I very seldom hear stories about people I've previously talked with. This is a very cool one.

In November 2007, I wrote an entry about a guy in the gym named Justin. Some time later, a friend of mine from the church down in south Florida, Danielle, contacted my wife and informed her that she was needing some encouragement one day and, therefore, visited my blog.  The first entry she saw was the post about Justin at L.A. Fitness.  Besides being encouraged, God also laid upon her heart to begin praying for Justin.  And, Danielle did. More...

Last week, I stopped in to buy a snack from at a Exxon gas station.  One of Switchfoot's songs was on the radio.  I asked the attendant, Manuel, who is 22 years old, if he had heard the song before. Manuel said that he had.  I asked him if he had ever listened to the words.  Manuel said that he hadn't.  So, I started speaking the words of the song as Switchfoot was singing.  Then I asked Manuel what he thought those words meant.  From that, the door was flung open for me to share, over the next 30 minutes, a full presentation of sin, righteousness and judgment.  He asked questions and I answered them.  Before leaving, I asked Manuel if he had a Bible at home.  He said that he did.  I encouraged him to read it because it would explain in greater detail what I just got through sharing with him.  Manuel said that he would.

Today, I stopped back in the Exxon station to buy another snack (Sobe's and Snickers are great snacks after a workout - carbs and protein). Manuel was in there again.  Immediately he exclaimed, "Welcome, my friend!"  I returned the greeting.  My daughter was in the car so I couldn't stay and talk, but as I was checking out, I asked him if he had thought any more concerning what we talked about.  He said that he has thought alot about it.  I asked him if he has started reading his Bible.  He told me that he had started reading a little bit each day since then.  I told him that I would stop back by later when I had more time (I had a meeting to get to).  He answered, "Okay."

As I drove away, he waved bye to me.

Two prayer requests:

1. Prayer of thanksgiving and praise that God has 'begun a good work' in Manuel AND that God would take the next step in that work (i.e. salvation).
   
2. Forsyth County (the county in which I live) has the 7th fasted growing community in the nation.  Being that there are a lot of home developments, many Latinos are moving to the area to find work.  The Latino population is increasing steadily.  When I was at Carson-Newman, one way I reached out to the Brazilians on the men's soccer team was letting them teach me a little bit of Portuguese - their native language.  You could see they were very grateful and felt honored for someone trying to learn their language and great friendships were cultivated as a result.  I desire to witness to the Latino's, however, I do not know Spanish. Please be in prayer that God would provide the resources to purchase computer software to help me learn Spanish or that God would, perhaps, provide someone in a local church who can teach me. I want to use every opportunity I have to share the Gospel.

As always, thank you for your prayers and e-mails/phone calls of encouragement.

Yesterday I was able to fill in for a friend of mine and share the Gospel with about 20 students. It was a neat opportunity and blessing to be able to serve.  At the end, I asked all the students who were absolutely, 100% sure if they'd go to Heaven when they die, to raise their hands.  Only about 5 did.  So I encouraged the remaining students to talk with the First Priority Staff or their teacher sponsor for more information or if they had questions.

Please be praying for these students.

Two men who were in a parking lot today talking...  José was stading while Caesar was in the driver's seat of his van. We discussed a little bit about Jesus Christ and salvation and how Christ was sent to be our example for living a Holy life.  Eventually, José asked me, "Why do you do this?"  I simply replied, "Because I love you and I'm trying hard to follow the example that Jesus Christ set before me in how He loves you.  I want to love you like he does.  And, because I want to see you in Heaven one day."

Both men asked me where I went to church; I told them and invited them both. Caesar asked if we had childcare because he has three children that he wants to bring too.

I noticed a crutch sitting beside Caesar in his van as I was talking to him.  Before he pulled away, I asked Caesar about the crutch and if something was wrong with his leg. He said that he was standing on a propane tank and fell off the tank on top of his leg.  I asked him if he would mind me praying for him and his leg.  He replied, "no."  So I had a tremendous opportunity to pray for him and the healing of his leg.

Be praying for both men.

My wife's engine threw a rod.  We're needing $2,500 for repairs.