Last Friday was the first of the month. What makes the first of the month so special in downtown Knoxville is the Artsty crowd put their Artwork on display, musicians come out to play and make a few dollars, and the Lord sends me to share the Gospel.
Armed with tracts, the Bible, and a stool to stand on; God directs me to different passages to read to the passing crowd. One young college atheist, stops me and says, “What are you doing? You actually think someone will stop and listen to you” (This kid obviously had a “blonde” moment, Duh! I am thinking you stopped and are listening.)
He told me it was foolish for me to come out here.(The only fool was him for as scripture states, “The fool in his heart says there is no God.”)
Several people stopped to listen, one man snapped a picture, a friend from church stopped for a bit to talk to me. The Lord had me lovingly but truthfully to plead with the downtown crowd to put their treasures in Heaven and not on these Artsy-fartsy artwork that will eventually get dirty and fade away. Where you treasure is there your heart will be also.
I also pleaded with the UT football homecoming crowd walking around the downtown area. I gave the same “where your treasure is…” to them. I said how sad it was they will spend more money during the football game on parking, food, tickets and beer(estimate $300) but will put less than 10% of their income during the church offering. Now football is not a sin. It can become a snare when you prioritize it more than your heart to the Lord.
On Saturday, I went to the Old part of downtown around the bars. I overheard someone say….”That guy is back again and he is going up and down this whole bar section, he isn’t going to let up.” Another college guy gave me a “shoulder check” to knock me off my stool as I read the Word of God. Eventually, one guy my age came up to me and asked me to read a portion of Scripture. He told me the scripture I read was the one he heard at his friend funeral back during the beginning of spring. His friend was the UT Swim coach and was a strong Christian. He thanked me for reading the scripture and it encouraged him. I prayed for him as he walked away. As I went back out to my car, I placed a couple of Chick tracts car windshields.(
I love evangelizing and pray for the lost in Knoxville. Especially the bar crowd and UT students.
