Anger…it’s an easy thing…..it consumes us, makes our blood boil….leaves a deep rooted bitterness. Where does this anger come from? Why is it such an easy emotion to have?
Byron Bay has been interesting thus far….a lot of what we are doing is straight up evangelizing. Some of our squad did a 24 hour beach ministry with fasting. They received mixed reviews but also saw some amazing things happen. A few other people, myself included, sat on random spots on the street with a cardboard sign. Things were written like: “What satisfies you?,” “God is Joy”, “Are you as freaked out as I am by this?,” and “Who redeems you? Is it real?” The last one was mine. It was a great way to see how people reacted and see what it invoked inside of them…..what people are thinking here.
Some just smiled, some shook their head, others gave a thumbs up, but some got flat out Angry. I noticed that those who got so passionate were often drunk. There were two guys who grabbed Austin’s, my teammate, sign and started in on us. They eventually worked their way to my sign as well……called us crazy and said we shouldn’t waste our time doing “stuff like that.” One of the guys, Sean, actually hung around for bit and really got into a debate. He was raised in the Catholic Church and is very bitter about his experience. He also is disgusted at how his uncle has given his life to the Church. We just smiled and listened and squeezed in words when possible. In the end he said he didn’t care about the Jesus garbage and we had already found paradise here in Australia. I told him that he obviously cared or he wouldn’t of stood there so long…..he wouldn’t of been so passionate about it.
His friend eventually came back for him and tried to take my sign….Sean 
wouldn’t let him:) We had other similar responses and even had a bouncer ask us a lot of questions as he was very interested in what we were doing. Other things we heard from people passing by were: “Where was God when my 5 friends died in a car accident last night!?” “Why don’t you get off your F….ing ass and do something?” “Love satisfies me man!”
wouldn’t let him:) We had other similar responses and even had a bouncer ask us a lot of questions as he was very interested in what we were doing. Other things we heard from people passing by were: “Where was God when my 5 friends died in a car accident last night!?” “Why don’t you get off your F….ing ass and do something?” “Love satisfies me man!” In the end this approach for evangelizing is actually quite effective. People get offended that we are forcing this on them, but in reality we aren’t……they come to us. It ‘s amazing to see where the conversations go and how agreement is often reached.
Anger is all around here….one homeless guy actually threatened me. We see him drunk all the time….night or day, his wife is also constantly drunk (and pregnant). He was very cordial to me as I made a sandwich for him in the park and made small talk. Afterwards I approached him to make sure he got enough to eat. He started slurring something at me, which I couldn’t make out….I heard the word Jesus though. Confused, I asked him if he believed in Jesus. He said “No!” I asked what he believed in and he told me “Dreamland,” which I guess is where he will be reunited with his people when he dies. Then he told me go away and to not talk to him….he didn’t want me near him. He said something about hitting my head…….he had done it before and 
would do it again. Something evoked a lot of anger in him…….
would do it again. Something evoked a lot of anger in him……. What do you do? I just walked away and prayed to Jesus that I wouldn’t get angry at him…..that I wouldn’t be bitter. I helped the guy out and he threatened me, I showed him love and he showed me anger. You just have to remember that it is his darkness, his pain and that he needs Jesus’ light just as much as anyone else. I know I haven’t seen the last of him.
