AWAKENING HYPNOTIZED STUDENTS

August 19, 2013, Eastern Illinois University

   The Residence Halls Association had booked and hosted a hypnotist on Sunday and put numerous students into a trance, which all the more prepared the students to be brainwashed on the first day of classes today by their "politically correct" (read socialist) professors.  Of course, the university would never sponsor a Christian evangelist.  So I booked myself.  We were there to awaken the mesmerized students out of their trance and to wash their hearts and minds with the truth.  The Daily Eastern News had contacted me via email yesterday concerning my campus visit, which was announced in today's student paper.  I was twice interviewed by reporters.

Wicked Woman mocks with a Miley Cyrus style "twerking" dance.

HARVEST TIME

August 21, 2013, Indiana State University

     When I posted on facebook this morning that I was returning to my alma mater today to preach, Mark A. Smith, historian of Delphi and Carroll County, IN, commented, "You will be like a tree (Sycamore) planted by the water(the Wabash River)."

Students focus intently on Sis. Pat teachings.

      In years past we have usually experienced considerable hostility at ISU and the students have behaved in a very decadent manner.  However, today some were even friendly.  Several asked, "Remember me?"  Including, Sarah, who wore a shirt which read, "I like girls who like girls."  Another girl was with her boyfriend but she reminded me that she kissed a girl in front of me last year.  A number of students expressed a desire to come to our Lasagna dinner and open house on September 19.

In spite of lots of mocking and heckling, some ISU students were listening.

     ISU was a difficult place to preach today because there is a large and loud fountain in the chief place of concourse and there is virtually no shade.  It reached 90 degrees today; nevertheless, we were able to gather an audience of 25-30 for much of the afternoon.  We have sometimes had some issues here with the police.  A policeman arrived after an hour and stayed for almost an hour.  Here seemed to get into the fun of it all.    

Christadelphian argues with Bro. Jed.

     Sister Pat and Mikhail started the meeting and Cindy and I arrived about 30 minutes later.  A man accosted me, trying to convince me that the devil was not an actual person; he claimed the devil in the Scriptures represents sin and the flesh.  Later a fellow with the same doctrine brought up the same points; I discerned that they were both Christadelphians, who deny the Trinity and the everlasting Lake of Fire.  They accused me of being a Catholic.  The second man expressed that he had heard of me and always wanted to meet me.  There is a Christadelphian Church in Jasonville, IN.  This is the first time I have actually met a Christadelphian on campus.

Bro. Mikail's anointed preaching soon drew a crowd.

     We always had an audience but the attention span of the students was short so one had to work on this hot day to maintain their attention.  Shortly, after 3 PM everyone left.  Cindy made a final attempt to draw another crowd.  A few stopped but soon left.  We left campus at 3:30 which is early for us. 

When students bring their Bibles out we are encouraged, even if they are arguing, the Word of God becomes an issue!

     We trust that the prophetic word of Psalm 1:3 will come to pass shortly that after 40 years of preaching at ISU, that the season has come to bring forth fruit, that our leaves shall not whither and that we will prosper in Terre Haute and at my beloved alma mater.  It is Terre Haute that the ministry began decades ago and we have returned with the intention of reaping a harvest.

I-Phones capture the first day of preaching at ISU

This sign brought lots of opportunities for conversation.  As students approached Sis. Cindy, she was able to explain that we all deserve Hell because of our sins, but because of Jesus Christ, we can have what we don't deserve: Eternal Life!

BUMPER STICKER RELIGION

August 22, 2013, IUPUI,

      This is a commuter campus in downtown Indianapolis.  When I walked on campus wearing my YOU DESERVE HELL polo shirt, a girl passed and said, "So do you."  I began preaching at 11:50.  The first man to stop was wearing a t-shirt with a cross printed on the front and within the cross the word, "Forgiven" was written.  It complimented my shirt.  It did not take long to draw a crowd of 25.  Soon the girl, who told me that I deserved Hell, joined the audience to inform us that there is no Hell. 

"If you don't believe in Hell, why does it bother you when some stranger tells you that you are going there?"

      After an hour I turned the crowd over to Mikhail and he may have added another dozen to the audience.  An atheist got very upset about Mikhail telling him he was headed for Hell.  The man in the forgiven shirt asked the atheist, "If you don't believe in Hell, why does it bother you when some stranger tells you that you are going there?"  The question was never answered.

      We are often accused of using fear tactics.  Of course, if there is a Hell and if it is as horrible as the Bible describes, then men ought to fear the place and Christians ought to have enough love to warn people of the final consequences of sin.  Yet, Hell is rarely mentioned in our churches, and so few church people are going into the streets to warn the wicked to flee from the wrath to come.  If there is no Hell, there is no loving God.  If God does not ultimately separate the righteous from the wicked, then he is unjust.  There is a lot of unfinished justice in this world.  The righteous often suffer and the wicked prosper.   Ultimately, if there is going to be justice, in the afterlife the righteous must be rewarded and the workers of iniquity condemned.

HOLY BIBLE OR LOVE BIBLE?

August 23, 2013, Purdue University

     We never did draw a crowd today.  However, we did spark discussion with a number of students which was profitable.  The first ones who stopped were professing Christians.  One of them asked me, "What is the one word that sums up the message of the Bible?"  Of course, we all know the word she was thinking.  I responded, "What is the word that usually accompanies the word Bible on the front cover?"  I answered, "Holy, the Bible is a call to holiness."  My comment ignited the sin defenders.  A female asked, "Why did Jesus go to the cross?"  I answered, "Jesus died that. . ."  She interrupted me and actually said, "That we might continue to sin." What she meant was that we might continue to sin with impunity. 

"It is much more entertaining, interesting and thought provoking," commented an atheist who was asked by a Christian if he would not prefer someone to talk to him rather than preach like Bro. Jed and Bro. Mikhail.

      There is a Calvinist group at Purdue and a few of them were present for an hour or so.  One of them appealed to Romans 9 to affirm the doctrines of predestination and unconditional election.  He quoted the verse, "God has mercy on whom he will have mercy."   I responded, "But in other places of the Bible it is told that God has mercy on those who repent and believe the gospel.  God does not just arbitrarily show mercy on certain favored ones.  He will extend mercy to all those who meet the conditions necessary in order for him to justly pardon sin."

      As always, my approach and tone was an issue.  There was a homosexual atheist, who said he has been listening to me each time I have spoken at Purdue over the last four years.  He was listening for a couple of hours this afternoon.  One of my Christian critics asked him, "Which would you prefer someone to talk to you one on one or hearing someone preaching and arguing with a crowd of people?"  He replied that he prefers the latter. "It is much more entertaining, interesting and thought provoking," he said. 

"He is warning unbelievers about Hell," the atheist told the Christians.

      When other frustrated Christians approached me asking, "WHAT are you DOING?"  The atheist calmly answered, "He is warning unbelievers about Hell."  I have observed that it is not unusual for atheists to understand better what I am about better than the Christians.  When I reiterated this point to a few Christians, they responded, "Atheists believe more like you do than we do."  I answered, "I did not say they believed in what I was doing and saying; I said they sometimes understand better what I am saying and why I say it."

     We left campus at 3:30 PM

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