Post by Jeffrey Olver on Jun 19, 2006 1:18:40 GMT -5
Friday, June 16th, 2006
(pix coming soon)
Jesse Morrell, LauRen Spillers (my fiance and I, after attempting to settle ourselves into a game of Scrabble decided drop everything and go to Deep Ellum - Dallas, Texas to preach the Gospel. We left around 8PM and arrived in Deep "Hell-um" around 10PM. We wasted no time. After parking we unfurled the "TRUST JESUS" banner and marched down the main drag of that above-ground sewer.
The courtyard for “The Curtain” was packed with late night revelers, so we stood with out backs to the alley wall of “The Velvet Hookah” and began to preach the Gospel. The response was immediate. I could see the reactions turn very quickly from disbelief to humorous to outrage. There was no gimmicks, no antics; just the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. One young woman shouted; “I don’t need God, I can take care of myself!” Another, shorter woman, after trying to turn the bull-horn we were using (the night Deep Hellum cacophony was blaring that night) she just stood in front of the outlet so the sound would be muffled. Jesse then just lifted it above her head and continued to preach.
The “Christianettes” came out to confront us. All of them, without exception, told me that they didn’t want to tell us we were wrong…but that we were wrong. One woman approached me and listed all of her degrees and credentials before finally confronting me by saying that if I didn’t believe the Bible could be interpreted differently by different people (even after reading her, in context, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) than I didn’t believe what I was preaching. (?!?)
A young man with a beard rejected the Gospel at the outset; declaring his independence from Christ and his disbelief in Hell. I was able to engage in discussion a young woman who was very involved with charity organizations, even Ameri-corps (a domestic version of the Peace Corps). She was curious as to why we were doing this and stated she could tell we obviously meant what we were doing, not just being fake about it. I was able to take her through the Law and Grace – conviction draped her face when she heard that all of our own righteousnesses are like filthy rags compared to God. Sure, charity work and community service is noble and admirable in the eyes of the world, but without Christ, it’s all for naught.
We were able to minister for about 20 minutes or so before police came and interrupted me as I was speaking with the young woman and Jesse continued preaching. Apparently Dallas, Texas has a new, erroneous and unconstitutional ordinance that forbids “religious solicitation by coercion.” And by the definition provided by the officer, we were not doing. After much bargaining (and threatening by the officer) we were able to move to another street corner and continue to preach.
It wasn’t long before Jesse drew another crowd and the Devil called the cops on us again. The store owner (whose building easement we were not invading) complained that we were offended one of his customers. The police then asked us to move at the threat of multiple, ridiculous citations
As we walked a young lady demanded of Jesse a prophecy. Jesse confessed he wasn’t a prophet, to which the girl said that the Holy Spirit has given gifts to everyone (she was evidently assuming that meant ALL spiritual gifts) – the Holy Spirit gave Jesse discernment and was able to inquire correctly that she was the daughter of a minister. This certainly gave Jesse an even wider doorway to share the Gospel.
We found a spot in front of club “Nairobi.” I began to preach against the immodest dress of the women and the wandering eye of the men. I questioned the women if they would wear such clothing at church on Sunday, in front of their pastor – and if not, why would you do it before a Holy and Pure God? I asked one man who I caught blatantly devouring women with his eyes if he was going to church on Sunday. He replied he was. I asked him if he checks out women like he just was in church. He thought for a moment, and not quite so boastfully said yes. I spoke of Jesus’ admonition to pluck out your eye if it causes you to sin. Defending the cause for purity and decency. I watched a young woman complain to the police, and then tell me that I was “false proph-a-sizin’.” After a moment the officer approached us and “tried to be nice,” as he put it, and tell us to move. We shared with him our previous experience of having to move twice. He then grew angry and insulting. When Jesse told him that if he commanded us to leave, we would. The officer said “LEAVE.” Jesse asked, “Is that a command or a suggestion.” To which the officer replied with stone cold silence and a laser hot stare. We decided to move in the hopes that what the Devil planned for evil, God would turn and use for His good and glory.
We stood and preached then at the entrance of that pig-sty of sin, encouraging people to go home, drive safe, repent and believe the Gospel. A few times some half-drunk (or totally drunk) folks cussed us out or tried to raise objections, but most of them were too drunk to say anything that was not obscene or profane.
All the while this was going on, LauRen had great one*on*one conversations with a young man, whom, after conversing for a while, admitted to his own selfishness and it’s key role in the major decision to follow Christ or not earlier in his life. We were leaving that block, so she left him with the challenge to read the Word of God and reflect on that moment of time when he rejected Christ with the knowledge he had now. A short while after she was able to minister to Sunny and Cindy, two homeless and drug addicted women for a long while. She heard them tell of their lives, trials and temptations and was able to bring them the light of Christ.
All in all it was a decent night of ministry. May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!
Sunday, June 18, 2006
At 4:30PM, Jesse, LauRen and I hit the shores of Lake Holbrook in the drowsy, bible belt town of Mineola, Texas. There were at least 100 people present at the beach, splashing around, lounging in the sun and having a good time. The majority of the women were in bikinis, even girls who appeared to be merely 13 or 14.
Jesse wasted no time preaching. He stood on the guard rail at the very back of the beach and began to preach his 5 point sermon against bikinis at a reasonable volume. This drew some very coarse language to the sunbathers near by and an irritated atheist demanded we move away from his truck, which we were preaching 3 feet from on the opposite side of the guardrail. After moving twice, Jesse attracted a good deal of attention.
Many parents approached Jesse and myself and told us that they did not want their kids to hear about fornication or drunkenness when they brought them to the beach (where women wore bikinis and beer was being guzzled).
A man who claimed to preach every Sunday confronted Jesse and tried to pick apart his words as he talked about God the Father and Jesus God the Son. Several more men just tried to get him to shut up.
As I looked out at the crowd and I saw old and young alike gathered to hear the preaching, the only time I saw stunned looks on the faces of those younger listeners was when the adults would curse and shout at Jesse when he talked about salvation from sin and Hell through Jesus Christ and quoted scripture.
A bikini clad girl strode up and said to Jesse “I like the word of God, but I don’t like what you’re doing to it!” She then snatched Jesse’s bible from his hands and tossed it into the lake. A concerned parent retrieved it for him, thankfully.
After about 30 or 40 minutes, the Deputy Sheriff showed up. At her arrival, a man who had been heckling and standing by bodily grabbed Jesse as he was preaching and dragged him into the parking lot. The Deputy promptly locked Jesse’s hands in cuffs and asked for ID from myself, him and LauRen. Within moments 6 police cars and officers were on the scene. The crowd was somewhat stunned. The young people in the crowd were certainly shocked, as they whispered to their parents and stared.
After a long (recorded) conversation we discovered that apparently, in the state of Texas, it is illegal to offend someone!!! You can say anything you want, anywhere you want until it offends someone and then you could go to jail. Jesse and I plan on visiting the police station later this week to clarify this unconstitutional mess. By the time we got all this figured out it was the time we had decided to leave anyway. Jesse was un-cuffed and we climbed into our car and drove away. We plan on visiting this beach MANY times throughout the summer.
Who would have thought, even here in this “Bible Belt” we would receive such opposition from these “fine folk.”
(Look for Jesse Morrell's update - same situations, different perspective.)
Closing Thoughts
As I reflect on sermons that I have heard from Leonard Ravenhill (who lived in East Texas before his death in 1994) I can appreciate his pleading with folks to go into the towns of Tyler, Van and Lindale. Here in this “bible belt” exists such godlessness, such hatred towards God and apathy on the part of those who profess to love Him.
All though these surrounding counties are dry (no booze sold or bought), people still waste their life away getting wasted.
This so called Bible belt is really a belt of bondage around the throat of America and it is ever tightening and tightening. The only thing that can break it is REVIVAL. And I am not talking about your Pity The Listener kind of revival that’s celebrated when a certain ministry reaches a goal in its fundraising – I’m talking about revival that shakes the earth, torches the false gods and wins people to the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus Christ, not for a week, not for a year - but for LIFE!
The “Great Nation of Texas” is pitiful and wretched in the eyes of God.
Texas will only be “great” when revival blows across these dusty plains
(pix coming soon)
Jesse Morrell, LauRen Spillers (my fiance and I, after attempting to settle ourselves into a game of Scrabble decided drop everything and go to Deep Ellum - Dallas, Texas to preach the Gospel. We left around 8PM and arrived in Deep "Hell-um" around 10PM. We wasted no time. After parking we unfurled the "TRUST JESUS" banner and marched down the main drag of that above-ground sewer.
The courtyard for “The Curtain” was packed with late night revelers, so we stood with out backs to the alley wall of “The Velvet Hookah” and began to preach the Gospel. The response was immediate. I could see the reactions turn very quickly from disbelief to humorous to outrage. There was no gimmicks, no antics; just the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. One young woman shouted; “I don’t need God, I can take care of myself!” Another, shorter woman, after trying to turn the bull-horn we were using (the night Deep Hellum cacophony was blaring that night) she just stood in front of the outlet so the sound would be muffled. Jesse then just lifted it above her head and continued to preach.
The “Christianettes” came out to confront us. All of them, without exception, told me that they didn’t want to tell us we were wrong…but that we were wrong. One woman approached me and listed all of her degrees and credentials before finally confronting me by saying that if I didn’t believe the Bible could be interpreted differently by different people (even after reading her, in context, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) than I didn’t believe what I was preaching. (?!?)
A young man with a beard rejected the Gospel at the outset; declaring his independence from Christ and his disbelief in Hell. I was able to engage in discussion a young woman who was very involved with charity organizations, even Ameri-corps (a domestic version of the Peace Corps). She was curious as to why we were doing this and stated she could tell we obviously meant what we were doing, not just being fake about it. I was able to take her through the Law and Grace – conviction draped her face when she heard that all of our own righteousnesses are like filthy rags compared to God. Sure, charity work and community service is noble and admirable in the eyes of the world, but without Christ, it’s all for naught.
We were able to minister for about 20 minutes or so before police came and interrupted me as I was speaking with the young woman and Jesse continued preaching. Apparently Dallas, Texas has a new, erroneous and unconstitutional ordinance that forbids “religious solicitation by coercion.” And by the definition provided by the officer, we were not doing. After much bargaining (and threatening by the officer) we were able to move to another street corner and continue to preach.
It wasn’t long before Jesse drew another crowd and the Devil called the cops on us again. The store owner (whose building easement we were not invading) complained that we were offended one of his customers. The police then asked us to move at the threat of multiple, ridiculous citations
As we walked a young lady demanded of Jesse a prophecy. Jesse confessed he wasn’t a prophet, to which the girl said that the Holy Spirit has given gifts to everyone (she was evidently assuming that meant ALL spiritual gifts) – the Holy Spirit gave Jesse discernment and was able to inquire correctly that she was the daughter of a minister. This certainly gave Jesse an even wider doorway to share the Gospel.
We found a spot in front of club “Nairobi.” I began to preach against the immodest dress of the women and the wandering eye of the men. I questioned the women if they would wear such clothing at church on Sunday, in front of their pastor – and if not, why would you do it before a Holy and Pure God? I asked one man who I caught blatantly devouring women with his eyes if he was going to church on Sunday. He replied he was. I asked him if he checks out women like he just was in church. He thought for a moment, and not quite so boastfully said yes. I spoke of Jesus’ admonition to pluck out your eye if it causes you to sin. Defending the cause for purity and decency. I watched a young woman complain to the police, and then tell me that I was “false proph-a-sizin’.” After a moment the officer approached us and “tried to be nice,” as he put it, and tell us to move. We shared with him our previous experience of having to move twice. He then grew angry and insulting. When Jesse told him that if he commanded us to leave, we would. The officer said “LEAVE.” Jesse asked, “Is that a command or a suggestion.” To which the officer replied with stone cold silence and a laser hot stare. We decided to move in the hopes that what the Devil planned for evil, God would turn and use for His good and glory.
We stood and preached then at the entrance of that pig-sty of sin, encouraging people to go home, drive safe, repent and believe the Gospel. A few times some half-drunk (or totally drunk) folks cussed us out or tried to raise objections, but most of them were too drunk to say anything that was not obscene or profane.
All the while this was going on, LauRen had great one*on*one conversations with a young man, whom, after conversing for a while, admitted to his own selfishness and it’s key role in the major decision to follow Christ or not earlier in his life. We were leaving that block, so she left him with the challenge to read the Word of God and reflect on that moment of time when he rejected Christ with the knowledge he had now. A short while after she was able to minister to Sunny and Cindy, two homeless and drug addicted women for a long while. She heard them tell of their lives, trials and temptations and was able to bring them the light of Christ.
All in all it was a decent night of ministry. May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!
Sunday, June 18, 2006
At 4:30PM, Jesse, LauRen and I hit the shores of Lake Holbrook in the drowsy, bible belt town of Mineola, Texas. There were at least 100 people present at the beach, splashing around, lounging in the sun and having a good time. The majority of the women were in bikinis, even girls who appeared to be merely 13 or 14.
Jesse wasted no time preaching. He stood on the guard rail at the very back of the beach and began to preach his 5 point sermon against bikinis at a reasonable volume. This drew some very coarse language to the sunbathers near by and an irritated atheist demanded we move away from his truck, which we were preaching 3 feet from on the opposite side of the guardrail. After moving twice, Jesse attracted a good deal of attention.
Many parents approached Jesse and myself and told us that they did not want their kids to hear about fornication or drunkenness when they brought them to the beach (where women wore bikinis and beer was being guzzled).
A man who claimed to preach every Sunday confronted Jesse and tried to pick apart his words as he talked about God the Father and Jesus God the Son. Several more men just tried to get him to shut up.
As I looked out at the crowd and I saw old and young alike gathered to hear the preaching, the only time I saw stunned looks on the faces of those younger listeners was when the adults would curse and shout at Jesse when he talked about salvation from sin and Hell through Jesus Christ and quoted scripture.
A bikini clad girl strode up and said to Jesse “I like the word of God, but I don’t like what you’re doing to it!” She then snatched Jesse’s bible from his hands and tossed it into the lake. A concerned parent retrieved it for him, thankfully.
After about 30 or 40 minutes, the Deputy Sheriff showed up. At her arrival, a man who had been heckling and standing by bodily grabbed Jesse as he was preaching and dragged him into the parking lot. The Deputy promptly locked Jesse’s hands in cuffs and asked for ID from myself, him and LauRen. Within moments 6 police cars and officers were on the scene. The crowd was somewhat stunned. The young people in the crowd were certainly shocked, as they whispered to their parents and stared.
After a long (recorded) conversation we discovered that apparently, in the state of Texas, it is illegal to offend someone!!! You can say anything you want, anywhere you want until it offends someone and then you could go to jail. Jesse and I plan on visiting the police station later this week to clarify this unconstitutional mess. By the time we got all this figured out it was the time we had decided to leave anyway. Jesse was un-cuffed and we climbed into our car and drove away. We plan on visiting this beach MANY times throughout the summer.
Who would have thought, even here in this “Bible Belt” we would receive such opposition from these “fine folk.”
(Look for Jesse Morrell's update - same situations, different perspective.)
Closing Thoughts
As I reflect on sermons that I have heard from Leonard Ravenhill (who lived in East Texas before his death in 1994) I can appreciate his pleading with folks to go into the towns of Tyler, Van and Lindale. Here in this “bible belt” exists such godlessness, such hatred towards God and apathy on the part of those who profess to love Him.
All though these surrounding counties are dry (no booze sold or bought), people still waste their life away getting wasted.
This so called Bible belt is really a belt of bondage around the throat of America and it is ever tightening and tightening. The only thing that can break it is REVIVAL. And I am not talking about your Pity The Listener kind of revival that’s celebrated when a certain ministry reaches a goal in its fundraising – I’m talking about revival that shakes the earth, torches the false gods and wins people to the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus Christ, not for a week, not for a year - but for LIFE!
The “Great Nation of Texas” is pitiful and wretched in the eyes of God.
Texas will only be “great” when revival blows across these dusty plains