I just heard a story about a guy who was asked for a gospel tract on the sidewalk and when giving them to those who asked... a police officer told him to leave immediately. When asked for his badge number, the officer angrily said it and proceeded to cite the guy with the tracts for trespassing. As they walked, he asked the officer about his first amendment right. To which, the officer said the right doesn't include that particular strip of public property. He threatened the guy with a $700 fine if he found another tract on the ground and took his driver's license number and personal information. As a friendly nudge, I remind you of something someone told me about awhile back that was rather thought provoking. How's the world treatin ya? As you think of an answer... consider the verse that says, "everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Summer is still busy. I've had a short break because of a boundary I've reached in my study of Greek. I need to do some written exercises that I'm trying to get worksheets for. I'm finding the textbook my school uses (Croy) is not the best for self-study. It kinda just lists the information and says do it... giving exercises. It's brief too. I've enjoyed studying through Bill Mounce's material on Teknia.com and have tried to use it alongside the book I'll use for class. My reading of the Old Testament is going well... I think. I started Job this morning. I'm also almost done with Psalms thanks to my friend's audio Bible CDs.
I've been spending some time bi-weekly going to witnessing with a guy form church. He open-air preached for the first time the other day at the park. I'm confident the Lord is going to use his passion. He borrowed the first season of Way of The Master from me and watched it all in less than a week. It's also been cool to have theological discussions with him and hear of his witnessing encounter stories. I'm also spending some time studying Genesis 19:15-22. I plan to teach/preach on this passage soon for the Sunday night service at church. I'm still struggling with the tension in the passage. What were Lot's motives? Is Lot really the terrible rotten guy most commentators make him out to be? I'm searching the context for answers. The regular youth teacher has also asked me to teach the youth Sunday school on the topic of Jehovah's Witnesses and how to reach them. This is an interesting and unexpected request. My first reaction was nervousness. I know it's doable and the material is not difficult. Some of it I could do with my eyes closed. The problem is confidence. I seem to always struggle with confidence. These will be the first opportunities I've had to teach in my home church. It's not a big church, but that doesn't change the big anxiety for me. People give me looks when I say this... knowing that I can preach on a street corner to nonbelievers, yet struggle in a room of believers.
Nonbelievers don't normally correct you on the finer points of interpretation and theology. This is not to say my church is like that, but that doesn't change my often-unwarranted fears and timidity. I have no idea of the expectations of my hearers. One guy told me I look smarter (just because I've come home from a few months of Bible college). Dr. Litfin was right when he said people would do thigns like call on us to pray more just because we're going to Moody. The introvert in me cringes and the extrovert in me produces a caffienated thrill.
I've been working odd hours. This week it's all 4am-10am... with a couple days where I work at night at another store. My free time is spent trying to read and study while often nodding off or blowing too much time watching crime investigation shows. My last day of work is August 21st and I return to the campus Saturday, August 23rd.
Prayer requests:
-My devotional life needs to be a bit more devotional (thoughtful, prayerful, quiet, focused)
-Anxiety/confidence to teach and preach
-diligence and wisdom in time allocation (the power to say no to some things)
-The Spirit's guidance as I (kinda) disciple someone in evangelism
-Vonett needs a job (a penpal in Jamaica)
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