On the Street Before Good Friday- 4/21/11

Yesterday, I went out to my spot at Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake from about 6:50 to 8:00. I have been wanting to get back out on the streets- I have only been out a few days on the weekends. I saw a story on the news about a man who came up to Cleveland from Louisville, Ohio, dressed as Jesus and carried a cross around downtown for about two hours.

Seeing that really put a spark back in me and motivated me to get back out there. I didn't have any conversations last night, but these are probably people who have never seen my cross. I used to go out during the week for about two hour increments between 11 AM and 5 PM, but I now work (praise God for that!) and am not free during the day. I look forward to the warmer weather and being back out on the streets!

A Conversation with Jeff - 3/31/10

Yesterday, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake from 3:30 to 5:00. I remembered to stand in the shade this time to avoid the sunburn I got last week. The weather is absolutely beautiful this week (upper 60's and 70's) and there were a lot of middle school kids walking home. One asked me if I had any more of the money tracts, and I told him I did and gave him and his friends a tract. I handed out 11 tracts to students passing by.

Around 4:00, Jeff pulled up and told me he wanted to offer me encouragement for what I was doing. He wanted to show me his tattoo- along with a graphic, he had John 12:25 etched into his skin- just the reference, not the actual verse. John 12:25 is, "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

I gave Jeff a tract and it turns out he already reads Ray Comfort's blog, but wasn't familiar with Hell's Best Kept Secret. He said he may have heard of it, but I encouraged him to listen to it. I made sure to share the parachute analogy with him and stress the importance of repentance, which he refreshingly already knew.

A Conversation With a Pedestrian and Ted - 3/10/10

Yesterday, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake from 3:00 to 5:00. After standing on the southeast corner for a while, I gave a gospel tract to someone passing by and she asked about the cross. She told me she just came from a function at a Catholic church. I quickly went through the law and the Gospel with her and asked her if she knew where she was going when she died, and she said she did. I didn't really press it beyond that, but she did leave with the tract.

At around 4:00, Ted walked up to me. At this point, I was on the northwest corner of the intersection. Ted told me he was Christian, and when I asked what kind, he said non-denominational, although he grew up Seventh-Day Adventist.

Ted told me he had read parts of the Bible, but not from cover to cover. I asked him if he had read the four gospels, and he said he had. I made reference Jesus saying lust was adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:27-28) and how the Bible to says to hate is to murder. Ted said I struck a chord with him with lust.

I also asked Ted, "If I had 3 minutes to live, what would you tell me?" Most Christians have a hard time with this question, or they always seem to leave something out in their answer. Ted was no exception. At this point I mentioned how both repentance and faith are both necessary and shared the parachute analogy with him.

If you are on a plane about to crash and there is a parachute that can save you, merely "believing" in that parachute won't save you. You must put on the parachute, trust the parachute, and jump from the crashing plane. In the same sense, we must put on the Lord Jesus, trust Him like a parachute, and abandon our sins (repent).

I handed out 5 tracts today.

Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 12/15/09

Tuesday, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake from 1:40 to 2:10. The lack of sunshine is a regular thing now and even though it looked like it was raining, it wasn't- everything was just wet.

Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park - 12/14/09

Monday, I went to the intersection of Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park from around 12:30 to 1:00. It was a "mild" day for this time of year- in the mid 40's, so I wanted to make sure and get out, but there was quite a wind blowing, which made it feel colder than it was.

I had a man walk by and look at the cross and ask, "They made you guys move down here?" He most likely was referring to the protesters that picket in front of an abortion clinic a block or so up the street, and I told him I wasn't associated with them.

Somebody passing by waved and I gave a head nod back because I didn't have any hands free. Someone else started honking their horn at me as they were driving by and as I started to wave, I saw a middle finger sticking up at me.

Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 12/07/09

Today, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake from 12:15 to 12:45. Snow flurries are starting to fly around and I'm missing summer! I wish the expressed temperature in Fahrenheit was the temperature in Celsius right now!

Center Ridge and Columbia in Westlake - 11/30/09

Monday, I went to the intersection of Center Ridge and Columbia in Westlake. Not much to report, just that it's cold!

A Conversation With Bob - 11/17/09

Today, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake at 1:15 and snapped this not so appealing photograph. There was a bit of a wind blowing west, so I stood on the northwest side of the intersection. At 2:00, Bob approached me

He mentioned he got the message of the cross right away. He said he saw the sign, went home and read the Bible verse. I told him that so many people just believe, and he mentioned that it was repent and believe.

I told Bob we need to trust Jesus like a parachute on a plane. Merely believing in the parachute won't save you- one needs to strap on the parachute and jump from the plane. In the same sense, we need to strap on the Lord Jesus and abandon our sinful lifestyle.

Bob mentioned about repentance that we are supposed to participate in our salvation. While I admitted that our act of repentance (turning from our sins) was required, there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. I mentioned God has done nothing wrong when we turned away and sinned and therefore we need to turn back, but that we can't add anything to what Jesus had done for us on the cross- that was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

He said, "You know I thought about you the other day. I try to read my Bible a little every night, before I go to bed, and I read a passage about inviting people to the wedding and it said if the guests don't arrive, to invite everybody else. I thought, 'That's what this guy on the street corner is doing. He's inviting everybody else to the wedding feast, even though the ones who were invited may not go, so he's inviting the other people.' "

I added, "They need to make sure they have on the right wedding attire, too, when they get there."

He replied, "That's a good point."

I said, "To make sure they have the righteousness of Jesus applied to them."

I gave Bob a tract and also someone who appeared to be on their way home from school.

Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 11/12/09

Today, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake. The sky is clear today and the sun is shining, but winter is on it's way. It wasn't as windy as was yesterday and the temps are currently in the low 50's. I was out from 1:10 to 3:10 today.

Today was a quiet day. I am getting quite a few more honks and waves in Westlake. I don't know if people recognize me now or are support the message, but it's a nice change from the hostility I sometimes I get. There were a few people passing by on the sidewalks, but I had my hands in gloves. I need to start getting in the habit of taking my gloves off to give them a tract.

I also got a high five from someone passing by on a bike. I also noticed 5 separate people had searched for information on the "Cleveland Cross Guy" on Google by the time I came home, which is up from what I am used to seeing. I think it is from the increased size of the lettering at the bottom of the cross plus I also directed the cross at traffic in a different manner than I normally had.

Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 11/03/09

Today, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge from 3:05 to 4:05. Foot traffic virtually non-existent at this point with the temperatures dropping, but the vehicle traffic has not decreased at all. When I arrived, a man in an SUV started yelling, "Are you ready?! Yea!" A little while later, someone (I think it was the same guy) yelled out again, "Are you ready?!" The cross is still getting a lot of looks and I'm hoping it is making some people think.

Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park - 10/29/09

Today I went to the intersection of Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park. I was out with the cross from 3:10 to 5:00. This was only the second time I have been at this spot with the cross at this time of the day. I gave a tract to someone who asked me what church I was from, and I told him that this wasn't about a church, this was about the Gospel and he was pleasantly surprised at that.

The cross definitely was drawing a lot of looks today- probably because this is only the second time at this spot at this time of day. I handed out 2 tracts today, but otherwise, it was pretty quiet today.

Center Ridge and Columbia in Westlake - 10/28/09

Today, I went to the intersection of Center Ridge and Columbia in Westlake. I was there from a little after 3:00 to 5:00. I have never been at this intersection during this time so I am hoping a lot of new eyes got to see the cross today.

Today was a pretty quiet day. When I set up my tripod to take this picture, someone in one of the north bound lanes of Columbia asked me what I was taking a picture of. I told them I was an evangelist and take the picture for this blog. I handed her a gospel tract and told her to read the back side when she got a chance.

I gave a tract to someone walking by and she wanted to make sure I was advocating the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. Also, a security guard came out from the Cuyahoga Community College Corporate Campus (to the right of where I am standing in the picture) and politely asked me if I would considered moving.

Tri-C has an issue on the local ballot to fund education and he mentioned they didn't want my sign to be confused with all their campaign signs. He acknowledged that I wasn't doing anything wrong, and I told him that he was correct- that I was on a public sidewalk. I asked him if it would help if I crossed the street to an opposite corner, and he said it would, which is what I did for about the remaining half an hour.

I know I didn't have to move, but I completely understand their position and after this coming Tuesday, the signs will be gone and it will no longer be an issue. I gave the security guard a tract after I told him I would move and he gladly accepted it, saying he likes to have things to read. I handed out a total of 3 tracts today.

A Converstaion With Steve - 10/27/09

Today, I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake. I started displaying the cross at about 12:55 and stayed just shy of 2 hours.

Shortly after arriving, a woman came out of GetGo (a gas station), came to the corner and was waiting to cross the street to go to Circle K. I gave her a gospel tract and she asked what it was. She told me she had just gone to a women's retreat. She said it was fun and very inspirational. She said a guy had come into the store and asked her if she was a Christian, and she answered she was. She said he mentioned she should read "The Shack" and asked me if I had read it. I gave her my disapproval of it.

At about 1:45, a man approached me. I gave him a gospel tract and he said he had to come over and see if I was real and he proceeded to poke my arm. He said, "I've seen you out here a couple times." I asked him what he meant by if I was real.

He told me, "I've been having dreams, manifestations." We just had missions conference at our church recently and a missionary spoke of people in their respective countries they serve in having dreams, and I honestly believe God works through dreams.

I replied, "OK, what's your name?"

He replied, "Steve."

I said, "Steve? I'm Mark."

"I' saw you out here a couple times, and I thought, 'That's weird.' Some of them are apocalyptic, some of them are this verse."

I asked, "Mark 1:15?"

He said, "A lot of people drive by and pay little or no attention. If anybody will believe me, it will be you. I have met Satan- twice. It's just good that you're out here."

I asked, "Are you a Christian?" He affirmed he is.

I told him I was just out here trying to sow some seeds, and hopefully another will reap. Steve mentioned this is a fallen world we live in. He mentioned that he's made his mistakes, and I replied we all have.

I said to Steve, "Well, you understand that Jesus died on the cross, but do you know what Jesus tells us to do?"

Steve replied, "To preach the good news."

I said, "That's part of it- that's the Great Commission, but do you know what you must do to receive His forgiveness?"

He said, "To accept Him."

I said, "That's one part, but the other part is repentance- turning from your sins. That's what I'm trying to get people to think about. I've believed in Him for as long as I can remember, but I never repented of my sin. I never turned away from my sin. That's what Mark 1:15 says: 'The time if fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.' There's so many people who don't repent and continue to live in their sin."

Steve mentioned this world is full of corruption, filth and garbage. I told Steve that the Bible tells us to live in the world, but not be of the world. Steve tried to reference the verse and I pulled out my Bible and turned to 1 John and read 1 John 2: 15-16: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world."

It was when I started reading these verses that a guy across the street started heckling me and startled me a bit. I started again and finished it.

I told Steve about how Jesus views lust as adultery in the heart and if you hate someone or so much as call someone a "fool," you are liable for judgment.

Steve told me, "The biggest misnomer, I think, is that people don't realize how grave it is to judge. You notice the splinter in your neighbor's eye, but not the log that's in your own. We're so quick to look upon other people and scrutinize them but we ourselves are just as prone to the same error."

I mentioned if you finish reading that Scripture, you will see that it says to first take the mote out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to deal with the spec in your brother's eye. "It's not necessarily saying, 'Don't judge,' but first deal with the problem in yourself, and then you will see clearly."

I mentioned that if I were to go around and curse and blaspheme, I would have no right to go up to someone and say to them, "How dare you do that?" Once I have dealt with the problem in myself, then I will see clearly to help them.

Steve mentioned that it's unfortunate that inevitable things are going to unravel. I told Steve the end is coming, but we don't know when it is- not even Jesus knows. He mentioned the way things are shaping up, he tends to think it could be sooner rather than later. I told him I tend to agree. He mentioned that about 1.5 million abortions are performed each year and the disintegration of families.

Steve and I talked about some of the signs that the Bible talks about. He said, "They were talking about these wildfires in California. They're talking about the flames being 3 to 400 feet high. Now if that's not Biblical... Could you image the 2 of us standing here with flames coming at you?"

Steve mentioned, "You have earthquakes, mudslides- I remember there was an earthquake a couple of years ago in Iran. It killed 40,000 people. 40,000 people died in a matter of... moments."

I told Steve that 150,000 people die everyday and most of them don't know Jesus as their Savior. At this point, I said to Steve, "Let me ask you- are you ready?"

He replied, "Yea." I asked him if he practiced repentance and faith. Steve said he prayed every day and night. He mentioned some of the sinful things he had previously done, but I pressed him again on repentance.

"The thing I am trying to get people to understand is that they need to repent, also. We need to trust Jesus. It's like being on an airplane that is going to crash and there is a parachute that can save you. You need to do more than 'believe' in the parachute to save you. You need to trust that parachute, strap it on, and jump from the plane to be saved. In the same sense, we need to trust in the Lord Jesus. Strap Him on and abandon our sins."

Steve asked me if I ever go to other places, and I told him about some of the other places I went and mentioned this blog and my church's website, which are both on the tract I gave him. At this point, he had to get going.

A while later, a woman stopped at the light on Dover Center asked if my sign was about the Apocalypse and I told her it was just a general salvation message and walked over to her car and gave her a tract. After about 10 seconds, she said, "You know, Jesus said love thy neighbor. Jesus forgave. We are all God's children." If I had to make a guess, I would say she was feeling convicted for her sins.

I handed out a total of 5 tracts today.

Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake - 10/22/09

Today I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge at 12:45 and stayed until 2:45. The leaves are really starting to change around here and it is really beautiful! What an artist God is!

A man asked me, "Ready for what?" I told him about the message of the cross, and he told me he was ready. I should have given him a tract anyways, but I didn't. I haven't been handing out many tracts lately due to decreased traffic on the sidewalks, and I need to get back into the mode of handing them out. Chance of rain is 100% for tomorrow- not sure if I will find a break in the rain to get out.

Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park - 10/21/09

Day two of our Indian Summer here in Northeast Ohio and I have to admit- I love the warm weather! If you look at my post from this location on Sunday, you will see I was bundled up in a winter coat. Tomorrow has 65 to 70 in the forecast and after that, I fear it will be cold until next Spring!

After awaiting for and receiving the shipment of Origin of Species - Origin Into Schools with my pastor and a few others at church, I headed out to Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park. I was officially in Fairview Park, but the cross was visible to traffic coming from and entering into Rocky River as well. I arrived at 2:50 and stayed until 5:00. This is the first time I have been at this location at this time.

Around 3:15 a man came up to me on the sidewalk and asked what Mark 1:15 is. I told him, "The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel."

He replied, "That's the law of God." He mentioned that it applies to us today.

I responded, "I know. That's what I'm trying to get everybody to think about. Scripture says, 'It is appointed for a man once to die and then comes judgment.' That's what I'm trying to get people to think about- are you ready for judgment? It's not an 'end time' message'-it's like you mentioned- it's for everyone."

I gave him an Obama Trillions and he told me the message is lost when I hand out a tract with him on the front. I gave him a Celebrities Million instead, which he said was better. He said, "God Bless" and departed.

A man stopped at the light gave me a thumbs up and said, "Praise the Lord! It's great to be reborn!"

There was also a man who was heckling me from his car, asking me, "Why don't you go help somebody?" I think it is the same guy who has heckled me twice in Lakewood.

I have noticed a few more people have found this blog by searching Google for "Cleveland Cross Guy." My prayer is that they read The Message of the Cross post and be brought to salvation, if they aren't already saved. Knowing what Jesus said in Matthew 7:14, though, I know most of the world isn't saved.

Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park - 10/18/09

I went to two locations today, this being the first of the two. I went to this intersection after church and arrived around 12:15 and stayed until about 12:45. A friend happened to be eating with her family at Chipotle and came out to see me. I gave her a tract and soon after I headed to my second spot for the day.

Center Ridge and Columbia in Westlake - 10/13/09

Today, I went to the intersection of Center Ridge and Columbia in Westlake. I arrived at around 12:50 and stayed for an hour. I was not well prepared for the cold- it's not so much the temperature that is rough (in the upper 40's/lower 50's- about the same as yesterday), but the wind. It's in the upper 50's in the lower part of the state- I hope they are enjoying it! I think I finally need to break out the winter coat. It was just about a month ago that I was in shorts, flip flops, and worried about a sun burn.

A guy in a truck asked me what I was protesting and I told him I was just trying to get people to think about their eternity. I saw someone do a search yesterday on "Cleveland Cross Guy" on Google and found my blog and also someone today. I am hoping they will click on "I have seen the cross. What does it mean?" to get the law and gospel presentation.

Interview by WeST LIFE Newspaper - 10/12/09

Today I went to the intersection of Dover Center and Center Ridge in Westlake after the light rain stopped around 2:10. I added an arm to the bottom of the cross that says "GOOGLE: CLEVELAND CROSS GUY." My hope is that people will go home and look it up on Google, find my blog, and be curious enough to click on the banner that says "I have seen the cross. What does it mean?" which links to a law and gospel presentation.

Around 3:45, Kevin from the WeST LIFE news walked up and asked if he could talk to me about the cross. He said they had received a few calls about me standing with my sign and was wondering if I would talk to him. I told him, "Sure."

Kevin had some general questions, like what had inspired me to take the cross to the street. I told him about Tony Miano's (not by name) cross out in California and gave him a tract and told him about Living Waters. I quoted Hebrews 9:27 and told Kevin I just wanted to get people thinking about their eternity.

He asked me if this had anything to do with a doom's day scenario, and I told him it wasn't- just to get people to think about their eternity. I told Kevin I didn't want this to be about me, but about the gospel message. I made clear the necessity of repentance and also shared a few Scripture verses with him about repentance and the Great Commission. If it is posted online, I will link to it once it is published. I hope the article will at least plant some more seeds.

On a side note, I was talking to my father yesterday about religion (which I wrote about previously in my "Holiness" post). I was trying to explain infused righteousness versus imputed righteousness to him, among a few other things, and the conversation got a little heated. My father got dizzy and temporarily blacked out on the freeway. His doctor told him to minimize the stress in his life and my discussions are one of those things.

My mother has ordered me not to talk about religion to him ever again, which I don't think I will. My mother says he is happy and content in his faith, but I know that doesn't mean his salvation is secured. Please pray for my father that someone else will reap what I have hopefully sown.

Center Ridge and Columbia in Westlake - 10/06/09

Today I went to the intersection of Center Ridge and Columbia in Westlake. I arround 11:20 and stayed until 1:00. Today was mostly quiet, aside from a guy rolling down his window to curse at me and another guy yelled out, "I'm ready for anything!"

Tomorrow is supposed to be very windy, so I am headed out in a few minutes with the cross to another location today.

Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park - 10/05/09

Today, I went to the intersection of Center Ridge and Wagar/West 210th in Rocky River/Fairview Park. Depending on which corner you are on, you are either in Rocky River or Fairview Park. In this picture, I am in Fairview Park.

I showed up around 11:10 and stayed for a little over 2 hours. While I was there, I am pretty sure there was a guy with a sign up the road in front of Planned Parenthood. Someone asked me if I was holding a sign for abortion, and I told him I wasn't, although I am against abortion.

Two men walking on the sidewalk in ties came past and I gave them both gospel tracts. I told them to read the back side and they said thank you for the tract. They then asked me what my favorite cologne was. I told him I don't normally wear cologne, and he asked why not. One of them mentioned something about God's anointed with oil or God anointing with oil and made some reference to how I should want that in view of or in front of God. I told him the only thing I was concerned about was how God viewed me- a sinner saved by grace. At that point, they moved on. I saw them right before I left crossing the street again- they were probably selling something.

One man driving by asked what church I go to. I told him Lighthouse Alliance in Rocky River. I handed out five tracts today.