Thursday, February 26, 2009

He turned right to John

Dinah is the first young man that you'll see in this video who is "sort of Buddhist" and delivers donuts to local churches every Sunday but has never been witnessed to. He was on Wretched Radio last Thursday. Donovan, a mix between an atheist and Christian, was on Hour 2 and is engaged to be married, He was on his way to buy a Harley when I met up with him. Watch what happens as I hand Dinah a Bible.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

More Questions And Comments From An atheist

Reynold said, "Define "holy" please."

Sure. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary says the following about the word "holy":
1: exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness
2: divine--for the Lord our God is holy--Pslams 99:9

The bible says:

Reynold said, "Never mind the many scientific mistakes in the bible...for example the mustard seed is said to be the "least" of all seeds, and the don't grow into "trees" as the bible says."

Let me quote the verse for us, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches,” (
Matt. 13:31; see also Mark 4:30; Luke 13:19).

No. The mustard seed is not the smallest of all seeds. But we have to look at the way in which Jesus was speaking here. He was speaking proverbially. He wasn't making a statement of absolute fact but using a proverbial style of communication.

Matt Slick from Carm.org sheds light on this apparent contradiction, "There are different kinds of mustard trees in Israel and the mustard seed was the smallest of all the seeds known there and used by those in Israel. Also, notice that Jesus says that when it is full grown it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree so that the birds nest in it. There were many gardens in Israel with many types of plants, many of which were larger than the mustard plant. The olive tree for example, can grow to 20 feet or more. The mustard tree known as Salvadora persica has extremely small seeds and grows into a small bush. Brassica nigra is a mustard plant that grows to about 8 to 10 feet when mature and is probably the one Jesus was using for his illustration. Jesus would have known that it wasn't the largest of garden plants because of the prevalence of larger plants. Therefore, he was not making a botanical statement of fact. Instead, he was drawing attention to the comparison of the "smallest" to the "largest" and using it to illustrate how the Kingdom of heaven will expand in the world from a very small beginning to a huge presence."

Also, don't forget that Jesus used the mustard seed elsewhere in the same proverbial sense.

Jesus said, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you," (
Matt. 17:20; see also Luke 17:5).

Here we can see that Jesus used the mustard seed as an illustration to make a point. He was not speaking in a scientifically accurate sense.

Reynold said, "Humanity has been around far longer than the bible claims, and in order for that to have happened, we'd have had to develop various moral codes to help us get along back then. We developed our moral code from many places; the Sumerians for one, Greeks, etc."

How do you know that humanity "has been around far longer than the bible claims"? The burden of proof is on you to back up this huge claim. Do you have the genealogies to the very first man on the planet? Answer: No. But the bible does. The Genesis account tells us how life began. And in the process of developing "moral codes" where did they get their moral codes from? How did they know what was moral and what wasn't moral? The bible has the answer for this question as well. And the infinite reference point for my worldview, is God and His Word. Your infinite reference point, is man.

Reynold said, "How does one account for what is and is not just? Empathy, consequences, and whatever rules helps the people in society get along while treating each other fairly. As circumstances change, the rules and ethics change, but at least secularists don't rely on
some book that proscribes child murder by some god as "just"."

Was it okay then for Hitler to kill millions of Jews? He was certainly okay with it. So does that make it just? How are you able to even make a statement that "child murder" is wrong? If in ten years society comes to an understanding that it's okay, than according to your logic...it would be okay.

Again, there is plenty of evidence to back the truth of God's existence. Your fighting against the creator of the universe and He will win. Look around, Reynold, the creation clearly reveals that there is a Creator. But you have suppressed the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:21-22) and according to the bible, your heart has been darkened. You love your sin. If you have looked upon a woman to lust after her you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. (
Matthew 5:28) You have violated the first commandment and have made a god in your own image to suite yourself. Your heart could stop tonight. And you'd have to face a holy God. It's appointed once for man to die and then the judgment (Heb 9:27). You would stand guilty before a holy God. Please repent and turn from your darkened thinking today and Christ will translate you from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (1 Peter 2:9).

And Reynold (Get Educated too), if you would like to receive a copy of
The Atheist Bible I will ship you a copy free of charge, if you agree to read it. Oh and by the way, Dan Barker emailed the ministry today and said that he was tempted to read Ray's new book. Dan's words, "in the interest of fairness and openness". So what about you two? Are you open minded enough to read his book. Perhaps you want to add your names to the drawing and maybe you'll win a copy.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Bury me with my cell phone?

According to MSNBC, a new fad has arisen in the UK and Australia, that is now becoming popular in America: Burying the Dead with Their Cell Phones

Apparently, many people are either requesting to have their cell phones buried with them, or, the relatives/friends of the deceased are burying them with their cell phones on a full battery. After the battery wears out, the relatives or friends call and leave messages in an attempt to feel connected to their loved one. Apparently, being buried with your iPod is an upcoming fad taking shape as well.

Two things are apparent: 1) People love their identity and personal existence so much that they desire to get phone calls they can never be aware of, and 2) People want to hold on to the loves of this world, that they’ll leave voice mails that can never be heard in an attempt to deceive themselves that they are still connected with those who are no longer alive.

Self deception is a reality that exposes the lengths that mankind will go to feel comfortable within the false reality that they feel comfortable in. Three things are for sure, 1) You can't take your cell phone with you when you die, and 2) No one will be able to call you from earth when you're dead, and 3) 10 out of every 10 people will die. It's appointed once for man to die and then the judgment (Heb 9:27).

Make sure that when you face God on judgment day that you have Christ's righteousness and not your own (Romans 3:21-27). If you haven't repented of your sins and trusted in Christ, please do so today.

I'm reminded of the first stanza of the great hymn written by Edward Mote in 1797-1874:

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. "

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Meet the Pastor of Hamas Founders Son

At the end of January of this year I featured a 6 part series from the Fox News Special Escape from Hamas”--the interview of Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of one of the Hamas founders, who converted to Christianity after he was handed a Bible in Israel. Emilio and I watched the 6 part series and were glued...so I wanted you to see it too. We rejoiced that Mosab became a Christian. I contacted him to say how blessed we were about his profession of Christ....and some exciting things happened. If you remember, I said that I would "be sharing more with you in the days to come". I ended up emailing Mosab's pastor (Matt Smith) the very same day and he called me with in minutes of my email. We set up a meeting and this video is the result of that meeting. After you watch the video, if there are any questions that you would like to ask Pastor Matt...please post them and I will send them to pastor Matt and have his response posted on my blog.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Interesting threads from two atheists

Reynold said, "Explain how you could tell a "just God" from an "unjust God" using your criterion of him being able to do whatever he wants."

Speaking of an unjust god would be irrelevant because the true God is not unjust, the reason the true God is not unjust...is because God defines what is just by who He is. The definition of what is just is defined by who God is. A just God is one who will judge righteously (Job 29:14), a just God is one who is holy, one who is sovereign, all-knowing, supreme, one that is not perverted (Job 8:3-4; 34:12), one who is omniscient. And the only way that you, Reynold, can account for what is just and what is not just is by borrowing from the biblical worldview in order to make sense of your own.

Reynold, how do you account for what is just and what is not just? I'll use the words of Blamster in response to you, "Reynold...Supply us with a worldview that does not borrow from ours....where do you get your sense of right and wrong? Or are you simply saying that we must gather the good out of every system of logic and epistemology to draw our standards? But who decided this was right to do, and how do you justify that all religions contradict one another? It may help to see what questions your logic and worldview beg. What are the necessary underpinnings for your worldview to make sense? What transcendental truths are you assuming in your thought process and why? Why? I really would like an answer to these questions."

Logic Lad said, "final question, why does religion always seem to fall back on threats and fear to try and make it's points? I appreciate that you think that the way i love will condemn me, but given i don;t beleive in your place of punishment the threat of it is unlikely to have much effect. You may think me arrogantto take such a stance, however i would argue i show no more hubris than the person who insists they know the truth of what happens after we die with no evidence to back it up."

Logic Lad, fear is not a bad thing. Don't you fear gravity? I hope you do! This fear causes you to think twice about jumping off a high tower. The fear of gravity keeps you on the ground. In the same way, the fear of God should cause you to depart from evil. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 1:7). But because you do not fear the Lord, you are not wise. You might be wise in your own eyes but you do not possess enough wisdom to cause you to depart from your evil deeds (Romans 1:22). I'm not sure about what other "religions" you are referring to, that "fall back on threats and fear to try to makes it's points", but I know that the warning from the bible is clear: "Repent or perish" (Luke 13:3, 5; Matt 4:17). There is plenty of evidence to back the truth of God's existence. The creation clearly reveals that there is a Creator. But you have suppressed the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:21-22) and according to the bible, your heart has been darkened. But there is still hope while you have your breath, I plead with you to repent (turn from your sins) and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Depart from your darkened thinking and Christ will translate you from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (1 Peter 2:9). He is able to save you from eternal damnation. And don't forget, just because you don't believe in something (namely Hell) doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Absolute truth exists.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Blam--T-shirts, Hoodies, etc...

My good friend Anna "Banana" Jackson heard me mention, "Throwin' Down the Blam" on Wretched Radio the other week and she kindly made an entire line of t-shirts, hoodies and sweat shirts on her website. And if you're wondering what "The Blam" is all about, click here to listen to that broadcast then scroll down to "2009-02-12Hr1" and click the the green arrow. Here's an example of how the saying can be used: "Ray Comfort has been throwin' down the blam on atheists!"

Friday, February 13, 2009

Win a copy of Ray's New Book!


Ray Comfort's new book You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence but You Can't Make Him Think is written in a question and answer format and is filled with answers to questions from angry skeptics. One atheist said, "In reading your books...seeds of doubt about my atheism have been sown."

Look what Ken Ham, President of Answers in Genesis has to say, "I find it so encouraging that in these challenging times of 'culture wars.' Christian leaders like my friend Ray Comfort are passionately defending the authority of the Bible from its very first verse."

And if you don't win this copy, I encourage you to visit Amazon and pick it up for yourself...you wont' be disappointed.

***Here are the rules for this contest:

1) Comment here and some way for me to contact you if you win--email or blog link is fine (as long as there's an email address attached to the blog link).

2) Get an additional entry for blogging about this contest or putting it on facebook, twitter, your website, or any other networking site you have. Then tell me where you've posted it.

Note: You do not have to leave a comment to win. Winning isn't based on what you say. The winner will be drawn randomly...so, it's fine to simply leave your name and email.
* No duplicate comments.
* Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
* You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

***If you aren't able to post a comment, please send your entry to email [at] fishwithtrish.com. Comments will be opened through Feb. 28th 2009 and I will announce the winner on the comment section of this blog on March 1st 2009. Open to U.S. residents only.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

What Happened on Darwin's Birthday?

While atheists were rejoicing over the 200th year anniversary of Darwin's birth, these two young men were hearing the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ on Wretched Radio. It was a good day. First meet Sterling, a "Christian" who says he "is going to Purgatory". After he spoke with Todd Friel, Sterling was very moved by the gospel. He asked me to turn off the camera and could barely speak...he was overwhelmed by what he heard. One thing he made very clear was that he was going "straight home" to think about everything.
Meet Steven, an agnostic who explains why he believed in evolution, which was perfect for the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin. Steven listened to me share the gospel with him after he got off the air but unfortunety he was bent with believing that his atheistic worldview was the only correct worldview. He wasn't as open-minded as I thought he would be. :-)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Witnessing to the Pope?

Jim McMaster hands the Pope a million...
I got excited there for a minute. :-)

Monday, February 9, 2009

Celebrity Millions Guessing Game

A creative way to hand out the new Celebrity Million Dollar Bills. Maxx sent this photo in to Living Waters and on the center of the board it reads, "CAN YOU NAME THESE CELEBRITIES? Free million-dollar bills...Give it a try then take one home!".
Look what Maxx writes:
"Trisha or to anyone else receiving this email on the Living Waters team... Just wanted to pass on to you a photo of a way we're using the celebrity million dollar bills, the photo is attached. We've had great response to it here in Monterey. It's of course amazing to see how many celebrities people can name compared to how many of the 10 Commandments they know! But the board is a great way to catch people's attention and as an icebreaker. Every time I hand them their chosen bill and then ask them the million dollar question, the encounter has led to presenting them a full Gospel message."

Have you handed out the new Celebrity Million Dollar Bills yet? If so, what's been the response from people? Do you have any creative tips or one-liners for these tracts?

Sunday, February 8, 2009

God's Sovereignty

"Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries." Psalm 135:6-7

Thursday, February 5, 2009

What one pastor told this young man to do! WHAT??

Meet Albert and Randy from last weeks phone fishing on
Wretched Radio--they had two totally
different reactions to the same Gospel message.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Interesting Comments

Reynold says, "Then there are all sorts of accidents and disasters in which many people die. Those are ignored or disregarded as "god's will" or some such thing, but when something like this happens, you people rush in and use it as a "proof" that your "god" exists."

Not true around true Christians. I don't know who you've been surrounding yourself with...perhaps false converts (people who claim to be Christians but aren't) or those who don't have a right view of God...perhaps heretics. But God exists and is good even when there is calamity. If the flight that landed in the Hudson would have went down and everyone perished, then God would still be on the throne and in control. He would work everything out so that He would receive the most glory.

Reynold says, "Is something good happens, your "god" gets the credit. If something bad happens, well, it's his will. Just as you've demonstrated."

Scripture says it best. Listen to Romans 8:28: "...in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." This verse is misquoted a lot but notice the words "of those who love him". This means that there is really nothing bad that can befall on the life of a Christian. But this is only for the Christian. And God will work everything out for the good. Even if I were to be tortured, burned, or the worse...I take great joy and confidence knowing that I live for Christ and if I die I will die for Christ. Romans 8: 31-39

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

“ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

But remember this is ONLY for the one who has turned from their sins and placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

Reynold says, "That's why it's impossible to test to see if he actually exists or not...all the excuses you people make up to explain away any failures."

Not true at all. You know He exists that's why you are fighting against Him and His people. And the scriptures speak about you. You have suppressed the truth in unrighteousness and you love your sin. Romans 1: 18-25:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."

Reynold, God’s mercy has allowed you to hear the glorious Gospel one more time. Please, humble yourself before God. You may not have tomorrow. Repent and recognize that you have violated God's holy law and your conscience knows it. When you lie...you have a conscience that speaks to you. The bible commands that you repent (Acts 17:30). And God will open your eyes and your heart and transfer you from the Kingdom of darkness TO the kingdom of light. There is still time. Cry out to God while you have breath. I realize that this may be the 30th time or maybe the 300th time that you have heard someone tell you to “repent and trust in the only One who can save you” (namely Christ)…but we will plead with you again. Please cry out to God and recognize that you have broken His commandments and that His wrath abides upon you. He will give you eternal life that does not fade away.

"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Christian Women Online

I had an interview today with Sunny Shell from Christian Women Online. We met at the University of North Texas in Denton. Usually I'm the one doing the interviewing...but, today, it was my turn to be interviewed. And you guessed it...we talked about my favorite subject: Evangelism and the glory of God. But, not only is it my favorite subject...it's Sunny's too. And we had a couple of great one-2-one witnessing encounters on the campus today after the interview. Sunny truly has a heart for the lost and when she contacted me to do an interview for the magazine, back in Nov of 2008, I was overjoyed. It's our hope that women will be encouraged by this interview and moved with compassion to share their faith like never before. Please keep this in prayer. The interview will be in the March Edition of Christian Women Online. I'll keep you posted as more of the details come together.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Ray Comfort Looks Atheists Right in the Face

Have you been to Pull the Plug on Atheism yet? If not, check it out.
It's Ray Comfort's new site. For a while now, he has been looking
Atheists right in the face on his blog, Atheist Central... And now he's continuing to do so with Pull the Plug on Atheism,
which provides more resources that will help you witness to your
atheist friend. You'll find articles to send to someone you know,
and you can help to pull the plug on the rising tide of atheism.

I was corresponding with Ray the other day and said that he
should do a whole series of "Pull the Plug" sites. He liked the thought.
Any ideas for his next "Pull the Plug" site??
How about Pull the Plug on the Emergent Church...
now that I got you thinking, I want to hear your ideas.