Street-Preaching... Trials And Tribulations!

Today, o yea, I was led of the Lord this time to street preach His Word walking up Hillsboro Street and making a right turn walking on Kress Street.

It's not always an "easy breeze" when the Lord tells me to go out and "preach His Word" to the people when I may be caught in personal situations and "obligations" with people that try my heart to see if I'll "give in to my fear" of upsetting close family and friends.

Nevertheless, I STEEL my mind in cruel hard, rigid focus, determination and an unemotional neutral gaze MAKING EYE CONTACT with angry, "mean-looking" faces lol ;D for walking out on family and friends expecting me to be around to help them with something when things are taken care of and I MUST OBEY GOD *FIRST*. Family SECOND! (Don't get me wrong, out of PURITY of heart I do right on business and personal family obligations; I'm in that group of "rare individuals" who don't cheat people out or slack their hand)

Yeah, yeah... by His Grace I'm not one to "get into trouble" on my own, fooling around, doing drugs, drinking beer, sleeping with many women as a "player" or hanging out at the nightclubs and bars or "getting high" or any of the foolish dumb stuff young people my age are so accustomed to doing and expected of... Yeah...

In a sense I'm a "polite ol' preacher boy" but not really. Not NOT AT ALL!:P

Regardless of the case, so... I'm walking up Kress Street upholding the Word (King James Version Holy Bible [KJV]) and seeing people pass by in their cars.

I'm saying "God Almighty, Lord Jesus Christ LOVES You!" or "God LOVES YOU! Trust on JESUS, the SON OF GOD!" and like manner...

A lot of times, as been doing this for quite a while now it seems more than it really is, when people see my around, they either "snap" "Okay, I'm tired of being reminded of God by you" is what I think they may be thinking like judging by their "reactions of being in my presence and I in theirs".

Also... A lot of people "sneakily" it seems (but Oh yeah, best believe I DO NOTICE! But I'm not really "offended" that much or take it to heart) like to "give me the finger" after they have driven off in their vehicles (but I notices!... Usually always unless my eyes are focused talking to somebody or looking elsewhere but I capture my surroundings greatly in my peripheral vision. Amen.)

Yeah, just yesterday on my way back to Denver Harbor having made a stop at Workforce Solutions on Wallisville Road looking for another job and handling some other business; I'm walking on past this Valero gas station off the curbside walking pass the driveway and this white man in his green truck or some color, yeah, he's all reacting like "Gosh d--mmit! Not you [me] again!" as he speds off in his truck and indirectly giving me the finger as though I'm to busy walking and tired in the hot Houston sun to notice his "actions". Well, guess what? I DO! lol ;D Don't ch'you worry though, I'm not "offended" at heart; I'm used to this kind of thing. It means I'm doing my job well in the Lord lol.

OFFEND THEM! But I'm not "personally offending" people when I'm out street-preaching.

lol People just don't want to be CONFRONTED with the TRUTH that there IS A GOD. They want to live their lives with NO ACCOUNTABILITY to a "Higher Power" other than themselves.

Everyone wants to be their own "lil' god" or "lil' goddess" of their "lil' lives" in the world without acknowledging the INSTRUCTION of the REAL GOD in our lives. Amen!

So, I've done this enough to know not to take people's negative reactions personally. They can't "hate me"; they don't know me. It's GOD they have a problem with. People are going through a lot of personal and emotional drama in their lives.

I'm one of them, but I know the LORD.

Also, the people who "hate to see me" hate to see a "walking, living, breathing living epistle of one of the servants of the Lord" as the Lord uses me to remind them of HIS EXISTENCE.

I've walked on numerous streets, roads, highways; ran on interstates to get across other sides and numerous many adventures too many to list in brief time spans; but it was GOD USING MY *WILLING* FEET to do HIS WORK.

I myself, am NOTHING and NOTHING and can't DO NOTHING without HIS GRACE and HIS ANOINTING over my life. It's GOD using me to get to peoples' hearts so He can Minister unto them.

GOD is the One pulling the strings. I am His puppet and He uses me very well according to His Purposes.

Sometimes I just don't know what God is doing or going to do when and after I'm done preaching, if people's hearts are really being CHANGED to TURN AFTER GOD. Only GOD knows the full story. I can only do my best to remain OBEDIENT to His Call because some days I DO DISOBEY GOD and DO MY OWN THING! I'm a SINNER!

It doesn't even have to be a "bad thing" I do but just me "doing what Jed wants to do" like "staying in longer to eat more food" than being ready to go to church and be on time, or going out to preach.

Any myriad of so-called "minor everyday things I do" that by all means don't appear to be "bad" if I do them but the lesson is of OBEDIENCE to the One I'm to OBEY!: GOD! Amen!

Well, I truly be praying throughout all the day long; even though I don't always pray "long prays of five, ten thirty minutes and up" but just talking to God from the heart concerning His Will in my life and the people I also want to be saved from ending up in HELL. Amen!

Life is SERIOUS. When dead, that's where you'll be: HEAVEN or HELL! I've chosen HEAVEN by GRACE through FAITH on the Son of God, LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Even though as filthy, utterly pure evil and wretched as I am, I don't want to spend an eternity in Hell BURNING FOREVER if I can be "at peace" in a "Cool Place" like Heaven?!

No, I can obey requirements. Going to Heaven is provided only by JESUS CHRIST the SON OF GOD; I want to GO THERE! Amen!

Friend, whoever's reading this, male or female, boy or girl, man or woman, I'm telling you RIGHT NOW I triple-dog DARE YOU: you are truly no more PURE EVIL and WICKED than I am and I'm telling you the TRUTH on THIS: *JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN!* There is NO OTHER WAY to have ETERNAL LIFE after death. NO OTHER WAY!

You'll be wasting your precious time, money, energy and resources in VAIN trying to "live forever" here on this sin-cursed planet doomed to destruction; but the Good News is God's Son, Lord Jesus has prepared a *KINGDOM* for His saints that believe in Him!

Don't get me wrong, I'm no "saint" but a *DEVIL* saved by GRACE through FAITH on CHRIST. Amen! I'm NOT a "good person".

BEWARE of anyone who thinks he/she is "good" in the Sight of Almighty God Who is PERFECT GOODNESS!

I'm filth. I'm nothing. GOD is GOD! Amen!

Also, I could go on but it's time to close, for now, Lord-willing, 'til next time, Lord-willing...

Alright now, God LOVES you and I hope to shew forth His Good Works in new exciting ways, methods and "surprises" to the world as He allows me to work them out...

I got a lot in mind and heart to BRING FORTH but it will take time to SEE ALL THOSE GOOD FRUITS. Amen! ;)

Alright then, take care of yourself, and most importantly, REMEMBER thy Creator Who formed thee in the womb.

Oh yeah, please pray for me. I'll be praying for you. Truly thank you on that.

Love you in HIS NAME. Amen!

~ Sincerely,

Bro. Jed

Street-Preaching And People...

Yea, yea... Today is a good day... Was out street-preaching His Word (King James Version Holy Bible [KJV]) to the people today.

So, I walked up Hillsboro Street street-preaching with His Word holding up the Word in discernment and patient "timing" as I saw fit in the Spirit to witness the Word to people approaching by driving in their cars...

Yeah, a lot of people either waved their hands in "agreement" or "okay, okay, leave me alone" gesturing and all that jazz...

Yeah, seems like for those people who "question" my methods of "street-preaching" holding a bible up if I'm actually being effective' say like: "Hey, you really think you're gonna reach people like that just "flagging" the Bible around like a crazy guy? You really think anyone's going to take you seriously?"

lol My answer to such similar questions is a resounding YES! I know this because if you or anyone you know has actually gone on in outreach street-preaching ministry you could tell the method's "effective", SUPER EFFECTIVE even!) because the way people REACT out of anger, shock, disbelief, guilt and various emotional states! Plus I don't always just street-preach with the Bible. If I have access to utilizing Christian signs and other resources I use them as well as the SPIRIT LEADS.

When people see the Bible held up in my hands it's SYMBOLIC for meaning GOD! "GOD" means BIBLE! "BIBLE" means GOD! People already have a symbolic representation going on in the back of their minds of what I'm doing. People KNOW they need to COMPLETELY SUBMIT THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST in OBEDIENCE; not SALVATION as that's something entirely different; but what I'm saying is, "People know they should actually live their lives for JESUS and ONLY JESUS and not just be casual, lackadaisal lukewarm Christians playing the "Church game" on Sundays but living like heathen folk every other day of the week?" Amen.

For anyone who seriously has had any real "skin-in-the-game" and is ACTUALLY EVANGELIZING, not just "talking about it" but ACTUALLY EVANGELIZING the Word of God (King James Version Holy Bible [KJV]) and the Gospel of Jesus Christ (KJV 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) is actually WORTH TAKING SERIOUS.

See, I don't take much criticizing "Christians" seriously. Don't mistake me; I LOVE YOU IN THE LORD as I'm not talking to the contrary. What really irks me is the so-called "Christians" who (harshly and/or unfairly) CRITICIZE my fellow brothers and sister who are actually MINISTERING to lost, unsaved souls; THAT'S WHAT ANGERS AND UPSETS ME THE MOST! I HATE THAT!

So, if you're gonna "criticize" my methods I CHALLENGE YOU to be an EFFECTIVE WITNESS for JESUS CHRIST and WIN SOULS TO CHRIST! Don't like my style, LET ME SEE YOURS THEN! Show me up then, okay? Amen.

Until then, I don't respect people who criticize fellow soulwinners as myself who are putting forth an effort to bring people to the TRUTH of JESUS CHRIST the best ways we can by HIS GRACE. If you can't (rephrase "don't want to") help us, DON'T HURT US! Amen! Really p*sses me off!

But I'm not that "angry" as I'm "detached" from my anger (but I really feel it though) but truly disappointed by some brethren in Christ that criticize the brethren out on the streets or in any place of society and life witnessing for JESUS (never for "ourselves"; it's JESUS; He's the MAIN REASON. Amen!) to CRITICIZE and NOT HELP US! Woe unto YOU! You think JESUS is pleased by your INDIFFERENCE and CRITICISMS when you're not doing anything to reach the lost yourself?

Heck, I'm not perfect, but I'm striving for perfection. At least at the end for me the Lord can say I at least TRIED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP HIM while I'm here in this hellhole! Can you HONESTLY say the same thing, huh? I seriously DOUBT YOU CAN! Not many can at this point, but it can change.

If you can't I strongly suggest in LOVE you should "get on the Winning Team" and quit "talking us down" as though we're not of the SAME FAMILY. Amen!

Smh... Also, said a few kind words of  "God Loves you! Trust on JESUS! Be Blessed!" and such utterances I could speak as people drove by in their vehicles when I was walking near the side of the curb of Kress Street.

Said, "You be blessed sir" to a man riding pass me on his bike as he acknowledge and nodded "Yeah..." as he rode on.

And for the kicker the really bad part that "grinded my gears" street-preaching on Kress Street so this young black woman (could be mixed Black/White or Black/Hispanic; didn't really have enough time to look at her; pretty sure she's black though) riding her bike is going to say "Hey... how you doing, baby?" and pass by on her bike. The same time I said something like "Jesus Christ loves you! You have a blessed day." and was going on my business but the time she passed by she was being VERY CONDESCENDING talking to me as a "child" and NOT A GROWN MAN.

I don't tolerate disrespectful condescending talk from anyone, LEAST OF ALL, IGNORANT YOUNG WOMEN! I said "I'm not "your baby" but I'm your BROTHER IN CHRIST! YOU'RE THE BABY (IN CHRIST)!" (not really knowing if this random woman (seen her before I believe around time; probably living somewhere on or around the streets or not; either way don't trust her) was an actually "sister in Christ" or not. Don't know her at all too have much of an opinion of her personally. Could sense a little irritation, pride and anger festering inside when some random woman "disrespects me" out of my name, when I said "You're the baby!"; but it was negated as it came from deflecting her disrespect back to herself.

Anyways, what I really disliked about her was her "condescending attitude" of ARROGANCE talking to me a young man as her "baby". lol You're not even old enough to me by mother, "girl" and barely much older than me (if you are)... and my mother's more of a WOMAN than you'll ever likely be. So yeah... Amen.

You don't know me woman and I don't know you. Don't "talk me down" in condescension. It's NOT funny or cute (NOT to me at all, maybe JUST TO YOU). It's arrogant, rude, disrespectful and EXTREMELY UNATTRACTIVE! No "self-respecting" GOOD MAN is going to want to WILLING be in a relationship with a man-hater or disrespectful woman of any sort! Only weak-willed, wimpy men let ignorant women rule over them. She needs to KNOW HER PLACE, in SUBJECTION TO MEN. Amen!

It wasn't good, playful "affection" as "boyfriend-girlfriend talk"; she doesn't know me like that at all. I'm just a random STRANGER to her. It was blatant, disrespectful CONDESCENSION to me as a young man in CHRIST being a faithful witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. A MAN OF GOD.

I could say she's just some random "girl" on the streets then riding a bike, not a "grown woman" by my standards, but I won't take it there. I'm not "condescending like that" to people even though other people play that game and talk like that. I don't play no one's games but MINE and CHRIST'S. Amen.

I'm "better than that". :P Jk, that aside, I love her in CHRIST and hope the best for her in the Lord, but unless I'm mistaken her spiritual maturity seems to be lacking in the plane of a "babe in Christ" needing "milk" and not STRONG MEAT at the moment. Putting that in prayer. Amen.

So when I speak to young people as myself, either peers or young teens I call them YOUNG MEN and YOUNG WOMEN and NOT "boys" and "girls". I treat them as "equals" knowing their POTENTIAL IN CHRIST TO BE GOD'S REALITY (despite the real world reality of this life).

Ideally, I simply want to be friendly, cool and not be bothered and taken advantage of by lying, scheming, deceitful people. But I don't live in a "friendly world", so I have to DEAL WITH PEOPLE sometimes. Good and bad.

I be RESPECTFUL and see people the Way GOD SEES THEM, as people of RESPECT and DIGNITY. Calling young men "boys" and "kids" instead of respectable, casually saying "young men" in hopes they will grow into fine citizens is a disservice to getting young men to actually return the RESPECT and HONOUR to their elders.

Heck, even ignorant, unworthy young men young enough to still be called "boys" (like a few characters I came across a while back) I call them YOUNG MEN because that's MY STANDARD OF RESPECT TOWARDS MY FELLOW MAN. Has nothing to do with them or anyone else.

TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED! Amen!

I respect people merely because we are all human-beings and should treat each other with dignity and respect; but it's true when I say I "respect some people more than others".

My MOST SINCERE "respect" has to be EARNED from me. And it's not hard. You'll know by how I conduct myself around you where you rank.

Only the legitimate GREAT MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD have my most sincere respect.

For instance, an older, I'll say even "elder" black brother in Christ, old enough to be my earthly father, great man of God I met up during my time in Mount Vernon, Washington; I'll call him "Bro. K.W.".

So Brother K.W., the son of a Muslim father growing up, was once a believer of the man "Mahatma Ghadhi" and such... After he turned to Christ and became a traveling preacher and evangelist had a few encounters with people who try to "talk down" to him calling him "Hey, buddy!" as though he's some random homeless guy on the streets; no sincere concern, care or RESPECT in those words just trying to "feel like the bigger man"... "buddy"... Yeah, right.

It wasn't so much the "words" but the deceiving *attitude* of condescension people had towards elder brother K.W. by calling him "buddy" that he recognized and what really disappointed me. Instead of calling him a MAN OF GOD or a "Mr.", or a "sir" like people normally (should) do, he's just called their "buddy", some random, low class individual to be disregarded no matter what his message.

Smh... People, when in the presence of men and women of God who truly know and serve the Lord are often then "condescended" towards because people don't want to face the fact that they should respect and honour God-ordained AUTHORITY and those put in position or influence for the betterment of society. They don't know him enough personally to call them their "buddy". He's a MAN OF GOD and people who are wise would do WISELY. Amen.

So, for people who think I'm their "buddy", I'll spell it out for you: I'm NOT! I only have BRETHREN covered by the BLOOD, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. They are BRETHREN NOT "buddies". "Buddies" is a condescending name call for people you feel "outclassed by" and want to "lower them down" so you don't feel too "uncomfortable" or of "low self-esteem" in their presence.

So yeah, I'm no stranger to being "disrespected" or "hated" as the scum of the earth as a street preacher in the Lord Jesus. I must "suffer for His Sake". Yeah, I could say, "screw this" and turn my back on this street-preaching ministry and do many other different things for God (and God-willing I still will but won't quit street-preaching on the way...) but I "can't go back" and "retreat" my work ethic in Christ when I'm already being effective. It's PROVEN.

I have a NECESSITY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL!

WOE IS ME IF I DON'T PREACH JESUS CHRIST! Because if I don't I am GUILTY KNOWING I SHOULD BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME and MAKING A DIFFERENCE to "turn back" or "quit street-preaching" is to "cheat God" as His servant. I mean, of all people I see and meet around me in daily life, I'm quite confident and sure enough to say I'm the only ACTIVE local street-preaching Christian around taking a STAND FOR CHRIST. Not many people can HONESTLY say that. Least what I know from what I've seen lately... in this area. It's usually a "solo job" around this area of Denver Harbor, Houston, Texas but I'm ALWAYS willing to fellowship and minister with other fellow soldiers in Christ.

In fact, one time, out in a different area on Little York Road, I saw a fellow elder sister in Christ holding up Christian signs saying "The End is Near!" and such sort reminiscent of future bible prophecy "Last Days" warnings. She is one of few and the only woman I'm seen out in outreach ministry in the public. I prayed for her good success in the Lord that souls might be saved to CHRIST.

Yes, it has to be LED OF HIS SPIRIT though to join and go witnessing here or there, so I leave it there. But I'm always willing to.

Hopefully someday I'll get back to neighborhood door-to-door house ministry going to people at their houses like I used to do to present JESUS and tell them to go to a local Christian, King James Bible-believing church. I don't "dilly-dally" to annoy, irritate or deceive people like a thief coming to "steal, kill and destroy"; simply come to tell people about Jesus, give them any helpful materials and/or resources I may have at the moment and go about my business. I'm doing the LORD'S WORK out of PURITY. Amen!

For starters in this area of Denver Harbor of the Fifth Ward District of Houston, Texas, to anyone reading this living around I suggest going to my local family's church of "Calvary Christian Center". It's not a perfect church by any means (is any, really?) but it's a promising church off to a "new start in Christ" as it's members strive to live FAITHFULLY under God's Will. Amen.

Our pastor, Senior Pastor T.J. and his wife Mrs. V.J. are quite a wonderful couple in Christ. And their children. May the Lord Jesus Christ BLESS and WATCH OVER THEM ALL. Amen!

~ Sincerely,

Bro. Jed

MARK Them That Cause Division: The "Three Amigos"

On Wednesday evening June 29, 2016 on my way that night to Wednesday night bible study as I walked up Hillsboro Street and walked across Kress Street to the left side of Kress Street on the sidewalk and grassy space area... I encountered what I perceived to be three young troubled adolescent juvenile delinquents I'd call "wannabe-gangbangers"... A real life "Ed, Edd 'N Eddy" experience.

It caught me by surprise as I was simply on my way walking to bible study.

The young "ringleader" of the group had curly dark brown or black hair, wore a white short-sleeved shirt; had on brown khaki shorts and the other two young Hispanic guys (who were quite taller than the short Hispanic teen) wore black clothing of both black shirts and black pants.

He and his two taller homies just waltz up and were engaging me as though they "wanted trouble".

Smh... it was VERY rebellious. I didn't even say a word to them and then the short young "ringleader" of the trio started all cursing calling me a "b*tcha** p*ssy and n*gga" and all that typical street cursing and foul language trash talking...

He's like "You from Fifth Ward?" I said "I'm from Seattle, Washington" and my response kind of "threw him off guard" when I said that since I'm not a "real local" 'round these parts.

Anyways it's like that wasn't the "response he wanted to hear from me; rather he wanted me to say "Yes. I'm from (i.e. "with") Fifth Ward" and he's like "Oh okay, good you better be or I'm gonna beat you down "p*ssy a** b*tch" and cursing all long. The other two dudes in black were on his right and left sides in the back behind him standing a space apart. Co-signing, throwing up their "gang hand signs" and co-signing with their little short ringleader.

I'm like "Jesus LOVES you! Why you calling me all this? I don't even know you. I'm not from here." and he's like "F- the government, F- President Obama" and everything like that as though he assumed ME as a black person supports U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama just because he's... black. No I do NOT. I love and care for our U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Sasha and Melia; I just do NOT support the wicked, evil agendas President Barack Obama is pushing; he's on the Devil, SATAN'S side. I'm on GOD'S SIDE. Amen.

Anyways, the hothead young Hispanic man was too busy hurling out insults in angry ranting trying to get me "worked up" so he thought I would engage and fight him and his two other homeboys. He was just being a blowhard and I know this set up. He was "looking for trouble" to act like some "tough guy" like a "real man" lol.

Throughout this whole ordeal that felt quite long though it was brief I only engaged by verbally speaking positive wordings to the group and didn't add "fuel to the fire" by letting my pride get the best of me and responding back like "Hey, don't you talk to me like that you *beep*, *beep*" or getting all mad and wanting to fight because he called me outside my name. No, it would have been an unwise decision if I had reacted to them in anger and wanted to fight with them.

Thing is, these lost, wayward teens (looked too young to be grown "adults") acting all "disrespectful and tough" like they're legit "gangbangers" was a joke in itself. They were nothing more than "young punks"; ignorant fools and mockeries of themselves (acting like they are tough "real men". lol),unfortunately. I couldn't take them serious at face-value. Smh... wannabes.

The young "shorty" who happened to be the "leader" I perceived was trying to make a dominance display of authority to his other two young "minions" (seems to me that the other two taller guys in black had sense to know that deep down they knew I was telling the truth to them that "gangs is not the right y'all. Just to jail, prison, death and destruction" and I'm sure that "deep down" they even know themselves that "gangbanging" is a dead end of NOTHING.) and young "Shorty" as I'll call him; walks up to my space for a distance throwing his hands up in fists in a boxing stance as he says "Wha- b*tch you think I'm playin'? I'm thrown down bigger fools than you p*ssy" and he goes on saying stuff like that in cursing as I stand still and tall in a semi-detached, calm gaze into his eyes; being weary of his actions. I'm like when he said he "beat down bigger guys than me" I said... "Well, it's believable..." and left it there.

I couldn't really engage and talk some sense into these guys as I would have really liked because like the lil' Shorty said "It goes in one ear and goes out the other". The other two guys in black clothing didn't really seem like they wanted to "go through with it" by "playing along" with the peer pressure of their Shorty leader. They like they "had more sense" and were kinda "backing out" of the situation but ol' Shorty's like trying oto "eg them on"... Smh at the sheer FOLLY of these kids... Amen.

These guys weren't about nothing but TROUBLE and they wanted to get into a fight or something to prove how "bad", "tough" and "manly" they are. And yeah, shoot, if a real fight was to go down it was going to be a "three-on-one" situation. Me against three punks.

Thing is, I wasn't at all concerned about being outnumbered in a fight. I already knew these jokers in a group were gonna fight me all at once trying to jump me. I won't go all into the details, but I've fought more than one person before and "won". Did this stuff since elementary school since "pretend-fighting" and life growing up but this was REAL.


Anyways, what's sad is I thought about the whole set up of the situation and the various outcomes that could have happened like this:

A) I speak back to pacify the situation in conflict de-escalation and resolution. Eventually figure out the young punks don't want to listen to reason and I peacefully leave from the scene. (Note: I chose and by His Grace fulfilled this outcome. Amen!)

B) Got angry back at these youngsters calling me a grown man a "p*ssy" and wanted to "assert myself" as a MAN! Either they feel the urge and momentum to "push back" and start the fight by rushing at me or me going at them. If I chose this option, I would hope they were the instigators and I could have picked them off one-by-one with a good sock to the head; I wouldn't have let these punks beat me up so they could earn themselves "street cred" like they're all "big 'n tough" with "big balls" and b.s. I don't know karate (though as a child growing up I was always interested in martial arts from watching shows like Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, YuYuHakashu and others; but that's a story for another time, God-willing...) but like Chris Tucker once said "I know "KUH-RAZY"! It would be ugly but I know I would have won; fighting dirty if need be. I would really HATE an loathe myself losing to such small-minded buffoons, more than me DYING lol...

As a Christian I would have it on my heart how I "hurt" them physically and wouldn't feel right about it; but when push comes to shove I have an internal survival drive instinct that RUSHES adrenaline when I'm feeling like I'm gonna die; I have that DRIVE and I'm VERY PRIDEFUL and RUTHLESS. Would have been VERY UGLY (can promise you) cuz I might have killed one, two or all three of them... I don't want that on my conscience, even though I'm perfectly capable of killing people. That's not the kind life I've chosen or the kind of life I want. I want a GOOD LIFE... as Pastor Robert Morris calls it, "The BLESSED Life"...

I've chosen LIGHT and not "darkness".

If I was to be the criminal mastermind of my imagination of the Devil "courting" me in my mid-to-late teens I would have chosen and went all into the DARKNESS; but I chose LIGHT. I'm not able to make a "diminished" stained" legacy of "Gray". I chose WHITE for PURITY NOT the DARKNESS OF BLACK of EVIL or a mix 'n matched" destiny of "never being fully good or never being fully evil.

Just like how Anakin Skywalker of the fictional Sci-Fi Star Wars series was never a "true Jedi" of the "Light Side" or "true Sith" of the "Dark Side" as Darth Vader; Anakin just became a simple pawn used by the Emperor Palpatine to kill the Jedi and make him ruler. Anakin didn't really "fit in" as "true hero" or "true villain"; not even an "antihero" or a "tragic hero" just a "tragedy", really...

Anakin could have BEEN SOMEBODY, the GREATEST JEDI but he let his ANGER, his WRATH, his PRIDE; his SIN get the best of him and it utterly destroyed his life and countless other souls.

Yeah, even though the story of Anakin was just fiction the THEME of the story is what resonated with me.

I'm A LOT like Anakin. Hard past, great potential, same kind of anger, wrath, pride and "arrogance" issues; but I've recognized it in foresight by the Wisdom and Grace He bestowed upon me. Seeing the tragic FAILURE of Anakin REMINDED ME how I can be of a similar fate if I don't make wise decisions my own self and be amongst people of "good heart". A lot of users, manipulaters, schemers and deceivers out their trying to take advantage of young, inexperienced but promising, great potential youth... Even from old folks (i.e. "Palpatine"... oh yeah...)

Anyways, whether the trio of dudes beat me or I beat them, the result would be the same: NOBODY REALLY "WINS" A FIGHT. Lives are damaged or destroyed and then the police are called, ambulances rush, arrests are made, sent to jail, then after hanging there for a while, an eventual court date ... and sentencing...

I know how that system works... It only makes life HARDER than it has to be and I don't want to be the "sucker" for it. 'F' that!" as it's said!

Even if I "physically won" the fight God forbid I actually killed those kids and had to carry that on my heart... I know I could have gone all the way but  I would have been the FOOLISH, STUPID FOOL on MY PART killing some ignorant kids that don't know better; don't want to know better but I would be the ONE in the WRONG since I KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT but I CHOSE EVIL. I HATE THAT.

And I would have ended up in prison; stained reputation as a supposed "Christian" and having to explain to their parents I took their sons lives... Smh... I chose the right choice by HIS GRACE.

Wow... It's SO EASY to get into TROUBLE and RUIN YOUR WHOLE LIFE if you're not careful about what you say and do to people in your life...

Sometimes you're NOT even "looking for trouble" but TROUBLE FINDS YOU!

In fact, I don't even know if those young punks parents know of the kids' wandering the streets looking for trouble or if they're aware their kids are wanting to be little "gangbangers"; if their own parents aren't criminals themselves or even in their lives? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Either way, looking beyond the natural plane of the situation I realized that GOD wants these young Hispanic men to be SAVED and grow up in HIS STATURE.

That angry, rebellious, lawless cursing and trash talking of the young Shorty could be transmuted as a red-hot fired up preaching preacher in CHRIST!

God could use their natural inclinations for HIS GLORY and for HIS GOOD if they were of the SPIRIT OF CHRIST...

Even after I walked away and Shorty's like "Yeah, walk away p*ssy!" as I threw my hands up with my Bible in a "What does it matter?" expression. I didn't look back or nothing but went on my way to bible study after that "temptation of the Devil".

When I got in Calvary Christian Center church, elder brother Pastor T.J. was teaching us the brethren about people in the church who "cause division contrary to the doctrine of Christ" and negative spirits and vibes people give off to distract and harm believers from seeking after and working for the Lord. Amen.

Now I'm minded of those young meddlesome punks from that study...

Even though this happened yesterday it's still in my mind to be CAUTIOUS. The young Shorty said to me "I'll be around and I'll get you sometime" so as self-aware as I usually am about my surroundings I'm mindful of cars driving by in case this punk may try to cause a stunk of a "drive-by shooting"...

I'm not at all "scared to lose my life" but I'm mindful of STAYING ALIVE for the RESPONSIBILITY I have towards GOD and the future of my FAMILY'S WELFARE...

GOD knows this and He knows I'm not about to get myself into a situation that is not of His Own Merit that could unwisely endanger my life doing something "stupid" and ending up dead.

I been to jail a couple (two [2]) times. I've done some things I should not have done... That I'm not proud of. Though, through it all, I learned my life lessons and I thank GOD I didn't do nothing too "drastically-serious" that could have forever altered my life... Also, got to meet many different people in jail and even was MINDFUL to be a "witness of Christ" to the people I met in jail (but that's a story for another time, God-willing...)

Smh... Houston is not place to "play around". People are lying, cheating, stealing and killing like there's NO TOMORROW! It's SIN CITY here!

Even like the case the made national headlines with the white woman killing her two daughters in front of their father, her husband; was something else WICKED and EVIL; a WHOLE LOT of stuff is also going on unreported... (*Prayers go out to the father and family...*)

Can't even finish...

Anyways, well, when I got home I had to get somewhere and PRAY thanking the Lord nothing bad happened and that the Lord would work in the hearts of those troubled, misguided and WAYWARD, AIMLESS young Hispanic men... No direction...

It was some FERVENT PRAYER last night unto the Lord.

Nothing more to say than I hope they can turn to the LORD and not be a tool of the Devil, Satan. Amen.

~ Sincerely,

Bro. Jed