy asked what kind of software she uses. Mom says its old software and she has no training for graphic art work or animation, but enjoys doing it. Cindy said her mother also does graphic art, but has training from college for it, and it's her full time job. This is neat that God set THIS lady next to my mom! So Mom was able to discuss some of those things with her, and then learned that Cindy and her husband go to church. Mom doesn’t know if they are saved, but she was able to give Cindy one of my gospel tracts and encouraged Cindy to check out the website as well. She also offered for Cindy to contact her to talk in the future. So we’ll see how that goes.

Cindy’s husband joined the conversation and they talked about snorkeling and stuff. Mom shared some things about locations in the area that are good (and bad) spots, that we knew from last year’s experience. She told them there are new things on the island that she learned about as well; Some things aren’t there anymore, some cost a lot now, and others have changed. Mom told him she always checks things like that online so she knows ahead of time when they return to places they like to travel what they can and can’t do this time.


When mom left the plane, she left tracts on a couple of seats for passengers getting off or the flight staff to get.


I was so proud of her for doing her best to share the gospel. Mom is very shy around strangers, but is outgoing around family. This was a real step of faith for her. Last year in Hawaii I was able to get her and my dad to go street evangelizing with some Christians I know who witness in Kona every week. We all went out and even my young nephew was participating by handing out tracts. She was shut down a few times during that afternoon, and we shared that information in the Hawaii post (click here to read).  She also has spoken to people at her small church whenever witnessing conversations comes up in Sunday School, and she has offered really good tips that encouraged the ones she spoke to. I first shared biblical evangelism material with her at Christmas 2005, and after reading the information and watching videos about it she agreed it was the real gospel, and stopped using modern evangelism methods and materials that are not biblical. She tracted places but not people. Then after a few visits (a yearly thing) when we went as a family to Los Vegas, for vacation at their time share, I was finally able to get them to go out one early evening and hand out tracts near a popular tourist attraction on the strip. Since then she hasn’t gone out, until last year in Hawaii. She does tract regularly wherever she goes, but this was the first time she talked to someone on an airplane about the gospel. She has beat me on that one! Haha. Well, it has never worked out for me to be able to do that; circumstances and the people around me on the planes have prevented it. Though, on hindsight….I could have done like Kirk Cameron and tracted the whole plane on the way to my seat. Perhaps I’ll do that next time I fly somewhere. I rarely fly anywhere, but I’ll have to keep it in mind next time I do!


So I’m exited that she did this, and hopeful that she’ll try for a gospel conversation on the return flight home.


Note: You don’t have to follow a specific method to sharing the gospel. What you include in the gospel is important, but how you get to the gospel conversation can vary. You simply have a conversation and swing naturally from the conversation to spiritual things. This is another example of that. For more examples, read more of the blogs here.

.

Missed Opportunity

Have you ever had one of those days where you wish you could rewind, even for a few seconds, to make sure you got in there to share the gospel? Today was one of those days for me. I went to take care of some things with my vehicle today at the D*M*V*. We’ve been trying for 4 years now to get the title to one of our vehicles. Finally found the lien holder company (they had changed their names twice since we had paid the vehicle off in the late 90’s). They had their name issued on the title instead of my husband’s so this has been a small nightmare. Anyway, today I decided since I had heard that you can’t tract at the D*M*V*, I didn’t bring a stash. But I had a couple Your Moment of Truth tracts in my purse. I took my MP3 player with my Christian Radio programming on it, and decided to listen to that while I waited.

When I got there at 9am the line was wrapped around the building all the way around. This was going to be a long morning. About 10 minutes after standing in line an older lady came out of nowhere and cut in front of me. She said she had forgot something at home and had to come back, and the guy in front of her “saved her spot”. Now, I know that those things are invisible, lol, but with such a line around the building, who cares if someone else is in front of you. I don’t. So I figured maybe this was a divine appointment. Her name I later found out was Nadia. When we started talking she was chit chatting about her vehicle not passing smog inspection and worried about it. I felt bad for her because she was older, and had an older vehicle, and probably couldn’t afford a new one. I took my earphones out of my ear, to make me more approachable. Then, while her back was to me, I told her [to chit chat] I had come to the D*M*V* yesterday both at this location and one another town over, but the lines were far too long and it took so long to wait for a parking spot that I decided to come back today, this morning. She said yesterday was windy, today is nice and sunny, and Sunday was sunny. [I was about to say that I was glad Sunday was sunny, because I do not like to be in the rain when I go to Church, and then I was going to ask her if she goes to church somewhere nearby, and find a way to hand her a good tract, but that didn’t come out of my mouth. And a few seconds later she picked up her phone and started calling people to handle some things while she was in line].

We moved closer to the entrance, and I noticed a sign that said “Products or services provided by advertisers are not promoted or indorsed by D*M*V*” And I wondered, can we hand out fliers here? I thought it wasn’t legal. Maybe the law changed, or maybe they can’t seem to stop the people who do it. I wondered if people leave fliers on the vehicles also. So I started watching the flow of people and looked for security cameras. There were no cameras.

Then, when we were close to the door I found out she cleans apartments and helps older people shop. I told her I had a few friends who do that. I have one friend who actually lives with a very old lady and assists her. I said it’s great when people help out older people, and its such a “blessing” that they have lived so long. I then told her that I have a friend who is turning 100 next weekend. She said Wow. [We were in the door at this point and she was next in line to grab her “number” to be seen. I had hoped we would run into each other again and I’d make sure to give her the tract, and mention to her that I might like someone to come and clean my apartment if she is not fully booked]. She went off her way and I went off mine. I had 35 people in front of me, and it ended up taking 3 hours of my time.

I heard a few people coughing and so I decided to go outside and wait around, popping in every 10 minutes or so to see what “number” was being listed available for the section on my ticket. I noticed a security guard behind me on the side of the building (where he had full view of the side doors and those on the sidewalk in front of it), I had no idea they had guards there. I then noticed another sign saying the same thing as before. Posted on each side of the building. I was walking around, avoiding any one coughing or smoking at the corners (which blows the smoke right to the door and down the side of the building, so the “no smoking 20 feet in front of the doors” sign was useless, because the smoke still blows that way. I started watching the security guard, in spy mode, lol. Wondering what his patrol patterns are. He was on foot. I turned around to see where he was a minute later, and he was gone. I have no idea where he went. How could he move so fast on foot, so quickly. Nothing was happening for him to be so fast. When I looked down the other way, I noticed another security person was there. I thought maybe they turned over at shift change, but not long after that I saw someone else. So I think they have 2 – 3 security people there regularly. Weird. Going to be hard to try and tract this place. And the funny thing was, once I got in the door originally, there was another sign saying said “Products or services provided by advertisers are not promoted or indorsed by D*M*V*” within the first 15 feet in the doorway, heading to the reception desk where you get your “number”. I am interested in seeing if I can tract there sometimes. Even if I get shooed away, there are other ones in the county I can go to.

I saw Nadia ½ way down the walkway as she was returning from her vehicle and entering the building again. I thought “bummer!” cause I wanted to catch her, speak to her for a minute saying it was nice to have met her, and then give her the tract. I kept an eye out for her to go back to her vehicle again, or to leave having finished her purpose there. Since I was outside most of the time it was easy to try to do, but unfortunately I did not see her again. Such a missed opportunity. I suggest anyone who has the slightest opening to say something to someone while you’re in line somewhere…DO IT!, don’t pause to think or wonder, just do it. Give the tract and say something to them related to what you were discussing.

The D*M*V* issue wasn’t resolved. I had the letter documentation from the lien holder bank, but not the D*M*V* forms my husband was supposed to sign. grrr... oh well, next time I'll be prepared with tracts!

Evangelism Weekend Report

I had a great time witnessing in the community this weekend. 

This weekend I was out with a group witnessing in our community. We had a time of fellowship and lunch together before we hit the streets. I was glad our day was covered in prayer, as we encountered people, I was glad the Lord had prepared the way for us to reach out to them.

I had the blessed opportunity of reaching out to 15 high school seniors and some college age guys who were hanging around outside the subway station. There were two girls there in the group too.

I had a shy young lady with me, who spoke very softly. She seems to be new at witnessing, and I’m glad she’s getting the opportunity to step out in faith to interact with the lost and pair up with a believer to see how we interact, and to interact herself. She was sweet. She went with me and I talked to the group of guys. Later told me she was very nervous to go there with me to approach them. I said I was a little nervous to, there were so many of them, but I encouraged her, that the guys seemed outgoing and friendly.

I found out when I first spoke to them that they have been approached several times in the past by people from our group. haha, they must hang out there often. So I spoke in general way and then focused on the Cross and the Darkness and Judgment and Wrath on Christ, so they could understand the seriousness of our sin and the lengths God went to in order to make us right with God, and the cost to redeem us. How God went to such lengths to do so, though he didnt need to, we deserve Hell but He offers forgiveness and peace with God. I then talked about Hell, and pointed to the value of the issue, and importance of obeying the gospel message.

One guy behind me said something about "partying" in Hell. I told the guys that there will be nothing good in Hell. We have eyes to see, taste buds to enjoy food, ears to hear and light to see and move about in. That it wont be like that in Hell. Nothing good will be there. I spoke about how we are in a holding cell, we have the ground and things here on earth, we have the sky, but we are limited to the things on this earth. One day God will call us to stand before Him and if you die unforgiven for your sins, God will toss you into an eternal Hell. There is only judgment and punishment and torment there.

I talked a few more minutes and I also said that, while they may joke about these things with their friends around them, it doesnt mean that "you" dont think about these things when you're by yourself. And I just wanted them to understand some things that they may not have been told before. I explained what it would be like in Hell, correcting his understanding, and those listening.

I spoke mainly to three guys and one girl, the rest listened. One other guy goofed off towards the end when I had asked if they had any questions. He said something about 2012, and then said something I was able to use to get back into the conversation and wrap it up: "So do you believe Jesus is coming back?" I told him I do, and went through some of that, told him that according to the Scriptures those who hear the gospel now and reject the free gift God offers in Christ, will not be allowed to be redeemed when God's patience runs out, because they had the opportunity to be made right with God, have forgiveness, and receive salvation.

I talked about Hell a little, about God being the Just Judge, and talked about the gospel importance again. Again spoke of the fact that they dont know when they will die. I asked if they had any other questions, and no one did. I told them that I come through here often, and if they see me and have thought of a question that they’d like to know the answer to, to just come over and ask me. I’d be glad to talk to them. At the end, I thanked them, shook their hands, and we left. During the conversation I had asked if any of them had repented and trusted in Christ, one girl said she had. I spoke for a minute with her, encouraged her, and continued the conversation with everyone.

After we left, The girl who was with me said we should have offered them a Bible. I told her I sometimes forget 'two' things after talking with people. I forget to ask them "if there's anything that would prevent them getting right with God today" and encourage them to do so. Not to let any pet sin stand in the way, because eternity in Hell is not worth it. And I also forget to ask if the have a Bible at home. If not, I could leave a Gospel of John with them. And encourage them to Read the Bible at home, either borrow a family members to read, or go to the Dollar store and get a KJV Bible for 1 dollar, or read it for free online.

I encouraged her "to remind me to do that today with other conversations we have, or to jump in and say that at the end". I know that when we witness for so long (years) we tend to forget some things that are beneficial to say, because we want to get the gospel in there, and we leave the rest to God. I know that if they want to investigate or read the Bible, they will. But it is a good idea to say something to them after the conversation.

We also spoke to a woman, her daughter and son, and her friend. They are catholic. We asked if they had received a tract before, and the daughter said they had, the same ones we offered. The mother took a tract and we began talking to them. I asked them a couple of questions and then moved into the Law. The lady didn’t want to say liar, but she said we all lie. I told her that is true. Then I said “if your daughter told a lie to your face you would call her what?” she relented and said “A Liar.” And the daughter laughed. I asked the daughter if she had ever stolen anything. She said she had. I looked at her mother and said “If the cops were chasing you down because you stole something, they would yell 'stop...’!”. She said, “thief.” I said yes. I then asked if they have ever used God’s name in vain, inappropriately. The daughter said she had. Then, their ride arrived and they had to go, though the mother was still sitting there and listening to what I was saying. I told her that the rest of the information we’d like them to know about God and Judgment day, is on the back of that tract. We wished them a nice day and moved on. I encouraged the shy lady, who was with me, that even if we only get in part of a conversation we can at least make sure they have a tract to take home.

I encouraged her to talk to the next person we encountered. I didn’t want to be the only one between us who was talking, and I wanted to give her opportunity to share the gospel with others that day. So we were about to talk to a guy but he stepped inside the white ring in front of the subway escalators, (that go down underground to where the subway is), which is apparently a place the metro security doesn’t want us at, it impedes traffic flow they say, so we don’t go in that small area.

The girl and I ended up walking around the corner and saw a high school or 19 year old guy and his girlfriend cuddled up. They were sitting down and talking. We walked over there and the girl with me said, very quietly, almost inaudibly “did you get one of these?” I let her talk so she could interact, but after a minute I wasn’t sure that they could hear her, she talks too softly. And with the traffic and the noise around the subway they aren’t going to hear her. I jumped in a couple times when the guy said he didn’t understand. I am assuming he didn’t hear what she was saying or he was faking that he doesn’t understand English. We gave him a tract in Spanish, I think he thought we were only talking to English people, haha. Not this group! We’re prepared. ;)

So anyway, we talked with him and I gave the conversation back to her a few times. The girlfriend only lasted one minute, then she got up and walked away. But we were able to tell the guy some of the same things we said to “the group” of young people we talked with earlier. It was a very good conversation. He was nice, and polite. I was glad that worked out for the girl who was with me, because I hoped she would have good encounters today, that would encourage her.

We switched team mates, and so I was going to take David with me, but he was having health problems, and needed to take some time to rest. I’m glad people who have physical limitations still get out there for the gospel. And I believe he just ran into our evangelism group at the church today for the first time. It was great. Anyway, he spoke to me about a lot of things, and stuff about evangelism. We never did get a chance to get to witness together during the rest of the time we were there. But at least he got to step out for Christ, and he had a good time with Jonathan, whom he teamed up with earlier.

David feels called to witness regularly, so maybe he will be back and participate with our team again. It’s always great to have new people come out with us to witness.

I saw a few other team members talking in various conversations while I was sitting with David. I saw the flow of traffic coming from the subway, pass us to the bus stop. There was one guy I saw I almost gave a tract to, but I felt held back and I’m not sure why, but I just left it as it was. You would think I wouldn’t have a problem breaking away from what I’m doing to walk up to people and hand them a tract. The guy had a buzz cut but he also had hair in the form of a short mohawk too. I don’t know if that is what deterred me or not, but that seems silly cause the guy appeared normal. I mean I just spoke to a huge crowd of young people and now I’m not going to give a tract to this guy. Its just weird how that goes. Well then a few minutes later I notice Jonathan and the new girl, were talking to him. They had such a great conversation with the guy, and it lasted at least 15 minutes. They even gave him a book and a cd in addition to the tract and he seemed encouraged when he left. He had a smile on his face and it was nice.

     

So I thank God that Jonathan got a hold of that guy and witnessed to him instead of me. Something that he shared with the guy had to have been something God wanted the guy to hear and know. So praise the Lord for that. It goes to show that even though we don’t reach out to someone, God will bring someone else in, or he plans for someone else to talk to them.

 It’s ok that we don’t talk to every one we meet and see, we get to many of them, but not all of them. God will use all of us to reach some and the ones he wants us to talk to, we will talk to. That is a great encouragement to all believers who go out and witness as a team isn’t it? It certainly is. But it also goes to show that if we are not lax in reaching people around us for Christ, and we are looking for opportunities to share the gospel, that sometimes we may not get to a certain person, or we feel held back, or we don’t end up talking to someone, God certainly has someone in mind to reach that person, and we just have to leave that in God’s hands. If it is you, it may be at a later opportunity, if someone else, they will interact with the guy. This was one of the first times I’ve seen this happen and it was all in front of my eyes, so I got a blessing to see that happen. 

 In all I was able to speak to about 21 people today, and I know that the rest of the people in the group had to have tracted and spoken to at least 100 people today. Praise the Lord. I always like talking to people on the streets. Their not weird people, they aren’t scary to talk to, they are normal people like me and you who need to hear the gospel. I pray that this evangelism posting has encouraged you to get some tracts and go to the lost on the streets. It certainly is so much easier to talk to strangers about God and salvation than it is to talk to those you already know. 

However I’ve got a great story on that subject to share with you too. God works in wonderful ways, and I always rejoice when opportunities arise and I take hold of them and step out in faith for the Lord, in boldness, and in kindness, sharing the Word of God with people. God be with you! 

 IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME VISITING, PLEASE WATCH THIS... www.NeedGod.com 

Then read evidences for the existence of God, and the Christian faith in "Reasons we Believe, 50 lines of evidence" by Nathan Busenitz .

Entitled: "A Day with Youth", or, "Any good tract will do"

Friday, April 18. 2008

I love daylight saving time. The sun is up longer and I get to go out and talk to people about the Lord, whom wouldn’t be out and about if the sun was already setting. The young people are still out and it seemed I ran into them more than adults, though there were a few there; including an African woman with her children who said she was saved. And some older Jewish or Catholic people on a bench who received tracts from me.

There were people lined up by the hundreds to see a new movie, and I walked down the line handing out two different ones that I had from FellowshipTractLeague. While these fail in comparison to the artwork that pops from the Living Waters tracts, they are still useful in reaching people with the word of God. Whenever people asked me what they were, I would say “They are gospel tracts about Jesus”. Some took them and some did not, (probably thinking it was cult materials), and only a couple of them gave it back. I gave out probably a hundred or so tracts in the line. I would say “Ladies, here’s something to read while you are in line. And I’ll give you [a friend standing with them] a different one.” That seemed to help get them into people’s hands.

I finished with that and then walked down the sidewalk to the furthest light handing out tracts. Again, many people reject them because they think it is material coming from a cult, or religious people. When I got to the light I ran into three 21 year olds, who were gathered around a bench. We had a conversation based on the question on the front of the tract “Are you a good person?” We went through the gospel and spoke about a few good questions. I reiterated that they need to do two things – Repent and Trust in Jesus work on the cross. I said this a few times towards the end and encouraged them to not only think about this and read the tract, but also to do it, since we are not guaranteed another day. These guys are the typical young men in the downward spiraling current generation. Please pray that they will see their sins as God does and that they need to get right with Him - and do it now.

Ran into three small pre teen boys who were on little push scooters, as I stood next to the rose lady. I asked if he had got one of the tracts and he said no. He asked what it was about. I told him and we started a conversation into discussing about the after life. He said he was afraid of Hell and doesn’t want to go there. The one boy was very interested in what I was saying,. I was able to get some important thoughts into the kid to consider in all seriousness. He asked some good questions - bright for such a young kid. His friends were going towards an alley on their scooters (cause they couldn’t afford a rose from the lady selling them) and the other friend lost interest in what I was saying. However about a minute after the other kids had left, this kid was still there, but was starting to look like he should take off and stay with his friends. At one point during the conversation the tract I gave him had fell to the ground. He picked it up quickly and held onto it. After the friends were gone, I wrapped up what I was saying and told him the information in the tract will tell him how to get right with God and how he can get into heaven. And then told him to go catch up to his friends. *I didn’t want him to be in trouble for not sticking with his friends, and didn’t want them to pick on or tease him for talking about religious things. I believe he will read the tract. Please pray for him.


I then saw, near where the line was for the movie, three other guys (they looked very similar to the ones I just spoke to). As I got closer I realized these guys were younger and were not the same people. LOL. So I talked to them as I offered them tracts. One of the guys said He KNOWS he is a good person. That was a great entrance (to the gospel) if I ever saw one! We had a good conversation about the fact that we are not good, and that we need Jesus. He had a few questions but because the Law always does its work, there were no objections to what was being said. However, he thought he was a good person and I took him down the road to show him again that he wasn’t. When we ended the conversation I told him to not only consider these things and repent and trust in Christ, but also encouraged him to see that he isn’t good and that is why he needs Jesus. I questioned him and said “You are what?” and he seemed perplexed for a minute and then I said (to put it in his head as reality) “Your not a good person, you’re a bad person just like the rest of us.” And he had the look of ‘oh yeah, that’s true’ on his face as we parted. Please pray for him too.

I talked to a group of kids who were coming from around an alley way (in a different area than the last kids I spoke to) that leads through the open mall area. I took a leap of faith and handed one a gospel tract. The others were not really interested at the time. He stopped to ask me about it, and the other kids stopped and stayed to listen. While I did not think they would be open to talk to me, they were. This was probably one of my best conversations with young people about spiritual things. We talked about things from Creation and creator, Heaven and Hell, what Hell is really like, The universe and any possibility of life on other planets, aliens and the scene from the movie The Last Mimzy where the people unzipped themselves from alien looking outfits designed to help them breath and live on a toxic planet, how the scientists are traveling the universe. How there are 3 heavens and how interesting it would be if the reached that third one in the outerspace area and “boing” hit the wall where God is behind. A discussion about were Homosexuals that way by choice, what about scientology (the religion of those who live lives of make believe in Hollywood). We also talked about how we cant earn our way to heaven by works or making up for bad things, talks of history and archeology matching what Scripture already said, Nostradamus & false prophets, scripture and fulfilled prophecy, God’s word preserved through the ages as History, The number of manuscripts (42,000 and pieces) compared to the next best preserved piece of literature in antiquity (ancient history) which is the Illiad with a mere 600 copies. As well as a lot of other things. *Not all of this in the exact order as mentioned, but each question seemed to lead them to the next questions until they seemed to have all their questions answered.

The older boy didn’t seem too interested at first and kind of silently flippant about the conversation, but they were all pulled into the conversation (by themselves) a couple of times, and each of them had some questions that left them with thought provoking answers from God’s perspective scripturally. They asked about whether I believe Jesus is really coming back some day. I started to explain about how it will happen and how it could be any time. Some believers think in the next 50-80 years. One of them did not really know anything about the rapture and I said “really? Are you pulling my leg or do you really not know?” he said he honestly didn’t know. “I said ok, well I don’t want to explain something in a dumbed down way as if you don’t know something. So that is why I asked.” And he appreciated that I said that and felt that way. I probably gained some respect from him at that moment, but believe I had it before then anyway. It just solidified his feelings towards me at that moment.

We talked about one of the most misunderstood truth’s about judgment day – that not all people will stand before God. “Christians will not be judged, because our sins were already judged and dealt with when Jesus die don the Cross. Only those who die without Jesus (repenting and placing their faith in Jesus alone) will be the ones who stand before God on Judgment Day. So if you end up there, you know where you are “going” after you stand before Him”. They also got to hear the Law and Grace and saw their need for Christ. I encouraged them that if they all made that decision to get right with God they could all read the Bible together and help each other be the people God wants them to be. And its not like they will be religious crazy people if they become Christians, they will simply be people who don’t need to cuss, or commit the sins God says is wrong. They can live right by God because He will empower them to do what is right, by the Holy Spirit. I told them the importance of getting right today, before they go to bed, and that just as kids get killed in school shootings, by drunk drivers, or any other tragic and unexpected way, so too could each of them, as we are not guaranteed a long life on earth. So we ended the conversation and we all shook hands. One of the guys said that he “learned more today than he has in a whole year of high school.” Hopefully they all took the conversation to heart, and get right with God. I noticed that even the one older kid who didn’t really believe in God, seemed to see at the end of the conversation that God is real and he is the one in Scripture, based on the evidence in truth that I shared. And I know the gospel which has the power in itself to convict people and convert them to faith in Christ will keep this conversation in them (even as a seed) that is able to produce salvation if they repent and trust in Christ. Please pray that they do, and will grow in solid biblical faith and holiness.


I then went back through the main area and started handing out tracts. Some older high school girls were coming towards me in goth / rock and roll style clothes, and a guy friend (much older than they) was with them. He had tattoos everywhere visible. While the girls took the tract, the guy gave it back, and said he cant take it because of his belief’s. I started to inquire about that, and then he saw some security police coming towards him as he was showing me his neck and ear area (that had a tattoo what looked like a version of God or Jesus) as he proclaimed “but I do believe in God”. I was about to move into the conversation on that segue when the guards came up to him to escort him about 3 more feet away, off the property. I did not realize I was holding him up from leaving. Oops! It was by their direction he was to leave. Apparently they were going to have him arrested for smoking marijuana and causing problems down near the theater. The dark clothed girls were there slightly stunned standing in place. I asked what happened and they told me. I said in a concerned and honest way (as I gave them another tract) “well if he goes to jail he will certainly want to have this. Please give it to him.” And they emphatically said they would. I am sure they were concerned about him, but so goes our current generation of young people. No guidance, discipline, and good teachings in school or at home and laxed or changed laws lead them to be the worst rebellious generation in our nations history.

I walked away towards a small pack of friends gathered and talking, between the area I was tracting earlier and an ice cream shop. A 12 year old girl was hanging out with these who were a little older than she was. At first I thought she was a boy because of her haircut and undeveloped body. I approached the group and offered them tracts, and told them what it was about. I asked if any of them thought they were good. She did. And so began our conversation.

This young girl listened intently as I shared spiritual things with her, discussing the Law and how God sees her. I did not have any objections but she sure was taking it all in. She of all her friends, in particular, seemed quite moved by the message, and stood there firmly taking in what I was saying. And when the friends were walking away about, 4 minutes later, to go associate with some other friends (to my surprise, it happened to be the older gothic girls who were with the older boy who got into trouble a while back). She stood there wanting to continue hearing how she is not good according to the Law and that she would stand before God. She looked back to see how far her friends were from her, as they started calling her. I told her "go catch up with your friends, but read that tract to learn what else I wanted to tell you." Please pray for her as well as everyone else I spoke to, (and tracted!), tonight.

And remember, even if you don’t have the best looking gospel tracts, they can spark great conversations – just look at the ones I had tonight for proof of that. The Spirit will work with the Word of Truth to convict and convert. And the tracts can stay with them longer than we can. They serve as reminders, as do our conversations and those seeds can sprout into salvation of souls.

Have you shared a gospel tract with someone today?

*If you do not have some, you can get free ones at www.FellowshipTractLeague.org or low cost ones of YourMomentofTruth (these are popular and great tracts that will not only spark great conversations in a one on one situation, but they offer a solid and complete gospel message even if they are left holding a cash tip for a waitress, or simply handed out). Or nicely designed ones at LivingWaters

.

Creep and Cash

February 9, 2008
On my way home from a trip tonight I stopped by the local fast food place for a small dinner. As I was waiting in line an older man was placing his order. He was talking to the cashier and then after placing his order he moved away…but not too far away, in which I hesitated to step forward and begin my order. The cashier motioned towards me and then I started to give my order, as I did that the older man sort of tried to continue talking to the cashier and it was awkward. I gave him some slack because I figured he must want to confirm something about his order. But after realizing that wasn’t what was going on…there was something “wrong” with the guy, I didn’t know what it was and wasn’t wanting to be a part of it. Well, I moved forward more and the man was to my left and didn’t want to walk away. I gave my order and then stepped back to await my number. No sooner did I find a place to stand did the older man come over my direction.  He stunk of alcohol and was trying to talk to me. I thought that a million dollar bill would get him away from me and he would read it and be distracted. Well he took the tract, looked at it and I said something like it was neat and had some words on the back.

Well about that time I realized he only spoke Spanish and just a little English, and I was concerned he might think it was real money so I told him firmly “Es falso dinero, ok?” and he understood that. Then the next thing I knew he was asking me “if I wanted to go to his car”. I was very offended by that, as any decent woman would be, but also knew that most men in this world are lust filled dirt-bags and they cant help it. Like Ray says “they are like moths to the flame.” Every unsaved sinner will keep coming back to the darling sins that they love most. So I firmly told him “no”, and showed him my wedding ring and told him I was married. They workers there were watching this guy, and very shortly after that they called him for his food, and then he started to walk away but lingered for a minute. I thought “oh great, now I have to watch my back on the way to the car, this guy is going to try and follow me.” 

Right after that my order was up. I got to the counter and told the guys there “I thought I could get rid of him by giving him one of these to distract him, but didn’t seem to work on that guy.” And I then offered one to them and they took one. As I was rolling the bag down to carry as to go they both said (in stereo, LOL) “Can I have another one?” They really liked them. And wanted to give one to their friends in the back cooking area. I said “Sure” and as I pulled out the rest of my small wad and handed them to the guys, I told them that they also make good bookmarks. Not that they might be avid readers or anything, but it’s a nice tip (ha-ha, pun intended).

I ate some food inside to make sure the guy left. Well he didn’t leave yet and tried to talk to me on the way to my car. I ignored him but kept an eye out for how fast he was coming towards me and what direction he was walking. He was in his vehicle but started to get out of it to try and get me to his vehicle. I got in my car and drove away a different direction from my house (towards police station?) to ensure he wasn’t following me, and that I would “lose him” before proceeding home. My hubby wasn’t home yet and I didn’t want any problems when I parked.

A day in the life of a female in a fallen world 😔.

Well, I was able to hand out tracts to everyone behind the counter at that place. That is great because most of the time only a cashier and a couple people near the door get tracts. This time the whole staff got one. And the manager was one of the two guys asking for more.

Praise God for this opportunity to get the gospel into their hearts. I also hope the older man read the tract after he was sobered up, and hope that they all get saved.

Side note: This situation is another reason why I don’t believe women should be out at dark-thirty without another person accompanying them whether it is for evangelism or not. We should be in pairs for evangelism for our teammates safety, and while I know this seems hard for a lot of guys to grasp and consistently ensure… its most necessary for a woman’s safety. It’s a main reason I wont go witnessing without a partner. It’s an evil and wicked world out there and there is no sense in putting yourself in harms way. The buddy system was established in the Bible for a reason.