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| Time can be split into two periods of time. I find
that's true not just for time itself but, for peoples life as well. I
can remember a time when my life changed forever, and it will never be
the same. On January 10 2001
my life changed. To understand how you would have to know me before
that date. What I say is not to try to glorify what the devil did to me
but to glorify God and how he changed me. Before that day I went to
church, I was in college and went to a collegiate ministry every
Monday. I had a Christian girlfriend and listened to Christian music,
but that wasn't who I was that was just what I did. I went to these
things and all the time lied about who I was. The truth is that I was
someone else completely. In a previous relationship I had a one night
stand. On January 10 2001
I found out that I was going to be a father. I had realized that the
two lives I was living where going to come crashing down on each other
and it made me really look at my life for the first time. I realized
from the time that I was in church that I was in trouble because God
sees everything I do and that every sin would be made known. It is also
written Rom 14:11 for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (ESV) I
realized that the problem was not that I was having a child, but that I
had broken every single one of the ten commandments. I had dishonored
my father and mother by having sex outside of marriage, I had commited
adultery against my future wife. I had lied about the whole thing. I
had coveted the wife of another man (even though they weren't married
yet). I had disgraced the Sabbath holy day of God by worshipping with
false motives and by doing so stole the time that should have been Gods
and, by doing this I broke the last five. I blasphemed the name of God
by saying I was a Christian. I mad myself the god of my life. I
worshiped myself. The sixth commandment says not to murder and I had
lastly murdered myself. Through this sin I would have to face judgment. My knee would have to bow and I would find myself guilty before a perfect God. I found out that no liar would be granted access to heaven. 1Jo 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV) I
found myself guilty before God and had no clue as how to deal with
this. I knew my destination for this was hell eternal and that I was
guilty, guilty, guilty. I had no defense for judgment day. I
went to find my girlfriend at the time (a Christian that later became
my wife) and told her what I had done, and told her that I was going to
hell, which was true. She let me know of the grace of God. And that IF
I would repent and put my trust in Jesus to cleanse me of my sin that I
could be saved. She explained that over two thousand years ago Christ
died that his blood could cover my sins. Mar 15:24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. (ESV) Mar 15:37-39 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. (38) And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (39) And
when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he
breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (ESV) The
thing about Jesus on the cross was that it split time. Before death and
destruction ruled and after redemption was possible, that night I
repented and put my faith in Jesus. My life has never been the same. Joh 3:16-21 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (18) Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only
Son of God. (19) And
this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people
loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. (20) For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (21) But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God." (ESV)
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| what a blessing. If you want to know you have to go!
wednesday
After getting in Avery peterson and I went walking and met ishmel (sp) he said he had never heard of the ten commandments. It was a good starting one to one and he was left with some thoughts but nothing had come of it.
We came back latter and he was still around, we witnessed to him again and he kept saying one day he would do it. Pray for him.
Thursday,
Got up and preached after chris (if you heard the wotm radio ) I was the one screaming MONEY! I was so heart broken at the sinners that had such hard hearts there that after words I had to go to a private place, I was followed by this strange little man from new zealand the comforted me (  )
Friday
I partnered with Scot Brandon, we walked up and down the blvd. looking at all the former stars that no one could tell you who they were. It was proof that a hundred years from now no one will know tom cruise. We went to eat and on the way back waited our turn to OA. It was a good one. I noticed through my OA and sevral ones before a guy that was just listening through them all. He walked off after mine but came back and talked to Jon Speed, he turned out to be an ex-youth pastor that left the church because he was on drugs, I'll let Jon tell you the rest (cause thats all I know  )
That night at 3rd street we passed out some tracts did some one to one and watched an oa of a different style. I learned alot about defending the faith.
Saturday
We went to Venice, what a corrupt and vile place. I almost didn't want to preach to them. I struggled all day in prayer and finaly got up to preach. I did cry and read out of matt. 24:14 (look it up) One child (12 years old) came up to learn more, he wasn't ready just to trust what I was saying but said he would read the bible.
That night at third street, I sat down very tired...And God sat a drunk down next to me. He told me that he had come to repentance before and had fruit...he said there was a year of his life that he could resist sin but that he was a slave again..to make a one and half hour conversation short I told him that if I was in a coffin and someone was eating a jelly douhnut above me and I jumped up and started eating it...whats wrong with that picture... I haven't died to self.. he left saying he would die to self...I asked him why he sat down next to me and he said he was drunk ( he wasn't by the time we were done)
Sunday
Graduation was bitter sweet...I miss you all dearly. We went to John Macarthurs (sp) church, its the first time I have heard of him. He was a good preacher check him out. Anyways I can't wait till the next one. There is just something that can't be put into words. If you want to know you have to GO!
what a blessing. If you want to know you have to go!
wednesday
After getting in Avery peterson and I went walking and met ishmel (sp) he said he had never heard of the ten commandments. It was a good starting one to one and he was left with some thoughts but nothing had come of it.
We came back latter and he was still around, we witnessed to him again and he kept saying one day he would do it. Pray for him.
Thursday,
Got up and preached after chris (if you heard the wotm radio ) I was the one screaming MONEY! I was so heart broken at the sinners that had such hard hearts there that after words I had to go to a private place, I was followed by this strange little man from new zealand the comforted me ( )
Friday
I partnered with Scot Brandon, we walked up and down the blvd. looking at all the former stars that no one could tell you who they were. It was proof that a hundred years from now no one will know tom cruise. We went to eat and on the way back waited our turn to OA. It was a good one. I noticed through my OA and sevral ones before a guy that was just listening through them all. He walked off after mine but came back and talked to Jon Speed, he turned out to be an ex-youth pastor that left the church because he was on drugs, I'll let Jon tell you the rest (cause thats all I know )
That night at 3rd street we passed out some tracts did some one to one and watched an oa of a different style. I learned alot about defending the faith.
Saturday
We went to Venice, what a corrupt and vile place. I almost didn't want to preach to them. I struggled all day in prayer and finaly got up to preach. I did cry and read out of matt. 24:14 (look it up) One child (12 years old) came up to learn more, he wasn't ready just to trust what I was saying but said he would read the bible.
That night at third street, I sat down very tired...And God sat a drunk down next to me. He told me that he had come to repentance before and had fruit...he said there was a year of his life that he could resist sin but that he was a slave again..to make a one and half hour conversation short I told him that if I was in a coffin and someone was eating a jelly douhnut above me and I jumped up and started eating it...whats wrong with that picture... I haven't died to self.. he left saying he would die to self...I asked him why he sat down next to me and he said he was drunk ( he wasn't by the time we were done)
Sunday
Graduation was bitter sweet...I miss you all dearly. We went to John Macarthurs (sp) church, its the first time I have heard of him. He was a good preacher check him out. Anyways I can't wait till the next one. There is just something that can't be put into words. If you want to know you have to GO!
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| God is good! We all got together at about 7:45 Saturday in OKC. God has risen up laborers recently (praise him). We had a total of ten people. Avery, Brian, Derek, and I were the only regulars there (we were outnumbered ;) ) We had some company from Ada, OK Felicia and Jessica Goure and some friends of theirs Zachary and Tommy. We also had two new people come out with us. A new person to GNN Troy Edwards, and two other sowers that aren't yet on GNN Norman, and Stacy (who will be on here soon). We broke into 2's and went out so I'll let them tell their stories, but I can tell you it was a very humbling night. Derek had some great open airs and it was nice to see the new sowers in action. I thank God for what he is doing in OKC. I open aired for the first time since I was in Tulsa. I actually had some money so I was able to keep a crowd for a short time but as soon as we hit sin and judgment the crowd dispersed. We had a huge crowd leaving an arena where a hockey game was but they would not stop to listen, although we had a few hecklers as they walked by. It was a Great night because God was in it though and the Holy Spirit talked through us. So even though it may have been unfruitful in mans eyes, God has a whole different perspective. | | |
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A walk with God.
"Jacob by faith , when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped , leaning upon the top of his staff. (Heb. 11:21)
Today I had to walk home alone. I walked because my car is broke down. The engine was ruined and a new one has been put in but I don't have the money to pay it back yet. The car my parents loaned me caught fire then died as well. As I was walking I started to pray. I had a 2 1/2 mile walk in front of me. I prayed that the lord would revel to me his purpose in all this, as I looked out onto the beautiful Oklahoma sky I started to praise God for the awesome painting that he has made for us in the sky, then I noticed the Red Oklahoma dirt that I was walking past, and scattered patches of grass that is just coming back to life after the winter. I saw birds playing (at least I think the were ;) ) and praised God for these awesome creatures that he has made. It has been so long, I think since I was a child since I have truly thanked God for birds and grass and dirt, but these are things that God has made and everything he has made shows his awesome power and glory eternal! I figured out why I think that my car broke down. When I rush everywhere in my car I don't take time to see that which God has made just what man has made. Then something else entered my mind. Jacob by faith when he was dying… The last words of a person or last acts are so reviling of the persons character and faith. Jacob was in Egypt and said not to let his bones rest there, he knew he was a sojourner in a land that was not his own. When he was dying he was leaning upon the top of his staff… the same staff that he traveled across the Jordon with he leaned upon as he traveled across the spiritual Jordon to meet God almighty. That's the fist thing I want you to know. We must realize that nothing here is permanent we are just sojourning to a promised land. Second He blessed the sons of Joseph… his sons were borne to the nobility to a caste that was granted more than the Jewish in the community. They were seen as Egyptians they had everything the world could offer at the time and what did good old grandpa say. Here take my blessing take this land that I don't own deed to that someone else is in now; and leave her with my bones. Take them where they belong because we don't belong here. Now what I want to point out is that so many of us worry about what is going to happen to "my" ministry or "my" work we think that God needs us, lo nothing is further from the truth! We are chosen to bring the light we have into the world not because we deserve to or because we are capable beings or because we can offer anything grand or great to God but because we are the opposite. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1 cor. 1:27 ) I marvel in my insignificance and praise God that he has chosen to use me something that is not worthy of the least little bit of grace, but he has chosen to save me out of the muck and mire. He has chosen me to walk with him, more than that he has given me the GIFT of walking with him! What a short trip it was with him and how sweet it is. His yoke is light! But I transgress back to my point, What is of God will last after we are gone. We weep when our pastors leave or when a favorite teacher passes, even though we will see them again, sometimes though we doubt that the Lord can continue his work without the person. I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out (Luke 19:40) We are nothing and God needs us not at all! Glory to him he wants us though. If I should walk all the days of my life every where I go, what a sweet walk it will be. I thank God for you, and thank you for reading this story,
Sean | | |
| Wow! what a wonderful and fulfilling night of God. God went with us tonight as we meet at Sonic in bricktown Avery and a new seed sower Terry and I went from bricktown down the road to a skate park. As I witnessed to two kids Avery was witnessing to another kid, right as Avery got to the gospel his father started to honk the horn and say to keep away from his kid.Thank God that Avery got in the good news to go along with the bad. Then another kid steven (please pray for him) he threatened Avery with violence, Avery had only told him that we were christians at that point so it was nothing to do with the presentation, Anyway a off duty police man that was working at the park came out and started to ask us to leave but steven came over and we were able to go through the gospel with steven the off duty cop and another kid. Praise the Lord. I also talked to one kid that was 14 from a local middle school. He said that he had been to church camp and prayed a prayer and they gave him a new bible. I shared the parachute anology and gave him save yourself some pain before his ride got there. We then left to go back to bricktown.Terry passed out some tracts and did a great job, I believe it was his first time to confront complete strangers. Avery was able to get into one very good one to five where three people listened the whole way through and shaked our hands as they left. We were also able to give hbks to two guitar players that we have seen over the last two weeks and were encouraged that one of them wanted to start sharing his faith! God is growing our team slowly but steadily please pray for him that God will open his eyes to hbks.
ITGFYA (I thank God for you all)
Sean | | |
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