Streets May 9, 2008 - THE COPS

FINALLY we got the chance to go out witnessing this week. It has been a hard week on me because MY plans kept being altered because our girls were sick. It's hard to not be selfish when YOU want something so bad. I know God had plans that were WAY more important than mine. Besides, one GREAT thing that happened this week was that Amariah has learned to say "YES" to everything rather than, "yeah", "yep", "mmmhhhhmmm", and whatever other slang we use. If you happen to be around her, WATCH OUT, she'll catch you saying one of those things and call you on it, "don't say 'yep' say yes."

So we went to the Canal Park/Marine Museum yesterday afternoon. This was our first outing to the same area we got booted before. As many of you know, I have done some SERIOUS research into our rights within and/or around that area. The CONCLUSION of the matter can be read in one of the more recent posts.

We arrived around 4pm with our new sign in hand (see pictures). This sign is MUCH larger than the last sign. This sign "weighs" in at 48"W x 51"H. We were a little apprehensive if the sign might break "code" but we figured it was worth a try. We set up about 20feet from were the federal land and city property abuts one another. There were A LOT of people there and it wasn't even really nice out. THAT PLACE WILL BE PACKED THIS SUMMER!

As usual we had many people stopping, looking, and reading from a distance. A group of High School students on their senior trip stopped and talked to us. They were professing believers and seemingly we were able to encourage them with our banner, stories, hats, shirts, and testimonies. I always try to challenge people, esp. teens, to live out their faith to the fullest. Since this was our first time out with this BIG sign, we had no idea what to expect in terms of the wind and wind "push". As we were talking to the students a few "mild" breezes came through and I'm sure I looked like a HUGE idiot trying to keep this thing from falling on all of us. The sign won and I had to set it down while Josh grabbed his homemade base for "better" support. That didn't work either. All in all the sign needs some modifications IF we continue to use that size.

As the students left, one guy who was not with the students, let us know he thought our sign was "#1", although he did that with his middle finger...maybe that's the only finger he had and was really giving us a "thumbs up"...I doubt it!

Now we had the sign in it's base and seemingly thought we were ready to take on the wind. Just then two cop cars pulled up along the Marine Museum and the cops walked inside. We were pretty confident this was going to happen since the federal employee said she would "take the next step" if she saw us out there again. The thing is, I had done my homework and knew EXACTLY where I could and could not stand. In fact I now carry a 3-ring binder on me AT ALL TIMES when out witnessing with laws, court cases, boundary lines, important contact info, and pertinent emails from city officials.

The police came up to us and asked what we were doing. I said, "exercising our rights", which probably wasn't the best choice of words. I think the officer might have thought I was being defiant. Because he seemed to get mad. A few exchanges went on and I said, "yeah we got booted from there before"..again maybe not the best choice of words. The officer, now seemingly annoyed by my "defiance" said, "AND YOU'RE GETTING BOOTED AGAIN".

Now, I don't do real well with people telling me what to do, ESPECIALLY when I KNOW I am right...and in this situation I KNEW I was right. I said, "Why I have all the necessary documents saying I am OK to stay here." They have their six-shooters, I have my 3-ring binder. I pulled it out and let them know I had contacted the city attorney, city engineer, AND THEIR Lt. of Police Dept. I also showed them the aerial photos of city/federal property. Things seemed to change once I showed them I "had done my homework", as one of them explained. One of the officers still seemed to have a problem with our message because people are "offended" by it. The thing is, I KNOW. Jesus IS the "rock of offense". Jesus is the "stumbling block". Jesus said, "the world will hate you because it hated me." The officer didn't see why we would stay out here if we weren't wanted out here. Simple, the best place to be is the place you are not wanted to be....that's the place you NEED to be! They let us know if we went onto federal property that we would be arrested for trespassing. Supposedly the federal employees didn't like us near their property, and therefore will violate us as trespassers if we go on their property. Now I seemed to think they meant EVER, but Josh seemed to think only if we have signs. I plan to do to a little looking into this. It would be discrimination if we were NEVER allowed on their property WITHOUT signs. Doesn't make sense.

The police officers left after giving us a few of their "opinions" on what we should do. One of them must have been a professing believer because he said he thought we were "doing a good deed." After the officers left things seemed to pick up with the people....boy that's a "coincidence". A gentleman engaged me about our sign thinking that works, infant baptism, and going to church saves a person. We discussed these things for close to half-an hour. Although discussing doctrine can be very beneficial, it was pretty clear nether of us were going to budge on what we believed. I said it's by faith and faith alone and this faith produces obedience. He said "we have to do something" in order to be saved. I will NEVER believe our obedience gets us into heaven. Our obedience happens BECAUSE we are saved, not vice-a-versa (I'm obedient then I get saved). I tried to end the conversation with "are you sure you are saved". He said, "no" but also added "no one can know they are saved". I wonder what John would think of that:

1 John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may KNOW you have eternal life.

I don't think the apostle John would agree with this gentleman, therefore I didn't agree with him.

As soon as he left, a young man came up to me who was a STRONG "atheist". We discussed MANY topics and to say the least, it was a VERY frustrating conversation. He literally believed in "nothing". One of the best parts of the conversation was when he said, "you christians think you know absolute truth...there is NO SUCH THING AS ABSOLUTE TRUTH." hmmmmmm, is it just me or isn't he implying that he KNOWS ABSOLUTE TRUTH? His ABSOLUTE TRUTH is that there IS NO ABSOLUTE TRUTH. When it was all said and done, I gave him my email and asked him to contact me for a burger and "beer" sometime. He agreed.

Meanwhile Josh was working his new made hat next to me. It must have caught the attention of a few girls because he was in a discussion with them about many topics, most of which dealt with "humanism" and "relativism". People who believe this basically say, "you can believe what you believe...and it's good for you." That doesn't work though when you apply Hitler, rapist, murderer, etc to that same "faith". The conversation seemed to go good and Josh commented how "difficult" it is to talk with "those types of people". It is hard, BUT I always try to bring it back to God the creator, we are created in His image, our moral conscience, sin, judgment, wrath, repentance, faith, obedience, and ultimately the cross. Sometimes it's best not to debate with people, let the Word of God do the "debating".

It was now 7:45 and time to go. As we were packing up, two young gentleman walked up and asked us if they could read our sign. BINGO! For the next 20 mins or so we were able to discuss God the creator, we are created in His image, our moral conscience, sin, judgment, wrath, repentance, faith, obedience, and ultimately the cross. They seemed to take it in very well, were blown away by God's hate for sin, and they seemed to understand the terms repentance and faith.

It was now 8:15 and I had told my wife I would be home by 8pm. Praise God my wife knows what I'm all about. I heard a preacher once say (paraphrase), "if you want to help people see their need for a savior, you might as well forget about Denny's." Point: sometimes you have to forget about YOUR agenda. Some things are much more important.

I got home, my wife understood. I love my wife!


Proverbs 31:28-31 (The "Proverbs 31" wife)
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.