Keni

Ole was in the park panhandling. I paid him to pose for me. He told a sad story. I told a good one… about Jesus.

I began reading the gospel of Mark in the Bible today. The first chapter is packed with enough of Jesus’ activity to write an entire book.

There are a number of places in the scriptures that Jesus was not trying to be a celebrity, even though He remains the most popular person to ever have walked the earth.

Even when he left the city for the desert, people came to Him from everywhere.

I think a sign of being Christ-like is that non-Christians want to hang with us.

When I was surfing the net yesterday, I googled something like ’street preachers’. There are some Christ-like people taking the gospel to the streets. Then there are the others; such as the man who hollers at people at college campuses, reminding them of their sin more than encouraging them to look toward a forgiving Savior. I saw one group carrying signs that read, ‘God Hates You, Sodomites, Abortionists and Drunkards.’ Is that so? I thought God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Certainly God hates those acts, yet loves the actors. Continue Reading →

The method you use to reach out to others for Christ is not nearly as important as the mission. The streets are not scripted, so when you sense the need to pull away from the thing you are doing that has drawn people to you (to Jesus), do it. Drop the paint brush, sewing needle, golf clubs, etc., and focus on the ones nearest you. Don’t let them walk away without knowing that they have had an encounter with the living God.

Complete the method on another day, but finish the mission today.

Was Mel Gibson’s portrayal of ‘The Passion of the Christ’ really that graphic? Did it even begin to tell of the suffering Jesus endured to pay our sentence of eternal death?

I suspect that the violence inflicted on Him leading up to His death on the cross was just the beginning of His troubles. Those of us who have received Him as our Lord and Savior will never know the extent of pain, humiliation and abandonment Jesus experienced when He descended into the lowest, darkest debths of the earth. Could eternal death have been encapsulated into three hellish days and nights for Him?

Thank God we don’t have to know that answer. I pray you never find out.

When you’re out on the streets seeking the lost, be prepared to meet some unusual characters. Now that I think of it, those characters might think the same thing of you if you’re standing behind an easel talking to curious onlookers about Jesus. Continue Reading →

“What is your talent? Do you believe it came from God? What is your purpose in life?”

Those are some of the questions I asked onlookers who stopped to watch me paint here at California African American Museum.

No, I wasn’t there to interrogate people.  First we chat, usually about my art, but I quickly turn the focus to their passion or hobby. Continue Reading →

When I was a very young man, I set out on a journey to find God. If I didn’t locate Him, I was prepared to party till I dropped. If the party didn’t lay me down, the bullets whizzing all around probably would. Continue Reading →

The lady pushing the stroller  said that she attends a mosque. I asked her what she knew of Christianity. She said that she respected all religions and went on to say that she was a Christian on some days, a Muslim on others, a Buddhist on others…that they are all the same and all lead to God. Is that so? Continue Reading →

One day when Jesus was traveling, He became hungry. He saw from a distance a fig tree having leaves. When He came upon it, He discovered that it had only leaves, but no fruit. So Jesus spoke to it and said that no one would ever eat fruit from it. The next day, Jesus and His disciples passed the tree. The disciples found the fig tree withered and dried up from the roots. Continue Reading →