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Post by Josh Parsley on Sept 30, 2006 13:15:58 GMT -5
This photo was from a couple of years ago. They estimate that about 300,000 people now attend this event. Friday- As you can image 300,000 mad motorcycle enthusiasts that love to get drunk on D1ckson Street (where it is held) and are headed for d**nation are filled with anger and audacity towards the Gospel. There are a couple of Christian organizations out there doing some work. I seen a Gospel tract someone threw on the ground, so there were some other workers out also. I was absolutely sickened by the Methodist church that is on this street. They had a large sign that said "God loves Bikes Blues and BBQ, too!" A woman was standing outside the church that was holding a large sign that said "Bike Blessing 3:00pm- 5:00pm" with an arrow pointing to the parking lot. What an abomination! They had another sign that said "Park your bike in my lane tonight. - God" AHH! I have heard this church also endorses homosexuality. It took us forever to make our way down the street because there were so many people. About half way down the street a man was passed out on the sidewalk and pushed over against the wall so he wouldn't get trampled. A few men were standing by him to make sure he didn't get stepped on. He was out cold. When we made it to a location that had a little less people we stood with our signs for awhile. It is way too loud to preach where the majority of the people are because the road is closed off to everything except motorcycles. And as you can guess everyone loves to revvvv up their engine to show off. As we were standing there a fight broke out and one brother that was with out almost got knocked down by it. Instead of fighting on the sidewalk, they were out in the middle of the street. I am glad they didn't get ran over by a bike or something. The fight didn't last too long, but it was pretty fierce. I thought to myself, "Oh! What a welcoming committee!" We went down a side street where a bunch of booths are. It was quieter there so we open air preached. I went and bought a megaphone (like cheerleaders have- but not as big). I didn't bring my bullhorn out because I was told by the police that if I did I would be arrested. I won't push it unless the Lord just specifically presses me to do so. The megaphone works fine for now. We had several people stop and listen. A brother named Dave came out with us. He use to be a biker and he knew so many people out there. One man walked by us and mocked us. Dave yelled out his name and told him to "get over here!" Dave is a big man with a big beard. You can tell he came out of the biker seen. He knew the mockers father and gave the mocker a good rebuke. The mocker was in utter shame and shock, because he wasn't expecting to know any of us. Then Dave said, "and tell your father I said "Hi"" It was great. I seen several people that I knew from high school and use to party with. They didn't come up and talk to me, but stood from a distance and listened to me preach. I was really glad to know they had the word of God preached to them. I pray it would shake them especially since they knew me before. I could write so much more, but that is an overview of the night. Sorry for all who like long and descriptive accounts of the whole night! Maybe one day I'll progress into a writer. They have a live webcam. If you happen to read this before Sunday you can check it out and see a portion of what is going on. It won't get extremely busy until after 9 tonight. www.bikesbluesandbbq.org/
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Post by biblethumper on Sept 30, 2006 14:07:48 GMT -5
I'll tell you, Brother Josh... I had a friend on msn send me a link of your YouTube OA meetings...
He was quite impressed with the manner in which you preached and how you preached the Full Gospel with the compassion of God on your heart; he contraste dthis with other preachers he spoke of.
Keep up the good work of the kingdom!
Your preaching won over a great friend of mine concerning Open Air Ministry!
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Post by Josh Parsley on Sept 30, 2006 14:14:22 GMT -5
Was it the ones that I put on there or another clip? I've had all kinds of people take pictures and video tape me. I'm just curious if there is any out on the web somewhere.
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Post by Jesse Morrell on Sept 30, 2006 23:35:04 GMT -5
Which video? I'd like to watch it. I watched one of Josh before and really enjoyed it.
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Post by mahatma on Oct 1, 2006 13:36:54 GMT -5
Preaching at a biker rally ? Well, despite disagreeing with lots (maybe even most) of your opinions, I have to say that takes...well the words I would use might be offensive to you, and I mean this post as a compliment. So anyway, my hat is off to your courage. I have been friends with enough bikers in my day to not want to argue with them at a rally, myself
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Post by Josh Parsley on Oct 1, 2006 15:21:11 GMT -5
I only have two videos that I know of on the Internet. There is links to both of them on that sticky thread on the Videos section. Maybe one day I will get someone to video tape some more of us when we go out.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Oct 1, 2006 15:23:07 GMT -5
I said something that some bikers thought was funny.
I had a couple bikers moon me, and my response was, "Either it's a full moon out tonight, or you guys are just crack heads."
They started laughing and stuck around to listen for a moment.
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Post by mahatma on Oct 1, 2006 18:24:28 GMT -5
People usually expect religious types to be humorless automatons. Approaching people with a good attutude and showing you are a human being with a sense of humor can work wonders
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Post by Josh Parsley on Oct 1, 2006 20:47:09 GMT -5
Saturday-
We really had a good street meeting this night. I was very encouraged by many that would stand and listen to the gospel for some time. One couple that sticks out in my mind listened to me preach for probably about 30 minutes. There were also several bikers that parked their bike close to where we were preaching and listened to us as they sat on their bikes. We had several of us out this night. 5 in total. I am very encouraged that some that have been coming out lately from Morrow, AR. I praise God for it! It was only Clint and myself for a long time. It seems like we have been having people heavily convicted at times.
I write a report a few weeks ago, but a man came up to us (a few weeks ago) and was nearly in tears. He said that he has been watching us for some time and apparently has even mocked us. He was very broken and kept telling me how lost he was. Eventually some other man came up and completely disrupted our conversation. The man that disrupted us was a devil. The cops even showed up because of this guy. No one was really even talking to him. He just kept ranting and raving about sodomy. I gave my number to the man that was broken. He hasn't called me yet, but please pray that he would.
OK, back to this weekend. I have found that a little humor can really catch some peoples attention. Friday night I had a couple of bikers moon me. My response was, "Either it's a full moon out tonight or you guys are crack heads." The laughed and stayed around to listen for awhile. I've found out that the plainer you are with people on the street the more apt they are to listen to you.
There were sooo many people out. I have no idea how many were able to either read a sign or hear the gospel being preached. I thank God that He came to save sinners. I would say find the rankest sinner there is and tell him that if he will turn from his sin God will gloriously save him!
It's so grieving today to see humanism mixed with a little modernism being preached from so many pulpits. People are being inoculated to the truth! Modernism is malnutrition to the spirit! People say times have changed. That's right. People pray less. Fast less. Know less about holiness and more about happiness. More about their entertainment than eternity. Enjoy TV more than Luke 3:16. American Christianity as a whole is so backwards to the Bible its blasphemous. We know more about pleasure than piety. More about reaping money than sowing tears. More about wallowing in sin than repenting again. Oh yes, I can hear them shout now "More wealth!" when they should be weeping! God help us!
Sorry for all the rambling. Just putting it out there as it comes off my fingers.
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