WHIMPERING, WHINING, GROWLING AND HOWLING WOLVES

October 7, 2013, UW, Platteville

       Mickey, from Cornerstone Church, joined me.  As we were walking to the free speech area a passing student said to us, "Why don't you kill yourselves, you bigots!"  When we reached the speech area, Bill Landerholm, from Dave Coke's church in Rockford, was already preaching with another brother named, Billy.  Bill had an audience of about a dozen. 

Loud atheist roars against The Almighty.

One loud mouth atheist kept interrupting him talking nonsense.  Someone shouted at Bill, "If God is loving, wouldn't he accept you for who you are?" The crowd groaned when Bill answered, "No." 

      The pack was difficult today mostly shouting inane things.  They were constantly twisting my words claiming I had said just the opposite of what I actually said.  By 1:30, the pack of crazed wolves enclosed around me whimpering, whining, growling and howling.  No wonder they believe they are animals; they act like animals.  Eventually, I sat on my chair away from them but they soon attacked again.  Meanwhile, Bill was dialoguing with a smaller pack.  I could not even get them settled down to get through my lecture, "Sex Ed with Brother Jed."

Eventually we tamed some of the wolves and had some good conversations that we believe will produce fruit for eternity.

     We persevered until 4:45, when we called it a day.  Mickey reported on the way back to our host house in Spring Green that he had several good conversations including a lesbian who kept coming back to hear more.  

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FIFTEEN PRAYED THE SINNER'S PRAYER

October 10, 2013, University of Iowa,

     The Secular Alliance and the GLBT organization was waiting for me when I arrived; they had tables and signs prepared, and, of course, Brother Jed Bingo.  There was a boisterous black woman who had heard me over 20 years ago at the University of Minnesota.  She evidently has been holding a grudge against me all these years.  Thankfully she departed after about 90 minutes.   She claimed to have a PhD, which could have been true, but she acted more like a homeless mental case.  I suppose a PhD in philosophy can drive one into such a state.  Philosophy doesn't offer much opportunity for employment nor does it usually hold out much hope to deal with the trials and tests of life.  Otherwise, the students were civil and the GLBT's were in good humor.  

"The best preaching day of the semester, so far," Bro Jed.

     Steve Alderman joined me on campus.  I met Steve in 1981 at UI and he and another Brother Ron Alberts joined me for a few months in a trip across the Sunbelt into California.  He was active all afternoon talking with students on the sidelines.  He reported that he prayed a sinner's prayer with 15 students.  This is remarkable. He approached students by asking two questions, "Has anyone ever told you that God loves you and that He has a wonderful plan for our life?  If you were to die this very second, do you know for sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you would go to Heaven?"  He then went on and gave a basic Roman road plan.  Next he would say a quick prayer.  Finally, he asked, "If you would like to receive the gift that God has for you today, say this after me with your heart and lips out loud."  

Students who wanted to be photographed with Bro. Jed at the end of the day.   Bro Jed did some of his best preaching of the semester today.

     Over dinner I talked with Steve about the importance of explaining repentance in his gospel presentation.  He agreed that his presentation could be improved.  He admitted that one professing gay with whom he prayed was still defending homosexuality.  Were all the people that Steve prayed with actually saved?  I doubt it, but he did give the Holy Spirit further opportunity to work in their lives.  Hopefully, some who prayed had previously heard and understood my emphasis on repentance.  If they did, then I assume some that he prayed for were born again today.  Steve will come back tomorrow and hopefully have the opportunity to do some follow up work. 

     A Moslem female advised me that I need to show the love of God simply through example and not preach.  I answered, "Maybe the professors ought not to lecture, but just remain silent in the classroom and merely let the students learn through their example."  

     There was a loud atheist next to me holding signs.  He was an English major, who said, "The Bible is just a book."  I really jumped him saying, "Just a book?  You, an English major, would refer to the Bible as just a book as though books are not important.  The Bible is the book of books.  No book has inspired more quality literature than the Bible."  He had the audacity to refer to John Milton's, Paradise Lost, as if it was greater than the Bible.  I informed him that it was the Bible that inspired Milton.  He then claimed Milton became less of a Christian in his old age.  The atheist claimed to have read the whole Bible.   I asked, "What is the central theme of the Bible?"  His answer was shallow, stating that the OT and NT are contradictory.  I said, "If you cannot identify the main theme of the Bible than you need to read it again and again until you get it." 

      Today may have been my best preaching of the fall semester.  There were times of quietness where I was able to make convicting points.  I was on a roll.  It is usually easier for me to get on a roll and stay in one when I am preaching alone.  Not that I do not appreciate my preaching companions and I recognize it is helpful to the students to hear others than myself.  I am returning tomorrow to UI; it is coming out day for the perverts.