Cabbies and Teenage Shoplifters - Fishing

By Rob-roy (3 Nov 2007)

Friends,

Last night (or earlier this evening) a number of us hit the college streets in our town and specifically to spend time at the Drum Circle (aka the Drama Circle).  Kelly, Amy, Mitch and Steven joined me along with Chuck.  The plan was to hit the circle early with a few pizza's and bottled waters (with the gospel on the labels), walk the main college street near by to see if we could get into conversations and then hit the circle again later on with more pizza and waters.  Before the night was through we would go through more than 90 water bottles and 12 pizza's.

As we were walking toward the college streets after parking, a lady was behind us and we let her pass us.  As she did she noticed the pizza and waters and said they smelled good and she new of about 50 people who would really like to eat them.  I asked her if she meant the Drum Circle?  Surprised she said yes.  I told her that this food is for those 50 people and if that is where she was headed then she would be able to do more than just smell how good the pizza was but actually eat it.  Her name I found out was "Cat".

We arrived at the Drum Circle about 5 minutes later with 4 of the 12 pizza's we brought and they were well received.  One girl I think whose name is Jen asked why we brought the food.  I told her it was because we thought they were hungry and that we are Christians.  She said thanks and that usually most people just hate them.  She went on to say how much it hurts when people tell them to "just get a job and start working".  Currently she is trying to hold down some part time jobs.  Kelly and Amy were able to talk with he for much of the night!

Cat was sitting with some other women who had brought pet rats in a small cage.  They were cute.  Amy likes rats and Steven and I went over and got to pet them before we left her, Kelly and Mitch behind in order to hit the main street with water bottles.  On the streets Steven, Chuck and I ran into Lacy.  I see him almost everytime we are out.  He looked good for being homeless and was happy to get a bottle of water.  As we moved down the street as usual there were cabbies hanging around looking for customers.  We offered waters and they took them quickly.  As I was about to move on God stopped me and I asked their names.  One was named "Nor".  He told me they are from Somalia.  Turns out they were all Muslim and they believed in the Koran.

I asked if they knew what Sura 19:19 said.  They did not know off the top of their head.  I explained it is where the angel tells Mary that she will have a faultless (pure and without sin) son which is Jesus.  That Jesus is without sin.  That in the Sura's (such as Sura 10) it shows where Mohammed sinned and needed to repent for forgiveness.  That Jesus was the greater prophet and in Sura 5 Mohammed is directed to the people of the book (Christians who follow the bible) for help and the scriptures that came before which refers to the Torah (first 5 books of the bible) and the Gospels (the New Testament writings about Jesus).

Nor and the other 3 cabbies admitted they would go to Hell if they died now.  The reason being they had not "yet" done enough to make up for the sin they had committed.  One man said that he is worried about dying too soon as he might not have enough time to pay his sin off with good deeds.  In the Koran this is described as the scales being heavy.  The good and bad is weighed and if the scales are not heavy with good then hell is the judgment.  Since the Koran upholds the Torah it was good to ask them about the prophet Moses and the Ten Commandments.  In going through the commandments they admitted they had sinned and have much to pay for.

Nor acted like he could pay for his own sin.  The man in the white shirt (I forget his name) was becoming very open.  Especially after the following scenario I asked them to consider.  Based on their own admission of looking at just a few of the commandments given to the prophet Moses which the Koran supports they were in big trouble but yet hoping their own good deeds would overcome the bad they had already committed.  I asked them to picture a criminal who was guilty of multiple violations of the law standing in front of a judge.  The criminal is guilty but pleads with the judge that despite the serious violations they have done they also have done other good things.  They help old people cross the street.  They give to charities.  They volunteer their time to noble causes.  Pay their taxes and don't kick the dog.  Will the judge dismiss the violations of the law because of the good deeds?  They told me no.  And they were correct.  I told them a good judge would acknowledge those good deeds but would correctly explain they are not the reason the criminal is before him.  He is before the judge because of the laws that have been broken and the law requires that justice be satisfied and good deeds will not suffice.

So I asked Nor when he is before God and he has not done enough to satisfy the demands of justice for his sin is that something he thinks about and does it concern him.  He said it did concern him but that he was continuing to try to make up for his sin.  I explained that the prophet Jesus (Esa) was perfect (Sura 19:19).  Mohammed was not (Sura 10).  Only God is perfect and therefore Jesus is God and is the only one who can, if he is willing, to stand in your place to pay for your sin.  And He is willing.  Willing to lay His life down on the cross and pick it back up again.

Nor wanted to talk about the trinity and move from talking about how things would play out for him on judgment day.  I explained that there are answers to those questions and that Jesus is God.  And that the most important questions for him and the other cabbies talking with me was where were they putting there trust.  Would they insist on trusting in there own works to pay off their sin?  Or would they put their trust in the provision that God made through Jesus dying on the cross and rising again to save them.  Would they trust in the perfect goodness of Jesus as God to pay for their sin and take their punishment?

Nor insisted on paying his own way.  The man in the white shirt was becoming more open and thirsty for what was being said about Jesus.  He clearly was not insisting he pay his own way and seemed touched by Jesus being God and was understanding the message of the cross and grace.  At the very least he had a major seed planted.  I turned to Nor and let him know we needed to move on but before we did I warned him about his pride.  That if he is determined to pay his own way and work away his sin then God will take him up on it and he will receive justice.  And that justice is the wrath of God.  There will be Hell to pay.  But if he would humble himself and put his trust in the only provision that God has made which is Jesus he would be saved.  The choice was trust in Nor or trust in the Savior Jesus Christ.

Nor and I smiled.  We shook hands with all the cabbies and told them we hoped to see them on another night to talk more.  If I see them again I am open to their questions about the trinity but at that point it was more of a diversion on Nor's part to deflect from the weight of where he would stand in light of God's judgment and I did not want to move from the most important thing of all, which is the gospel.

Moving on Steven and I passed a store and beep went off.  Steven saw a girl steal a scarf and hide it and walk out of the store in front of us.  She went down the side street with her friend and then a store employee went out of the store looking around for who may have stole something.  He tracked the girls (they looked very young) down the street.  While he was following one of the girls the other tossed the scarf away.  I told Steven to hang on because we might be able to talk to the girls.  The employee stopped walking after the girls and the girls stopped at the next corner.  As we approached the girls we offered water and the dark haired girl said no.  The blonde said yes (she had stolen the scarf).

I told the girls we were Christians and we saw what happened.  That they set off the beep and I asked if they stole something.  The dark haired girl said she had not.  The blonde said she works at another store and the beep goes off all the time and it does not mean something was stolen.  Steven saw the whole thing... she was lying.  She went on to say that she is a Christian but that she does not go to church and she does not believe there is an afterlife.  We die and that is that.

The dark haired girl was more open.  She said she had been a Christian but in the past few years has become agnostic.  She said scientific proof has moved her to that position.  And the bible being written by men has been changed and corrupted through the years.  She said she is not sure what happens when we die.  It may be nothing.  We just are no longer.  Or Heaven or hell if there is a God.  I asked her if men had written the science books?  She said yes.  I asked if the science books had changed through out the years.  She said yes.  My point being that is why she claimed not to trust the bible but when it comes to the science books no problem.  Then the big question.  I asked her about the proof.  The scientific proof that was so amazing it moved her to being agnostic.  I asked for the her favorite and most compelling proof that really convinced her to be agnostic.  The short story is she admitted there was no proof she could offer.  She just believed.  No proof.  No science.  No nothing.  She said she understood my point.  Which was while she was saying her belief was based on proof and science in reality her beliefs were based on "nothing".  She just believed in what she believed without any basis for it.

I asked her about her conscience.  Why it only speaks to right and wrong?  And then took her through the commandments.  She admitted she did not like being lied to.  But had lied to others.  She did not like people taking her things.  Though she had stolen from others.  After going through a few more of the commands I asked if she would be innocent or guilty before God?  She said guilty.  I asked what God should do if God exists and is good?  Should God send guilty people to Heaven or Hell.  She paused and softly said "Hell".  When I asked if that concerned her she said "yes".

She said she had gone to church awhile back.  So I asked what did she learn in church about what God did so she did not have to go to hell.  She said Jesus on the cross.  And we had a good conversation about God's love and mercy.  The good news.  And that she has a choice.  She can repent and trust in Christ who is so kind to save her or live her life the way she has been doing her own thing and rebelling against God.  I asked her if she deep inside longed for death to be the end or for there to be more after we died.  She said for there to be more.  I told her that was a bible verse.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has put eternity in your heart.  And so he has by your own admission.

We asked her to think about these things tonight and she took a gospel of John booklet and a Save Yourself Some Pain literature to read.

The whole time the blonde girl (who did the stealing) was squirming like you would not believe.  In fact when taking the dark haired girl through the commandments the blonde girl would find fault with her friend.  If she wavered on admitting to breaking a command the blonde girl would jump in give examples of how she had done so.  As she listened though she got quiet.  I can imagine stealing something and then having Christians talk with you about God's justice and judgment and then his mercy.  I am sure that timing could not be lost on these girls.  I am glad we could share the gospel with them.

As we headed back to the Drum Circle we stopped by to talk with Jim who is 86 and as some of you know in a wheel chair but almost always on these streets sharing the gospel.  It was great to see him.  Near that corner was Joe.  I wrote about him from last time we were on the streets.  He wears a Yakima and claims to be a Jesuit.  He created a makeshift shrine and altar later in the night with candles around it for what felt like a creepy sacrament of some sort.  I went to say Hi to him and he was happy to see us.  Then he got mad.  Without realizing it I had step on one of the small candles and crushed it.  I had ruined part of his alter.  I apologized but he was distraught.  I do not know what false god that altar is for but to Joe he takes it real serious.  And he was upset.  He would not talk to me and so I apologized again and then moved on.

We went and got the second batch of Pizza and water and brought them back to the drum circle.  When we got their Kelly, Amy and Mitch were in conversations.  Steven was able to talk briefly with a young man over near the hackey sack area.  Then he talked with "Nice Guy" (a street name) for a long time.  I was able to just listen in.  They had a great conversation.  Steven told me that Nice Guy has a meeting planned with our friend Linda next weekend.  Steven knows Linda through me and told Nice Guy to be sure to make that meeting.

I had a chance to talk with Physco (street name) for a little bit.  As we were talking loud shots sounded from the distance.  Physco told us that it probably was not gunfire (sounded like it) but was police using a bean bag gun.  He said that it is a gun that has a bean bag in it that when fired moves as fast as a bullet and causes a lot of pain and a huge welt and bruise.  We heard a few of those shots.  And then we heard a gunshot.  I looked at Physco and he even said "what was that, now that was a gun shot".  Due to the alley way area we were in it is hard to tell where sounds come from.  That was a little scary.  Then I say Joe again by himself in a dark area next to the drum circle.  He had set up anew his candles and alter.  Very creepy!  I prayed for Joe on the spot as I looked at him taking great care to establish whatever sacrament he was preparing.

Next I was able to talk with Sean (aka Turtle).  This guy brought a harmonica and he can play it.  I MEAN HE CAN PLAY IT!  WOW!  He was not good but he was great.  Better than great really.  I asked him about his beliefs and he said he was Christian and that Jesus is the only way.  He seemed solid as I got to know him and his background.  I asked if we could pray for him and he said yes.  We gathered around him and prayed and he prayed too.  It was great.  When we were done he played the harmonica again.  He played and played and played.  Amazing music came out of that thing.  The bongo drummer came over to us to join in with the beats to go along with Sean's playing.  When they finished I asked the drummer about his story.  His name is Lyle and has been coming up to drum for quite awhile.  It was clear he was not homeless but enjoyed the drumming and the drum circle.  I mentioned I used to drum some 20 years ago in high school and he move his drum over to let me play a little.  Despite my rust I did ok and he told he brings a second drum with him and that I need to play with them.  I will let you know if I go on tour!!!

At that point it was nearing 11 PM and we wrapped up the night in prayer and in sharing stories of the conversations we all had.  It was awesome to share the gospel and bring food and water to those who were hungry and thirsty.  Please pray for all those mentioned and not mentioned in this story.  That the lost would be found.  Thank you for your prayers.

In Jesus name,

Rob-roy Top of Form

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© Rob-roy 2007