Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 9/30/09

After getting my haircut earlier today (and having a great conversation about Jesus), I went to Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake. It was too windy Monday, and it rained practically all day yesterday and earlier today, but it finally dried up.

Today was cold- colder than it's been in a while. When I got back home, I checked the temperature and it was 51 degrees with a wind chill of 47. I was not prepared for today- I switched out of one sweat shirt into a sweater type shirt, but I should have put both on! I did have gloves and having my backpack on kept me a little warmer than I would have been on otherwise.

I only stayed out for about 40 minutes, but was hoping to stay out for 2 hours like I had previously (with no problem). I know we should have some slightly nicer weather before winter strikes, and after today I'm looking forward to those! At least I don't have to worry about sun burn! Tomorrow's forecast is for sun and 62- can't wait!

A Converstaion Getting My Hair Cut

Today I went to get my haircut and I was thinking about ways to bring up Jesus in a conversation. I was going to ask, "Do you know if it supposed to stop raining soon?" and then be able to introduce how I haven't gone out with my cross in the rain (it's cardboard) and I could segway into a conversation.

When I got there, another woman getting her hair cut was talking about a woman she knew who had a miscarriage. She said they were believers and that she believed the baby was in heaven. She was talking a little bit about faith and when I got up to get my haircut, I went over and gave her an Obama Trillion and one to the hair stylist. One of the hair stylists told me a different hair stylist had received a tract a few weeks ago and was showing it to them.

This really convicts me, because I have been slacking on giving out tracts to people I come across in stores and in public. I have no problem handing them out when I am in "evangelist" mode carrying the cross (what else could I be up to?!), but otherwise, as with a photography analogy I like to use, I tend to "hide in the shadows" all other times. I need to remember that people need to hear the message and that any embarrassment I may temporarily have is only my pride getting in the way.

After handing out these two tracts, it took the conversation into a separate different areas. The stylist cutting my hair talked about doubting God's existence. I told her that the Bible says that all of creation speaks to His existence. I gave her the example of the human eye, which has 137 million light sensitive cells- you mean to tell me that happened by "chance?" I also talked about all the other working parts of the eye- the eyeball, the tears, the tear ducts, our eye lids, eye lashes. She pointed out that those were just a small portion of the human body. Exactly! How magnificently designed we are, and how much greater is our Designer!

I also talked about the problem with "gap theory" (according to the gap theory- death and destruction entered the world before the fall) and how the day "yom" in Genesis 1 is the same word uses through the Old Testament.

I also gave the two hair stylists the analogy of the parachute- believing in a parachute won't save you on a crashing plane, you have to put on the parachute, trust the parachute and jump from the plane- in the same sense you have to put on Jesus, trust in Him and abandon your sins. The one hair stylists said this was an excellent analogy to use.

At this point, I broke into the law, making sure to include that lust is adultery in the heart and murder or calling someone a "fool" is murder in the heart (I never knew this until I read the Bible myself and I think so many others don't know this- even if they know the commandments not to commit adultery and murder). I explained the necessity of repentance in addition to faith- even the demons believe the one hair stylist pointed out.

I also used the analogy of people saying that "God is such a loving God, He will forgive me of my sins." Try that in a court of law- judge, I know I murdered this person, but you are such a loving judge, I was hoping you would let me off the hook. A loving judge would acknowledge that because he is a loving judge, that he has to punish the crime. That is where Jesus came into take the punishment for us. Our fine was paid in His life's blood.

I did end up mentioning my cross, and the one stylist said she had seen me with it and wanted to come up and talk to me. I encouraged her to do so, because it is nice to get the encouragement, especially after getting heckled.

She said she thought of me as a "modern day prophet." I don't like to think of myself this way. We should all be "modern day prophets"- we have all been given the command of the Great Commission. Given the context of where I live and how it is uncommon to see people with religious signs here, I can understand the label (as a note: I do not take offensive to it. I am proud to be identified as one who loves Jesus and that my actions testify to that fact. As Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" [Romans 1:16]). If I were out in California with a lot of others with signs, I most likely wouldn't be viewed the same way. There should be countless others just like me.

We all have ample access to the Word. The information I am telling people isn't something new that hasn't been written down for hundreds of years. It is at our own peril that we choose not to read it. If everyone were following Jesus' commands, we would all be out there sharing our faith and I would be just one of many standing out there with a sign. Now, I'm not saying everyone should take Matthew 16:24 literally ("If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,") but please remember we are all called to the Great Commission (Mark 16:15).

What Has God Given Me Lately?

What has God given me lately? I think the question to ask is, "What hasn't He given me?!"

First and foremost, God sent His only Son into this world to die for my sins- that if I will repent of my sins and place my trust in Him, I can have eternal life. What greater sacrifice could one ask for? As a wretched sinner, God has allowed me to live under grace for another day.

Also, I have God's Word compiled neatly, at my fingertips. This is not something the early church had. I have excellent teachers and commentary to teach me about the Word.

I have loving parents and siblings. I have wonderful friends. I have a beautiful, loving and caring wife.

I have my health. Unlike some less fortunate, I have both of my arms and legs. I have my mind. I have comfortable clothing.

I have tons of freedom in the country I live in. I have the freedom to practice my own religion (or lack there of). I have freedom of speech and press.

God has provided me with a roof over my head. Some may want to squabble because they live in an apartment (as I do) and not a house. My apartment has air conditioning, heat, hot water, electricity, Internet access, and other amenities. If I am too hot, I can turn a dial and get cooled off in a matter of minutes. Likewise, if I am too cold, I can turn the dial the other way and get warm in a matter of minutes. I have clean, hot water to shower with every day. I have soap to keep me clean.

I have electricity which runs everything in my apartment. I have appliances that keep food fresh for weeks, if not months. I have a comfortable, warm bed to sleep in every night. I have a cell phone and computer that enables me to talk to people practically anywhere in the world instantly. I have a car that enables me to travel short and far distances alike in short periods of time.

I have toothpaste to keep my teeth clean and strong, so they don't fall out.

I have abundant food that is very afford-ably priced. I don't even have to make the food myself- I can purchase it pre-made if I so desired.I have an oven that can cook practically any food I want in a matter of minutes or hours, prepared to perfection because of temperature controls. I have access to food grown and made all around the world right at my fingertips. I am so spoiled, I even have candy and sweets.

I can purchase things from hundreds or thousands of miles away and get them overnight or in a few days. I have instant access to news happening all around the world, with pictures and video.

These are just a few of the things God has given me. The list goes on and on. I don't know how anyone could not be thankful for what God has given them- and most of the world isn't even saved, yet He continues to bless them. Wake up, repent and surrender you life to Jesus if you haven't already done so!

Too Windy For the Cross

Today, I went to Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake around 11:30. It is a bit on the cool side today and there is a wind advisory with wind gusts of up to 44 mph. I tried standing out with the cross, but after a few minutes, it was clear that it was too windy. My cross is made out of cardboard with only a dowel rod in the back for support and was really starting to bend. The wind advisory is set to expire tomorrow morning and although the forecast is calling for showers tomorrow, I am hoping to catch a break in the rain (if there is any) to go out.

Blasphemy on TV

I recently decided that if I heard blasphemy on a TV show, that I would either change the channel or turn the TV off. I started out by changing the channel, but then I just decided not to watch TV because it is inevitable that it is going to happen. I can't even watch the local news or Jeopardy without hearing a blasphemy. I cut the cable a while ago, but there is a lot of filth on just the network channels.

This is a personal conviction of mine that I have decided on. Some may say this is legalism. Romans 14:1 says, "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions." Some may say that I am weak in my faith because I don't want to hear blasphemy on TV. They have a tendancy to get stuck in my head and I will replay them.

Romans 14:20-23 says, "Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."

Paul gives us an example here of something that what one person stumbles over, another does not. This example deals with food. Another example in Romans 14 deals with which day you esteem for worship. There are areas that we can hold different view points on and both be justified. You may say watching TV shows with blasphemy in them is another one of those.

The difference between what you eat and what day you worship and blasphemy is that blasphemy is an actual sin for all of us. I'm not demanding that everyone stop watching TV, but just think about this. For example, you may only eat vegetables while I may eat meat and vegetables. Neither one of these personal choices is a sin, but blasphemy is a sin for both of us.

Let's take another example. Is it OK for a Christian to watch pornography? Of course not. It is filth and violates the 7th commandment. So why is it any different with blasphemy? Just because it has become the norm in society? Just because it doesn't seem as offensive? Would you watch a TV show that spoke ill of you, your wife, or you children? How would you feel about the rest of the world watching that show that spoke ill of you, your wife, or your children? How much more vile is it when it is the name of the Lord?

Again, you may say I am weak because I choose not to watch TV with blasphemy and you are the stronger one because you have no problem with it. The difference between this and what you eat is that one is clearly sin and the other isn't. You may say that you won't be able to watch TV anymore if you were to take this stance. It greatly offends me (as it should) when someone uses the Lord's name in vain- whether it be in person or on TV.

I don't curse, blaspheme, murder, etc.- so why should I watch it on TV? Is that what really what I need to be entertained by? I would rather not watch TV than watch something that would offend my Lord, be it if that includes almost everything on TV. This is my personal opinion and I'm not forcing it on anyone- this is just how I feel.

Edit: I wanted to clarify a point- I am not calling people sinners for watching TV or a movie with blasphemy in it, although it may seem that I am walking a very fine line. I do understand there is a difference between viewing it on TV or a movie and committing it yourself. That being said, I also believe there is a difference between willfully putting yourself in a situation where you know it is going to be done and being in a situation where the outcome is uncertain.

One may say that limits who one can talk to. In this regard, I say that this person needs to be loving confronted with the law and gospel (Christian and non-Christian alike). The gospel is always the correct answer. If someone is blatantly personally committing this sin in front of you (Christian and non-Christian alike), is it more loving to let them continue to commit the sin or confront them lovingly about it? I stress personally because I am referring to them committing the sin and not the context of viewing material in which the sin is committed by another.

Again, these are my opinions. I also know evolution (aside from observable natural selection) is a hoax and the Earth is about 6,000 years old (because the Bible tells me so), but that is for another time.

An Interesting Conversation About Jesus

Yesterday, after joining my pastor in Lakewood Park for a brief open air, we headed over to Sinagra Park in the center of Lakewood. While we were at Lakewood Park, a man driving by yelled that he loved women too much in response to Paul's preaching.



We got to Sinagra Park around 1:30. Paul did some open air while I stood with the cross. Paul left before 2:00 and I stayed until 3:00.



While I was there, I was cursed at once and the same guy who heckled me last Friday about helping the poor also drive by again and said the same thing ("Why don't you go help the poor?").

About 2:40, a woman walked up to me and started talking with me. She told me that I was not out alone and that someone had given her a tract earlier in the day, which she showed me. She told me she was moving from Lakewood to Rocky River and was interested about the church I attend. I told her a little bit about our church and gave her one of our pastor's business cards.

I told her about the Way of the Master course at our church and ran her through it really quick. She told me that people don't know how to repent of their sins- she thought she had but she really hadn't until everything fell apart in her Christian life. She told me how she thought she was a Christian and she was ok. I told her how I used to be the same way.

We both grew up Catholic- her Roman Catholic and me Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic. She was telling me about her past experiences with confession and saying Hail Mary's and Our Father's and not even know what she was doing. She told me she felt good because she was told that was the right thing to do. It all rings so familiar.

I told her about my experience with the abortion protesters and how Catholics sound saved because they agree on repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, but there is so much more that they do that is idolatry. I told her how if you look through the four gospels and all the letters, you don't see any worship of Mary- only writings about Jesus Christ.

She told me how she is interested lately in how Jesus grew up. "Not how they raised Him, but how he grew up. How He thought. He had to go through everything we did. He must have gotten into fights. Did He still have that power back them?"

I pointed out that through all of this, He didn't sin.

She replied, "He had to have sinned, because when He was young, He wasn't trained yet. It's impossible. He couldn't have been God-like from birth on."

I explained to her why that can't be true. Someone has to pay our penalty. It's a legal transaction. Our fine is paid in Jesus' blood. God will only accept someone who is sinless.

"Do you really think Jesus grew up all his life and never swore, never had a mean thought?"

I replied, "But He is God!"

She answered, "Yea, I don't know. I'm questioning that right now. I'm going through that period of time where I really want to know and I'm asking the Holy Spirit to really show me, because I want to know how He grew up. I want to know how He thought, how He acted."

She told me how she heard about how Jesus got mad. She said again, "You know I wonder- how did You grow up? What did You think? I want to walk beside You when You were growing. I want to walk beside You when You were a toddler. I want to walk beside You when You were 3. You have recognition of what You did and didn't want to do? Did You want to go to bed? Did You have a fit? If He was so human and yet God."

I told her that unfortunately Scripture doesn't give us those details. She told me that she doesn't think we know everything. I told her I think we know enough. She said she can't wait until the truth is revealed to her. At this point she had to go.

A guy who was a passenger in a truck recognized me from Thursday in Westlake and asked me if I was the same person.

A little later, before I left, two people came up to me and asked me what my sign meant. She asked me if it was something apocalyptic and I told her that it wasn't. None of us know when we are going to die and we need to be ready for that day.

Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 9/24/09

Today I went back to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge, but this time from about 2:40 to 5:00. As you can see in the picture, traffic behind me (on Center Ridge) is really starting to pick up. I snapped this photo around 4:00.

I handed out about 8 tracts today, mostly to students from the local schools. I had someone ask from a car, "Ready for what?" The car was in the turning lane and was about to make the turn, so I told the passenger to go home and look up Mark 1:15.

I have been getting more and more honks, waves, and thumbs up lately. I expect that will not be the case as my pastor and I head over to Lakewood tomorrow and he does open air in the center of town and I stand with my cross. I have been met with some hostility in Lakewood, more so than other areas. Lakewood, Ohio, has a very large gay population.

Yesterday, I was at Dover Center and Detroit and a local restaurant had a guy dressed up as a chicken to promote their wings. I the same chicken costume today as I was making my way to Dover Center and Center Ridge, but I'm not sure if it was the same person. The guy came over and asked me yesterday, "Ready for what?" and I quoted Hebrews 9:27 to him. I was already involved in a conversation with someone else, so I did not get to witness to the guy.

As I was making my way back to my car, I heard someone yell in the distance, "I'm ready!" I do have a distinct look- I'm always carrying a 4 foot cross, have a water bottle by my waist, an audio recorder hanging from my neck, and usually a backpack and a tripod. I think people are starting to remember me or are getting used to me being around. I am hoping that people may start to recognize me and ask me, "Hey, aren't you that guy with the cross?" and I can use it as an ice breaker to witness to them. Also, if someone sees the cross enough, hopefully it will encourage them to look up Mark 1:15.

I also have a sign that has "NEEDGOD.COM" printed on it. I plan on taking that with me tomorrow tied to a tripod while my pastor and I are at Sinagra Park in Lakewood. I would be too much of an obstruction on the sidewalk if I had that at the intersections, but there is more room at Sinagra Park. Below is John, an elder from church, with my NEEDGOD.COM sign.

A Conversation with Kevin

Today, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Detroit at 2:00. I had an encounter with a Westlake Police officer last Thursday when I was asked not to be out during school hours. He didn't want my sign to distract students that would be crossing in the crosswalk. While that is a valid concern, I can't stop going out with the cross just because somebody might be crossing in the crosswalk. Not only that, I am over half a mile away from the high school.

Around 3:00, Kevin pulled up and motioned for me to come over to talk to him. We talked for quite a while and he asked me what it meant to "put on the Lord Jesus." I really didn't know what to say to that- none of my answers seemed to satisfy him. What would you say it means to "put on the Lord Jesus?"

Near Westlake High School - 9/22/09

After I left the intersection of Columbia and Center Ridge, I went to the park that is located at the corner of Hilliard and Dover Center in Westlake. I arrived around 2:15 and waited for school to let out. You can see the yellow sign in the distance that alerts to the school.

The school is around 1/3 of a mile away from where I was seated. Around 2:30 is when school lets out. Traffic leaving the high school could go either westbound or eastbound on Hilliard- I was getting the traffic going eastbound. I'm not sure how many students I got, but I got a good amount. Someone yelled out from a car, "I'm not ready! Sorry!" I stayed until 3:00 and headed back home.

Columbia and Center Ridge in Westlake - 9/22/09

Today, I went to a new location in Westlake- the intersection of Columbia and Center Ridge. Both roads are five lanes at this intersection and one of the Corporate Colleges of Cuyahoga Community College is at this intersection (as seen in photo).

I arrived around 12:00 and stayed until 1:45. Even during the middle of the day, traffic at this location (as well as a lot of others in Westlake) is moderately busy. I time the light and it was usually one minute for one street and 45 seconds for the other. I counted the number of cars that went through the intersection at each green light, and I would conservatively say that 25 cars on average went through.

If I take that number times 90 minutes (from 12:15 to 1:45), that's 2,250 cars that passed through the intersection- at midday. For as many professing Christians as there are in the United States, I rarely get anyone waving or beeping their horn. It was no more than a dozen today out of 2,250. Even if I use 12 out of 2,250, that's about one half of one percent.

1 Corinthians 1:18 comes to mind: "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 9/21/09

After earlier going to Wagar and Center Ridge in Rocky River, I also went to Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake. I arrived around 1:15 and stayed until 2:45. I got quite a few waves today and even a thumbs up! I tried to pass out a tract to 2 people passing by, but they did not take it.

On my way home, I saw all the students walking home from school. There is a park right near the high school that I'd like to go to so a lot of the high school students could see the cross. The park is also directly across the street from the Westlake Police Department.

I was asked by a police officer on Thursday not to be at an intersection (Dover Center and Detroit) from 2:30 to 3:30. He didn't want my sign to provide a distraction to students crossing in the crosswalk. I told him I would consider it, but then someone asked me how far the high school is from this intersection- over 3/4 of a mile. This same intersection is also over 3/4 of a mile away from the elementary school.

The officer asked me to point my sign in one direction instead of the entire intersection, but then only one direction of traffic on one road would see my cross. When I am out with the cross, I want as many people to see it as possibly. I am concerned about the safety of students, but I also want to target the high school students. They need saving just like everyone else.

Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park - 9/21/09

After joining my pastor for coffee at a local coffee shop, I went to Wagar and Center Ridge in the Rocky River area. I arrived around 11:15 and stayed for about half an hour. It was pretty quiet and I was able to hand out one tract to someone who told me he was a Christian.

Sinagra Park in Lakewood - 9/19/09

After John and I were in Kamm's Corner, we went to Sinagra Park in Lakewood. After making a quick stop to pick up John's Celebrity Millions board, we arrived around 1:45. Both my pastor and John have most of the Celebrity Millions on a foam core board that can be set up on an easel (which is what John did). John had to make a quick bathroom run, and while he was gone, someone yelled from their car, "Get out of our town!"

A young man by the name of Ray was sitting in the park having a conversation on his cell phone and he walked in front of the board and inquired about it.



Ray particularly liked the Mr. Bean million, one of which I was able to give him. John asked Ray if he knew any of the ten commandments. John said one of them was, "Thou shall not lie. Have you ever told a lie?"



John continued going through some of the commandments and explained the law and the gospel to Ray.



John asked Ray if he had a Bible at home, and he said he did not. He told Ray that my pastor and I would be here next Friday and to come back and we would have a Bible for him.

John also talked to a man named Tom, who believed in God, but did not accept the Trinity. He told Tom that we have all broken the law and Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins. Tom told John that Judaism and Islam don't believe that. Tom told John that those are 2 out of the 3 religions of the west. He also talked about good works. Sounds very similar to a conversation I had yesterday and on Monday with some Jehovah's Witnesses.

Downtown Lakewood is a tough crowd. About half of the tracts John tried to give out were refused. It will be interesting if my pastor does open air preaching here next Friday.

Rocky River Drive and Lorain Road in Kamm's Corner (Cleveland) - 9/19/09

Today, John, an elder at my church, and I, went to the intersection of Rocky River Drive and Lorain Road. The weather has been remarkably nice for Cleveland. Usually it's always cloudy, but we have been blessed with clear to mostly clear skies for almost all of the past 2 weeks.

We showed up around 12:15 and stood on the northeastern corner of the intersection. I had my cross and John was sporting a sign displaying NEEDGOD.COM I made. John has plans to make his own cross.

We both noticed a man that was talking to himself that made both of us uneasy. I was especially nervous when the man came and stood within about 10 to 15 feet of me. He asked to see my sign, which I showed him. He was constantly blaspheming the name of the Lord. After about 30 minutes he left.



John moved around more, while I stood stationary. If you have noticed in all the pictures I have posted, I always find some shade to stand in- even if it is only from a telephone or utility pole. I burn very fast in the sun.



John handed out 6 tracts at this location. Above, you can see him giving a lady a tract.



While I was standing at the intersection, we got a wave or two in support, but we also had a younger lady curse God while she drove by. We left this location about 1:15 and headed to the location I was in Lakewood. More on that coming soon.

Sinagra Park in Lakewood - 9/18/09

Above: Pastor Paul open air preaching at Lakewood Park.



After joining my pastor for his open air preaching in Lakewood Park, I went to a new location today- Sinagra Park in Lakewood. It is located at the intersection of Cook and Detroit in the heart of Lakewood.

Today was a pretty interesting day. This was my first time at this location and I generally didn't hand out tracts- just stood silent with my cross. After a while, a man started saying from his car to me, "Why don't you go feed the poor? Help somebody?" I just let him continue to ask the questions over and over until the light turned green and didn't say anything back.

A man came from across the street and asked me what Mark 1:15 was. I told him so many people believe but don't practice repentance. He asked me if I was going to be here tomorrow because he wanted to take a picture. I gave him the address to this blog and also a Gospel tract.

A man driving a bus that was on Detroit opened the bus door and said something to me. I'm not sure what it was, but I am fairly confident it was in support of what I was doing.

I also noticed a lot of activity in the bank across the street- a lot of people looking at the cross from inside the building from time to time.

Finally, a woman came out of the bank and came up to me and started talking to me. She asked me if I was doing this as part of church and I told her I was fulfilling what Jesus said in Mark 16:15 to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.

I told her I used to be a person who believed, but didn't repent. I referenced the "MARK 1:15" on my cross which says, "The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel." I never placed my trust in Jesus. I used the parachute analogy with her- believing in a parachute won't save you on a crashing plane, you have to put on the parachute and jump from the plane- in the same sense you have to put on Jesus and abandon your sins.

She asked me, "What about 'faith without works is dead'?" I explained to her that a true Christian should have good works to show for their faith- Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. If someone claims to be a Christian but doesn't show fruit, chances are they aren't a Christian. Not that those works save you- there is nothing I can do to add to Jesus' death on the cross.

I then asked her what version of the Bible she had. "New World Translation."

"Ok," I say.

"Are you familiar with that?"

I say, "I am."

"And how are you familiar with it?"

"I know who uses it." In case you don't know, Jehovah's Witnesses use this translation.

I asked her, "So, what do you believe?"

"I believe that Jesus is God- Jehovah's son. Psalms 83:18." That was obviously a slip of her tongue.

"So, do you believe Jesus is God?"

"No, I don't. He is God's Son."

I told her, "That is one area where we differ. I don't know all the areas we differ, but I know that's one major point."

I told her I believe God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

"Do you believe in the Trinity?"

"I believe in the Trinity. Absolutely."

She asked me what made me believe that. I pointed her to Matthew 28:19, which says "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

The noun "name" is singular. I told her there are other places where Jesus refers to his deity.

Then I asked her, "Say somebody here gets in a car accident and they have 3 minutes to live. What would you tell them?"

"What do you mean, 'What would I tell them'?"

"If somebody gets in a car accident and they have 3 minutes to live- what would you tell them? What do they do to be saved?"

She said, "It's up to them."

"But, what do I need to do? If I were to get in a car accident and I said, 'I'm going to die-"

"It's up to God," she says. "Jehovah God is the one that decides who is going to go to heaven or who is going to stay here."

"So, you wouldn't tell that person anything? They would just be laying there..."

"Oh, I would comfort them the best I can, but I'm not going to lie to them. I would give them the wonderful hope in the Bible. That there is a resurrection hope. I think that's comforting."

"Ok, what is that based off of?"

"God's Word."

I told her I look to passages like John 3:16, that they need to believe, and the second thing they need to do is repent of their sins.

"Yea.."

"But that's not what you told me. You told me you would go out there and comfort them."

"Yea, and the resurrection hope."

I told her, "The resurrection hope doesn't do anything for me. I need to be told that I need to place my trust in Jesus Christ, alone, as Savior, and repent of my sins- turn away from my sins. Unless I turn away from my sin and place my trust in Jesus, I'm not going to heaven. Luke 13:3: 'Unless you repent, you will perish.'"

I asked her if she would consider herself to be a good person. "Yes!" I took her through the law and showed her how she is guilty before God.

"So would he find you innocent or guilty, based on you break His law?"

"I think it depends on how I live my life my each day."

"Well, try that in a court room. Say I murder somebody. I'm standing in front of a judge and I say, 'Judge, I've done so many good deeds, can't you just slide this murder under the rug?' What's the judge going to say? He is going to say, 'No! Justice needs to be served!' He's going to punish me!"

"But the judge can't read your heart like God."

I say, "It doesn't matter! You've broken the law!"

"It doesn't matter what's in your heart?"

I say, "We'll get to that- but based on your breaking His law- He would find you guilty."

"Yes"

I ask, "Based on a guilty judgment- heaven or hell?" She hesitates. "Sinners can't go to heaven."

"That's where we differ. I think there's going to be a resurrection. God will give people a second chance."

I quote Hebrews 9:27: "It is appointed once for a man to die, and then comes judgment. Doesn't sound like a second chance to me."

"Ok. I have to go back to work."

I gave her a gospel tract and just to be courteous, I took her literature.

Someone who walked by and was then standing at the crosswalk asked me if my sign was in reference to 2012. I told him that it was a general message about Christianity and I told him to look up Mark 1:15.

Another person driving by that was stopped in the intersection asked if the message was about repentance. I replied that it was. I was also cursed at a few times. I can handle that, as long as it stays verbal and doesn't turn into something physical.

On my way back to my car, I passed by a group of teenagers at a local coffee shop and they asked about the sign. I showed them the sign and asked them if they were ready. I told them to go home and look up the verse.

The next time I go to this location, I hope to have my pastor join me to do open air preaching and plan on passing out some gospel tracts.

First Time Questioned By Police

Today, I went back to Dover Center and Detroit. I incorrectly wrote that I went here yesterday, but I was actually at Dover Center and Center Ridge. The last time I was at this intersection was about 2 weeks ago on 9/4/09. I arrived at 2:30 and today started out great.

One woman motioned for me to move my sign so she could read it (it was pointed at moving traffic at the time) and she replied, "Any time!" I had a high school student cross Detroit and told me what I was doing was awesome. I gave him a tract and he said they have the same tracts at his church.

A little later, a woman pulled up and gave me a sheet of paper, told me she had come across it and just wanted me to take a look at it and that I've inspired them. It was from TruthForLife.org, an Allister Begg website. I often times hear Begg on Wretched Radio and am quite a fan of him. On it, she wrote, "To the young man on the corners.. you inspire me! Praise the Lord!!! And may He bless you!" It was an email she had received from their "Truth For Life Daily" series. Here is a link to the devotional. It talked about using creative methods to reach the lost. I really appreciate receiving things like this and it is truly a blessing. I gave her a gospel tract as she left.

Another man pulled up and told me that he saw me on Center Ridge and had to go home and look up the verse on my cross. He said, "The time is fulfilled!" I gave him a gospel tract and encouraged him to read the back side of it.

Around 3:15, a Westlake police officer pulled up. He asked me what I was doing, and I told him promoting the gospel. He asked if he could see my license just to make sure I didn't have a record (I don't). He asked me if this was my job and I told him I was just doing what was commanded in the Bible. He told me he hasn't seen people with these kind of signs and I told him that only 2% of Evangelicals do share their faith.

He was concerned that kids would be distracted by reading my sign when they were crossing the street- which is a valid concern, but I quickly pointed out that there are signs everywhere. He told me I could display the sign any other time, but he preferred not between 2:30 and 3:30, when school kids are walking home. I understand this concern, but I also know this a very high traffic time and a lot of people are seeing the sign.

I told him I would consider what he was saying and that I would pray about it, because there are a lot of people that need saved, but I also understand his concern for the safety of the students. He suggested holding my sign farther away from the intersection. I asked him if he was ordering me to move, and he told me he was not. He inquired about my tripod, and I told him that I like to document where I go.

After our conversation, the officer left and left me pondering what to do. He wouldn't take a gospel tract- he said he couldn't take anything. I placed my sign flat down on the sidewalk, set up my tripod, snapped a picture with my sign, and went home. On my way home, I was praying about what I should do. Should I heed the officer's advice and only go after school hours? Legally, I do have a right to be there, but I am also concerned for the safety of others.

I see the people driving by when I stand at these intersections- people on their phones, people looking down when the light turns green, and people texting while driving. I have seen the girls in skimpy clothing promoting car washes for their schools. I have seen the furniture companies with their signs advertising sales practically every weekend.

There really aren't that many kids that cross in the crosswalk at this intersection or even at the one at Dover Center and Center Ridge. There is not a cross walk guard at this intersection. One idea I had was to assist the people in the crosswalk while I am there. I don't know if I would be legally allowed to assist people crossing the street without being an official crosswalk guard. Or should I just not go at those hours?

Monday was my first time open air preaching with John- I was not doing that today. I don't know if that was a good thing or not.

Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 9/16/09

Today, I went back to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge. I originally posted this as Dover Center and Detroit- I apologize for that. I have three places on Dover Center I like to go to. The last time I was at this intersection was about 2 weeks ago, on 9/3/09. Today, I went at a different time- from 1:15 to 2:45. It was a very windy day and it was a bit chilly- fall is definitely around the corner.

Today was a quiet day as in I didn't talk to anyone, but I did give a wave or two in support. I also heard someone yell out to me what sounded like, "Grow up!" A woman walked by and I asked her if she got her million dollar bill. She said, "I don't think so." She looked at my cross and asked me, "What are you doing?"

I said, "Promoting the Gospel."

She responded with a long, drawn out, "Ohhhhh...."

There was an elderly woman walking with a cane that went into a local drug store and I wanted to give her a tract on her way back across the street, but I miscalculated which way she was going to cross the street and lost my chance.

Someone also cursed at me at they drove by. It is now hard for me to understand why the world hates God and Jesus so much because of the things He has done for me, but I need to remember that even though I thought I never "hated" God, I was in rebellion against Him for a long time.

First Time Stoplight Preaching With the Cross

Today, John, an elder from church, came over to pick me up and we went to intersection of Dover Center and Lorain in North Olmsted. We arrive around 12:30. I loaded up my camera backpack with my ESV New Testament and the Evidence Bible and completely forgot the backpack.

We had two signs today: my cross and another sign that read "NEEDGOD.COM" with about 7 inch lettering. John pointed out it was a little hard to read since both words butt up against each other, so I will have to make an adjustment to it. We took turns holding each sign, depending on who was stop light preaching.

John wanted me to start stop light preaching, which I have never done. I told him to go first. He took my cross and read the stop light preaching message I had typed up and taped in the reverse side of the cross:

"Listen up! Have you ever told a lie? Stolen anything? Taken the Lord's name in vain? Lusted after another? We've all done these things. We're all lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterers at heart. We will all stand guilty before God on Judgment Day, and He would rightly send us to Hell for all of eternity. Here is the good news. The Bible tells us that if we repent of our sins- that is, to turn away from them- and place our trust in Jesus Christ, we can be saved from the fires of Hell and have eternal life in Heaven. Please go to NEEDGOD.COM to read how to be saved."

Here is the audio of John:


I also took my cross and read the same message to a different set of cars stopped at the light another time. We only had about 30 seconds before the cars in the turning lane got the green arrow.

Here is the audio of me:


I'm glad John went with me today, because he pushed me to do stop light preaching. It wasn't as hard as I thought once I started doing it. There was a moment when I was reading right before we left when a dog with its head stuck out a window starting imitating me talking. We used to have a lab mix at home growing up that used to do the same thing and I couldn't help but start laughing as this dog was doing this.

We handed out a total of five tracts today.

A Conversation With 2 Jehovah's Witnesses

I arrived at Dover Center and Lorain around 3:30 yesterday. I soon handed out two tracts to two teenagers, and one told me she had seen the same tract at work and tons of them! She works at a local fast food burger restaurant.

Around 4:15, I saw two women across the street from me. They crossed in the cross walk and came over to talk to me.

I gave her a tract and asked her if she knew what was going to happen when she dies. She said, "Yea, I do, as a matter of fact. What do you think?" She then started reading the tract aloud:

"Will you go to Heaven when you die? Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God's name in vain? Jesus said, "Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Have you looked with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgment Day? If you have done those things, God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart. The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in Hell."

She then stops, and says "Ohhh... I see. What church are you affiliated with?"

I told her I don't do this as a part of my church, but that I do go to a church in Rocky River and that I do this on my own.

"Oh, well it shows that you have a zeal, and that's good. Not many young people today have that zeal for God. Where do you derive your zeal from? What makes you want to do this?"

At this point I started tripping up over my words a little, talking about Living Waters and the Way of the Master course, but I quickly went back into the law. I told her that God sees us as lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterer and murderer in the heart, and you are going to face God on Judgment Day. Based on that, would He find you innocent or guilty?

Completely ignoring the question, she says, "I was looking at your Scripture that is on there- Mark 1:15."

I quoted the verse: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

"We are Bible students, actually, and this is why we came across the street, because we wanted to talk with you."

She continues, "Mark 1:15, 'The appointed time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent, YOU people, and have faith in the good news."

Ok, I think, it's not exactly the ESV, but I figure it's close. I explained that so many people that are Christians who just profess to be Christians and not repent.

She explained that "repentance means that you feel sorry for the wrong that you've done and that conversion turning away from it and not doing it anymore. Absolutely, we believe in that truth."

I explained the parachute analogy. At this point, everything seems good. She says, "It talks about something interesting- it says that 'the kingdom of God has drawn near.' Have you ever wondered what that 'kingdom of God' is?"

I state that it says it has drawn near. It hasn't come yet. I told her that when I look at the verb tense, it says that "has drawn near," which tells me it's close, but it isn't here. I told her that we are in the end times and we are waiting for Jesus to return- it's just a matter of when.

"Yes, this kingdom that it talks about here in Mark, that has drawn near- Jesus taught His disciples to pray for that very kingdom. Something you pray for probably. 'You must pray that then this way: Our father in Heaven, that your Name may be sanctified. That your kingdom come.' Jesus says when we pray this prayer, it was for conditions in Heaven to be on the Earth. 'Let your kingdom come, that your will be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven.' So, from the study of the Bible- and there's another Scripture in Daniel 2:44 that talks about the government. There is a prophecy in Daniel about the end times and it talks about this image of gold that Nebuchadnez´zar saw, and it tells you in Daniel 9, it represented all the governments of the time from the world powers of Egypt and Syria, all the way down to our day- and so that kingdom, that the Bible talks about is a government in itself..."

"Daniel 2:44: 'And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite.' So it talks about that kingdom of government of God that will put an end to all human governments. When you pray the Lord's prayer, that's what you pray for."

This went on a little more and she said she wanted to come over and share with me. We talked a little more and I asked her what version of the Bible she had- because all of the previously quoted Scripture didn't seem right. "New World Translation. It is the most accurate translation of the Bible."

I ask, "Are you guys Jehovah's Witnesses?"

"We are Jehovah's Witnesses. Have you ever talked to Jehovah's Witnesses before?"

I say, "No, I have not." Not in depth anyways.

She said, "People say JW's have their own Bible, but if you go to Google and type in 'What is the most accurate translation of the Bible.,' it will bring up the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. It's actual fact. It's not the JW's have their own Bible, but it's because we put back the name of God the way it was meant to be in its original text." That doesn't mean anything. If I titled this blog post "Pigs Can Fly," it also would come up in Google eventually. That doesn't make it true.

I ask, "OK, let me ask you- what must I do to get to heaven, from your perspective?"

"Well, I won't tell you what- first of all, I can't tell you whether or not you go to Heaven or you will be here on Earth."

I say, "I can tell you exactly what you need to do to get to Heaven."

I also asked, "If I had 3 minutes to live, what would you tell me?" They hesitated and couldn't provide an answer.

I told them, "I can tell you exactly what you need to do. You need to repent of your sins, turn away from your sins, and place your trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation."

Our conversation went into other things, also- about working out endurance and about how faith without works is dead. I told them that our works are done in gratitude to what Jesus has done for us. I told them how Scripture says our works are nothing but filthy rags in the sight of God. There is nothing I could possibly do to add to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

At this point, I made sure to read my version of the Bible whenever Scripture was quoted- not to rely on the New World Translation.

I kept going back to my 3 minutes to live question, telling them they need to repent of their sins and place their trust in Jesus. I said, "If someone gets in a car wreck here, I could run out and say, 'Please, repent of your sins and place your trust in Jesus Christ.'"

She said, "OK, how does he repent of his sins 3 minutes before he dies?" I told them that he turns away from his sin and apologizes to God. Granted, there won't be the rest of his lifetime to see if that repentance is true- that's why waiting to the last minute to repent is so dangerous- it may not me true repentance and faith.

We also got into a brief discussion about the Trinity. She told me Jesus grew up as a man and He went to John the Baptist to be baptized. When He was being baptized, the Heavens opened up, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came down upon Him, and a voice was heard from Heaven, saying, "This is my Son."

She asked if Jesus was part of the Trinity, it would mean that God was presenting Himself to be baptized, God was speaking from the Heavens, and God was appearing the form of a dove on Jesus, all at the same time, and Jesus would be deceiving everyone around Him, because He would be saying that He is the Son of God, but He was actually God. How could God be poured out on Him and also His voice be heard from Heaven? I told her this isn't something I understand and I won't ever understand. She left me with a booklet that says, "Should You Believe in the Trinity?"

She said, "If I see you out here again another day, I'll stop by. Take a look at this and tell me what you think."

I told her, "I can tell you right now, I'm not budging."

She said, "You seem like a guy with an open mind." I may have let her speak her mind out of courtesy, but that doesn't mean that I am open to her beliefs. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father expect through Me." That doesn't leave any negotiating room.

She encouraged me to go online and look up some of things she gave me. I told her I didn't need to- I told her I have the truth- Jesus. At this point she realized she wasn't getting anywhere. I told her I have the truth- His name is Jesus Christ. I told her, "I know what is right- and you're not."

She said, "I respect your belief. I do respect your belief."

I told her, "It's not what you believe, it's what's true."

I don't know if I handled this conversation the best way, but at least I prevented 2 Jehovah's Witnesses going door to door for at least 30 minutes and brain washing someone who doesn't have a firm foundation.

Dover Center and Lorain in North Olmsted - 9/12/09

After earlier going to the Komen Race for the Cure with my cross, later in the day I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Lorain in North Olmsted. I arrived around 6:15 and after taking the picture above, I moved to a different spot across the street. It was a beautiful night with clear skies.



I stayed until 7:30. Traffic was light to moderate, I handed out one tract and was flicked off once. I've noticed that I've come to expect the best of society lately, which is not the case at all. I know I am in a moderately safe area, but I still have to remind myself that crime does exist and there wouldn't be a need for the police if it didn't.

Komen Race For the Cure - Over 20,000 people

Today, I went to Downtown Cleveland for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The University Hospitals' website says more than 20,000 people participated this year.

The race started at 9:15 AM and I found a spot along the race course on Lakeside near East 9th. I was met by an early comment of "Inappropriate!" Granted, this is a race for breast cancer, but the Gospel is more important than that. This is from the Komen Website:

"Breast cancer is the most common cancer to affect women. In 2009, it is estimated that there will be approximately 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in the United States, along with 62,280 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. An estimated 40,170 women will die from breast cancer this year. It is estimated that 1,910 men will be diagnosed and 440 men will die of breast cancer during 2009."

Did you know Komen supports Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions? Looking back, I am wondering if I should have had a sign against this, also. Planned Parenthood performed 305,000 abortions in 2008. Abortion is murder. That dwarfs the 40,000 who will die of breast cancer. Again, I am not discounting breast cancer as a disease, but this is inexcusable.




150,000 people die everyday, and the majority of them are going to Hell. Why is that statistic not published more widely and why don't we have "Races For Heaven" like we have "Races For the Cure?"

I am not discounting the battle against breast cancer, but Jesus Christ is more important than that. Today, I had an opportunity to reach around 20,000 people today. I was not going to let this opportunity pass by.

I just stood silent as the entire race passed me by- and there were a ton of people in it, as expected. A few people told me they were ready, but no more than a dozen or two at most, I would say. I gave out one tract to someone who passed by and inquired about the cross. A few others asked what the Scripture verse was and I told them.

A few people thought my sign was a mile marker for 1.15 miles (it says "Mark 1:15). Afterward, I realized I was in between the mile 1 and mile 2 markers. I attended handed out tracts at the Komen Race for the Cure in Columbus earlier this year- it was my first major tracting experience. I handed out about 400 tracts to the estimated 40,000 participants. That was 1% of the participants. I feel the cross being visible to the entire race participants is far more effective.

I noticed a man with a camera directly across from me on Lakeside with his camera lens pointed right at me twice during the race. I do not know if he was a part of the media or not, but I was hoping he was and would come over and ask me about the cross. If a picture gets published somewhere of the cross- that's just more people that would be able to see it! No one needs to know about who I am, just as long as they see the cross. A few people also stopped to take a picture of the cross.

As you can see in the first picture, I added a dowel rod to the base of my cross so I could hoist it up in the air an extra 2 feet. The wind picked up shortly after the race participants starting coming by me, so I was limited to by how high I could hold the cross with my hands without it blowing away. Below is a picture someone took of me from inside the race as they passed by.



I did not take my cross around the area where the vendors were set up before the race, nor did I stay after the race to display my cross. The cross had already been seen and I didn't want to get into any verbal confrontations.

Again, I am not discounting the fight for breast cancer, but everyone needs the Gospel. I would venture to think some of the people who saw me today have seen me around town before with my cross. Perhaps they will see me in the future and remember me. My hope is that they will and that they will inquire about the cross and I can witness to them.

When I returned home, I ran into my new neighbor and found out that he attended a church in the same denomination as my church. He saw my cross and asked if I was a pastor. Not assuming the he was saved, I went through the law and gospel quickly and gave him the parachute analogy- being on an airplane that is about to crash and having a parachute that can save you. Merely "believing" in the parachute won't save you- you have to strap on the parachute and jump from the plane. In the same sense, we need to strap on the Lord Jesus and jump from our sinful lifestyle.

I am trying to make it my habit to witness to people who even say or they appear to be saved, just to make sure.

I know Scripture says, "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:14), and “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'" (Matthew 7:21-23).

I gave out 2 tracts today - 1 at the race and 1 to my neighbor.

A Conversation With Mike, Jason, and a Few Other Happenings

I joined my pastor at 1:00 at Lakewood Park as he open aired. I did not get on the box today, but while my pastor was open airing, a man came up and asked what was going on. I told him Pastor Paul was open airing and I gave him a gospel tract.



At 2:00, I was in front of Madison Park in Lakewood near the intersection of Grace and Madison. Vehicle traffic was light, but pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk was moderate. At one point, a young man rode by on his bike, looking at my cross. After he passed by, he turned around and came back and asked what my sign meant. I told him, "Scripture says, 'It is appointed for a man once to die, and then comes judgment' (Hebrews 9:27). Do you know how you are going to be judged by God?" He replied, "No." It didn't seem like he wanted to get involved in a discussion, so I gave him a tract and told him to read it when he got home.

At another point, a lady walked by and asked me, "Have you said your prayers today?" She then asked if I prayed the rosary. I said, "Absolutely not!" She told me I should pray to Mary.

A little later, Mike walked by and engaged me in a discussion. He told me he was wondering about this. He said he had heard things about 2012 coming up. December 21, 2012 is when the Mayan calendar ends. I told Mike that Jesus said that not even He knew when the end would be- only the Father knows. I told him that if Jesus doesn't know, there is no way infallible man can possibly know. I told Mike that we are in the end times, it is just a matter of when and "are you ready?"

Our conversation was taking all sorts of different paths. Mike had researched several religions and told me that all the different religions were all praying to the same higher human consciousness. He was talking about how religion and science kind of parallel each other. I let Mike talk about these things, but I kept bringing it back to the Gospel.

I explained imputed righteousness to him and why Christianity is the only religion that makes sense. It is the only one that provides for a complete removal of your sins through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Mike said that Christianity decided they "weren't going to do sacrifices anymore. We're not doing that anymore." I explained to Mike how in the Old Testament, the sacrifices were a way to cover sins, but that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Jesus provides for a completely removal of sins, not just a covering of sins. Jesus was the final sacrifice for all.

Mike and I talked about a few other things, but before he left, I asked him to remember this: it doesn't matter what we think is true, it is what is true.

As the second hour was wrapping up, Jason and Emanuel passed by. Emanuel had already been taken through the law and the gospel before by either me or John (an elder from church), but Jason had not. Jason told me he was Russian Orthodox. He said he didn't actually go to church, though, and had never been to his church. Brushing that off, I quoted Hebrews 9:27 and asked him if was ready to be judged by God. He said, "Not really."

I asked Jason if he would consider himself to be a good person. Jason thought he was, but Emanuel was quick to say, "Jason is not a very good person at all!" Emanuel had already been through the Good Person Test so he knew the outcome!

I took Jason through the law and gospel. I explained the parachute analogy and the necessity of repentance and being reborn. The parachute analogy is this: being on an airplane that is about to crash and having a parachute that can save you. Merely "believing" in the parachute won't save you- you have to strap on the parachute and jump from the plane. In the same sense, we need to strap on the Lord Jesus and jump from our sinful lifestyle. I gave Jason a gospel tract and told him to read it over, as it went over what we talked about. Emanuel already had a big money tract at home.

I handed out between 15 and 20 tracts today, including the one at the park to the man who came to see Pastor Paul open airing.

Tomorrow is the Komen Race for the Cure and I will be there with my cross. Over 20,000 people are expected to participate. Check back later tomorrow for details.

A Conversation with Megan and Her Friends

Today, I went back to the intersection I was at on Sunday- Dover Center and Lorain in North Olmsted. This time, I arrived around 3:15. The first hour and a fifteen minutes was pretty quiet. I handed out a few gospel tracts to people passing by on the sidewalk.

One man in a car asked me, "Ready for what?" I quoted Hebrews 9:27 (It is appointed for a man once to die and then comes judgment.) I then asked, "Are you ready to be judged by God?" He told me that he was ready. He was stopped at the stoplight- looking back I should have gone through the law and gospel really quick to confirm he really was ready. One person from a car on Dover Center asked to see my sign (at the time it was pointed toward the moving traffic on Lorain).

At around 4:30 is when Megan and her friends passed by on the opposite side of Lorain Road. I saw them standing at the opposite corner waiting for the light to change so they could come to the corner I was at.

They asked me, "Ready for what?" I quoted Hebrews 9:27 and asked if they knew where they were going when the die. One girl flat out told me, "I'm going to Hell!" Great- I don't even have to go through the law! As if it were that easy...

I asked her if that concerned her. "Nope!" I asked her again if that honestly didn't concern her. "Nope!"

She told me she knew she was going to Hell and it didn't bother her. I told her that Hell was a "lake of fire." I again pushed her about it- "It doesn't bother you that you are going to burn in a lake of fire? A lake of sulfur?"

At this point it seems like they are just teenagers looking to entertain themselves by talking to me. I asked, "Have you ever put your hand in fire?" She told me she had and that it hurt. "Could you deal with that forever?"

She asked me where I was going. I told her I was going to Heaven. She asked me if I knew that for a fact- I told her I did. This is when Megan asked me, "Can I ask you something? What makes you believe in Heaven and Hell?"

I told Megan I had the inspired Word of God- the Bible. It has proven itself to be true through prophecies and through Jesus Christ.

Megan's friend told me that I don't have video evidence of Jesus rising from the grave. I told her I did not. She asked me if I had proof that Jesus was really the Son of God. I told her I did. I asked her if she had evidence that the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Just because there wasn't a video camera there doesn't mean it didn't happen. I told her there were 500 witnesses who saw the risen Christ after His death.

At this point I gave them all gospel tracts and encouraged them to read them. I thought they were leaving at this point, but our conversation picked back up.

Megan asked me if I had a Bible she could have. I told her I didn't have an extra one on me. She told me her brother took her's and used it to roll joints and smoke them. Her friend joked, "A holy joint?" I apologized I didn't have any but that I would get her one. I directed her to the Internet and a website that has the Bible online and I recommended the New Living Translation.

Megan told me she "didn't believe in God because if there was a God, He would make life perfect." She referenced all different types of evil in the world. I told her I understood, but also that the world was perfect at creation- it was through the fall and all the resulting evil was a part of it. I told her when Jesus returned, He would make it perfect again.

Megan asked me if I believed in reincarnation. I flat out said no. I asked her what she meant by reincarnation and she told me that "your soul lives in Heaven or somewhere for a little bit and if you did the right things..." I asked if she meant earning our salvation, to which she said yes, and I told her that is not what the Bible teaches. I told her the Bible teaches you are justified by faith in Christ alone. I told her part of that faith has to include repentance.

I asked Megan if she had trouble believing in God. I told her that all of creation testifies to God's existence. Take the human eye- it has 137 million light sensitive cells- do you mean to tell me that just happened by accident?

The other problem she had was who created God? I told her that is a problem a lot of people have. I told them that God created time and that God exists outside of time. It's not something that we understand, but I also don't fully understand how the concept of the Trinity works. I know God is three persons in one, but none of us fully understand how it is.

I encouraged them to read the tracts once more. Megan's friend told me that she doesn't really believe in Heaven and Hell, and she believes that just about everyone is going to Hell except for babies and a very few very good people. During her saying this, Megan interjects with, "What makes you believe in Hell?"

Aha- if there is a Hell, there must be a Heaven. I have not seen any witnessing conversations where the reality of Hell was certainty and Heaven was debated- it is always the opposite.

I told her friend that it didn't really matter what we believe to be true, it is what is true. I told her about these two guys that came by on Sunday that ignored the traffic light and rode into the intersection and almost got hit. Just because they believed they could use the cross walk at that time doesn't mean the car isn't going to hit them.

I gave Megan a card with our church's website on it and told her to read the "How to Get to Heaven" post. I asked them if they had a minute or if they had to run, and they said they had a minute, so I took them through the law and gospel presentation. They said they thought good people would go to Heaven, so I asked them if they would consider their selves to be good people. They said, "Good people who make bad choices."

After asking them if they had ever told a lie, stolen anything, blasphemed, lusted, and hated, I told them that God sees them as liars, thieves, blasphemers, adulterers and murderers at heart, and they need to face God on Judgment Day. Based on your breaking His law, would He find you guilty or innocent? Megan said guilty. Heaven or Hell? "Hell" I asked her if that concerns her. I told her it should. I told her Hell is described as being the weeping and gnashing of teeth, a lake of sulfur, a lake of fire. Someone said, "A lake of sulfur doesn't sound too nice!"

I explained how we need to repent of our sins and place our trust in Jesus for our salvation. I explained the parachute analogy- being on an airplane that is about to crash and having a parachute that can save you. Merely "believing" in the parachute won't save you- you have to strap on the parachute and jump from the plane. In the same sense, we need to strap on the Lord Jesus and jump from our sinful lifestyle.

Someone asked if Jesus would get mad if we spent our entire lives not believing in Him, or would He understand. I flat out told them that if they die in their disbelief, they are going to Hell. "That sounds kind of harsh!" I said, "But, you've broken His law."

Megan's friend asked, "So, it's kind of like jail?" I said,"No, this is forever!"

Someone said, "I did once believe there was once a God, and He was a good person, but I don't believe He is still watching over us."

They asked about other people of other religions and all the other gods. I told them those other gods don't exist. "So they're going to Hell?" Yes.

"But don't you think the people who believe in Hinduism and Buddhism think the same thing about us? That their god doesn't exist?" I told them those religions don't have the proof the Bible provides.

I said to them, "I'll tell you why Jesus is the only One who makes sense. You've all admitted you've sinned, and sinners can not go to Heaven. Jesus came to this earth and lived in the flesh with all the desires and never sinned once. He was put to death for our sins. If we repent of our sins and place our trust in Him, His righteous, His unsinful state can be applied to us and then we can be viewed by God as righteous and go to Heaven. All the other religions, you have to work your way."

I told them that narrow is the gate and few will find it. I told them that there are a lot of professing Christians who continue to live in sin- and I used to be one of them. I used to confess my sins and think I was OK. I then took them through the court room analogy of being before a judge. Just because I confess my sins to a judge doesn't negate the punishment I deserve.

"So, Jesus is the judge and we are in His court?"

I told them that if someone commits a crime, someone has to pay the price. Say, for example,
someone committed a crime and the penalty was a $1 million fine. There is no way I can pay the fine. The judge says, "Unless someone comes in with $1 million, you're going to jail for the rest of your life. At the last minute, someone comes in and right before the judge slams the gavel, puts down $1 million. The judge looks at the money and says 'you're free to go.' That's what Jesus did for our sins. He paid the fine for our sins, if will repent of our sins and place our trust in Him- we can go to Heaven, too."

I told them there is no way outside of that. It's not Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam.

Megan asked, "Do you believe if you don't believe in God, He will make your life worse?" I told her no, not necessarily. They asked if I believed in karma- I told them no, because there was no Scriptural basis for it.

I told Megan if she had any questions she could email me through the church website (via a form- my email address is not directly published on the church website). I showed them the Big Money tracts and asked them if they want those, also. They gladly took them.

Megan said to me that even people who have a worse life believe in God. I told her that's the problem with religion. A lot of them will tell you that you need Jesus because He will make your life better. The reason we need Jesus is because we are sinners and the only way we can get to Heaven is through believing. I referenced the Book of Acts and many of the Apostles' fate.

I told them to remember the reason they need Christ is not because they need a better life, but because we have all sinned and have all fallen short of the glory of God.

I asked them if they would be around this area regularly and they said yes. I told Megan I would get her a Bible and be out there Monday as long as it doesn't rain. I gave out 10 regular money sized gospel tracts and 3 Big Money tracts plus the 5 tracts I handed out earlier today.