She Almost Lost Her Eye

I received a call yesterday afternoon from my friend and fellow evangelist, Dru Morgan. I could tell that Dru was on the road and I immediately sensed concern in his voice when he said, “Hey, Tony.”

Dru got right to the point. His wife had been out shopping with their children. Somehow, his four-year-old daughter, Scarlett, fell into a store display. A spike that was part of the display stabbed her in the soft skin just below her left eye. Scarlett began to scream and bleed profusely. Dru’s wife rushed Scarlett to the doctor’s office that, in turn, told her to take Scarlett to the emergency room. The fear was that Scarlett would lose her eye.

The emergency room doctor sedated Scarlett so he could suture the wound and take a closer look at her eye. Thankfully, the injury was not as bad as it first appeared. There was no permanent damage done to Scarlett’s eye. Had the piercing spike entered her flesh one centimeter closer to her eyeball, the outcome could have been tragic. Scarlett almost lost her eye.

After the initial phone call from Dru, I made several phone calls and sent several e-mails to encourage people to pray for Scarlett. There was a common denominator among the people I talked to on the phone. When I described the incident and the Scarlett’s injury, the person with whom I was speaking gasped in horror. The thought of a little girl being stabbed in the eye was too much to bear. Whether man or woman, the person on the other end of the phone could not contain himself or herself. They reacted immediately and emotionally.

While I am sure the person’s first thought was for little Scarlett, I can’t help but think the person’s next thought was for himself or herself. Their minds likely drifted from empathy for Scarlett to thoughts of their own eyes. What if that had happen to me? What if I was injured so severely that I lost one of my eyes? What if I were completely blind?

The thought of losing one’s sight is frightening to most people. Why? It is because the gift of sight is precious to most people. And because the gift of sight is precious to most people, the organ—the human eye—that enables the physical ability to see is likewise precious to most people. The thought of having a spike driven through their eye is frightening to a normal person.

Yes, the human eye is precious. It is intricately and beautifully designed. The retina alone contains millions of light sensitive cells. The pupil serves as the lens of the human body’s camera. The iris, the beautifully colored part of the eye, serves as the shutter for the camera. Thousands of times a day, the eye moves, adjusts, and develops life’s pictures without a person giving a second thought to what their eyes are physically doing. Yes, the human eye is precious and, if people are honest, their eyesight is probably the most important of their five senses.

It is said that the eye is the window to the human soul. Shouldn’t then what looks out of the eye (the soul) be more important than the eye itself? Ask yourself the following question. If the thought of losing my eyesight is frightening, even unthinkable, shouldn’t the thought of losing my soul be even more frightening—even more unthinkable? If it’s not, it should be.

Jesus said, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

If the thought of losing your eye to injury is abhorrent to you, would you ever consider selling one of your eyes for a million dollars? How about both of your eyes for five million dollars? If you are like most reasonable people, you would not sell your eyes for any amount of money.

If your soul is more precious to you than your eyes, then why are you so willing to give it up so you can continue to indulge in sin? Maybe you think you are not doing that and the eternal destination of your soul is of little concern to you. Maybe you think you are a good person

To find out, honestly answer the following questions.

Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you, no matter how insignificant it may be? Have you ever hated anyone? The Bible says, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). Have you ever look at another person with lust? Jesus said, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). If you answered honestly, then according to God’s holy Moral Law, and by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, murdering, adulterer at heart. And these are only four of the Ten Commandments.

If you have broken God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, the just penalty for your sins against God is eternity in hell—a very real place of everlasting flames and torment.

But God doesn’t want you to perish. He doesn’t want you to go to hell. So, He sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ—God in the flesh—to pay the penalty for your sins. He did this by taking your place of punishment when He shed His innocent blood and died on the cross. Three days later, He defeated death when He rose from the grave. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

So, what must you do to be saved? You must recognize that you cannot save yourself. To jump into eternity, trusting in your own abilities (good deeds, spirituality, etc.), will lead to certain death. Instead, you must confess your sins against God, repent (turn away from your sins), and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation.

Please don’t forfeit your soul. You will either spend eternity in the lake of fire or entrust your life into the arms of the only One who can save you—Jesus Christ. Please, repent and place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, right now. When you do you will pass from death into life and receive the free gift of eternal life. What will you do? Please don’t forfeit your soul.

Local Wal-Mart Welcomes On-Camera Witnessing! (Part 2)

Our time doing on-camera interviews inside the local Wal-Mart began with a conversation, with Barbara (which I chronicled in my last article). Barbara was a very nice Mormon lady who, by the end of our conversation, realized that she was not a good person, according to God’s perfect standard. Although not convicted to the point of repentance and faith, she saw herself as guilty of breaking God’s Law.

The last conversation of the evening was with a young lady named Karey. As I made my way down the line of people waiting to have a book signed by Corbin Bleu (star of the Disney movie, “High School Musical”), I would periodically call out, “Would anyone like to be on television?”

When Karey heard the question, her hand shot in the air, a bright smile appeared on her face, and she shouted, “I do! I’m an actress!”

Karey was a 20-year old, full of life and personality. She obviously was not shy as she was drawn to the camera the way a moth is drawn to a bright light that pierces the dark of night.

I began the interview by asking Karey if she had any spiritual beliefs. “Like Corbin, I’m also a Christian. I believe Jesus died on the cross and He’s my personal Lord and Savior. And I’m very, very, very strong about that.” She said.

“So, what must a person do to go to heaven?” I asked.

“Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior; and read the Bible; and follow godly commands and do whatever it says; and try to be like the Lord. But lots of people sin. Everybody sins. But you got to do what you can. But pretty much accept the Lord as your Savior, and you’re at the top.” She answered.

“Do you think you have to be a good person to go to heaven?” I asked.

“You do.” She answered halfheartedly. “But there are bad people and there are good people. But I don’t really think that matters at all, because God knows what your heart is, and that’s pretty much all that matters.”

“Karey, would you consider yourself to be a good person?” I asked.

Both her face smile and her eyes brightened. Now less reflective and more self-assured, she said, “Umm, yeah, I would.”

“Could I ask you a few questions to see if that’s true?” I asked.

“Sure!” She exclaimed, with a chuckle.

I asked Karey if she could name any of the Ten Commandments. She was able to name six. I asked her if she was able to keep the Commandments. She said, “Growing up, you tend to want to have more freedom. But I try to keep them, but nobody can be perfect. When you fall you just have to get back up and try again.”

As soon as I asked Karey if she had ever told a lie, she shrugged her shoulders while pulling her chin down to her chest. “Yes.” She answered. When I asked her what that made her, she made eye contact with me and answered, “A sinner.”

Having not uttered the word I was looking for, I asked her what she would call me if told her a lie. With a half-grin, half-snarl on her face she said, “A liar.”

Karey denied ever stealing anything or taking the Lord’s name in vain, but she was quick to admit to not obeying her parents. “You mentioned murder.” I pointed out to her. “I hope I’m not talking to a bona fide axe murderer. But have you ever been really angry with someone?” I asked.

“Yes, I have.” She answered.

“Have you ever said, even inside, ‘You know, I think I hate that person’?” I asked.

“Yes, I have.” She answered.

“Did you know that the Bible says that whoever hates their brother has committed murder in their heart?” I asked.

“Really?” She asked. “I forgot about that one.”

“Have you ever wanted anything that doesn’t belong to you?” I asked.

“Of course.” She answered.

“You mentioned adultery. How would you define adultery?” I asked.

“Well, number one, if you’re married and you end up falling for somebody else and have sex with them; that’s committing adultery. Or kiss them. Basically disobeying your wife or your husband is adultery.” She answered.

“Jesus actually said that whoever looks upon another person to lust after them—to want them in an inappropriate way, has already committed adultery with that person in their heart. Have you ever looked at anybody, ever in your life, with that kind of desire?” I asked. I forgot to remind her of the murder in her heart; but honestly, I was having a hard time keeping track of all the commandments she admitted breaking.

Karey thought for a moment before she answered. “Probably a couple of times. Nobody’s perfect, though. Everybody sins. You just have to learn to control that—the feelings and everything like that.”

“Now, obviously everything you are guilty of, I am guilty of, too. But, Karey, by your own admission, you are a lying, adulterous, coveter who disobeys her parents. Does that sound like the definition of a good person?” I asked.

Karey tilted her head slightly toward the ground. The smile on her face was now one of embarrassment—like the smile of a child who was just caught in a lie. She shook her head and answered in a soft voice, as if she didn’t want anyone else to hear. “No.”

In order to emphasize the point, I asked Karey to consider the following.

“Think about it. Let’s say you and I were friends from school, and you invite me over to have dinner with your family. We walk in the door and you say, ‘Mom, dad; I want you to meet Tony. Tony is a lying, thieving, coveter who disobeys his parents and commits adultery in his heart. But other than that, he’s a pretty good guy.’ What do you think they are really going to think of me?”

Karey grimaced for a moment before she answered. It was as if she realized that the truth she was about to apply to me, applied to her, too. “That you’re a bad person.” She answered.

“So, if God judges based on the Ten Commandments, if you were to die today and He were to judge based on His perfect standard, do you think He would find you innocent or guilty of breaking His Law?” I asked.

“Probably guilty.” She answered. It is not uncommon for people to use the word “probably” when answering this question. I think they use the word to try to minimize the weight of a guilty verdict in their own heart and mind.

“And if He finds you guilty, do you think you would go to heaven or hell?” I asked.

“Probably hell.” She answered. Again she used the word “probably”—probably for the reason previously mentioned.

“Does that concern you at all?” I asked.

She quickly answered, “Yes. Yes.” There was no “probably” attached to this answer.

I took Karey through the courtroom analogy and quickly affirmed that it would be good news if someone entered the courtroom and paid the fine she had no hope of ever paying.

Karey was quick to affirm every aspect of the gospel. She had heard it all before. Based on the conversation thus far, I was confident that Karey had only given intellectual assent to the truths of the gospel.

“You and I are on the same flight, flying to Hawaii. We’re halfway to Hawaii (obviously over water), and the pilot comes on the air and says, ‘Folks we’ve lost our engines and we’ve lost our electrical power. The plane is going down. There’s nothing we can do about it. We’re sorry. There’s a parachute under your seat.’

“You and I both look under the seat. We both see the parachutes under our seats. We believe the parachutes are there. We’re happy to see them. I put my parachute on. You don’t put yours on. We both jump out of the plane. Which one of us is going to survive?” I asked.

“You.” She answered.

“Because I put on the parachute, right?” I asked.

“Right.” She said.

“And that’s what saving faith is.” I explained. “It’s not simply believing in our head—looking at a parachute and being glad it’s there, but believing to the point that we actually put it on and trust that it is going to open when we jump out of the plane.

“The Bible says that we need to repent of our sin. We actually have to turn away from our sin. Now, that’s more than just saying we’re sorry. We should be sorry for breaking God’s Law. But we actually have to turn away from it; to the point that we are grieved anytime we do anything that would disappoint God—that would be sin against Him. And we have to trust Jesus Christ alone for our salvation

“Have you ever done that?” I asked.

Karey quickly answered, “Yes, I have.”

“When did that happen?” I asked.

“When I was about seven or eight.” She answered.

“Do you think that at that age you understood what it meant to repent and turn away from your sins. Or did you simply pray a prayer and ask Jesus into your heart, and hope for the best?” I asked.

“Well, my parents taught me well. They taught me from the time I was four until the time I was seven, when I actually did it.” She said. “I had an idea, but I was still pretty young, so I was trying to learn about it. But I had a pretty good idea, I would say.”

“What’s your walk with the Lord like today?” I asked.

She thought for a second. “It’s on the rocks right now. Like I said, everybody falls. But I’m learning to trust more in Him and read my Bible, and just try to do better; because I know I’m not perfect. But I want to try to be. And I want to try to keep those commandments. I don’t want to end up down there. I want to end up, up there.”

“I think the Law shows us both that we’re never going to meet up to God’s standard, right?” I asked. “We could never be good enough, right?”

Karey agreed.

“If we could be good enough to earn heaven, then it doesn’t make sense for God to come down and die, if we could get to heaven on our own.” I said.

Again, Karey agreed.

“If I’m hearing you right, I think there might be some question in your heart.” I said.

“Yes, Yes.” She replied.

“Does that concern you?” I asked.

“Yes, it does.” She answered.

“Is there any reason why you wouldn’t get right with God, right now?” I asked.

“No. No. I guess I just have problems. I have big problems. And as those problems got bigger I just fell away. But I know I need to set myself straight and turn to Him again, and get right with Him again.” She said. Her eyes began to water. The once jovial young lady who couldn’t wait to be on camera, was not very serious.

“And the consequences if you don’t?” I asked.

“I will end up like a lost person. I will be lost.” She said. “And I don’t want to be that. I don’t want to be lost.”

“And lost people go, where?” I asked.

“Down to hell.” Karey said without hesitation.

“I could tell by looking at your eyes that you don’t want that.” I remarked.

“No, I don’t. Not at all.” She said.

“What would keep you from getting right with God, today?” I asked.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” She answered.

“Have you ever cried out to Him?” I asked. “Not just, ‘Lord, my life’s a mess.’ And not just, ‘God forgive me and I’m going to try to do better.’ But, ‘Lord, I want to give my entire life to you. I really want to turn from my sin. I know I can’t do it on my own. And I don’t want to face eternity in hell.’ It sounds like you haven’t done that yet.” I said.

“I have. I have. But like I said, I fell away.” She said. “I’m willing to go back to church and get right with Him again. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Well, there’s nothing you can do to save yourself.” I said. “Filling a church pew on Sunday morning isn’t going to do it. Trying to be a better person is not going to do it. There are a lot of nice people in hell because they trusted in their own goodness.

“You mentioned that things aren’t going well for you right now, in certain areas of your life. But that doesn’t change who God is; and that doesn’t change your need for Him.

“Karey, I may never see you again; but I care about you. I don’t want to see you go to hell. I want to see you in heaven. And I know that the only way is through turning from your sin and putting your trust in Christ alone. So, please, please do that.” I pleaded.

“I will.” She said.

I thanked Karey for talking to me. We shook hands and I left her with copies of “How To Live Forever Without Being Religious” and “You Have The Right To Remain Silent.”

Karey said, “I will.” I hope she does. I hope she repents and receives Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Pray with me to that end. And may our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ glorify Himself by saving Karey’s eternal soul. I do hope I see her in heaven, someday.

Local Wal-Mart Welcomes On-Camera Witnessing!

I was watching the morning news, the other day. After a commercial break, one of the anchors interviewed a young actor by the name of Corbin Bleu. I confess that I had no idea who this young man was prior to watching the interview. And, for those of you who are like me and are unaware of this young man’s fame and popularity, he starred in the Disney made-for-television movie, “High School Musical.” He is the latest heartthrob among the early teen and pre-teen segment of our star-struck populace.

What drew my attention to the interview was the mention of the fact that Corbin Bleu was scheduled to appear at one of my local Wal-Marts, later in the day, to sign his new book. I immediately thought of the potential evangelism opportunity. There would likely be long lines of kids and their parents waiting to make eye contact with a star. As I thought of the potential, I also reminded myself that Wal-Mart has not always been friendly to Christian evangelism endeavors.

Not long ago, Mark Spence, of Way of the Master, gave me one of the ministry’s video cameras to use to document some of my evangelism conversations—on the streets and during my segments on Way of the Master Radio. As the sometimes slow and grinding wheels spun in my head, I thought it might be an interesting afternoon if Wal-Mart would allow me to do some on-camera interviews of people waiting in line for the book signing. My expectations were not very high. I lacked faith.

I made a phone call to Pastor Kevin Molloy, the youth pastor at Lake Hills Community Church. Earlier in the week I met with the elders at Lake Hills to discuss plans for bringing a one-day Way of the Master training class to the church, on February 17. When Pastor Molloy answered the phone, I explained my idea to him and invited him to join me. He said he was already planning to go with his children.

Pastor Molloy told me that one of the members of the church was a manager at the Wal-Mart. He gave me her phone number, and I gave her a call. The manager was familiar with Way of the Master. To my surprise, she gave me permission to bring a video camera into the store and record conversations with people waiting in line.

The team consisted of my daughter, Michelle; my brother-in-law, Ian, one of my fellow local GNN leaders, Dru Morgan; and me. There were only a few people in line when we got to the store. That would quickly change.

I purchased a copy of Corbin Bleu’s book, which had a subtitle of “High School Musical Hottie.” The book was more akin to a thicker version of a teen magazine, then your typical biographical book. It was obviously marketed toward a younger audience.

As Ian and I flipped through copies of the book, Ian was first to notice that Corbin’s spiritual beliefs are mentioned in the book. I thought this would serve as a perfect icebreaker when asking people if they would like to be on camera. The approach I would later use was this. “Hi. I’m with a television and radio show called Way of the Master. We heard that Corbin Bleu would be here today signing his book. Corbin mentions his spiritual beliefs in the book. So, we thought it would be interesting to talk to people about their spiritual beliefs—what they think of the afterlife.”

Before I share the details of two of the more interesting conversations I had with people in line, here’s how Corbin Bleu describes his spiritual beliefs in his book.

“Strong family values, true friendships, and all the other amazing gifts that been given to Corbin wouldn’t be possible without a deep spiritual life as well. Corbin’s very passionate about his faith. ‘I pray. I think that’s what has kept me going all these years when it comes to overcoming obstacles. When I get very nervous or self-conscious or stressed, or I’m feeling burned out, what keeps me going is feeling that He has His plan for everybody. I can’t control it, or fight it. Once you learn to accept that He has a plan, it helps you, because even if you’re going through problems, you just know that everything happens for a reason. Kids go through a lot of rough periods, and I wouldn’t think of trying to force my own personal beliefs on others, but if I can lead by example, by being respectful to everybody no matter what…that feels good . . .

‘We’re Christians. We respect everyone; whether we agree with certain lifestyles or not, it’s never something we shut down. Even the Bible says you’re not a judge of others. God’s the judge. Your job is to show people the power of Christ through love and show them what an incredible life you can lead and the happiness you can have when you have the comfort of knowing that there’s somebody there. Anytime you feel alone, God’s always there. He will never abandon you—ever’” (Scott, Dee. Corbin Bleu, Up Close, New York: Pocket Books, 2006, p. 88).

Since I do not know Corbin Bleu, I cannot speak about the genuineness of his faith. But I can express my disappointment in the “life enhancement” gospel presented in his book. It shouldn’t surprise me, however. After all, the young man is a Disney star and a secular publishing house published his book.

The first person who agreed to be interviewed on camera was a lady named Barbara. It turns out that Barbara is the stepmother of a sergeant on my department. Having worked with him for a number of years, I believe he professes to be Roman Catholic. I share that because Barbara is Mormon.

Because of her Mormon beliefs, Barbara asserted that when she dies she would go to heaven to await the resurrection. She said that in order for a person to go to heaven they should try to live a good life, do good to others, be honest, and believe in Jesus Christ. I asked Barbara if she considered herself to be a good person. She said, “I try to be a good person.”

I asked her if she was familiar with the Ten Commandments. She said that she was. When I asked her if she could name a few, she said, “Oh, ….. (blasphemy).”

I asked her if she had been able to keep the commandments. She said, “I’ve broken a few; but if you repent you will be forgiven.

I took her through a few of the commandments. She admitted to being a liar and a thief. Then I asked her if she had ever taken God’s name in vain. She said, “I’m sure I have.”

“In fact, you did just a moment ago.” I remarked.

“I did?” She asked. “What did I say?”

“I can’t repeat it.” I told her.

When I asked Barbara if God would find her innocent or guilty of breaking His Law and the Day of Judgment, she said, “Well, only one man was perfect and that was Jesus. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness, and be born again in the afterlife.”

Barbara’s Mormon theology was beginning to show itself. The reference to Jesus Christ as a “man” was one indicator. Yes, Jesus Christ was fully man. Upon that point Christians and Mormons believe. But contrary to the Christian faith and what the Bible teaches, Mormons believe that Jesus was only a man, a created being who was conceived through a literal, physical union between their god and Mary. The Mormon concept of being “born again” is also contrary to what the Bible teaches.

Barbara was insistent that all one must do is repent to avoid God’s judgment. Her idea of repentance seemed to be more akin to confession than turning from sin.

I asked Barbara if she had ever been to court. She said that she had been to court as she went through the divorce process. She also served on the jury of a man on trial for a firearms violation.

“Did you find the man guilty?” I asked.

“Yes.” She said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Well, he was guilty because of the way the judge explained the law.” She answered.

I asked her if after she and the rest of the jury found the man guilty of breaking the law, would the judge be a good judge following the law if he let them man go because the man said he was sorry. While she agreed that the judge would not be a good judge, she argued that man’s standard and God’s standard are not the same. However, I was able to get her to agree that God’ standard is much higher than the standard in a human courtroom.

We continued to talk about God’s righteous judgment. At the first mention of hell, Barbara was quick to tell me that Mormons don’t believe in hell. She affirmed the Mormon false doctrine of three levels of heaven (telestial, terrestrial, and celestial). She told me that to get to the highest level of heaven (celestial), a person has to be “really, really good.”

I asked Barbara if it was possible for a person to be really, really good. She said, “Yes.”

“So, are we good because we ask for forgiveness?” I asked.

There was a long pause. “I don’t think it makes you good or bad.” She said. “It just makes you aware of what you need to repent.”

Then I threw this at her. “Where do you think Hitler went?” I asked. She leaned back and chuckled nervously.

“Well, first of all it does say in the Bible that if you commit murder you will not go to heaven.” She said.

Yes, the Bible affirms that no murderer will enter the kingdom of heaven. But that’s not what Barbara was saying. She was insisting that committing murder is an unpardonable sin. The Bible does not teach that. I could have argued the point, but she had just revealed a chink in her theological armor. She believed that murderers would not go to heaven. So, I would bide my time, hear her out, and then use her own words against her.

Barbara continued. “That’s the ultimate sin, because you can’t ask the person that you killed for forgiveness. To be forgiven you have to ask forgiveness from the person that you committed the act against. It says in the Bible that you cannot be forgiven for an act of murder.”

“If there is no hell, where did Hitler go?” I asked.

Barbara thought for a moment about the question. “There is what’s called an ‘outer darkness.’ It’s not a burning hell, brimstone-kinda-thing. It is where you will live without God, Jesus, or his angels. You will be with Satan and all of his followers.” She said.

Did you notice how Barbara made a distinction between God and Jesus? This was yet another assertion the Mormon theological position that Jesus is not God.

“When the Bible talks about a lake of fire. When the Scriptures say that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire; if it’s not a literal fire in hell, where is it?” I asked.

“It’s a separation from God, Jesus, and everything holy.” Barbara said. “That lake of fire would be that place of outer darkness for people who are really bad—the ones that commit sins against God, like devil worshippers and people of that sort—the murderers.”

“Have you ever been really angry with someone?” I asked.

“Yes, but not to the extent that I wanted to harm the person.” She answered.

“Have you ever experienced a little road rage, or called anyone names like ‘moron’ or idiot’?” I asked.

“Yes.” She said.

“Did you know the Bible says that whoever hates another person is a murderer at heart?” I asked.

“It does?” She asked.

“First John 3:15 says that whoever hates his brother is a murderer.” I said.

“John 3:15?” She asked.

“No.” I said. “First John 3:15.”

Many Christian avoid talking to people of the Mormon or Jehovah’s Witnesses faiths because they assume that the person is well versed in their religion. But Barbara, a very nice lady, dispelled that myth. She had no idea about what the Bible really says about murder.

Barbara began to try to justify herself. She wanted to prove to me (and probably more so to herself) that she was not a murderer at heart. “But I didn’t take the person’s life, and I didn’t say it to their face.” She said.

“Do you think God judges only our actions?” I asked. “Or do you think He also judges our thoughts and intentions?”

“Oh, yes. He sees it all.” She said. “You don’t have to say a thing.”

Barbara and I briefly continued our conversation off-camera. She was never truly humbled by the Law, so I didn’t talk to her about grace.

Some may look at my conversation as an example of a failed attempt at evangelism. It wasn’t. Seeds were sown. Barbara did not come to repentance and faith in the real Jesus Christ. However, whether she wanted to admit it out loud, she realized she wasn’t a good person. She was caught committing blasphemy, and had to look at herself in the mirror of God’s Law. She was shown that her understanding of the relationship between God’s justice and God’s forgiveness was flawed. Barbara also had to face the fact that her assertion that all murderers are punished placed her in the category of the murderer.

Before we moved on to find others to interview, I gave Barbara a copy of “How To Live Forever Without Being Religious” and “You Have The Right To Remain Silent.” Pray with me that she will read the material. Pray that the Lord will use the interview in Wal-Mart and the material she received to draw her to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ—the real Jesus Christ.

The next story will be my conversation with a young lady named Karey—a false convert who was humbled by the Law.

"I See What You're Staring At"

We entered the In-n-Out Burger restaurant to grab some dinner, before heading home. My daughter Michelle, my brother-in-law Ian, and Dru (fellow leader of our local GNN evangelism team), had spent the last few hours at the local Wal-Mart. We were at Wal-Mart to do some on-camera interviews with people waiting in line to have a young actor named Corbin Bleu sign their copy of his book. People started to line up for the book signing four hours before the event. Hundreds of people were in line. The Lord provided several wonderful opportunities to witness to people, on-camera. Look for these stories in a future “glory to God” article.

We ordered our food and sat down at a table to debrief the evening’s evangelism. As I walked up to the counter, I crossed paths with a young couple. The young man stared at my shirt pocket, which was filled with billion-dollar bills. I smiled and said, “I see what you’re staring at. You can have one.”

I handed him a billion-dollar bill. As I did, I noticed the curious look on his girlfriend’s face. I removed another bill from my pocket, handing it to her, and said, “You can have one, too.”

They sat down at their table to enjoy their dinner. Both were examining their billion-dollar bills. I picked up our order and returned to our table. The four of us thanked God for the evangelism opportunities He gave us at Wal-Mart, and for the food He provided. After a time of good conversation (and food), we got up from the table to head home. I dumped our trash in the trashcan next to where the couple was sitting—the couple that was now two billion dollars richer.

The young man, whose name was Yenci (20 years old), got my attention and asked, “Can you tell us what these are?”

“They’re billion-dollar bills.” I said. “There’s a gospel message on the back.”

As they examined the back of the bills, I asked them if they knew the billion-dollar question. The young lady, whose name was Carolina (19 years old), tried to quickly scan the back of the bill. “Ah, ah, ah.” I said playfully. “No cheating.”

“The billion-dollar question is this. What’s going to happen to you when you die? What do you think?” I asked.

Carolina pointed to the sky, and said, “I’m going to be up there, looking down at everyone down here.”

“So, you think you’re going to heaven?” I asked.

She nodded her head. I asked Yenci the same question. He hoped he was going to heaven, but he was less confident than Carolina.

I took both Yenci and Carolina through several of the Ten Commandments. They both admitted to being lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterers at heart. They both agreed that if they were to die and stand before God, He would find them guilty of breaking His Law. They both also agreed that if God found them guilty they would spend eternity in hell.

When I asked them if the thought of going to hell as the just punishment for their sin against God concerned them, Yenci quickly said that it would concern him. Carolina, however, was more reflective. After a few moments, and with more of an attitude of indifference than defiance, Carolina said, “No.”

With a bit of consternation, I asked Carolina, “Don’t you care about your life? Are you telling me that you don’t want to live?”

She shook her head slightly, but I wasn’t convinced. “What if two men came into this place to commit a robbery? What if they came up to the two of you and held guns to your heads and demanded your money? Would you hope to survive? Wouldn’t you beg for your life?” I asked.

Carolina, looking more serious now, said, “That actually happened to both of us.”

I was taken aback for a moment. I’m sure the surprise showed on my face. “That really happened to you?” I asked. “You were robbed at gunpoint?”

“Yes.” She said.

“When that happened to you, didn’t you hope to survive? Didn’t you want to live?” I asked.

“Yes.” She answered.

“Then listen to what you are saying. When facing physical death, you wanted to live. Yet you’re telling me that it doesn’t concern you that you are facing an eternity in hell when you die. That doesn’t make any sense.” I said.

I let Carolina think about that for a moment. “Aren’t you the least bit concerned about what’s going to happen to you when you die, if God judges you for every time you’ve sinned against Him?” I asked.

“Yes, it concerns me.” She said. “I just haven’t given it much thought.”

I asked Yenci and Carolina if they knew what God did so they wouldn’t have to go to hell—so they could spend eternity with Him in heaven. Carolina said she had no idea. Yenci, on the other hand, asked, “Didn’t He die so that everyone can be forgiven?”

I took Yenci and Carolina into an imaginary courtroom. I explained to them that they had broken the law. They were arrested, confessed to the crime, and were found guilty after a trial. “On the day of sentencing, you tell the judge that you are very sorry for committing the crime. You tell the judge that you would try not to do it again and you ask him to let you go.” I said. “Would the judge be a good judge, following the law, if he let you go?”

They both agreed that the judge should not let them go simply because they were sorry.

I continued the analogy, explaining to Yenci and Carolina that the judge sentenced them to a million-dollar fine or life in prison. They agreed that the fine was more than they could ever hope to pay. I told them that just as the judge was about to cart them away to prison for the rest of their lives, someone walked into the courtroom—someone the had never met.

The person approached the judge, placing one million dollars on the judge’s bench. The person explained to the judge that he had sold everything he owned to raise the money to pay their fine. “Your honor.” The person said. “I’m paying Yenci and Carolina’s fine because I love them. Please let them go.”

I told Yenci and Carolina that they were still guilty of breaking the law. However, seeing that justice had been served, the judge looked at them and said, “You’re free to go.”

I asked Yenci and Carolina if the thought of the judge letting them go because someone else paid their fine sounded like good news to them. Carolina shook her head.

“Why don’t you think it would be good news?” I asked her.

“Because I don’t think it would be right. I wouldn’t deserve it.” She said.

“That’s right.” I said. “You wouldn’t deserve it. We’re not talking about a loan. We’re talking about a gift. You can’t earn a gift. The person paying your fine did so because they love you.”

“What would you think of the person who came into the court and paid your fine so you could be set free?” I asked Carolina. Her answer blessed my heart.

Carolina looked at me and said, “I would love that person for the rest of my life.”

I shared the gospel with them—explaining that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, the sinless Lamb of God, died a horrible, bloody death on the cross to pay their fine. He took upon Himself the death sentence they deserved. Three days later He rose from the dead and is alive today.

Before I took Yenci and Carolina back to the courtroom, I asked them to consider something. “Let’s say they two of you started to sin ten years ago. Let’s say you sinned against God only three times each day. Do you realize if you died tonight and stood before God, you would stand before Him having broken His Law more than ten thousand times?”

The thought seemed to startle them. They both leaned back in their seats and their eyes opened wide. “What do you think a judge would say to a criminal who stood before him in court with a rap sheet with ten thousand entries?” I asked. “Do you think the judge would believe the criminal, even for a second, if the criminal said, ‘Judge, please let me go. I promise I will never break the law again.’”

Yenci and Carolina agreed that the judge should not believe the criminal. “Neither will God believe you.” I said. “If you don’t repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ alone for your salvation, when you stand before God, He is going to see you for who you really are—not for who you think you are. God is going to unfold a rap sheet with tens of thousands of entries, each one representing a sin against Him. Saying you’re sorry won’t cut it. He is going to find you guilty and He is going to send you to hell.”

To this point, I had been standing over the couple. Sensing a connection with the couple and that there was yet more conversation ahead; I squatted down and rested my arms on the table. “I don’t want that to happen to you.” I said. “I may never see you again, but I care about you. I give away those silly billion-dollar bills hoping that I might get to have conversations with people like you.

“The Bible says that it is appointed once for a person to die, and after this comes the judgment.” I said. “Your are both young. You might have sixty, seventy years ahead of you. I hope you do. But the truth is you might not make it home tonight. And like the criminal standing before the judge waiting to be sentenced, when you die and stand before God, that will not be the time to get right with Him. It will be too late. But if you will repent and trust Jesus Christ to save you from your sin, when you do stand before God you will not receive what you deserve—His righteous judgment and eternity in hell. Instead you will receive what you don’t deserve—His grace and mercy and eternity in heaven.”

I asked Yenci and Carolina if they understood what I was saying to them and why I was saying it. They both said they understood what I had shared with them and the motives behind the words. Yenci said, “You are doing a very good thing by talking to us this way.”

Then Carolina said something that almost brought me to tears. While tears did not flow, my heart broke for her.

“This conversation is very important to me.” She said. “You see—two months ago I found out that I have cancer of the kidneys.”

Carolina explained to me the pain she was in. She explained the painful surgical procedures she would have to endure and the chemotherapy to which she would be subjected in order to try to rid her body of the cancer.

I delicately asked if her doctors had given her a prognosis. She said the doctors weren’t sure.

“Carolina, the hope of a person who turns from their sin and receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is heaven—eternity in the presence of the Lord. God doesn’t promise us a perfect life, here on earth. In fact Jesus promised the opposite. He said that we should expect hardship. But He also said that we should take courage because He has overcome the world.

“Do you know what else those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior are promised?” I asked her.

“No.” She answered.

“A new, perfect body in heaven.” I said.

She smiled.

I asked Yenci and Carolina if there was any reason why they wouldn’t get right with God. They both said no. In fact, Carolina said, “I would do it if He asked me.”

I told them that it was not a coincidence that Yenci had seen the billion-dollar bill in my pocket. It was not a coincidence that we were having this conversation. I asked them to consider if we were having the conversation because the Lord wanted them to repent and believe. They both nodded their heads.

“Do you believe what I am telling you?” I asked.

They both said that they believed everything I told them.

“Why don’t you cry out to God, right now?” I asked. “Confess your sin. Tell Him that you want Him to help you turn away from your sin. Ask Him to save you and be your Lord and Savior.”

Yenci and Carolina looked at each other. I could see the hesitancy in their eyes. “I think we have a lot to think about.” Yenci said. “But I know now that we’re not promised tomorrow.”

Carolina allowed me to rest my hand on her arm and pray for her. I prayed for her physical healing. I prayed for the wisdom and discernment of her doctors. And I prayed that Yenci and Carolina would repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

When I finished praying, I ask them if I could give them a couple of things, which were in my car. Carolina said, “Please. We would like that.”

I ran out to my car and returned with two copies of “How To Live Forever Without Being Religious” and “You Have The Right To Remain Silent.” I gave them to Yenci and Carolina, explaining to them that my friend wrote the former and that I wrote the latter.

Carolina looked at the back of the tract and read the label giving information about my home church. She pointed to the label and asked, “Is this where you preach?”

I explained to her that while I am one of the leaders in the church, I was not the pastor. She asked. “If we e-mailed or called you, would you tell us when you are going to preach at the church?”

I smiled and told her that I would be preaching on February 11. “In fact,” I said, “if you come to visit my church, I will take you both to lunch afterward.”

Carolina smiled and said, “Really?”

“You bet.” I said. “If you come to church and see me, we are going to lunch that afternoon.”

I thanked Yenci and Carolina for giving me their time. We said our good-byes. I think I floated out to my car. God is so very good!

Pray that Yenci and Carolina will repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And pray that I will be allowed to keep my promise to buy them lunch.

To God and God alone be all the praise and glory for what He did after a young man stared at the billion-dollar bills in my pocket.

"Dad! There's a Woman at the Door with a Bible?

I was sitting at my laptop computer this morning. I had just finished breakfast and had not yet dressed for the day. I was working on an article about the previous evening’s witnessing at a local mall, when there was a knock on our door.

As is the practice in our law enforcement household, two of my daughters rushed to the door and peered through the peephole. They have been trained not to open the door to strangers. Marissa, my 17-year-old, in an intense whisper, said, “Dad! There’s a Woman at the Door with a Bible!”

I go up off the couch and joined my daughters at the door. As I suspected, there were two Jehovah’s Witnesses at the door. The copy of the “Watchtower” in the hand of the younger of the two ladies gave them away.

I couldn’t open the door, however. I wasn’t dressed. I rushed to my bedroom and grabbed my clothes. My wife, who was already in the bedroom, gave me that little grin and look in her eyes that often indicates the following thought: Tony, what are you up to now?

“There are a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the door!” I said. “If I hurry, I might be able to catch them as they knock on our neighbors’ doors.” (We live in a condominium, so our neighbors are close by.)

Looking back to how I raced through the house and hurried to put on my clothes, all I needed was a good, old-fashioned firehouse pole and the imagery would be complete. I was rushing to get back to the front door the way a firefighter awakened out of a sound sleep rushes out of the fire station to answer a call.

I opened our front door and waited for the ladies to walk down stairs from our neighbor’s home. As they made their way down the stairs I said, “Hello, ladies. Can I help you?”

With smiles on their faces they walked up to my door. The younger of the two ladies showed me a copy of “Watchtower” magazine. “We’re out today offering people a copy of the ‘Watchtower.’”

The subtitle of the issue she was holding was “How to Have a Successful Life.” I asked her, “So, what would you consider to be a successful life?”

“Happiness.” She answered.

“Happiness?” I asked with a hint of confusion. “Happiness in this life or the life to come?” I asked.

“Well, happiness in the life to come will be found in paradise.” She said.

Knowing the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs regarding heaven and the repopulation of the new earth (paradise), I asked, “What must I do to go to heaven?”

“Only 144,000 of god’s chosen people will go to heaven.” She answered.

“And who will that 144,000 be?” I asked.

“We don’t know.” Both ladies answered.

“Wow.” I said. “So you cannot give me any hope.”

Not wanting to get into a circular argument about their errant theology regarding heaven and paradise, I asked the ladies what I must do to go to paradise. They gave me the answer I expected. “You have to live a righteous life and grow in your knowledge of god.”

“What does it mean to grow in my knowledge of God?” I asked.

The younger lady opened her bible (the erroneous New World Translation) to John 17:3. She pointed to the verse and read aloud, “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”

A more accurate translation of the original Greek text is, of course, found in reliable translations of Scripture, such as the New American Standard Bible. The NASB’s rendering of John 17:3 is, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

The difference between the Word of God and the scriptures of the Watchtower Society should be obvious. The Bible in John 17:3 points to a relationship (submissively, experientially, personally, and intimately) with God the Father through God the Son (one God) as the means of eternal life. Conversely, the New World Translation of John 17:3 points to gaining (or “taking in”) intellectual knowledge about God and Jesus Christ (whom JW’s believe is a created being, and not God in the flesh) as the means of eternal life.

Experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses has taught me that a debate about who’s translation of the Scriptures is correct often leads to only more circular arguments that keep the conversation away from the conscience of the JW’s with whom I am speaking. I could have pointed out that not one of the New World Translation translators had any degrees in the biblical languages. But that would have only served to put them on the intellectual defensive. So, I tried another tactic with the ladies at my door. I used their translation to bring about a discussion of God’s Law.

“So, are you telling me that I will go to paradise if I gain more knowledge about God?” I asked.

The women hesitated before saying, “Yes. You should read your Bible every day and you will grow in your knowledge about God.”

“So then, I can be a liar, and a thief, and a murderer, but so long as I learn more about God I will go to paradise?”

They were caught off-guard. They weren’t sure how to answer. I took advantage of the pause in the conversation to ask the ladies if they considered themselves to be good people. Both said that they were, although they admitted that they were not perfect and they try hard to live righteous lives.

I asked the younger of the two ladies if she considered herself to be a good person. She said she tries to be. I asked her if she had ever told a lie. She was slow to answer. I asked, “What would you call me if I lied to you?” Both ladies said, “Well, we wouldn’t call you a liar.”

“Why not?” I asked. “What does a person have to do before you would consider them to be a liar?”

“They would have to lie.” They said.

“Okay.” I said. “So, a person who lies is a liar. It doesn’t matter how many times they have lied, or if they try not to do it as much as they once did. A person who murders is a murderer. A person who steals is a thief. And a person who lies is a liar.”

The young lady also admitted to being a murderer-at-heart and disobedient to her parents. This is when I learned that the older lady was the younger lady’s mother. Mom was quick to affirm her daughter’s disobedience.

“If God judges you according to His holy standard, His Ten Commandments, would He find you innocent or guilty of breaking His Law?” I asked.

“The daughter answered, “Guilty.”

Mom quickly chimed in with, “But God is merciful and he will forgive us.”

“Do you think God will forgive you for your sins against Him, just because you ask?” I asked.

“Yes.” The mother said.

I took the ladies into the courtroom. I asked them if a convicted criminal stood before a judge for sentencing and told the judge that he was sorry for what he had done and would try not to do it again, would the judge be a good judge, following the law, if he let the criminal go. “I guess it would depend on the crime.” The mother said.

In order to make it more personal, I asked the mother, “What if someone brutally murdered your beautiful daughter. The heinous criminal is caught. The evidence points to his guilt. And he confesses to the crime. You are sitting in the courtroom with your family and friends on the day of sentencing. The guilty criminal says, ‘Your honor, I’m very sorry for killing that young girl. I haven’t murdered anyone since. I’m trying to do good deeds. Please let me go.’

“The judge looks at the man who murdered your daughter and says, ‘You’re free to go.’ Would the judge be a good judge, following the law, if he let the man who murdered your daughter go free?” I asked.

The mother was quick to answer. “No.” She said.

“Nor will God, whose standard is perfection and much higher than any human court, simply let you go because He is merciful or because you say you are sorry or because you try to do better.” I said. “Your only hope for forgiveness is to repent of your sin and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. Your good works cannot possibly save you. If you don’t repent and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will receive the death penalty for your sins against God and you will spend eternity in hell.”

“Oh, you believe in hell.” The mother said. Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the existence of hell and believe that the person whom their god does not deem worthy of heaven or paradise will simply be annihilated.

“Yes I do.” I said. I spent no time debating the ladies about the existence of hell. I stuck to the Law and the gospel.

“I hope you will consider these things.” I said. “Jesus said that He is the way, and the truth, and the life, and that no one will go to the Father—no one will receive eternal life—but through faith in Jesus Christ. Your own righteousness will not earn you anything with God. If you do not repent and come to faith in Christ, you will receive what you deserve for your sins against God. So please think about it.”

I politely thanked the ladies for talking to me. The ladies said good-bye and I slowly closed my door. I didn’t want the loud or sudden closing of my door to leave them with the impression that I didn’t enjoy my conversation with them.

There was a time in my Christian walk when I thought the best way to handle cultists who come to my door was to not answer the door. I thought the best way to keep them from spreading their false doctrines was to not let them speak to me. How foolish I was. How wrong I was. How sinful I was.

I thank God for changing my heart and allowing me to get excited, now, when someone knocks on my door. In fact, I think I am going to put a small sign on my front door that reads, “All Solicitors Welcome.”

Please pray for the ladies who came to my door, and for all the people who have bought the lies of the Watchtower Society and other cults. Pray the Lord will bring them to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I look forward to the next time one of my daughters announces, “Dad! There someone at the door!”

The 11th and 12th Commandments?

Last night our local GNN evangelism team spent the evening at the Topanga Mall, in Canoga Park, CA. Eight of us gathered for an evening of fishing. After a time of conversation and prayer, we split up into small groups and walked the mall. It seemed there were few people in the mall, but the Lord provided the entire team with good witnessing opportunities.

My daughter, Marissa, my brother-in-law, Ian, my friend, Mike, from our home church, and I comprised one group. Our first witnessing opportunity was with a group of six African-American teenagers. We approached the group and I removed a large wad of one and five-dollar bills from my pocket. I asked the group of teens if it would be all right if I gave away some money. Their eyes opened wide as they quickly gathered around me. After giving away several dollars for answering some simple trivia questions, I asked for a volunteer to take the “Good Person Test.”

A young lady named, Shanel, accepted the challenge. What followed was a wonderful, 15-minute conversation with the group. It was wonderful (as it always is) to watch the demeanor of these young people switch from jovial and respectfully sarcastic, to quiet, reflective concern. As we said our good-byes, the group expressed sincere gratitude for us taking the time to talk to them. We left all of them with a copy of “You Have The Right To Remain Silent.”

Our next encounter was with a group of four teenage girls. Once again, I used the lure of cash for answers to trivia questions to engage the group in conversation. Gloria agreed to take the “Good Person Test,” with the hope of winning a five-dollar gift card to Starbucks.

Before taking Gloria through the “Good Person Test,” I asked the group if they were familiar with the Ten Commandments. All four girls, although hesitantly, said they had heard of the Ten Commandments. A couple of the girls said they learned about them in the eighth grade. That took us by surprise, since all four girls attend public schools. Upon further inquiry, we quickly discovered that the girls were…well…a bit confused.

I asked the girls if they could name a couple of the Ten Commandments. It was very difficult not to chuckle at their answers. According to this group of nice, young ladies, two of the commandments are “all men are created equal” and “you are innocent until proven guilty.” I guess those would be commandments #11 and 12. Apparently, they were confusing the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, with the Ten Commandments.

The conversation turned serious as I took Gloria through the Law. One of the girls, whose name I do not know, looked particularly concerned. When I asked the group if it concerned them that if God judges them according to His Law they would all be found guilty and spend eternity in hell, the girls were very hesitant to give an answer. I noticed that the girls were looking at each other as if they were seeking their friends’ approval about whether or not to give an answer.

Gently yet firmly, I said, “Don’t look at your friends. Don’t worry about what they think or what they will say. When you die and stand before God, none of your friends will be standing with you. You will be alone. It will be just you and God.

“Well, does it concern you or not that if God judges you according to His Law you will spend eternity in hell?” I asked. “If you don’t care, it’s okay to say so. The only reason I am asking is because we are concerned about where you are going to spend eternity.”

Finally, the young lady whose eyes betrayed the concern in her heart and mind slowly nodded her head.

“Do you know what God did so you won’t have to spend eternity in hell?” I asked.

The young lady shook her head.

“Would you like to know what God did for you?” I asked.

The young lady whispered something, which I could not hear.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you.” I said.

“I want to know.” The young lady said. “Tell me.”

I shared the gospel with the group, with most of my attention drawn to the young lady who expressed what appeared to be genuine concern. After explaining repentance to them, I used a modification of the parachute analogy to illustrate saving faith. I asked the concerned young lady what would happen to her if she jumped out of a plane, from 10,000 feet above the ground.

“I would die.” She said. Her eyes were now glistening with what appeared to be the onset of tears.

“Yes you would.” I said. “But what if you had a parachute? What would happen to you if you jumped out of the plane with a parachute?” I asked.

“I would live.” She said—her words a little brighter.

“Yes you would.” I said. “And that’s the difference between simply believing facts about Jesus in your head, and trusting Him, by faith, to save your life.

“What we’re sharing with you girls is good news, not bad news. The good news is that if you repent of your sin a put your faith in Jesus Christ alone to save you from your sin, when you die you will not receive what you deserve, which is eternity in hell as the just punishment for your sins against God. Instead you will receive what you don’t deserve, which is His grace and mercy and the free gift of eternal life.” I said.

I asked the girls to carefully consider what we shared with them. And I left them with this. “You might not make it home tonight. A drunk driver could kill you all. Of course, we don’t want that to happen to you. But if it does, and you find yourself standing before God, it will be too late then. God will not let you go free, just like a good judge will not let a convicted criminal go free. God has given you an opportunity, right now. The Bible says that today is the day of salvation.

“And if you are wondering if what we are telling you is true, please consider our motives. We’re not asking you for money. In fact, we’ve given you our money. We’re not trying to sign you up for a church or anything else. We’re talking to you tonight because we care about what happens to you. We may never see you again, but we care enough about you to share with you the only way you can escape God’s wrath and judgment. So please, think carefully about what we’ve said to you.”

I handed Gloria the Starbucks gift card. “Even though you are not a good person (None of us are.), I want you to have this. I want this gift to serve as an example of God’s grace. Grace and mercy, like heaven, is not something you can earn or deserve. It’s a gift. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for your sins and His resurrection paved the way for the most amazing gift of grace you could ever receive—eternal life. Think about it.”

Pray that the Lord will draw all of the young people with whom we spoke to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. All for His glory!

Lawman Meets Lawbreakers

Last Friday night our local GNN evangelism team spent the evening at the Topanga Mall. Due to restrictive mall policies, we employed a strategy of “tractless” witnessing—meaning we only gave tracts or books to those who we engaged in spiritual conversations. There were eleven of us at the mall that night—seven team members and four guests. We formed 2-3 person teams, with each team focusing on a particular area of the mall. It was a great night of witnessing, with dozens of people hearing the gospel.

My sister, Cheryl, Tom (a member of her church who was our guest that night), and I comprised one team. We used trivia questions, giving away dollar bills for correct answers, to break the ice with small groups of people. We also approached couples and individuals, telling them why we were at the mall, before asking them if we could talk to them. Every conversation served as yet more evidence of the appropriateness and effectiveness of approaching strangers in a friendly manner, and taking just a few moments to establish a rapport with them, in order to engage them in spiritual conversations.

Towards the end of the evening, I saw two young men walking through the mall. Based on my training and experience as a former criminal street gang investigator, I could tell that they were either gang members or “wannabes”—young people who dress and try to act like gang members, but who have no affiliation with a criminal street gang.

I walked past the two young men. We made eye contact and quickly gave each other the once-over. I walked a few more steps and then stopped. I knew I had to talk to these two young men. Why? Because it was the last thing I wanted to do. The cop in me said, “Give them a wide berth, but keep an eye on them. And watch to see if they make me as a cop.” Officers can spot criminals a mile away. Criminals can likewise spot off-duty police officers from just as great a distance.

I turned around and walked up to the two from behind. I got their attention and handed them each a billion-dollar bill. Both of the young men were decked out in expensive, baggy clothes and heavy, gold and silver jewelry. One was wearing a set of solid silver dog tags lined with diamonds (or at least cubic zirconium). “What’s this?” They asked with a hint of sarcasm and indignation in their voices.

“It’s a billion-dollar bill.” I answered. “Have you ever seen one?”

Both shook their heads. “Do you know what the billion-dollar question is?” I asked.

Both again shook their heads. “What’s the billion-dollar question?” One of them asked.

I asked them their names. Their names were Ed and Johnny. “The billion-dollar question is this. ‘What happens to a person when they die?’ What do you think happens to a person when they die?” I asked.

Ed and Johnny agreed that nothing happens to a person when they die. According to them, a person is simply buried and rots in the ground. Even though they believed that physical death is the end of a person, they both acknowledged a belief in heaven and hell.

I asked Ed and Johnny if they thought they were good people. The both answered yes, but Ed qualified his answer by saying, “I am now, but I haven’t always been.”

I took the two through the Good Person Test. They struggled to bring themselves to admit to being liars. So I asked them what they would call me if I lied to them. Without hesitation, Johnny said, “You’d be an *#@&%$”—referring to me as the slang term for a specific orifice of the human body.

It didn’t take long before they admitted to being lying, thieving, adulterous, blasphemers at heart. They acknowledged that if God were to judge them based on the Ten Commandments they would be found guilty of breaking God’s Law. It was at this point that Ed admitted to being an ex-convict. He was only seventeen, but he had already spent four years in the California Youth Authority for assault with a deadly weapon. The weapons he used against another person were his fists and his feet.

“Ed, did you know that the Bible says whoever hates another person is a murderer at heart? You may have been sentenced to four years for assault, but in God’s eyes you’re guilty of murder because of the hatred you harbored in your heart toward the person you assaulted. The punishment you deserve for your crime is not four years in CYA, but the death penalty. The just penalty for your sins against God is death—eternity in hell.”

I took Ed into the courtroom. But this time I shared the courtroom analogy a bit differently. Instead of someone entering the courtroom to pay his fine, I said, “Let’s say you were standing before the same judge who sentenced you to four years in prison. But instead of giving you a four-year sentence, he sentenced you to death.

“Just as the bailiff is about to take you away to death row, someone enters the courtroom—someone you’ve never met. The person walks up to the judge’s bench and say, ‘Your honor, because I care about Ed, I want you to execute me, instead of him. Please let him go. I will take the punishment he deserves.’ The judge looks at you. You’re still guilty of breaking the law, but the judge accepts this other person’s offer to die in your place. The judge says to you, ‘You’re free to go.'”

Both Ed and Johnny’s eyes opened wide. “What would you think of the person who is willing to suffer the death penalty in your place?” I asked.

At first, Ed was indignant. He didn’t think it was fair for someone else to suffer punishment for the crime he committed. “You’re right.” I said. “It’s not fair that you live, and an innocent person dies in your place. But that’s exactly what God did for you, Ed. God came down to earth, in the person of Jesus Christ—fully God and fully man—God in the flesh. He lived a perfect, sinless life. And He died a horrible, bloody death on the cross to take upon Himself the death sentence you deserve for breaking God’s Law. Not only did he take your place of punishment, but He defeated death when He rose from the dead.

“The only hope either one of you have is to repent—turn away from your sin, and trust Jesus Christ alone to save you from your sins. If you don’t, the day you die, when you stand before God, He will give you exactly what you deserve for every time you have lied, stolen, committed adultery, used God’s name as a curse word, and committed murder in your heart. He will sentence you to death—to eternity in hell.”

As I shared the gospel with Ed and Johnny, it seemed that Ed was disengaging from the conversation because he kept looking around at other things and other people. It could have been that after four years in prison, Ed had gotten use to watching his back and being constantly aware of his surroundings. Plus, if his crime was gang-related, seeing how he was only recently released from prison, the friends, family, or fellow gang members of the person he assaulted could very well be looking for an opportunity to exact revenge against Ed. Johnny, on the other hand, seemed to be hanging on every word.

In an effort to get Ed to see the seriousness of our conversation, I asked Ed if he could guess what I’ve done for a living, for the last twenty years. He and Johnny both shook their heads. I reached into my back pocket and removed my wallet badge. I opened the wallet and showed them my badge. “I’ve been a deputy sheriff for the last twenty years.”

Ed and Johnny both had surprised looks on their faces. “Look.” I said. “I’m not here to play cops and robbers with you. I’ve been on one side of the law and you’ve been on the other. But what matters to me is where you guys spend eternity. I don’t want to see you guys go to hell. It’s my hope that I will see you in heaven, someday. But that will only happen if you repent and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. So, please think seriously about what I’ve said to you. You know what the world is like. You both know how quickly your life can be over. You’ve seen it happen to other people. You may not even make it home tonight.”

They both nodded their heads and said they would think about our conversation. I gave them each a Gospel of John and copies of my tract, “You Have The Right To Remain Silent.” They both said they would read the gospel. We shook hands and parted company.

I thank God for the opportunity to share the Law and the gospel with Ed and Johnny. It was an opportunity that I almost missed. My sin of sizing up these two young men and making a determination not to share the gospel with them because of what I thought they were (namely gang members) almost kept me from bringing them the only message that can save their lives. I thank God for bringing me to repentance—for convicting me to literally turn around and approach Ed and Johnny.

Join me in praying for their salvation. May they live long enough to receive the free gift of eternal life.

The Ride of Your Life

It was a beautiful day, with tens of thousands of people from all over the world filling Disneyland Park. My family and I took our seats on “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.” Sitting alone in my car, and knowing that the ride was designed for children, I wondered if I would have time for a quick nap.

The ride began and my car zipped by a whistle blowing British bobby whose hand was extended as if he were ordering me to stop. My car continued to twist and turn through the streets of London, wreaking havoc along the way. Before long, I found myself standing before a judge who pronounced me guilty of breaking the law.

In a mad escape from the courtroom, my car ended up on a railroad track with the roar of a train and a very bright light heading directly toward me. After the crash, I was transported to hell—complete with demonic looking rats, a Satan figure, and a significant increase in room temperature. It took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to be exposed to the biblical imagery of hell on a children’s ride, at a theme park known as the “happiest place on earth.”

Just as quickly as I entered hell, I found myself at the end of the ride and walking out into the cool night air. The Magic Kingdom, a place where dreams come true, unknowingly provided a good picture of a spiritual reality. There are a number of parallels between the ride and God’s Law and judgment.

Each of us has broken the law—God’s Moral Law. To see if this includes you, honestly answer the following questions. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you, no matter how insignificant it may be? Have you ever hated anyone? The Bible says, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). Have you ever look at another person with lust? Jesus said, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). If you answered honestly, then according to God’s holy Moral Law, and by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, murdering, adulterer at heart. And these are only four of the Ten Commandments.

Every lawbreaker will one day find himself standing before a righteous and holy Judge—the one true God. The Bible tells us, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The Judge will render His verdict quickly. The verdict will be “guilty.” And the sentence will be “death”—eternity in the torment of hell.

Some people think they can escape the righteous judgment of God, much like the scene in “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” in which the rider flees the courtroom. But there will be no escape from the wrath of God, just as Mr. Toad was unable to escape the oncoming train.
Unlike the person who climbs out of the car at the end of “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” there will be no relief from the flames, the pain, the torment, and the misery ascribed to hell’s prisoners.

The good news is that God doesn’t want to send you to hell. So, He sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ—God in the flesh—to pay the penalty for your sins. He did this by taking your place of punishment when He shed His innocent blood and died on the cross. Three days later, He defeated death when He rose from the grave. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

So, what must you do to be saved? You must recognize that you cannot save yourself and escape God’s judgment. You must confess your sins against God, repent (turn away from your sins), and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation.

“Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” is just that—a ride. It is a few moments of animated silliness that eventually comes to an end. But life is more than a silly ride. And when your life on earth comes to an end, you will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. Repent and place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, right now. You will pass from death into life and receive the free gift of eternal life.

Please consider these things carefully. We’re talking about so much more than a silly ride in a manmade, magic kingdom. It will be the ride of your life. What’s at stake is your final, eternal destination. Will it be hell? Or will it be heaven—God’s eternal kingdom?

Rudy: A Gospel Presentation in Three Hats

I went to our local mall the other day to have a few baseball hats embroidered. My plan is to use the hats as conversation starters. I made my way to the embroidery kiosk, picked out three hats, gave instructions to the person working the kiosk regarding what I wanted on each hat, made payment, and then left for a meeting.

When I returned to the mall, my hats were finished. Rudy, a 25-year-old Hispanic young man, was working the embroidery kiosk that day. Before Rudy had an opportunity to bag my hats, I asked him if he was at all curious about what I planned to do with the hats. He said, “Well, now that you mention it.”

I took the three hats and lined them up on the counter of the kiosk. I pointed to the first hat and read the embroidered print on the crown. “Did You Get One of These?”

“If I’m wearing this hat,” I said, “my hope is that someone will ask, ‘Did you get one of what?’”

I reached into my jacket pocket and removed a billion-dollar bill and handed it to Rudy. “Did you get one of these?” I asked with a smile on my face.

Rudy laughed as he inspected the billion-dollar bill. I redirected Rudy’s attention to three hats. I pointed to the second hat and said, “Now if I am wearing this hat, which says, ‘Ask Me,’ my hope is that someone will ask, ‘Ask you what?’ I would answer by asking, ‘Do you know the billion-dollar question?’”

Rudy asked, “So, what’s the billion-dollar question?”

“Do you know what’s going to happen to you when you die?” I answered.

“I think I’m just going to become energy.” Rudy said.

“Why do you think that?” I asked.

“I think I learned it in science or something.” He said.

“Do you believe in the existence of heaven and hell?” I asked.

“I believe in heaven.” He said.

“What must a person do to go to heaven?” I asked.

“They have to be a good person.” He said.

I pointed to the third hat, which had the following question embroidered on it: “Are You a Good Person?”

“So, Rudy, would you consider yourself to be a good person?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m a good person.” He quickly answered.

I took Rudy through the “Good Person Test.” He admitted to being a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. Rudy acknowledged that if God judges him based on the Ten Commandments God would find him guilty of breaking His Law, but he still considered himself a good person.

“Do you live at home?” I asked.

“I live with my girlfriend, Beth.” He answered.

“Let’s say you decided to invite me to your home to meet your girlfriend. We walk in the door and you say, ‘Beth, I would like you to meet Tony. He’s a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. But other than that, he’s a pretty good guy.’ Do you think Beth would think I’m a good person?”

Rudy laughed and said, “No.”

“In fact,” I continued, “Beth would probably wonder why you are hanging out with the likes of me. Rudy, you’re just like me. You’re not a good person. He conceded the point. However, Rudy still thought he would go to heaven. When I asked him why, he said that he believed God would take into account the good things he has done.

I led Rudy through one of the courtroom analogies. “Rudy, let’s say you were standing before a judge, convicted of breaking the law. The judge is about to pass sentence upon you, but you say, ‘Wait a minute judge. I’ve helped two little old ladies across the street. I’ve given to charity. And I haven’t been caught breaking the law since my last arrest.’

“Rudy, does the fact that you’ve tried to do good things change the fact that you’re guilty of breaking the law?” I asked.

Rudy shook his head and said no. “But God is forgiving.” He asserted. “Won’t God forgive me if I ask?”

“Yes, God is forgiving.” I said. “But let’s go back to the courtroom. You’re standing before the judge. You’re guilty of breaking the law—any law. You’ve confessed to the crime and there is plenty of evidence to convict you. Once again, the judge is about to pass sentence and he asks you if you have anything to say for yourself. You look at the judge and say, ‘Your honor, I’m really sorry for what I’ve done. I promise I will never do it again. Please let me go.’ The judge thinks about it for a moment and then he says, ‘Okay. You’re free to go.’

“Would the judge be a good judge, following the law, if he just let you go?” I asked.

Rudy thought about that for a moment. I could tell he was trying to think of something to say.

“How about this.” I said. “Let’s say that Beth was driving home one evening and a drunk driver crossed into her lane and hit her car, head-on. She died instantly. The drunk driver is arrested, stands trial, and is found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. You’re in the courtroom with Beth’s family on the day of sentencing. The drunk driver who killed your girlfriend stands before the judge and asks the judge to forgive him. The judge looks at the man who killed your girlfriend and says, ‘You’re free to go.’

“What would you think of that judge?” I asked. “Would you consider him to be a good judge?”

“No.” Rudy said.

“So then, if God won’t take into account what you perceive to be your good deeds when He judges you, and he’s not going to let you off the hook just because you say you’re sorry, if He finds you guilty of breaking His Law, will he send you to heaven or hell?” I asked.

“I would go to hell.” He answered.

“Does that concern you?” I asked.

Rudy told me that the thought of going to hell concerned him. When I asked Rudy if he believed in heaven and hell at the beginning of our conversation, he only acknowledged a belief in the existence of heaven. Now, he was expressing at least some concern about going to hell.

I shared the gospel with Rudy, explaining to him that he must repent of his sin and, by faith, receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. When I finished I asked Rudy if what I shared with him made sense. He said that it did. “Well, what are you going to do about it?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” Rudy asked.

“You’re going to die someday, Rudy.” I said. “It might be fifty years from now. It might be on your way home from work. The time to get right with God is not after you die and you are standing before him waiting to be judged. It will be too late for you then. The Bible says that today is the day of salvation. The Lord is giving you an opportunity, right now, to turn away from your sin and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You said that you are living with your girlfriend. I know it’s none of my business, but is it reasonable for me to assume that you are having intimate relations with your girlfriend?”

“Yes.” Rudy answered.

“Then you are committing adultery—not only in your heart, but in the flesh by sleeping with your girlfriend. You’re sinning against God and unless you turn from your sin, which includes your sinful relationship with your girlfriend, He is going to give you what you deserve on the Day of Judgment; and that’s a death sentence—eternity in hell for breaking His Law. On that day, God is going to see you for who you really are, according to His standard—not as you see yourself.

“Rudy, I’m having this conversation with you because I don’t want you to go to hell. So, please consider what I’ve said to you. Will you do that?” I asked.

“I will.” He said. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

We shook hands. I thanked him for talking to me and for the embroidery work he did on my hats. I thank God for the opportunity to present the Law and the gospel to Rudy—a presentation in three hats.

Jump or Perish

It was shortly after 2:00 p.m. on December 1, 1958. More than 1,700 children were attending classes at Our Lady of Angels School on Chicago’s west side. Three girls returning from an errand encountered smoke in a stairwell, and rushed to their classroom to tell their teacher. At about the same time, a janitor walking by the building looked in the window of the furnace room and saw a reddish glow.

The school was on fire. The flames quickly spread, trapping 329 children and five nuns on the second floor. Among the trapped children was nine-year-old Mark Stachura.

As people noticed smoke rising from the area of the school and saw fire trucks racing in that direction, parents rushed to the school, hoping and praying that their children were safe. One of those parents was Mark Stachura’s dad, Max.

Max arrived at the school to find a scene of chaos and panic. Children were frantically fleeing the building, their skin dirtied by smoke and soot. Other students, with their clothes on fire, were making the deadly 25' jump from second-floor windows to the concrete below.

Max looked upward. To his horror, he saw his son, Mark, standing at a window with flames roaring behind him.

Max begged his son to jump. He assured his beloved child that he would catch him. Seeing Max below the window, twelve other children saw their means of rescue from the flames. They jumped into Max’s arms and survived what would have been a fiery death. But Mark refused to jump. He refused to take the only way of escape from the fire. Unlike twelve of his classmates, Mark did not trust his father to save him. Young Mark Stachura, along with 94 others, perished in the flames.

If you found yourself in this tragic situation, what would you do? Would you try to save yourself, if the only thing to break your fall was solid concrete, 25 feet below? Would you refuse to jump into someone’s arms because you didn’t trust the word or the ability of the person beneath the window? Would you choose a fiery death over rescue? Or would you entrust your life to someone who offered you the only way of escape? What would you do?

While you may never find yourself trapped in a burning building, is it possible you will one-day face an even more horrific fiery fate? To find out, honestly answer the following questions.

Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you, no matter how insignificant it may be? Have you ever hated anyone? The Bible says, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). Have you ever look at another person with lust? Jesus said, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). If you answered honestly, then according to God’s holy Moral Law, and by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, murdering, adulterer at heart. And these are only four of the Ten Commandments.

If you have broken God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, the just penalty for your sins against God is eternity in hell—a very real place of everlasting flames and torment.

But God doesn’t want you to perish. He doesn’t want you to go to hell. So, He sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ—God in the flesh—to pay the penalty for your sins. He did this by taking your place of punishment when He shed His innocent blood and died on the cross. Three days later, He defeated death when He rose from the grave. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

So, what must you do to be saved? You must recognize that you cannot save yourself. To jump into eternity, trusting in your own abilities (good deeds, spirituality, etc.), will lead to certain death. Instead, you must confess your sins against God, repent (turn away from your sins), and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation.

You must either jump or perish. You will either spend eternity in the lake of fire or entrust your life into the arms of the only One who can save you—Jesus Christ. Please, repent and place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, right now. When you do you will pass from death into life and receive the free gift of eternal life. What will you do? Will you jump or perish?