Encounters of an ATH&IST kind

Recently, I posted “To P r o t e s t a n t s, Pastors and other likeminded people who love Truth]: I Love JESUS” to proclaim my faith to other believers online. I did not know a non-Christian would take that post and engage me, trying to debate me (thinking I was not a knowledgeable Christian). I interacted with him for a short time to try and reach him, or others who follow his posts ;). Anyone who is really open to the truth (wherever it leads them) might stumble upon our conversation and find answers they’ve looked for, and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. “The Lord is on my side and His Word never returns void.”

I am no Ken Ham, but I know a fair amount about Ath3ism& Evilution to be helpful when reaching out to ath&ists. I am a strong Christian, solid in Scripture & my relationship with God and the Lord Jesus, and the power of God and the Holy Spirit IS WITH me when I witness.

Ath3ists dont even realize that posting/replying to Christians (while trolling online as a wolf looking for a victim)...allowing us to reply ... and opened all the doors God plans for them to, to reach the eyes (heart and mind) of any Ath3ist/agnostic or person looking into the things of God, enabling them to see/visit the websites we post and to consider the truths of Christ. Scripture said if we search with all our being we will find the truth and the truth will set us free. God also told us in Scripture that he who seeks finds, and Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

We were limited on how many words we could post on this miniblog, but here is the conversation we had.

1. Ath3ist: My invisible friend is named Steveo, and I love him too!

2: Christian reply: Creation shows the Creator exists. I will not debate the facts of what U clearly can see naturally & http://ow.ly/hi0c (learn about).

2a. To Believers: Dear Christians , feel free to regularly share this link with Ath3ists/agnostics and those who believe in Evolution - http://ow.ly/hi0c2b. Extra Post (incase he came to my page to read what I post): There is no prison in the freedom of Salvation. Sin is the true prison, those who remain in it and dont come to Jesus for liberty are prisoners of Satan; enslaved in sin.

3.Ath3ist: You would think (reference to #2), but science disagrees. And let's not forget that proving a Creator does not mean proving your religion is right.

4. Christian Reply: Science does agree (but evolutionists just refuse to accept it). Also, I do not have a religion sir, I have the truth and Christ.

5.Another Reply: MzrAth3ist You didn't even check out the information at the website - http://ow.ly/hi0c - "did" you?

6.Ath3ist: Sorry, I don't do Flash (websites). But I find it ironic you claim to have no religion, though the only reason to believe Jesus was anyone…is because of the (Catholic) Church really, since no other documents corroborate any significant part of the Gospel."

7.Christian Reply: I think you didn’t want to see that site, your answer was a “cop out”.

8. Ath3ist: (quotes me:) "I do not have a religion sir, I have the truth and Christ.” If I had a nickel for every time I heard that...

8. Reply: Christianity is not a religion, its a personal relationship with the person (God) Jesus Christ. You do not know Him... therefore you can not say that I do not [ reference to: knowing Him; a real person/the creator].

9. Ath3ist (this is when this post posted): "…is because of the (Catholic) Church, really, since no other documents corroborate any significant part of the Gospel."

9.Christian reply: Your facts are wrong sir. 1. Catholicism has nothing to do with Christianity. 2. the Bible is the most reliable book in all of antiquity (historically and as literature).

10.Another thought: Ur attempts to get us to leave our faith is really satan's attempt try and drag me to hell, but you should appreciate my attempts to get you into Heaven.

11. ...if you believe we're not created (& nothing matters; we're all accidents) why then do you-waste your time against Christianity instead of on other useful/enjoyable things in life?

12. PS: your bio says you don’t want to worry about Hell. I wouldn’t worry about that – you should be worrying more about God and his coming wrath against unrepentant sinners. (ie. Flee to Christ sir while there's time).

Then I blocked MzrAth3ist from being able to contact me further. You don’t have to do that, but I don’t believe this guy was open to reason. I dont want to waste my time with those who want to keep me from doing anything profitable for the Kindom of Christ. They have enough info available in what we said available online these days and several churches in their towns to go and speak to someone more on the issue, but they won't. My goal is to just get them thinking about spiritual things. This as well as the rest is in God's hands.

Christians----You can then Post these msgs:

1. ...Pointed the ath3ist to a Gospel site n "blocked" them. They are "closed" to reason and truth.

2. A tip for Christians: Don't let #Ath3ists and those who are against #Christianity continually waste your time in 15 words or less on miniblogs.

3. A great gospel site for Ath3ists agnostics and false religion followers can be found at a growing resource  ******

Side Notes:
I offered believers to send me a message to receive our conversation so they could use it to assist them with weeding out closeminded Ath3ists. To get a copy of that link for some reason… I went to the search section of the miniblog and looked up my name...I then realized the Ath3ist had replied back two times, but I had already blocked him. So it didn’t show up on my page. But I wanted other Ath3ists who may have read his final replies to me to know my response to that issue. If they reply back about "God sending people to hell" as this guy did (see below)...

11. Ath3ist: Any god who sends those who do not believe in him to hell is, frankly a @)#*%

Reply on your page (cause youve already blocked him). just post on your own blog wall:

11. Sir, God doesnt send anyone to Hell. People send themselves there. They chose to violate God's law. Criminals are punished for their crimes.

12. God is merciful, and gracious to undeserved criminals and He proved it by His lovingkindness offered through Christ. Yet you reject Him.

13. I blocked Mr foulmouth as you can see. I also find it funny he lists what Ath3ism hasnt done, but forgot to list the atrocities it "has" done.

note: Christianity has done more for the people of this world than anyone else. Ath3ists seem to remove the Christian faith from the Earth but don’t seem to have a problem with Muslims or other Religions or Cults as far as I can see. Based on what I learned about the philosophy and history of Atheistic views their end result is for Christians to be eliminated from the world (by various ways and methods), and only reward those who are conniving and dupe people or step on people to get what they want in life with their “survival of the fittest” mentality. Christians help the poor, they have compassion and empathy and care about others. They created hospitals and schools, colleges and so much more, they even take in orphans and care for widows. Ath3ists don’t do that and don’t care about anyone but themselves. Christians care about everyone, their physical needs as well as their most important need – to be right with God and have salvation through Christ. Eternity depends on it. It’s the truth, its reality. Ath3ists can continue to pretend it isn’t true, but deep down I believe they know it is true, and they hate that “fact”. They only have one hope in Christ:"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

If you have any problems with interacting with Ath3ists feel free to use the same responses i posted (above) to try and reach them. Sometimes when people receive truthful answers to their objections the bricks fall out of their wall and they learn something they dindt know before and it brings them closer to the knowledge of the truth of Jesus salvation. They will certainly leave a different person than they were before they interacted with you and that is because God's word doesnt return void.

If you have any idesas for tweet responses to common objections from Ath3ists please contact me with the info, so I can post them and we can all use them on the internet. May we reach some for Christ by all possible means available.

*******************************************************************
Additional Helpful Resource:
"Do you withstand God's Word?": http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1123081834580 Good Sermon, feel free to share it with those you know online. Christian, Atheist or other religious person. It too can break down barriers they have between themselves and God by humbling them and leading them to the truth.
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Four Questions Atheists Cant Answer http://www.bethinking.org/news-and-views/2009-09/did-darwin-kill-god

Mission: Street Fishin (Hawaii)

Mission: Street Fishin in Kona, Hawaii 

We hope you will enjoy it and be blessed by it. 

As Bible believing, Born Again Christians we share the gospel with those who are not saved. Our mission as believers is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ EVERYWHERE we go, to whomever will listen, to reason with people using the truth and the authority of God’s word. We sometimes find ourselves in the most challenging of locations locally ... on the streets in our area or while traveling abroad. Our mission field is in our own area, but we are to share the gospel on the highways and byways as we travel through life. 

So when we were on a trip to Hawaii we ensured that we would have the opportunity to reach out to the vacationers and the locals with the gospel, through prior arrangements with local believers. Hawaii is not a place like Heaven, the quality of life of those living on the island has many who live in tree houses, in cars, or are simply homeless facing just as much poverty, addiction, and heartache as people in other places in the United States and around the world. No place on earth is free of the consequences of sin! 

The group we met with usually witness at this location in downtown Kona because so many people stop for a port visit via cruise ships during the middle of the week. However, the day we were there the cruise ships had already visited for the week. So we talked to people who were vacationing nearby or who were locals. We also ran into some YWAM people and got an opportunity to talk to a few of these people about the biblical gospel and our commission by Christ to share the gospel with people, not just do good deeds. 

We do good deeds because of Christ in our life, and we share that information with those we help, so they know why we do it. It’s for the sake of the gospel because of our gratitude and love towards Jesus Christ for saving us from our sins and God’s coming wrath upon all who die without Christ Jesus as their God and Savior. So we have a divine appointment during that charity or deeds to share the gospel with those people and represent Christ not just as a lifestyle witness, but also verbally. For Scripture rightly says that they can not know the gospel unless someone tells them, and they can not hear it unless someone goes out to do that. 

We were compelled to reach the lost while we were in Hawaii, because we know that 160,000 people die every day in this world and we couldn’t imagine not sharing the gospel that can and will save them from the wrath of God and eternal Hell. We know many who were there when we were, were walking down the streets unaware of whether that day or week or month was their last on this Earth. We did not want them to step into eternity without knowing their need for Christ and know how to be saved. Every individual has an appointed lifespan determined by God, and they have an appointed day in which they will be Judged if they leave this earth while they are still unforgiven sinners (Hebrews 9:27) and none know when their last day on earth will be. 

Therefore, as long as we're able to talk and others are able to hear, we will continue to share the gospel, glorify the Lord and reach souls for Christ. We are on a mission...to spread the Word to as many as we can wherever God takes us during our time on this earth. And we count it a privilege to share this message of salvation and this evangelism vlog with you. It is all to glorify the Lord, encourage the Saints in Christ, and to reach the lost while there is still time. 

If you do not know the Lord as your Personal Savior, or you profess Christ as your Lord but want to make sure you are correctly saved and will go to Heaven when you die or the Lord returns to take Christians to Heaven, please visit this website today. Get right with God today, sort it out now, because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Need God. com

Street Evangelism Hawaii Part 1 

Street Evangelism Hawaii Part 2

Street Evangelism Hawaii Part 3 

Labels: #evangelism, #gospel, #Gospel Tracts, #Hawaii, #mission trip, #Witnessing 

Published: July 6, 2009

Hawaii Witnessing (part 1)

We had a great week in Hawaii.

 We got to enjoy activities with the family by BBQing, snorkeling, hiking, zip-lining, making our way to waterfalls, got to see a black sand beach, we attended a Hawaiian Christian worship service and enjoyed a Christian based Luau (that we think was part of a YWAM organization). 

But we also were able to leave tracts at places we went, gave them to those who lead our tours and activities, and also we planned for spending one afternoon on the streets with a couple we met on through a Christian ministry. On Thursday morning we put on our sun block, got ready, ate breakfast, sorted our tracts, and headed out to the place we were going to meet with a couple of believers in Kona, Hawaii. We found our way down the main strip on Ali'i (ah-lee-E) drive to a free parking area. We walked down to the church area where we met. 

The church is a place that the couple witnesses outside of regularly on Wednesday's as the huge cruise ships pull into the port a block from there and they tend to get a bunch of those people on this main road heading to the "sites" (this church is popular for historical things), and to the souvenir shops along the water front and to enjoy lunch at the restaurants on the street that have breezy window free buildings to enjoy the scenery and the wind to cool you down.

I contacted them on my cell they had arrived already. I waited until we got out of the car before explaining to my nephew, who has never gone out with me to hand out tracts or talk to people about Jesus, that "we might run into people who do not want them, or they might yell or be mean, but it is only because they do not understand what we are trying to tell them about Jesus. So I told him not to feel bad if people act that way or if he see people behaving like that to anyone in our group." I didn't want to tell him this before we went or he would feel scared, so I just shared it as information for him to be aware of, once we got there. Especially since he has hardly ever been to church unless my mom brings him, and he might not understand various reasons why people might be hostile towards God and Jesus. Though she has conversations with him about Jesus since he was young. And we had shared a gospel children's book with him, so maybe he might understand it a little bit. But he wanted to come with us, and that would be a good experience for him. 

I walked toward the church with my parents and my 7 year old nephew, (who looks older than and is twice as tall as the others in his 1st grade class).  As we got closer to the meet up place I saw them in front of the church, and they were engaged in conversations already. Glory to God!  He had a cowboy hat on and a stack of tracts in his hand, she had some items in hers as well, and that is how I confirmed "they were them", lol. We hung back until they were done with the conversations and then we all were introduced. We prayed over the things the Lord would use us for that day in reaching out to those who are not saved, giving us the words to share and thanked him for the opportunity to come together and reach the lost. 

Then we took some group photos before we started.... 

They showed us some tracts and materials they had there, and offered that if we felt moved to share them with those we talked to we could. They showed us a neat gospel tract post card that they published this year. I think it is a good one. Plus, whoever sends these in the mail, no one will ever know who sent it to them, so it shouldn't cause anyone to be afraid to reach others for Christ. Then they showed us the celebrity millions, which I had not seen before "in real life", and wondered if they would actually work. Would they be a stumbling block or would they be useful in reaching people? We'd find out.

My dad sat down to observe how we witnessed, as he has not participated in sharing tracts in public yet and is a little introverted. It took me a couple years from learning WOTM material before I stepped out, so I am just glad that they came along, even just to watch and see how conversations happen in real life.

The last few years in Los Vegas I have been unable to get them to come with me on the streets, to observe (and be there because there is safety in numbers, esp. in that town). My mom has handed out some tracts to children at VBS when she was a teacher in it at their Church. She then moved on to showing the curved tract to children in restaurants in the last few years whenever she felt bold enough to do it. They do leave MDB's and other tracts at restaurants. Their favorite was the large Quarter sized tract Living Waters made.

Well, I wondered if she was going to step out and hand tracts to people today. I wanted to pair them with the couple, mom with her, and dad with him, so they could see how people minister in conversations, but we ended up doing all our own thing.

The guy went across the street and so did my nephew. He handed tracts out pretty boldly, even about 20 yards away from those who were coming our direction. I don't know that anyone refused a tract from him. Kids are kind of cute that way, no one wants to hurt their feelings.

The lady said the area is usually very hard to witness in and they are always encountering spiritual warfare there pretty intensely; which Mom would later find out to be true. She and I stayed on the side of the church and my mom hung out near us by the church, (as a tourist pretending to be a tourist, lol). We handed out tracts and people took them.

It was a little weird with the celebrity tracts whenever I tried using them. I had my own stash of tracts that I brought the living waters million dollar bill, a couple good person tracts from fellowshiptractleague.org, and the your moment of truth tract, (which are good to use because if you don't finish your conversation, they'll read it later and end up with all the things you wanted to share with them, and there is more information on the website the tract points to).

The guy ended up in a good long conversation with a big guy across the street and he took a full sized Bible with him. I hope he shares that encounter with us, because I overheard him telling the lady and my mom parts of it, as I passed out tracts a few feet away while trying to start conversations with people. Not a lot of people stopped to talk to us, but some did take tracts. Others didn't want them.

The Your Moment of Truth tracts worked pretty well and they enabled me to get a foot in the door to a conversation for a minute. However, regardless of the tract we used to start a conversation most people walked away not wanting to talk to us about religious things. It was a little hard to get people into conversations with the celebrity bills than with the other tracts. People did not seem as interested in them as the million dollar bill. I don't think I am going to offer them to people, even in my own area (Hollywood, CA). But maybe because it was Hawaii instead of Hollywood blvd the other tracts worked better.

We handed tracts out to college age and older adults, and also to a few locals who might be homeless. A Korean lady with a stroller and her little 2 year old boy walking next to her stopped to let me show the boy something neat. I held up the two curved tracts & asked him which one is bigger? He pointed to the pink one, then I switched them and looked at his mom for a split second and asked him again "which one is bigger?" he pointed to the blue one. I told him "they are both the same size. They just look like they are bigger." And then I said "you can have this for free to take home with you" and he took them and started running gleefully down the pathway while his mom was still surprised by the illusion and smiled at me while she chased after him. He was like the happiest kid ever, it was so cute!  

Two more parts to the witnessing in Hawaii can be found below....

part 2 

Witnessing in Hawaii (part 2)

In Part one of our Hawaii witnessing blog… I shared how we got to Hawaii, and pre-arranged to meet with local believers there, to share the gospel in the main touristy area.

After handing out tracts for a while I saw three girls coming down the pathway. Two were preoccupied, with one having an ipod zombie-ing her out, the other was fidgeting with things in her hands, and the third one was not incapacitated so when they came by I had three MDB’s in my hand to give to them. One thing I like to do is to have two different kinds of tracts with me so that when I hand them out, their friends get a different design then they do, so it occupies them for a few minutes when they walk away. I handed them to her and told her they were million dollar bills and there was one for each of her friends there too. They walked away and Rhonda and I talked for a minute awaiting others to come by. The girls came back after reading them, and said they were “giving them back to me, because they were theology students and didn’t want them”. I told her “Oh, well there is good information on the back that they should at least consider” and I said something else to that effect as well. They didn’t want them. When they walked away I was perplexed as to why I was unable to move into a spiritual discussion with them. Perhaps the Holy Spirit was telling me not to continue. They were closed to the conversation, and I think they think they are “good to go with God” and are closed minded right now. When they walked away I told Rhonda that I originally though they came over as those who think they are intellectual because they go to college, and I thought they said they were “Philosophy majors” but really they said “Theology majors”. I couldn’t believe I made that error. Though I was glad to say what I did in hindsight, because both unsaved Philosophy and unsaved Theology students still need to be saved. 

 It was hot out, and Rhonda and I talked about how thankful we are for the trees that were there to shade us (between the walk way and the street). We then walked over to the other side of the street and Virgil traded places with us. I had hoped Virgil would get my dad to stand next to him, but he was so close to Virgil anyway, he could still hear any conversations. It might take a while for him to move into conversations with people, because he is really introverted.  Mom has come out of her shell a little more, he hasn't yet. I think he had a good time there though, and the experience. But I hope one day he will get a little bit bolder. 

 Rhonda and I stood on the other side of the street and not many people came by at all, so we decided to split up the group (there were too many of us there in one place anyway), and we headed down the (land based) board walk. I grabbed some tracts and caught up with Rhonda. We went over to a shop there and she got coffee and I got a lemonade drink. When I paid for the drink I told the guy I would put this (a million dollar bill tract) in the jar but he was right there so I handed it to him. We chatted for a minute and then I left to catch up with Rhonda. 

She had walked over to a couple and was starting to hand them a 10 commandment coin (tract item). And we found out they were from Egypt. Since YWAM (Youth With a Mission [that’s not about the gospel]) has a university kind of school thing nearby we assumed they were visiting to go there for a training course. I realized they had Egyptian Bible’s open and were studying something because there were papers or notebooks around them. We told them we go out on the streets to share the gospel with people and we hand them gospel tracts to start conversations. She gave them a couple million dollar bill and your moment of truth tracts. They took them and said they would keep one and give the duplicates away. We encouraged them to do so. We talked for a minute and then went on our way. 

 When we were almost leaving the boardwalk we ran into two girls at the corner retail shack (its an open air one with no windows). One worked there and the other one was shopping. I handed them a YMOT tract and we talked about the tv show your moment of truth for a minute. I shared with her about the girl on there who answered the question “are you a good person” wrong. Her conscience told her she was not a good person, though she thought she was. Because of that belief she lost everything. The information in the tract tells us that we are not good people and that if we think we are we will lose everything when we stand before God, that we will lose our soul and end up in Hell, but that Jesus did something for us so we don’t have to go to hell. They agreed about that and thanked us for talking with them. 

We went back past our group and down the waterway path and ran into a homeless looking Rastafarian guy (a colorful character with a few missing teeth) came by us holding a ukulele (guitar). Rhonda offered him a tract and the guy told us he believed in God. He stopped for a minute and we attempted to strike up a conversation with him and ended up asking him about his ukulele. He said he plays “backyard style” which means he just strums on it. So we asked him to play something and he strummed a little. I told him he “played really well.” I also mentioned that it appears one “doesn’t need to know how to play that instrument to make beautiful music” (it truly is beautiful). Then he asked us which church we go to. Rhonda told him where she goes and I told him I am here on vacation and go to a church in Los Angeles, California. So he then broke out in song with the ukulele paying “Amazing Grace”. And Rhonda started humming and singing along so I joined in and then before I knew it she was recording us singing. I’m not sure if you will find that popping up on Utube, but if you do… forgive my voice it’s just a joyful noise box. 

Short Video Clip of bits and pieces of the outing :)

We also spoke to a Hawaiian native on the street who then talked to us briefly too, cause he was sitting near where we talked to a homeless guy. I had given him a gospel tract earlier to take with him as he seemed in a hurry at the time. 

I love the your moment of truth tract because is great for situations like that! Whether you talk to them, only get part of a conversation with them, or just hand it to them…it has the complete gospel in it. (link)

So the young guy spoke to us a few minutes but we didn’t get anywhere in the conversation. At least he had the tract I gave him from earlier. He was with his mom who was next to us weaving baskets from palm leaves, as she sells them for a living. 

 Tune in next time for the rest of the witnessing trip… you don’t want to miss it!

Part 3 

Hawaii Evangelism pt 3

Witnessing in Hawaii, the Conclusion....

Rhonda and I walked on and ran into a mother and daughter sitting on a curb outside a shaved ice store. They were waiting for her husband to come out with their cool snack. It was pretty hot out. I walked up to her and offered them each a regular million dollar bill tract and told them it was free.

I asked the mom if she had a religious background. She said yes, catholic. And I told her the back of the million dollar bill asks an important question. Will you go to heaven when you die. I asked if she could name any of the 10 commandments. She said she couldn’t think of any. I told her I’m sure she could remember at least one. (I tried to get her motivated to talk with me). She said she couldn’t, and she really didn’t want to talk to me about religious things. It’s a personal thing for her.

I shared we are out today talking with people, because we know its important to make sure we know where we are going when we die. She was adamantly in her attitude, not really nice, and kind of non responsive (I could tell she did not want to talk). She wasn’t rude or mean, just in a weird way just not wanting to talk. Her preteen daughter was sitting with her and so, I tried to encourage her to read the back of the million dollar bill because its important. I felt like that was a swing and a miss. At least they had the tract, that is the great thing about it. The gospel does the work it is meant to do, by the power of God. So when they read it, hopefully what I was trying to say, would make sense after she read the tract.

We went back to our meeting spot with the group and attempted to give out a few other tracts. Some college age guys took some from me, a few younger girls, and a couple who were walking by.

When the couple was approaching, I wanted to call him a bit closer to us, and then my nephew reached out and offered the Million dollar bill tract. The lady nicely asked him what it was. He looked at me for a second and wasnt sure what to say or do, so he quickly flipped it over and showed her the text on the back. And read he it right out to her “the million dollar question: Will you go to heaven when you die?” She said yes and then they and I talked a minute.

She said her and her husband go to a church down the road from here [so they are locals] and that they know people at YWAM. We talked for about 10 minutes. We shared with them that we are on vacation and are out with a local couple who witness there to the locals and those who come off of the cruise lines. We told them how we share the gospel and etc. It was a nice conversation.

While we were with the others when witnessing (safety first), at one point a creepy older homeless guy (white but very tan, with long blond dreadlocks) came our way. We decided to try to talk to him briefly, to at least hand a tract, he was just not interested in talking. Then I spoke to another native Hawaiian lady who also appeared homeless and had a local friend with her. Most of the people there are Hawaiian natives, white, or tourists.

Later on we packed up and headed back to meet up with the rest of our family. I’m sure we were out for about 3 hours and that was a pretty long time for my parents’ first street “outing.” And I was glad to hear that my mom had been handing out tracts in the walkway in front of the church. After we got back to the resort, she told me she had the hardest people come past her when the other lady and I had shortly walked down the boardwalk.

She said she handed out to a few people as they were walking by and they took the tract and didn’t stop, others turned their face and snubbed her or would not only refuse the tract, (either thinking it was cult material or because they were anti-Christian), but they would also speak rudely to her or say “No” in a very mean way. She tried to hand a large 100 dollar bill to a mother of a couple young children who were walking by, offering it as “play money” and the mother grabbed her little children by the arm and dragged them away as she firmly said in a rude and aggressively way “NO!” Her kids didn’t understand and she treated her children badly because of her (the mom’s) behavior.

My mom told the believer she was teamed up with at the moment that she couldn’t understand how the mother would react that way since the kids can’t even read. When she told me, I mentioned that there could be many reasons; It could be due to a situation in her life where she is mad at God right now, had a pushy family member or someone else she knows try to get her to church, or she had a bad experience with someone who professed to be a Christian and ended up causing her to walk away from spiritual things. No one knows but God, and at least my mom tried. She did her part to share the gospel, even after several people treated her like that.

After we returned home from Hawaii the ones who lived there and joined up with us to share the gospel, had went back to see if the Egyptian couple was still there, so they could talk to them, and encourage them. They were there, and they had a great conversation! The very next day they ran into that couple in a local store and had mentioned to the witnessing couple that they were greatly encouraged by all of us to share the gospel. That was an encouragement to us because we’ve found it’s rare to get a YWAM’er interested in sharing the gospel. I look forward to hearing about their witnessing encounters from this outing too.

Praise God for all the opportunities we had to talk to people, and hand out tracts. 

Reaching Den

June 9, 2009

Chat with Den

Christian: Welcome to chat! Let me know how I can help you know God better, answer any questions, or help you to make sure you are saved.

Den: hi. I am looking to chat. I am a Christian, I am saved.
Christian: Hi Den, Welcome.
Christian: Let me ask, how did you get saved?
Den: i have 3 uncles who are pastors and they shared about how to be saved
Christian: (rephrased - How do people get saved?)
Den: he just let me follow prayer to accept Christ as my personal savior
Christian: I'm kind of confused about your answer so I am probing a little. Please stay with me on this....
Den: ok…
Christian: why would someone need to do that. Why do we need to accept Jesus and pray? what I am saying is that your answer to my question is a little squishy. I am just trying to figure out how you got saved and the reason you wanted to be saved.
Christian: why do you think people need to be saved?
Den: to be in heaven, so that people can have eternal life..
Christian: but why cant people just get to heaven automatically when they die?
Christian: there must be a reason they need saving
Den: become all of us have sinned
Christian: ok. what is sin?
Den: um…
Christian: most people cant answer that, because they've never been told what it is and why its important, but its so vital to the reason we need to be saved.
Den: sin are the bad things we do and disobeying Gods commandments
Christian: can you name some of the commandments?
Den: love God above all
Christian: that's true
Den: honor your father and mother
Christian: how about adultery....
Christian: Jesus said if you look with lust, its adultery of the heart
Den: thou shall not kill
Christian: And Jesus said if we hate someone we are guilty of murder in the heart
Den: stealing is another
Christian: You're right! Those are some of the commandments.
Christian: They cut right to our heart, and they even compose of the things we do in our thoughts and the things we think we do in secret.
Christian: Den, who see's these things we think and do when no one is around?
Den: Jesus
Christian: We'll God tells us that we all fall short of the Glory of God, and his Standard. that standard is the Ten Commandments. God shows it to us as a mirror to our heart. So we see ourselves in truth...
Christian: and so if we break one Commandment in thought word or deed.. we have broken the Law...
Christian: and God demands the death penalty for our crimes.
Christian: Our crimes are not against other people, because they did not create the Law. No, our crimes are against our Holy God.
Christian: And he seeks the death penalty.
Christian: so there's nothing we can do to not want to sin by hating someone. we're all ready in trouble and we cant do anything to get out of it
Christian: This is why Jesus is so important.
Christian: We don't get saved to go to heaven or get eternal life. “We get saved”, or “come to Jesus” so that we will desire righteous, and with our repentance and faith, we are also saved from God's wrath and Hell.
Christian: And we come to Jesus out of gratitude and love for what he did on the cross for us.
Christian: We broke the Law, Jesus paid our fine. Does that make sense?
Den: yes,but what if i committed a mortal sin? what should i do not to hate someone?
Christian: all sins are sins. There is no difference
Christian: If we do something against the Law of God (whether towards God or man) its only a crime against God.
Den: then what should i do?
Christian: well, that is why we come to Jesus for salvation.
Christian: We come because we know we are sinners, that we do not do good (God's word says no one is good and no one does good). His word says “all the things we do are as filthy dirty rags that are only fit to burn.”
Christian: And “we can not earn salvation”, we can not bribe God (the Judge of our soul) with any deeds (because they are worthless).
Christian: All we can do is fall at the feet of Jesus Christ and obey the Gospel...
Christian: This is why I asked you earlier because not everyone who thinks they are saved... is. They hear a gospel message that sounds good but its not the real one. In the end it leads to destruction and hell, that is why I like to make sure anyone I talk to “is” saved by asking these kinds of questions, so that they can hear the biblical message of what we need to do to be saved, and the reason why we need to be saved.
Christian: Has anyone ever told you what you must do to be saved? What God's terms are...?
Den: all i understand is that to accept God as my personal saviour
Christian: But the question is… what does that mean. The gospel tells us that we do not accept God, God accepts us. And we have to know why we need God and what Jesus has to do with it all.
Christian: What we give God is not a flippant acceptance. its based on obedience to the gospel.
Den: after I’m saved i should do good things
Christian: Well, after we are saved we will do things that please God because we are saved, and because GOD does those things through us. We desire to live righteously. 
Christian: So this is what the gospel message of God declares and commands:
Christian: “God calls all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day (judgment day) where in he will judge the world in righteousness (according to the Law) through the One he appointed (Jesus Christ)...”
Christian: He calls us to Repent and Trust in Jesus....
Christian: Repentance isnt saying a prayer or saying your sorry and continuing to live as you did before...
Christian: Repentance is a ONE TIME situation where you Talk to God (yourself personally in private - no one else around)....
Christian: Repentance is admitting to God that you are a sinner, that you have violated the Law of God... you name as many sins as you can think of.... and you ask Jesus to forgive you of those sins. Your sins (past, present and future) will be forgiven (once and for all).
Den: is that what should i do 2 be 4given by God?
Christian: I'm still explaining...hold on….
Den: what if im already saved and i committed a sin? can God still forgive me?
Christian: Well, lets first confirm that you are saved first. Because it doesn’t sound like you really are. (ie. since you couldn’t tell me how to be saved, why to be saved, and you gave me a different answer that a Christian should give to those questions…let's confirm you're saved, and then I'll answer that question ok?)
Christian: So, Repentance is admitting to God that you are a sinner, that you have violated the Law of God... (name as many sins as you can think of when you talk to God).... and ask Jesus to forgive you of those sins. Your sins past present and future will be forgiven (once and for all).
Den: ok
Christian: The other part of "repentance" is the turning from those sins. It’s a forsaking of sin. You no longer desire to do what is against God (rebellion, sin, etc)... and you abhor sin (means to hate it, hate it, hate it and want nothing to do with it anymore)...
Christian: So first is Repentance... and the second part is... Trusting Jesus.
Christian: (This is not a fluffy kind of trust.)
Christian: it means that you “believe” Jesus is who the Bible says He is, and who Jesus says He is in the Bible. It also means that you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you’re your sins… that only Jesus can save you from God's coming punishment that will fall upon all who die in their sins (unforgiven sinners).
Christian: If your sins are forgiven ... you are a “forgiven sinner” and not an unforgiven sinner.
Christian: The TRUST you have is that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your crimes against God. And if you receive it, it’s PAID IN FULL. And your case is closed before God.
Christian: You broke the Law and Jesus paid the fine. If you RECEIVE Jesus payment on your behalf, by Telling God you want that FREE gift God offers in Jesus (Forgiveness and eternal life)...
Christian: Then its as if Jesus comes into God's court room... and you are about to be sentenced for serious crimes. You dont have the money or the ability to get out of the situation, are about to be sentenced... and Jesus bursts into the court room... runs up to the Judge and says "I love this man, I sold all I have to pay for His fine." and the Judge looks at you and says you are free to go. This person paid your fine for you. Jesus paid the fine with his life’s blood on the cross. The Justice of God is served, because the fine is paid for IN FULL.... and you are now a free man…with an new friend in whom you are grateful to, and live out that gratitude from this day forward. Praising and Thanking God for saving you.
Christian: Does that make sense?

Den: yah
Christian: Repentance and Trusting in Jesus. That’s it. That’s all you need to do to be saved.
Christian: Once you do that, as you talk to God in prayer, GOD will ACCEPT Jesus work on your behalf, and you will instantly become a forgiven sinner, and an adopted child of God.
Christian: Does that make sense?
Den: yah
Christian: great.
Den: ill do it
Den: thanks
Christian: So when your relatives tried to tell you about the gospel and how to be saved, it doesnt sound like they gave the biblical gospel message. However, I am glad you are going to "Get right with God" and become saved today. You’ll be a Born Again believer!
Christian: You know Jesus not only said to “Repent”, but also that one “Must be born again to enter heaven”.
Den: i think they did tell me, i just didn’t understand so clear.

Christian: If you repent and trust in Christ then you will be born again, and God's spirit will make you into an new person. That transformation is amazing.
Christian: We no longer desire to sin, (but that doesn’t mean we don’t mess up and sin).

Den: im a born again
Christian: Being born again is what happens after you obey the Gospel. You're going to do that tonight, right now, right?
Den: yeah
Den: thanks
Christian: awsome! Praise God. I am so happy. You know... the Bible says that
when you get saved.. .”the Angels in heaven rejoice!”
Den: ive heard that verse 

Christian: Here is a website to help you as you begin to grow in the faith, study the Bible (your own personal time in the Bible between you and God).... *****************
Christian: There are important articles in there for new believers to know. But don't go there until after you pray/talk to God.
Den: thanks. i’ll visit it
Christian: Thank you for talking with me tonight!
Christian: BTW, I lead a Bible study class online for new believers. feel free to swing over and join us! **********
Den: okey,by the way its morning here today
Christian: have a great day then and God bless!
Christian: PS.. your question will be answered at that website!
Den: okey thanks

Den: thanks God for using you as a channel
Christian: Have a great day Den! I am blessed to have been here to help you come to know God! Den: thanks to you
Christian: thanks to God using me!
Den: yes
Christian: ok (Go pray to God now)!

Den: are you signing off?
Christian: yep, unless you have another question.
Christian: (I am usually here one hour earlier than we chatted tonight.)

Den: can you help me to share this gospel with my friend?
Christian: Yes. Send them to www.NeedGod.com and then just tell your friend about our conversation.
Den: he's a catholic
Christian: Great. Everyone needs to be saved. Even if they don’t want to hear the gospel of the Bible... YOU know it and YOU will obey it. Don’t let anyone discourage you from the faith! This faith is the only one that saves!

Den: its hard for me to share this with him because dont know if hes interested about listening to God
Christian: its ok. You can just tell him/her about your conversation, and that you became born again today by obeying the gospel of the Bible.
Christian: show him the website and let GOD do the work in him/her towards the truth.
Note…. It could be years and years before they come to Jesus, but God can save them right now if they are open to wanting to be saved!

Christian: Ok, have a great day....and Go pray to God right now before you do anything else!
den: okey, I will
den: thanks
den: good evening

**Chat ended**

Firefighter Loses Faith

The Evangelism Ministry, where I learned how to share the gospel, has received a very sad email this week and sent it on to me. I wanted to share it with you because it is something that everyone should gleen truth from and proper understanding about things in this world. I pray this information helps you as you live for Christ and reach out to others about God. 

 The Letter is from a man who had lost faith in God. He was a firefighter who was close friends with a woman firefighter. He said, "She brought me even closer to God and His word. She also did mission work. She was full of life and love, even though she was only 24 years old when we met. She showed me that no matter what, God should always come before anything else. . . . We decided to attack [a fire] from two different sides. Just let me say that we both had hundreds of hours of training and both knew what to do if anything went wrong.

 She was only 150 to 200 yards to the south of me when the wind shifted violently! We had been through this training a thousand times, but I could hear her screaming my name over all the other noises around me! The survival process is simple she would always tell me. First thing above all, before you do anything, is you believe in God! Then you take out your survival blanket and cover up, and God will do the rest. To me God didn't do His part! 

By the time I could fight my way through the smoke and fire, she had already burned to death! Her blanket had gotten hung on a small tree, so she had no chance! I carried her burned body over a mile and placed it in a body bag! I also placed my faith in God in that same body bag along with all my hopes and dreams." What this man endured was a horror beyond words. 

However, just this week hundreds died in an earthquake in horrific circumstances. Most were buried alive. Also this week, parents lost their children though cancer, others were crushed in car accidents, and others were horribly murdered. No doubt, many of these people prayed and believed in God. Some may even have trusted in the Savior, and knew that Jesus spoke of two builders. One man built his house on sand, while the other built his house on rock. Both builders were hit by the same storm, but only the one built on the rock stood firm. The one who stood firm was the one who heard the words of Jesus and obeyed them. So, even (especially) during the calm times, be obedient to the Scriptures. Read them daily and be totally surrendered to the will of God. That way, when a storm hits, you may be shaken, but you won't fall. 

Please pray for the fireman. If these things happen in your life or around you just remember Christians know that tragic things happen in this world - because of the Fall of Man: the sin nature and consequences of sin. There are other tragedies from the Fall also that permeate within creation itself. Disease, Floods, Tornados and even Fires that result in death. 

 While God’s will for the firewoman’s life was to call her to heaven at that time, the fireman is left behind, just as we are when these kinds of things happen. But they happen for a reason and God will always get glory from it. Perhaps those she knew will hear the gospel at the funeral and come to Christ. It could be her sister, her brother, her mother, her elderly grandmother, a coworker, several people she knows, or perhaps a friend’s boss upon hearing the employee is going to a funeral of a dear Christian friend ends up in a conversation about Christ. It could be the paramedic who just started on the job, it could be someone who passed by the fire and thought about a recent gospel message and was contemplating the shortness of life when he drove by the accident and saw a body bag being carried to the ambulance. It could be a number of encounters that happen all around the Christian firewoman’s death.

 I always pray that is the case every time I see an ambulance. I hope it will touch those involved, those around them, those they know and create a ripple effect. That Christians around these people will reach out, or if the person in the ambulance is not saved that someone at the hospital…perhaps a Christian roommate, a Christian Chaplain, a Christian family member, etc… will be able to pray with them and reach out to them in this delicate situation to reach them with the gospel so they can be saved. They may not have much time left, or they may recover. They may die on the operating table after a second procedure. Whatever it is… whether they are a Christian who will discuss these things with others they know after they leave the hospital, or with those who come to visit them during recovery, or among their circle of influence at home or at work or with a stranger, or someone who comes to Christ because of a Christian sharing the situation with someone else….God’s glory will be done and Christ will shine forth as the Savior and God will receive all the credit for whatever the results are relating to the firewoman’s death or the life of one who is in an ambulance that is racing down the street.  These are the reasons I pray in all situations that I hear of, and when any ambulance passes by. Because I care about the salvation of all men.

 I also pray that there will be laborers in the field around the situation so that the gospel can be proclaimed and God will receive Glory. That the Lord will compel a believer to step out of their comfort zone and speak to others a word of hope and share the gospel that saves souls. 

 Will you pray with me that this firefighter is a Christian who is just struggling with this situation right now because he doesn’t understand it, and due to the loss of this influential Christian woman and friend of his, he is confused and needs answers. Will you pray that he will receive a clear understanding of God’s will, purpose, glory and etc in the death of this firewoman at the funeral and or from fellow Christians, so that he can clearly 

*understand these things in life, and 

*thank God for all that he will do through her death in the coming days, months and years as those she knows testify about her, 

*the tragedy of a life cut short 

*the truth of no guarantee of a long life and 

*that God’s glory will be revealed as souls are saved and seeds are planted for salvation. 

*and everything else I mentioned in this email, and more. 

 Pray also that you will stand strong in the faith, with a clear understanding of God’s sovereignty and will and glory in all things, so that you can continue in Christ through tragedies, and assist others (for Christ) with this information and reach out to them with the gospel, so that they can become saved and have peace with God – even amidst storms in life and tragedies too. 

Resources that may help you as you life for Christ, witness to those you know and meet, and to encourage those in your church with evangelism training, can be found at:  livingwaters.com youtube channel under Way of the Master playlist

 PS. Feel free to share the link to this post to your Christian friends and those in your circle of influence   God Bless

Earthquake Evangelism

Earthquakes, Mysticism, Taoism, Buddhism and more…

I wonder if what happened tonight was part of a divine appointment. If it brought many to think of the tragedy earthquake occurrence cause around the world. Deaths by the dozens and hundreds, or emotionally shaken people in a frenzy about what just happened. I do know that tonight a former taoist/buhhdist and possible false Christian convert (or atheist trolling/troller) was given information to think about regarding eternity and the real reason we need Christ, and how to be right with God.

January 8, 2009
Online Evangelism Chat Room

Christian: Let me know when you join the room!!
Christian: Welcome everyone! I am here to help you learn more about God, Jesus, Salvation and the basic important topics every new believer needs to know. If you have any questions about salvation; how to be saved, or ensuring you are… just let me know. I am here to help you know more about God and your need for Christ.
Chatter: Hi
Christian: Good evening!
Chatter: Hi, am I the only one here with you?
Chatter:…
Chatter: Is there something wrong with the pc or are you still here?

(time lapsed…)

Christian: I am still here. Sorry... We just had an 5.0 earthquake!
Chatter: Wow ! Sorry to hear that…
Christian: Yeah! But I'm still here chatting!
Chatter: Are you ok?
Christian: Yep! Praise the Lord!!
Chatter: Yes. Thank God.

Chatter: Am I the only person in the room right now?
Christian: It depends. Tonight is a slow night, apparently – but a fast rock n rollen one for me here at home (lol).
Christian: Appears those who were supposed to be here tonight, for the first lesson 2009 did not make it yet. We’ll see if they show up at some point this hour. Maybe they forgot it was tonight.
Christian: Just gives us time to chat a little before we begin…

Chatter: Today is my first day with you. I've been attending chat with Amy and Mike
Christian: Glad to meet you!

Christian: FYI - incase there is a larger earthquake coming (some first ones are just the beginning), I plan to run out of the house. LOL.

Chatter: Where are you ?
Christian: Los Angeles, USA
Christian: You?
Chatter: I'm in Malaysia for 2 months. Will go back to the Netherlands in March and then continue with Amy’s class.
Chatter: Right now, I attend Mike's class
Christian: I see. So when you're in different time zone you pop into another class...
Chatter: Yes. I try to attend every week. I go for bible chat either with Amy or Mike. Only when I'm in the right time zone for each chat.
Christian: that’s good.

Christian: So, what are you learning in the other chat rooms?
Chatter: (statement) I'm a new Christian

Christian: So tell me a little about you - when did you come to Jesus?
Chatter: Some 17 years ago. I had a dream and heard a voice telling me that I will be a Christian one day.
Christian: What was happening in your life (around) the time you had that dream?
Chatter: Nothing. I wasn't close to any Christians and didn't understand anything then.
Chatter: I was only baptized in December

Christian: Forgive me; 17 years ago doesn’t sound like you're a “new” believer. J
Chatter: I know. But I took 16 years to be baptized.
Christian: oh..well,… baptism and being a believer are two different things.
Christian: Were Mike and Amy able to explain that to you?
Chatter: They taught me many things to help my faith grow

Christian: Were there any Christians that came into your life, talked to you, or that you had heard about, 16 years ago?
Chatter: No. But God had His way with me.
Chatter: He was so persistent and I couldn't escape !
Christian: How did you know what a “Christian” was, and how did you “become” a Christian then?
Chatter: When I had the dream, everyone I knew were either taoist or buddhist
Christian: so how did you know the word "Christian"?
Christian: and its meaning?

Chatter: One day, I traveled to the Uk and was ‘stranded’ there for 3 months. Then, I met ‘a long lost relative’ whom my family never knew existed, and God took me from there.
Chatter: from then, I was taught what a Christian is and who Jesus was

Christian: (its my job as a teacher to know where people came from, where they are, and it helps me to understand them and help them in Christ. so sorry if it sounds like I am poking or prying. Just trying to get info to fellowship and teach)

Christian: Oh, So God had a divine appointment for you to go to the UK and meet a Christian. And they told you what Jesus was all about.
Chatter: Not to worry. I wrote my testimony to Mike. The complete story. It's kinda long so if you're interested, I can email it to you.
Christian: no its ok. Chat is fine.

Christian: What did they tell you a "Christian is" ?
Chatter: It was years ago when they exposed me to Christ. From what I learn now, to be a Christian is to take the cross and follow Jesus
Christian: Do you understand what “take the cross and follow Jesus” means? Also…
Christian: do you believe this is “encounter with other believers” is why you had the dream? Because you were learning something or hearing something that you never knew before?
Chatter: Jesus is the bridge to heaven.

Christian: do you believe this encounter with a relative is why you had the dream? Because you were learning something or hearing something that you never knew before?
Chatter: No, I've never heard of anything then.
Christian: so, how did you know what a "Christian" was, from your dream, and what it had to do with God, the God?
Chatter: The dream just came unexpectedly. I was working, I was happy, not that I was under any stress or pressure. The dream just happened and it was so clear that I could still remember that voice !
Chatter: It’s a long story, but God paved the way for me.

Christian: So, just before you came to Jesus, what did you hear that caused you to realize you should be a Christian?
Christian: and why ...
Chatter: Through a business I had been running, things changed, God had a bigger plan for me. Now that site is for a Christian one.
Chatter: It only happened after I got baptized.
Christian: (lets pass on that topic point for now…)

Christian: He always takes things and turns them into what could be for good, if those who follow him obey him and live in the "right".
Chatter: Since I live in Holland, I don't speak Dutch and I couldn't find an English speaking church and stumbled on a website - where I found your organization.
Chatter: Your volunteers helped found me a great bilingual church in Holland
Christian: that sounds great

Christian: So, just before you came to Jesus, what did you hear that caused you to realize you should be a Christian? Like what did someone say to you, ..and then you realized you wanted Jesus…

Chatter: Everyone encouraged me. My parents are both Christians. My mother was converted 7 years ago, my dad was baptized together with me.
Christian: If they encouraged you, over 17 years ago you came to Jesus, how is it that they are just now converted?

Christian: (lets pass on that part for now…) I mean, for you to make the decision you wanted Jesus... what was the reason you decided to? (stay with me, I am going somewhere with this..)

Chatter: in December, when I got baptized, it was good for our family.
Chatter: It was my brother. He got cancer.
Chatter: I was lost and desperate. My brother accepted Christ - but I didn't think it was enough.
Christian: You are right!
Christian: Because someone else went to Jesus...and they said it made them "happy" – it doesn’t mean that it is the true right reason for coming to Jesus, and nor does it mean it would be enough...if you came to Him for happiness or a better life.

Chatter: After I became a Christian, I converted my uncle's family to accept Christ into their lives as well.
Christian: How did you convert them?
Christian: (I mean, help them toward Jesus)

Chatter: I asked them if they really understood what their religion was all about (taoist) and whether they know what happens after they die. They had no clue. And then my aunt asked me what Jesus did for us and all I could say to her is to see the movie "passion of Christ"
Christian: Many follow what they know (in any religion), because they are told it is true, but do not know why they really do it, its expected that everyone has always lived that way as far back as they can know, and so they just do it too. They don’t think anyone would lead them away from the truth of things.

Christian: (by the way, I am saying all these things in a nice tone of voice) Just wanted to make sure you know that … I am not being overbearing, just asking questions to see where you are and how you got there.)
Christian: so, how did a movie about someone being beaten and crucified help them become converted?
Christian: the movie is not in english, it is in latin.
Christian: though it has subtitles....if you can keep up with them, and the visual on the screen (pretty impossible. I know because I watch them).

Chatter: Well, in the taoist beliefs, after one dies, one goes to hell. Her father died a year ago and the monks told her that he went to hell.
Christian: I was told Taoists dont believe in heaven or hell. that is strange. that they believe that, but if they did, why would any Taoist question it. Hell would just be a fact of life and the way things are. It would not cause alarm or fear in those of that religion.

Christian: how did she know he sacrificed and how does she know it was for everyone...just from watching the movie
Chatter: After the movie, she couldn't sleep. It got so deep into her that she started to dream all night. She cried because she saw how Jesus sacrificed for all of us.
Chatter: I told her so.
Christian: oh i see

Chatter: Taoists believe in hell. Heaven is only for their gods and angels. Not for human. Everyone goes to hell. They have 18 levels of hell altogether. So it depends on which level they end up in.
Christian: wow. I never heard that before. And I’ve looked into that belief.
Christian: I have a friend who grew up catholic, not really going to church, and then over the years, even through conversations with me, she has gone a different way. Her boyfriend is muslim, but in the last few years – she changed/leans toward Taoist belief. I find that odd that she envisions only hell then... and not of any heaven.
Christian: weird
Chatter: Its all a kind of "chinese hell" thing.
Chatter: You will find a lot on Chinese hell and nothing on chinese heaven if you search online for it.
Christian: Maybe you can help me with that in a couple of minutes... the questions I have on that, that I am not very familiar with, that might help me with my friend.
Chatter: Yes, sure.

Christian: So back to my original question... what did people say to you that made you realize Jesus was necessary?
Christian: Was it to have a happy and good life, or was it something else, something more important.
Chatter: God planted many dreams into me.
Chatter: The most important thing for the Christian is the eternal life after death !
Christian: but dreams can not teach anything to us that is of truth, when we have not "heard" the truth first, from the Bible or one who teaches the bible. Dreams can be all mixed up with truth and error and fantasy. Its not based on reality and truth.

Christian: You said it is important for life after death. Tell me (in your understanding), why would anyone not get eternal life after death? What I am asking is…Why wouldn’t it be expected for a good eternal life?

Chatter: Jesus came to life after the 3rd day, He has defeated death and He has shown us all that only through Him we will be saved. This is what I tell people.

Christian: why do people need to be saved?

Chatter: Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of John 8 times, "I tell you the truth" for Jesus, being the righteous one, tells us all about the truth.
Christian: yes, that is what I was saying earlier when I said that dreams do not offer truth, they are non reality, fantasy as we sleep at night. All kinds of things from our day are mixed up in our minds, processing it if you will, crossing wires of each data, and weird resulting dreams appear sometimes. But there is no truth revealed or taught in dreams.
Chatter: Being first a taoist, buddist and then truth as a Christian makes me understand the truth. I can compare the differences of these religions and look at them in truth.
Christian: Right, now you are talking about the Bible, and not about dreams...when it comes to the things of God...only the truth is from the Word of God, from God, recorded in the Bible for us to know and learn from.
Christian: That part between the religions and Christianity is good for comparing. It would be helpful for many people. I am glad others are out there with that knowledge to help bring light to darkened and deceived minds of the lost

Chatter: Before I was converted, I had dreams of heaven
Christian: That is confusing to me, if you do not know about, and do not believe in a heaven, but only know of and believe in a hell... it confuses me as to how you could have such dreams. You would not even know the definition of these things, including heaven Please explain...

Chatter: I know, That's why. Then I didn't know what it was about. Then the dreams became very scary when I ignored the dreams about heaven.
Christian: how can dreams about a good and wonderful place, scare someone?
Christian: (just asking)
Chatter: I had dreams about heaven a few times and the last time, I had a dream where I found a dead body wrapped in a cocoon and when I pealed open the cocoon, it was a very serene looking person but this person has very large wings on the back.
Christian: Do you think that at that time in your life, you were hoping for something better in life and death?
Christian: the image seems like a butterfly
Chatter: I was so scared cos' it looked like an angel. I couldn't see whether the wings looked like those of a butterfly.

Christian: if you didnt know what heaven was all about, or the “word” nor “definition of it” for that place {heaven}, how could you know what angels were defined as or were?
Chatter: But after I was baptized, I don't dream of these anymore but I do dream of preaching to people.
Christian: I was hoping you would explain to me more about the Taoist heaven and angels, I suppose I can ask more about that later…

Christian: so, in truth, the dream may not have been about heaven, but about flying free in life – away from burdening religious requirements of the eastern religion…or about butterflies?

Chatter: I didn't know. I asked people who knows but they didn't understand either. I only realize it now after reading the bible.
Christian: Dreams and the Bible? Not sure I follow…
Christian: hold on a minute....
Chatter: Another earthquake ?
Christian: LOL... No... I wouldn’t type for that. Hehehe
Christian: you would just not hear from me for a few minutes or so....LOL I would just run out the door. You would have to hang out for a short time. J Prayer is good too.

Christian: ok... so really, I am getting at tonight, reaching towards, of what I wanted to find out from the beginning…. as to when I asked you why you came to Jesus is the main point, and most important one in Christianity. If this understanding is wrong, the whole faith the person is clinging to is wrong.

Christian: so.. when someone says they came to Jesus... they would normally give an answer that explains “why” they came to Jesus.
Christian: let me put it another way….If you met someone on the street, back then - after you came to Jesus, what would you tell them about WHY they need to be for Jesus?

Chatter: About the understanding…Yes. I know. Many Christians especially those who were brought up from parents who are Christians don't take the trouble to learn into the faith.
Christian: well, not the “deep” about the faith, just the “main” important part. the part that specifically identifies them before God as true believers. The "yes this person is really saved, they came to Jesus for the right reason" or "no this person came under a false gospel, one that does not save, and while they are doing religious things...they still aren’t a real believer” kind of thing…

Christian: So If you met someone on the street, shortly after you came to Jesus, what would you tell them about WHY they need to be with Jesus?
Chatter: I would tell these people that the most important thing in life is the “after life”, which is eternity, that one needs to be saved. We are all only visitors on this earth. Our life here, whether it is suffering or wealth or happiness is only temporary. The most important thing is the life “afterwards” which is eternity.

Christian: I would say that is a little off. Let me explain, the most important thing in life is to 1. Be right with God before we die, or we will not go to a good afterlife. and 2. to live a life of holiness and righteousness because we love Jesus (not because a religious requirement to do things).

Christian: So based on what I said in the last few posts...
Christian: Would you say you came to Jesus because 1. You were sad and wanted to be happy, or 2. because you wanted a better life, or 3. another more important reason ?
Chatter: No, I would say, Jesus came to me first. He gave me the dream, He talked to me.
He sent me to the Uk to meet the right person.

Christian: well, since that doesnt work for everyone in the world equally... I mean in a general way...and for someone to be saved they would have to all come under the same necessary purpose.
Christian: So, what was the reason you made that decision in that moment of time to come to Jesus?
Chatter: He made me understand that we are all beyond control of our live’s when my brother became very sick.
Chatter: Which means, I was lost and He gave me light.

Christian: It is true, we are weak and frail. Life is short, and things in this life are not in our control.
Chatter: Yes. Then He showed me the right way to live. And that we are all just a passerby here on earth, and that He is the only way to eternal life.
Chatter: Then the burden of the fear of death is lightened.
Christian: Ok, but understanding life is short, and learning to live right... something is missing in the middle there that I am trying to get to… in between those two things and it is why you came to Jesus and how.
Christian: there is a reason the fear of death goes away or is lighter
Christian: and its the thing missing in the middle of your explanation; Its the real reason we get right with God and the way we are to do it.
Christian: do you see it?
Christian: here... let me help... perhaps this will spark the response I am hoping you'll see or give me...
Christian: If I said that life is short, and the truth is that we all die ...

Christian: Can you tell me - why do we all die?
Chatter: Well, when I said that life is short, meaning the wealth that you accumulate in this lifetime is meaningless. The most important thing is the spiritual wealth (that is with God and through Jesus' teaching and the words from the bible).

Chatter: The weird thing for me after I've accepted Christ is, the things that made me want so much before I became a Christian became unappealing and uninteresting for me.
Christian: but people dont see that it is worth value, if they are living their happy life doign what they want...
Christian: that last part you said is true... but those who change their moral lives can do that too. they can just stop wanting or doing things. Whether from guilt or from trying to be a better person.

Christian: So...
Christian: Do you believe you are a good person yourself?

Chatter: After seeing what my brother went through, you can be rich, famous and have everything you want, once you are sick, you will realize that whatever you've gotten in this life becomes meaningless.
Christian: It doesn’t matter who we are or what we have in this life materially or if we have power or fame, we will all one day die. People see that in the end they will take nothing with them to the grave. When people see life is short and can end anytime…they think about it, and in truth, are afraid of death. Not knowing what is on the other side....in real answers. not knowing what is really beyond this life

Chatter: So...I tell people, what have you got to lose ? If all that is mentioned by Jesus is true, you go to Heaven. If it's not true, you don't lose anything by believing !
Christian: I totally agree with that.
Christian: but two things... they dont see that it matters, and they don’t want to try anything when they are happy in the lifestyle and behaviors they are comfortable with…and they dont have a reason to come to Jesus that is compelling enough (based on what you have said to me so far).

Chatter: When I was a buddist and taoist, I believed there is no heaven
Chatter: But now I see what Jesus said is true.
Chatter: That if you worship idols, you will not go to heaven.

Christian: Again, the people you or I speak to about God… do not understand about God and Jesus because they are not interested in spiritual things - because their current way of life. They do not want to change, and do not want to think about God or death.

Christian: Let me ask you about your current life…Do you believe you are a good person yourself? good natured, good at heart, etc...

Chatter: I believe that although I haven't done anything wrong, somehow, I've done something that is not right to other people's view.
Christian: what do you mean by "not doing anything wrong"?
Christian: There is only one solid truth as to what is right and wrong. Other people's beliefs in right or wrong are invalid against that truth.
Chatter: I've not harmed anyone
Chatter: Nor stolen
Chatter: Nor cheated
Chatter: Nor lied
Chatter: Nor drank alchohol
Chatter: Nor smoked
Chatter: Nor commited adultery
Christian: Ok, so you are going through some of the commandments. So you see that....
by comparing ourselves to the only true standard, God's Law, …we are not doing right things, we fail to do them perfectly…we are living wrong in God’s eyes and against his commands.
Chatter: I need to leave in a few minutes

Christian: Well, we are just getting to the point I was trying to get to earlier in our conversation, I hope you will stick around to finish that part. Its taken 30 minutes to get here. lol
Christian: So, can you honestly, before God right now, say that you have never told a lie in your whole life?
Christian: Think about it…children tell lies all the time to get out of trouble for things they did that were wrong and do not want to be punished for.

Chatter: A white lie, yes
Christian: The Lord doesn’t separate a type of lie from other lies. A lie is a lie. So in your whole life... how many lies do you think you have told?
Chatter: After becoming a Christian, I would say, I haven't told a lie
Christian: Really? There is a new research statistic that says the average person lies 3 times every 10 minutes.
Christian: Well, I am not the Judge of the Universe, and I know that everyone lies, everyone makes their own choices. They do what is wrong because they want to cover up something they said or did, or make things look in a better light for their own pride or to gain something from it.
Christian: we do it because of our sinful nature we received from Adam and Eve
Christian: Also, just because we claim Christ as our God, doesn’t mean that we are not making mistakes as we live the Christian life. We will still sin, because we are not perfect. We struggle against sin so that we can crucify ourselves daily and follow in Jesus example of godly living.

Christian: So, how many lies do you think you have told?
Chatter: My mother is sitting next to me, she just said I lied by telling her that my bible chat is an hour long. So what do you think of this ?
Chatter: Was I lying when I told her that the bible chat is an hour ?
Chatter: I was telling her the truth but then, I want to hear you out and therefore takes more than an hour which to her, I was lying.
Christian: that is not anything to do with a lie. That is a change of situation.
Christian: a lie is a decision to deceive someone

Christian: I am glad your mother is there with you. Not many people have the joy of their parents living long lives so they can be around when we (you) are a grown adult.
Chatter: I need to go now.
Christian: ok. Well I just wanted to chat a little and go through information with you. My main goal is to make sure those who claim the name of Christ, are really truly saved. If not, I encourage them to get right with God today. You can find this helpful information at www. NeedGod.com. It’s important...please check it out today.
Christian: because whether someone is saved for real, or deceived about thinking they are saved, when they are not... is so important to find out so one can be assured they are saved.
Christian: I wouldn’t want to miss meeting you in heaven some day!
Christian: I do hope we get to chat again.

Chatter: I will be here next weke.
Christian: I am available on open regular chat during the week. You can find me on the schedule page. Visit my chat anytime!
Christian: I'd love to chat more, and see what you have learned too.

Chatter: Can I come to this chat room class next time?
Christian: well, this class is reserved for only new believers; brand new ones. It’s just to help get people started on the right footing as a new believer.
Christian: if you are saved, and have been for years, this class is not for you... but the open regular chat is available to everyone who wants to ask questions or talk more about salvation and Jesus?
Christian: Hope to see you on the live chat some time!
Chatter: Yes.
Christian: ok. I am there once a week.
Chatter: Thanks! See you next week

Christian: have a good night!!!!
Chatter: My email is @yahoo.com
Christian: ok. I'll swing by to ask you some info about Taoist and Buddhist stuff
Christian: thanks!!!
Chatter: good n ight
Christian: don’t forget to check out www.NeedGod.com... and pray about it.
Christian: May God Bless you!
Chatter: God bless you
Christian: good night

**********************************************************
Do you think this guy was an (1) atheist troller, (2) non believer just making things up (3) a former eastern religious person (4) a church goer (5) a saved Christian?
Answer: Only God knows. We can take some things from this discussion and look at what is being said, what was not said, what was not answered, how the person responded, how open they were, how closed or defensive, proud or humble (or humbled), and many other things too, just by their questions, answers, responses, or lack of responses, or lack of ‘reasonable or good’ responses. Perhaps the person is a believer and has never grown, perhaps they just needed help understanding the gospel and how to share it. Well that was what I attempted to do tonight. Explain some things that would either lead them to know how to share the gospel biblically, or lead them through the gospel beginning at the Law, sin, and ending with our need for a Savior to rescue us from God’s righteous coming judgment. Please pray for this person. You can call him amaze-ng. the Lord knows his real name, and real spiritual condition. We are just to bring understanding, light and the gospel message that has the power to save souls.

Happy New Year to you and your family! May you know the Lord more this year, and glorify Him more and more as you tell others about Jesus Christ and their need for Him.

The Twin Towers and the Titanic

An Evangelistic History

I had prayed the day we saw the planes fly into the Twin Towers in New York. I have no idea why my husband was drawn to turn on the tv that morning. We never do that. At the time I was working down town LA and decided to stay home that day (I have faith in God, but only an idiot puts themselves into potential harms way) after watching what happened. I prayed there were born again Christians in the towers Twin Towers who, (through all the people’s hysterics and startling emotions knowing they each would not survive or feared they would die), would step forth, in fear and in hope, tell those around them how they could be right with God, now, before they died, explaining quickly why they needed Jesus, and encourage them to repent and trust in Christ (righ then) for they were all about to step into eternity through death’s door.

I had always wondered if there were faithful believers there who did that. But I also had thought about those who were on the Titanic in much the same way. They were told everything was fine. They could go about their business. But tragedy was just around the corner for both. I had imagined what, (in hope), these Christians would say to those around them, (if there were any) in the Towers that day. I wondered if anyone had reached out with the gospel to those around them; imagining the faces and reactions of the frantic people who became scared for their lives, before they heard the gospel. Many did not get that kind of opportunity and had died instantly or while running through the stairwells.

It is true, that most people never get the chance to grow old or die slowly and have time for reflection on life and God before they pass away. Most people die in tragic situations in which they never saw it coming. Such was the fate of those who were on the Titanic. Over 1,500 people died that night. Something like 3,000 died in the Twin Towers terrorist attacks. I know that over 160,000 die every day in the world, and it makes me wonder if there were any faithful believers who reached out to those who were around them when the tragedy struck. On the Titanic, most were not worried or freaking out about the severity of the situation until it really started creaking and they were on the deck, or were in the lifeboats and saw the ship slowly sinking into the ocean.

We will never know about any faithful witnesses in the Twin Towers, this side of eternity. But today I learned that there was one person on the Titanic who evangelized the lost while it was sinking. In fact, he was even leading bible studies onboard, during the trip, even before the tragedy. This faithful servant of Christ was called John Harper.

The Titanic tragedy happened on April 15, 1912. Four years later, at a Titanic survivors meeting in Canada, a man tearfully gave his testimony recounting how John Harper had led him to the Lord.

Let me tell you about this man John Harper and the impact he had on this one; his last convert. John was a Scottish pastor, who lived in London. He started a small Baptist church just shortly after his wife had died. He, his daughter and a nanny were headed to the Moody church in Chicago to preach for three or four months. They sailed there on a new and amazingly large boat. When the ship hit the iceberg he ran to his daughter and made sure she was put into the life raft with the women and other children. John ran back through the ship. Harper was heard shouting, "Let the women, children and the unsaved into the lifeboats." Survivors reported that Harper took off his own life jacket and gave it to another man. No one thought it was a serious situation, because they had been told that this ship was “unsinkable”. When John gave his life jacket away he said "Don't worry about me, I'm not going down, I'm going up!"

As the musicians were playing ragtime tunes, they quickly began to realize the seriousness of the situation and began playing hymns as the stood on the deck of the ship. They played “Nearer my God to thee”, as the ship started to break apart. The band went down with the ship. The last hymn they played was "Autumn," which concludes with the prayer

Hold me up in mighty waters
Keep my eyes on things above,
Righteousness, divine Atonement,
Peace, and everlasting Love.

As the ship was sinking, those who remained on the boat were tossed into the water, or went down with it. By the time the rescue ships arrived, only 6 people were still alive. One man told the story of John Harper when he was interviewed. He said John drifted over to him holding a round preserver, and gave it to him. John said “You need this more than I do.” Then he asked me “Man, are you saved?” I replied “No sir”. John said “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” And then a wave took him away. Not long after, John drifted back towards me and said “Man, are you saved yet?” I replied “No sir, not yet.” With his dying breath, John said “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” The man recalled, “Shortly after that John sunk into the ocean and drown.” [Thinking of that fateful day he then said] “I was John’s last convert - I have been saved.”

His daughter and the nanny survived, and this man, who got saved, was saved twice that day.

Scripture tells us: "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for another..." John Harper cared about the souls of men! I hope you do too, every day…not just when tragedy strikes.

I don’t know about you…But I hope that if my life ends tragically, there are many people around in whom I can holler to about the gospel of Christ that saves. Pray to the Lord today, that you would be a more bold witness than you are today, and that he helps equip you to do it biblically and with patience, and with concern for their eternal soul.

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