"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber." Isaiah 56:10
December 2002-January 2003
Newsletter
"His watchmen are blind: they are
all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to
slumber." Isaiah 56:10
BARKING
DOGS
If a barking dog is all that the Lord wants of me to be for Him, then I am honored. Last night we had a street meeting with our home church in Austin, TX. We had a great turnout of about 35 soldiers of the Lord. Unfortunately, it was not a good turnout for sinners. We outnumbered them many to one. Usually this bar district is packed but the holidays lured them elsewhere. One of our soldiers was lamenting that our efforts were of little affect because of so few sinners. I responded and told him that we were simply God’s barking dogs reminding those who were there of their plight of sin. A good dog will bark and disturb the whole neighborhood when just one stranger walks by but a dumb (double meaning) dog which cannot bring himself to bark will sleep through the threat and awake only when he is hungry. I want to be a barking watchdog that the Lord commends for faithful service. My, that’ll preach, help yourself.
THAT’S JUST A STORY
I held my new banner depicting the twin towers on fire with the question in red across the picture, “If you were on the 82nd floor, where would you spend eternity.” A man walked up and started objecting to the “exploitation of 9-11.” I asked him what he thought of the banner across the street. This banner had Jesus on the cross with blood, sweat and tears. He said, “Oh, that is just a story. This really happened.” This new banner is as shocking as one can get and yet, for the most part the apathetic, American public just walks right on by. I think that there has been so much super-hype in all areas of our lives with the super murders and the super white collar crime and then all that TV brings to them that there isn’t much we can do except to be consistent in bringing them the old, old story. “My word will not return void” is the verse the last-days street preacher must claim until the return of our Lord. The world is just about burned itself out in every aspect of society. As “the preacher” of Ecclesiastes said, “(Eccl 1:9) "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."
We were honored to minister in the following churches these past two months. True Vine Bapt., Pastor Ed Ware, Phoenix, AZ., Charity Bapt. Tabernacle, Pastor Larry Hickam, Amarillo, TX. A grown man named Oscar came to the altar and I dealt with him concerning the things of the Lord. He was saved that night, praise the Lord. Capitol City Bapt., Pastor Hank Thompson, Austin, TX., Bible Bapt., Pastor James Knox, Deland, FL., Scenic Hills Bapt., Pastor Gary Evans, Austin, TX., and Amazing Grace Bapt., Pastor Doug Coates, Tulsa, OK.
NEW
TWIST
Winter has always been complicated for us because of the weather and meetings down south. We are doing something different this winter. The motor home is stationary at our home church in Austin, TX. This allows Robin and Mary to have some relief from the stress of the road as well as do things they cannot do on the road. Their health is greatly improved. Mary is taking piano, voice and art lessons and Robin is the “soccer mom” running her to and fro. I am taking meetings out of town, heading the street ministry at our home church, teaching two subjects at our church Bible College, and writing another book. Our street meeting list will display this change. I have preached in Amarillo, TX. and many, many times in Austin in several locations. Our church and college preached publickly at the inauguration of the governor of TX. last week. Wonderful opportunity!