Common Misconceptions - Everett Silvertips

I spent all week gearing up, preparing, praying and reading the Word, so that I could bring the Word to the Everett Silver Tips fans.   I must admit, I am weak when it comes to quoting God's Word.   I also need to learn to stream a message more seamlessly.

I had one good encounter with a non-believing, idolatrous, scientist.

I preached for about an hour.   I got 41 minutes of audio.

I was encouraged by several people, even one who called himself 'not religious', but commended me for my conviction.

God bless...

Tyler, Taylor and Sam

Three high school aged young men were a little stunned when I walked down to their 'pot pit'.   Sam was a little 'undone', so he quickly left, but not before I got a Lincoln Million Dollar Bill Gospel tract in his hand.   I handed all three Gospel tracts and explained what they were for, and encouraged them to read them.

I was pleased that Tyler and Taylor stayed and talked with me.   Even as Tyler held a bong with the bowl filled and a lighter in his hand.

Taylor said he went to church, but he didn't think smoking marijuana was wrong.   I gave him a few things to go look up in the Bible.   The word is 'sorcery', which is 'pharmakia' in the Greek, which means drugs.

I had the pleasure of sharing the Gospel with these young men, and they seemed willing to listen and consider life, mortality, judgement, righteousness and forgiveness through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.

[addendum: I told the young men, I did much worse things than this.   I was no better than them, but that doesn't give them excuse to rebel against the Lord.]

I am praying that God will reveal Himself in His righteousness to Tyler, Taylor and Sam.

God bless...

Everett Silvertips: Hear the proclamation of the Gospel

I went to the Comcast Arena this evening and spent about an hour preaching the Gospel this evening.

I took my Bible and my stool and my PA and went about an hour before the game was to begin.   I prayed extra hard before I began, since being alone is extra scary.   The instant I began to preach I could see the arena ushers begin calling someone.  Sure enough, within a couple of minutes, a manager came out and told me city ordinances forbade amplification.

So I began almost an hour's worth of lifting my voice like a trumpet.   God was very gracious.  There were a couple times I thought I was losing my voice, but God kept me going.

Once the game began, I took a walk around downtown Everett and handed out Gospel tracts.

God is so good to me.   I don't deserve it at all.

God bless...

HempFest: Repent and Trust Jesus Christ

Oh, by the way, I was very scared to open up.   There were so many of them, and only one of me.  The cops were between me and them, but it was still scary.

The HempFesters were overall a pretty good group of people to preach to.  They were interactive.   They were negative.   But I strove to keep a positive tone, and preach the Gospel.   I didn't shy away from sin one bit.   I publicly read a bunch of scripture.   Spoke one-to-one to very many people.  And generally, received a pretty good response.  By 'good', I mean they weren't agreeing with what I was saying, and they told me so; in so many ways.   I preached to the folks as they were lining up to go in.   It was a prime time and location for the Gospel of Jesus to be presented.

God is very good though.   He has prepared me for this time.

Even with a PA system, I still lost my voice after about 3 hours of preaching.

There was a group of open air evangelists from Los Angeles there.

Videos to come...

Here is what I had planned to say, by way of an intro:
When I found out that the Seattle Police Department was going to be handing out bags of chips today, I was reminded about this week.   I bought a bag of chips in the breakroom at work.   I started eating, and they were stale.   Although they hadn't reached the expiration date printed on the bag, they were stale.   And I threw them away.

Think about this; we all have an expiration date.   Death is a sure thing.   Ten out of ten die.  Death is the only 100% statistic.   Some avoid taxes, but no one avoids death.    The Bible says, "Life is but a vapor... here today and gone tomorrow".   We don't know how or when, but we will die.   We don't plan on it.   No one puts it on their daily planner, but someday, death will come for each and every one of us.

You were not created to die though. Death is not your friend, and it was never your intended destiny.   The funeral is not the finish and the grave is not the goal.

You have two choices; two paths you could take.  If this is all there is and there is nothing after life, then go for the gusto.  Live life to the fullest. Party hard. 

Or, you could seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

If this is all you get, then "eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die."   But this isn't all there is.   It is appointed unto man once to die and then comes the judgement.   God had appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness....

The Law goes here...

The Gospel goes here...

The New Birth goes here...

God bless...

Highlights from Friday Night

Thomas and I rode together from my house over to Edmonds, where the "Taste of Edmonds" festival was going on.

The Lord did place a sense of urgency on us as we prayed.   We walked down to the traffic circle in Edmonds and began preaching and handing out Gospel tracts.

Then we walked over to the entrance to the festival, across from the Edmonds city hall.   Thomas was preaching, and Loyd-the-Buddhist came up and engaged me in a conversation.   I urged him to understand the good news of what God had done for him in Jesus Christ, but he was a typical relativist.   The Bible was just words, he said.   At that same time, a couple of cops came up with a festival official.   There had been complaints, but the cop rather addressed our doctrinal/theological perspective.   The cop was way off base.   Anyways, they reprimanded Thomas, and instructed us to turn off the personal amplifier if we wanted to preach.   We complied, and actually moved on.

I went back to the traffic circle and read Isaiah 53, and preached the Gospel.   Then I saw my friends Tim and Dorothy.   They came by after I finished preaching, and we had a good time of fellowship and encouragement.   At that same time, a lady parked her car, and came up to encourage us and thank us for speaking the name of Jesus.

Later on, we went to another entrance and preached the Gospel, and had several good conversations with people.  The main one that stands out was when a man named Andrew stopped.  He was probably in his mid-twenties, and he stopped right in front of me while I was preaching.  I stopped and greeted him, and he said he was a believer in Jesus Christ and he was saved.  We talked for a while and I asked him if he was living for God every day and following the Lord.  He was very honest and replied, "no, that it was hard to do."   Thomas and I had a chance to encourage him to trust whole-heartedly in the Lord, and rest in Jesus.  We encouraged him to read his Bible every day and find a Bible-teaching church where he could fellowship.  We asked him if we could pray for him and he said he would gladly receive prayer.   We prayed for him to be strengthened in his walk with the Lord, by the Holy Spirit.  After we prayed he was very thankful and expressed that he had gotten very emotional while I was praying for him.   I pray Lord that you would make this a turning point for Andrew, that he would get on fire for you Lord.

God bless...

Evolution vs. God

You have got to see this.   New information on evolution.

Two thumbs up!

God bless

Street Preaching with Laryngitis at AquaFest

Yesterday we went to Lake Stevens Aquafest.

I had a cold this week, and so I almost canceled.   But I thought, even if I just pass out tracts, it would be worthwhile.

It turned out to be a great time of preaching Jesus to the people attending the festival.   Many one-to-one conversations were had.   Many hundreds of Gospel tracts were handed out.

It is a very good thing for personal amplifiers.

I even got to read from Isaiah 43:10 and Galatians chapter 1 to the Mormon missionaries.

Some video to follow...

A sweet picture of pastor Andrew gathering a crowd of kids.

God bless...

What First Amendment Right?

Thomas, pastor Andrew and I met up at the Kla Ha Ya days festival at 2 o'clock this afternoon.   Wow, was that place buzzing with people.

We decided to walk toward the center of activity toward the beer garden and the music.   As we were walking, we noticed there was wooden stage set up with no one on it, so we commandeered it and I began to preach the Gospel.   I felt like I was getting good responses from people.  Most people were just walking by and just ignored the preaching, but some were listening.   I got a few minor heckles, but nothing dramatic.   When all of a sudden, a gal with a clipboard and an official festival shirt came huffing up and ordered me off the stage.   Initially, I said I would be done in 5 minutes, but she was undeterred.   So I complied, and stepped down off of the stage.   I asked her where we could go and preach, and she said we were not allowed to anywhere in the festival.   I again, asked where we were allowed to preach, she said no where, you need to leave.   We pointed out that this was public property and she said, all these other vendors had paid money to come here.  I again pointed out that where we were standing was public property, and she said, "well then, I will have to call the police."   I said, "yes please."   She walked away, and we never saw her again.

We set up at a corner and pastor Andrew preached his heart out.

Then it was Thomas's turn and he proclaimed the Gospel with great intensity, urgency and compassion.

After that we walked over to the God Mobile and preached a couple times, but the vendors in that area started yelling at us.

So we went back to 1st street and began preaching and walking and it was a very good experience.   Again, we received very good, encouraging responses from many people.  There was the occasional heckler, saying, "blah, blah blah, etc."

I believe God was glorified in our preaching and handing out hundreds of tracts today.   Certainly the good seed was sown.

God bless and bless God...

Mill Creek Festival - Preach, Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort with all Longsuffering

It was a beautiful sunny day today at the Mill Creek Festival.

Pastor Andrew (Faith Baptist Church Everett) and his son Andrew and I met at Jackson High School and rode the shuttle bus to the festival.    There were quite a few people crowded into the festival.   We set up shop across from some booths, and began preaching, but were first asked to quite down, and then later we were asked to leave.   So we did, we went down to an entrance to the festival, where the Fire Trucks were parked and set up there.   Some people who were fundraising for some 'Christian' cause, gave us each a bottled water which we really appreciated, and which came in really handy later on, when something got caught in my throat.

It was a wonderful afternoon, preaching, handing out tracts and speaking one-to-one with people.   God was at work in a big way.   We saw Dean N. from Calvary Everett.   He stopped and encouraged us and prayed for us.   Then we saw my friend Myrna from work and her husband.   They encouraged us and prayed for us.   It was a huge blessing.

The capper was toward the end when I got to witness to 3 junior high girls.  They listened and took Gospel tracts.   Pray the Lord will speak to their tender hearts.   Finally, we got into a conversation with about six young men, one of whom was a Hindu.  Pastor Andrew got to succinctly share the Gospel with them, although they ended up scoffing and leaving.

I was also blessed by a young man who said he appreciated what we were doing, even though he didn't believe in God or agree with what we were saying.  He was actually very encouraging and shook my hand as we parted.

God bless...

Coexist

We had a wonderful afternoon preaching the Gospel at the Westlake Center in Seattle.   The street preachers were out in force... See here for other blogs...

I was passing out Coexist Gospel tracts.



Lots of good conversations, lots of good preaching, lots of lost people.

Here's what I had planned on saying...

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.   It is not my intent to shove my religion down your throats.   Although I am aiming for your ears.  I don’t want to offend you.   I care about you.   I love my neighbor.   I’m seriously concerned for you.   That's why I’m compelled to come here and proclaim, to preach, to tell you the message, the story, the Good News.  As awkward as this might seem, this message is so important, I’m willing to stand here and share this good news with you.   I’m not here to tell you how to live your life, I have enough trouble living my own, but I am here to point you to the One who will give you eternal life and new life for here and now.   Jesus Christ said, “I am the Way, the truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

If you take what I say as promoting religion, you are sadly mistaken. Man made religion produces pedophilic priests, wars, terrorists, (even in the form of abortion clinic bombers).   Man made religion produces hypocritical, self-righteous, pompous money-grabbers.   Religion just covers up hate, violence, thefts, fraud, rape, murder, assault, drug addiction... Literally, all these things are the symptoms of a deeper problem.

The Law goes here...

The Gospel goes here...

Describe the new birth...

Marysville Strawberry Festival

It was an evening  for great one-to-one conversations, but it turned out not to be a good venue for preaching (too loud).   There were too many to recount here, but in general, the Gospel was well received.

Although I did read 1 Corinthians 6:9 as loud as I could to the 'Beer Garden'.  Shame on you Kiwanis.

By the end of the evening though, I was somewhat discouraged by all the lewdness and drunkenness at the carnival.

As it grew later in the evening, and darkness fell, the mood also became darker.

God bless...

Happy Fathers Day

We had a great time speaking to commuters at the Ash Way Park And Ride this morning. It was very encouraging to see heads nodding, smiles on faces and people saying thank you after we stopped speaking.

Here is what I intended on saying...

Greeting...

I’d like to share a few thoughts with you on this Friday-before-Father’s Day.   First, happy Fathers Day to all you dads.   I’m so thankful for dads that take their responsibility seriously and enjoy the privilege of being a father.

You know, in the Bible, in the book of Exodus chapter 20, (one of the Ten Commandments) says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord gives you.   Sadly, I haven’t always lived up to that commandment.   I’ve disobeyed my dad directly, and I’ve committed sins that brought shame on his head.   I’ve failed that one, how ‘bout you?   Some of the other commandments are “you shall not lie”, I’ve failed that one too, how ‘bout you?   The ninth commandment is “you shall not steal”.   I’ve broken that one too, how ‘bout you?   And the seventh commandment is “don’t commit adultery”, we know adultery is when you cheat on your spouse, but Jesus said, “whoever looks at a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart.”, check mark!

If you’re like me, and you listen to your conscience, you’d have to admit to having dishonored your parents, and been a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart.   On that day that when you die, you’d stand guilty before the Holy, Righteous, Eternal God, you’d deserve an awful, horrible, eternal punishment, and that’s called Hell.   And I don’t want that for you, and God certainly doesn’t want that for you.   God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance.  It is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance.

The Gospel...

Repentance and Faith...

New Life...

Salvation is by God’s grace, through faith, that not of yourself, it is the gift of God, not of works, so no one may boast.

in Matthew chapter 10 we have the words of Jesus recorded for us; from verse 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. .... 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

God bless...

It Only Took [about] Five Years

About 5 years ago, I was outside one afternoon, doing some yard work.   I had some Gospel tracts in my pocket.   I saw a couple walking right in front of my house, so I thought to myself, "I'd like to get a Gospel tract into their hands."   So I jumped out of the bushes, and said "you're rich" as I held out a Million Dollar Bill Gospel tract.   The man took the tract, looked at it and handed it back to me, and said, "no thanks."   It turns out, the couple lived 2 doors away from me.

Fast forward to yesterday.   That same neighbor has let his front yard become a jungle.   The grass was over three feet tall.   I decided I would ask the man if I could mow his lawn for him for $20.   I went up to his door and rang the door bell.  When he answered, I asked him if I could mow his lawn for $20, and he looked at me sideways, smirking, as if thinking, "do you know what your getting yourself into?"   Finally, he said okay, I don't know if I have $20 though.  I said, that's okay, you can pay me later.

Two hours later, having finished mowing and filling up 2 green waste trash cans, I went up and rang the door bell.   He came out with $20 in hand.   He gave it to me and thanked me profusely.    Then I said, "here's your change, in the form of a million dollar bill.  I said, "Its a Gospel tract for you to read when you get a chance."   He took it, looked at it and thanked me and I left.

Sometimes it can take a little persistence to get a Gospel tract into someone's hand.

God bless...

Willis Tucker Park Farmers Market

I was very fearful, going to the Willis Tucker Park to hand out Gospel tracts, yesterday evening.   Even though I had my evangelism partner and his wife and kids with me, I was afraid of the response I would get from my very neighbors if I tried to hand them a Gospel tract or preach the Gospel open-air.

My fears were unfounded.   We handed out dozens of tracts, and got into a few conversations with people.  I saw some familiar faces, but I don't think they recognized me.   It didn't turn out to be a conducive place to preach the Gospel out loud, but the tracts were well received.

Then afterward, we had a great evening of fellowship with Thomas and Whitney and Conner, Chloe, and Jacob.   [it was hilarious to see the kids on the treadmill, and to be able to get out some old toys that we had and watch the kids play with them.]

God bless

Carrying Their Water Bottles

At lunchtime, I drove over to the 164th Street Artesian well, and handed out "Thirsty" Gospel tracts.   I would help people put their water bottles into their car, and then give them a tract.

I was so encouraged.   I handed a tract to one lady and she asked me about where could she find a good church, so I recommended ours.   No refusals today.   That is vary rare.

Got into a conversation with a very nice middle-aged lady with long brown hair that was in dreadlocks.   She was driving a yellow '67 Volkswagen bug, that was in really good condition.  So we spent some time talking about bugs.  Then we talked about the trivia regarding the artesian well.  She said, the well site has been much improved, since she went there 30 years ago.   It has a little enclosure that looks like a small bus depot.

Then on my way out, handed a tract to a man named Joel, and he asked about where he could find a good church, so again I recommended ours.   Then he asked for prayer because he needed a place to stay, so we bowed our heads and I prayed for him on the spot.  He asked if I was a pastor, and I said "no, I'm an evangelist", and he said, I'm an evangelist too.

God bless...

Mukilteo Waterfront Festival

It was a beautiful evening in Mukilteo last evening.   We walked from downtown, to the waterfront, and passed out many tracts and got in many conversations.

Spoke to Andy and Avery, who were two non-believing young men, who only had minimum wage jobs, so they didn't want to spend the 3 bucks to get into the festival.   Since they really didn't have much to do, they were ok with having a conversation with us.   Andy told me he was an atheist.   I told him, I didn't believe that he didn't believe in God.   I told him he had all the evidence he needed to believe in God; the trees, the beautiful sky, the flock of geese flying over and his conscience.

Spoke to lots of people as we walked back to town including Ganja dude.

Got to preach a little bit on the beach.  That was neat.

Went back to town and picked a corner and read the entire book of First John.   What a huge blessing.

Then went back to the middle of town and preached the Gospel for quite a while.   Got several Amen's, and God bless you's.   Then, toward the end, a couple of Mars Hill middle age women, came from across the street and "lovingly rebuked" (quoted because that's what Thomas said) us because we weren't doing it the right way.   After a brief discussion, and telling us how they witnessed by their lifestyle, I asked, "Yeah, but do you use words?"   That ticked her off.   She went on a little while with some further castigation, and it was time for me to get back to preaching.   I invited her to preach, she wouldn't, so I said, "I have to get back to it, and started off with John 3:16.



God bless...

U District Street Fair

Lots of people.   Lots of people with lots of false, incorrect even wicked views about God.

We were amazed at the sheer volume of people attending the Seattle U District Street Fair today.

We were encouraged to meet up with other evangelists, with banners and amplification.


We stood on our stool, and proclaimed the Gospel to many hearers.  We were mocked, but the Gospel went forth.

Here's what I wanted to say.   We'll see when the video comes out if I said anything like this.

God bless...

U District Street Fair

We’re born-again Christians.   We’ve been born anew, we’ve received an new nature.  The Holy Spirit of God has taken up residence in my life.  I come to bring a testimony of the miraculous work that God has done in my life.   We love God.   We fear Him.   We trust him.   We follow Him.   We serve the Lord of glory.   We adore our Lord, our master and Savior Jesus Christ.   So we come out and we proclaim the truth of scripture, the Bible, the Holy Bible to you, that you would hear the truth and the truth would set you free.   Jesus Christ made a claim of exclusivity; He said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man or woman would come unto the Father, except through Him.”    We come to you and bring an eternal perspective, yes, that someday you will have to face your own mortality.   One day we will all die.  Ten out of ten people die.   It is the ultimate statistic; the only one hundred percent statistic.    Some people do avoid taxes, but no one avoids death.   On that day, when you die, you will stand before your maker to give an account of your life.   It is appointed unto man once to die and after this comes the judgement.  When you die, you will immediately go to be in the presence of your Creator... The Bible says, to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.   God knows everything you’ve ever done, whether good or bad.  The Bible says in proverbs 15:3, the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good.   The Bible says in Matthew 12:36 every idle word you speak, you will be made to give an account of in the day of judgement.

Involuntary Actions

This morning we (Thomas and I) went to the Lynnwood Transit Center at 5:30 to proclaim the Gospel in the crisp morning air.   I was overjoyed to lift up my voice and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the commuters as they waited for their buses.

One woman asked, "Do we have a choice?", to my greeting, "Good morning... I'd like to share a few thoughts with you this morning while you wait for your bus."   I went on to begin my message on "involuntary actions".   She responded, "yeah, like have to listen to you...".   Funny!

See our video here:   http://youtu.be/ebBhMQADaRo

Here was my message.

Good morning.  My name is Keith and I’m a born-again Christian, and I’d like to share a few thoughts with you while you wait for your bus this morning.   Think about this; we human beings have quite a few involuntary functions going on in our bodies.   Coughing, sneezing, hiccups, blinking and swallowing, to name a few.   But also, our heart beating, our breathing, our digestion; not to mention our reflexes.   Let that sink in for a moment... We all have involuntary physical actions that take place whether or not we think about them, and they’re completely outside of our control.

And in a very real way, we don’t have complete control over our minds... what we think, either.   If I were to say, don’t think of a Pink Elephant, what is probably the first thing that pops in your head?   A Pink Elephant.

Similarly, in the realm of morality; we don’t have complete control of how we behave.   Try going just one single day, being completely truthful in every situation.   Try going even one day not thinking or saying something hateful.   Try not looking lustfully at someone who isn’t your husband or wife.    Think of what your reaction might be when someone cuts you off, on the freeway?   Would the bird come out and the air turn blue?   Right moral behavior is not even possible unless you’ve had a miraculous transformation in your life from God.  I’m not saying I’m perfect, or I don’t sin, but I am saying I’ve been born again, and because of that I have the victory over sin and I walk in that victory every day.

The sobering thing is that God sees everything we’ve ever done, said, or even thought.   Even things we thought were done in secret, are laid open before the Lord, with whom we have to give an account. So when that heart that has so cheerfully beat in your chest all these years stops, and those lungs that have so consistently breathed in and out your whole life, stop, you will step out of time and into eternity, and you will stand before God to give an account of your life.

The Law...

The Gospel...

The New Birth...

It is no accident that you are here within the sound of this message.   God is sovereign.  He is in control.   And the Bible says that repentance is the gift of God [2 Timothy 2:25].   So if your heart is pricked by what has been said, I would urge you; I plead with you, to turn to God and beg Him for the gift of repentance.

First John Chapter One

1 John 1 (New King James Version)

What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

---

Gen 1:3-4 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.   And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.   [The Hebrew day is reckoned from sundown, as the beginning of the day to the following sundown.   Light brings distinction, there is good and bad, right and wrong, black and white, there is order with God]

Exd 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:   [it provides illumination, so that you can make progress (move forward), when you wouldn’t otherwise be able to]

Psa 27:1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?   [it dispels fear... why is that? Think of a night light you put in your kid's bathroom or in their bedroom, so they won't fear the dark.]

Psa 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.   [it exposes sin]

Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.   [God's Word shows us the way to go]

Psa 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. [God’s word makes the simple wise]

Luk 11:33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.  The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.  Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.   If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. [Two things to note here: 1) be careful of deceiving yourself, by doing something bad and calling it good. 2) be careful of compromise.   I want to ask you to think about this. Do those around you know you’re a Christian?]

Jhn 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.   The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.   He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.   That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.   [So light here also represents life itself... As the hymn “Immortal Invisible” says,

To all, life Thou givest, both great and small

In all life Thou livest, true life of all

Great Father of glory, pure Father of Light

Thine angels adore Thee unveiling their sight

Jhn 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.   For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.   But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.   [be open to God’s correction, by allowing the light to shine into your life, for whom the Lord loves, He reproves.]

Jhn 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. [Get the imagery here... burning and shining... purifying and illuminating... bringing joy unspeakable]

Jhn 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.   [our COMMITMENT to Christ will be evident by the way we live. You can be committed to an ‘ISM’ if you want, or you can be committed to a set of principles, or a philosophy, that’s fine, but that will only get you so far, I’m committed to the PERSON of Jesus Christ, God the Son and I know and am persuaded that He is faithful to complete the good work He began in me.]

2Cr 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.   [it represents God’s Glory, and the knowledge of God’s Glory causes us to want to KNOW Him more and in a deeper way]

1Jo 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.   He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.   He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.   [it signifies a change in our hearts and lives toward one another... I was a hater... I was angry... Not God has filled me with love toward the brothers, toward coworkers, even to those whom I may not know]

My Tenure With "Forgiven Choices"

Last night marked the end of my tenure with the prison ministry band, Forgiven Choices.   I have already begun my new responsibilities at the prison on the 4th Sunday morning of the month, with the prisoner church at Monroe Correctional Facility.

By way of history and background, for the last seven years, I've spent one Saturday evening per month going into the Minimum Security Unity (MSU) at the Monroe Correctional Center, with a prison ministry team called Forgiven Choices. We basically 'do church' in a little chapel at the facility, for the inmates.   Although, each time they announce our service over the loud-speaker, they call out, 'Forgiven Choices concert in the chapel!'.

Our team is led by none other than Bill Weldon (lead guitar, lead vocals, rock solid leader, group 'sponsor'.)   The team has expanded and contracted over the years; in fact, as I understand it, the team was originated by Daryl Jacobson (father to the now famous pastor of Calvary Chapel Arlington.)   At present though, the team is comprised of the following cast of characters: John Dominick (harmonica, percussion and preacher extraordinaire), Fred Jennings (the happy drummer), Ron Hogan (percussion, and evangelism partner),  Tim Dunham (bass player, super encourager, and race car builder/driver), Kevin Lang (very expressive backup vocalist who worships by exclaiming 'Jesus'), Doug Wallis (our Jewish scholar), and Wayne Wirth (true minister of our Lord and Savior's grace.)

We've seen inmates (AKA offenders) come and go.   We call the men that come to our meetings 'The Church on the Hill', since the whole correctional facility sits up on a hill in Monroe.   We are always encouraged by them.   They always express appreciation for us coming in to minister to them.  We lead them in the same worship songs we all sing at church, and then have a brief Bible study, led by one of the team members and then we spend time in fellowship, encouragement, counsel and prayer with the inmates.

As a worship band, we have also performed/led worship at a few other venues such as Shrimp Fest in Brinnon, Freedom Fest in Snohomish and Sunday morning worship services at Calvary Chapel Lake Stevens and Sunday morning worship service at LifePoint Church in Lake Stevens and Everett.

It has been a wonderful experience, but the LORD has called me to a new assignment as an overseer for the prisoner-led church on the fourth Sunday morning of every month.   Bill gave me the opportunity to lead the Bible study last night, so I spoke on First John chapter One.

Here are some pictures of the band...

 

God bless...