It Happened Again!

I know, I know.  It's hard to believe, but God really did initiate another spiritual conversation.  I would say it was a gospel presentation, but it really wasn't complete.  It was certainly the nurturing of a seed.  I really didn't expect it to happen again today as my meetings were only going to last for half a day and there was no food scheduled.  Immediately after the meeting we loaded up on a bus and headed to the airport.  Nothing ever happens at the airport, including my flights.

I checked in to my flight, which wasn't scheduled to leave for a couple of hours and the kiosk asked me if I wanted to upgrade to first class.  Of course I did, but there is this little issue of money.  The upgrade price was $0.00.  Ahh well, I guess I could do it at that price.  Wow!  What a week.

I went through security with several other Aaron's associates traveling with me and because I was flying first class did not have the hassle of declining to go through the naked body scanner.  It seems first class passengers just have to go through the regular security.  Why do I ever doubt God?

After eating lunch, Brian (an Aaron's associate with whom I will be working from time to time and was on the same flight as I) and I headed over to the gate.  Once there he abruptly asked me if I was indeed working as a minister.  I was amazed!  He knew very little about me, and what he did know was that I had some involvement in the ministry.  Pretty cool how God lays that groundwork. 

I answered him affirmatively and he said he was very interested in speaking with me about that over an extended period of time as he has had several experiences including an elongated fight with depression that is causing him to seek truth.  Brian and I talked for about half an hour before it was time to board the plane.  He shared things with me that he said he has shared with only a couple of people.  I was able to share with him some of my testimony.

HOW ABOUT THAT?!  What can I say other than praise God!  Which is exactly what I did in my first class seat for several minutes after I sat down.  What a wonderful God I serve.  What joy there is in His presence!  Do you have that joy?

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

Daily Testifying

This has been the best set of business meetings I have ever had.  Generally I get some opportunity to give a testimony of God's love, grace, and mercy in my life but miss it either through fear or just plain lack of hearing the Holy Spirit's leading.  This week I have been given the incredible opportunity of witnessing every single day to people.

Monday I got in line at the airport for a cab to my hotel.  No sooner did I get in line than a man walked up to me and announced he would ride with me.  I was, of course taken back by his approach and, at a loss for words asked him where he was going.  "The same place you are," he said.  Okay, that's a little creepy.  I had my Aaron's shirt on though, and since I was going to a somewhat sizeable meeting I figured he was affiliated with Aaron's.  Shortly after my deduction he introduced himself as indeed being from Aaron's and where his store was. 

We shared a cab ride in.  I was hungry and it was late.  Everyone I knew had already eaten, and not wanting to eat alone I asked John if he wanted to join me.  We agreed to meet back in the lobby after settling into our respective rooms.  Just prior to discussing where we would eat, I asked John where he was from.  When he told me Texas, I knew we were bound to get along.  I heard about a Tex-Mex restaurant in the hotel and knowing John had been living in Oregon for several years suggested we try eating there.  Turns out the lack of good food in Oregon is as prevalent a problem in there as it is in Pennsylvania.  Just before eating I prayed and that gave me great opportunity to witness to him as he remarked on my values..

Tuesday night I was eating dinner with a table full of people and again prayed and gave thanks to God for my food.  When I prayed I asked Him to give me the opportunity to share with someone how good He has been to me.  Within five minutes of that prayer a man with whom I used to work asked me if I was still giving "religious talks"!  I thanked God with great enthusiasm and launched into a joyful account of how good God has been.

Tonight as I thanked God for the food I was about to eat in the midst of some slightly intoxicated coworkers, I thanked God for the great time I had so far.  As the night wore on the conversation turned from a business focus to general economic discussions.  I shared my view of the situation slowly building to the conspiracy of the wealthy elite while presenting the evidence in a logically compelling manner.  At one point the individual I was addressing said that he should probably start buying some gold.  That's when I knew he got it. 

He suggested that the world would probably be a better place if we were all under one system of government.  He prefaced that statement by saying, "this is going to sound way out there, but"  I told him it wasn't way out there at all.  It is socialistic and exactly the way the elite want us to think.  From there I was able to lead him to the Bible and the fact that just before the end of the world there will be a one world system of government with a one world economy. 

The conversation turned to a purely religious one from there through which I was able to tell him of relationship God has made possible to us with Him and the joy that comes with it.  He then told me his wife had been suggesting they go to church.

Isn't it wonderful how God works?  All the time I had great liberty, peace, and boldness.  I spoke with authority that I had not previously had.

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?