Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Week 3, Location 2: Precinct Line Rd & W Harwood Rd, Hurst, TX


12/20/12 - last day at this location



"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."   - 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

Time:  3:45 - 5:45 pm

Main Happenings:


1)  Twice as many honks, thumbs up, waves and shouts as any other time being there.
2)  An older couple stopped by and gave me hot chocolate and a donut.
3)  Another “drive by shouting”: a lady had her window rolled down and screamed, “Hallelujah brother!! Shout it from the rooftops!!”
4)   Met a Christian brother on a bike passing by, handed me a bunch of tracts, and telling me about his church.


Sign Held:




This is my last day at this location #2.  I've been here three weeks now and it’s time to move on to a new location with new people!  I've already picked out the place…I will reveal the new secret location in the next entry.  But it will be a gold mine of cars… the place is busy!

Today I prayed not to have seeds planted so much, but just for the LORD to be with me, just to have His presence there filling me up, which actually will be my prayer from now on!  And sure enough, He answered my prayer!  Deep in my own spirit, where it bears witness with His Spirit, I knew the Lord Jesus was present there; He was there watching over my time there.

And for some odd reason, as if all the people KNEW it was my last day there, behold, I received TWICE as many honks, waves, thumbs up, shouts, etc, as all the other times being there.  Also there was a couple in this van that was in the main intersection, in the middle, waiting to turn left onto Harwood at the stop light (the people I can’t reach very well with my sign), and they were honking at me while my back was turned.  I turned my head and they yelled out, “What does your sign say?!”  I showed them and they got excited and gave the thumbs up.

Then out of nowhere, this older couple approached me from the sidewalk, crossing the intersection (I think they pulled into the Cash store parking lot). Behold, the conversation went like this: 

Lady:  We think this is great you’re out here, and we brought you some hot chocolate and a donut. (from dunkin donuts!)
Me:  Ohhhh…wow.  Thank you very much.
Lady:  My husband and I don’t come by this way very often, but today we happened to pass by and saw you holding that sign and we had to park and say hi.
Me:  Yep I’m out here proclaiming the Truth to the people!
Lady:  Amen to that. We just wanted to say we were very blessed to see you out here doing this.
Me:  So you can read the sign out in the intersection?
Lady:  Oh yes…  we saw the sign from the opposite side way out there.

Phew, thank God.  You see I can’t tell if people can read the sign or not while stopped at the intersection; they are only 3” tall letters after all, and the intersection is quite large.  But when the lady said she and her husband could read the sign at the far end of the intersection, I was encouraged by that.

Now I can’t say for certain, but I swear that different people and kids were taking cell phone pictures of me.  I could see a few people lifting their phones up in my direction for a minute or so, and putting them back down (but then again they could be texting, etc).  But you see, this works in God’s favor as well, and they don’t even realize it!  Take person A, who snaps a picture of me (probably because he has never seen someone doing this in all of Fort Worth), posts it on Facebook with a caption that reads like, “Found a guy today on the street corner holding this sign.”  20 of his friends list will see it, 40 of those friends, 50 of those friends, etc, that would otherwise never read it.  In fact, not just in Texas.  Those people will be in all different states, everywhere!   POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE WILL BE READING THE SIGN ALL OVER FACEBOOK!

But I know one girl did snap a picture (or video perhaps) for sure – looked to be about Jr. high age in a van.  I was leaping and jumping in the air with my sign in front of all the cars, and apparently she couldn't read it because she was giving me a finger to the throat movement (the neck slicing motion thing).  At first I thought it was negative, some sort of derogatory thing, but it suddenly dawned on me that she was trying to signal to me to stop moving (like “Cut!  Cut!”) so she could snap a picture of me!  Once again, if she posts that picture on Facebook, many more people will read the sign that would never have before.  Remember my goal: proclaiming Truth and planting seeds in people, as it is written, “So then either he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” – 1 Corinthians 3:10

One lady rolled down her window for another “drive by shouting”:  “Hallelujah brother!! Shout it from the rooftops!! YAHHHH!” and off she drove.  She was actually quoting Jesus in Matthew 10:27, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.”

And finally, to end my final moments there, I met yet another Christian brother on a bike passing by.  He stopped on the sidewalk and called out, “Hey man…do you want some tracts?” 
"Tracts?" I asked.
"Yeah, I’ve got hundreds of them in my backpack.  I’ll give a bunch to you," he said.  
"Oh wow, I would love some tracts!  I could pass them out!" I responded.

So we get to talking and find out he’s saved and goes out and spreads the gospel too.  He said that currently he and a group from church just finished putting door knob tracts to every house in Hurst.  He was also telling me that there are people from his church that go out and hold signs too.
"You guys hold signs too??  No way! I thought I was the only one doing this!" I said to him.
"Nope…  that’s why I thought it was funny to see someone else sign holding that wasn't from our church.  We go downtown Fort Worth and hold signs and street preach too," he said.

He also related a story to me - a praise report rather.  He said that many times when they hand out tracts to people downtown they just throw them on the ground and won’t even look at them.  Well, that’s how it goes he said.  But one night this janitor from somewhere nearby came up to them and said, “You know, when people throw these on the ground, I have to pick them up because I clean up around here.”  And the group was very apologetic; they said, “Oh man! We’re sorry it causes litter! We don’t mean to mess up the streets or anything!” But the janitor said, “But I pick them up…and start handing them out to more people passing by!” LOL!  What an encouraging story!   

We talked until dark and then I went ahead and left.

It was kind of sad to leave a location I've been at which was getting familiar and comfortable, and which seemed like a long time being there.  But I am excited for my new location. 

What new adventures await me?

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Week 3, Location 2: Precinct Line Rd & W Harwood Rd, Hurst, TX

12/19/12



"Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak."   - Jeremiah 1:6-7


Time:  12:00 - 1:00 pm

Main Happenings:


1)  very few honks and waves today.


Sign Held:



Wish I could write more, but it was pretty much dead today, no activity.  Nothing but a few honks and waves. 

No thumbs up, no “drive by shoutings”, nothing of the sort today.  Hardly any glances at my sign either from what I could observe.  What was going on?  I’m usually not there at that time, so maybe a different breed of people during this hour.  Who knows.

Oh well.  Maybe tomorrow will be better.   

Friday, December 7, 2012

Week 2, Location 2: Precinct Line Rd & W Harwood Rd, Hurst, TX





"Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."   - Acts 18:9-10


Time:  4:15  - 5:15 pm

Main Happenings:


1)  Honks of approval in the traffic
2)  Many thumbs up this time. 
3)  This time a few people called from their windows, "God bless you!" and other sayings.
4)  Met two Christians on the street and we introduced ourselves and talked.
5) And finally the grand finale: another "drive buy shouting".  A lady had her window rolled down and yelled out, "Hail Satan! Hail Satan!" as she pulled onto Precinct.


Sign Held:


What a day!  First of all, I'm sore in the legs and other places.  This time I was leaping and jumping in the air trying to get people to read the sign.  I was saying, "Come onnnn people! Wake up!"  Turn to Christ and live!”  And it did help.  I think more people saw the sign than if I wasn't jumping around.  Many people I noticed would begin by looking straight ahead, not noticing me, waiting at the light.  And then all of a sudden they would turn their head, probably because they saw a foolish idiot out there jumping around with a sign and they’re like, “I wonder what’s so important that he’s jumping and leaping in the air?” Then they read the sign.

An hour wasn't long out there though.  But a few interesting things happened today worth mentioning.  First, as always, the usual stuff happened: honks of approval in the traffic and a lot more thumbs up – more than usual I would estimate this time.  And this time a few people called out from their windows, “God bless you brother!” and other sayings.

I met a Christian brother that happened to be passing through the intersection.  He was getting all into it too!  He stood next to me for a minute or so and was jumping and pointing at my sign trying to get everybody to read it!  He was like, “Everybody look at this!”  I said my usual saying of, “I’m out here proclaiming Truth!” He said something like, “Amen brother!”

And then towards the end of my stay I met another Christian named Timothy.  He was riding by on his bike on his way to Lowe’s.  I told him I worked at Home Depot!  He was just saying how awesome it was to see the sign and then we got to talking.  He’s younger, I’d estimate 18-20 years old.  He said he had demon possession at one point in his life and a bunch of other bad stuff that happened.  He got saved at a skate park and now he preaches the gospel at the skate park and other places.  The first time he stood up and preached the gospel at the skate park, he said the whole park got silent.  Praise the Lord! 

I told him that I was pretty much out of church at the moment, so I don’t know what’s been happening with the youth, or even if any youth are on fire for the Lord nowadays.  He said, “Oh yeah, we’re out here and excited for the Lord and spreading the gospel.”  This kid was filled with the Spirit!  He gave me his number so I could text him the next times I’d be going out to the corners with my signs and if he would like to come along too. I told him I could always use the help.  And, conversely, I told him I’d love to come along with him and help him as he preaches the gospel too, maybe hold a few signs or something.

And finally the grand finale of the day: another “drive by shouting”.  Some lady, having her window rolled down, pulling onto Precinct Rd, shouted out, “Hail Satan! Hail Satan!” and off she drove!  It actually happened so quick.  I whipped around and tried to figure out what was happening, maybe if it was a joke or if she actually wanted to say more!

Strange.  Oh well.  

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Week 2, Location 2: Precinct Line Rd & W Harwood Rd, Hurst, TX



"We will rejoice in they salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all they petitions."  - Psalm 20:5


Time:  3:45  - 5:15 pm

Main Happenings:


1)  Honks of approval in the traffic
2)  Many thumbs up this time. One school kid gave a thumbs up out the school bus window!
3)  A woman rolled down her window and said, "God bless you!".  I say, "I'm out here proclaiming the Truth," and she nodded her head in approval.
4)  A guy and a girl came to the intersection, sounded like they had Russian accents, or of that nature, and just stared at me like I had three heads. I say, "Hello folks. I'm proclaiming the Truth." After a bit the girl says either, "Of what?" or "From what?" And I say, "Of God's Word!".  More stares at me.  Then they go on their way.
5) And finally the grand finale - a lady had her window rolled down, was mad, and said, "That's sick!" (reading my sign) and drove on past.


Sign Held:


First, let me explain something about my weeks and locations on the blog titles.  I am not following weeks from the calendar as you understand it.  Right now it's Dec. 4th and we started this sign holding on Nov. 1st, so we've been sign holding at the Precinct Line Rd intersection for 1 month, right?  Not exactly. I am following the weeks that I'm at specific locations.  So for example, I've now been holding my sign at this Precinct Line Rd intersection for 2 weeks - not 2 weeks in a row and not 5 weeks of the calendar either.  The first day I showed up there, I counted as week #1.  For that week I was there 2 times. Then I couldn't make it out there for a month later (now being December!)  I then show up again starting this week: thus I have counted being at that location for 2 weeks: week of Nov. 5th and Dec. 5th; although it's been 4 weeks on the calendar.

I want to be at a specific location for 3 weeks and then move on, so therefore I have to do it in this manner.  I got the 3 week idea from another brother holding their signs in Florida, here.  I contacted him through his website and he says he stays at a location for 3 weeks and then moves on.  He goes to that spot for about 3 hours at a time once a week for 3 weeks.  Since my working schedule is not like normal people's, I have to hold my signs when I can, but I still want to hold to that 3 week thing.  For one, how long do you stay at a specific spot?  There really is no limit, on the time or the days.  So ever since I talked to that brother in Florida (his name is Jonathan too) I decided I would follow that general guideline.

Mostly all the usual things happened today at the intersection: honks of approval, a woman rolled down her window and yelled out, "God bless you!", thumbs up from many cars, etc.  No police encounters today. Though I wasn't exactly on the sidewalk, but I didn't think I was in the street either.  And I wasn't in the place where the police told me to get off.  Many police passed me by and didn't do anything, so that's good.

A small interesting encounter to note which was different: a guy and a girl came to the intersection just passing by.  They waited for the stoplight to change to cross the street.  They stared at me and read my sign.  Then kept staring at me for the longest time.  They looked at me like I had three heads and just visited planet earth.  I say, "Hello folks!"   They would look forward, then stare at me again, then quickly turn their heads forward again.  "I am standing out here proclaiming the Truth.  I only stand out here a couple hours each time," I said to them.

More staring at me.  Then they face forward.  Then the girl turns her head and said either, "Of what?" or "From what?"  It sounded like she had a Russian accent or something of that nature.  I said, "Of God's Word."  Then the light changed and they went on their way.  Oddly enough, they walked further up Precinct Line Rd, stopped, came back and passed me again.  But that's the last I saw of them.

And finally, as a grand finale, a woman had her window rolled down coming from Harwood and going onto Precinct.  She was mad or something, and she said out loud with a disgusted voice, "Oh that's sick!" when she read my sign.  She had another woman in the truck with her.  That put a smile on my face as I turned in another direction to hold the sign and I thought, "That was awesome."

Brothers and sisters in Christ:  we are out there proclaiming the message, not making people feel good.  Let the others hold up their signs that read, "Honk if you love Jesus" and make people feel good and give everybody a spring in their step...but not us.  When people realize they are NOT "doing okay" before a Holy God, it will produce Godly sorrow leading to repentance, which leads to their life.

Let me be the one to hold a sign that says "for the wages (payment) of sin is death."