Thanksgiving Day, 1997 Kayaking on Lake Tahoe at Zephyr Cove
I want to hear my Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," when my days on earth are done.
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The Author Speaks
Thanksgiving Day, 1997 Kayaking on Lake Tahoe at Zephyr Cove
I want to hear my Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," when my days on earth are done.
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Pat Robertson of the Christian Broadcasting Network answered this question on the 700 Club. He quoted Matthew 24:14 AMPC as the number one sign of the return of Jesus Christ: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." According to Revelation 5:9 AMPC there will be those who have received Jesus Christ into their lives from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. Some from every discrete people group will need to turn to Jesus! After Babel (Genesis 11:1-9 AMP) to share the Gospel in all languages is no small task. Fortunately, organizations are co-ordinating operations now so no one wastes time reinventing the wheel. Information Technology professionals, mostly retired language researchers in the field and indigenous speakers are speeding up the process with state of the art technology. (Wycliffe Associates)
When will this have happened?2. What can you do? (I know you can do what I did because I did it)
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A. Check out some ministry firsthand
B. Go solo if you have to but GO!
C. Look for more stationary opportunities
A. Check out some ministry firsthand
Keep doing this until you say, "I can do that!" Don’t
leave too soon; it's comforting to have company when things
go bump.
In 1971 I went to Bermuda with Campus Crusade for Christ over
spring break. We asked college students on the beach if they
wanted to take a religious survey. At the end we asked if they
wanted to know more about Jesus. If they did we read through the
"Four Spiritual Laws" with them and they had an
opportunity to receive Jesus Christ into their lives. I learned
you could approach a total stranger and successfully share the
gospel with that person. I learned just to point to (without covering)
the words in the "
Four Spiritual Laws" (Bilingual) with my finger
as I was reading them aloud. Speaking slowly in a monotone seemed
to allow the words to speak more deeply. Courtesy was easy as it
just flowed. The only place to remark about was the page where
you pick between two diagrams to show what you think your life is
like. Some say they are in the middle, not in either diagram. No
problem, just ask "Which would you like your life to be
like?" People generally point to a life ordered by Christ.
The next page has a prayer of commitment. It is read first and
then the person is asked, "Does that prayer express the
desire of your heart?" If so, ask, "Are you ready to
pray that prayer right now?" If they are, they pray. If they
aren’t, no problem, just say, "You'll have this
for when you are ready and give it to them with your blessing."
The booklet will probably reappear on just the right day!
By the way, once I met a young man out riding a horse and I was
walking. We agreed to meet later. He sat in the passenger side of
my VW Bug and I asked him if he wanted to pray and receive Christ
right now. He said, "No." I asked him if it were all
right if I prayed. He said, "OK." So I prayed. When I
was done he said, "I feel clean all over!" It took me
over twenty years to realize he changed his mind as I prayed. I
wasn't using the "
Four Spiritual Laws" (English) that day, I
just respected his decisions.
B. Go solo if you have to but GO!
You may find after time that you want to go to places your
group isn’t prepared to go. If the place is safe for you (it
offers no temptation you cannot easily overcome), go!
I witnessed in conjunction with Campus Crusade for Christ on the
University of Pennsylvania campus. I remember clearly the Campus
Crusade for Christ representative sharing the "Four
Spiritual Laws" with the gas station attendant while we were
having his gas tank filled. Ask God to put someone in your path
who will be open. What's the worst that can happen? Someone
may tell you to go to hell. No problem, just tell them with your
best smile, "That's impossible!" No matter what
you get hit with, you're better off than the person in front
of you since you already have received Jesus. And that could have
been you mocking a faithful Christian out there presenting the
gospel. If so, wouldn't you be glad he or she did not let
that mocking be a deterrent? Is it mocking, or is it some deep
place of hurt coming open with explosiveness and you can greet it
with a blessing?
C. Look for more stationary opportunities
People will know how to find you and look you over for a while
before stopping to hear what you have to say. I don't beat
around the bush. I display large (22x16 inch) attractive signs
that say "Jesus Is Lord." If it is in a place that
requires prior permission I get that in writing and keep a pile
of copies so I'm never without one. If it seems it should be
OK I still call, go and check in with the police and the
headquarters of the event first. I make sure of my rights and
limitations and keep the name, rank and badge number with me of
the person I received the information from. You may not like
where the free speech areas are located (sometimes they are by the
toilets, but a lot of people come into contact with you) but as long as you appear
fairly mobile no one can disturb you. Make friends, be nice. I
try and relate to each person as they give permission. I try and
relate to each person as they present themselves. I think of my
presentation as a bird feeder. It's available but not
mandatory. If a person says, "What are these?" I say,
"These booklets explain how you can have a personal
relationship with God through Jesus Christ." You are going
to have everything happen to you while you are out there but I
tell you, there is an angel standing with you. Remain calm. A
bird feeder brings loud and cranky birds and nervous birds almost
too afraid to express their need. You be the link between whoever
they are and what the Lord Jesus Christ has for them. Answering
with reality and truth and humility isn't wrong. Only the
bird knows why it came. If it got what it wanted and needed, good.
Becoming a Christian can be a series of steps. Help someone get
from step A to step B or step X to step Y. You'll be step Z
at some point. Maybe you're steps A to Y and God is allowing
a relationship to be healed you know not of on step Y to step Z.
Here are some things I have done and what I thought about them.
I was in Jerusalem in 1972 and one day I was overcome with
something I would have to call fear and I did not go out with the
group. Instead I read
Tortured for
Christ by Richard Wurmbrandt. I did not know until that day
that persecuted Christians did not have Bibles in their own
languages. When I put the book down I was no longer afraid. I
went out for a walk with part of my group. I looked up from the
dirt street and saw a bookstore that had Bibles in other
languages! I went in and purchased 30 Bibles in each of the
languages of the countries we were going to: Turkish, Bulgarian and
Yugoslavian. They gave me tracts also. I went back to the group
and presented the idea of taking Bibles in and that I had one
Bible in each language for each one to carry. I cautioned them
that if we ran into problems, they couldn't say they were my
Bibles. I can just tell you, it gets real out there! I spoke
German fluently which enabled me to speak to people in many
countries. In Bulgaria I got to speak with some police who were
very interested in my contacts in that country. They'd done
a routine search of our VW buses in a campground while we were
out. They found the Bibles and were told they in fact were all
mine! I finally told them, "I am dealing with the Living God
and he has all the contacts and there was no need for me to know
anyone ahead of time." A few days earlier I had actually stood two feet from a
table where about 20 soldiers had been seated.
I even asked the restaurant owner in German how to say Jesus with
a Bulgarian Bible open. It wasn't my idea, the missionary
asked me in English to do it. To attract the least attention I
just did it. The restaurant owner began to cry. I asked him why
he was crying. He said he'd never seen a Bible in his own
language. The soldiers never saw a thing. It's a matter of
decision to continue on handing out Bibles in Yugoslavia after
spending time with a room full of interrogators in Bulgaria! I
left Yugoslavia against my will with one Bible but God intervened
and got it back into Yugoslavia. By the way, I wrote plenty of
letters home saying if I disappeared, try a Bulgarian prison.
They probably thought I was joking. This was on a two month trip
through Gordon College in Wenham, MA.
I was staying in Squaw Valley in the early 1990's. All the
housekeeping staff seemed to speak Spanish only. I began to
realize I needed to locate the "
Four Spiritual Laws" in
Spanish (Latin American). I went hiking up on Squaw Valley Ski Corp property high
up in the mountains and I ran into a woman from Germany. We spoke
German together briefly. I realized I would have to locate the
"
Four Spiritual Laws" in German.
I stood in front of Safeway, the grocery store, with permission
of their corporate office, as Easter approached one year with my
"Jesus Is Lord" sign and had "
Four Spiritual Laws"
in English only. Some people said they gave already (!); some
with Christian T-shirts on were indifferent; some people were so
happy to see someone there with the way to God in hand. I was
most impressed, however, with the chattering in other languages.
One man asked me if I had one in
Russian (Central Asian Muslim) and I didn't. I
began to realize that to minister in the Silicon Valley you had
better be prepared for speakers of many languages since walking out
your front door can be a mission trip!
I moved on to the Berryessa Flea Market in San Jose, California.
By then I had the "Four
Spiritual Laws" in as many languages as were available. I
also had the "Jesus Film" in English. I asked a sign
maker if I could pop the "Jesus Film" into the TV/VCR
he had there to entertain his kids and if he could direct
inquirers to our spot which had no electricity. Even with the saw
on it was apparent the "Jesus Film" was getting
attention. We saw about one decision per week at the flea market.
I just opened the back of my pickup and camper shell and put
everything out on the tailgate. One man said God had told him to
do this at the flea market but he didn't. Another woman said
God was going to bless us for doing this. Some Vietnamese vendors
turned to Christ. The teenage daughter of someone selling yard
sale type items came to Christ. A child came and received Christ.
A young man said when I asked would he like to receive Christ
right now said, "Who wouldn't!" A man walked past
my truck and then stood there as if he were going to keep going.
After a minute I realized he was in a Holy Spirit lock and I
asked him what language he spoke. He answered,
"Chinese." (Simplified)
That is the last word we could find that both of us understood.
But I pulled out the
Chinese "Four Spiritual Laws (Traditional)" and
turned to the prayer (easy to find). I showed it to him. He read
it and he was surely surprised as to what it was. He left with it.
I really wanted to rent an indoor area and put in TV/VCRs
with head sets so I could show the "Jesus Film" in many
languages. People tried to buy the "Jesus Film" in
English from me waving bills in front of me. I was unprepared for
requests in different languages.
In 1994 the Lord told me to go to the Space Needle in Seattle and
witness. He said I'd have to go right away or wait for a
long time. I didn't know that in just two weeks I wouldn't
be able to take vacation for another 6 months! I ended up going
at the end of November. I told the Lord how much I'd need
for gas, etc. I was surprised to receive a check for very close
to that amount a week before I left from a class action suit I
hadn’t known about. Believe it or not they promised to send
more money later! I slept in my truck in a campground and ate 50
cent burgers and commuted back and forth. Just a few days before
I left I had a dream and God gave me very specific instructions
about a certain man I would meet. I actually stood at the Seattle
Center in the same complex as the Space Needle. I had my "Four
Spiritual Laws" in languages, New Testaments, and my "Jesus
Is Lord" signs. What I remember is being very cold, the
workers there were absolutely not thrilled at my presence but I
met the man God had shown me in the dream and I did what God said. The Lord
told me the people around him were doing nothing, perhaps that's
why he brought me up from California. I remember several things.
A couple of young men were videotaping me and making fun of me on
tape. However, I just used my good old standby, "These
booklets explain how you can have a personal relationship with
God through Jesus Christ." When they found the New
Testaments were free they asked if they could each have one. They
left in a different manner than they came. Some people were so
impressed with what I was doing I was treated to a Thanksgiving
dinner! The last day I was there it was starting to rain and get
dark. One of the men who'd made fun of me came over and told
me it was starting to rain and I should pack up and stay dry. He
was very nice.
I moved on to Valley Fair Mall in San Jose. I stayed there the
longest. I was so excited after the Space Needle how God could
send me to a specific individual that I began to think of what
could happen next. I'm not a shopper and I enter malls only
if I know exactly which store I'm going to and exactly which
entrance is closest. But there I was applying to sit with Bugs
Bunny on one side and B Dalton Bookstore on the other with my
"Jesus Is Lord" signs. I asked the Lord for a
confirmation that I was to do this. As I left I found a woman in
the parking lot who was disoriented. She had gotten on a bus to the mall
but didn't know how to get home. It became apparent she
spoke French only. I speak no French. I got out a "
Four Spiritual Laws" in French and wrote in English a note to the bus
driver where she needed to go and sent her to the bus area. I
took that as confirmation. I had the largest number of
interactions in the mall. Some days were quiet. Other days were
very busy.
How did I get this domain name, "JesusIsLord.org"
One night I was praying, "Oh God, people tell me I can't
reach the world for Christ! I don't want to hear it from you!
Don't tell me I can't reach the world for Christ! Put a
tool in my hand so I can reach the world for Christ!" This
was in January of 1996 on a Tuesday.
The next morning I was to go to a seminar on the Internet at a
hotel close to work. It had come up so suddenly I was asked to
use my credit card for 3 people and get reimbursed later. I had
asked so many times for training on the Internet. I heard the man
speak and in less than an hour I realized that the Internet is
the modern version of the Roman roads that took the Gospel from
Jerusalem to the known world! The attendees lined up to find out
from a man with a laptop computer connected to the Internet if
their proposed domain name was already taken or not. I had no
plans so I stood at the head of the line watching. I would say
that 97% of the desired domain names were already taken. The man
turned to me and I intended to say, "Sower Ministries."
But I said, "JesusIsLord.org." The man looked at me and
said, "I can't believe it, it's still there."
So I wrote a check for much more than would be needed normally
and on
January 16th of 1996 it was registered to me. When I
consider the name, I know the content and demeanor must remain
pure. It's took me 5 years to think of putting personal
items on the site. But I have polled those I trust and they say
it's good. By the way, the Internet works even while I'm
asleep! I learned the power of software when I worked in electronics.
Software never sleeps, takes vacations, or gets sick.
Be ready in an instant to take advantage of opportunities! On a
Wednesday evening I learned of someone going to China to teach a
class for 8 hours. I had a dream that night that I should ask him
to take the
Chinese Four Spiritual Laws (Simplified) to China. I asked him to
arrive 15 minutes early because I had a personal favor to ask. I
said, just as mules take drugs I'm asking you to be a mule
and take Chinese gospel tracts into China. He looked at me and
said, "Is this so people can go to heaven?" I said,
"Yes," and he said, "I'll do it!" It was
Thursday evening. The Lord had said 300 tracts only and I'd
already called Campus Crusade for Christ and ordered them for
next day UPS delivery. I took a very late lunch and went home to
get the yellow slip from UPS off my door and then I asked the
Lord where the UPS truck was. I drove around and found it. The
man had my tracts! I went back to work and asked someone to write
in Chinese, "Take one, they're free." I wrapped
them in packs of 10. Over the weekend I missed the voice mail at
home saying he couldn't do it after all. I called Sunday
night and he told me he couldn't. I asked if I could bring
them over before work Monday so he could take a look. When he saw
how few there were (330, I couldn't resist!) his wife
wrapped them up in two packages of Christmas wrapping. They ended
up in a remote village that could read. I heard from Campus
Crusade for Christ in Singapore requesting to know where they
ended up so they could do follow up. At a prayer meeting at my
church we prayed for this village. They have definite needs and
God can supply them!
2009 note: I wanted to go to China as soon as Richard Nixon went! I was
despairing that I was going to miss the Olympics in Beijing! But the Lord
as always had a plan. Two ministries whose resources I use applied to work
in China legally in their preparation for the Olympics! After the Olympics I
created my web site for China and went to China myself. After interacting
with the government through our government guide and through the Chinese
Chamber of Commerce,
OlympicPlatinum.com is available in China. While it is
in English, it is brief, and has links to the Bible, the Four Spiritual Laws and
World Missionary Press tracts in Simplified (Chinese) and Traditional (Taiwan)
Chinese. Until the text is in simplified Chinese, it will be enough for one
person who does speak English to share the link and the idea of the site, noting
the resources in Simplified Chinese. As they say in Maine, "You can get there
from here!"
Also, I have become aware that while metropolitan area Internet Cafes have PCs
to rent for $1/hour, this amount of money is very high for many. The infrastructure
may allow only a slow connection, certainly not broadband. However, cell phones are
available and inexpensive. This creates instant infrastructure that is more widespread
than the Internet. I did have (2017) the Gospel of Jesus Christ (how to have a relationship
with Jesus) available in 180 languages on cell phones! Our young people already rely on
text messaging and they access social web sites via cell phone. Outside the U.S. there
is more reliance on mobile devices such as cell phones than we Americans can imagine. My
dream has always been that one person could lead another to Christ without knowing that
person's language. I sat in a Citizenship Ceremony in San Francisco. Children under a
certain age become citizens of the U.S. automatically when the parent becomes a citizen.
And so it came about that I, a visitor, sat next to a young person from Haiti. I got
out my cell phone and showed her the
Four Spiritual Laws in Haitian Creole. She said she
speaks it but left Haiti before learning to read it. Her uncle took the phone and read it
to her, translating it into English. I finally realized what was going on and said I could
bring up the English Four Laws if that would be better. The woman in front of me (Chinese)
asked me four times, "Who is the preacher?" Each time I said, "I guess it's me." She
kept asking because she had never overheard such a conversation before! Persons in multi-lingual
conversations with fluent speakers of at least one language adapt to each other almost instantly
and whoever is able to
bridge the gap for another will do so quickly. We got up to Law 3 when the ceremony started.
Having all this on cell phone means everything you need is in your pocket at all times.
And the tracts don't get wrinkled!
I had 11 web sites specifically for mobile devices such as cell phones. Each was different
in length and content based on who the target audience is. You will have to look at them
and decide for yourself
who I had in mind when I wrote them (http://www.jesusislord.org/mobile_sites.htm).
2017 A valid question is, why did you let your mobile websites go? 1. Smartphone penetration
is increasing throughout the world. 2. The websites were only in English and the initial
software was unreliable. 3. Ministries migrated their websites to lower data and fewer
frills to be mobile friendly without distinguishing the presentation as PC friendly or
mobile friendly. 4. I had about 20 websites to maintain. I've now consolidated the
content on to JesusIsLord.org Why did I have so many websites? Why does a fisherman
have so many different flies and special bait for specific fish? So he can catch them!
2009 My PC-based sites are fairly simple. I lay in bed one night surfing JesusisLord.org on
my cell phone and it's one of the cheapest cell phones. I am now changing all of my sites
so they can be surfed with more success by cell phones. If that were me out there, I
would surely appreciate someone reaching out to the only device I had in my hand to share
the Gospel. I realize TV's and satellite dishes are all over, but these often do not
carry Christian programming.
One last note: I do not put stories on the Internet unless they are very old or no one
could be recognized due to the general nature of the interaction. No one needs fear
something they said will be made public within a time frame that is sensitive. If I do
put something on the web site that is new, I ask first. My rule is that if I have
helped someone, it is up to them to say so, not me.
Pray for the gospel to go forth! Get
Operation World by
Patrick Johnstone. Countries and their needs are presented for
each day of the year starting with January 1st. Don't wait
for January 1st; pick up on whatever day it is. I have a coworker
who credits his winning trivia question prizes due to praying for
the 10-40 Window. 2017 Due to interferance one may not be able to
find out which country is today's country. The book has it and
you can just pray for any country any day.
Give to those who are out there doing it! Which part of the
operation fascinates you the most? Do you want to support those
who develop and print scripture tracts, those who distribute
them, those who send believers Bibles, those who meet physical
and medical needs or those who do all of it? Do you want to fund
a new language translation of "The Jesus Film?" Do you
want to help send a team out to show "The Jesus Film?"
Many ministries have giving catalogs with items such as dig a
well in a village with a price next to it. Jesus said the Kingdom
of God has the highest returns (more than you can ask or think,
pressed down…shaken together…running over), so invest
in the kingdom of God! I think of giving to the gospel as funding
a diversified mutual fund run by the smartest money manager in
history! The thing closest to the heart of God is people and if
he'd leave the 99 to save 1, we should consider it too.
Where the
10-40 Window is concerned it's more like leaving
the 30 to save the 70. Help me here someone! 'Top'
In progress...let me know!!!
You! An evangelist! Your heart is to share Christ throughout the earth but you don't speak every language! Not to worry. Online and orderable resources to help you can be found through JesusIsLord.org. Allow God to begin to work through you in ways you never imagined. Tongue tied? Tracts speak as you sensitively share them. Go for it!
Last updated 05/10/2017
Background music is: IT'S JESUS (THE LOVER OF MY SOUL)
Who can fill my heart with joy,
When all the earth is trembling?
Who can sing a song of love
So sweet my heart comes running?
Who can take a wounded soul
And fill it up with life, and make it whole?
It's Jesus (3x)
The lover of my soul
It's Jesus (3x)
The lover of my soul!
Who can fill our broken world
With grace that leads us to repent?
Who can fill a broken heart
With hope and faith that's heaven-sent?
Who has walked our road of pain
And bears the Name that is above all names?
Who has promised us that we
Will live with Him forever
If we will deny ourselves,
And learn to love each other?
Who calls us to take our cross
And count the former things to us as loss?
by Tim Barber ©1991 Papa's Music. All Rights
Reserved. Used By Permission. CCLI Song No. 2294232