A new fishing hole - Lower Greenville

Word on the street in Deep Ellum recently has been that Lower Grenville is where people are going for the night life, so that's were we went last night.

Along for the ride: Daniel Lamiman, Dara Robbins, Emmanuel Zeli, and Joel Roberts.
We spent a bit of time just cruising down the street to get and idea of the area. There were definitely more people here than in Deep Ellum.

The first person we encountered was a guy sitting in a parked car in the MacDonald's parking lot with his window upen. Dara went up to the guy and gave him a tract. After she had walked away I went to talk with the him. I found out his name was Byron and he was waiting for his friend to get off work from Macdonalds. I've found that when people are just sitting around waiting for something you've often got a perfect witness opportunity, because they aren't going to go anywhere, and they're often bored and willing to talk to you. When I showed Byron the tracts I had, he professed to be a Christian . He was at least a church-goer and was familiar with scripture. Whether he was Christian or not, I chose to hold up the mirror of the moral law of God by taking him through the ten commandments in the form of the good person test. It's my conviction a true Christian will have no problem being put under the blazing light of God's law, because a large part of their conversion to Christ would have first involved the conviction of sin via the law (See Romans 7:7) .The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of
man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself;
yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord."

Note Paul says it was a small thing if he was (1) judged by those he was writing to (Christians), and (2) or by Man's judgement in general (the world). As Christians we know that it is God who judges us, and we know that the very Son of God testified that "every idle word we speak we will have to give account of on the day of Judgement." I think Paul's point is that it's not a big deal to be judged by a mere man when you've already submitted yourself to God's judgment by sheltering yourself in Christ. That's why I'm not hesitant to bring the law before a professing Christian, and I wasn't hesitant to bring the law before Byron. (I would personally be overjoyed if someone witnessed to me with the law of God as the starting point since I've yet to be on the receiving end of being biblically witnessed to :( ) Nonetheless, whether Byron was truly a Christian or not, he was very open to everything I talked about, and he kept mentioning how it was such a good thing that we were doing. I asked him whether his friend that he was there to pick up was saved, and he said he didn't know, so I exhorted him that if he truly cared about his friend, he ought to care enough to share the gospel with him. He also heartily agreed when I brought up the fact that none of us there that night had any guarantee that there would even be a tomorrow for us. He was very appreciative of our conversation, and even said at the end how he ought to be out sharing his faith like we were doing.

Later on we approached four guys in an empty parking lot who were standing next to four really nice motorbikes. These guys were pretty buff. I showed them the curved illusion tract,. They thought that was interesting. One of the guys, Joe, said he had a christian background when I inquired about what they believed, but Joe didn't seem interested in talking about it, in fact he almost seemed ashamed to talk about it with his friends around. One of the guys, J.R. said he had a Catholic background. I led him through the good person test, while his three friend listened on. After he self admitted to being a liar, a theif, and an adulterer at heart according to God's standard, I asked him where God should send him. He said Hell. I expounded on God's justice and how they were in need of righteousness to enter God's kingdom and to be reconciled to God, explaining that God would be just in sending all who have sinned against him to hell. I explained using the analogy of a human court what God did on their behalf through Jesus. I could tell that several of the guys were under conviction, and I think it made them uncomfortable, because suddenly they"had to go". I exhorted them to not just take my word for things, but to check out the bible themselves, and to see if what it was claiming was true. Their names were Joe, Dino, J.R. and Mark.

A litle further down the street, we stopped by one of the hot dog stands. He actually waved us down because he was trying to market the food that we had. We stopped briefly to talk to him, and it became apparent withing a few minutes that he was a Christian. I asked him if he wanted some tracts to be able to hand out at his Hot Dog stand , and he said "sure" so I handed him a stack, and he mentioned how great it would be to be able to give them away. He had some really good advice about where to park along other insights about the area, and we were all especially encouraged to run into another Christian.

I also had a good conversation with one of the owners of a store that sold mostly pipes. He expressly stated near the beginning of my conversation with him that he wasn't interested in talking about religion. I never let that sort of response be a deterrent to me, so I posed the question to hime "What do you think is out there after we die?". He seemed very interested in this question. Which of course led to other questions, like if he believed in God, whether thought all the beauty and design and complexity we observe in the creation could have just somehow evolved, etc. He agreed with me when I reasoned with him about how the creation testifies to the creator. I didn't get to go any further with him because it was time to leave, but I left him with the thought that if there is a creator, then the next thing he needed to figure out is what that creator expects of him, whereby I thrust a "You are here tract" into his hand told him to read it, because there was incredibly important information on the back. He said he would.

On the way back to the car, a guy came and walked along side us. He seemed to have a speech impediment. However when I asked him about it, he told us that his jaw had been broken when he was mugged. I don't what it is these days with meeting the guys who've gotten mugged recently (see a previous post I wrote recently) .It was a substantial walk back to the car so as we walked along we talked to him. He professed to be a Christian. I became convinced that he was a true Christian after I had asked im a lot of probing questions on the way back. While we were talking I picked up that he need help to be able to get into the shelter, so I gave him some money. He asked us to pray for him, so we did, Dara prayed for healing for his Jaw, and I just prayed in general. He also prayed for us. As we were saying goodbye, he had an interesting comment, because he addressed Daniel and told Daniel that Daniel would "teach many people the word of the Lord" or something along those lines. I guess it was kind of like a prophecy or a word for Daniel, which we all thought was profoundly curious, but very very interesting. We've met some pretty interesting peope in the past, who act like Christian so that you will help them out and give them money, or they claim to have a gift of prophecy and start declaring prophecies on your life but I've noticed that we're always in agreement about being bothered in our spirits by those people because we know something just isn't right in the spirit of their interaction with us, but I did not feel at all this way with this guy, everything about him seemed sincere and genuine. It was an Amazing evening.

After this first trip to a new area, I am convinced that Lower Greenville will be a a great spot for a new fishing hole for Streetlight ministries. Thanks for you prayers!

The eternal skeptic and the sentimental sinner

Another night where God has blessed us with two carfulls of laborers. Tonight was a good night.

Here's how we paired up.

Bill and Jason
Luke and Michael
Vince and Mark
Emmanuel and Daniel

It was cool to see Vince come out, since he's getting married next weekend.

It was Bill's first time joining us. he went with me, and I thought he did a great job and demonstrated a great deal of confidence in talking with people.

Which was good because most of our conversations seemed to be with people who at least to some degree or other, mocked the word of God. Our first conversation of any length (we had handed out tracts up to that point) was with three guys who were on their way to their car and we stopped to talk to them. (Getting their attention using tracts). One of the guys obviously had some knowledge of the bible because he knew quite a few scriptures, but If I remember correctly, they had all been drinking pretty heavily. As we shared the gospel and contended with the most vocal guy (whose philosophy seemed to be eternal skepticism ) the guy who knew some scriptures seemed the most convicted, while the other guys mostly debated and mocked and rejected the word of God. It seemed that the light we were exposing through the scriptures we were sharing eventually bothered (convicted) them enough that they re-iterated they had to leave. I was saddened to see the guy who knew some scripture and appeared to actually be under a good amount of conviction seem to almost be dragged away b his friends (not physically, but via their peer pressure).

The other conversation I remember (I'm writing this a good while after the fact) was one we started with about 3-4 guys outside one of the tattoo parlors. This conversation was unique, because one of the guys simply could not reconcile his own concept of love with certain truths of scripture and the God revealed in scripture. He also seemed to equate his "feelings' with his "conscience" as if they were one and the same, and then attempted to justify things in his life and use that as his bass to took issue that God would hold him accountable for his feelings. I kept trying to break apart his presupposition and premise that his feelings and conscience were one in the same. We went back and forth on this in a round robin fashion for a while, until I finally concluded that simple reasoning with him wasn't getting us anywhere, and so I said something along the lines of

"Look, The Bible says that you're without excuse for your sin, whether you call it a feeling or not, and if the Bible is true, then what you're saying is just a smokescreen for the real issue, which is that you love your sin and you simply don't WANT to repent and put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ, and I'll show it to you straight from scripture. "

I then proceeded to read the entirety of Romans 1 starting with verse 18 and going to the end of the chapter.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

At this point after I had read the scripture, we only had a few more minutes before we had to go, so we exhorted them to search out the truth and to each consider the Word of God themselves and what it claimed, especially the claim that God commanded them to repent. Acts 17:31 "..but now (God) commands ALL men EVERYWHERE to repent, because he has appointed a day when he will judge the world in righteousness... " (Emphasis mine).

I was encouraged that Bill was there because he did a great deal of talking and bringing up scriptures. Often I'm partnered up with someone younger from the High School youth group that I work with, and so often it's more of my partner shadowing me and being mentored/discipled by me until they gain the confidence and boldness to initiate witnessing to people on their own perogative, so it was cool to be with someone who did more talking.

Artfully avoiding the real issues

"Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men".

We had two carloads tonight, which was exciting.. I was stoked to see such a big group. The group included Myself, Mark, Emmanuel, Sarah Jo, Kenny and Michelle, Luke, Spenser and Daniel.

Since we had 8 people, we split into 4 groups, and Sarah Jo and I teamed up. She wrote up a great report of the people that we talked to.

Here's Sarah's report (in italics)

Friday, we hit the streets again. I can officially say "again" since I am now a repeat offender. ;-) Two car loads went. Luke, Mark, Daniel and Immanuel were in one car, Kenny, Michelle, Jason and me were another car. We split into groups of two. I went with Jason since I’m still learning and didn’t need to say much. I was surprised to see that an area that had been teaming with people on my first trip was now lifeless. Jason told us that a lot of the clubs and parties have moved to another area so we might try witnessing in that area in the future.

We ran into a group of people outside an art gallery. Jason handed them a track which they started reading. Part way through one girl said rather accusingly “Oh, are you church people?” to which we had to wonder, ‘what exactly does that mean?’ but Jason told them where we went to church and then proceeded to have an in-depth conversation with two of the guys present. He started out talking mainly with Paul using the “good person test”. Paul believes that everything is chaos and that no outside moral standard exists nor is one written on our hearts (Romans 1). He readily agreed that he did bad things but tried to argue that we only think it’s bad because our culture has pre-conditioned us. He tried to use rape as an example saying that we define it a certain way and think of it a certain way because our culture, and that in ancient days what we consider rape was accepted. A girl in the group refuted him suddenly by saying it was wrong no matter how you put it. That was an encouraging surprise. About this time the group left except for Paul and another guy whose name is Robert? The conversation was all over the place but you could tell that Paul had some knowledge in the scriptures and was familiar with Christian terms. He revealed that his parents were Lutheran but seemed to have a big problem with the way Christians acted and used it to argue his point that there was no outside moral standard. He talked about the crusades, etc. It was really depressing. Jason made a good point to him that God hates hypocrisy, that God will judge righteously, and that He will take care of all those people who did wrong while proclaiming that they were doing right. Paul didn’t want to admit that he would have to answer to God for his own behavior. He didn’t want to admit what was written on his heart – the law of God – and that his own conscious testified against him.

Paul left and we ended up talking with the guy who was hanging around. He seemed a lot more open to the gospel. He talked about believing in Jesus and how it was all about how you feel and there’s forgiveness and grace. It almost seemed like he was using that as an excuse to say that he was okay in the scheme of things because he believed Jesus was real (not because he had repented). Jason pointed out that even the demons believe in Jesus and that, as a righteous judge, God may understand that you feel sorry but He can’t just let you off the hook. If a judge in our courts had a murderer, no matter how contrite and no matter if he realized what he did was wrong, the judge would not be considered “just” if he let the murderer go without consequences. Jason was trying to get at the point of Jesus and his death but we never quite got there. Robert kept veering to the topic of how you felt. He didn’t want the consequences, they didn’t feel good. I wanted to say, God cares about how you feel but He cares about your soul more. At that time the group came back (but not Paul).

Robert’s? attitude towards us was really positive and it was just as hard to see him come so close as it was to see Paul be so far away. The night ended on an awesome note because we asked Robert? if we could pray for him and the girl who spoke up earlier, Shannon, came over and was like – let’s do it!- and then she talked about how messed up her sister was and started telling us all this stuff that we could pray about. It’s amazing how open people are sometimes. I don’t think she was a Christian but when we prayed – she seemed really grateful and said “People still care.” I told her God cared- which may sound cliché but it’s true and the truth will stay with her far after we’ve left.