An Open Letter to President Obama

This post appeared on Tony Miano's blog The Lawman Chronicles and is posted here with his permission.

Dear President Barack Obama,

My name is Tony Miano. I am a citizen of the United States and you are my president.

While we live in the same country, we also live worlds apart. We are very different--you and I. You are a politician and the most powerful man in the world--known to virtually everyone. I am a retired deputy sheriff, who is now serving in the ministry--known to very few.

Yet while we are different, we have several things in common. We are about the same age. We are both married to lovely, supportive women. We are raising daughters (although two of mine are now in college). We're protective of our families. And we both profess to be followers of Jesus Christ.

Here are some of the statements you have made about your faith:

"I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life."

"I am a Christian. So, I have a deep faith. So I draw from the Christian faith."

"I've been to the same church-- the same Christian church-- for almost 20 years . . .I was sworn in with my hand on the family Bible."

"It is a precept of my Christian faith that my redemption comes through Christ, but I am also a big believer in the Golden Rule, which I think is an essential pillar not only of my faith but of my values and my ideals and my experience here on Earth."

"My faith teaches me that I can sit in church and pray all I want, but I won't be fulfilling God's will unless I go out and do the Lord's work."

Mr. President, you profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, yet you have said nothing about this...

You have said nothing publicly about the use of your image to blaspheme God.

The artist canceled the public unveiling of this blasphemous work, due to the public, moral outrage over the work's content.

Mr. President, since your image was used to blaspheme the God in whom you say you believe, why hasn't your voice been the first and the loudest to be heard? As a professing Christian and the present leader of our country, why aren't you the leading Christian voice to say that you do not condone or appreciate the use of your image to blaspheme the Lord Jesus Christ?

If you were to try to make the case that as a "community organizer" you want to bring people together, and to speak publicly about this would alienate non-Christians; or if you were to try to make the case that this is a "freedom of speech" issue and you would not want to be seen as infringing upon the artist's right to free expression; then I would humbly submit to you, Mr. President, that anything and/or anyone you place before or above God, is your god.

Mr. President, any time you refuse to make a stand for God you are denying God. And the Word of God is clear. "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).

Could making such a public stand for the name and holiness of Jesus Christ prove costly? Could it cost you your popularity among the masses, both here and abroad? Could it cost you support within the halls of government? Could it cost you the White House? Could it cost you your very life? Jesus had an answer for concerns such as these.

"And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, 'If anyone would come after Me, let Him deny Himself and take up His cross and follow Me'" (Mark 8:34).

Mr. President, whatever you are unwilling to sacrifice (even your life) for the sake of Jesus Christ is, in reality, your god. Whatever you love more than Christ; whatever you treasure more than Christ; whatever you will not forfeit for Christ is your god.

While there is only one Lawgiver and Judge and while there is only One who is able to save and destroy (James 4:12), and while I cannot know your heart, because I care about you as a human being I must tell you this. Your seeming indifference to this latest effort to dub you messiah, coupled with many things you have said in the past that run contrary to the Christian faith and the infallible Word of God; I must tell you that I do not believe you are a Christian. While you assert that you believe in Jesus Christ (even the demons believe and shudder--James 2:19), I do not believe you have received Him as Lord and Savior. I believe you are lost and in need of salvation.

Mr. President, I do not make such a statement--one that many professing Christians and non-Christians alike would wrongly deem judgmental--with any ill-will toward you whatsoever. On the contrary, Mr. President: I make such a statement because I care enough about you as a human being to tell you the truth. I love you enough to tell you the truth and run the risk of having you hate me for it.

Mr. President, there is yet another way you and I are very similar. We are both sinners. We have both violated the Law of God. Mr. President, if you have ever lied, stolen, taken God's name in vain, looked at someone other than your wife with lust, or ever hated anyone then God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterous, murderer at heart.

Because God is good--because He is holy, righteous, and just--He must punish your sin. All sin is against God. The punishment God has ascribed for sin is eternity in hell, Mr. President. When you die and stand before Almighty God, He will not see you mounted on a donkey. He will not see you wearing the crown of thorns He allowed His only Son to wear. He will see you naked--clothed only in the filthy garments of your sin. And He will say to you on that great and terrible day, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you worker of lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23b).

Mr. President, I do not want that for you. My wish for you is a very long and healthy life on this earth. I wish the same for your wife and your children; as well as your children's children. But I want so much more than that for you. I want you to receive the free gift of eternal life that only God can give.

Mr. President, allow me to introduce you to the real Messiah--the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Two thousand years ago, God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ (fully God and fully man) to this earth (John 1:14). He lived the perfect life that you cannot live. He was nailed to a cross, shed His blood, and died taking upon Himself the wrath of God sinners deserve (Mark 15:22-26). Three days later, He rose from the dead defeating sin and death. As a result of Jesus Christ's perfect life, shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection, God grants forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16). But in order for this to happen, Jesus said you must be "born again" (John 3:3). Being born again is a supernatural work that only God can do when He gives you a new heart and dwells in you in the person of the Holy Spirit. This change results in a hunger for righteousness that will cause you to repent, turn from your sins, and put your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Please, Mr. President, repent and believe the gospel. Turn from your sins and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Neither you, nor the ecumenical, pluralistic, unjust god you have fashioned in your mind are the true Messiah. There is only One. His name is Jesus Christ--the God of the Scriptures--the Living Word.

Mr. President, it matters not to me whether thousands of people join me by signing this letter or it bears only my signature. What matters to me, Mr. President, is where you will spend eternity. What matters to me, Mr. President, is whether you will stand with me to exalt and glorify the name that is above every name--the name before which every knee will bow and every tongue will confess--Jesus Christ the Lord.

Respectfully yours,

Tony Miano
A Bondslave of the Lord Jesus Christ

(If you would like to add your name to the list of signors, please e-mail me at thelawman104@gmail.com. Please include your full name, city, and state or city and country).

Signers:

Renee Heaton -- Frisco, TX
Katie Neilsen -- Golden River, BC, Canada
Paula Coyle -- Hutchinson, MN
Jason Coyle -- Hutchinson, MN
Jason McClaren -- Witchita, KS
Sarah DuBois -- Middletown, OH
Jeff Guill -- Paducah, KY
Ann Osborne-Reed -- Colonial Beach, VA
Angela Williams -- Hershey, PA
Michelle Miano -- Valencia, CA
Kevin Mollahan -- Topeka, KS
Justine Jacobson -- Farmington, MN
Mahria Miano -- Valencia, CA
Melissa Jarvis Reed -- Benton, KY
Dale Jackson -- Lakewood, CA
Rachel Liebregt -- Redondo Beach, CA
Russ Nymeyer -- Mentone, CA
Patty Nymeyer -- Mentone, CA
Chris Pawlowski -- Annapolis, MD
Robert Hornak -- Sacramento, CA
Mike Leonhardt -- Pheonix, AZ
Kurt A. Simms -- Crosby, TX
Mary J. Simms -- Crosby, TX
Nathan Frost -- Binghamton, NY
Amy Frost, -- Binghamton, NY
Tim Brown -- Galesburg, IL
Dan Duffy -- Bishop, CA
Margi Duffy -- Bishop, CA
Meagan Duffy -- Bishop, CA
Billy Jack Morris -- Witchita Falls, TX
Amy Corinne Morris -- Witchita Falls, TX
Vicki Rumore -- Billings, MT
Kathy Shortridge -- Billings, MT
Rusty Beals -- Rock Creek, OH
Elliot Lui -- Wheaton, IL
Peter Sylvester -- Langley, BC, Canada
Glnis Sylvester -- Langley, BC, Canada
Jason M. Shoots -- Douglasville, GA
Bobby McCreery -- Winder, GA
Kara McCreery -- Winder, GA
Matt Johnson -- Oglethorpe, GA
Billy M. Lauderdale -- Booneville, MS
Rob Vanderzel -- Charleston, SC
Heather Vanderzel -- Charleston, SC
David Barnes -- Manitoulin Island, ONT, Canada
Dan White -- Fairfield, PA
Paul Wilcoxen -- Mount Vernon, IL
Stefano Ashbridge -- Los Angeles, CA
Ian Pari -- Valencia, CA
Cheryl Pari -- Valencia, CA (50)
Evan Miller -- North Canton, OH
Mark Applegate -- Stockton, MO
Alex Burt -- Bethlehem, GA
Sharon Pease -- Fountain Valley, CA
Rick Comforth -- Sycamore, IL
Thomas Paulikas -- Monroe, NJ
Ed Hinckley -- Larkspur, CO
Tama Hinckley -- Larkspur, CO
Dian Corbett -- Jacksonville, FL
Joseph A. Modica -- Charleston, SC
Palmira K. Modica -- Charleston, SC
Jennifer Good -- Melbourne Beach, FL
Patti Golden -- Auburn, AL
William Brannon -- Purcellville, VA
Paul Harvey -- Madison, AL
Christopher Yarzab -- Arleta, CA
Chris Hobeck -- Manassas, VA
Timothy Bock, Jr. -- Fontana, CA
Guy Reynolds -- Ashland, KY
Judy K. Guentzel -- Temple, TX
Susan Altamirano -- Charleston, WV
Gary Upton -- Tulsa, OK
Jeff Wisterman -- Holly, MI
Thomas Foley -- Pawcatuck, CT
Tamara Cline -- Morgantown, WV
Donna Hebert -- Waterboro, ME
Mike Nutini -- Sylmar, CA
Daniel Beaudoin -- San Jose, CA
Terri Nettles -- Houston, TX
Greg Sandoval -- Fontana, CA
Yvette Sandoval -- Fontana, CA
Gary Rink -- Seattle, WA
Joe Harrison -- Monroeville, NJ
Tiffany Marie Soto -- Beaumont, CA
Sherry Pierce -- Sun Lakes, AZ
Chrstopher M. Hohnholz -- Fernley, NV
Kristine J. Hohnholz -- Fernley, NV
Adam Gray -- Juneau, AK
Daniel Kamilchu -- Sacramento, CA
Glenda Barnard -- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Lisa Cybul -- Castaic, CA
Lili Nguyen -- Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bart McCurdy -- Cottonwood, CA
Scott Bryant -- Ewing, KY
Mistry Bryant -- Ewing, KY
Todd Arnold -- Independence, MO
JonPaul Arth -- Maple Grove, MN
Shari Arth -- Maple Grove, MN
Kurt Michaelson -- Nyack, NY
Grace Nauroth -- Saylorsburg, PA (100)
Darryl Spriggs -- N. Charleston, SC
Devin Schultz -- Hepburn, SK, Canada
Paul Latour -- Ottawa, ONT, Canada
Kim Noel -- Ottawa, ONT, Canada
Chris Jones -- Suffolk, VA
Tammy Jones -- Suffolk, VA
Eric King -- Charleston, SC
Matthew Hadley -- Baltimore, MD
Andrew Ruth -- Myerstown, PA
Mee Leng Foo -- Melaka, West Malaysia
Sara Parrott -- Bolivar, MO
Robert Clinkenbeard -- Sunnyvale, CA
Rob-roy Nelson -- Mesa, AZ
Harry A. Barnes III -- Damascus, OR
Nancy Barnes -- Damascus, OR
Mark Sennett -- Los Angeles, CA
Dorothy Randall -- Sun Lakes, AZ
Gary Crous -- Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Sue Connor -- South Harrow, Middlesex, England
Thomas Zepeda -- Grand Terrace, CA
Evita Zepeda -- Grand Terrace, CA
Danny Allen -- Louisville, KY
John Murphy -- San Martin, CA
Nancy Murphy -- San Martin, CA
Shane Wright -- Lathrop, MO
David P. Schneck -- Cunningham, TN
Evelyn Brister, M.D. -- Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Thams Bonner -- Kemp, TX
Susan Bonner -- Kemp, TX
James Thompson -- Willow Springs, NC
Vernon Costolo -- Huntington, WV
Ron Berg -- Mesa, AZ
Shauna Lopez -- McKinney, TX
Kenny Swanson -- Chesapeake Beach, MD
Jerry Dorris -- Louisville, KY
Lorene Bevans -- Simi Vally, CA
Ray Comfort -- Bellflower, CA
Alan Pearson -- Riverside, CA
Kimberly Bennett -- Pooler, GA
Angela Snipes -- Mayfield, KY
Mark Phillippo, Jr. -- Northport, AL
Andrew Henske -- Manchester, MO
Cassandra Kyle -- Susanville, CA
Kim Matthews -- Marietta, GA
Joel Nava -- Anaheim, CA
Ralph M. Petersen -- Hemet, CA
Gabriel J. Gonzalez -- Chicago, IL
Danny Goodall -- Pico Rivera, CA
James Braaten -- Burnsville, MN
Jaylene Daugherty -- Bellflower, CA (150)
Michael Ayers -- Providence, KY
S. Robert Musso -- Spanish Fork, UT
Brian Persson -- La Center, WA
Terry Kent -- Orland Park, IL
Jan Kent -- Orland Park, IL
Michael Koiner -- Arlington, TX
Myron "Mike" Taylor -- Mayer, MN
Lisa Taylor -- Morristown, TN
Kenneth Taylor -- Morristown, TN
Justin Taylor -- Morristown, TN
Jesse Taylor -- Morristown, TN
Mark Hall -- Roanoke, AL
Linda Essary -- Apache Junction, AZ
Charles Lowry -- Pampa, TX
Amy Engle -- Kettering, OH
G. Wayne Dodrill -- Frisco, TX
Hector Sanchez -- Rego Park, NY
Wayne Owens -- Frisco, TX
Dennis Cain -- Fort Worth, TX
Laura Smith -- Port Orchard, WA
Nigel Titus -- Cape Town, South Africa
Annie Dearth -- Murrayville, GA
Carl Kalbfleisch -- Carrollton, TX
Doug Tollett -- Auburn, AL
Palmira T. Modica -- Charleston, SC
Berry Davis -- Las Vega, NV
Erin Philleo -- Wausau, WI
Mark Mackey -- Hemet, CA
Frank Redman, Jr. -- San Antonio, TX
Lupe Redman -- San Antonio, TX
Deanna Thompson -- Willow Spring, NC
Norman "Todd" Messenger -- Salem, OR
Lillian Isabel Garcia -- Las Vegas, NV
Larry Vena -- La Crescenta, CA
Dimitra A. Vena -- La Crescenta, CA
Shawn Atchison -- Butte, MT
John Bensley -- Lawrenceville, GA
Toni Gilbert -- Santa Ana, CA
Regina Swart -- Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Gretchen McCauley -- Orange, TX
Joel Jenson -- Thorne Bay, AK
Deidre Jenson -- Thorne Bay, AK
Jay Phillips -- Dothan, AL
Jason Gallagher -- Redondo Beach, CA
Ryan Sprang -- Kenton, OH
Kathryn Billups -- Los Angeles, CA
Tina Carlson -- Derby, CT
Byron Porter -- Allen, TX
Linda Emery -- Greeley, CO
Donald MacPhee -- Abilene, TX (200)
Joel Anderson -- Bagley, MN
Jamie Anderson -- Bagley, MN
Travis Yates -- Tulsa, OK
Amy Barta -- Marion, IA
Betty Taylor -- Brownwood, TX
Gerhard Stander -- South Africa
Ivan Rivera -- Lake Dallas, TX
Corinne Mahan -- San Diego, CA
Adrian Castro -- Las Vegas, NV
Benjamin M. Coyne -- Carroll, IA
Steve P. Sanchez -- Redondo Beach, CA
Jennifer Mattingly -- Chandler, AZ
Pradeep Chellathurai -- Bengaluru, India
Eric Pearson -- Milan, IL
Natasha Millard -- Surrey, BC, Canada
Jill Vanderzel -- Holland, MI
Herbert L. Blickhan -- San Clemente, CA
Gary B. Carter -- Reno, NV
Jeff Weaver -- Palm Bay, FL

... list as at date of this posting. Tony will update the signers so check back at "An Open Letter to President Obama."

God’s Perfect Timing

I would like to share what God did on Saturday 18th April 2009. In the early part of the morning I took my son Chad to Maritzburg College – the school he attends – for his field hockey match against Hilton College. The score was 7-0 and my son scored two goals.

Chad is congratulated by his team mates after netting his first and Maritzburg College’s opening goal.

After the match I was thinking about witnessing at the school, but had to get home as my wife Tammy wanted to take Chad to buy him soccer boots for his 14th birthday, two days later.

Today we decided to walk to the shops – which was out of character for we normally drive, but at the same time I had in the back of my mind “I don’t want to look for parking today”. The “decision” to walk was truly God’s work as you will see how everything unfolded for His Good Pleasure. I thank God, our Father, for showing His perfect timing in all He sets out to accomplish and the persons He uses to fulfill His divine work. To unbelievers and skeptics reading this ... God is in control ... of every circumstance, of every person, of every thought, of every word and of every deed and the events that unfolded revealed that nothing happens by chance and there is a reason and an accomplishment to everything that God wants to accomplish for His Glory.

Firstly, we had to walk past a First Church of Christ, Scientist’s reading room where there was a table outside on the sidewalk, with their literature on it for people to help themselves if they wanted reading material. There was an African lady seated to the right of the table, and instead of us removing literature I decided to hand her one of our Gospel tracts and also added to the Scientology-table both the “2010” and the “Do You Think You Will RIP?” tracts.

Secondly, a little way along a young Jehovah Witness walked by me and I felt compelled to speak to him. While I engaged him in conversation, my wife Tammy, our grandson Cee-Jay and son Chad were at a distance and told me that they would be walking on. If anyone has ever tried to evangelise a Jehovah Witness you will know that there is a spiritual battle almost immediately dialogue commences, which takes place in the form of one party showing scripture followed with a counter-attack of the other party showing scripture and so forth. Today would not be any different to other times. What was unfolding was that I had to be more patient. I do confess that I was getting agitated with the JW because he only wanted to show me his scriptures from the JW’s New World Translation (“NWT”) version – the transcript that denounces the True Deity of Jesus Christ as being God in the flesh, the living God who revealed Himself as the Son of God. All he wanted was to show me the scriptures they hold so dearly to where they can try prove that Jesus is not God. He showed me text after text and the more I wanted to show him Scripture to convince him that Scripture confirms Scripture and that text should not be quoted or read in isolation, he “babbled” on and was adamant to want to prove me wrong at every turn. At one point he turned with a spirit of the “I-told-you-so” attitude that I told him he did not have a teachable spirit and he was also not giving me a chance to reveal the Truth to him. This got his attention and he asked whether he was not revealing truth to me? I said to him that he was not when he is denying Jesus Christ and he was not allowing me to participate by showing him Scriptures. At this point I referred Him to John 8:58 and asked him to turn there. He was flipping through the pages and told me to read it to him. I glanced over at his Zulu translation and although I do not speak the language I know enough that the Gospel of John is translated “Johan.” I asked him, “How can you tell me to read it when you are not even trying to find the Scripture I referred you to. I have always turned to your references when you asked me and you are constantly not turning to my Scripture references when I ask you.” At this point I meekly told him he was wasting my time as he didn’t want to read the Scriptures I referred him to and that I must leave now. Even at this point, the young man insisted he had one more scripture to show me, but I excused myself. God allowed me to speak with this young man to the point where I had to leave and meet up with the next group of Jehovah Witnesses. You will see how perfect God’s timing is in the next paragraph.

The third encounter was a group of JWs, two aged African men and a younger African lady with her child in a push chair. The discussion found its way back to the question: Who do you say Jesus is? The normal response was – The Son of God. The spiritual warfare was on again, but this time the Lord was showing me how to stop the mouth of a false believer who denies His deity. I had used the Scriptures John 8:58 where our Lord Jesus was speaking to the Jews, which says: Before Abraham was, I am. The cross-reference Scripture I used was Exodus 3:14 which reads:

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

The Scriptures are to the point and you can see that God in the Old Testament who said He is I AM and Jesus in the New Testament who says Before Abraham, I am is one and the same God. The JWs countered this by saying He was with God in the beginning and it doesn’t confirm Jesus is God. For the first time God has revealed to me to use the following Scriptures. We know that the NWT (the JW’s bible) reads under John 1:1 ... and the Word was a god (my emphasis). All other transcripts, from my understanding, using the Greek translation, John 1:1 reads:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(In the Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance no reference is made for god under the Scripture reference John 1:1, only God “... and the logos was theos”). If the Word (Jesus) was a god then Jesus is a god and everyone that follows Him is an idolater, for God gives us the Second Commandment in Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. If God allows Jesus to be a god, then God (Jehovah) is a liar and a deceiver, and Scripture says it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). And if we break the commandments then we are liars and the truth is not in us (1 John 2:3,4). The Jehovah Witnesses could not give an answer to violating the Second Commandment if Jesus is a god.

It was at this time when I noticed to my right another younger African man, who introduced himself, named Thulise listening in on the conversation. I then saw him start engaging the older men in Zulu as he also referred to Scripture. Here was a Christian brother brought by God to labour with me in our Lord’s harvest. We had never met but it was sweet fellowship as we fought the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12). We were speaking off the same pages and to end this particular session the JWs could not counter John 20:28. I love this Scripture:

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. ~ John 20:27-29

God is Awesome and Loving and Faithful and His Word is Powerful (Isaiah 55:11). It was at this time that I got speaking to our brother in Christ, when I told him I have wanted to preach at this place but there was loud music coming from just around the corner. We both left the JWs and went to investigate. The scene was huge speakers, a sound table with a disc-jockey playing music to a gathered crowd who sat on public benches. From my experiences with my evangelist brother Phillip Shange, he has kindly translated and “painted the scene” for me to be wise when we see the following:

 an African gathering of people – check
 loud music – check
 gospel music masquerading for people to believe this is a “godly gathering” – check (with a quick translation of the lyrics from Thulise)
 mixed in with secular music – check
 are people predominantly wearing goat’s hide bangles – check

I motioned to my newest soldier-brother of the faith to accompany me to ask the DJ and the woman sitting at the music desk whether we can use their equipment to preach to the crowd. We approached them and tried to speak above the music to be heard. We asked what they were “selling” and the woman answered they were doing a promotion for African traditional muti (pronounced moo-tea). We spoke to her and said that putting one’s faith in muti was not trusting God to heal people and it is witchcraft. She listened to what we said while the thumping music persisted. Thulise then drew her attention in his Zulu Bible to Psalm 107:20. Thereafter, I asked her if we could use their equipment to preach Truth. She asked what we intended to say and we counted with what is in the Bible. She mused and then she said, “Okay, but you mustn’t refer to muti.” I said if muti came up then we will have to mention it and God allowed her to give us the use of the Sangoma’s (herbalist / traditional doctor / witchdoctor) equipment. I didn’t have a translator when I set out from home, but here God provided one by bringing Thulise across my path at the exact time He had predestined. We each took up a mic – Thulise’s didn’t work at first and the DJ even adjusted the battery in the cordless microphone – they were being so helpful. So here we had a crowd, and I had equipment for the first time since I preached in Southern California at the Ambassadors’ Academy – thank you Father. God opened everything for us. I opened by thanking the people for the use of their equipment and then we proceeded with the preaching of the Law and also made reference to the upcoming election (22nd April 2009) and made an appeal to the audience to vote with their consciences. At one point I noticed a European security guard standing in the distance to my right for a while, then he disappeared (more on this later). Once we started on the Gospel of Grace and made reference about Jesus Christ being fully God and fully Man we noticed the DJ to our left motioning to his watch that time was rolling on. We continued and were drawing to the end when the DJ was now slipping in some music while we preached giving us the hurry-up. Another five minutes or so of this and he now prolonged the music. It was at this time that we had already now reached the end of our preaching when we ended off with a warning that even though this man is trying to shut us down he too will have to stand before God on the Day of Judgment. [This link is to educate Christians of the demonic work of the Sangoma].

Thulise then said he had to leave while I handed out gospel tracts to the crowd who readily took them (maybe they thought we were with the muti-sellers) and even some came and asked me for a tract or two.

After handing out tracts this is the scene from where we preached (in front of the yellow umbrella). The vehicle under the tree is where they sell the muti.

What was wonderful and awesome was seeing God’s Hand in all of this – the Jehovah Witnesses who we had earlier engaged in conversation also got to hear the proclamation of the Law and the Gospel of Grace without hindering us by referring us to much more of their scriptures.

The Jehovah Witnesses are congregated in the distance at the corner (beyond the lady in the pink top and against the church wall).

More of the crowd in the opposite direction.

There was also a man from the “muti-sellers” that started speaking a lot and raising his voice in Zulu over the speaker system. I asked the young man I was busy speaking to at the time what the speaker was saying. He told me that the man was “preaching” and said something along the lines that there is no God – obviously trying to hype the people to buy their muti. When there was a lull in proceedings I raised my voice and asked the question: “Who says there is no God?” There was silence. During all this I had the assurance God was keeping me safe and the boldness testified how Huge God is. This is all glory to God that He was making Himself known. This had nothing to do with me. I was just the vessel God chose to use this day. From what I also noticed was that most of the people left without buying muti. I can’t guarantee that none did, but I never saw anyone going to the vehicle under the tree.

After a time of one-to-one witnessing I spoke to a few people and one man in particular said he still prayed to ancestors to intercede on his behalf. Here in Africa there is the demonic spirit of idolatry amongst many Africans who hold fast to their culture that has been passed down through their ancestors and in some instances there is the mixing of culture with religion which is also a clear indication of satan masquerading as an angel of light and deceiving many souls. I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to speak to these religious people, but there are many who reject Jesus as the “Jesus of the colonial white man.” This is predominantly where some black-Africans (for I am a white-African, although some people can’t understand that I am not European as I was born in Africa) put their faith in the prophet of the black-man who is named Shembe. They even have bumper stickers that declare “Shembe is the way” which is a lie for the Holy Bible says in John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto [Thomas], I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

For the African culture and the followers of Shembe this is a deception of man who is blinded by satan for the Word of God tells us: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). That name belongs to Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 4:10).

Whilst I was in amongst the people a lady came over to me and told me that a security guard wanted to speak to me. I went over to the man who introduced himself as Ben. He told me that he had come out as he heard me speaking and had sent five people to call me. As he was still on duty working at a clothing shop’s main entrance, time did not allow us to converse without interruptions. He told me he gets off at 14h00 which I told him I would willingly wait to speak to him. It was about half an hour away, so I spent the better part of the next 45 minutes or so engaging two youngsters in conversation taking them through the Law and the Gospel of Grace. They were very attentive and asked questions so I pray God would cause them to repent of their sins and show fruit meet of repentance.

When the time arrived to speak to Ben he told me that “he has a calling upon his life” and he wants to find out what God is telling him. I told him I am no prophet – only an evangelist. But what got me was the way he spoke and he mentioned that he had gone forward at an altar call. This is when I probed him whether he prayed or the pastor prayed for him. It was the latter so I used the scenario if I committed adultery against my wife and he helped me by telling me what to say to my wife would I be sorrowful for sinning against my wife. God opened the way for me to take Ben through the Good Person Test. This was when his body language changed from being confident and bold to one crossing his arms and possibly being convicted. He never became defensive and kept saying “I am guilty of that one. A liar ... a thief ... a sinner (adulterer) ...” The Law was doing its work and I pray that Ben went home and went before God in prayer and repented to the Almighty. It was also a wonderful time that I spent ministering to him using the Scripture Ephesians 5:22-33 (Husbands and Wives) which was also a time the Lord used to minister to me, too, as we read the Scriptures.

We parted ways after exchanging numbers, and it was truly a blessed day where I saw God working and allowing things to take place as He willed. What is impossible with men is possible with God (Luke 18:27).

Late in the afternoon, one last call, on my way home, at the First Church of Christ, Scientist to leave more calling cards – FREE Please Take One...

Election Day 2009

Yesterday, South Africa went to the polls to vote. The call was for the people at the voting station to vote with their consciences.

As you will see from this short clip, I stood up outside the voting station’s boundary atop a ‘plastic garden chair’ and preached the Law and the Gospel of Grace for 15-20 minutes. God was gracious to let me preach unhindered calling the queue of voters to make their vote count.



Did you note from the clip that there was a presence of South African Police Service (SAPS) law-enforcement officers, who allowed me to preach without approaching me to stop? What you did not pick up from the unfortunate shortened version (the video is not as important as the sowing of God’s Word to sinners) of my sermon was the sporadic applause the Lord received at my closure of the open-air.


The next photo is of Kevin (a traffic police officer) who encouraged me and even extended an invitation to me to come and preach at the church he attends. To paraphrase what he said, was: “The church I attend needs to hear this message.” All Glory to God that His Word is powerful. We will wait and see if Kevin’s pastor gives the go-ahead.

I then joined my wife Tammy in the queue to vote with our consciences...

Once we had finished and I met up with a brother named Gerald Jackson who had joined us, a while earlier, I told him about the first open-air session and informed him that I would be doing a second preach and if he could take photos and intercede with prayer.

The second open-air went without another problem and Gerald took one photo of people caught in the moment of listening...

As I had stepped down from the pulpit we were confronted by three Indian female SAPS law-enforcement officers who were driving-by. They asked me what I was doing and I explained that I was preaching the Gospel when they told me that this was not the forum as the crowd was volatile. From our position the crowd was not reacting so we cannot understand the 'volatile' statement, but one man who would appear to be an ANC member did come over and told the officers that he objected to what I was talking about. (We wondered whether he called the police.) We tried to explain our rights to freedom of speech and religion which included that we can preach, when they told us that the crowd was of many different religions and they did not want Christianity to be preached to them. If we wanted to preach we must go preach in a church or somewhere else. I then queried whether they knew whether there were not Christians in that crowd too, and we also asked what law was been transgressed.

They told us that we didn’t have the right to preach there and that we must take our preaching else where. We merely pressed them for the law we were transgressing when they called for back-up in the form of a captain. When he and his officers arrived we asked them which law we were transgressing when he became verbally aggressive in threatening us with a six day stay in jail where after we could be heard in court thereafter. He told us something along the lines "that as a law officer he has the right to limit our rights”. My question is: Where is the democracy where one enjoys freedom? I now understand that South Africa is a socialist country camouflaged as being democratic. At this point I remembered what Tony Miano always says about law-enforcement officers. They always 'win', so I humbly stepped down without pressing “one’s rights” and it was at this time when he told us he doesn’t follow the God we follow. I did mention that we all will stand before God whether we believe in Him or not.

The end of all of this is All The Wonderful Glory to God that He allowed us to preach two open-airs and we can fight the good fight another day. We also do thank God that we left in my vehicle – and although the apparent ANC member, who mockingly waved us off, might think he won the day (and the election) – we will pray for them all that they will realize they are sinners who are wicked and evil and idolaters before Almighty God and He will cause them to repent. Gerald told me as we drove away that while I was discussing the legal infringements, the captain had one of the other officers take down my vehicle’s registration plate – GAL3V24

I hope he reads the Scripture – Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

It was another blessed day fishing – this time at an election poll.

Voters' Day Tomorrow ~ Election 2009 South Africa

Tomorrow, Lord willing, is the day when a nation goes to the polls to vote according to their "democratic rights". I pray and ask those who view this post to exercise their vote by voting with their conscience and to make their vote count.

Promises have been made left, right and centre which is nothing new. Parties past and present have done exactly the same as at any other preceding election. Please read a post from October 2008 titled The Battle For South Africa before reading on.

So what makes this election any different from past elections? It would appear nothing from the same promises which have been made in the past which have not been delivered. So can we trust the politicians? No - we can't if they are looking after their own interests. The only time we can trust them is if they have truly repented of their evil and wicked deeds and have put their faith and trust in their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If they are not living in submission to the One and Only Living God of the Bible then we know God's Holy Standards will not be practised in parliament.

To know what God's standard is, is to look into His Moral Law known as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17):

1. You shall have no other gods before Me. Are you worshipping other gods and believing that you can have freedom of religion. God says no other gods are to be before Him. Guilty?

2. You shall not make any graven image before God. This is idolatry to make gods out of stone, wood and other materials. To bow to them is an abomination in the sight of God. This also includes making a god to suit yourself. Guilty?

3. You shall not take the Lord your God's name in vain. This is blasphemy and God will hold everyone guilty who drags His and His Son Jesus' name around with no regard for the God who gives you life. Guilty?

4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Are you remembering and setting aside time to worship God in spirit and in truth? Guilty?

5. Honour your father and your mother. Are you showing honour to your parents? Parents need not remind us to do things. We should respect them by obeying their lawful instructions. God commands us to honour them. Guilty?

6. You shall not murder. Even hating someone and calling them a fool will be in danger of hell (Matthew 5:22) and he who hates his brother is a murderer (1 John 3:15). The killing of unborn babies which is abortion is also murder. Guilty?

7. You shall not commit adultery. Adultery is having sex outside of the bounds of marriage, but Jesus also said that whoever looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Looking at pornography? Homosexuality? Fornication? Guilty?

8. You shall not steal. Are you a thief? If you have ever stolen anything - does not matter the size or the value of the object, then you are a thief. Guilty?

9. You shall not lie. Ever told a lie to deceive someone. Maybe a "little white lie that will not hurt anyone." Someone always gets hurt by the lie. It also creates distrust. Let the truth be known. Are you a liar? Guilty?

10. You shall not covet. Do you desire, lust, want other peoples' possessions. Then you are coveting. Guilty?

There is a Day more important than the day you vote for election candidates to be the government upon this earth. God has set a Day aside when He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31) and the Bible says it is appointed to man to die once and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). So if you have answered "yes" to any of the guilty charges you are guilty of them all (James 2:10). Will you therefore be innocent or guilty of violating God's Law? If you have rightfully answered guilty, will you be good enough to enter heaven? or will you be cast into hell? Lawbreakers will be punished and God has assigned His prison for lawbreakers to be hell for eternity. That is the bad news.

The Gospel ("The Good News") is that God has made a way out for the sinner from being condemned for eternity - the only way is through His Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6). God became a Man in the person of His Son Jesus. He was fully God and fully Man and without sin. Jesus, the Anointed One, being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29,36) gave us the divine standard by which we are to live as He revealed Himself to humankind and then He obediently went to the cross to be punished by the full wrath of God to pay for the remission of sin and take the full punishment sinners rightfully deserve upon Himself. Salvation is for the repentant sinner who will hear the Gospel and believe. Not just believe but to put their full trust in Jesus Christ for mercifully dying in the place of you the sinner. Jesus gave up His spirit and as prophesied He resurrected to life again on the third day forever defeating sin, the grave and death. He has ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father and He will return at the Father's choosing to judge the world in righteousness. You cannot buy your way into Heaven. Your righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) in the sight of a Holy God. You are not good. God is so Good to want to save evil and wicked sinners from eternal damnation. Therefore, repent before God’s throne while you still have time.

So make your vote count. Visit Christian Action and also check out the Biblical Issues Voters' Guide 2009 and remember to vote with your conscience.

MTB World Cup 2009 ~ Gospel Tract

Side One ~

NISSAN UCI MTB WORLD CUP 2009
PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
10TH – 12TH APRIL

QUIZ ~ Q & A
(Test your knowledge and please do not cheat by looking at the answers first)

1. Which team won the 2009 ABSA Cape Epic?

2. What nationality is the 2008 cross-country MTB World Champion, Christoph Sauser?

3. Who is the 2008 Elite Women’s World Champion?

4. Who is the reigning Downhill World Champion?

5. How many cross-country World Cup Series titles has France’s Julien Absalon won?

6. In 2008 which woman was both South African and African Elite women’s champion and 22nd at the Beijing Olympic Games?

7. What holiday is this weekend?

~ Please read the reverse side for more knowledge ~

Answers*: 1. Team Bulls ~ German duo of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm. 2. Swiss. 3. Margarita Fullana (Spain). 4. Greg Minnaar of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. 5. Four – 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008. 6. Yolande Speedy. 7. Passover (Easter).
* Answers (except 7) were verified on MTB internet sites and are taken as being correct as at 3rd April 2009.

Gary Crous +27 72 221 1233

Side Two ~
Now that you have answered the questions on the reverse side of this handout ~ how did you score? 25%? 50%? 100%? We tend to know a lot about our sport and other things, but spend little to no time thinking about the million dollar question that I will put to you now. This question will make every other question you have ever answered appear to be insignificant. Do you know what will happen to you the day you will die and pass into eternity? People tend to think about everything else including attending a mountain bike event than thinking about their eternal destiny. Reality is 150 000 people die every 24 hours and you know that you are guaranteed one thing in this life ~ someday you will also die. If you should die this day, do you think you will be good enough to stand before a Holy God and go to Heaven. If I should ask you if you are a good person, most persons will profess to be good. But, by what standard are you basing your goodness on? Your own standard? To truly see whether you are a good person you should use a more perfect standard to judge yourself by looking into the perfect moral Law of Almighty God. This Law is known as the Ten Commandments. How many lies have you told in your life? Half-truths, fibs, white lies ... it doesn’t matter what you call the lie, by definition God sees you as a liar. Stolen something? It doesn’t matter the size or value of the object, time does not excuse this crime. God sees you as a thief. Jesus said in old times it was said do not commit adultery, but I tell you whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Ever looked with lust? Had sexual thoughts in your mind? Indulged in fornication (had sex outside the bounds of marriage)? Then God sees you as an adulterer. Ever committed murder? The Bible says hating someone is murder (1 John 3:15). This also includes abortion which is the murder of unborn children. Ever used God or His Son Jesus’ name to show surprise or disgust? Like, “Oh my G-D!!” That is blasphemy and it is a serious offense in the sight of God. If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions then God sees you as a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a murderer and a blasphemer and God finds you guilty and will judge you for every crime you have committed against Him. He sees every thought, intention of the heart, every word uttered and every deed done, even those in secret. If God gives you the justice you rightfully deserve on the Day of Judgment as a lawbreaker then will you go to Heaven or Hell? Any person in their right mind will know that breaking the Law demands a payment and God has assigned a place called Hell as His prison for sinners who have transgressed against Him. That is the bad news. The Good News is that God is so kind and merciful that He expressed His grace and love to sinners by choosing to reveal Himself in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. Fully God and fully Man and without sin, Jesus gave us the divine standard by which we are to live and then He went to the cross to be punished by the full wrath of God to pay the price and take the full punishment for the repentant sinner who will hear the Gospel and believe. Not just believe but to put your full trust in Jesus Christ for mercifully dying in the place of you the sinner. You cannot buy your way into Heaven. Your righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) in the sight of a Holy God. You are not good. God is so Good to want to save evil and wicked sinners from eternal damnation. Repent before God’s throne while you still have time.

www.NeedGod.com
www.luke923evangelism.wordpress.com
www.luke923evangelism.blogspot.com

Reports on the MTB World Cup 2009 Outreach

The report on the three day outreach at the MTB World Cup 2009 can be viewed at the two Luke 9:23 Evangelism websites at the following links -- blog and wordpress.

Soli Deo Gloria

2009 Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup ~ Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Post that appears at the Luke 9:23 Evangelism blogs ~ blogspot and wordpress.

Lord willing, the first round of the MTB World Cup is being staged in Pietermaritzburg, KZN from 10th to 12th April 2009. It will take place over the Passover (Easter) weekend and what an ideal and opportune time to proclaim the Law and the Gospel of Grace ~ why Jesus was crucified upon the cross to redeem repentant sinners.

Here is a video clip of the most recent mountain bike event known as the ABSA Cape Epic which was staged in the Western Cape in March 2009.

The schedule is, as the Lord directs:

Friday 10th April 2009:
07H30 ~ Meeting Time at the Cascades Shopping Centre
07H30 - 08H00 ~ Set Up and time in Prayer
08H00 - 19H00 ~ Preaching commences, handing out tracts, one-to-one witnessing

Saturday 11th April 2009:
07H30 ~ Meeting Time at the Cascades Shopping Centre
07H30 - 08H00 ~ Set Up and time in Prayer
08H00 - 19H00 ~ Preaching commences, handing out tracts, one-to-one witnessing

Sunday 12th April 2009:
07H30 ~ Meeting Time at the Cascades Shopping Centre
07H30 - 08H00 ~ Set Up and time in Prayer
08H00 - 19H00 ~ Preaching commences, handing out tracts, one-to-one witnessing

Luke 9:23 Evangelism

And [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. ~ Luke 9:23

The mission of this blog is to fulfill the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) by serving as ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). This ministry is to encourage, equip, teach and train Christians to fulfill the Biblical mandate of the Great Commission (Matthew 18:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8) given to each saint by our Lord Jesus Christ, to evangelise the lost -- the way Jesus did.

If you are an individual or a member of a local Church and you and/or the congregation to which you are a part want to learn how to evangelise the Biblical Gospel, kindly contact us so that we can conduct the Basic Training Crash Course or the eight-week extended training course using the material from Living Waters under the ministry of The Way of the Master (Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron).

The London Baptist Confession of Faith (1677 / 1689) which is the Statement of Faith adopted by the Luke 9:23 Evangelism ministry is to hold this ministry accountable to a doctrine and to assist where differences of opinion arise and/or are expressed. This is a guide and is not to be construed as the 'fast rule'. The Holy Bible is the only full counsel by which we adhere and we acknowledge the Word of God written to be the supreme authority in all matters of faith, morals, and order being inerrant, sufficient, complete, and God-breathed.

This blog is to record training and equipping sessions, have uploaded witnessing tips 'one-to-one' and open-air preaching and where you can diarise the current and future, Lord willing, evangelising events as we encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to join this ministry in prayer, attendance at evangelical events and as the Lord directs in supporting us with Biblical Gospel tracts, Bibles or any gifts to keep the missionary evangelists in the Lord's harvest field.

This blog is not a place for debating theology. There are other forums that have been set up for discussions and debating purposes for peoples of many persuations. This blog is here solely for glorifying God in fulfilling His will and His purpose in righteous works (James 2:18-23; Ephesians 2:10) in His harvest field.

Jesus gave us the reason for His ministry on earth. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). The apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

This ministry is a call for labourers (Matthew 9:37,38) to Get up, Get equipped and Get out there and proclaim the Law and the Gospel of Grace to sinners in love.

In Christ's service
Gary and the T.E.A.M.
(Together Evangelists Achieve More)

The links to the Luke 9:23 Evangelism blogs are blogspot and wordpress.