Preaching to Santa's Helpers

The Lord gave us a beautiful day to hold forth the gospel message. The air was crisp and cold to the carry the words of the message far in the market. But there are always competitors on the street to struggle for the attention of the people warring against the evangelist's offering of the message of life.
This last Saturday we had a surprise visit from Santa and his helpers! Occupy Portland demonstrators where there in force at the fountain to express their message (Although I do not know what it is!) But they certainly did not like the gospel message of God gift sacrifice and resurrection life through the finished work of Christ! You see in the picture that Pavel is surrounded by the occupiers...but Pavel preached fervently to everyone present without slowing down hardly to take a breath! They eventually wondered off to another area.

There were also a dozen police on hand on bikes, horses and on foot to control any possible trouble from the demonstrators. Interesting enough, the police have always been very helpful and with a few even expressing appreciation for for coming to Portland to give the gospel to the lost. WE remind them of God's ten commandments, what they are and how we have broken them and that we stand in condemnation of a just and Holy God. But that we can have forgiveness through Christ, the propitiation for our sin before God, and that all who will repent and believe shall be partakers of eternal life through His finished work on the cross. Paul said, "I preach Christ crucified...to the Greeks, foolishness and to the Jew a stumbling stone". You never know what is going to happen on the streets when you lift up your voice!