God has given us a dynamic team with Jonathan and Carrie co-leading with Patty and with Trevor also committed to witnessing with us. I love it with all my heart, and I wish I could be in more than one place at a time. However, only our precious, precious Lord is omnipresent. When I was a child, I used to sing a song about Jesus asking, "...Why is He precious to me?" Why would we want to go and tell others about Him? Why would someone like Patty (who has written summaries to follow below) want to give of her time to FIGHT for someone's eternity down on her knees in prayer or go tell them about Jesus in cold weather like a soldier with an eternal cause?
The reason we tell is because our God is more than just an impersonal "god" or energy spirit, which books have been written about. By His omniscient Holy Spirit, He lives within us. He never leaves us, and His spirit is not neutral. His Spirit is HOLY. He makes us better. He makes us like Him. This triune God intercedes for us, interrupts our plans for our protection and directs our paths for His name's sake. He is a PURE, HONEST God we can personally love!
While I was at Venice Beach witnessing, I used to ask the people involved in occult spirituality if their god loved them. They had no idea what the question even meant, much less how to answer. I asked, "Does your god love you?" MY GOD LOVES ME, and that is why I love Him so. We can't help but tell about such love.
[As I read the summary below, I thought of the book 'The Light That Was Dark' that they have in Boulder in the storage unit for this outreach. I am going to call Patty and see if we can't get this man involved in Wiccan spirituality this book. We need to warn the man about demons and ask if we could read him Bible verses about the demons. He is confused, believing in a dark 'light'.]
Here is an excellent summary from Patty, our new co-leader in Boulder:
I walked the mall for about an hour, not being very bold today, but donating a dollar along with a tract to the many street musicians. It was only 45 degrees today, but there were as many people out as on a nice spring day. One guy was shirtless, wearing his backpack. Outstanding among the musicians was a 7-year-old violinist (with his dad). He had a half-size violin and was playing very difficult music. I have a few pictures but have misplaced my cable to connect to the computer. [I took a few pictures January 10 in Boulder, but my camera cable is misplaced so I can't add them to the computer yet. I was by myself as Trevor is in MN and Jonathan had car troubles. Trevor will be back soon and is committed to the Boulder ministry. Jonathan and I will alternate weeks, to make sure someone is always there.] I talked briefly with a woman named Raelene who is selling the Denver Voice newspaper and trying to get her life together. She said she hopes she is going to heaven, because she is trusting the Lord now and has help from a pastor in Longmont, from "The Well" Christian church or group, she explained. Her background includes sexual abuse and substance addictions. Please say a prayer for her to continue to walk with Jesus and experience victory. And for a path out of homelessness.
Noon at the 16th Street Mall:
...I was out today during the noon hour, and want to request prayer for a man with whom I talked. I'm guessing he is in his thirties, and when I asked him if he has any spiritual beliefs, he said he was Wiccan. Not having any experience with that belief system, I asked him how he had become Wiccan. He said that was the religion of both his mother and grandmother. He agreed to let me ask a few questions to test his goodness, but said he had only told one lie ever, and had never stolen anything, nor used God's name in vain, but he admitted to lusting. He said he's not headed to hell, because he doesn't believe in it. I asked what he thinks will happen to him when he dies, and he said he'll go to a higher plane. Then he told me he was homeless, had leukemia and was told he has two years to live. I asked if he could get medical treatment through a government program, and he said, no, they will only help when the cancer has attacked his organs. Basically for pain management as he dies. So sad. I said I was curious to know what he liked about being a Wiccan, what he believed, and that led to some interesting stories about the goddess and the horned god. At one point I gave him my name and asked for his. He said "they call me The Cave Man", because he was born in a car and liked to explore caves. We talked for 15-20 minutes. He said he had to go to class, and when I asked if he was a student he said, "No," it was for rehab for addictions. [So, this is what the 'horned god' can offer for a life?] I felt prompted to give him $5, and he looked really surprised and thanked me. I told him I'd pray for him and to seriously consider what we'd talked about, then said "Take care, Cave Man." He said, "Call me Jay" and shook my hand. Please pray that he will let his heart be touched by the Holy Spirit and surrender his life to the one, true, living God.
