Ironman Triathlon 2008

Greetings from Kona, Hawaii. We're here at the Ironman triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. It's the world championship triathlon, and it's also the 30th anniversary of the Ironman. We (the Family) will be here on Saturday to watch the festivities and to hand out tracts and 1-to-1 witness. It will be a great opportunity since the crowds will be HUGE and packed in together!

Handed out some "millions" today and have some great memories of the fun they can bring. Most of all they have spread the Gospel to those who may not have heard to before! We will keep you updated, in the meantime.... YOU run the Race like your going to win... it is for HIS glory!

until the last runner comes home!

Robert

ORDER IN THE COURT!!!

 This week has been an awesome one! I had to go to the Superior Courthouse to get some old paperwork for our adoption, and as I was in the Records Department, I couldn't help overhearing a very angry and defeated man at the records table. Come to find out he was a lawyer, and from the sound of it, not a very happy one at that! As I was standing in line to get my documents, I felt that I should give him a Million Dollar Bill tract, hoping that might cheer him up? Well, I reached into my pocket bag, and just as I was heading to this bitter and complaining man, he got up and left. Well, I finished with the Records Receptionist, and as I was heading out into the hall, I observed the very same man, looking at the court docket. I "set my face like flint" swallowed my fear and walked right up to him and handed him a Million tract. I said " Hey, would a million dollars cheer ya up?" He looked at the bill, went back to the docket and said "No, I don't think so!" I could tell he was not open to the Gospel, or for any conversation for that matter. This is the point... Sometimes, you are going to get rejected, sometimes you are going to get ignored, but there will be times when you have the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ... and all your rejections won't matter at all! 

 Well I headed outside, and found a few folks waiting for the court, I handed each one a tract and they really appreciated them! Wow... within a matter of minutes I went from experiencing rejection to experiencing joy in that the Gospel was spread. I didn't get to share my faith with either, yet the group that took the tracts got Gods Word unto Salvation!  Now for the "KICKER" I found a fishing hole, that is full of those who need to hear the Gospel, and some who need to hear of the Mercy and Grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Pray for angry Lawyer Man, and for those who received the Gospel through those tracts!

Keep Fishing!

Robert

The "WEDNESDAY" walk

Isn't it amazing that the Lord would use a broken vessel to hold His perfect word? On Wednesday, I had the blessed opportunity to go the transit mall and hand out tracts and share my faith. I was starting to feel kinda under the weather, but could only think about our Lord and how much He suffered for me, and then it put my "puny-ness" in perspective! There was hardly anyone there waiting for the train, but the regular fleet of yellow cabs, were lined up like race cars at the starting line! I haven't ventured out to that "field" yet, but I know many have heard me open air preach before.(probably my only hearers on many occasions) I headed out towards the trains, handed out an "AMERICA, AMERICA" tract, (I get from Living Waters Ministries ), turned the corner and ran smack dab into a couple of San Mateo's Finest (police officers) We exchanged hello's and as I passed them I was waiting for the inevitable"EXCUSE ME SIR... MAY I SEE WHAT YOU HAVE IN THAT BAG YOU CARRY?" We'll it didn't happen...too bad.. what a great way to share with them if they opened my satchel and saw all the tracts inside!

 That's when I turned the corner and met "Richard" He was sitting on a bench reading from the BIBLE! I saw he was reading in the book of Joshua. I asked him if he was reading through the bible, and he was. I offered him a million dollar bill, and he laughed, took it, and we had a great time of sharing the million tract, and about sharing our faith. I was able to share with him, that it is hard to witness, but it is so important, that we must get past our fears and follow our Lord to seek and save those whom are perishing! Bottom line is.... Our Lord is so Awesome and Salvation is so necessary, we must go... even feeling badly, and our Lord is Faithful to give us all we need. The power of the Gospel is in HIS message not in our delivery, It is for HIS glory, not for our comfort, and HIS word will be proclaimed to the ends of the earth, with us or without us. So stay strong, do the work of the evangelist, examine yourself in the light of Gods law, and keep up the good work He has called us to do!

Until the nets are full!

Robert

We're casting our nets!

Had a great time today "fishing" at the local farmers market. Joseph and I making it a point to go to our local farmers market on Saturday's to hand out tracts, and share our faith. Although Joseph is only 10 months old, he is getting to share by just being the cutest baby on the planet! OK,OK maybe I am a little biased...Anywho...we headed out this morning and the farmers market crowd was a little lighter today, but it did make it easier to get a stroller down the lane! We handed out tracts near the "food court" and had alot of fun passing out million dollar bills to folks sitting on the wall having a bite. We headed down the main lane and met some of our regular folks who we visit and were even asked for more bills!  I didn't notice anyone trying to avoid me, but I did meet a man whom I gave the tracts to before, just as I was going to ask him about the message, a friend of his came up and..... well a missed opportunity. 

 We started home and decided to go by the bus/transit terminal and hand out tracts, when we met "jenny" of course she ooh'd and aaah'd over Joseph and so I handed her a tract. She said she grew up Presbyterian, but wasn't practicing her faith. I asked what she thought happened to us after we die, and she stated "we'll all go to heaven. there is a passage in Revelation that says there is a tree with leaves for the healing of the nations" I asked her, if everyone goes to Heaven, then why Jesus said "He was the Way,the Truth and the Life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him" (John 14:6) She said "good question?" I then took her through the law, and sin and then explained to her that we are all guilty before God, and that only Jesus could take away our sin, by his life's blood. That we must repent, turn from our sins, and place our trust in Jesus and that He and He alone can save us from the wrath to come. I happened to look up and there were about 4-5 people within earshot of us, and some seemed to be listening, and even a few appeared angry? This is the point... you never know when you witness to someone, or open air preach, who is listening! So take the step, get past your fears, and share your faith. The person you are witnessing to may not be the only one to HEAR the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Fill those nets, pull them from the fire, snatch them from the edge of the cliff!

Robert (and Joseph)

"NO THANKS"

Well... It was an interesting day today, at the Transit mall. There were not many folks out this morning, and just about everyone I gave a tract to rejected it? I was able to give out a few, and got some smiles and thanks from those waiting for the light rail. I did find it interesting that most of the folks were "on the run" per Se, and didn't have time to chat...(could it be the TRANSIT MALL part of the equation?) I found a couple waiting in a bus kiosk, and offered them a million dollar bill, and asked them if it had been a real million, would they have taken it? Well, all smiles and jesting but no reply. Just about the time I could have asked them about their faith, the bus came and they walked out; another missed opportunity! It is hard to witness in a place where the pace is so busy, yet it leads one to "pull the trigger" and not hesitate. This can be intimidating when your new at 1-on-1 and open air preaching, but tracts go well, even in the busiest of places. 

 Brothers and Sisters, I realized today, that I must venture out and find other places to "FISH" I will still be a regular at the Transit Mall (I have noticed some "regulars" who try to avoid me)

but I am out on a scouting mission next, and will keep you posted!

Stay strong, Keep up the great work of God, and until the nets are full

Robert

Making "TRACTS" in the sand

Blessed ones!

 Wow... isn't it amazing how fast time flies by? It's been a week since my last post,and it seems just like yesterday! This leads me to my next observation... How many souls have passed into eternity over this last week? How many heard the Gospel, received a tract, or were witnessed to?

Brothers and Sisters, we must preach the Word, share our faith... and pull those lost souls from the edge of the cliff, and out of the fire!  Our God is powerful to save without us, but isn't it AWESOME that he allows us to be a part of HIS eternal plan of salvation? Let us NOT take this wonderful opportunity for granted, for one day, there will be no more witnessing, or open air preaching... for Jesus will have come. COME, LORD JESUS, COME! 

Are you ready? your family, friends,neighbors? 

Until the nets are full!

Fishing was slim!

Brethren:

Well, the fishing has been slim....or has the fisherman been lazy?  Went to the Farmers Market on Saturday, and guess what?..... It was closed? There was road work being done, so Sunnyvale didn't hold it's Farmers Market. It was kind of funny, as I was really praying that the Lord would give me courage to hand out tracts, one-on-one, and even open air at this Farmers Market, since I didn't have Joseph (my 9mo old son) with me. I was really having a hard time with my courage and faith to go out this weekend and witness. Finally, I knew that I must get past my fears and just trust in HIM and remember that the power is in HIS word not in my presentation. Well, I got to the farmers market..trembling, and sweating, and.... IT WAS CLOSED! Our Lord has a great sense of humor doesn't He?  

 I'm sure there was a lesson to be learned there, and I know that one day I'll understand! I had some errands to run, and handed out some tracts. When I was checking out at the local supply store, I asked the girl behind the counter if "she was working hard today?" She said she was tired and working hard... It came to me to ask her "Do you ever think you'll work hard enough to be a millionaire?" she said "NO" and I handed her a million dollar bill tract and said " now you have" She laughed and the guy behind me in line said, good job leading her up to that! I didn't get to witness to her, but I could see that this was an effective way to move from the natural to the spiritual! This is so important, to find ways of moving from the natural to the spiritual, and is the first thing we must do, to start our one-on-one's. It adds a new excitement and fun to everything we do, when we can use even the mundane tasks to open up a opportunity to share the Gospel.

 Take some time this week.. tracts in hand, and practice moving a conversation from the natural to the spiritual, and you'll see... It's fun and great practice. Ultimately, you may get the opportunity to share your faith, and the true Gospel of Salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Enjoy Gods humor, share your faith, get past your fears, and help rescue those 155,000 whom are perishing each and every day!

Until the nets are full!

Robert