Post by messengermicah on Feb 24, 2009 18:20:04 GMT -5
Sunday February 8, 2009: In the morning I preached for over one hour from Judges 2:6-13 on “A Gospel of Power”.
In the evening we visited another church where a friend of ours who used to pastor in South Carolina is now pastoring. I preached for over one hour on “Advancing the Kingdom of God” from Matthew 6:10.
Monday February 9, 2009-Florida State University-Tallahassee, Florida: It was great weather for preaching this day with temperatures in the mid 70’s. Sister Elizabeth and I made the two hour drive to Tallahassee, Florida from Valdosta.
The Hare Krishna’s were sitting in the area that had been supposedly designated the free speech area and were singing, playing music, handing out literature, and soliciting donations for their demonic books. I let them know I was going to start preaching in the area but I was not trying to interfere with them. I did not want them to think I was trying to interfere with them and then they try to interfere with the preaching by singing and playing loud music. Surprisingly they never bothered me at all afternoon.
I began preaching in the area where I was moved to when I preached there two weeks ago that was supposedly the new designated free speech area. I wore my sandwich board sign. Soon I had a small crowd of 30-40.
The needy homosexual, named Daniel showed up again and was throwing shiny confetti all over the crowd as I preached. He seems to really like us and always shows up but is annoying and somewhat of a distraction from the preaching (this is his objective).
The crowd gradually grew to around 150-175. At times throughout the afternoon there were some good interaction and question and answer times. Other times I had to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine as hard and fast as God enabled me.
I continued preaching until around 3:45 PM. Sister Elizabeth and I continued answering questions to small groups of students until around 4:45 PM.
HECKLER TRANSFORMED INTO SINCERE SEEKER
One young man, who had heckled me when I began preaching early in the day by dancing like a fool around me, began asking good questions as the day went on and showed to be a good listener also. After I finished preaching, I answered more of his questions and he seemed to be genuinely appreciative and sincere.
Tuesday February 10, 2009-Valdosta State University-Valdosta, Georgia: Sister Elizabeth and I dropped off our trailer this morning to begin repairs. We then headed over towards Valdosta State University. My permit today was from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM as they had some activity going on until 1:00 PM.
I began preaching at 12:55 PM and a few students came over to ask me questions about the Bible. I had some good discussion with some of these students and they thanked me before going to class.
A FOOTBALL PLAYER TAKES A SWING AT ME
A few other students from the week before stopped to ask me some questions about the Bible. Several others stopped to listen. With only about 10 students standing around listening a very stocky, solid looking African American male student walked up and told everyone they did not need to listen to me and told them he assaulted me at his old school.
I had never recalled seeing this student before and was sure if a student as large and strong as he was ever assaulted me I would surely remember it. He told me and the students standing around his former school was the University of South Florida.
I had been assaulted at the University of South Florida two years ago by a large tall 225 lb. white rugby player. This student was much heavier than 225 and was not white.
I asked him why he had to resort to violence. I asked him several times if he had to resort to violence because he could not justify his rebellion against a Holy God that sent His Son to die for Him. He had turned to leave but then abruptly turned around and came walking at me with a very serious look on his face. I knew I was in trouble now.
He walked up to me and stuck his finger in my face and threatened me several times telling me not to say anything else to him or else he would assault me. I have been threatened so many times, I can tell when someone is bluffing and when someone intends to carry out their threats. I knew this young man was not bluffing.
I did not want to provoke him to violence but I also did not want to back down from my original remark and make him think I did not mean it, because I did. I believe this cut him to the heart and that was why he acted the way he did (Acts 7:51-54).
With him right there and his finger in my face I told him the same thing I had been telling him only directly and more gently. He took a swing at me but somehow only grazed my nose. I believe the Lord protected me. The other students held him back and tried to talk him out of coming after me. He left the scene and I continued preaching.
POLICE CALLED ON THE SCENE
A few minutes later I saw a police officer going across the green in the direction the student had gone. I continued preaching and the discussion with the students I was having before the large African American male student disrupted.
NO CHARGES PRESSED
A few minutes later a police officer came up and asked me what happened. I told him the student only grazed me but did not hit me. He asked me if I wanted to press charges and I replied no. He then asked if there were any witnesses. I pointed to two male students who witnessed what happened. To my surprise, they admitted to having witnessed what happened and were willing to tell the officer what happened.
The officer told me I would have to fill out an incident report even though I did not want to press charges. I replied I would do anything to help.
The news seemed to travel fast and soon the meeting picked up some. For most of the afternoon I preached to crowds from 30-85. The preaching was similar to the previous week in much of it being “slug out” preaching with accusations, threats, trick questions, excuses being hurled at me from every direction most of the afternoon. At times there were more calm question and answer sessions.
Towards the end of the day some of the more sincere seekers of truth began to surface and ask good, sincere, intelligent questions and listened well. I focused on these students and much of the hecklers, mockers, hypocrites, etc. left.
GIVING MY TESTIMONY
By 3:40 PM, I was down to 10-15 and giving my testimony. An African American male student who was a Jehovah Witness stayed around, listened and asked many good questions and thanked me sincerely.
By 3:50 PM, I was left with a handful of students and so I sat down and just answered their questions. At 4:00 PM my permit had expired and the officers came to me wanting me to write the incident report. They were very professional, helpful and did an excellent job. They also escorted us to our vehicle as some of the students walked with us and continued asking questions.
That evening, I had the privilege of preaching in a church recently started by a young couple we met. The pastor has experience in and an interest in open air preaching and a desire to reach out. I preached for over one hour on “Advancing the Kingdom of God” from Matthew 6:10.
We drove two more hours after church to where we would be spending the evening. We arrived at our destination around 1:00 AM.
In the evening we visited another church where a friend of ours who used to pastor in South Carolina is now pastoring. I preached for over one hour on “Advancing the Kingdom of God” from Matthew 6:10.
Monday February 9, 2009-Florida State University-Tallahassee, Florida: It was great weather for preaching this day with temperatures in the mid 70’s. Sister Elizabeth and I made the two hour drive to Tallahassee, Florida from Valdosta.
The Hare Krishna’s were sitting in the area that had been supposedly designated the free speech area and were singing, playing music, handing out literature, and soliciting donations for their demonic books. I let them know I was going to start preaching in the area but I was not trying to interfere with them. I did not want them to think I was trying to interfere with them and then they try to interfere with the preaching by singing and playing loud music. Surprisingly they never bothered me at all afternoon.
I began preaching in the area where I was moved to when I preached there two weeks ago that was supposedly the new designated free speech area. I wore my sandwich board sign. Soon I had a small crowd of 30-40.
The needy homosexual, named Daniel showed up again and was throwing shiny confetti all over the crowd as I preached. He seems to really like us and always shows up but is annoying and somewhat of a distraction from the preaching (this is his objective).
The crowd gradually grew to around 150-175. At times throughout the afternoon there were some good interaction and question and answer times. Other times I had to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine as hard and fast as God enabled me.
I continued preaching until around 3:45 PM. Sister Elizabeth and I continued answering questions to small groups of students until around 4:45 PM.
HECKLER TRANSFORMED INTO SINCERE SEEKER
One young man, who had heckled me when I began preaching early in the day by dancing like a fool around me, began asking good questions as the day went on and showed to be a good listener also. After I finished preaching, I answered more of his questions and he seemed to be genuinely appreciative and sincere.
Tuesday February 10, 2009-Valdosta State University-Valdosta, Georgia: Sister Elizabeth and I dropped off our trailer this morning to begin repairs. We then headed over towards Valdosta State University. My permit today was from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM as they had some activity going on until 1:00 PM.
I began preaching at 12:55 PM and a few students came over to ask me questions about the Bible. I had some good discussion with some of these students and they thanked me before going to class.
A FOOTBALL PLAYER TAKES A SWING AT ME
A few other students from the week before stopped to ask me some questions about the Bible. Several others stopped to listen. With only about 10 students standing around listening a very stocky, solid looking African American male student walked up and told everyone they did not need to listen to me and told them he assaulted me at his old school.
I had never recalled seeing this student before and was sure if a student as large and strong as he was ever assaulted me I would surely remember it. He told me and the students standing around his former school was the University of South Florida.
I had been assaulted at the University of South Florida two years ago by a large tall 225 lb. white rugby player. This student was much heavier than 225 and was not white.
I asked him why he had to resort to violence. I asked him several times if he had to resort to violence because he could not justify his rebellion against a Holy God that sent His Son to die for Him. He had turned to leave but then abruptly turned around and came walking at me with a very serious look on his face. I knew I was in trouble now.
He walked up to me and stuck his finger in my face and threatened me several times telling me not to say anything else to him or else he would assault me. I have been threatened so many times, I can tell when someone is bluffing and when someone intends to carry out their threats. I knew this young man was not bluffing.
I did not want to provoke him to violence but I also did not want to back down from my original remark and make him think I did not mean it, because I did. I believe this cut him to the heart and that was why he acted the way he did (Acts 7:51-54).
With him right there and his finger in my face I told him the same thing I had been telling him only directly and more gently. He took a swing at me but somehow only grazed my nose. I believe the Lord protected me. The other students held him back and tried to talk him out of coming after me. He left the scene and I continued preaching.
POLICE CALLED ON THE SCENE
A few minutes later I saw a police officer going across the green in the direction the student had gone. I continued preaching and the discussion with the students I was having before the large African American male student disrupted.
NO CHARGES PRESSED
A few minutes later a police officer came up and asked me what happened. I told him the student only grazed me but did not hit me. He asked me if I wanted to press charges and I replied no. He then asked if there were any witnesses. I pointed to two male students who witnessed what happened. To my surprise, they admitted to having witnessed what happened and were willing to tell the officer what happened.
The officer told me I would have to fill out an incident report even though I did not want to press charges. I replied I would do anything to help.
The news seemed to travel fast and soon the meeting picked up some. For most of the afternoon I preached to crowds from 30-85. The preaching was similar to the previous week in much of it being “slug out” preaching with accusations, threats, trick questions, excuses being hurled at me from every direction most of the afternoon. At times there were more calm question and answer sessions.
Towards the end of the day some of the more sincere seekers of truth began to surface and ask good, sincere, intelligent questions and listened well. I focused on these students and much of the hecklers, mockers, hypocrites, etc. left.
GIVING MY TESTIMONY
By 3:40 PM, I was down to 10-15 and giving my testimony. An African American male student who was a Jehovah Witness stayed around, listened and asked many good questions and thanked me sincerely.
By 3:50 PM, I was left with a handful of students and so I sat down and just answered their questions. At 4:00 PM my permit had expired and the officers came to me wanting me to write the incident report. They were very professional, helpful and did an excellent job. They also escorted us to our vehicle as some of the students walked with us and continued asking questions.
That evening, I had the privilege of preaching in a church recently started by a young couple we met. The pastor has experience in and an interest in open air preaching and a desire to reach out. I preached for over one hour on “Advancing the Kingdom of God” from Matthew 6:10.
We drove two more hours after church to where we would be spending the evening. We arrived at our destination around 1:00 AM.