Saturday, December 26, 2009

Witnessing to a Stranger


This conversation I had with a stranger on the website, www.omegle.com. Names, email addresses, or websites have been either changed or omitted.  The discussion begins when we began to discuss God.

You: How'd you hear of this site?
Stranger: A close friend of mine told me someone on this site may help me find my way
You: Find your way? Are you searching for something?
Stranger: I'm wondering about certain things. I may be the peppy cheerleader but... lets say that the cheer uniforms have long sleeves.. if you understand that.
You: Hmm. I'm not sure that I understand that to be honest.
Stranger: what would a certain currupt teen hide beneath sleeves
Stranger: ?
You: Oooh. I understand I think.
You: It's interesting though, that your friend would suggest this site for that. Most of the people on this site are searching for sexual gratification. Sometimes, you get decent people not looking for that.
Stranger: she found someone here and that person talked to her about things that she has not explained to me and she seemed to hope the same would happen for me
You: Ooh I see. Hmm.
You: So what are you wondering about? The certain things you mentioned before.
Stranger: I really dont know.
You: Do you believe in anything?
Stranger: In what sense.
You: God, heaven, hell, the Bible, afterlife, etc. Morals, values, etc.
Stranger: I believe in God. and his son our savior. heaven and hell are kind of "iffy" to me.
Stranger: My moral and values are kind of too many to name
You: heheh. Okay. You believe in God and His Son, our Savior. And who is His Son?
Stranger: Jesus Christ.
You: :-) And heaven and hell are iffy to you. Why is that?
Stranger: I don't see any life after death
Stranger: And, as those are the homes for the dead, i am not completely sure of them
You: Well, Heaven, as I'm sure you know, is the place where God dwells with Jesus. And this is the place God has prepared for His children. Hell is the place where those who rebel against God, go. People, when they die, will end up in one of these two places for eternity. If you think about it, Jesus is the Savior, but if there is no heaven or hell, then what was His purpose?
Stranger: I've never really thought like that
You: You see, God created hell only for the sole purpose to send the angels who rebelled against Him. I.e. Lucifer (Satan) and his followers.
You: God never wanted to send His most precious creation, us humans, to hell. But when we fell, when Adam sinned against God, we rebelled.
You: And because God is perfect, and no sin can enter into Heaven, He was left no choice but to send those who rebelled against Him, to hell.
Stranger: But those of us whom love God and cherish him shall exit this world and enter a perfect one?
You: This of course broke His heart. So, in order to save His creation, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth, in the form of a human. Jesus took our punishment for sin upon Himself, so that we wouldn't have to pay the debt.
You: Honestly, being one who goes to heaven is rather simple. All you have to do is, A) Confess that you're a sinner, B.) Repent (turn away) from your sins, and C.) Admit that Jesus is Lord.
You: You see, being a good person and doing good things won't get someone into heaven. Works alone basically.
You: One must have faith.
You: It's kind of like this:
You: Let's say you were driving down the road. The speed limit was 25 mph, and you were going 60 mph. You got stopped and got a ticket for $60,000. You could not pay this debt. And of course, you can't look at the judge and say to him, "Judge, you're a good man. I don't think you will make me pay this fine because you're a good man." The judge would say, "Actually, it is because I'm a good man that I must make you pay this fine or I have to send you to jail."
You: Then suddenly, a man you don't even know walks into the court room with you, and pays your fine.
You: That's what Jesus did. You see, God is good, and because He is good, the breaking of His law must not go unpunished. Someone must pay that fine. Jesus paid it in full for all. He died upon the cross, took our punishment for our sin, so that we would be debt free.
You: Then, because we would be cleansed of our sin and debt to God, we could live happily in eternity with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
You: Does this make any sense to you?
Stranger: Actually, this is so clear that I am beginning to understand what I have been overlooking
Stranger: Faith and Hope are key, correct? As well as belief and repentance.
You: Right. Faith hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is Love.
You: Repentance is turning away from your sinful ways and turning to God, and following Him. Letting Him lead and guide you through life.
Stranger: I have a ring that says Hope and my friend had one that says Faith. I never understood what made me buy them. It's almost like i had the need to. It wasn't beauty, it wasnt price. I just loved them, they had an unknown meaning to me
You: Faith is important. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It is by faith that we understand that the universe was formed at God's command so that what is seen was not made out of what was known.
Stranger: Well, Jimmy Wells, I believe im going to get off now. You have given me a new outlook and I thank u with my everything for it.
You: Of course. One last thing:
You: Meditate on this deeply: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. So that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
You: And insert your name personally into it.
Stranger: John 3:16
You: And Stranger, if ever you want to talk, discuss, email me. jim41088@gmail.com.
You: yes John 3:16. It's a common verse indeed, but once you meditate on it, it's deep.
Stranger: it have it written on my wall.
Stranger: i love it.
You: :-) awesome.
Stranger: i have it memorized.
You: :-D me too!
You: Well I won't keep you longer, but I would be pleased to hear from you in an email sometime.
You: There is a path for you Stranger. God loves you and He wants you. He died for you and wants you with Him in eternity someday.
You: Grace and peace be with you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Savior.
Stranger: Jimmy, i do believe God put u in this world to save and educate
Stranger: May he be with you every step of the way.
You: I hope He did.
You: Thank you. :-)
Stranger: Goodbye my friend
You: God bless.

Feel free to leave comments.


Friday, December 18, 2009

Witnessing to Strangers

This conversation I had with a stranger on the website, www.omegle.com.


You: hi

Stranger: hi

You: Do you think you're a good person?

Stranger: well sorta to people at least but i dont think i make any great contributions or anything

Stranger: i just dont act mean

You: So, if you died, where do you think you would go, heaven or hell? (Let's assume they exist)

Stranger: hell

You: Why?

Stranger: because im nice to people i know

Stranger: but when i t comes to other things im not

Stranger: such as i i somtimes have taken things from stores

Stranger: and i hop the train

You: So you haven't kept say the Ten Commandments?

Stranger: are asking if i follow them?

You: Asking if you've broken them.

Stranger: ofcourse ive broken them and im pretty sure every one in the world has broken them

You: I agree.

You: The Ten Commandments are God's Law. And if His law is broken, there is punishment. You've already said you've broken them, and that you feel you're going to hell. Does that concern you at all?

Stranger: well not exactly im in that stage were im not sure if any of that is real im in between deciding between any religion or atheism i think its called agnostic or somthing..

You: Right. Agnostic.

Stranger: ive started breaking more commandments ever since i questioned it

You: But as an agnostic, you entertain the idea that God might be real. That the Bible is true. You're seeking God while at the same time, running from Him.

Stranger: well im not seeking him but im not sure if hes real or not cause there arnt really any explinations

Stranger: its like im just waiting for somthing to happen

You: I have broken every commandment of the Ten. I've lied, stolen, blasphemed, murdered, commited adultery, envied, dishonored my parents, forgot the sabbath, had idols, and I've not loved God first and foremost.

Stranger: well everythingg else in my eyes is fine except murder

You: In the eyes of God, none of those things are fine.

Stranger: unless it was slef defence its alright

Stranger: if it was i mean

You: But, you said you're waiting to see if God reveals Himself to you. but I tell you, for those who seek, shall find.

Stranger: well im gonna seek and i really dont want to if he truly exist and loves every one of his people he shall seek me

Stranger: im not*

You: Oh He is seeking you. Have you ever heard of heart's door?

Stranger: no

You: It's basically a metaphore speaking the Truth that God as at your heart's door, knocking.

You: But the thing about this is,

You: He can't open the door.

You: You have to be the one opening that door to allow Him entrance.

You: God is a gentlemen. If He knocks, and you tell Him to go away, He will. He may come back later on and knock, but after so many times in your life of you telling Him to go away, He will.

You: God is seeking you. It says in the Bible that a sherpherd will leave His entire flock to find the lost sheep.

You: You, to God, are the lost sheep.

You: This conversation right now, stranger, is a knock on your door.

Stranger: well if im the lost sheep he should come and if he truly wants me he should try even harder becuase if i did beleive in him would you still be the knock on my door?

You: If you weren't right with God, and yet you still believed in Him, then yes, this would be, and is, your knock.

You: As I said, God is a gentlemen. He does want you very badly. He allowed His Son to die on the cross, He allowed His Son to take your punishment, the breaking of the Law, upon Himself, so that you wouldn't have to. If that is not God trying hard enough, then I don't know what is.

You: Do you know what I'm referring to when I mention God's Son?

Stranger: jesus if im not mistaken

You: You are correct. Do you know who Jesus is and what He did?

Stranger: i know who he is and know a bit about him


Sadly, it was at this point that the stranger disconnected our conversation.


Saturday, December 12, 2009

Pro Life!

The process of a partial birth abortion begins when the doctor places the woman before him. He gently inserts forceps into the womb and turns the baby so that the feet will exit the birth canal first. The doctor expertly delivers the entire body of the baby save for the head, and as he holds the squirming baby in one hand, he deftly stabs a pair of scissors into the base of the innocent baby’s skull. Studies by AGI show that only forty days after conception, the developing baby can sense touch. At four and one half months, when a partial birth abortion commonly takes place, a baby can experience pain. With the scissors inserted in the skull of the baby, the doctor then widens the scissors to broaden the opening. When the cavity expands enough, the doctor enters a suction catheter, which immediately sucks out the brains causing the skull to collapse. The doctor continues to remove the remainder of the baby from the former mother’s womb.
On July 11, 1995, AMA’s official journal submitted a tape-recorded interview with abortionist Dr. Martin Haskell, in which he states, “…The majority of fetuses aborted this way are alive until the end of the procedure.” This type of abortion, performed many thousands of times a year, victimizes babies in their trimester or ninth month. According to Merrian-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. At the moment of conception, an entire life begins, and to abort this innocent life is murder.
You may argue about the child with a lifelong disease who will die a slow death or live his life as a burden to his family? He will have no friends. He will not go to college. He will not lead a successful life. Some argue that the population boom can lead to problems such as not being able to feed the people we have now. Or in cases such as rape or incest, trauma closes in on the sanity of the woman. How can she possibly give birth to a child conceived like that?
To answer a question with a question, in response to the diseased child, should we end the life of all the people with disabilities who burden loved ones? Are we to say that these children will not experience the love of someone else who cares? Are we to say that when an elderly mother, who raised her children from birth with the utmost care, falls ill, we are to abort her life? Are we to say that people who long to care and provide and love these disabled ones lead a meaningless and pointless life of sympathy for the sick? If these statements speak truth, then why do we have doctors? Why not hire more executioners?
I do not believe that we will have much of a problem with feeding the population of America. The population growth of the world grows one percent a year, however, statistics on www.census.gov show that the population in America declines annually, not including immigration. The population growth equaling the current number of reproductive age individuals over the number of babies being born results in the American population decent.
The trauma from rape or incest will live forever with the woman whether she decides to murder her newly conceived baby or not. Why return the violence of killing a baby for the violence of rape? Legalizing abortion due to rape and/or incest provides the mother with an emotional screen, which in the end will not have erased the past.
On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the famous Roe v. Wade decision. By a vote of seven to two, the U.S. Supreme Court held that until a child in the womb can sustain his own life, the mother’s wish for an abortion should take authority over the baby’s right to life. The state can protect the unborn unless the mother’s physical, emotional, or psychological health, life, age, marital status, or the babies’ probability of a distressful life and/or future provides a way of escape for the mother. Basically the court granted the mother permission to legally kill her children up to the time of birth. If abortion isn’t murder, then why can someone murder a pregnant woman and suffer two murder charges? The murderer wronged the woman; shouldn’t that mean that a woman wrongs a child that she aborts?
According to former Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop, abortion provides a pathway to convenience. Only three to five percent of the reasons for abortions include rape, incest, the possibility of a deformed or disabled child, and the possible threat of a mother’s life.
Between the years of 1973, where 744,600 abortions were performed, to 1996, where 1, 400,000 abortions were performed; a stunning 35,273,792 babies have been killed without the right to life. Scientists have proven that the heartbeat of the fetus begins twenty-one days after conception and that the brain can function as early as forty days after conception.
For one to say, “Pro-family, pro-child, pro-choice,” states that they advocate the choice to kill innocent unborn children. Portraying such a thing is as logical as saying “Pro-women, Pro-rape.” The whole ordeal reeks with absurdity.
In closing, one cannot prohibit the issue of abortion from moral standards. To eliminate abortion from any form of morality excludes it from decency. We have laws in the United States that forbids anyone to murder, steal from, rape, or molest anyone else. These laws stem from morality, as does the movement to stop abortion. We live in a democracy, which means we, the people, have a voice. Our voice can put an end to abortion to provide an opportunity for life. With the voice of the people we can change the choice of those who desire to abort a life not yet lived.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Broken Heart

Broken and shattered
Fallen to the ground
Cracked and splintered
Spread all around

Failing adhesives
Tape, glue, and nails
Strained attachments
Blind infidels

Very few things
Exist today
That can surgically fix
Cold hearts of clay

A bludgeoned heart
Torn by sins
Can be healed
When Jesus wins

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Not in front of the kids!

I think it is awesome that fighting, arguments, and anger in a relationship/marriage isn't something we're supposed to ignore, cover up, or dismiss. Although anger and conflict in a marriage is not pleasant, it can be helpful. We sometimes have a tendency, no matter how open a relationship is, to bottle things up. These can sometimes range from thoughts or annoyances between the couple or even events or people outside of the marriage. For instance, the best friend of the husband dies, it's natural for him to close himself up, or distance himself from everyone, including his wife. And although that is understandable, it still affects the wife in a negative way, which can lead to conflict on down the road. Of course, this is where communication can be helpful. Sometimes, I feel, forcing communication within a relationship is necessary. To point, a conflict, if handled properly, can make someone open up. The wife will complain to her husband that she feels alone. He may lash out because he feels convicted of that fact, however, when he does, he will also be opening up.
When conflict within a marriage occurs, I think the best course of action is communication, paying attention, and learning. Sadly, when a couple gets into a fight, the last person on their mind to please or sympathize with is their spouse. Perhaps that is the very best thing to do.