There were two events in the Cincinnati area that we really wanted to target this summer: Mayfest and Taste of Cincinnati.  Due to health conditions of me and Jim, neither of us could do the "Taste."  But that didn't stop us from preaching our hearts out at Mayfest. 

We both parked pretty far from the event partly because we weren't sure where it was and partly to stay out of traffic.  We asked several people for direction and received several different answers.  But, God was faithful and led us to witness to several people on the way out to the event.  One guy that Jim spent quite a bit of time with was Cowboy and his girlfriend.  They both claimed to be saved.  In fact, Girlfriend claimed to be a minister, a Dr. and she claimed to have been the wife of the 3 richest men in Houston, TX.  (????)  As Jim spoke with her more, he was led to ask her if she ever experienced demonic activity and she said, "all the time."  He narrowed it down and asked her if she ever experienced lying spirits and she affirmed that she did, "all the time."  Talk about strange!  Now, as a practice, we don't go out of our way to search out demons behind every bush and tree.  It's rather rare to find someone with this type of demonic activity... but this lady was really 'out-there.' 

While Jim was witnessing to Cowboy and girlfriend, I was able to share with a quiet lady that was sitting on the side of a building.  She used to be a JW and now was nothing.  She obviously was hurt by this cult and was very confused.  I let her know that she still has to answer to God for her sins when she dies and pointed her to the savior.  I later learned that she had grown up in the Nazarene church and I admonished her to seek out a Nazarene church to fellowship in.  

After a while we made our way over to the event where we handed out tracts for about 30-40 minutes.  We were stopped by the police because we didn't have a permit to be a vendor.  Jim argued our case for a little bit (regarding our 1st and 14th amendment rights) but the cop was adamant that we leave the event area and set up camp behind the barricades.  So I asked the officer that if we complied, would we have any problems preaching the gospel over the haler from behind the barricade?  He said that we could "crank it up as loud as we wanted" if we complied.  SO WE DID...

I was up first and began preaching about God's grace... until we were stopped by another officer.  The first officer that gave us permission to be there came over and cleared everything up from that point forward and we had no problems with the law from then on.  In fact, the cops actually protected us from that point forward. 

So, I got back on the mic and preached that just because you call yourself a Christian it doesn't make you one.  I preached for quite some time, calling out sin, calling Covington to repentance, and pointing them to the grace that Christ offered on the cross. 

Jim was next and he preached for about an hour.  His topics ranged from God's mercy and grace to his wrath and judgment.  We both agree to preach the full counsel of God.  While he was preaching, several came up and we were able to minister to people, admonishing them to get right with God.

I had another opportunity to preach after Jim and felt a great liberty to really preach against the milk-toast gospel that is so prevalent in this sin-sodden Cincinnati area.  As I was breaking up the fallow ground, one guy in particular was really heckling me pretty bad (which I consider a blessing).  Hecklers bring crowds so this is a good thing.  He said, "what about abortion?"  I answered, "abortion is WRONG!  It's a sin to murder innocent people.  Shame on you for supporting killing innocent people!"  He then said, "what about homosexuality?"  I responded, "it's a SIN!  God didn't make man to lie with man as with a woman.  It's unnatural.  If all the homosexuals all went to an island to live, they would cease to exist after that generation.  God didn't make it that way."  Another heckler was getter real riled up and was screaming at us that we were RETARDS and STUPID.  That's ok.  If that's the extent of persecution we received at this event, we did pretty good.

I was preaching about God's law, expounding on his holy 10 commandments when 3 business ladies came up and mentioned that they broke God's laws on a regular basis.  I told them to repent and put their faith in Christ.  They asked me if I ever broke God's laws and I had to tell them, "yes, I've broken his laws.  But, I've repented and given my heart to Jesus.  My desire NOW is to walk in righteousness, not drink iniquity like it's water."  Once you are born again, your desires change.  No longer to you make excuses for your sins.  You STOP SINNING and you awake unto righteousness.  No longer do you seek to appease the flesh but you seek to please the Father. 

Another blessed outreach.  It's too bad we couldn't do the Taste of Cincinnati.  My appendix had to be taken out so there was no way I could be there which grieves me.  There is nobody out here doing this in the area of the country.  We are it.  If we don't warn the wicked, who will?  If we don't proclaim the truth in the streets, who will?  God help us!!!