| I'd like to begin by saying that this blog is one that I started recently for the purpose of posting current evangelism updates, as well as offering links that have been an encouragement to me to live for Christ and die to self. Jesus said that if we follow him, he will make us fishers of men. I took him at his word one day last year. I said, "Lord, I don't know how you're going to do it, but this is one area where I have failed you repeatedly for nearly 33 years. I don't want this to be true of me anymore, and I am believing your promise. I want to have many crowns to cast at your feet, Lord, not just a few." Each day I would see the paper that I printed out that said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Each time I looked at it, I would say, "Lord, I don't know how you are going to do this, but I believe that you will do just what you said, someway, someday." And he is. If I live to be 'three score and ten', I have less than 500 weeks of life. There's a lot of fishing that can be done in that amount of time. How exciting! Today I had some errands to run, re-fuel my truck, and keep an appointment with the eye doctor. Those were ample opportunities to pass out tracts, so, I made sure that I had plenty in my purse before I left. (I have a special place that is just for tracts, so that I can reach in at a moments notice and hand one to someone.) I left tracts with sales clerks, "greeters", cart boys, in carts, in dressing rooms, with employees standing outside for a smoke, with the receptionist at the doctor's office, in restrooms, with people having lunch outside at a burrito place, and even in the credit card slot at the gas pump, (credit card sized intelligence tests). It was a beautiful spring day today, so, when I stopped for lunch at the burrito place, I sat outside at one the tables they provided. I passed a young couple, sat down and thought, "If I wait until I'm finished with my lunch, they may have already left." So, I went over there right away, excused myself, and offered both of them a million as I asked, "Did you get one of these yet?" They reached out, smiled, and took them. The guy said that he had one, but recently gave it away. He evangelizes with a group at church and really appreciated that I was passing out tracts. I told him that there was a time that I wouldn't have done it, but knowing that approximately 150,000 people die every day and most go to hell, I have no better way to invest the rest of my life. I have had to ask the Lord to give me a heart of compassion, (and a growing heart of compassion), not only for the lost, but for the 'found' as well. It has not come 'naturally' for me. God loves to answer prayers like that with a "Yes!", and he is doing that in me. I am so grateful. And I am also grateful to my children who have continued to be a source of encouragement and inspiration to follow the Lord because 'worthy is the Lamb that was slain." I have used the "million dollar bills" most often, with only a couple of refusals. One was from a homeless man at a bus stop who only wanted money for the bus. The other was a preacher who said he didn't need it. I was at an outlet mall at the time. Later I sat down on a bench for a minute and the man next to me asked, "Aren't you the one who offered me the "million dollar bill" earlier?" I hadn't recognized him, but then I did and told him, "Yes, I am." He told me that he was a preacher and didn't need it, but the two women he was waiting for wanted to see it, so, if I had any more, he would accept my offer after all. :) I am still passing up opportunities to engage in one2one's, but I expect that will change soon. When I'm out shopping and the clerk hands me my receipt, in exchange, I hand him/her a tract, and ask, "Did you get one these yet?" Most will reach out to receive it, look at it and ask, "What is this?" With the million dollar bills, many will laugh as well. I tell them that it has a gospel message on the back and I hope they take the time to read it. (Most start reading it right away, so, I add, "...when you have time".  ) I hope to have pics to go with my updates someday. |
