Fear of Man - Part 2
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=3782
Thursday, July 10th 2008, 10:24 PM 
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2
This happened last weekend at my dad's friend's home. They were having a goodbye/birthday dinner, they as in my dad's tennis players life-long friends (at least 6 of them out of a group of over 10 men) and atheists apparently. There was still one friend that had not arrived and one of the guys seized the opportunity to mock the fact that he is now a Christian, saying that he hadn't arrived cause his pastor had not given him permission to hang out with them. For some reason I felt so offended and in various occasions asked Mr. Mocker politely to stop mocking him, then one thing led to another and before I knew it one of the men, one who had been living in the US for quite some time (and the birthday boy that night), said "I don't think we are all that bad to be condemned by any religion" O the evangelist in me pushed away that fear of man and seized that beautifully phrased proclamation of man's goodness.
I took all them through the 10 commandments, all were guilty duh!, and explained that the Bible says that if you break but one of them you are guilty of breaking them all, and that we are condemned to hell unless we repent and put our faith in the Saviour Jesus Christ. Unsurprisingly Mr. Birthdayboy tried to defend himself by saying that the Bible was written by men and thus filled with mistakes and that because of this it couldn't be trusted, I replied back with a question "Have you read the Bible entirely?" obviously he hadn't, so I told him that it was ignorant of him to say such a thing. Then he and Mr. Mocker jumped unto the evolution vs. creation topic asking how on earth I could believe in creation being a medical student, funny thing is most evolution defenders who aren't scientist cannot mention one fossil or one piece of evidence to back their claim. The conversation soon ended but with a promise to continue at a future time.
The only one there that wasn't an atheist was Mr. Agnostic who sat beside me, when the conversation wined down he turned to me and said "I believe in God, just not the God of the Bible" I replied that what he was doing was idolatry conforming a god to suit himself a god he's comfortable with and while he disagreed about committing idolatry he agreed that this god he prayed to every night was one he was comfortable with.
While it saddens me that these people whom are dear to me didn't repent that night and so continue to live their sinful lives, I was glad to be able to preach the gospel yet again to my dad. Father's day is coming up soon, I plan to get him a fishing rod, he went on a fishing trip with some family friends a couple of months ago and came back like a kid with a new toy telling me how me and him are going to go fishing and how he plans to buy a boat. I pray to the Lord that I may be able to once more push aside this disease called fear of man and let the Holy Spirit do His work and use this opportunity to be a real fisher of man and preach the gospel to my dad for the third and fourth and fifth time during our fishing trips.
Until Next Time,
Rita M.
Thank you Lord Jesus!!
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=3499Tuesday, May 27th 2008, 7:09 PM 65 5
WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been in such a faith crisis due to something that had been happening to me pertaining to the ministry I belong to at church, and I had been praying to the Lord that He would give me courage (I'm an UBER shy person) to go to the pastor and beg him to dedicate an entire sermon on True Biblical Evangelism. To preach on the NEED of preaching Repentance and Faith in Christ in our evangelism, one Sunday one of the pastors talked about the Gospel, I was so excited, but on the service I attended 12-2pm (there are 3 services) the pastor did not talk about repentance, I was disappointed. I commented this to a friend of mine from Church who had gone to the 10-12 service in which repentance was explained. But the service recorded to publish the sermon on the website was the last one, again I prayed and prayed. With the new semester I've had no time whatsoever to go to bible studies on Wednesdays and I had to miss a couple of Sunday services due to trips with the family, the hospital, etc. Anyway, this Sunday I couldn't go to church because I had an 8pm to 8am shift at the hospital and was beat when I got home. Today about 10 minutes ago, I launched iTunes went directly to my Podcasts to get my daily dose of WOTM Radio noticed that they hadn't uploaded today's show and remembered that because today's monday my church's sermon should've been uploaded by then so I clicked the IBI podcast and there it was!!! My prayer ANSWERED!!! Just look at the title! "And then, How will we evangelize?"
I was skeptical at first and hopeful all at the same time!! the pastor preached on Acts chapter 3, verses 1-16 and v.19, the pastor read twice verse 19 (my heart skipped a beat) then proceeded to explain what just happened in those verses. Compared that type of healing with today's modern version of -unbiblical-"healing". Then made very clear that he was going to preach on v.19 and how we have done the terrible thing of blotting out the preaching of REPENTANCE! from our Evangelism!!!! Ohhhh Praise the Lord JESUS CHRIST!!!! Finally my prayer answered!!
It's like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders!!! I wanna cry and leap out of Joy and sing and shout! :D Can't wait for Sunday to arrive!!!
"Act 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Act 3:2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
Act 3:3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
Act 3:4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."
Act 3:5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
Act 3:6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Act 3:8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
Act 3:10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Act 3:11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.
Act 3:12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
Act 3:14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
Act 3:15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out," (ESV, emphasis mine)
AMEN!
Open Door
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=3191Thursday, April 24th 2008, 8:05 PM 58 4
This is the first thing I ever knitted, it ended up being a very deformed cloth. I had no idea what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to knit, whatever it was. It has tons of mistakes, I dropped who knows how many stitches, but I learned, and since then been able to knit socks, scarves, hats, and even lace! thank the Lord. I've met some wonderful ladies and a lovely community of knitters willing and ready to lend a hand, virtually speaking of course, whenever needed.
But now it is time to refocus my knitting toward something else, its time to really do this for God's glory as should everything in our lives be done, as Christians.
An amazing door has just opened up and boy am I willing and ready to jump through it!
Next semester I'm beginning the first of 3 semesters to come before I finish med school, I'm entering my Internship which lasts a year, hence the three "semesters". The hospital I wanted to go to sadly(or so I felt) was not an option this semester and so I was left with 4 other options, out of those four the one I wanted was full and so I picked one knowing that God has His will and not always will it be something we necessary like at least in the beginning. He didn't choose the handsomest king He chose David, He didn't choose the "better" son He chose Jacob. And likewise, this Hospital which I visited for the first time last week I think, while others saw it as unappealing and scary I saw it as a blessing!
My entire family from both sides have been raised catholic, most don't even believe in God or at least not the God of the bible. From my dad's side the first response after finding out I became a Christian, here that means "Evangelica" (Evangelical and sometimes confused with Pentecostal) my aunt said "But you were a catholic!" I simply sighed. Of course my aunt doesn't know me as a person, she only knows what she's heard from my mom and my mom would never speak ill of me even if I were a monster which I once was.
So what does this have to do with knitting for God's glory, with the hospital etc?
Well it all began last week when I visited my aunt's clothes shop, on the counter she had 3 gorgeous crocheted shawls!! I mean LOVELY shawls, incredible well crocheted shawls!! I was mightily impressed she told me she'd be willing to teach me! all I had to do was bring my crochet hook(s) and some yarn and away we'd go. Since I knew the hospital was somewhat in the area I asked my mom to take me there that I can finally see the hospital and see what its like from outside and the surrounding areas, the hospital I found out is at a walking distance from my aunt's house and from the shop.
But at that point I still wasn't sure I had passed my ob-gyn class (a long story) so while it all seemed orchestrated by God I just needed that last confirmation, that I would actually go to this hospital.
And today I found out I did pass! And as of May 6th will begin my Internal Medicine Internship at Padre Billini Hospital, and my "Internal Medicine" Evangelism at my Aunt's home!
Please pray for me and my Aunt!! Not just her, pray for her daughters, one of them lives there too and my grandfather a very stern and stubborn man who hates God and especially the bible, he also lives there!
God bless and Happy Knitting!
In Christ,
Rita M.
An Adventure
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=2697
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Tuesday, March 18th 2008, 8:11 PM 66 2
wow I just finished writing a very long post and when i clicked preview WHAM! disappeared!...i'll take that as a hint..so I'll just post the adventure.
...
I was decided to hand out some tracts at my dad's office so i stuffed a few of MDB into my computer bag. Again I was undecided as to when to hand them out and so I sat down started typing the thing i've been typing for the past week, put some music on and waited for the right time. But the Lord is amazing and provides even in moments like these! a friend of my dad's came in today, he's christian (his testimony is quite amazing, he was shot twice, one in the face and one time in the chest, he was unharmed from both gunshot wounds the rest is history) and I thought wow! Lord thank you!! perfect chance!...I still didn't know if to burst into the work-related conversation he was having with my dad or if to wait until he was finished. The Lord once more provided the moment, my mom sent me to the first floor to buy some coca cola for my dad's friend, perfect i thought! I ran down the stairs (we're on the sixth floor) and ran back up with soda in hand, came in and he was almost about to leave but my mom was trying to talk him into waiting for the coca cola, I handed her the drink and ran toward my computer bag took out a tract and ran back to him "Look at this Richard!" and started reading in outloud (its a small office so everyone heard) and then handed it to him and said "here! share it with someone!" and then ran back to my computer bag took out the rest of the tracts and gave one to each of the employees and one to my dad as well!
what an awesome day!!
....
EDIT:
Another thing that happened yesterday AND today was that the secretary was telling me (I don't know how the conversation was brought up) that conversion is a slow process. I proceeded to explain to her that conversion was something radical, explained that it happens when one repents of the sins comitted and puts their faith in Christ and then when we are born again we have a new nature and a new desire to please God and a hatred for sin. I also explained the difference between santification and conversion. She's RCC
...
But today after I handed out the tracts to everyone, she read it and said "hmm this looks evangelical, be careful Rita or you'll end up converting" I chuckled and said but I've been a Christian for the past 2 years and 5 months...and she said ohhh thats why you gave me that answer yesterday (the one about conversion).
...
We didn't talk any further because well she was busy answering the phone and I typing the thing.
Why is it so scary?
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=2674Monday, March 17th 2008, 7:07 PM 99 5
You know I keep wondering why is it so scary to hand out a piece of paper!! seriously. Last week I was at the super market with my mom, I was carrying my messenger bag, where I usually keep my tracts, I had two Gospel of John in english left. As we were heading toward the cashiers two guys passed us by and I overheard them talking in english, so I said to myself perfect!! two gospel tracts two people! but just the thought of m
e going up to two guys to hand them a tract overwelmed me with fear. Why?? Its not like they were going to beat me up right there in the supermarket!! My mom had finished paying for the stuff and was beginning to walk toward the door with the shopping cart in hand and all the stuff in it, I seized the moment! (thats another thing, my mom is not christian so that adds to the fear factor as well) I turned around walked up to one of the two guys asked him if they were american the guy said in spanish he is, pointing to his friend, i'm dominican. And so i took out my Gospel of John tracts and said here one for you and one for your friend! And that was it! Nothing happened, no one beat me up, the supermarket didn't come tumbling down. I went to the parking lot, hopped onto the car and that was that.
What I don't get is why is it scarier for me to hand out a tract than to talk one on one with a person!??
This saturday after youth group we all went out for sushi, we had such a nice time, ate, chatted, all was well. Then it came the time to pay for our meals, I thought hmm why not give the guy a million dollar bill tract, which i had plenty of in my purse. My problem with the million dollar bill was that it looks REAL! and this is a third world country!! So i would imagine handing out a MDB tract to someone and them getting all excited about all that money only to realize its just a tract! and then consequently would end up beating me up for having lifted his/her hopes only to bring it down. But again I put those crazy thoughts aside and said to Joel, the waiter, "here read this!" he took it and then I said "its the million dollar question! what happens after we die!?" when he heard me mention the word die he wanted to give me back the tract!! He said I don't want to die!! and one of my friends said read it!! and so he kept it and walked away. (I know, I know it could've been a great opportunity to witness to him!! I know that now but he got the tract!) The next day I was so excited about handing out more tracts that I took a bunch of them and stuffed them in my purse, went to church. It was time to leave and I usually take public cars to return home. I crossed the street waited for the car to arrive and when it did hopped on. Now what...do i give the guy the gospel tract now or before i get off, I didn't want to be rejected or have the guy give the tract back so i decided to give him the tract when i got off he smiled and said thanks, I also gave one to each of the two ladies riding in the back of the car, they smiled as well and thanked me! I was excited!! I was telling them all here read this! Its the million dollar question! I had to take another public car to be able to get home and so waited again for one to arrive. This one was almost full! 3 people in the back seat, a lady in the front seat and the drive, I sat in the front seat with the lady. Again I waited until I got off and handed MDB tracts to all of them, there was a couple in the back who didn't want to take the tract but took em anyway, the driver said "hey! you've enriched us all!! With the message this has right!!??" I smiled and said "yes! definitely the message!"
It was sooo great to have em all say thanks! for giving them a gospel tract!!! :D
Next Adventure: Handing out MDB at my dad's office, its a small office of 5 employees and my dad the boss but i've been going there for the past week typing this thing for my dad, a sales report of one of the companies they work for. So stay tuned!
I'm Rich!!!
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=2647Bookmark this Adventure
Friday, March 14th 2008, 6:54 PM 83 6
I've got a 100 million dollar bills!! lol!! i got 'em yesterday yay!!! and Now my fellow AiC friends and members, I need you to help me out with ideas on how to go about passing them tracts! I've got the optical illusions one as well. Any idea/s will be greatly appreciated!
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My fav tract!!
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Maybe...
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Millions...
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If you are looking for lines to say.....
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The Atheist
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=2503Bookmark this Adventure
Wednesday, February 27th 2008, 9:57 PM 80 2
25/02/08
Today I decided that I would try to stir the conscience of Armando, one of my classmates, he went to the area I was in the hospital he had forgotten his scrubs and so couldn't go into the pre-labour area so he stayed with Alexandra and me in the microbiology lab. So I began to ask him if he believed people should be punished for their crimes, he actually believes that people should be reformed or dealt with in a psych consult or with a psychologist,he doesn't believe in punishing his future kids or giving them rules because he wouldn't want to make the same mistakes his parents made with him (his mother is catholic, probably pushed the catholicism in him like most families in this country). Then I asked him if he believed that a person who comitted a crime was guilty of his crime, he said that people like that obviously probably have some sort of childhood trauma and thats why they comit crimes, then I asked what he would do to someone who'd rape and murder his sister if he had any, he said that person should get into therapy first..I was really shocked to listen to that, so I probed some more...and asked, so he's not guilty of what he did? Armando answered that the man was guilty of course but he thinks the jail system doesn't really work, he believes in reforming the person and then reinstating him into society. Then that lead to him asking me about the Bible, he asked about the Inquisition, and about Dinosaurs (he is obviously misinformed because he said that human DNA has been found in blood on a dinosaur's tooth, evolutionist atheists generally believe Dinosaurs lived millions of years before humans "evolved" but of course I did not know this until yesterday when I did a little research), I explained that in the bible there are animals mentioned that we believe are dinosaurs (Behemoth and Leviathan) and then he asked if it talked about Dinosaurs eating human beings (like in Jurasikpark...not shocked with that statement, people are influenced greatly with what they see on tv). The discussion ended because we all had to leave, but I promised him to clear his doubts on the Inquisition and the supposed burned documents by the church and bible references to Dinosaurs in the bible.
Please pray for Armando, and the 2 friend who were listening to the converstation, Alexandra and Michelle.
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=2502Wednesday, February 27th 2008, 9:41 PM 55 2
24/02/08
As I was on my way to church in a public car (Public cars are one of the means of transportation used here, they are normal cars generally fit for 4 to 5 people including the driver but here in this unique country the driver will stuff up to 6 people in it, its actually an adventure to
ride in one of those things) anyway generally I use public cars to get to church especially when I don't have enough money for a cab. So I was in the front seat, the Holy Spirit was really convicting me about witnessing to someone in that car, people came in and got off..finally about a block away from where I was supposed to get off, and with no other passangers but me I said to the driver, "so can I ask you a couple of questions?"
Driver: Sure, go ahead!
Me: What do you think happens to a person after they die?
Driver: well they die and thats it, they drop dead like a bird
Me: what do you mean? don't you believe in Heaven and Hell?
Driver: Of course I do! I believe in God and all of that.
Me: I see, and who do you think goes to Heaven?
D: Well people with clean souls and people who do good things and people who are well with God.
Me: You mean Good People?
D: Yes
Me: And would you say you're going to Heaven? Are you a good person?
D: Of course I am! I mean, if its God's will..why are you asking me these questions?
Then we went through the law, I asked him 9, 8, 5 and 7. He agreed to have lied but said that he wasn't a liar, he has never stolen anything or dishonored his parents (I asked him if being a liar wouldn't be dishonoring to his parents, he insisted he wasn't a liar) he did confess to have lusted after women.
I explained why I was asking those question, I told him about Hebrews 9:13 and that God's standard was perfection and thats why Jesus had to die on the cross and bear the sins of the world because none of us can live up to God's standard.
I had to go and he had to leave as well. He asked me what sect/cult I belonged to I told him I was a Christian and didn't belong to any cult. He then said he would have to visit my church because I was giving him a speech. I handed him a Gospel of John tract and sent him on his way. Please pray for this man!!
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=2459Bookmark this Adventure
Thursday, February 21st 2008, 8:28 AM 86 1
Last year, november 19th to be exact, I wrote down in my journal my witnessing experience for that day which was the following:
"So I took a cab today to the hospital and while on our way there I just kep thinking about the driver's unsaved condition. We were less than 5 minutes away from the hospital and I couldnt contain myself, something inside of me urged me to witness to him like noboy's business, but I just couldn't articulate the words and before I knew it I grabbed a pen, I had a foam cup in my left hand and on the cup's sides I began to write what my lips couldn't utter. God of course orchestrated a few traffic jams giving me enough time to write the entire law and gospel the Way of the Master's way and before I got out of the car I asked the driver 'Will you please do me a favor?' handed him the cup, 'read this' I said and he began to read it and as I stepped out of the car he said 'this is about God' and smiled, I shut the door and walked away toward the entrance of the hospital. The seed was planted and now its God's turn to water it and make it grow if its His will."
Ok...awesome witnessing experience right? WELL!! This year, about a month ago the following happened!!!: [Before you read, wow, God is so amazing!! and so good!!]
"Witnessing Experience of the Day:
So my parents were supposed to take me to the university today, but they both had something to do and at the last minute had me take a cab there. I called the same cab company I always do, 5 minutes later the cab arrived I hopped on and we left. Almost half way through the ride the man asks me: "Hey I took you to the Maternity 'Hospital de la Mujer'(The Woman's Hospital)' once didn't I?" "Well I guess, probably" I answered back, he went on to tell me very excited "you gave me a cup once with something written on it" I remembered completely, he was driving me to the hospital and I had this urge to witness to him but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth, we were in this huge bumper-to-bumper jam and I just couldn't get out of that car without him knowing about Christ so I took a foam cup I had been drinking water from and wrote the law and gospel on its sides and right before I stepped out of the car asked "Hey could you do me a huge favor? Read this!" and handed him the cup, he agreed with a smile and sped off. And today he kept on saying "I still have that cup I have it like a trophy in my bedroom" "Really? and so what did you think about what it says?" I asked, he replied with a vague answer and then said he'd been trying not to sin and that he'd been going to church and a youth group (RCC mind you). Then I proceeded to tell him that good works don't get us into heaven, that no one can keep the law and that because of this Christ had to die on the cross so that there could be a way to be forgiven. And then there was silence. I was not a happy camper, when we finally arrived I spoke again and told him that my reason for talking to him the way I was doing was because I didn't want to see him go to hell and that even though I didn't know him I still cared for him and wanted to see him get saved, I told him that the word of God says that if one is not born again one cannot enter heaven and that one is born again through repentance of sins and faith in Jesus Christ. His name is Kennedy, please pray for him"
That was such a treat for me! but again I was saddened because he had put the foam cup as a trophy but instead of turning to Christ he turned to his effort. He had cherished the thought but not the Gospel. I haven't seen him again [I'm always taking cabs to church because its too far from where I live and usually my parents can't or won't take me] my prayer is that Kennedy will realize that his good works can't save him, be convicted of his sinful heart and finally humble himself before the Lord! Please pray him!!
URL: http://www.adventuresinchristianity.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=2456Bookmark this Adventure
Wednesday, February 20th 2008, 3:13 PM 99 5
Disclaimer: This happened yesterday, I wrote it yesterday as well on my blog :P
Something really sad happened today. After being dropped off at the place where my nutritionist's office is located, I decided to walk to the building across from it, where I knew there is a Christian bookstore, since I had about an hour and a half free before my appointment.
I went in started looking at the books they had, found the Truth War book by John MacArthur, grabbed it right away to buy it but before doing so I kept on looking at what other books they had. It then occurred to me since I was there, to ask around for some Puritan books so I'd save myself the trouble of having to order them online even if they were in spanish (I know I'm weird, I just don't like translated books). To my surprise the very nice lady who was helping me did not even know who the Puritans were. I kept on looking at the many different books they had while apparently she went to ask another nice lady who did not know either, again to my amazement. After that she asked a man who was there explaining something about a book to a customer, he looked at me and chuckled, obviously he knew what Puritans I was talking about, sadly they had no puritan books.
The sad part? They have all the Osteen books, all the Warren books, all the books on Dr. Don Colbert, and a lot of them weird emergent books!! *sigh*
On the plus side, I found a Hebrew bible, which I'm so going back there to get AND the Septuagint :D which I'm going to get as well.
Update on my Diet: I've lost 8 pounds so far, and my BMI is in 21% yay praise the Lord!! :D
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