What's In It For ME?

So few Christians get out and witness to strangers that when I tell people I do, they are always shocked. I think it's important to witness to our friends, but I know it's important to witness to strangers. God said to preach the Gospel to every creature (every created being), not just those we are familiar with. So I head out to the streets and talk to a few people every week. This doesn't make me a good person, nor do I have to be a good person to do it.

There are many reasons why Christians don't often share their faith with strangers. I could get into them, but I'd end up just spreading guilt. Instead I'd like to touch on why we should be. The old "What's in it for ME?" answer that is so important in business, and really all human enterprise for sad reasons.

Firstly lets get rid of the idea that God needs you in order to free the captives. He doesn't. Secondly, the idea that those who are in the fields need help. We don't. I am not motivated by fear, or some lacking in any way shape or form. God is sufficient.

People travel the world over to see "signs and wonders." Be them men speaking in "tongues", healers, strange occurrences, whatever they might be... people flock to the places where they think God might show Himself in some miraculous way.

Christians seeking to know the Lord will rightly spend their lives studying scripture.

Christians will rightly spend hour after hour praying to God for Him to reveal Himself, to give them faith, to save the lost... and so on.

What if I told you that God really does do miracles that born again Christian can watch God do anywhere there are sinners (might be hard to find some though right?) at any time under any circumstances? What if I assured you that you'd be sure it actually was God doing what you see, that there'd be no question about it?

My fellow believers, God says His Law stops the mouths of the proud. And it does. Learn how to approach someone in sanity, relate to them with respect, humility and love, and ask them the hardest questions any human will ever ask them. If you take a very short amount of time to study how to witness (evangelize) Biblically and then actually do it, you will be amazed at the true faithfulness of God. You can learn to speak to a complete stranger and in the span of a few moments watch God take them from their pride to brokenness and then to freedom for eternity.

No matter what kind of life or sin God has lifted you up out of it doesn't matter. No matter how poorly you speak, it doesn't matter. No matter if you've only been a Christian for an hour, it doesn't matter. God does the work, you just get to be there to watch it. It's not your roll to convince anyone of anything. That's the Spirit's job. If you simply go to someone the way the Bible teaches, then God will be faithful to what He said He does when we obey His instruction. If you try to do it in your own strength and understanding then you'll get the results that a man can produce. If you do it the way God says to then you'll get the results that God can produce.

Please watch Hell's Best Kept Secret. Then please consider getting some training on the topic. I suggest www.wayofthemaster.com, and if you are serious (and you ought be) then the full training package is at http://www.biblicalevangelism.com This is the course I am nearly finished now.

God doesn't need you, but He'd love to help you grow. Trust is gained by trusting. Everyone who walks out on frozen ice feels uncomfortable at first. Then as they learn the ice will support them they gain trust. Eventually, they invite others out on the ice with them.

That's what I'm doing. God really is faithful. He is trustworthy. I'm inviting you to come out on the thin ice with me and play a game of Hockey. All goals save lives, and the Guy shooting the puck is God.

What's in it for you? You will gain a new trust in God. You will see Him working through and in front of you. You'll store up your treasure in Heaven where it can't be lost. You'll grow an incredible love for people. AND, you will grow a stronger love for God.

Which One Are You?

The Godhead

As Paul was writing (exactly as inspired by the Holy Spirit) in Romans 8 about our position in Christ it's interesting to see how the nature of the Godhead is revealed in the language of one small section.

Rom 8:9-14

9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Here the Spirit is called, the Spirit, the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ.

10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Here the Spirit is called "life" and we know that Christ Jesus is "the Way, the Truth and the Life"

11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Now it speaks of the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus dwelling in you. We know this to be God the Father.

12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Again, the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of God.

Just as when the Bible is speaking of scientific things without teaching about them, so it is with other topics continually consistent. Paul is not teaching about the Godhead, or the more modern term the Trinity yet even still we can learn about it from this small section of Scripture.

My First Year In Blogging

Anyone who's done any "network marketing" knows the book "Your First Year In Network Marketing" Well it's now been a year since I posted my first post. There's been a lot to learn, and what a roller coaster ride this year has been in my life.. wow. A few highs, and many deep dark lows. It was the beginning of a long valley that led me to start blogging in the first place. And I must say, it's become part of my life. I can't say I'm the most prolific or even the most inspired blogger but I do enjoy it.

The Apple of Your Eye

The Seeing Eye Part 1.

Are You Ready?

How you feel after 58 seconds will tell you.

Big Bang’s Afterglow Fails Intergalactic ‘Shadow’ Test

AiG reports on "News to Note" this week.

University of Alabama at Huntsville scientists are scratching their heads
at a finding that may see the big bang “blown away” in the minds of scientists.
Big bang advocates believe the cosmic explosion is responsible for the cosmic
microwave background (CMB) radiation we observe. However, scientists have long predicted that galaxy clusters in the universe would deflect the CMB radiation, creating “shadows” in the observable radiation. But when the Alabama scientists measured this effect, they did not find any strong “shadows” as expected.

Fruitful Saturday Witnessing

Glory to God, today I was given 9 people to speak the full Gospel to. Over the 3 or so hours we spent on the streets it seemed like nearly everyone we spoke to was prepared to hear God's message of salvation. What a wonderful Saturday afternoon.

Glory!

Do you consider yourself a good person?

Christian Ubuntu & Hydrogen

A few posts down you'll see some links to free creative arts software. Great audio multi-track recording and editing stuff, graphics and photo software. However, I left out my favorite drum program.

Hydrogen - this software sounds great and is easy to use. Why purchase a drum program when something this good is free?

What's more, I just noticed that Ubuntu now has a "Christian Edition" of it's Linux OS. Ubuntu is a new user friendly Linux distribution. I've used it and like it. I also like Xandros a lot. I'm not sure if the guys producing Ubuntu saw an opportunity to corner a segment of the market or not but who cares if they did? A free, solid, secure, fast and stable OS that's labeled Christian too? Gotta get me that jobby right now! :)

I picked up an external HDD today. This will be used for recording, as my laptop's 5400rpm model just won't do it. I think I'll be making two partitions on it though. One for audio the other for Ubuntu CE.

The Origins Of Man Exhibit in Kenya

iol (?) details the heat around the opening of a new museum exhibit focusing on the Theory of Evolution. Of course the exhibit portrays the theory as fact, most do. This has Christians in Africa upset.

Now I'm not happy to see even more tax payer money going towards lies and deception however there is a benefit to museum exhibits being set up. It's a great way to force Evolutionary Theorists to write down what they state is fact so we can then punch holes in the so called science and evidence they use.

Much like Ike and Patton said of the 'Battle of the Bulge' Christians should look at this as an opportunity to win a decisive battle. When the enemy sets up his church, we can pray over it and use real science to expose the lies there in.

On the topic of exposing the lies of Evolutionary Theory, Answers in Genesis has a new website layout that looks pretty snazzy to me. :)

Finally Recording Some Tracks Again

Since my last post was about Tracts and tracks why not carry on with the words eh?

By checking my profile you'll see I'm a songwriter. I've written a number of songs over the last year but this has not been my primary focus. Over the last few days I finally installed some recording software and put down my first track in ages. I'm working on a pretty (if I do say so myself) little song called "How To Love". It's written about dealing with sin and addiction. For the first time ever I've written a song which is a prayer anyone can pray.

I decided to record using all free software. So I come to the reason for my post. Amateurs seeking to produce art often find themselves "having" to "steal" software to create that art. Whether it's Photoshop, 3DMax, or SONAR it seems you "need" these programs (or their competitors) in order to create art on your computer. The justification always comes down to two things. Their is no intention to make a profit with the art, and or the pricing of these are prohibitive.

Well, recently I've been seeing what can be done with free software. Not flaky software that hardly works and installs a bunch of spyware on my system but top notch quality programs. Here are some which I've been using and am very happy with. We can thank the Linux "scene" for all but Kristal in this list. These all work with Windows.

Office Suite - OpenOffice.org
Photo Editing - The GIMP
3D Modeling - Blender
Multi-Track Recording/Editing - Kristal Audio Engine
Audio VST Effects - Kjaerhus Audio Classic Series
Multi-Track Audio Recording/Editing -Audacity (I have not used Audacity yet, just installing it now but it is held in high regard. So I list it here.)

So there you have it. Some practical ways to be able to create top quality art without having to deal with your conscience nagging at you.

Tracts instead of making tracks this week

This week saw sorrow turn to victory, and yet things still conspired to keep our group for heading out on the streets to witness. So my wife and I dropped of a couple of tracts down town.

A week ago tonight I was deeply sad and wondering how that could change any time soon. Thankfully God knew exactly where I was, and how long I needed to be there.

This week I'm back to walking in victory. Others can scoff or stare all they like. It's His life in me now. That's how I can go on. That's how I can live with joy.

I'll be back playing with the worship band again soon. This is a very nice change. Though it won't be the focus of my service, it's just great to be able to do it again. I've got a few new songs I'd love my church to hear.

Differences Between Bible Translations

As I posted before, I'm sticking with the King James Version now as I can't find a better more faithful English bible.

Here is a website with intensive studies on verses which have been changed in the new translations. I'm not a KJV onlyist, yet. Though I'm beginning to feel as though I should be.

http://www.scionofzion.com/kjv_1611_yahoo.htm

Here's a page which describes the reasons for the changes in the new translations.

http://www.av1611.org/kjv/fight.html

I believe the KJV is the best English version we have. That's about as far as I can go in the debate at this time, but I'm still studying.