Someone asked me today, "What is your purpose?"  I answered, "We are here to educate students." 

     bob BIBLE, Rod and Brent from Ruben's Bible Study joined us today, as well as Richard Schaffer, Robert Ramos, Pastor Dave from Praise Chapel and Dennis C.  bob spoke for a while and then offered the ranter from yesterday an opportunity to speak.  bob did not realize that the bellicose  Calvinist had been opposing me.  I decided to move away from him and start preaching and soon gathered a crowd of around 125.  I had a good session for an hour or so; the ranter interrupted me for a short time but it was only a minor disturbance.  

   After an hour, I called upon Cindy, who maintained the interest of the crowd.  It was not long before the ranter interrupted.  He asked, "How many here want to hear the gospel?" Of course, the crowd will usually agree with anyone, who will oppose us.  Cindy started to shout him down.  However, bob advised that she let him have the crowd and we would move to his former location.

  Yesterday, this bald-faced basher exhorted me, "Jed, it is not about crowds but the cross."  These preachers that have difficulty getting and holding attention usually say it is not about gathering a crowd.  However, they are not fooling me, everyone likes an audience.  It did not take Cindy long to build up another big crowd.  Cindy bantering with bob over issues of sin, righteousness and judgment was a helpful tactic in regaining attention of students.  Thankfully, some stayed with the ranter for the rest of the afternoon so that he did not have to bother us to gain an audience.

   I had my best session late in the afternoon as I contrasted Buddhism and Islam with Christianity.  Buddhist's claim to self-denial comes through transcending the ego or sense of self-awareness, which they consider an illusion.  On the other hand, Christianity's idea of self-denial is turning from a self-centered to a God-centered life, which gives meaning and purpose to life.  God is interested in transforming our character into the virtuous image of Christ.  God does not want us to become one with the leaves, the trees and everything else in creation as a female was suggesting to me.  Eastern religions are not about character building like Christianity.  We are about not losing our identity in the universal consciousness. God is preparing a people to faithfully serve him for eternity. 

   Pastor Dave testified today the one of his female parishioners, who got saved through his Praise Chapel Church, fell into fornication as she was seduced by a rapper who came to church.  They both left the church but she eventually returned when the rapper dropped her.  She was very moved by Cindy's testimony yesterday and put up the video on facebook of Cindy telling how we did not kiss until our wedding.