Inmate’s 8-year-old daughter last visit tells him that she is praying that God would send someone to speak to him.

 

On Monday July 7th, 3 of us went to Maricopa County Jail, Midge she's about 85 years old, Catherine and myself. We usually arrive around 8:30.  This Monday was truly a blessing for them & us, as we were able to see more inmates than usual. Usually we leave the jail around 2 to 2:30, but this Monday we didn't leave till 4 o'clock. 

 

 In our 2nd session one of the young men, in his early twenty’s, stated several times, "it doesn't make sense"! He had heard many times about Jesus dying on the cross to pay for our sins, again he states, “doesn’t make sense"! 

 

 That's when I walked over and sat down next to him and asked him what doesn't make sense?  He stated, "If someone who lives his life and breaks every single one of God's Laws and then right before he dies on his deathbed he accepts Jesus, are you telling me that that person is going to heaven... That doesn't make sense! " I’ve been told many times that Jesus loves me and all I have to do is accept Him and I’m saved, so I might as well get what I can and before I die ask em.

 

That's when I shared with him what I learned from Ryan Comfort who brought us the teaching of The Way of The Master.  I then asked him if he had ever lied, stolen or used the Lord's Name as a swear word, or ever looked with lust?  He stated he had, with a flippant attitude!

 

I then asked, based on his own admission, would he be innocent or guilty in front of a Holy God...He said guilty! I then asked Heaven or Hell, he stated probably Hell. I then asked did that concern him he said, NO! I then explained what Hell is like, as I have found that many even those who claim to be Christian don't really know. He now changed his tune bout being concerned about spending eternity there. 

 

So as you can see his understanding of a god who will just set you free because you accept him didn’t make sense and rightly so.

 

Now is when I was able to give him the courtroom analogy that Ray had shown us. If he was in front of the Maricopa Judge and was about to be sentenced with the Judge stating he would have to spend life in jail or come up with one million dollars, to be set free. I then asked so if he just told the Judge how sorry he was, please forgive me, and I’ll never do it again, could the Judge let him go? He stated no!

 

I then asked what if just as the Judge was about to slam the gavel down for his sentence of life in prison, when someone he didn’t know walked into the courtroom and shouted out that he had a certified check for $1 Million Dollars. The man states he sold every thing he had, Stocks, Bonds, Investment property, cars & his house because he loves this man & didn’t want to see him suffer. 

 

I then asked the inmate could the Judge let you go? He pondered a while and then with a smile, said YES! That’s when I told him that’s what Jesus did for us two thousand years ago. Now what is needed from us and in this case him, (the inmate) is NOT to just accept Jesus, but to REPENT, (have Godly sorrow) and TRUST in Him for the forgiveness of our sin, and if he does then I would assume that he would do as He requested, “to go and sin NO MORE”!

 

Now this is a true Blessing from the Lord, as not only did his body language change but also stated, “Now I understand, that makes sense!”

 

I asked him to seriously think about what he has heard and when he goes back to his cell that he may want to get on his knees, no on his face, and ask the Lord to forgive him of all his sins, even name them, then share that experience with others in the jail.

 

Please pray for this young man as I think the Lord was calling him, as when I was finished talking he make an amazing statement. 

 

His 8-year-old daughter spoke with him last week and told him that she was praying that God would send someone to speak to him.

  

An inmate’s daughter’s prayer ANSWERED!!!

On Monday, 7/7/14, three of us went to Maricopa County Jail. Midge, an elderly woman who has been doing this for nine years, Catherine and myself. We usually arrive around 8:30.  This Monday was truly a blessing for them and us, as we were able to see more inmates than usual. Usually we leave the jail around 2 to 2:30, but this Monday we didn't leave till 4 o'clock. 

 In our 2nd session one of the young men, in his early twenty’s stated several times, "It doesn't make sense!" He had heard many times about Jesus dying on the cross to pay for our sins, again he states, “Doesn’t make sense!" 

 That's when I walked over and sat down next to him and asked him what doesn't make sense?  He stated, "If someone who lives his life and breaks every single one of God's Laws and then right before he dies on his deathbed he accepts Jesus, are you telling me that that person is going to heaven...that doesn't make sense!"  I’ve been told many times that Jesus loves me and all I have to do is accept Him and I’m saved, so I might as well get what I can and before I die ask Him.

That's when I shared with him what I’ve learned from Ray Comfort who brought us this teaching of The Way of The Master.  I then asked him if he had ever lied, stolen or used the Lord's Name as a swear word, or ever looked with lust?  He stated he had, with a flippant attitude!

I then asked, based on his own admission, would he be innocent or guilty in front of a Holy God...He said guilty!  I then asked, Heaven or Hell, he stated probably Hell. I then asked did that concern him he said, yes. So that the others who were listening would have a clear understanding of what Hell is like, I then explained it.  I have found that many, even those who claim to be Christian, don't really know what it’s like.

So as you can see his understanding of a god who will just set you free because you accept him didn’t make sense and rightly so.

Now is when I was able to give him the courtroom analogy that Ray had shown us. If he was in front of the Maricopa Judge and was about to be sentenced with the Judge stating he would have to spend life in jail or come up with one million dollars, to be set free. I then asked, so if he just told the Judge how sorry he was, please forgive me, and I’ll never do it again, could the Judge let him go? He stated, ”NO!”

I then asked what if just as the Judge was about to slam the gavel down for his sentence of life in prison, when someone he didn’t know walked into the courtroom and shouted out that he had a certified check for $1 Million Dollars. The man states he sold every thing he had, Stocks, Bonds, Investment property, cars & his house because he loves this man & didn’t want to see him suffer. 

I then asked the inmate could the Judge let you go? He pondered a while and then with a smile, said, “YES!” That’s when I told him that’s what Jesus did for us two thousand years ago.

Now what is needed from us and in this case him, (the inmate) is NOT to just accept Jesus, but to REPENT, (have Godly sorrow (2Cor. 7:10)) and TRUST in Him for the forgiveness of our sin, and if he does, then I would assume that he would do as He requested, “to go and sin NO MORE!”

Now this is a true Blessing from the Lord, as not only did his body language change but also stated, “Now I understand, that makes sense!” He then made an amazing statement!  “His 8-year-old daughter spoke with him last week and told him that she was praying that God would send someone to speak to him.”

I asked him to seriously think about what he has heard and when he goes back to his cell that he may want to get on his knees, no on his face, and ask the Lord to forgive him of all his sins, even name them, then share that experience with others in the jail.

Please pray for this young man as I think the Lord was calling him, as I finished speaking, I remembered what he said his daughter said to him, that she was praying that God would send someone to speak to him. I then said so can you see how your daughter’s prayer is being answered today!

A HOMELESS MAN WITH A HEART FOR GOD1

This is about a homeless man with a heart for the Lord.

This Saturday night in Tempe I decided to try to reach the lost from a different spot as the police gave me a difficult time last Saturday about being in front of the Post Office.  They told me I was not allowed to post my sign or even stand there, as it was tantamount to loitering.

While they were reading me the riot act I noticed a man alongside of me who you might guess was homeless. After they left and as I was packing up he stated that he loved what I was saying as he had heard me many times and wished he had said something to the officers about why they needed to hear what I was saying. Just before I left he said wait a minute and started to write on what looked like a piece of paper that he took out of his backpack. He handed it to me; it was a Christmas card on which he wrote, “You’re a blessed & highly favored Son of God, Thanks! (Psalms 68:17, Malachi 3:1)

I don’t know if you can imagine how I felt after this man did what he did. What a true blessing from the Lord! After being falsely accused the Lord sends me a messenger.

So this Saturday I set up by the movie theater across the street with my fellow sowers, Keith & Steve and started asking the question “Does any one want a FREE glow-stik, just prove to me you’re a good person!”

As I looked up there sitting on the curb was the same man who gave me the Christmas card. I waved to him & he gave me a big smile. A young lady and her male friend wanted to take the test, as she wanted her bulldog to have it. He was panting a lot, as it was a hot night. After taking the test and failing my brother in Christ Keith asked me did I notice what the man who was sitting on his backpack by the curb did?  I said no as I was concentrating on the two in front of me. He told me that he saw him get up and leave and when he came back he had a styrofoam cup in his hand. He then opened this backpack & took out a bottle of water and filled up the cup and them laid it alongside of the dog.

Later that night when we were leaving he came over to us and thanked me for speaking to all those who stopped to take the test and then asked if we had  $0.55 so he could get a refill for his coffee. I was able to give him a dollar and when Keith & Steve tried to give him what they had he wouldn’t take it as he restated that he only needed $0.55 for his coffee.  

I don’t know about you but I haven’t seen that kind of generosity or humility from anyone in his situation. He differently reminded me of the good Samaritan.

What happened to me at the Out Patient at Cigna

I wouldn't be sending this out except after what happened this morning at the hospital when I had my invasive procedure, which I rather not mention. 

The doctor who performed my cancer surgery five years ago walks up to my bed and said, “how’s life treating you?” I said I was blessed, how about you? He replied things were good. Then he asked an amazing question! So Tom do you still have those Million Dollar Bills? I'm in the hospital bed, totally naked just a smock around me and of course I had  about 20 Million Dollar Bills tucked under me. To say the least, I was shocked! 

Here it is five years later this man that did my surgery still remembered it. I asked if he had read the back he stated he did and it was convicting, as he still has it in his office. He's a surgeon! I say maybe he works 40 weeks of the year, takes some nice vacation time, and if he works five days a week in five years that's 1000 days that he's been with patients and for him to remember some old guy like me, well that’s a God sent. 

 So people please, please listen to this, as I pray that you see this as an opportunity for those of us who claim Christ as the Lord of our life and change your mind about handing out the Word of God… these Million Dollar Bills. They make an impact to those whom we meet no matter where… even a hospital. As the staff gathered around me before they put me to sleep, I was able to give each one a Million-Dollar Bill as a thank you for being so kind. 

 When I woke up a nurse, Mellissa was helping me get ready to leave. That’s when I offered her one and told her that the back was going to ask if she was good enough to get into Heaven? She said yes., I asked if I could ask her a few questions to see if that where true using some of God’s Ten Commandments. She said sure. When she admitted to breaking four of them, she still said that God would find her innocent, because God is a loving God. That’s when they need to hear the courtroom story, after that she changed her mind. 

 Because I was still groggy, she helped me to the restroom and walked me in and as saw the mirror over the sink I turned to her and told her to look in the mirror. I told her that keeping the Ten Commandments wasn’t going to save her, as know one has, but that mirror should show her how filthy dirty she and all of us are, and that God sees us nothing more than filthy rags. (Isa. 64:6). 

The only way we can become born again, righteous, saved, is to REPENT of all our sins and place our TRUST in Jesus Christ ALONE! For it was His death on the cross in Cavalry that paid the fine for all the crimes that we have committed. That’s when she turned and looked directly at me and stated, “Thank you, of all the years I’ve been in Church, I’ve never heard it explained like that, thank you!” 

So here’s my point! If it weren’t for that Million Dollar Bill how would you be able to open a serious conversation about their eternal live to a perfect stranger? (Oh I know just tell them Jesus Loves them) Please read (1Cor.1:18), to find out why you shouldn’t.

Just got home from Jail

Just got out of jail a while ago. Home now and reflecting on what happened. Got there around 8:30 and it took a while to get checked in. This was the first time that Nathan & I went with Bob & Midge to the what is called a “POD”. This is where the inmates are held and can request a meeting with Christians who have been approved by the county to visit with them. The POD is a small room where a group of about 15 can come together to listen to some Bible readings and ask questions. 

Bob brought his mandolin and Nathan brought his guitar. We all sang Christmas songs with the inmates and then Midge shared a story with them. We were blessed to be able to do this three separate times. We are also supposed to do two Chapel messages. This is where the inmates are escorted out of their cells from different sections in handcuffs to do the same thing. But there was a problem with one section and the inmates were not allowed out of their cells. Called a “Lock Down”. 

 I was surprised as I was asked to open in prayer, and this being my first time in this environment, I was a little leery. Taking a few deep breaths and asking for guidance from the Lord, I gave them what came to me. This is what I said to them. They were all here for a reason, and they understood why. They should realize that man’s law had to be satisfied and if they were found guilty they would have to do the time. The good news was that that sentence was temporary, as once their sentence was served they would be set free. But they would still have to face a Holy, Righteous and Just God, and that would be the day when they die, and His Judgment would be eternal…either Heaven or Hell. (Heb. 9:27) So with this in mind I then asked that the Lord would break their hearts, so that they would realize that they rightly deserved to be sent to Hell for disobeying God’s Holy Laws, and at the same time have them REPENT and place their TRUST in the only one who could pay the fine for their crimes…Jesus the Christ. (1Cor. 7:10) 

Those that heard the message from all the PODSs & the Chapel, clamored to receive the Million Dollar Gospel tracts, as well as the tract that asks “Which Religion is Right “, and the Texting tract. 

They now have heard the Truth of what is required of those of us who are Law breakers. Riding home, Nathan mentioned how he saw many of their faces change after hearing it. 

 Let us all pray that the Lord answers our prayers and tonight the Holy Spirit convicts them so that others may be adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven. (Eph.1:5)

Last night! What a Blessing from the Lord!!!

Last night! What a Blessing from the Lord!!!

Those of us who came out to the street corner of 3rd Ave & Roosevelt were my loving wife Catherine, our Worship Pastor Nathan and my good friend Keith, as well as Patrick and his 11 year old son Joey. If you like you can watch 2 short videos.

The streets again were full of people going whom I do not know, as they sometimes pass by us two or three times. It truly amazes me how many stop by to receive a free glow-stick. Neither the age nor the sexual orientation matter, as many stop to get one and many times in groups.

Just think of the opportunity to bring them to their knees as they engage in taking the Good Person Test. The majority claim they are GOOD…just like the scripture states.

Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

(Proverbs 20:6, NASB)

We had several one to many conversations about why, based on their answers to just four of God’s Ten Commands they would be destined to Hell. It truly is sad to hear all the made up reasons why God would not send anyone to Hell. Even those who claim to be Christian’s state God is love and wouldn't send anyone to Hell. (SAD isn't it)

The one encounter that was heartbreaking at first to me was a man who had admitted smashing a hammer to the head of another person and spent 10 years in jail for it. Now out and living on the streets he admitted several times accepting Jesus but still continued in sin, and being human it would always be like that. I again explained that Jesus had already paid the fine for his crimes and if he had truly repented and placed his trust in Jesus for that, then he would be free from the torment that he was going through. That’s when he stated that he himself had to take care of those sins as no one else could do it for him.

That’s when I explained that he was still being held captive by Satan and I needed to give him what the Scripture says about that. Ephesians 2:8-10, very clear,   “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

There it was, A FREE GIFT! Just like why I gave him the glow-stick. He accepted he wasn’t GOOD, but I gave it to him anyway. He started to understand and now comes a blessing from the Lord. I told him he needed to Repent and place his Trust in Jesus the Christ for the forgiveness of his sins, not what he does, but what Jesus already had done for him. He now responded with his head down, his speech broken. That’s when I felt to ask him if he wanted to do that now. He just nodded his head, I then told him to get on his knees and ask the Lord to forgive him  and that from now on he would place his trust in what Jesus had done for him. Now on his knee I laid my hands on him and prayed for him to receive the Holy Spirit and that the evil spirits and demons would no longer hold him captive in the precious name of Jesus the Christ.

I guess you would have had to have been there to see the peaceful look on his face when he stood up. With gratitude he took more of our written material and thanked me for being out on the street sharing the Lord with him. Leaving he turned and stated he had never heard it that way before!

Not done yet as Joey, the 11 year old had been asking me if he could get up on the box and use my microphone. Well what do you say to a child who is persistent? I got down, placed the microphone on him gave him a few glow-sticks and within seconds he started shouting out as I have, “ANYONE WANT A FREE GLOW-STICK?”  Well after a few groups passed by I kept staring at him, a few stopped and stated they would like one. They asked what do I have to do to get one? Without hesitation he responded with, “You have to take the Good Person Test. Would you consider yourself to be a good person” Well the rest was amazing, as he calmly asked the questions from the Ten Commandments. He was even able to challenge them when they said they hadn’t stolen anything by stating that he didn’t believe them as they just told him they had admitted they had lied. You should have seen them laugh at that and then as happens almost all the time, they admitted to stealing something small when they were little.

Well I could go on but you probably wouldn’t read all of it. So I pray that you mark your calendars Sept. 6th as the night you would like to see for yourself how as we state,

“We are nobodies who can share with anybody about somebody who can save anybody”

Saturday Night Live 6/22/13

Saturday night was a mix of every religious belief you can imagine. As Al and I were driving down to Mill Ave in Tempe he mentioned that tonight was going to be demonic because the moon was 13% brighter than normal. It certainly proved to be just that! Nathan, his son Aaron and his nephew Brandon were already on the corner there. These teens are a big help, as they help me set up The Good Person Test sign and sometime offer those who walk by the Million Dollar Gospel Tract. I offer these glow-sticks as a prize to those who pass by if they can prove to me they are a Good Person. They are very effective in attracting all kinds. After doing several tests to those whose belief went from not believing in any God to those who did believe in the God but NOT of the Christian Bible to those who claimed they accepted Jesus but didn't call themselves Christians.

 This couple came up to me after about an hour of giving many glow-sticks away to those who claimed they were good. age Once they admit what specific Laws they broke and show that are destined for Hell, I then give the saving Grace that can only come from Jesus' death and resurrection on the cross. I mention this first as this was why this couple came to talk to me, as the man stated he appreciated what I was saying as he had accepted Jesus and never heard it that way before. 

 

 

 She told me that he was a changed man because of Jesus, as he was a drinker and she told him she would not marry a man who gets drunk.  He smiled and stated that he accepted Jesus and he stopped drinking and he was now a changed man. He then made the comment that they don't go to Church or call themselves Christians. At first I thought they now had the truth but after hearing his last statement, I felt obligated to take him through the Commandments, to see if he really was saved, or just as many do think that Jesus was someone he just needed to accept.

 

Here is when I asked him if he thought he was a Good Person. He answered the questions quickly about him lying, stealing, swearing and lust in his heart, and stated he would be guilty like everyone else. (This is what they do, they like to place themselves in the same boat with all of mankind, so not be any different, and not really think themselves guilty)  But because he changed, he would be okay with God.

That’s when I was able to tell him that there’s only one way anyone can get into Heaven. That is to REPENT  and TRUST in Jesus Christ alone, not just because he stopped drinking, in other words him improving his life, but for what Jesus did for him and me on that cross. Jesus paid the fine for the crimes that he and I committed!

I explained what Eph.2:8-9, states it’s about Grace from God, not of works it’s a free gift, so that no one can boast. Both he and his wife now had a true picture of what it's like for one to be Born Again. They both thanked me as what they were now hearing made sense!  Praise the Lord for sending that couple to me so that the Lord could adopt another into the Kingdom (Eph.1:5)

 

Here are just 2 quotes from Charles Spurgeon on this subject:

Charles Spurgeon stated: Aim for repentance God doesn't want STILL BORNS!

 My Favorite: "I do not believe that any man can preach the gospel who does not preach Law.  The Law is the needle, and you cannot draw the silken tread of the gospel through a man's heart until you first send the Law to make way for it.