The old lady stood in her doorway hunched over her walking stick as she spoke with me. In her eighties, she told me that she used to go to church but had now ceased the practice due to ill health. She had a number of illnesses, but asthma was the one most evident. As I spoke with her it became clear to me that I was standing face to face with a religious lady in spiritual and mental slavery – the exact Continue reading “Untested teachings and opinions”
It runs in the family
It was not uncommon for me to encounter one family who were plagued by violence, depression, alcohol or drug abuse. Usually the problem arose because of the habits of one member. Rich or poor, young or old, male or female, educated or uneducated, it made no difference – the effects upon that family were extremely disturbing for them at the least and devastating for them at the most. When Continue reading “It runs in the family”
Anything that didn’t cost
In the gospel of John in the New Testament we read of several people who were followers of Christ for a time and then they walked away from Him. Basically they walked away because they knew a deeper commitment would be expected from each one of them if they stayed. They enjoyed being part of the in-crowd taking full advantage of His provisions of Continue reading “Anything that didn’t cost”
The pathway
When I first became a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, after experiencing His physical healing powers, it was nearly two years before I set foot inside a church. But from the moment I did so, I made up my mind I was going sit under the preaching and teaching of God’s word and apply it to my life. In those two years I had done Continue reading “The pathway”
It was what he wanted
Of the many hundreds of people that I met doing this work out on the streets, there were only a few that I had the on-going pleasure to visit on a regular basis. Regardless of whether they accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ or not, I was made welcome in their homes for tea or coffee and a chat. These people had a clear understanding Continue reading “It was what he wanted”
There’s something shallow about them
Eighteen year-old Year Twelve student Charlie was very curious to know what it was that I believed as a Christian. He told me he had lots of mates around his own age who were born again Christians and they regularly took him to a large church that held charismatic meetings. He said he saw something in them that suggested Christ was real and present today, but, Continue reading “There’s something shallow about them”
So did their actions
A constant, but remarkable observation for me always, was the apathy and indifference demonstrated by the middle-class in the community, towards the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here I was, a messenger, equipped with the greatest news possible for each and every one of them, operating under the authority and empowerment of the greatest News Director in all the universe, and they Continue reading “So did their actions”
The progressive order
Mrs Sullivan was in her early thirties and she told me she was on her second marriage, “which is heading the same way as the first.” She said she had a bad temper and suffered lots of guilt and fears. She was also grossly overweight – obese. She knew about the message I was proclaiming. When she was a young girl of fourteen she said she asked the Lord Jesus into her life, but not Continue reading “The progressive order”
What is the explanation?
I experienced a wide variety of negative responses when proclaiming the Christian gospel message with people at their doorstep or in their homes. I was often amazed however, at just how rude and bad mannered many of the elderly, retired, “well-to do” people could become. In every other way perhaps, they would probably show up in society as good, moral, loving, law-abiding citizens, enjoying Continue reading “What is the explanation?”
Ah yes, but the Bible………
A middle-aged church-going man asked me, “Why is your church marketing itself like a business?” I replied by informing him that rather than “marketing” ourselves, we were in fact, fulfilling the biblical command of Christ, who told us “go” not “come.” In other words, our commitment was to go and tell people about Jesus Christ and what He has done for each one of us, not compel them to come to church to be told that. At the Continue reading “Ah yes, but the Bible………”