My Testimony / Happy New Year 2014!

Two years ago, I posted about my testimony. I wanted to repost it because it is the anniversary of my wreck that led me to call upon the name of The Lord! Here it is: 

Twenty one  years ago on New Year's Eve, I was involved in the party scene. I thought I was living the good life. I had moved to Shreveport, La. to manage the GNC at Southpark Mall. I had just bought a 1992 Dodge Dakota Sport. I was twenty-three at this time. Before this, I managed the GNC at Pecanland Mall in Monroe. I was into working out with weights. I had lost about 65 pounds through exercising and dieting. My friend, John, helped me to get on track. In November, my boss asked me if I could transfer to the Shreveport store. I eagerly told him that I could. I was wanting to go up in the company.

I had met a young woman at one of the clubs that I went to. We started dating before I moved. She lived in Ruston. She broke up with me when I stopped in see her one day on the way back to West Monroe to visit. The day before New Year's Eve, she called me to ask me and my friend, Al, to hold a place for her at the club where we would be at in Monroe. I was going to prove that I was ok without her! We all got to the bar that night with partying on our minds. I started drinking mixed drinks. Sometime after midnight, I blacked-out. I remember just bits and pieces of what was to happen after that. I remember walking out to my truck. After that, I remember shutting the passenger door to the truck. Then, I was walking on the other side of the bridge down Trenton Street in West Monroe. Then, I was at the door of Al's apartment. I woke up at 10:00 on New Year's Day. I told Al that we needed to find my truck. I didn't know where it was! We drove around looking for it in West Monroe and Monroe. I finally called the Monroe Police Department to ask if they had towed the truck. The woman on the line told me that it had been towed to Master's Auto Service in Monroe. I went to see it there. The hood and front was crushed in the middle. The truck was totaled. The owner of the towing company told me that I was fortunate to be alive. I had hit a utility pole on the corner of Pine and Walnut, which was several blocks from the club. The police had pulled some of my hair from the windshield where I had hit with my head. I had walked one mile from where I had wrecked. The officer that worked the accident called me at midnight on January 1st to ask me about what had happened. I lied about what I did, but they knew that I had been drinking. 

I had to go back to Shreveport without transportation. Over the next several months, I depended on my parents to come to bring me back home 

on most weekends. I walked to work sometimes and got a taxi at others. One day at work, I was talking with a regular customer about some of our products. She and her husband worked for the Shreveport Police Department. We ended up talking about church and Jesus. She asked where I went to church. I told her that I was trying to go back to church. She said "You're not doing anything! You better come back to Jesus now!" There had been others who had witnessed to me before, but her words made me think. I didn't write the exact date down, but around March the 15th, I repented of my sins, asked for forgiveness, and was saved at my apartment in Kingston Village Apartments on Kingston Road! What a change! I got born-again! I told everyone what had happened to me! I couldn't go back to the clubs anymore!

I couldn't listen to the same music anymore! I didn't have the desire to drink anymore! I was a changed man! 

I was able to move back home and get my old job back in April. I started passing out tracts. I went to church whenever I could. I wanted all that the Lord had for me! I wanted to do His will! I met Todd at a revival one night. We passed out tracts at several bars around town. Later, we preached at some of the bars. I was nervous about street preaching, but I was hooked after I did it a few times! I love to tell the story of how the Lord saved me! I witness as much as I can. I am thankful that I have had an extension on my life. I should have died and went to hell that night of my accident, but I am alive! I am saved! I never get tired of telling this story! Jesus is my all and all. He has done so much for me. I must do much for Him! 

           Happy New Year,

             Scott 

Another Look At Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading System

On September 16, 2011, I posted about this great Bible reading plan. Here's what it read: 

On August 22nd, Tony Miano posted on his blog about Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading System. I have never had a solid plan where I have read all the way through or in a year.

With this plan, I will have read the Bible in 250 days. I am currently on day 31. I am very excited about this!

My wife started this week . Several people from our church have also got on it. Here is the link if you want to look at it for yourself :  http://www.onthebox.us/2011/08/professor-horners-bible-reading-system.html

Each day you will read ten chapters a day with ten list to read from. I make sure I  get at least ten read everyday. I have doubled up a few times, reading two days worth. This system is very challenging. In Sunday School this weekend, I am going to talk about this plan in our Adult class as I teach on the Word of God. My Bible-reading will never be the same! 

Currently, I am in the second time around. I haven't done this reading as quick as the last one. I plan to do better. Here is the link to the list: 

http://www.thevinefellowship.com/10Lists.pdf

Try it out! I believe that you will really like this plan! Happy Bible Reading in 2014! 

Gospel Tract Spotlight - The New Year Resolution Tract

This is one of the four tracts that is featured in the Bezeugen Tract Club for the month of January. Everyone is thinking about those resolutions now! This is great to hand out while wishing a Happy New Year. Here is the text of the tract with the question on the front:

Can you name TEN of the top New Year Resolutions?

Answer (in no particular order): 1. Lose Weight, 2. Stop Smoking, 3. Go Greener, 4. Upgrade My Technology, 5. Change Career, 6. Get Organized, 7. Start a New Hobby, 8. Get Out of Debt, 9. Spend More Time with Family, 10. Help Others.

Each of these has to do with changing the way you think and act about something. God wants you to change the way you think and act about His Law, the Ten Commandments. The Bible says, "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (based on the Ten Commandments). How many lies have you told? Have you ever stolen anything? Ever hated someone? Jesus calls hatred murder! Ever looked with lust? Jesus calls lust adultery. Innocent or guilty? Heaven or hell? God does not want you to go to hell. He sent His only son Jesus Christ to fulfill the Law. Being fully God and fully man, Jesus lived a perfect life. He died on a cross to pay for your sin. Then He rose from the dead, defeating sin, death and the devil. God commands all people everywhere to repent and trust in Jesus (Mark 1:15, Acts 17:30-31). Consider making repentance and trust in Jesus your number one resolution this year! www.AfterLifeCatalog.com

Merry Christmas! - 2013

I pray that everyone has had a Merry Christmas this day! Here's my Christmas Card to all the bloggers and readers! 

May Jesus bless you abundantly as we celebrate His birth! 

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. (Matthew 1:18-25 KJV)

Christmas Tract Bags

I've made up several bags with tracts and peppermints or miniature candy canes to hand out this Christmas season. Everyone that I've offered them to has took them. I even made a few Spanish ones. When I go through drive-thrus, I give one to the person who takes my payment and the one who hands me the order. At a Church's Chicken in Ruston on Friday, I gave 7 bags to the woman at the window and asked her to give them out to the other employees. This is a neat way to witness. I bought the bags and peppermints  at The Dollar Tree. My wife bought me the smaller bag with snowflakes on it. The bags with candy canes on them are perfect to use with The Legend Of The Candy Cane tract. We only have a few more days till Christmas. People need to know the real reason for the season!

Christmas Witnessing

 

As my wife and I did grocery and Christmas shopping at Walmart on Saturday, I was able to give out several Christmas tracts. I talked to Quan, who said that he needed to do better. I took him through 3 of the commandments. He admitted that he was guilty. Sam said that we can't know where we go when we die. I quoted 1 John 5:13 to him and said that we can know. Foster and his friend took the What List Are You On? tract. He thanked me got giving it to them. Christmas is a time to give out  Gospel tracts.... as you go!

Christmas Tracts - Tis' The Season....

Christmas  a time to ask "Did you get one of these?" I love witnessing with tracts at Christmas! It is so easy giving a tract to someone by saying "Merry Christmas". I ask at times: "Did you get your Christmas Gospel tract?"So many people will take a one from a courteous stranger. They need to believe the Gospel to be born again. We can ask if they know the real reason for Christmas. This will open up a witnessing opportunity. On Thiursday night, I got to give one to a college student named Charles. He had got behind me in line. When I saw that he had just a few items, I let him go in front of me. This opened up a conversation while he was checking out. I was able to give him a tract during that time.

On Friday night, I gave the "What List Are You On? tract to Kendrick. He said that he  was guilty after I took him through 4 of the commandments. I asked him to read 1 John 5 and John 10. He thankede for the talk. 

On Saturday, I took my two sons to the annual Kiwana's Christmas parade in Monroe. I made up 100  bags with "The Legend Of The Candy Cane" tract and a candy cane or peppermint. I was able to give out 50 of them. I gave out 2 at the McDonald's drive thru, also. 
What are you doing special to witness in this joyous season? Please feel free to leave a comment about your witnessing experiences. Be creative to win people to Jesus so that they can have a Christ-filled Christmas, too!