I am becoming more and more convinced that there are only two types of preaching that take place in American Christianity today.
In the first, the preacher says to his audience that people should be flames of fire for God. "Fire should be hot," he says, and he outlines several goals someone should pursue to become hot. And so the people follow the steps he describes to have heat. "Fire should be bright," he says, and so the people follow the steps he describes for shining brightly. "Fire should burn with an orange flame," he says, and so the people follow the steps he describes for possessing this hue in their lives, going as far as to wear clothes that make them look like giant pumpkins if needed. But yet they remain as they did before, with their fire nothing more than a paper-mache costume wrapped around their souls.
In the second, the preacher says to his audience that people should be flames of fire for God. He admonishes people to examine their lives to see if they qualify. He tells them to look for the heat, the light, and the color they should possess if they are truly alight. And if they lack, he says, then they must repent and turn to Christ that they might become torches quickly. And for those who are already flames of fire for God, he teaches them how they can burn with more fervor, beam more radiantly, and go from being mildly orange to white-hot.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Where Has 2009 Gone?
It's been a year since I last updated this blog, and what an interesting year it has been. Everything from brain tumors and mission trips overseas to learning about ministry in my own home and seeing lives saved.
In the coming weeks, I'll be getting some of the events from the past year up on here. Keep your eyes open and don't give up on this blog yet.
In the coming weeks, I'll be getting some of the events from the past year up on here. Keep your eyes open and don't give up on this blog yet.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Evangelists' Guide To Video Recording Witnessing Encounters
I realize that I've been neglecting my blog for a while, and need to get back in the swing of things. And I thought that I'd start things back up with a how-to posting.
A few people have asked me recently how I make videos of my witnessing encounters. Some have thought that I use a body-mounted camera, like those now worn by British bobbies. Some have had questions about the legality of videotaping someone and putting it on YouTube. Some were curious of how I could chat without someone feeling like there is a camera being thrust in people's faces. So, without further ado, I give you:
(NOTE: This guide is not to be intended as legal advice. As always, remember to check your local law enforcement agencies concerning filming and open-air preaching in your area. Seek out qualified legal counsel if you have specific questions. Your mileage may vary.
If you choose to use this guide or any portion of it somewhere, all that I ask is that you please give credit where credit is due, and point back to this blog.)
The Goal of Filming:
What is the goal of filming witnessing encounters with people? Is it getting someone in frame? Is it proper lighting or position of the person? Is it making a great piece of cinematography?
No. The primary goal is the preaching of the Gospel.
You may have the fanciest camera, the most ideal backdrop, a physically-appealing subject, and the perfect degree of sunlight imaginable, but all of that is in vain if you are not preaching the Gospel so that the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins through the espousing of the Law and Grace offered through Jesus Christ. If you forsake the preaching of the Gospel because your subject is unwilling to talk on camera, or because you are more focused on how the picture comes out instead of on sharing God's Word, then you could create an Oscar-worthy piece of tape and it would be absolutely worthless. Never take your eyes off of why you are really out there.
That said, when I film someone, I do so for education, information, and self-review. First, I film so that other unsaved people can see someone examined in light of their conscience, and hopefully they will likely respond with repentance and trust. Second, I film so that other Christians can see some of the situations and scenarios they may encounter while open-air preaching and witnessing one-on-one. Third, I film so that I can see if there were any areas in which I could improve, and then use that for learning and to adjust my speech, mannerisms, and approach. But I never lose sight of why I'm really out there--to do as Christ would in reaching out to the lost.
Equipment:
Beyond a Bible and some good Gospel tracts to pass out, the only other equipment I use is a videocamera. No fancy reflectors, boom microphones, or best boy grips running around. When used properly, this allows you to be the director, producer, cameraman, and narrator all in one.
The videocamera I use is a DXG 506V. While I'm trying to not make this sound like a commercial, there are several good reasons why I bought this camera:
Cost. Although it is a fancy-looking piece of equipment, I bought this camera at a retail store for under $100. I wanted something I could use without breaking the bank, and it gives me the functionality for making simple, decent-quality video. It works well for that.
Batteries and Memory. I like this camera because it uses standard AAA batteries, and SD memory cards. I always prefer universal batteries that I can swap out without having to worry about fancy chargers, odd or hard-to-find shapes, or costly replacements. SD memory card prices have dropped to about $6 per GB in bulk, which allows for about 45 minutes of recording time per 1GB card. So, with about $20 in supplementals for some rechargable AAAs and a couple of chips, I've been good to go without any extra spending.
Size. This camera is small. It's tiny. It's about the size of a deck of cards when stored, which means that I can hold it comfortably and near my body without feeling like I am intruding on someone's personal space. I can stash it in my pocket when needed, and don't have to worry about it being stolen. It can also be brought out, powered on, and running quickly. I still lose function of one of my hands while filming (which is irritating because I do tend to talk with my hands or use two-handed props or motions when preaching), but I'm not hoisting a beast of a camera onto my shoulder or peering through a viewfinder all the time.
Durability. My camera has been dropped, thrown, and smooshed countless times. The only damage it ever really took was when my 20 month old nephew did something to the LCD panel which prevents it from staying at a 90 degree angle when open, and that is pretty good, considering how he is a miniature demolition crew. It still works great and slowly uses the battery power, typically good for 4 hours of stop-and-go filming.
Drawbacks. While this camera is great, it has a few drawbacks. It does not zoom large distances well. The microphone has a limited range. It does not record things well in the dark. So, unless your target is relatively close, loud, and well-lit, your video may come out a little bad. But, I think all of the other things I listed are discount these problems, and prove why it is a great camera.
If you pay a few more dollars, you can get a newer HD camera from the same sort of retail stores. Remember to use your money wisely.
Environment:
When filming your subject, be aware of three main things: lighting, wind, and sound.
Your subject should be clearly visible from your filming angle without looming shadows or bright light beaming into the lens. If outside, try to find a place obscured slightly in shadow or away from direct sunlight. At worst, stand with your back partially to the sun to illumiate your subject, but be kind because this will cause your subject to squint, get hot, and not want to talk as long. Indoors, make sure that there is enough light to film, and there are no flickering bulbs, tubes, or monitors that will make the video crazy.
Wind can be obnoxious for two reasons. One, it distracts and interferes with things like hair and clothes. There is nothing like when your subjects have to repeatedly brush their coiffe aside or adjust their shirt just to converse. Don't forget about air conditioner or heater units, too, even when indoors. Doors that repeatedly open and shut, such as in indoor malls, can also send gusts through the area. Two, it can be picked up on microphones and drown voices out. Which leads to the point about sound.
Even though your setting may be well-lit and free of wind, there can be ambient noise that will kill any conversation being recorded. This includes large crowds, construction equipment, nature, or even a refrigerator going through its power cycle (true story--while being interviewed for a TV program at home, they had to unplug my freezer because the wireless mics kept picking up when it clicked on and off). At skate parks, I always have to contest with plywood and fiberglass slapping metal and concrete. Where possible, keep wind and noise to your back to prevent the microphone from picking it up.
Technique:
Remember that you are talking to your subject, and not to the camera. Similarly, remember that you should be looking at your subject for eye contact, and not the camera. I try to square up my subjects after I start filming, and only glance down occasionally when a person is starting to talk to make sure I have them in frame.
If they move around, move with them like a mirror, step for step. If you need to swivel, turn at the waist, not with the arms, or you'll shift attention to the camera, distract the subject, and probably cut off their picture in some weird way. Use smooth, slow, and easy motions, even for fast video.
Permission:
Generally, you can film on public property such as streets, sidewalks, parks, and fairgrounds with no permit or permission required. This can even include public transportation areas like buses and subways. There are some rules about "sensitive" areas like military bases and some governmental buildings, but otherwise you should be totally fine.
On private property, including malls, shopping centers, and movie theatres, permission is typically required to be allowed to film. There are two ways of going about this: start filming and only stop when asked to cease, or go and seek permission before setting up and filming. If you choose to do the former and do it without checking first, know that no one, legally, can require you to turn over or delete your video; it is your property. At worst, the most they can do is ask you to leave or try to cite you for trespassing. And usually if you say that you are leaving, they will let you go and they would have a tougher time of making any charges stick. If you go down the latter route, and choose to make sure your actions will be fine with the property owners, you will most likely run into people not wanting you film in their establishments. They may cite state-church separation, permits, or other wacky reasons why you cannot film, but if it is truly their property, all you need is their permission to do so. It's more of a stigma and worry about liability that stops them from letting you film.
As for the permission of your subjects, the same sort of rules apply. You can film anyone on public property without their permission, so long as you are not intending to profit from the footage for advertising or commercial purposes (if you plan on using the footage for profit, generally you must have them sign or acquiesce to a likeness usage and release form). You can film people for informational and educational purposes, even for news reports. You can film someone on private property with or without their permission, but they may ask you to leave for trespassing. You can film private property from public property without having to require permission, like standing on a sidewalk and taping people walking on a privately-owned mall grounds. Although, you cannot film areas where reasonable expectations of privacy apply (e.g. bathrooms, through windows into bedrooms).
Age can also be a tricky thing while filming, too. If your subject is an adult, no one seems to care, and you can do with the video as you will. If your subject is a minor, sometimes people can get fidgety about them talking on video. The idea is that it can fall under "child exploitation," and someone will scream, "won't someone think about the children?!" Watch news reports interviewing high schoolers and kids, and note how many times they will not show their faces, depending on the nature of the story. Taking a camera and pointing it at kids at a public park will probably get you a visit from law enforcement pretty quickly, for fears you may be a pedophile.
My own take on all of this is to be polite, stick with adults when filming, and be discreet in privately-owned venues. I typically ask someone if I may film them and put the video on YouTube. Many people like hearing that they will be on the web, and say, "Yes." For those who say, "No," I put away the camera and continue preaching the Gospel, sticking with the goal in mind. It's more important that that person hear about Jesus Christ and be convicted of sin than moving onto someone else who will be less camera-shy.
I hope this helps enable you in getting out there and recording your witnessing encounters.
A few people have asked me recently how I make videos of my witnessing encounters. Some have thought that I use a body-mounted camera, like those now worn by British bobbies. Some have had questions about the legality of videotaping someone and putting it on YouTube. Some were curious of how I could chat without someone feeling like there is a camera being thrust in people's faces. So, without further ado, I give you:
The Evangelists' Guide To Video Recording Witnessing Encounters
(NOTE: This guide is not to be intended as legal advice. As always, remember to check your local law enforcement agencies concerning filming and open-air preaching in your area. Seek out qualified legal counsel if you have specific questions. Your mileage may vary.
If you choose to use this guide or any portion of it somewhere, all that I ask is that you please give credit where credit is due, and point back to this blog.)
The Goal of Filming:
What is the goal of filming witnessing encounters with people? Is it getting someone in frame? Is it proper lighting or position of the person? Is it making a great piece of cinematography?
No. The primary goal is the preaching of the Gospel.
You may have the fanciest camera, the most ideal backdrop, a physically-appealing subject, and the perfect degree of sunlight imaginable, but all of that is in vain if you are not preaching the Gospel so that the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins through the espousing of the Law and Grace offered through Jesus Christ. If you forsake the preaching of the Gospel because your subject is unwilling to talk on camera, or because you are more focused on how the picture comes out instead of on sharing God's Word, then you could create an Oscar-worthy piece of tape and it would be absolutely worthless. Never take your eyes off of why you are really out there.
That said, when I film someone, I do so for education, information, and self-review. First, I film so that other unsaved people can see someone examined in light of their conscience, and hopefully they will likely respond with repentance and trust. Second, I film so that other Christians can see some of the situations and scenarios they may encounter while open-air preaching and witnessing one-on-one. Third, I film so that I can see if there were any areas in which I could improve, and then use that for learning and to adjust my speech, mannerisms, and approach. But I never lose sight of why I'm really out there--to do as Christ would in reaching out to the lost.
Equipment:
Beyond a Bible and some good Gospel tracts to pass out, the only other equipment I use is a videocamera. No fancy reflectors, boom microphones, or best boy grips running around. When used properly, this allows you to be the director, producer, cameraman, and narrator all in one.
The videocamera I use is a DXG 506V. While I'm trying to not make this sound like a commercial, there are several good reasons why I bought this camera:
Cost. Although it is a fancy-looking piece of equipment, I bought this camera at a retail store for under $100. I wanted something I could use without breaking the bank, and it gives me the functionality for making simple, decent-quality video. It works well for that.
Batteries and Memory. I like this camera because it uses standard AAA batteries, and SD memory cards. I always prefer universal batteries that I can swap out without having to worry about fancy chargers, odd or hard-to-find shapes, or costly replacements. SD memory card prices have dropped to about $6 per GB in bulk, which allows for about 45 minutes of recording time per 1GB card. So, with about $20 in supplementals for some rechargable AAAs and a couple of chips, I've been good to go without any extra spending.
Size. This camera is small. It's tiny. It's about the size of a deck of cards when stored, which means that I can hold it comfortably and near my body without feeling like I am intruding on someone's personal space. I can stash it in my pocket when needed, and don't have to worry about it being stolen. It can also be brought out, powered on, and running quickly. I still lose function of one of my hands while filming (which is irritating because I do tend to talk with my hands or use two-handed props or motions when preaching), but I'm not hoisting a beast of a camera onto my shoulder or peering through a viewfinder all the time.
Durability. My camera has been dropped, thrown, and smooshed countless times. The only damage it ever really took was when my 20 month old nephew did something to the LCD panel which prevents it from staying at a 90 degree angle when open, and that is pretty good, considering how he is a miniature demolition crew. It still works great and slowly uses the battery power, typically good for 4 hours of stop-and-go filming.
Drawbacks. While this camera is great, it has a few drawbacks. It does not zoom large distances well. The microphone has a limited range. It does not record things well in the dark. So, unless your target is relatively close, loud, and well-lit, your video may come out a little bad. But, I think all of the other things I listed are discount these problems, and prove why it is a great camera.
If you pay a few more dollars, you can get a newer HD camera from the same sort of retail stores. Remember to use your money wisely.
Environment:
When filming your subject, be aware of three main things: lighting, wind, and sound.
Your subject should be clearly visible from your filming angle without looming shadows or bright light beaming into the lens. If outside, try to find a place obscured slightly in shadow or away from direct sunlight. At worst, stand with your back partially to the sun to illumiate your subject, but be kind because this will cause your subject to squint, get hot, and not want to talk as long. Indoors, make sure that there is enough light to film, and there are no flickering bulbs, tubes, or monitors that will make the video crazy.
Wind can be obnoxious for two reasons. One, it distracts and interferes with things like hair and clothes. There is nothing like when your subjects have to repeatedly brush their coiffe aside or adjust their shirt just to converse. Don't forget about air conditioner or heater units, too, even when indoors. Doors that repeatedly open and shut, such as in indoor malls, can also send gusts through the area. Two, it can be picked up on microphones and drown voices out. Which leads to the point about sound.
Even though your setting may be well-lit and free of wind, there can be ambient noise that will kill any conversation being recorded. This includes large crowds, construction equipment, nature, or even a refrigerator going through its power cycle (true story--while being interviewed for a TV program at home, they had to unplug my freezer because the wireless mics kept picking up when it clicked on and off). At skate parks, I always have to contest with plywood and fiberglass slapping metal and concrete. Where possible, keep wind and noise to your back to prevent the microphone from picking it up.
Technique:
Remember that you are talking to your subject, and not to the camera. Similarly, remember that you should be looking at your subject for eye contact, and not the camera. I try to square up my subjects after I start filming, and only glance down occasionally when a person is starting to talk to make sure I have them in frame.
If they move around, move with them like a mirror, step for step. If you need to swivel, turn at the waist, not with the arms, or you'll shift attention to the camera, distract the subject, and probably cut off their picture in some weird way. Use smooth, slow, and easy motions, even for fast video.
Permission:
Generally, you can film on public property such as streets, sidewalks, parks, and fairgrounds with no permit or permission required. This can even include public transportation areas like buses and subways. There are some rules about "sensitive" areas like military bases and some governmental buildings, but otherwise you should be totally fine.
On private property, including malls, shopping centers, and movie theatres, permission is typically required to be allowed to film. There are two ways of going about this: start filming and only stop when asked to cease, or go and seek permission before setting up and filming. If you choose to do the former and do it without checking first, know that no one, legally, can require you to turn over or delete your video; it is your property. At worst, the most they can do is ask you to leave or try to cite you for trespassing. And usually if you say that you are leaving, they will let you go and they would have a tougher time of making any charges stick. If you go down the latter route, and choose to make sure your actions will be fine with the property owners, you will most likely run into people not wanting you film in their establishments. They may cite state-church separation, permits, or other wacky reasons why you cannot film, but if it is truly their property, all you need is their permission to do so. It's more of a stigma and worry about liability that stops them from letting you film.
As for the permission of your subjects, the same sort of rules apply. You can film anyone on public property without their permission, so long as you are not intending to profit from the footage for advertising or commercial purposes (if you plan on using the footage for profit, generally you must have them sign or acquiesce to a likeness usage and release form). You can film people for informational and educational purposes, even for news reports. You can film someone on private property with or without their permission, but they may ask you to leave for trespassing. You can film private property from public property without having to require permission, like standing on a sidewalk and taping people walking on a privately-owned mall grounds. Although, you cannot film areas where reasonable expectations of privacy apply (e.g. bathrooms, through windows into bedrooms).
Age can also be a tricky thing while filming, too. If your subject is an adult, no one seems to care, and you can do with the video as you will. If your subject is a minor, sometimes people can get fidgety about them talking on video. The idea is that it can fall under "child exploitation," and someone will scream, "won't someone think about the children?!" Watch news reports interviewing high schoolers and kids, and note how many times they will not show their faces, depending on the nature of the story. Taking a camera and pointing it at kids at a public park will probably get you a visit from law enforcement pretty quickly, for fears you may be a pedophile.
My own take on all of this is to be polite, stick with adults when filming, and be discreet in privately-owned venues. I typically ask someone if I may film them and put the video on YouTube. Many people like hearing that they will be on the web, and say, "Yes." For those who say, "No," I put away the camera and continue preaching the Gospel, sticking with the goal in mind. It's more important that that person hear about Jesus Christ and be convicted of sin than moving onto someone else who will be less camera-shy.
I hope this helps enable you in getting out there and recording your witnessing encounters.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bad Idea -- Listening To The Radio
I had to drive an hour away from my house to help my wife at her parents' house. It was a far enough distance to where I could pick up different radio stations. When we left the following morning, I flipped around the dial and came across a station where a most lurid conversation was taking place.
A young lady was talking to the three hosts about how she was addicted to pornography. She talked about how she would find places on the Internet where she could call up any genre of porn that she wanted, sit back, and enjoy watching them. She would do this throughout the day, and whenever she felt her boyfriend was not giving her enough attention.
This station had some sort of gimmick on certain mornings where people could call in, confess something to the hosts, and then the person with the most depraved, gross, illicit, or horrible confession would win some sort of prize. Callers from all around the region would phone the station and share things that they would not tell their spouses or best friends to try to win money or get tickets to events.
Contrary to what I was expecting to hear, the hosts were not condemning of her, but instead were trading tips, techniques, and secrets in searching out smut. They stopped just shy of naming websites outright. One male host talked about how he was perusing a rather obscene and odd type of sexual fetish on the web on his laptop while his own kids were in the room. It was not until his wife passed by in the backyard and banged on the window that he stopped what he was doing.
After they finished with that caller, several more people called in, including:
While once upon a time we had the good sense to see evil and call it as such, it has now become a novelty, something practiced and spoken about freely with others. Instead of feeling guilt or even shame for behaving in ways that would normally be frowned upon, people now uplift debauchery, malevolence, and violations of God's Law. Even overhearing casual conversations and looking at the magazines while in line at the grocery store illustrate this lack of decency and civility.
I was glad when I lost the signal to the station, but I have to wonder exactly what will come next in the guise of entertainment or day-to-day living.
A young lady was talking to the three hosts about how she was addicted to pornography. She talked about how she would find places on the Internet where she could call up any genre of porn that she wanted, sit back, and enjoy watching them. She would do this throughout the day, and whenever she felt her boyfriend was not giving her enough attention.
This station had some sort of gimmick on certain mornings where people could call in, confess something to the hosts, and then the person with the most depraved, gross, illicit, or horrible confession would win some sort of prize. Callers from all around the region would phone the station and share things that they would not tell their spouses or best friends to try to win money or get tickets to events.
Contrary to what I was expecting to hear, the hosts were not condemning of her, but instead were trading tips, techniques, and secrets in searching out smut. They stopped just shy of naming websites outright. One male host talked about how he was perusing a rather obscene and odd type of sexual fetish on the web on his laptop while his own kids were in the room. It was not until his wife passed by in the backyard and banged on the window that he stopped what he was doing.
After they finished with that caller, several more people called in, including:
- A woman who stole prescription medication from the ER where her husband worked as a doctor, to sell it on the street.
- A hotel staffer who was trying to get her supervisor fired, even though her supervisor was her own mother.
- A daughter who got her own mother exported to Mexico for illegally living in the US.
- A driver who knew most of the police department in her town in a Biblical way, so she could avoid traffic tickets and checkpoints.
While once upon a time we had the good sense to see evil and call it as such, it has now become a novelty, something practiced and spoken about freely with others. Instead of feeling guilt or even shame for behaving in ways that would normally be frowned upon, people now uplift debauchery, malevolence, and violations of God's Law. Even overhearing casual conversations and looking at the magazines while in line at the grocery store illustrate this lack of decency and civility.
I was glad when I lost the signal to the station, but I have to wonder exactly what will come next in the guise of entertainment or day-to-day living.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Keeping Kids Off Drugs
When I went shopping yesterday, there were two people standing outside the store with a table promoting the local DARE program. They were asking for money to help fund their cause, and giving out some toys and knicknacks for contributions.
For those not familiar with DARE, it was an organization launched by the police in Los Angeles during the 1980s to combat illegal drugs by educating kids in public schools. Narcotics were taking a huge amount of the department's time and resources at that time, so they wanted to teach children early on the perils of illicit substances, in the hopes it would reduce crime. They created, "DARE," an acronym for, "Drug Abuse Resistance Education," to promote this cause. As time went on, the program spread from Los Angeles to schools all across the United States to help curb drug use.
I walked up to the door and the young-faced man and woman smiled and asked, "Excuse me, sir, could I take a couple of minutes of your time? Do you know about the DARE program?"
"Yes, I do," I replied. "Actually, I was one of the first graduates of the program in the 1980s because I grew up near L.A."
"High five for that!" he shouted, slapping my hand. "Then you know how important the program is to help kids out."
"Actually," I said, "I've learned something since that time that is more important when it comes to the problem of drug abuse. You see, drug abuse is only one piece of a greater problem, called sin. Could I take a quick couple minutes of your time?" They both nodded, and I gave them each a million-dollar bill tract.
I walked the young man and woman through the Law and Grace of God, using analogies reflective of drug abuse, such as being arrested for controlled substance charges and being put in front of a judge. I told them about how our sins are just like someone breaking the law by dealing drugs or running a meth lab, and that sooner or later, we would have to suffer the punishment. But the good news is that someone took our place and paid our fine, clearing us of all charges. That person is Jesus Christ. They listened to the Gospel and understood what I was saying.
As I was wrapped up presenting things to them, I tied it back into their efforts and cause. "You see, when you're addressing drug abuse, you're only changing the behavior of the person and what they're doing. It's like telling a thief not to steal anymore. You may have stopped the crime, but it doesn't change the fact that the person will still be judged for their crimes. A behavior change alone isn't enough to be made right with God. And just like that, you will also be judged for the sins that you have done in this life, unless you repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ, that he paid the price for you."
While the young woman seemed very responsive to the Gospel, the young man said, "Yeah, well I still think I'll go to Heaven because I'm a good guy trying to do the right thing." Then he abandoned our conversation and went back to work, asking more people entering and exiting the store for donations.
Pray for these two young DARE workers.
For those not familiar with DARE, it was an organization launched by the police in Los Angeles during the 1980s to combat illegal drugs by educating kids in public schools. Narcotics were taking a huge amount of the department's time and resources at that time, so they wanted to teach children early on the perils of illicit substances, in the hopes it would reduce crime. They created, "DARE," an acronym for, "Drug Abuse Resistance Education," to promote this cause. As time went on, the program spread from Los Angeles to schools all across the United States to help curb drug use.
I walked up to the door and the young-faced man and woman smiled and asked, "Excuse me, sir, could I take a couple of minutes of your time? Do you know about the DARE program?"
"Yes, I do," I replied. "Actually, I was one of the first graduates of the program in the 1980s because I grew up near L.A."
"High five for that!" he shouted, slapping my hand. "Then you know how important the program is to help kids out."
"Actually," I said, "I've learned something since that time that is more important when it comes to the problem of drug abuse. You see, drug abuse is only one piece of a greater problem, called sin. Could I take a quick couple minutes of your time?" They both nodded, and I gave them each a million-dollar bill tract.
I walked the young man and woman through the Law and Grace of God, using analogies reflective of drug abuse, such as being arrested for controlled substance charges and being put in front of a judge. I told them about how our sins are just like someone breaking the law by dealing drugs or running a meth lab, and that sooner or later, we would have to suffer the punishment. But the good news is that someone took our place and paid our fine, clearing us of all charges. That person is Jesus Christ. They listened to the Gospel and understood what I was saying.
As I was wrapped up presenting things to them, I tied it back into their efforts and cause. "You see, when you're addressing drug abuse, you're only changing the behavior of the person and what they're doing. It's like telling a thief not to steal anymore. You may have stopped the crime, but it doesn't change the fact that the person will still be judged for their crimes. A behavior change alone isn't enough to be made right with God. And just like that, you will also be judged for the sins that you have done in this life, unless you repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ, that he paid the price for you."
While the young woman seemed very responsive to the Gospel, the young man said, "Yeah, well I still think I'll go to Heaven because I'm a good guy trying to do the right thing." Then he abandoned our conversation and went back to work, asking more people entering and exiting the store for donations.
Pray for these two young DARE workers.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Witnessing At 30,000 Feet In French
I flew back from Philadelphia this weekend for a business trip. After I boarded the plane, the stewardess informed me that I would have to move chairs. Apparently, the FAA frowns upon people with large medical boots sitting in the exit row seats (courtesy a nice sprained ankle from volleyball). She spoke to the two young men sitting across across the aisle from me, and asked if they would be willing to switch our chairs. They were happy to move and get a little more legroom.
When I switched chairs with them, I picked up a hint of an accent from one of them. Curious, I asked where they were from. The young man said that he was from France, heading home to Paris. "Oh," I said, "I speak a little bit of French. I learned it about 10 years ago and haven't used it much since then."
I started to have a conversation with the young man, named Rafael, in French. We talked about how he and his buddy were on their way home from going to Disneyworld. He was 20 years old, had just finished school, and was serving as a waiter in a restaurant. He had been to San Francisco before, and was thinking of being a waiter in New York City. We also talked about how he and his mother had traveled to Japan once before, and they could not find anyone there who could speak English, let alone French, in Tokyo. I recalled my travels to him of going to Japan for my honeymoon, laughing about the language differences that I encountered as well.
The captain came over the loudspeaker and said that our plane would be delayed for 15 minutes due to too much air traffic over New York, and they were trying to manage all of the flights. As we sat there for a few minutes, I knew that I needed to share my faith with Rafael.
"J'ai un question pour vous. Quand vous etes mort, que pensez-vous d'ou vous pouvez aller?"
("I have a question for you. When you are dead, where do you think you would go?")
"Je ne sais pas," il a dit.
("I don't know," he said.)
We spoke for the next 20 minutes, as I shared the Law and God's grace to him, almost all in French. I had to use English here and there, for words like "sin" and "repentance," but he would quickly provide me with their translations or equivalents. And sometimes I could remember one word in French, but not the antonym, and he would help me out, like, "What do you call it when you say something that isn't the truth?" and he would give me the word for, "to tell a lie," in French.
By the time I was nearing the end of our conversation, he asked me, "How many years did you say you learned French?" I told him that I took it for four years in high school, and that that was well over 10 years ago, and I haven't practiced much. "No way," he said, "you shouldn't be able to speak this well after so long."
I gave Rafael a couple of million-dollar bill tracts, and he was grateful for our chat. He needed to catch some rest, because he had only two hours sleep, and the flight to Paris would likely give him jet lag.
After we got off of the plane, and started walking into the terminal, a large black man came up behind me and said something. I couldn't quite pick it up due to the noise, so I had to have him repeat it twice. "Je parle le francais aussi. Je viens de l'Haiti," he spoke with a smile ("I speak French, too. I come from Haiti."). It turned out that I was speaking loud enough in the airplane
for Rafael and his buddy to hear me, there was another French speaker who was also listening to my Gospel presentation as well.
Pray for Rafael, his buddy, and the Haitian man and his wife.
When I switched chairs with them, I picked up a hint of an accent from one of them. Curious, I asked where they were from. The young man said that he was from France, heading home to Paris. "Oh," I said, "I speak a little bit of French. I learned it about 10 years ago and haven't used it much since then."
I started to have a conversation with the young man, named Rafael, in French. We talked about how he and his buddy were on their way home from going to Disneyworld. He was 20 years old, had just finished school, and was serving as a waiter in a restaurant. He had been to San Francisco before, and was thinking of being a waiter in New York City. We also talked about how he and his mother had traveled to Japan once before, and they could not find anyone there who could speak English, let alone French, in Tokyo. I recalled my travels to him of going to Japan for my honeymoon, laughing about the language differences that I encountered as well.
The captain came over the loudspeaker and said that our plane would be delayed for 15 minutes due to too much air traffic over New York, and they were trying to manage all of the flights. As we sat there for a few minutes, I knew that I needed to share my faith with Rafael.
"J'ai un question pour vous. Quand vous etes mort, que pensez-vous d'ou vous pouvez aller?"
("I have a question for you. When you are dead, where do you think you would go?")
"Je ne sais pas," il a dit.
("I don't know," he said.)
We spoke for the next 20 minutes, as I shared the Law and God's grace to him, almost all in French. I had to use English here and there, for words like "sin" and "repentance," but he would quickly provide me with their translations or equivalents. And sometimes I could remember one word in French, but not the antonym, and he would help me out, like, "What do you call it when you say something that isn't the truth?" and he would give me the word for, "to tell a lie," in French.
By the time I was nearing the end of our conversation, he asked me, "How many years did you say you learned French?" I told him that I took it for four years in high school, and that that was well over 10 years ago, and I haven't practiced much. "No way," he said, "you shouldn't be able to speak this well after so long."
I gave Rafael a couple of million-dollar bill tracts, and he was grateful for our chat. He needed to catch some rest, because he had only two hours sleep, and the flight to Paris would likely give him jet lag.
After we got off of the plane, and started walking into the terminal, a large black man came up behind me and said something. I couldn't quite pick it up due to the noise, so I had to have him repeat it twice. "Je parle le francais aussi. Je viens de l'Haiti," he spoke with a smile ("I speak French, too. I come from Haiti."). It turned out that I was speaking loud enough in the airplane
for Rafael and his buddy to hear me, there was another French speaker who was also listening to my Gospel presentation as well.
Pray for Rafael, his buddy, and the Haitian man and his wife.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Breaking Up Fights
I went by the skate park to try to find someone with whom I spoke on Monday. (That is another story in itself, and hopefully I'll have some video up soon.) I was expecting a quick in-and-out. Go to the park, find the guy, talk to him, and take off. Instead, I found myself in the heat of conflict.
As I approached the alcove in the middle of the park, there was a group of five boys, all about 17 or 18, who were scoping me out. I knew that something was in the works in their minds, because I've had some training on detecting possible problems and being aware of my environment. So, it was only a matter of time before one of them spoke up.
"Hey!" said one, stepping up rather brazenly towards me. His friends retreated slightly to the benches to chuckle and watch what would happen next. "I've got some religious questions for you." I said that I welcome such questions. He crossed his arms, and began quizzing me, hoping to find a fault, something I could not answer. "You know how long the Bible has been in English, right? So what if the translators of it got something wrong a thousand years ago or so?"
"Well, first," I said, "You have to remember that a thousand years ago, English didn't exist. There was a proto-language called 'Englisc' that was its predecessor." This caught him off-guard. Then, I walked him through some of the points I made in this post, talking about how an omnipotent God who could speak the world into existence should not have problems with making people write down words properly for a few thousand years.
As we continued on with question after question, while his friends listened from a distance, I got to know Cody and I sensed an opportunity to start into presenting God's Law to him. As we walked through the Commandments, he sensed that he was in trouble in the eyes of God. Suddenly, he went from an adversarial type of conversation to more of a dialogue and polite chat. His questions became more geared towards clearing up misconceptions he had instead of finding flaws and trying to best me. When one of his friends came by and said, "Dude, how's it going? Is he winning?" he said that I was taking him to school instead.
By the end of our chat, Cody realized that his lack of trust/faith in God was something important, and that it would be his undoing should he died. I recommended that he get right with God before he dies, and he agreed. He wanted to know where I go to church, and I shared it with him.
Not seeing the person for whom I was looking, I started to leave the skate park when I saw a wave of kids progress in one direction. I recognized that sort of mass migration, and knew that it could only mean one thing--a fight was about to start.
Two boys were squaring off, chest to chest in the parking lot, talking smack to each other. I walked up and stood in between them. "That's enough," I said. They split up, but people continued to linger in the parking lot, expecting something to break out. I made a quick call to my friends at the police department, and about 10 minutes later, a K-9 officer came by. It's amazing how quickly kids disperse when the law shows up.
And it's amazing how quickly the Law can also break up fights.
As I approached the alcove in the middle of the park, there was a group of five boys, all about 17 or 18, who were scoping me out. I knew that something was in the works in their minds, because I've had some training on detecting possible problems and being aware of my environment. So, it was only a matter of time before one of them spoke up.
"Hey!" said one, stepping up rather brazenly towards me. His friends retreated slightly to the benches to chuckle and watch what would happen next. "I've got some religious questions for you." I said that I welcome such questions. He crossed his arms, and began quizzing me, hoping to find a fault, something I could not answer. "You know how long the Bible has been in English, right? So what if the translators of it got something wrong a thousand years ago or so?"
"Well, first," I said, "You have to remember that a thousand years ago, English didn't exist. There was a proto-language called 'Englisc' that was its predecessor." This caught him off-guard. Then, I walked him through some of the points I made in this post, talking about how an omnipotent God who could speak the world into existence should not have problems with making people write down words properly for a few thousand years.
As we continued on with question after question, while his friends listened from a distance, I got to know Cody and I sensed an opportunity to start into presenting God's Law to him. As we walked through the Commandments, he sensed that he was in trouble in the eyes of God. Suddenly, he went from an adversarial type of conversation to more of a dialogue and polite chat. His questions became more geared towards clearing up misconceptions he had instead of finding flaws and trying to best me. When one of his friends came by and said, "Dude, how's it going? Is he winning?" he said that I was taking him to school instead.
By the end of our chat, Cody realized that his lack of trust/faith in God was something important, and that it would be his undoing should he died. I recommended that he get right with God before he dies, and he agreed. He wanted to know where I go to church, and I shared it with him.
Not seeing the person for whom I was looking, I started to leave the skate park when I saw a wave of kids progress in one direction. I recognized that sort of mass migration, and knew that it could only mean one thing--a fight was about to start.
Two boys were squaring off, chest to chest in the parking lot, talking smack to each other. I walked up and stood in between them. "That's enough," I said. They split up, but people continued to linger in the parking lot, expecting something to break out. I made a quick call to my friends at the police department, and about 10 minutes later, a K-9 officer came by. It's amazing how quickly kids disperse when the law shows up.
And it's amazing how quickly the Law can also break up fights.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Scraping At Scabs
There was a trend in Christianity in the recent past that marketed Jesus Christ as a life accessory. This was presented predominantly during the Dot-Com Bubble of the early 21st Century to people who were well-off, living in middle-class or upper-class society. The pitch delivered typically went something like this:
"You have your life together. You are married, live in a nice home, have two cars, two and a half children, and a family dog. You have a good job, go on nice vacations, have the wide screen plasma TV, and your 401k is growing every day.
"But, there is one thing you lack. You need Jesus Christ. He will give you love, joy, peace, happiness, and all the things you want in life. You should become a Christian because you have a God-shaped hole in your heart, and He is the only one who can fill it."
Most people could see through this flimsy presentation about why they should become Christians. Those who rejected this sales pitch were generally already happy with things going well in their lives, so they had no need to add on a deity who they believed would restrict their freedom in how they lived (sinning).
But for those who, "accepted Jesus," for the benefits of these reasons, they often later walked away from the faith. When life got hard and tough times arose through job layoffs, medical problems, economic woes, or other calamities, they turned around with anger, disdain, confusion, and sorrow towards their Savior. They had been promised great lives and contentment through Jesus Christ, and because they did not receive what they were told to expect, they abandoned Christianity and went away with a grudge.
This trend still exists still in some circles today, but has become relatively passe with the current recession and worldwide financial problems. In a time where the cost of food and gasoline is expected to rise 20% over the next year, promises of plenty and self-actualization ring hollow to ears that have already been through troublesome times. A new trend has emerged in its place, focusing instead on healing hurts and providing solace to past pains.
This new trend can be likened to picking at an old scab, where Jesus Christ is instead presented as someone who can make emotional injuries go away, instead of a courier of bliss. In this method, the unbeliever is petitioned to come to God because at some point along their life, someone has hurt them badly. Even if the person is a relatively normal, well-adjusted individual, the depths of the past are probed for even the remotest relational scar, which is then torn open once more and vivisected until the person cries out for the pain to go away, at which point the Savior is applied like a bandage.
Many pastors, in their altar calls, are now saying something like the following:
"I want to let you know that if someone has hurt you in your life, through abuse, neglect, harsh words, Jesus Christ is here to patch those wounds. You may have grown up in an abusive household. It's possible that one of your family members is going through some disease like cancer, and you're seeing them fall apart in front of your eyes. You may have lost your job and your husband is divorcing you. Someone may have even stolen your bike when you were a kid, or embarrassed you by giving you a wedgie in the school hallway, and you never got over it. I want you to know that you need to hear that Jesus Christ loves you and cares about you. And if you want to make Him the Lord of your life, please say this prayer privately...."
For those who have an open wound from recent problems, this promise of a healer sounds either wonderful or too good to be true, and a similar reaction happens like those whom were promised greatness. But for those who do not have a gaping psychological sore, it does not resound with the same level of imperativeness. So the person has to be convinced that there is a blemish on his or her life that was never cured. Past agonies are dredged up, magnified, and held up to show that the person has a tear that never stitched itself together, even if mundane, such as an errant rude comment from a parent in the heat of a moment of anger. And when the person has had enough of mentally revisiting times past, he or she is told that the salve can be found in faith.
Does Jesus Christ offer healing and restoration? Absolutely. But when this is made the motivation for coming to salvation, it builds up a false hope and expectancy of being innoculated from any further harm, in the same way that a person guaranteed happiness and joy would expect nothing but good things to enter into their lives. In both situations, when disaster and woe inevitably come knocking, the person is casting their hope on immediate deliverance from these circumstances through their profession of faith. And if their trial is not quickly put to rest, they can turn on their Deliverer.
The New Testament makes no promise that by becoming a Christian that someone will be saved from peril in this life, emotional or otherwise. Jesus Himself said that His Gospel would cause divsion even within households (Luke 12:51-53). The world would hate Christians simply for the name of Jesus Christ (John 15:18). The Apostle Paul suffered both medically (2 Corinthians 12:7) and through trials including beatings, stonings, shipwreck, and starvation (2 Corinthians 11:23-28), proving that even those who had a personal, supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ could still suffer.
The true Gospel, and not a message of contentment or Fruedian introspection/breakthroughs, must be presented to all men. This message must contain the truth about God's judgment and wrath towards sin, and the atonement, grace, and salvation found Jesus Christ. It is only through the preaching of this truth that someone will come to Christ and be able to bear infirmities and praise God properly for joys in their lives. When a person understands the deliverance from sin and standing as an enemy of God, no matter where his or her life may go, or what obstacles arise, that person has true comfort and peace in the knowledge that this life is temporary, and that that person will spend eternity glorifying his or her Father in Heaven.
The modern-day scraping at scabs, misconstrued promises, and preaching of everything but the core of the Gospel must stop.
"You have your life together. You are married, live in a nice home, have two cars, two and a half children, and a family dog. You have a good job, go on nice vacations, have the wide screen plasma TV, and your 401k is growing every day.
"But, there is one thing you lack. You need Jesus Christ. He will give you love, joy, peace, happiness, and all the things you want in life. You should become a Christian because you have a God-shaped hole in your heart, and He is the only one who can fill it."
Most people could see through this flimsy presentation about why they should become Christians. Those who rejected this sales pitch were generally already happy with things going well in their lives, so they had no need to add on a deity who they believed would restrict their freedom in how they lived (sinning).
But for those who, "accepted Jesus," for the benefits of these reasons, they often later walked away from the faith. When life got hard and tough times arose through job layoffs, medical problems, economic woes, or other calamities, they turned around with anger, disdain, confusion, and sorrow towards their Savior. They had been promised great lives and contentment through Jesus Christ, and because they did not receive what they were told to expect, they abandoned Christianity and went away with a grudge.
This trend still exists still in some circles today, but has become relatively passe with the current recession and worldwide financial problems. In a time where the cost of food and gasoline is expected to rise 20% over the next year, promises of plenty and self-actualization ring hollow to ears that have already been through troublesome times. A new trend has emerged in its place, focusing instead on healing hurts and providing solace to past pains.
This new trend can be likened to picking at an old scab, where Jesus Christ is instead presented as someone who can make emotional injuries go away, instead of a courier of bliss. In this method, the unbeliever is petitioned to come to God because at some point along their life, someone has hurt them badly. Even if the person is a relatively normal, well-adjusted individual, the depths of the past are probed for even the remotest relational scar, which is then torn open once more and vivisected until the person cries out for the pain to go away, at which point the Savior is applied like a bandage.
Many pastors, in their altar calls, are now saying something like the following:
"I want to let you know that if someone has hurt you in your life, through abuse, neglect, harsh words, Jesus Christ is here to patch those wounds. You may have grown up in an abusive household. It's possible that one of your family members is going through some disease like cancer, and you're seeing them fall apart in front of your eyes. You may have lost your job and your husband is divorcing you. Someone may have even stolen your bike when you were a kid, or embarrassed you by giving you a wedgie in the school hallway, and you never got over it. I want you to know that you need to hear that Jesus Christ loves you and cares about you. And if you want to make Him the Lord of your life, please say this prayer privately...."
For those who have an open wound from recent problems, this promise of a healer sounds either wonderful or too good to be true, and a similar reaction happens like those whom were promised greatness. But for those who do not have a gaping psychological sore, it does not resound with the same level of imperativeness. So the person has to be convinced that there is a blemish on his or her life that was never cured. Past agonies are dredged up, magnified, and held up to show that the person has a tear that never stitched itself together, even if mundane, such as an errant rude comment from a parent in the heat of a moment of anger. And when the person has had enough of mentally revisiting times past, he or she is told that the salve can be found in faith.
Does Jesus Christ offer healing and restoration? Absolutely. But when this is made the motivation for coming to salvation, it builds up a false hope and expectancy of being innoculated from any further harm, in the same way that a person guaranteed happiness and joy would expect nothing but good things to enter into their lives. In both situations, when disaster and woe inevitably come knocking, the person is casting their hope on immediate deliverance from these circumstances through their profession of faith. And if their trial is not quickly put to rest, they can turn on their Deliverer.
The New Testament makes no promise that by becoming a Christian that someone will be saved from peril in this life, emotional or otherwise. Jesus Himself said that His Gospel would cause divsion even within households (Luke 12:51-53). The world would hate Christians simply for the name of Jesus Christ (John 15:18). The Apostle Paul suffered both medically (2 Corinthians 12:7) and through trials including beatings, stonings, shipwreck, and starvation (2 Corinthians 11:23-28), proving that even those who had a personal, supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ could still suffer.
The true Gospel, and not a message of contentment or Fruedian introspection/breakthroughs, must be presented to all men. This message must contain the truth about God's judgment and wrath towards sin, and the atonement, grace, and salvation found Jesus Christ. It is only through the preaching of this truth that someone will come to Christ and be able to bear infirmities and praise God properly for joys in their lives. When a person understands the deliverance from sin and standing as an enemy of God, no matter where his or her life may go, or what obstacles arise, that person has true comfort and peace in the knowledge that this life is temporary, and that that person will spend eternity glorifying his or her Father in Heaven.
The modern-day scraping at scabs, misconstrued promises, and preaching of everything but the core of the Gospel must stop.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
"We're Sinners, But We're Not Evil."
On my way home yesterday, I tuned into the end of a local Christian talk show. The host was in heated debate with some of his callers about the wicked nature of man. The callers into the show argued that, sure, we are all sinners, but we are not evil. The exchange went something like this:
Host: Hello, caller.
Caller: Hello, I'm calling because of the point you said about us being evil. I'm a Christian, and I know we're sinners, but I wouldn't call us evil.
Host: How would you define, "evil?"
Caller: I would call a murderer or a rapist, or someone like Adolph Hitler evil.
Host: So what about things like lying?
Caller: Well, that's a bad thing to do, and we're sinners, but still, we're not evil.
Host: And when the Bible says that lying is a wicked act, that doesn't make us evil?
Caller: Well, no. God loves the sinner but hates the sin.
Host: But God isn't going to differentiate the sin from the sinner. God doesn't send lies and murders to Hell, He sends liars and murderers to Hell.
Caller: ... well, still, we're not evil.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
The reason I bring this up is because of a witnessing encounter I had a couple of weeks ago with a young girl who could not get her mind wrapped around mankind's evil nature. In explaining to her how one lie makes a person a liar, just like one murder makes a person a murderer, she turned this idea upside-down and asked the opposite.
"Suppose," she asked, "you have a man who is completely wicked. He does evil all day and all night. But on one occasion, he does something benevolent. He heals someone of a wound. Wouldn't that one healing make the man a healer?"
To show her the problem with this thought, I pointed her to Heaven. "Heaven is a perfect place, right?" She nodded her head. "And if anything imperfect entered into Heaven, it would no longer be a perfect place, right?" I could see that she was slightly confused by this idea.
"Imagine for a moment that you have two buckets of paint. One is completely white, and one is completely black. If you put even a single drop of black paint into that white bucket, it's no longer white, right?" She agreed. "From that point on, it's a shade of gray, even if it's a tiny little bit.
"Now, no matter how much you pour white paint into the black bucket, even if it overflowed over, it would still be a shade of gray as well. You can never remove the blackness from the bucket. This is the same with what you are talking about."
We continued talking about how the bad person cannot enter Heaven without corrupting it, and no many how many good things someone does, they cannot erase their own wickedness. This made sense to her, but she still did not like hearing how we, mankind, are essentially bad, wicked, and evil.
The truth is that we all think that we are all good (Proverbs 20:6). We all think that what we do is right (Proverbs 21:2). But, our hearts are deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). None of us do good (Romans 3:10). All of our works are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
Mankind is evil. And unless God changes us, we never see it.
Host: Hello, caller.
Caller: Hello, I'm calling because of the point you said about us being evil. I'm a Christian, and I know we're sinners, but I wouldn't call us evil.
Host: How would you define, "evil?"
Caller: I would call a murderer or a rapist, or someone like Adolph Hitler evil.
Host: So what about things like lying?
Caller: Well, that's a bad thing to do, and we're sinners, but still, we're not evil.
Host: And when the Bible says that lying is a wicked act, that doesn't make us evil?
Caller: Well, no. God loves the sinner but hates the sin.
Host: But God isn't going to differentiate the sin from the sinner. God doesn't send lies and murders to Hell, He sends liars and murderers to Hell.
Caller: ... well, still, we're not evil.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
The reason I bring this up is because of a witnessing encounter I had a couple of weeks ago with a young girl who could not get her mind wrapped around mankind's evil nature. In explaining to her how one lie makes a person a liar, just like one murder makes a person a murderer, she turned this idea upside-down and asked the opposite.
"Suppose," she asked, "you have a man who is completely wicked. He does evil all day and all night. But on one occasion, he does something benevolent. He heals someone of a wound. Wouldn't that one healing make the man a healer?"
To show her the problem with this thought, I pointed her to Heaven. "Heaven is a perfect place, right?" She nodded her head. "And if anything imperfect entered into Heaven, it would no longer be a perfect place, right?" I could see that she was slightly confused by this idea.
"Imagine for a moment that you have two buckets of paint. One is completely white, and one is completely black. If you put even a single drop of black paint into that white bucket, it's no longer white, right?" She agreed. "From that point on, it's a shade of gray, even if it's a tiny little bit.
"Now, no matter how much you pour white paint into the black bucket, even if it overflowed over, it would still be a shade of gray as well. You can never remove the blackness from the bucket. This is the same with what you are talking about."
We continued talking about how the bad person cannot enter Heaven without corrupting it, and no many how many good things someone does, they cannot erase their own wickedness. This made sense to her, but she still did not like hearing how we, mankind, are essentially bad, wicked, and evil.
The truth is that we all think that we are all good (Proverbs 20:6). We all think that what we do is right (Proverbs 21:2). But, our hearts are deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). None of us do good (Romans 3:10). All of our works are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
Mankind is evil. And unless God changes us, we never see it.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Video -- Casey & Devon
Casey and Devon had just decided that they were going to move from Oklahoma to Castle Rock after spending time visiting family on vacation. They came to the skate park to check things out, and I spoke to them and Devon's teenage brother, Cavin. After the camera was switched off, we kept talking for about another half hour about matters of faith, namely, their perceptions about Christians in the Bible Belt.
Pray for Casey and Devon (and Cavin).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)