Million-Dollar Bill Tracts Seized

Status: Strange News
image Earlier this month the Secret Service raided the offices of the Great News Network (a Texas ministry) and seized 8300 inspirational tracts. The problem with the tracts? They were printed on million-dollar bills. I would say fake million-dollar bills, but since there's no such thing as real million-dollar bills, there can't exactly be fake ones either. However, the Secret Service felt they looked a little bit too much like real currency for comfort. Reportedly someone had tried to deposit one at a bank. Meanwhile, the Great News Network isn't happy and is threatening to sue the government. But they should realize the government has an extremely low tolerance for any kind of fake currency. Witness the case of J.S.G. Boggs (whom I write about in Hippo Eats Dwarf). He's an artist who creates counterfeit currency as art, though his bills are single-sided, so they're not likely to be mistaken for actual money. Nevertheless, the Secret Service raided his studio back in 1992 and seized thousands of his works, and haven't returned them to this day.

Incidentally, here's the tract that was written on the million-dollar bills. (You can try to purchase the bills here):
The million dollar question: Will you go to Heaven? Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God's name in vain? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you looked with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgment Day? If you have done those things God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in Hell. That's not God's will. He sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross for you. Jesus took your punishment upon Himself -"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Then He rose from the dead and defeated death. Please, repent (turn from sin) today and trust in Jesus, and God will grant you everlasting life. Then read your Bible daily and obey it.
(Thanks to Joe for the link)

Business/Finance Religion

Posted on Tue Jun 13, 2006



Comments

What good would it do if you gained the whole world and lost your soul. What would you give in exchange for your soul. When you compare a hundred years or so on earth to eternity, you will see that you are not doing anyone any favors by feeding their bodies and then ignoring their spiritual needs. You think about temporary things. You need to see the big picture. Eternity lasts much longer than a few years here. They may thank you for a meal until they are hungry again but if they go to Heaven because you cared enough to tell them about Christ, they will thank you forever. Much better!!! In Luke chapter 16, the rich man had it all, but he wouldn't share anything with Lazarus because he only thought about the here and now. The rich man cared nothing about eternity. The rich man paid the price. The rich man went to Hell and will be miserable for all time. Lazarus was a Christian and is happy now. Both men have been dead now for thousands of years. At this point, neither one of them care about what happened to them way back when. It is all irrelevant to them now. Earl mentioned missions where you can go to get food. My husband and I often donate food and supplies to our local mission to feed the hungry. I give the people directions to the mission so they can a meal every day. Do you donate to a local church or mission to help feed the hungry? Physical needs are only part of the problem. The bigger need is a spiritual one. You feed yourself physically. Are you starving spiritually? If a person gets right spiritually, the physical needs will be taken care of.
Posted by Julia  on  Fri Jul 14, 2006  at  01:31 PM
Charybdis in Hell, apparently my response is too long for one response so I will break this response into 2 so you can read it all. ou give so much to talk about. As I stated earlier, there are too many churches and missions out there to have to starve to death. I would go to the missions and churches and get fed three times a day for free. There are several places in my small town where you can go to get three meals a day.
Don't forget that the person that who has a mouth to beg also has a mouth to tell the person with the tracts that he is also a Christian. Apparently the person in your example just takes the tract without saying another word. Most Christians will try to get the fellow Christian to go visit a church or mission to get some food. If the person begging is a Christian, why isn't he going to ask his church for help? Probably because he doesn't go to church anywhere. I used to attend a church that had about fifteen people that showed up every Sunday morning for church every week. Even with fifteen people in the church, they still helped people in the area as much as they could. They even contacted other churches in the area to help the people out. The rest of this responce will be on the next comment.
Posted by Earl  on  Fri Jul 14, 2006  at  02:41 PM
Here is the rest of my comments to you.
You said that it is presumptuous on their part to assume that I need spiritual saving. We need to assume that people are not going to Heaven unless they tell us differently. As I mentioned earlier, this is what they need to use their mouth for. After all, the body may last 100 years but the soul will be around for the rest of eternity. Yes, the soul is much more important than the body, however James 2:15-17 tells us not to neglect the persons physical needs when they come to you because you need to put your faith to work. You can say you care but you need to show it. I have bought people food and put gas in their cars but I wont give them money because I have seen them go into the store and buy beer and cigarettes with the money that I have given to them. One man came to me in a parking lot and told me that he needed money for a part to his car. I wouldn't give him money but offered to buy it for him at the parts store. When he saw I wouldn't give him any money he said never mind and approached another couple in the parking lot. Another man approached me because he needed laundry detergent. I told him I would buy him some if he would stay there because he wouldn't ride to the store with us. I was back from the store in about three minutes and he was no where to be found. I have many examples like that I could tell you about. I have been bad off in my time also so I can speak from experience, not from a "lets make up an example" like you seem to be doing. At one time in my life I had to sleep in a cardboard box in the winter time to keep warm. Where were the Christians at that time? I didn't tell them how bad off I was. I am sure they would have helped me if I asked them to. They helped me out with meals because that's what I told them I needed.
Finally on your last point, sometimes I can talk to someone, and sometimes I can't. I can always give them a tract to read when they get a chance. There are many people out there who will give them money to ease their own conscious because they are not living the way they should but there is a shortage of people who care enough to try to help them go to Heaven. We need to take care of the physical and the spiritual. This something that I try to do. You may only try to take care of them physically. You haven't ever said if you actually give these people money or if you just hate people that pass out tracts. Even if you do throw a dollar or two their way, it is only putting a band-aid on a major open wound that needs surgery. I can say that people who pass out tracts are doing Gods work. You however are to busy to even try to do Gods work. In the end, only what we do for God will make any difference. Try giving God a chance in your life. If you truly give God a chance, you will never regret it. If you don't want God in your life, you will regret it sooner or later.
Posted by Earl  on  Fri Jul 14, 2006  at  02:43 PM
Hey Charybdis in Hell, Why don't you team up with Earl. You keep them alive until he can save their souls. Sounds like a win, win situation to me.
Posted by Julia  on  Sat Jul 15, 2006  at  07:52 PM
I've stated my position, and I stand by my assertion that preying upon a person's physical needs to proselytize to them is amoral. It has nothing whatsoever to do with finding one's place in Heaven. It has everything to do with pulling a bait and switch tactic on the desperately needy. It is impossible to condone this type of behavior.

The argument isn't whether saving a person's soul is better than saving their body. It's about lying to people. It's about taking advantage of the needy.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Mon Jul 17, 2006  at  09:19 AM
How about writing up a tract on the computer and printing it out, then folding it up in some real money and giving it to a needy person or throwing it on the street? That would get their attention, and they'd be grateful for the money, so they might actually read what's on the tract instead of throwing it away in anger.
Posted by Sakano  on  Fri Jul 21, 2006  at  11:17 AM
Hi Sakano,
If you read all of the comments so far, you know why I don't put a tract in real money. When I have given money to people I have seen them go into a store and buy beer or cigarettes with it. They can buy that stuff with their own money that they have worked for just like you and me. When they ask for money for food and then buy beer or cigarettes with it, they are lying and have no bussiness doing it. As I stated earlier I will buy them food or put gas in their tanks but I will not give them money. Most people will just tell the guy to get lost. At least Christians will take the time to try to see that they have a better future. How often do you buy food or gas or help them out with their rent? I do all of that plus give out tracts. I also give them directions to the local mission that gives away three free meals a day. I buy food and give it to the mission to help feed the people. How about you guys? I think the money tracts are a cool idea and just ordered some from make it clear. I can't wait to try them out and see what kind of response people will have to them. I plan to hang around to see if people like them or not.
Posted by Earl  on  Fri Jul 21, 2006  at  08:27 PM
"They can buy that stuff with their own money that they have worked for just like you and me."

It's really a little sickening that you think that just because someone is poor they're lazy and won't get a job. Have you ever thought that someone CAN'T get a job? That's the situation with my aunt right now...she barely has any money, and she can't find a job because she's almost at the retirement age. She's tried almost everything, including unemployement agencies, McDonalds, the ads in the newspapers, but no one's willing to hire her. I myself don't have a lot of money either, and I have a job! I only make $6 an hour, though.

I would be pretty pissed if someone handed me fake money with a tract on it or if I found it in the road. I know I would probably rip it apart in frustration...and I'm a Christian! I go to church every week and pray, and all that good stuff. Tracts are stupid and ineffective, at least that's my opinion. Don't try to bait and switch someone into going to church, because chances are it's not going to work.

It is good that you help some people and buy food for them, though. I think you should concentrate on that. I bet you could convert more people that way than handing out silly fake money.
Posted by Sakano  on  Sat Jul 22, 2006  at  06:37 AM
Dear Sakano

You state that you are a Christian, but your language seems to state otherwise. We should bear fruit. If a person has the Spirit of Christ, I do not believe they would rip up a Gospel tract with the Word Of God on it. You may be religious, but please look in the mirror of your own soul to see if you are right in God's eyes.

Earl is stating that people take advantage of giving them out cash. For example.

a couple of years ago a couple came to our church asking for help. They stated they need money to by food and groceries. Well the Pastor thought it be wise instead of giving them money to buy them the food and groceries instead.

The woman got very upset and demanded she wanted the money instead. Tha pastor told them that we did not have to give them anything at all, but if they wanted the groceries, that the good people of the Church would give out of their own pockets to buy them groceries. The lady fianally agreed.

The couple told us that they were camping in a park for us to drop off the groceries there that afternoon. We purchased about $150.00 of groceries for this couple. When we got to the camp site, the couple was not around, but their viehicle and their tent were there with many beer cans around, and when we went into their tent to place the groceries, there was a bag of illigal drugs (pot) in a bag sitting right there for everyone to see.

It seems if this couple was so hard up for food and groceries, that they would not be spending it on beer and pot. But the hard working people of the Church gave out of their own to give to this ungateful people.

You keep bringing up the fact of giving money to the poor. Why do you think that God or the followers of Christ owe the world to give to them. AGAIN, can you honestly say you give to the poor? For some reason I do not believe you give at all. I can honestly tell you that I give thousands of dollars a year. I have given 2 automobiles to the needed already, I have given housing to the homeless to some in the past. And have done many good deeds, ONLY BECAUSE I FOLLOW CHRIST. IT is better to give than receive.

If you were a TRUE Christian, and had the Spirit of Christ, you would know that these tracts were more important than anything else upon the face of this earth. But you are blind to the ways of God and you do not see the truth.

Please humble yourself and admit to God that you are far from Him and need His forgiveness. You may say that we are not to judge one another. I am not judging you. I am warning you of the judgemant to come. Rev. 20:11-15. Please read this.

This may be hard for you, and say that I must have hatred. If I hated you, I would not say anyhting at all. I tell you this because I love you and want to warn you of the Judgement to come. This is what those tracts are about. PLEASE TURN FROM YOUR SINS AND CALL UPON JESUS FOR FORGIVENENSS AND AS YOUR LORD.
Posted by Guy  on  Sat Jul 22, 2006  at  07:31 AM
Oh, by the way Sakano, I only make less that $350 a week, but God gives seed to the sower.

Also I do understand what it means to be in great nned. I have been homeless before living in an old 1974 beat up pick up truck at one time during the middle of summer in Louisiana.

The true Christians gave me home and food. But I know it came from God Himself and would have never turned down a money tract if given one. I would have know that this was God's way of calling me to have a closer relationship with Him.
Posted by Guy  on  Sat Jul 22, 2006  at  07:43 AM
Well, good for you Guy. If I had money I might give to charity, but I have to worry about feeding myself first. You can't expect everyone with no money to give to the poor. Also, I don't think you should be bragging about it. Doesn't that kind of negate the whole "I'm doing it for the Lord!" argument? Actually come to think of it... your whole argument reminds me of that song, Amish Paradise where the person singing brags "I'm at least a million times more humble than thou art!" You know, it's people like you that give the rest of us Christians a bad name. People see us all as crazy because of a couple weirdos in the bunch.

Also, Guy and Earl, and whoever else is arguing...it's pretty obvious that you're all the same person. I thought lying was a sin, so how about you stop lying about your identity? Though maybe you're just a troll who's trying to stir up trouble. I kind of hope so, because if you're a real person it's a little sad that you think that fake pieces of money are the most important thing on earth. Either way, whether you're a troll or just a sad little man, I'm not wasting any more time on this silly argument.
Posted by Sakano  on  Sat Jul 22, 2006  at  07:52 AM
One more thing Sakano, it was someone giving me tract years ago, in 1993 that that played a big part in bringing me into relationship with Christ. So I can honestly tell you that tracts do work. It only does not work like self rightous people like you who are too pridful thinking like you quoted "go to church every week and pray, and all that good stuff." can save you. Going to church and paraying and all that good stuff cannot save you from the judment of God. Only faith in Jesus. Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

These tracts have the WORD OF GOD ON THEM.
Posted by Guy  on  Sat Jul 22, 2006  at  07:52 AM
Well, Sakano, I never met Earl, and do not know who he is. But I can tell you this. We are kinda the same person. Because we have the Same Spirit of Christ. And my point of teloing you what I give is not to be prideful. It is to give you explaination that the people of Christ do give . That is your argument that Christians rather give tracts than help those in need. You made your point that you do not give. I sacrifice to give. I have gone without food so others can have food. That is the LOVE OF CHRIST. He sacrificed so we can have.
Posted by Guy  on  Sat Jul 22, 2006  at  08:00 AM
Hey Sakano,
I never said anything about someone that is poor, must be lazy. You came up with that one all on your own. The Bible tells us that we are responsible to take care of our own families. Otherwise we have denied the faith, and are worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8). I only bring this up because you brought it up to start with and claim to be a Christian. You and your family members should be helping out your Aunt. If you all pitch in a little, your Aunt will have some money to get by. You just do what you can and pray about what you can't do. Leave the rest up to God. You can always use part of your tithe to help your Aunt. This way you can feel good about helping out your Aunt and it will not cost you any more than you are giving to God. If you give an offering, give it to your Aunt. Only a person who doesn't give to God will not understand how God will bless you for it. I hope that you are a person that gives to God because He has given you everything that you have and if you show Him that you are faithful with what He has given to you, He will give you more. It may not be more money that He gives you. He can bless you in other ways like better health, your car not breaking down, or finding sales at the store when you must buy something. As a Christian you should be worried about the big picture. Take care of their physical needs but don't stop there. Make sure they are set for eternity. How will you answer a friend or family member in the after life when he says to you, you fed me but you didn't share with me how to go to Heaven. When he tells you that he will spend eternity in Hell and you knew how to keep him out of there. Tell them about Jesus and how to go to Heaven. Then let them make up their own mind - what they want to do with the knowledge that you have shared with them.
Posted by Earl  on  Sat Jul 22, 2006  at  03:05 PM
No matter how you sugarcoat it, it's still emotional blackmail and preying on the needy.

A good person would help them get back on their feet first, instead of taking advantage of them to proselytize.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Mon Jul 24, 2006  at  09:06 AM
A person with good intentions may think that getting them back on their feet would be more important, but when you realize that any one of us may not even be alive in five minutes from now you will see that it is more important to get right with God than to let them have a meal. Anything can happen to anyone at any time. The people on 911 were working in their offices one minute and seconds later they were dead from a plane crashing in on them and they never even knew what hit them. How about the people eating at a McDonalds restraunt a few years ago when a car crashed in the store where they were sitting and some of them died. There was a famous basketball player "Pistle Pete" that was playing basketball with some friends. He just told a friend that he felt better than he had ever felt in his life and then he dropped over dead from a heart defect that he was born with ( and never knew about). The person youn are trying to help get back on their feet may not live to see tomorrow. That is why it is so important to make sure that they are right with God. You want to make sure they have a meal today. I want to make sure they will have meals for all of eternity. I don't see this as taking advantage of them but as helping them in the best way possible.
Posted by Earl  on  Tue Jul 25, 2006  at  05:07 PM
I love the "It's for their own good" bullshit when it's so obvious it's not. It's conceit, pure and simple.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  08:48 AM
It's for their own good is something that each parent uses with their child if they care at all for the child. We don't let our children play in the street, put their fingers in electric sockets, pet strange animals that wander into our yard, or talk to strangers. Why? Because it is for their own good. I have teenagers that don't always understand why I won't let them do things. They have found out the hard way that I knew what I was talking about. I know people that are still paying the price for things they did 10 or 20 years ago. Yes, for their own good is a good thing. If you were walking by a house late at night and saw it was on fire but didn't try to warn the people in the house, people in town would think you were a monster for letting the people in the house die when you could have helped them. You may say, hey, I fed them lunch, that's all I need to do but you would be wrong and they would end up paying the price for what you didn't do. This is known as a sin of ommision (Not doing something that you should do). Trying to help someone has nothing to do with conceit. You do it because it is the right thing to do. Helping someone to go to Heaven has nothing to do with conceit. You do it because you don't want that person to spend eternity in Hell. Hell is far worse than a burning building. I have no doubt that you would want to help the people in the burning building, however you see no reason to help them out of going to Hell. This is where we differ. I try to help people with eternity. You think it's a waste of time and energy. I hope and pray that you will be right with God when your time comes. Some day I will find out. I hope to see you in Heaven. You can offer a lot to Gods work if you will let Him help you. If you have any interest now or in the future, you can check out a simple test to see where you stand in Gods eyes as far as eternity. It's at http://www.makeitclearnow.org/gospel.html. They have a lot of other things on their site but I think it is pretty cool how they did this.
Posted by Earl  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  04:59 PM
That's so condescending, it's not even funny. We're talking about adults. They're not children and they don't need to be treated like children. It's very pretenious that you feel you need to protect them and decide what's good for them.

Your analogy also falls short. I think this would be a more apt analogy. Let's say you're walking by, and you see a building burning with someone trapped inside. They're screaming for help, but instead of calling for help or actually trying to save them yourselves, you just scream "I hope you're right with God! Pray to Jesus so at least you'll go to Heaven!" and walking away.
Posted by Sakano  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  05:11 PM
Sakano, Go back and read everything that I have said on this site and you will realize that I would try to get them out of the house first, then talk to them about eternity. So you think that adults know what is good for them. Look at the world today, read the paper, watch the news. Adults often are no better at knowing what is good for them than children. This is why we have so much sin in the world. This is why the divorce rate is so high. People don't go into a marriage knowing what they are doing. They go into a marriage acting on their feelings instead of seeing what is real. Then when the feeling ends, they get out. And after they get out of the marriage, they say it is all the other persons fault. Then they get into another relationship and make the same mistakes all over again because they didn't learn from their previous mistakes. Learn from your mistakes so you don't repeat them later. You have already told us about your Aunt who needs help and you don't help her. You could help her if you wanted to. It's just not important to you. If it was, you would help her. My parents need help. I pay one of their monthly bills and send them money each month. I could say that I need the money to feed my children but that wouldn't help my parents out any. I just go without a few things that I would like to have but don't need. My parents are more important to me than the money. This is also why I give money to the local mission that feeds the poor and why I will buy a hungry person a meal or put gas in someones tank. But I also try to make sure that they will go to Heaven when they die. Something you care nothing about. I take care of the physically and spiritually. Ask yourself what kind of help are you giving them. I will tell you the same thing I told Charybdis in Hell. I hope that you are right with God when your time comes. If you can overcome the things that life has thrown at you, you will be able to live a life that will please God. Strive for that. You say that you are a Christian. Pray about it and ask God if you are living your life the way that He wants you to. You don't answer to me but one day you will answer to Him.
Posted by Earl  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  05:47 PM
Yeah, so adults may make mistake...but those are there mistakes to make. People are allowed to be free and make choices. You're no better than anyone else, and therefore you're no more fit than anyone else to make choices for another adult. You're being awfully judgmental and prideful in assuming that you know what's good for them.

You don't know anything about my life, or anything I do for my Aunt, so you trying to make me feel guilty about it doesn't really phase me. I haven't really seen anything in your previous posts that show that you would save them from a burning house first. In fact, isn't your whole argument that it's more important to save someone's spiritual soul than their physical body? You say you feed people and help them, and that's all well and good...but you also use false advertising by packaging tracts as money. As you can see from a previous post, that tactic DID actually hurt someone, so there may be more out there who are hurt. And whatever you say about it, it's just a cheap, dirty trick that doesn't really help anyone. It creates litter, kills trees, and may lower to morale of someone who is already suffering. They do more harm than good.
Posted by Sakano  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  06:00 PM
Isaiah 55:7-9, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Posted by Guy  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  06:05 PM
Sakano, you are the one who judges unrightously. You condemn people who just want to bring salvation to others. Many will not choose to listen, but others will listen. You are right that we all have choices, but I want to give someone the option of choosing right.

You sound as if you are full of bitterness towards the followers of Christ. Maybe because you are angry at God. You may blame God for hurts in your life. Maybe you need to look into the mirror and blame the right person. One we humble ourselves and call out unto Christ, He is there to save us.

You make satement after statement that these people who give out these tracts are doing nothing but that. But like I and others mentioned before, Christians have given more to feed the hungry, clothed the naked and house the homeless than any other organization on earth. So you have lost your argument that all Christians care about is a person's soul.

Yet, Christians do not stop at meeting the physacle needs of a person, but more importantly, the persons spiratual needs.

But your eyes are blind to this, because of your anger. Jesus fed the hungry, but He preached about salvation more. These people are not doing this to get anything out of it, they do it out of pure love. Many have laid down their lives to get the message of salvation. Go to gfa.com (Gospel For Asia Ministries), these people have been burned at the stake for witnessing to others. Millions have been killed throughout the ages for witnessing to others the message of salvation.

I would rather starve than loose my salvation. Because I have EXPERIENCED JESUS. I just want others to experience HIM also. Without anyone witnessing about salvation to anyone, no one would believe. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God. How can anyone believe if they do not hear the Word. And how can one hear unless someone goes out witnessing?

I really would love to see you come to understand this. Not for my benifit, but yours. I do pray for you guys. I know you may get angry at this, I would hope not, I do not mean any harm. I hope only good to come to you.
Posted by Guy  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  06:35 PM
Yes, adults have the free will that God gave them to make mistakes. You have the free will to accept or reject the things that God has planned for your life. You see, I dont make the choice of what is good or bad for a person. God has already done that in the Bible. You say you are a Christian. You should know that God spells out what is right and wrong. If a person doesn't read the Bible though, they wont know what God says about sin and salvation. That is where I come in. I give them the information so that they can make up their own mind. They can only act on something that they have been told about. If no oone has ever taken the time to let them know that they can have eternal life, there is a good chance that whey will never find out. You don't want to give them the choice. As a Christian you are holding back important information from these people that can change their lives for the better. Did you see the post that told us that a tract is what helped Guy to find God in the first place? Tracts do work no matter what you may think. My whole argument is that we take care of the physical and the spiritual. Your whole argument is that the spiritual part of a person doesn't matter. I try to help in both areas and you don't help in either one. I say that because of your comments about your Aunt. And you still haven't told me after several posts that you have helped your Aunt out. That tells me that you haven't helped her out or you would have corrected me on that one. If you have helped her out, you can tell me in your next post. You surely don't talk like a Christian. You seem to be against witnessing to others about Jesus and what He did for them on the cross. I would guess that you get upset at street corner preachers too. Remember this. Different people will only listen to God through different methods. Some people will go to a church and accept Christ as their Savior. Some would never step church in a church but will listen to a Christian friend. Some will hear the street preacher and will accept Christ then. Some people will pick up a tract and read it and accept Christ as their savior. No one way will reach everyone. This is why God uses different people and different methods to get out His word to people.
Posted by Earl  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  06:36 PM
Go to gfa.com (Gospel For Asia Ministries)

I do apolagize. Correction: The link is http://www.gfa.org

I sponsor missionaries here, the biggest part of their ministry is handing out tracks. Please check it out. Request their free book, Revolution in World Missions

And please excuse my bad spelling
Posted by Guy  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  08:14 PM
I have been reading all of these posts and now it's my turn.
I believe it is important to live by example. What better example to follow than Jesus Christ. Let's go back to the Bible. Jesus made it his mission to help the needy out. But he didn't just give them food and not worry about their soul. He taught those he came in contact with of their need for a saviour and he paid attention to their physical needs as well.
It looks to me that from his example if we aren't doing both we aren't truly as Christ-like as we could be.
Take the man with the withered hand. Christ was teaching in the Synagogue (Taking care of the man's spiritual needs). He could have just stopped there but he didn't. There were people watching who were against helping this man out but Jesus didn't pay any attention to them he healed the mans hand (Taking care of the man's physical needs).
Read through the Bible there are countless situations in which Christ took care of both the physical and the spiritual needs of others. To call yourself a true Christ follower you have to be willing to do both.
I thought it was interesting that Sakano mentioned in his post that it is prideful and judgmental to decide what is good for another adult. You know that no one can make your choices for you. A tract gives just that a chance for the person who reads it to make an educated decision. In college they taught us to look at both sides of an argument and make a decison based on knowledge from both sides of the issue. A tract may reach someone who otherwise wouldn't know that there was a choice to make about eternity.
If a person finds a tract they can make the choice to read it or throw it away. They can choose to believe what it says or not. The choice is theirs whether to use the contact information to find out more or not. Sure we all make mistakes but just remember not making a choice... IS really making a choice.
Posted by WWJD  on  Wed Jul 26, 2006  at  11:31 PM
I'm not bitter towards God. I love God, and I don't blame him for anything bad in my life. I'm just annoyed at the bunch of idiots who think throwing tracts in the street is a good idea. Generally, to persuade someone to do something you want them to (ie go to church) you have to make a good impression. The tract fails to do this TWICE. When a person finds out that what they picked up isn't money, they're not going to be receptive, they're going to be annoyed, frustrated and disappointed. Then on top of it, the message basically says "Hey! You're a greedy bastard. Go to church and change your wicked ways!" No one likes to be attacked, and that's what the messages do, attack people. So they're even LESS likely to listen to what's on the message. Yeah it may work for 1 or 2 people out of the thousands (Like, supposedly, Guy...who I don't really believe.) but there are more effective ways.

Street preachers don't bother me, because at least then the person knows what they're getting and I feel they work better. As long as the people spreading the word aren't manipulative or deceptive or downright stupid, I have no problem with it.
Posted by Sakano  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  06:29 AM
Yay Sakano! You answered that nonsense with far more patience and understanding than I could have managed. Well done.

Of course, now I feel lazy about it. 😉
Posted by Charybdis  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  08:31 AM
Full of Bitterness Sakano

I believe there is more to your bitterness towards God than you admit. Otherwise you would not attack the workers of God. Jesus said : John 15:18, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

I don't guess I have to prove it to you, but just to mention, I still carry the tract in my BIBLE. It was actually 2 tracts. It was CHICK TRACTS. I hate to think what you feel about that Sakano.

I might share the story in my next post on how the tracts were given to me. I believe it was an actual miracle. Very so ordained of God I say anyway.

But it's ok to call me a liar Sakano, they done worse to my LORD. I need to try and take pleasure in persecution. But that does not cause me to stray from my love towards you guys. It only makes me want to pray more for you.

Luke 23:34, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
Posted by Guy  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  04:15 PM
You're free to think what you want to think about me Guy. I don't care what some person on the internet thinks about me and my relationship with God. I never attacked you, I just think tracts are dumb, and nothing you say is going to convince me that tracts aren't dumb. Saying you carry the tracts in your Bible proves nothing. Even if you scanned the tracts, it wouldn't mean anything.

Thanks Charybdis! I'm afraid I'm starting to lose patience myself, so I don't think you're lazy. You fought a good fight! 😜
Posted by Sakano  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  04:25 PM
Also, Sekano, you have one on your side, Charybdis in Hell. You proclaiming yourself as a Christian, should you not help your friend out of hell? Something to think about.

Instead of putting down the way God may get His WORD out, by these tracts, and HE uses many different avenues, you should be a participate in the proclaimation.
Posted by Guy  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  04:26 PM
James 4:6, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

Even if Jesus Christ would stand before you guys, you still would not hear Him. You have made up your minds how God must do things, and because of that you will miss out on His Mercy and Grace.

Only one who has been broken from their old ways can see the workings of God. Even HIM using tracts to reach to those who are heading towards eternal damnation. Humble yourselves, and know God and His workings.

I am not a very smart man, but I do know my GOD.
Posted by Guy  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  04:38 PM
Sorry Sekano, I was going to let this go but I could not pass this up. You quoted as saying "Yeah it may work for 1 or 2 people out of the thousands ". Would it not be worth all the tracks in the world to save even just one sinner from entering hell for eternity. You may say no. Well God gave the most presious He had, His own Son. I believe that if we printed tracks for 2000 years and handed out to every person on this earth and only one would come to know Christ because of it would be worth it.

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Posted by Guy  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  05:06 PM
Let me take the opportunity that He sent His Son, Jesus, to Earth. He didn't pour fake money down from Heaven that said "Thou shalt go to church, for thou art greedy." 😉 Obviously He didn't find them very effective either.
Posted by Sakano  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  05:11 PM
Well, Jesus also didn't use radio, or television or the internet. Are you going to try to say that He must not have found these very effective either? Just because Jesus didn't use a method doesn't mean that He didn't approve of it or find it effective. Different people are influenced by different methods. This is what makes the world an interesting place. One Christian will not use every method. Each Christian uses the methods that he feels comfortable with. Then we let God bring about the results. One Christian plants the seed in a persons heart, another comes along and waters it. God brings things into a persons life to cause the seed to grow. God is the one that actually saves a person. God gets the glory for it, not us. We do it for God, because we love Him and want everyone to come to a saving knowledgge of Christ. Every person that becomes a Christian is one less that Satan will get. You don't have to pass out tracts. How are you trying to bring people to Christ? Jesus didn't ask us to go out into all the world and tell them how to become Christians, He told us to. It is a Christians job to do Gods will in his life. Nothing else really matters in a Christians life. If something is more important than God and His will for your life, you can not please God.
Posted by Earl  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  06:30 PM
John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 1:14, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth."

Sakano, you sound just like me before I came to know Christ as my personal Savior. I was religious; actually I was Roman Catholic. I even thought of going into the priesthood. I looked at my own religious works as my way to God Ephesians 2:8-9..

The Bible to me was just a religious book with stories of the past in it. I never studied it during that time I was a catholic. So it really did not have an impact on my life. Not until the Holy Spirit began to draw me to Christ. It started as friends of mine began to point out certain teachings of the Bible. I began to read and study the Bible and ask The Lord to show me TRUTH in it. As I began to study it, The Lord began to speak to me through it. I finally humbled myself and admitted to God I was far from Him with my sins and I turned from my sins, asked Christ for forgiveness, asked Him to be my Lord and Savior. I began to follow Him (The Word of God). And forsook my religion. It actually kept me further away from God. It was a humbling experience.

The tracts that are given out has the WORD of GOD on them and is JESUS HIMSELF. By accepting The Word of God we have in the Bible, we accept Jesus in our lives. You say you are a Christian, I don
Posted by Guy  on  Thu Jul 27, 2006  at  07:47 PM
Blah blah blah. I'm bored of arguing with you. It's obvious that no matter how much anyone tries to talk sense into you guys, you're just going to justify yourself by saying "I HAVE JESUS BEHIND ME!!" Sadly, this is the case with many Christians. They get so convinced that what they're doing is right and the will of God that they can't take a step back and look at things rationally. They also automatically assume anyone who disagrees with them is against God. It's pretty tiresome, and there's no winning with someone who has become that stubborn and closed minded.
Posted by Sakano  on  Fri Jul 28, 2006  at  05:45 AM
Talk about closed minded. "Rationally" is doing what God wants and not making excuses or putting down those who are trying to do Gods will. You even claim to be a Christian but you are against telling other people about how they can go to Heaven when they die. It is obvoius that you don't care about other peoples souls. You may consider yourself a Christian, but your words say the opposite. What will you say to God on judgement day when He wants to know why you wouldn't do His will? What are you going to tell your friends and family on their way to Hell when they want to know why you didn't tell them how to go to Heaven? Will you say that you didn't think it mattered? You didn't want them to think you were one of those fanatics? When your friends and family are in Hell and you are sitting in Heaven, they will HATE your guts because you could have saved them from an eternity of suffering and pain. This is what it all comes down to. You are not against God because you disagree with me. You are against God because you refuse to do His will and try to make others feel bad about doing Gods will and trying to help others into Gods kingdom. I can show many verses in the Bible that tell us to share the gospel with others. You can not show me a single verse that says to sit back and let the world go to Hell like you are doing. You can not show a single verse that says to try to discourage people from sharing Gods word with others. Your own words condemn you. If you really are a Christian, you are not a happy one. I know this because you can not fight against Gods will and be happy. If you are not a Christian, God may be trying to tell you thay you need to change your life and live for Him. Either way, you need to make some changes in your life because right now you are not doing God any favors. You are not doing anyone else any favors. The Bible tells us in 1 John 5:13 that we can know that we have everlasting life. If a person deosn't know they are going to Heaven whren they die, there is a good chance that they won't go there. That's because God doesn't want us to live in fear. He wants us to have confidence that we are safe in Him and His salvation. Trust in God, not yourself. Only the Blood of Jesus can save your sins. Not going to church, living a good life, or anything else that you can think of.
Posted by Earl  on  Fri Jul 28, 2006  at  08:13 AM
Ahem.

At the risk of getting back to the topic, you still haven't explained how it's moral to prey upon a person's needs. Do the ends actually justify the means in your beliefs?

I'll refrain from the second part of my comment until after I see your response, Earl.

Guy, you're crossing the boundary into incoherence.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Fri Jul 28, 2006  at  08:35 AM
Please keep to the topic in the original post, guys.
Also, personal attacks are NOT appropriate around here.
You have been warned.

-Moderator
Posted by Boo  on  Fri Jul 28, 2006  at  08:41 AM
Also lets remember that these $1,000,000 dollar tracts are not deceptive. There is no such currency as a million dollar bill. Do you know that Toy's R Us and other retail places sale play money like this. But I do not hear you attacking them. According to you, these stores would be deceiving our children. Come ON
Posted by Guy  on  Fri Jul 28, 2006  at  10:09 AM
Don't bother asking, Charybdis. They'll just quote the Bible at you and babble about your soul some more.

Maybe we should let this topic die. The argument's been going on for long enough. At least I'm going to bow out. I've wasted enough time and rolled my eyes enough for one topic, I think. :lol:
Posted by Sakano  on  Fri Jul 28, 2006  at  11:38 AM
Ahem, The original topic was about passing out million dollar tracts. These tracts couldn't be conterfeit since there is no such thing as a million dollar bill. The bill says right on the front of it "This note is not legal tender for all debts public and private". The back of the bill can not even come close to passing as a real bill. Let's see now. You talk about taking advantage of a persons needs. There is no greater need than salvation. You don't like tracts, but you haven't told us how you soul witness to your friends and family. Some of us have told you that we do feed the hungry and talk to them about God. You don't like that either. Your whole argument is that we need to feed them and help them physically. We are doing that and helping them spiritually. You still put us down for helping them. If I only fed them or put gas in their car you wouldn't care. Something about telling them how they can go to Heaven really bothers you. Tracts really do work. I got those $10 money tracts from Make it Clear and as I told you that I would do, I watched to see how people reacted. So far they love the tract. At one restraunt three of the employees were reading the tract and thought it was great. One of them said he was going to play a joke on one of his friends with it. This afternoon a lady pickked it up and told the people with her that she loved these things. She said that people put messages on it for you. She looked at it and them put it in her pocket. No one got mad at it or cursed. So far everyone has liked them. I will continue to see if I find anyone that is offended by it. I don't know if these tracts will help to save a soul but it looks like they may get Gods word out to quite a few people since they want to show them to their friends. It looks like a cute way to share Gods word. If I see otherwise I may change my mind.
Posted by Earl  on  Fri Jul 28, 2006  at  06:42 PM
I work with the elderly, during our community activities I have given out some of these million dollar bills. I told them that there was a Gospel Message on the back of them. Not one got offended. I also use the wallet tracts everywhere. The one I like the best is the curved illusion tract. Not only do people not get offended at these tracts, but they ask for more so they can give away.

They were purchased at http://www.livingwaters.com

I have been purchasing tracts from them for years now. Also http://www.chick.com has some Gospel tracts that are interesting.

Like I stated before, The Lord used a tract years agoe to get my attention, so I feel they are affective. Only the Holy Spirit can draw men, but He can use what He so desires to do so. Even if it is a talking donkey.
Posted by Guy  on  Sat Jul 29, 2006  at  11:21 AM
Sorry Guy but passing out tracts at a community center to people who already know what they are isn't the same as preying on the needy, which is my argument. Let's say these people were destitute and you told them you were giving them money instead. Do you think they wouldn't have been offended then?

And don't even get started on chick tracts. They're nothing more than a source of almost pure hatred, paranoia, and fear.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Sun Jul 30, 2006  at  07:48 AM
Charybdis in Hell - People at a community center need Jesus just the same as other people. They don't necessarily know about God. Many people just go there to meet other people. My father in law goes to the local community center all the time and it is anything but Christian. Just a lot of elderly people that like to hang out and have fun. They go on trips to different places by bus. Some of them are poor and can't go on the trips. Many go there because they can get a good meal for $1 or so. They give a donation and if they can't pay anything, they don't pay. Guy didn't tell these people that he was giving them money. He told them he was giving them tracts. We can "what if" all day and come up with all kinds of situations. You and Sakano keep comming up with "what ifs" for your arguments. Guy keeps coming up with real stories for his situations. Quite a difference in the weight of the arguement. As for the chick tracts, I don't like them myself so I don't use them. Some people like them so they use them. Isn't America great? Better yet, you don't have to read them. Espically since you can see one from 20 feet away and know it is a chick tract. You don't even have to go near it. It is that way with any tract. You don't have to read any tract. You can just ignore it if you want to. How about if Guy just gives out the money tracts to places where only rich greedy people hang out? That way they the greedy people get what they deserve when they are dissapointed. Maybe they will even get saved and start giving their money to the poor. That sounds like a pretty good way to do it to me. See what you all think about this.
Posted by Earl  on  Sun Jul 30, 2006  at  11:10 AM
Earl, I'll put this simply so you can understand it.

The topic is about tracts printed on fake money, not people in a community center finding Jesus.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Mon Jul 31, 2006  at  10:08 AM
Charybdis in Hell, I'm typing this slow just for you. Guy passed out money tracts (Just read his post again) to the people in the community center and they weren't offended. I told how that the people that I observed picking up the $10 tracts (also fake money) loved them. I believe that you are offended by them even though you have never found one. At least you have never told us how you found one and it distroyed your life. I pointed out that the needy go to these community centers. You should have jumped on that one since they are the ones that you are trying to defend. I even pointed out that I don't care for the chick tracts. You should be very happy with my posts about now. I guess that you are upset because I pointed out that your "what if" arguments for Guy just dont hold water. I don't think the needy people are so stupid as to be fooled by a "fake" million dollar bill tracts. I give people credit for having more brains than you do. If I were a needy person, I would be offended by your posts.
Posted by Earl  on  Mon Jul 31, 2006  at  07:14 PM
Oh god.. I *HATE* these things.. with a loathing, burning passion.. They're not the first to use the 'fake money' tract, and likely will not be the last.

There I was, several years ago.. I was utterly broke, homeless and hungry. Things were pretty bleak.

Then, one afternoon, I see a neatly-folded $20 in the bushes outside a small restraunt. I could not beleive my luck! This meant enough food that I could stave off starvation for another week, and possibly treat myself to a bit of Real Food for a change..

Then my heart fell a bit.. Surely someone would miss having dropped a twenty. Even as desperate as I was, it wouldn't be right. I looked around a little, trying to see if anyone was nearby who might have dropped it.. but nobody else was near, so my heart lifted again.. I walked towards the local grocery store with a spring in my step, visions of a decent dinner floating in my head..

Halfway there, I noticed the bill was a bit odd.. too stiff and slick.. I unfolded it, and my heart fell.. The tract was designed so that, when folded into quarters, it exactly resembled a $20, but when unfolded, chided the bearer for their greed and promised a 'treasure greater than money' at the local church.

I collapsed on a bench and nearly cried that someone would come up with something so *cruel*.. that in my hour of greatest need, I'd had that which I needed most dangled before me, then cruelly yanked away..
Posted by Robin Bobcat on Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 05:43 PM


That doesn't sound like a "what-if" to me.
Posted by Sakano  on  Tue Aug 01, 2006  at  05:36 AM
Earl, he passed them out to people who already knew what they were.

My argument is that you're preying on the needy. These are people who think they see money on the ground, then discover they're fake bills designed to teach them about God.

I'm sorry, but that is so immoral that it just disgusts me. Once again - the ends do not justify the means, even if you're a Christian.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Tue Aug 01, 2006  at  08:44 AM
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