Sam the Jesus Shouter
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“Then Jesus said to
His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself,
and take up his cross and follow Me. "For
whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My
sake will find it.
"For what will it
profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a
man give in exchange for his soul? "For
the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and
WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. (Matthew 16:24-27, NASU)
Often during my
40-hour a week accounting job on the 16th floor in uptown Charlotte, NC, I will walk to Romare Bearden Park,
located just two blocks from the office. If you have seen my Facebook pages (Steve
Martin and/or Love For His People), or just know me through my writings, you have
seen that I like to observe people, buildings, and especially flowers on my way
there. And usually a photo (or more) will appear on my social media outlets an
hour or less later.
With the prophetic
gifting I believe that the Lord has given me with some perspectives I have, I
can sometimes see beyond the outward shell people have encased themselves with,
while putting forth something else in their public presentation. We all have
done it – wanting to please men rather than please God, or even know Him in
many cases.
Uptown Charlotte has
really been booming with new office space, new city parks, new apartment
buildings, and thus, new people. Many of the private companies, commercial banks
and real estate profit-makers rise up far above the Trade and Tryon Street
level below. Most of the days these past few years, an abundance of cranes have
lifted heavy steel girders, massive loads of concrete, and men (along with
women) construction workers to the 10, 20 and 30 floors sky bound.
At lunchtime the building
builders fill the park, eating Mexican, Vietnamese, or assorted pizza pies, often
from the food trucks that are close by. As for me, I hustle over to the
7-Eleven on Martin Luther King Blvd. to get a Big Bite and Big Gulp (for $2.00)
before the construction workers clean out the condiments!
That I do most Fridays. Monday-Thursday I always enjoy the leftovers from the supper before that my good wife Laurie always prepares, and carry it to the park bench in a blue plastic grocery bag. Works for me.
That I do most Fridays. Monday-Thursday I always enjoy the leftovers from the supper before that my good wife Laurie always prepares, and carry it to the park bench in a blue plastic grocery bag. Works for me.
Watching the young
people, which now make up a large percentage of the task force, make their way
to the sit-down restaurants, is an altogether different sight. Dressed up in
suits, ties, and fine dresses or slacks, or as the ones do on 3rd
and 4th in our building, using Microsoft Surface or laptop computers
primarily at an online marketing firm - torn jeans and a t-shirt are the
preferred choice of attire.
Though many seem to
have a great time, as they laugh and walk in confidence at their quickly
achieved success, I tend to wonder what lies beneath the proper hair, smile and
exterior given to the world around them? Is there meaningful life beneath? Do
they have the character and strength to resist the temptations to get drunk, party
on the latest drug, or have sex with the other gender, or same gender, in the
cubicle next to theirs?
They need Jesus.
They need Jesus.
Sam Bethea, the “Jesus Shouter”
(Photo by Steve Martin May 19, 2017 in uptown Charlotte, NC)
(Photo by Steve Martin May 19, 2017 in uptown Charlotte, NC)
I agree with Sam
Bethea, the “Jesus Shouter” as some call him, laugh about him, and resist the
Holy Spirit trying to change their heart for eternity through him. He has been
calling out, like John the Baptist, loudly and clearly on the city sidewalks
for many months now.
“I have Good News. Jesus
loves you. He really does!”
Yesterday when I asked
him his name, at Trade and Tryon, he told me he was arrested 29 times before he
came to repentance, and now loves Jesus with all his heart.
Save them Lord. Save
the people in our city, in our nation, in our world.
Let us be Your instruments
of peace and salvation, as you have called and anointed us to be, on the jobs
where we toil so many hours a week. This is where us church people should be
Monday through Saturday. Touching the lost found among the glamorous city
concrete towers.
They need Jesus too.
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People,
Inc.
Sam Bethea's tracks he hands out
on the corner of Trade & Tryon in Charlotte, NC.
(Photo: May 19, 2017 by Steve Martin)
P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share
this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can
easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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Inc. is a charitable,
not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love
of the Father in the nations.
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Todah rabah! (Hebrew
– Thank you very much.)
Please share Now
Think On This with your friends.
Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
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Martin and Love For His People
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LovingHisPeople
Now Think On This - In
the Year of our Lord 05.20.17 - #284 – “Sam the Jesus Shouter” – Saturday, 8:30
am
All previous editions
of Now Think On This can be found on this
Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
Again, I would be most
grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You
can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
