"Jesus, Can Do!"

Thursday, November 11, 2010

"Park Church"

Hi Friends, it's been a very busy summer.  Tail Gate Ministries has been enabled by God to see, hear and to show others the Gospel Of Jesus Christ.  Our little community (2500) is as disadvantaged as some of the foreign countries we send money and missionaries to.

Friends I can't stress this enough but we have a real need right here in USA for Jesus.  No, you are not going to hear this on the media or out of Madison Avenue Ads.  To them you just need to watch another TV program or buy the next new gadget and life will be OK

We are being blindsided by a progressive culture that believes everything can be bought.

Well, Tail Gate Ministries has grown into a Saturday Morning Bible Study to the poor and homeless in our community. WOW! We start at 8:45AM with social stuff, coffee and donuts.  Get to know the people and their needs.  Then we pray, have a Bible Study that will relate to them and their situation. And, we close with prayer and some social time.

And, this all takes place in the town park.  Under a pavillion.  Praise The Lord!  Our church has offered, not that it has gotten chilly, our church and it's facilities.  Clothes and food have been collected for these people.

We get in our little "Park Church" people who probably won't come to our church on Suanday. I mean we get to meet the really lost.  Spiritually as well as economically. 

I have found another Man who will work with me a volunteer. I got tired of making church people mad at me for not evangelizing. So, I go alone with God of course. And now God has sent me a helper.

Anyone can do this.  Claim Jesus and GO!  $6.00 worth of donuts and you gather a crowd all needing Jesus.

As we journey,
Larry
The Ten Commandments-Why?

Saturday, July 10, 2010

How To Know For Certain You Can Go To Heaven

One of the most frequent questions I am asked as I Tail Gate for Jesus is, is God really that hard nosed? Or, the statement God wouldn't punish anyone because He loves everyone. Here is an overview of some points I try to explain to them.

In the same way as God gave us life, gave us food to eat, and gives us the daily needs to maintain our life, he has also given us eternal life. The state of that eternal life will be a reflection of our response to His given, while we are here on earth. You see, for those of us who recognize His Creatorship, His Godship, and worship Him as such, we will spend that eternal life with Him, in His presence. O, what a beautiful time that will be! Forever, with the Creator of the Universe!

For those who reject His Creatorship and Godship, He has ordained a place for them in eternal isolation from Him. This eternal isolation is so intense that it is referred to in the Bible as a Hell, as a place of eternal torment. It will still be eternal life, but it will be eternal life in seclusion from our Lord and Maker.

Have you ever been alone? Really alone? You think no one cares? No one wants to talk? Imagine a place on this earth of isolation. Imagine the prisoner of war who is put into an earthen cell, and fed once a day. But even that prisoner, as alone as he may feel, is not truly alone. Perhaps he can see the soldiers when they come to bring his daily food. Perhaps the rats and cockroaches visit him in his cell. Perhaps he hears the tortured screams of other prisoners. Perhaps he converses with his God. He is not truly alone.

But nevertheless, he is experiencing a type of living hell. Now imagine what that same cell would be like with no food, no rats, no soldiers or fellow prisoners, and worst yet, no God. That is Hell.

You see, when God created us, He created us for Heaven, not Hell. He created us to always have communion, fellowship, and communication with Him. Starting with the first man and the first woman, Adam and Eve, man as a race has chosen to ‘eat of the forbidden fruit’, to sin, or turn away from God. Everyone who has ever lived to the age of understanding has done it, turned away from God, and failed to recognize Him as God and Provider. Not only failed, but purposely tested Him to show that they are in control of their own lives. The Book of Romans tells us: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3: 23).

Once we have sinned and rejected the promises of God, His life-giving power, once we eat of the forbidden fruit, so to speak, once we firmly establish that we own our lives and our futures, we effectively tell God that we no longer need Him, that we can do it on our own. And the natural and fair end of that decision is that God gives us exactly what we ask for and desire: eternal separation from Him. Because He is Holy, he cannot tolerate the presence of the unholy, of sin. The natural and normal result of the choice to sin, to refuse to accept His Creatorship and Lordship, is eternal separation from Him, which is effectively death (Rom 6: 23).

Fortunately, God in His infinite mercy has crafted a plan, one which He set into motion before He even created the earth, knowing what His creation would do. He ordained that His own Son would die to bridge the gap between God Himself, from whom every man chooses to separate, and man, the creation. By being God Himself and taking on the nature of man, when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was put to death, his death was able to pay the penalty, not of His own sins, because He had none, but our own sins, because He was pure in His death.

You see, the acceptance of His death for our sins is the same difference as not eating of the forbidden fruit (which we have all done, in one form or another). It is the same difference as paying a tithe of our property and our yearly increase. It is the ultimate form of recognizing that God created everything, including us, and that He gave us everything we have. It is simply saying that I cannot, as man, do it on my own; I need a mediator, someone to stand in the gap for my rebellion, and prevent eternal isolation from the Creator of the universe.


Have you accepted His loving plan to keep you from eternal separation?

Resources:

Teach The Bible To Change A Life.....Click Here!

Abiding In Repentance...Click Here!

As we journey,
Larry
Tailgating For Jesus

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The 10 Commandments and 2010

     Just the other day I was talking with a young man who came up to my P/U.  I asked him if he would like a bible and he said no.  After a few questions he began to pour out his life story. For being only 30ish he had done a mess of living. Run ins with the law married, divorced - luckily no children.

      He said his ex wife was an avid christian girl and, to him, was always urging him to come to church with her. Like so many lost he would wait until he got his life straightened out. That was my story for 51 years. Little did he know Jesus like all good fishermen cleans the fish after He catches them. He'll get it one of these days.

     He also mentioned that church and being a christian looked to him like being in jail. No, to everything he thought was fun. Even a list of 10 commandments that he thought had to be obeyed to the letter of the law to get to heaven.

     I quickly explained the 10 Commandments were not a set of handcuffs or a corrective whip that struck you down each time you failed to keep one.  I likened the 10 Commandments to a large umbrella. A umbrella provided by God to lovingly keep us protected. It becomes our choice as to whether we decide to stay under the umbrella or wander out.  I know for myself as long as I stay under the umbrella of God my life goes along OK.  Its when I step out from under Gods protection that i get into trouble.

     Keep an umbrella handy it makes a good prop to share the gospel.Click Here!

God Bless,
Larry
http://www.squidoo.com/tailgateministries.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Times Have Changed

     As some of you who know me I am 73+ years of age.  I have seen many technological advances some good and some not so good. But, the biggest changes I have witnessed is the downhill plunge of spirtuality in our country.  As I tailgate for Jesus I meet people who have not the faintest idea of a relationship with God.

     Now, remember I was not saved until I was 51. But, I believe I knew there was a spiritual God. I didn't know who Jesus was or why He came and died for me, but I still had a sense of right and wrong as well as a Heaven and hell. We had prayer everyday in school and nobody complained about it. We also learned about respect for others and their property.

     I was out just last week and talking to a successful business man the conversation went something like this. After I offered him a bible and a religious tract, he refused both. So, I asked him if he were to die tonight did he believe he would go to Heaven?  He said what wrong with just turning into dirt..  I'll probably see him again some day but, it was just another reminder of where we have come to.

     Easter is coming along with some warmer weather. Many people have heard the Gospel this winter. And, I try to get these people introduced to a local bible church. Although evangelism is necessary it is only the first step in their growth. They need to be Descipled and incorporated into a church family.

     I found the pocket testament league and ordered a bunch of stuff and some tracts from ATS. Everyone needs Jesus and I will be trying in prayer and effort to reach a few.

God Bless,
Larry

Friday, February 19, 2010

You Can Know FOR Certain!

     One of the best feelings comes from sharing with the lost that they can know for certain they can have Eternal Life.  1 John 5:13.  Even if some of these folks are attending church they have never heard that there is a way to know that you have Eternal Life. This precisous gift is not something they will ever be good enough or smart enough or rich enough to get on their own!.  No.  It is a free gift from God.  That if you believe with your heart and proclaim with your tongue that Jesus is Lord , you will be saved.

     No church, priest, minister, religiion will get you to Heaven (Eternal Life). It was the religious big wigs that put Jesus on the cross.  Friends, trust Jesus today.  If you like you can contact me via this blog and I will personally send you material you can read.  Please, God did not send His Son into this world to be persecuted and horribly nailed to some boards to die, just so we could be good enough.  Please drop me a note and I will get this important "FREE". information sent to you. 

      It took me 50 years of wasted life to figure this out.  I don't know how old you are, but I hope you don't have to spend this much time wanting to know for certain.

     Your friend in Christ Jesus,
      Larry,
      http://www.squidoo.com/tailgateministries
     

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Non-Perfect People

Evangelism Without Additives: What if sharing your faith meant just being yourself?Hi Freinds,

     We have had a bit of personal sickness here so there has been a bit of a lag in getting posts out. You know we all have to priortize things in our life. My wife (49+) years had a bit of a set back and had to be hospitalized. We live about 1/4 mile down a gravel road and with the 20+ inches of snow and the drifting, it was like a survivial show getting her out to the hospital.  But, all went well and she is doing real well.

     So, what about this tailgating for Jesus?  Of course I don't see why everyone doesn't do it.  Relativelly cheap to get started and takes maybe one hour a week. You can spend more if you like. Most of the times your church will support you in the way of Bibles and Tracts to hand out.  So, it is just a matter of doing it. And, I know I have said it before but, a tail gate is a real receptor.  People do not feel intimidated coming over and talking to someone sitting on a tailgate in a public parking lot.

    What's going on out there?  Tons of stuff.  Baptist missionaries are being treated less than terrorists as far as accomadations.  Super Bowl (and I watched it) you got 16minutes of play action for 4 hours of TV watching.  People still need jobs when the jobs have all been exported.  And, the family is being attacked constantlly by the media and entertainment world.

     Now, what can I (you) do. I try to relate the Bible to present day living.  It is not only a history book. Not only a long historical telescope where we sit back and laugh at all the foolish mistakes "Those People" made. It is a record as well as a guide book for all of our lives.  People everywhere need the word of God.

     One objection I get from folks as I expain the Gospel is, those Bible people were all uppity and saintly people.  They were born naturally perfect. "I am just human, I don't measure ut to them".  After they are through talking I take a deep breath, pray and start briefly in their language talking about some of those people.

Adam
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
     It isn't hard to show them that God chose and uses successfully average people. You know as well as I that the list above is endless.  God always chose the weak and helpless to glorify HIM. 

Gideon
David
Paul
     This seems to be effective in telling people Jesus will meet them where they are NOW!  He will take them. He will lead them. Some of the people I get to talk with have failed many times in life. Why try another p
   

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Tail Gating For Jesus and For Fun

Welcome,

     Yes it can be a source of fun out on a lonely parking lot, parked along main street anyplace people move you can help them find Jesus.  And, usually it's in an environment they are comfortable with. You are not knocking on their door at dinner time. Or at some other inconvenient time.  An old man on a pick up truck is pretty non-threatening. Little do they know the threat we do possess can change their lives.

    One of the more common objections I get for people not coming to Jesus at any age or place in their life is, "First I Need To Get My Life Together". Or, "As Soon As I Stop Doing This Or That". Like they really can.  Most of the time I will try to get them to identify what it is that they need to get rid of or straighten out. And almost like a printed text out it comes.
1. I love to drink alcohol
2. I love to smoke
3. I hang out with my friends at the local bar and drink.
    
     These are the three major ones but little do they know that underneath those three there are tons of reasons we could use for not turning our lives over to Jesus. I try to take them back in time to when Jesus was walking the waterfront and  confronted two fishermen (Peter and his brother Andrew).  You know Jesus didn't ask these guys if they were drunks, carousers, patrons of the wrong side of town.  Jesus didn't ask them to read a study course on religion or get rid of their sin first.  No, Jesus said COME. And, the world started to come unglued as they knew it. The world would never be the same wit h just one word spoken. Come.

     I explain to folks today that Jesus calls us just as He called those first messengers.  He doesn't ask for our transcripts from school, or our pedigree, NO.  COME just as you are. And in the world we live in this is very hard for people to understand. Nowhere else can we, do we go and receive a gift for free. I am not for easy believism.  I will ususally discuss with them before praying about some of the things they should and will do as a reult of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the. And, I will discuss that later. But I wanted to talk about the feelings in our secular culture today that we need to clean up our act before we can esxpect Jesus to help us.

     "Jesus like all good fisherman, cleans the fish AFTER He catches them."  I don;'t know who wrote this but I have used it many times.  Friends,  I tell them surrender first and Jesus will take care of what is needed to clean your life up. It has been 21+ years plus today that I have not had to take alcohol. Jesus came into my life back then and removed that desire from my life. I have been so much more happier and contented since He did that for me.

     But first I had to open the door of my heart to Him. As long as He was outside He would not clean up my life. And, within 4 months I became convinced that I wanted His way more than mine. And Jesus took me by the hand and led me through it.  I guess my testimony strengthens me but, we all have a testimony of  how out of powerlessness came powerfulness through Jesus. You might want to take a look at these links I have posted for more information.

Click Here!
Click Here!

Take Care and God Bless

Larry

Saturday, January 30, 2010

This Fear Thing

Hi Freinds, 

As part of my ongoing story of the tail gate minister I am going to talk about a subject that has been planted, nourished and worked into the hearts of the people of this country. Firsst, I am not a pastor. I am a deacon and a sunday school teacher who also leads the outreach ministry for our church.

Fear - what is it doing to us and what are the main causes.
1.  Fear causes us not to trust easily
2.  Fear will not let us love other completelyl
3.  Will initially cause us to turn further away from God to seek a solution
4.   Fear will cause us to want and relly on material things more.
5.  Fear will not allow us to make that unconditional committment to others.
6.  Fear causes worry, anxiety and sickness

Fear is a troublesome tool sent by Satan to deflect and defeat our goal in Christ.  The results of the 6 points listed above is stagnation. If you are overwhelmed with fear most of the time you will run and hide. When you become powerless over an awesome fear you will try to duck it by running away.

I f ound the first step for me when fear comes rattling at the door is to identify it. Put a name on it. Tag it. Don't listen to that fool satan who tells you maybe, might, can.  Identify and isolate that fear.

Then, once you can see what it is you are really afraid of pray. And I don't mean just pray. I mean literallly go to your knees. Fear is powerful and it takes powerful prayer to run it off.  I pray beggingly to the Holy Spirit first. Open pleading with Him to intercede on my behalf to Jesus Christ. Then I pray just as hard to Jesus to intercede with the Father.  I pray, I pray, I pray.

I can't give you numbers,I don't keep a log of  prayer result s (I should). But if God has answered your prayers before then why don't you believe He will answer them again.  You weren't given a prayer allotment. Pray often and with fervor.  Also, I pray that if God won't change the sitution, He will change me to accept it. 

Our communities, streets and homes are fearful places these days.  If you are fearing God all other fears will dissolve. When I talk with folks on the streets I stress this message. Seek God and His Beloved Son and you will be able to toss satan out on the street.

Have fun, enjoy your life. It is a wonderful gift we have.

For more information see .....http://olderandhappier-larry.blogspot.com/

God Bless,

Monday, January 18, 2010

Hopelessness - Helplessness

Welcome back friends, 

I continue to seek the lost with the strength and power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What I do any one can do. If you don't have a pick up truck, take the trunk of your car. Grab a few Bibles and some tracts and head for the a public parking area.  Pray that God will send you someone to share with.  You don't have to be obnoxiou.  Just pray, wait and God will send that person who needs Him. Just a tip I bought a nice banner from Vista Print.com.  I don't support these people or make any money from them. It cost me $20.00 and looks professional. I built a frame for it out of PVC pipe. So, when I stand this up in my truck it looks professional.  And, I feel people are not intimidated.

OK, it's been a cold and long winter here in the north east. Along with the economic gloom there has always been an air of despair in this particular area. It is rural and the work in town consists of a vegetable and chicken processor. I have to tell you it is not booming with vertical oportunities. So, at times like these both hopelessness and helplessness shine through.

As some of you know I was born and raised in the city of  the 1940's. A row house on a dead end street.
see.   http://www.squidoo.com/1022mcdowellstreet.  I have to tell you as poor as it was I never remember being or feeling hopeless or helpless.  Work and opportunities abounded.  And I was continually reminded that if I did not learn I would get a "pick and shovel". I am the only reason why I never became President of the USA.

2010.  The masses of young people today have never been conditioned to taking responsibility for there own actions. We are developing a "victim" society. And, when you feel someone else or something else is causing your despair - you begin to lose hope because you feel you are no longer in control.

Helpless I have felt at times in my life but, hopeless never. And, since I have Jesus I have no reason to feel hopeless or helpless.  The despair of our times can be chased away with the sunshine of Jesus.  How?

1. Jesus will teach you to value yourself and others.
2. Jesus will teach you contentemt
3. Jesus will teach you that you can change the course of your life.
4. Jesus will teach ou that He loves you and you are very important
5. Jesus will teach you that your were created by God in Gods image and God don't make junk!
6. Jesus will teach you that hopelessness and helplessness can be moved out of your life.
7. Jesus will teach you that He can and will do for you what you are unable to do for yourself.

As I tailgate for Jesus, I find these two feelings to be at the top of the list. Kind of like whats the use?..

Hopefully and Ful of hope I go into the streets with the love and good news of the Gospel. By the way I just finished reading the Bible.  I started in Genesis 1: and finished Revelation 22: 21. It took 9 months and I tried to study as opposed to just reading. It really was fun and everyone should do it.  I started immediately in Genesis 1:1 in another translation.

I wish Jesus and His love to each and everyone -seek Him- and you will find Him.

Larry

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Because I Deserve IT !

Hi Friends - Welcome,

January 12, 2010.

I would like to update the adventures of the tailgate ministries experience.  To stand alone on a windy cold parking lot, a main street in a small town can only be done knowing you are not alone.  Knowing that Jesus is by my side all of the time allows be to be unafraid.  I never turn my back on any person, no matter how they look or how they are dressed. I think that the organized church today has more Samarias in their home town than are in the middle east.

By the way I just finisked reading Inside the Revolution by Joel C. Rosenberg. Read it. God is working miracles even today.  Read it.

So, last week I am at a small strip malll handing out Bibles and religious tracts. Several people were curious and some took a Bible or a tract. Ususally I get a few of these and then God sends me one or two who look like and act like God sent them.  This young mother with her infant stopped to talk and take a Bible. When i asked her the two questions, If you were to die tonight...and , What would you tell God.... She said "Because I deserve to go to heaven". 

First time I heard this one. I have been doing door to door evangelism (EE) for 20 years. But, it shows us the world is changing.  This mother really believed in her mind and heart that she belonged in God's heaven when she died. No qualifications.  I took what few minutes she allowed me to share about the Holiness of God and the sacrifice His Son made.  Heaven is a free gift but, there are a few qualifications.  Repentance, Lordhsip of Jeus etc,... She left with an invite to our church and the infant.  Pray for her and those like her who were raised thinking they deserved everything. For free.

Pray for Tail Gate Ministries and me.  I want to be an effective tool for the Gospel and an unashamed servant of Jesus to a world that really needs Him

And,       http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/new_workshop/howtogrowolderandhappier

Friday, January 1, 2010

Tail Gateing For Jesus

Happy New Year Friends,  We spent the day , mly wife and I, pretty much quietly.  We have the famly over tomorrow, so that will help us celebrate one of God's wonderful gifts. It is truely a gift of God to us. My wife and I, both my Sons and their wives are born again Christians. Our 4yr old twins and 2year old grandson are being raised in a christian home.  Praise the Lord. And I had nothing to do with it.

As I travel some of the local roads and parking areas in my area with my Tail Gate for Jesus minisstry, I find a cold and lonely atmosphere.  I do this alone so I am open to people sharing more with me than would be possible if there were two or three present. More of a aura of helplessness no, hopelessness.  I believe the latter is worse.  No dreams, no future, "hangin in there" seems to be the mind set.

Whether it is financial, relational or health I try to steer them to seeking the only help known to man - Jesus.
I allowed my self to get caught up in alcoholism which resulted in deep depression.  I have not had to taste alcohol now for 21+ years. Praise The Lord!

But getting back to the real world.  There is a lot of hurt out there today. Long time marriages (Christian and Non Christian) just being put aside for personal feelings.  Children and families torn completely apart. And, many of these parents were subject to divorced parents themselves. If you are reading this and separation or divorce is on your table - let me say this.  Get into a church.  Find a Pastor or Christian Counselor.  At least sit down and talk about your differences with your spouse. So many marriages are lost because of mis-
represented words or feelings.  We don't know how to talk anymore.  With TV and movies we just sit and listen. The marriage is worth it. Fight for it. Don't just tak an easy way out!

If you are one of the caasualties of divorce already and are a Christian, let me say you really need to find yourself a christian mate. Looking around my world I see the many wives who come to church alone each Sunday because Dad doesen't believe. 
Join ChristianSingles.com

God Bless, And I hope to see you in my travels Tail Gating for Jesus.