Kurt And ITalking Downtown

Proving that therefore he has the power to conquer sin and death. Therefore we've been given the perfect God, and that only through him can we be forgiven of our sins. Does that sort of make more sense to you now? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. so I mean I'm not like I mean I am living on the life a little bit where I say okay he'll let us repent he'll let us ask for forgiveness stuff like that man I just I want to get like into like a man's home where everybody's like going for the same thing.

I mean, it's like a real meeting, you know what I'm saying? A real meeting and everything else, you know what I'm saying? I mean, I've been homeless since I'm 18. I'm 38. You know what I'm saying? I've been on the streets.

I mean, I've repented a million times. You know what I mean? But I don't rob and steal and I don't kill and I don't hurt. You know what I'm saying? Stuff like that. I don't do nothing of that.

I don't do nothing of that. So what do you do? I drink a little alcohol. smoking marijuana, you know what I'm saying, stuff like that. But the only reason I do that is because it's like when I was homeless at 18, that was the only friends that I had. You know what I mean? Those were the only friends that I had that was doing the drugs.

Yeah. What you call your friends, you think they look like the big guy. You know what I mean? You think they're looking cool, so you want to be cool just like them. So you feel like you have to fit in with them? Not more so of today, like in this time of presence.

But back then you did it. Yeah. It was like, it was like. And now you wish you hadn't. Man. Don't you?

Yeah, I mean, don't get me wrong. I got a guy that keeps me with work. I get a lot of work. You know what I'm saying? I mean, I eat every day. I got a girlfriend.

She's a Christian. She don't do drugs, alcohol, nothing. Everything else. she keeps speaking positive notes to me and everything else. But, I mean, that's what keeps me going is her. You know what I mean? That's what keeps me going is her.

So what do you think of what Curtis told you? Man, it's like, well, Curtis told me what I think is like, okay, we got Jesus. I haven't found myself to say like mold myself like every day to follow Jesus? Yeah, to follow Jesus. So do you think you're a Christian? In my heart I am a Christian.

But I do mess up from time to time. And I do use, you know what I mean? But in my heart, yes, I am a Christian. So tell me what that means then. How do you become one? How I become one is...

Like, if I wasn't, how would I become one? Well, there's many options. Like, me, my option is, like, I get paid a lot. And then, say, I do a drink a lot, but I pass money on to people. I mean, like, Jesus, I'm not knocking Jesus, I'm not hating Jesus, but Jesus has got the one belief, you know what I'm saying, follow him, and you will prosper, you know what I'm saying, you will prosper eternal life.

You know what I mean? But my only thing that I feel that I do is like, you know, it's bad, but I pass money out. And I just, my main thing is to keep your smile on somebody else's face, whether it's wrong or not. So you try to do kind things for people. Yeah, kind. Do you think that makes you a Christian?

No, that don't make me a Christian. What makes me a Christian is because I can look at your face and when somebody's giving me an evil or doing something wrong and you know it's not right, I know I can turn on my own self, my inner soul, and I can look at it and I can either express that to him or I can, you know what I mean, or I judge him. But it says judge not.

You know what I mean? But you have to judge. Absolutely. I find my Christianity in little things like, okay, like I said, I get money, but that's not what makes you a Christian. but it's just my Christianity, Jesus wanted everybody to smile in any way not any way that I have to work or struggle to get it but I make a lot of people smile so is that what Curtis told you? that's not what Curtis told me what did Curtis tell you? do you remember what Curtis told you? how to become a Christian? follow Jesus how do you follow Jesus? well to follow Jesus he didn't go into specifics but he said to follow Jesus that's what we have to do I mean, what do we do?

Well, let me ask you this. Why did Curtis tell you you need to follow Jesus? Why not follow Allah or some Hindu god? Why Jesus? Why do you need Jesus? Because he's the man.

Jesus is the man. Okay. Jesus is the man. But why do you need him? You're a good guy. You give people money.

That's what I'm saying. You don't do anything wrong. See, listen to me. Listen to me. That's like my thing. I don't know.

I got his tattoo right here. You have a tattoo? Jesus, look. Of Jesus? Look, that's Jesus. That not Jesus That Jesus That not Jesus That an artist interpretation of what Jesus may have looked like Alright it like Why do you need Jesus?

Did Curtis tell you why you need Jesus? I mean, I don't know because I've never really felt... because we can have a ten minute conversation or whatever it goes about. Yeah. But I've never really felt anybody that stands so strong on following his rules or believing... not just believing... I believe in Jesus. but what his beliefs are. Like, reenacting his life.

That, to me, is like living, and I've never felt... So you think, like, following his example is... Well, what's his example? That's what I'm asking you. You know what I mean? You're good.

Do you think Jesus is angry with you right now? I think Jesus smiles at me, hates me. You know what I'm saying? He smiles at you and hates you? A little both on each side. Okay, but what are you gonna do about that hate?

All the thing I can do is try to push more love. That's the only thing I know. Well, that's the only thing you know. You know what I mean? But is that the only thing he can do? That's what I'm saying.

I need a bigger manship, a program. Not a program, but think about it. If you was here by yourself and you didn't have this guy, and you was running around talking about Jesus and that, and that, but you had your own beliefs and you was like, like, I mean, what would you do? Would you just go walking around, stomping the ground, talking about, Jesus wouldn't do that.

Jesus wouldn't do this. You know a lot about Jesus. You know what I mean? But none of what you've told me about Jesus is from the Bible. Dude, I can't read. You can't read?

I got to function out of it when I start reading. So let's go back over this real quick then. Kirk, come on back. So, tell Rick again why he needs Jesus. Why do I need Jesus? Let's see if Kurt can do this.

Here, I'll hold that for you so you don't have any distractions. I'll try. I'm going to keep this to you. Keeping in mind that at this point Rick doesn't seem to understand his relationship to Jesus right now. So why would I need Jesus? So I saw you recognize you're an imperfect person.

Okay, so when you go imperfect, that means I don't have the stability with my everyday life to bring my men in. Well, imperfect means you're imperfect. To bring my men in and have a sanctionary or whatever they want to call it, whatever, and people start believing in Jesus. I mean, I have friends. Listen, he's trying to just lead you in a direction. So we listen to you.

Okay. I'm not being rude, but just let him get it out. You're good. You're good. You're good. And you're doing good, too.

I just want him to get a chance to practice this. You're growing up, bud. You're giving him a good testament. Well, when he turns 18, we don't want him to start being homeless. 20 years from now, you don't want him to end up like this, right? So you're helping him.

He's helping you. We're all good, right? Right. All good. So by imperfect, I mean you've sinned. You've told a lie.

You've stolen. You've done whatever. I'm not going to lie. I have done it, but in my older times, I'm getting older, there's no stealing, there's no telling lies, but it's just trying to make the next person happy. Even if it's taking my soul, everything that revolves around your soul, food, money, pop, juice. Let him go where he was going.

He was getting somewhere. I'm sorry. It's okay. It's fine. It's fine. Okay, so since you're imperfect, therefore, we believe, according to the Bible, there is a holy God.

He is a perfect God. And since we are imperfect by nature, before we were born, in our mother's womb, we were imperfect. So we can't have a relationship with a perfect God since we are imperfect. So therefore, to cover that gap, Jesus sent his only son to live a perfect life and then to die on that cross, taking on our sins. So can I ask you this? if that is our purpose to live not a perfect life but a perfect life is it alright to make people smile I mean living that perfect life you know what I'm saying like grabbing life only what I can justify even if I do have my bad habits but still turning the entire 360 degrees weather around me you know what I'm saying Yeah, making other people happy isn't bad.

Yeah. Thank you. But doing that alone doesn't get you Jesus. But you know what? It don't get you Jesus. But if you're believing in Jesus at the same time that you're doing it, but you're spreading it somewhere in Jesus, he don't have to.

But he might pick up that thought one day to say, yeah, I see the kindness in that guy, and he's going to, you know what I'm saying? He sees the kindness. Why does Jesus need you? Jesus don't need nobody. In my bag? If you reach into the bag, in the bag, in the pocket, there's dinosaur tracks for kids.

If you see kids. He doesn't do that. Yeah. He does. I mean, okay, the theory is, yeah, people get to go to heaven. And so Jesus has to say so to say, okay, I like you.

But what is he liking? Jesus is liking your ambition. You know what I'm saying? Your ambition, like, I mean, what if you're the nicest guy in the world and he like just doing everything for everybody Okay but say you do bad and evil and everything else do you think Jesus is going to accept you No he won Because we going to stand before God God and Jesus, they're one.

It's a trinity. Three in one. So we're going to stand before God the Father on that judgment day, and he's not going to see us for our works. He's going to see us, and he's either going to judge us by what we have done, there's a dinosaur. If you see kids, those are good for kids. Because we have accepted that free gift he offered to us when he died on that cross.

So can I ask you a question? Yes. As you, as a taker, because I want to know how to straighten my life up. You as a taker to follow Jesus, what rules do you follow? What smiles do you make? What options do you Just to make people know say because you yeah, you'd be like yeah, Jesus would like that Make that man smile Jesus would like that Yeah, I'm seeing what you're saying right now Once okay No good guy Howdy 15 15 What high school you go to?

I go to Liberty Christian Academy. Just down on the... Stick to it, man. Alright, thank you. You got a good heart and soul and you got a lot of pretty clouds surrounding you. You hear me?

You hear me? You got a lot of pretty clouds surrounding you. Don't mess it up. Alright, thank you. Is this your dad? No.

No? Okay. No, but I'm his dad's friend. Right. it all right hi guys I'm gonna get out here it's getting late all right right wanna say thank you for the dollar you gave me yeah listen to me listen to me listen to me listen even though I might relapse and do it for Jesus will call it evil but I mean sometimes it's not you but I swear to God you guys I will not toe a lie or leave anybody in kind of misdirection or anything hear me yep you Do you have a Bible?

I do. I do. Can you read it? I can't read. I mean, seriously. I got one for you if you didn't have one.

I've had tubes growing up in my ears, and I don't know if that was... You know what I mean? Yeah. That is hard. My dad don't even care about me, man. That is hard.

You know what I mean? Two things I want you to remember, okay? Yes, sir. Okay, so I want you to remember that you're a sinner. in the eyes of God and that God sent Jesus Christ to forgive sins. Okay? I want you to remember those two things and that that has to become a real reality relationship between you and Jesus Christ where you become His servant.

Where you really trust that Jesus paid for your sins. Not that you think you're good or you think that you used to do bad things but now you don't. That you realize that you have nothing to bring to God and only Jesus can forgive you. And all the stuff that happens in this world is going to end. All the homelessness Can I say this? Real quick.

All the weed, all the pain, all the good things. It's all going to end. And you're going to spend eternity either paying for your sins in a very real place called hell or you're going to spend it Let me finish. Can I have your theory on this real quick? Or you're going to be in heaven with Jesus who paid for your sins. Okay.

Can I ask you this theory? Yeah. I do a lot of sinning because I use. Yep. Okay, but do you think Jesus has a side that if I try to put every caring thought into anybody and everybody that I go into, do you think he has a place for me? Let me ask you this, okay?

What's your girlfriend's name? Quintina. What is it? Quintina. Quintina, okay. Okay, do you know where she is right now?

She's at work. Okay, she's at work right now. Let me say this, okay? Let's imagine that right now a man walks into that place where she works, and he raves her and beats her, okay? Or stabs at her. Let me finish.

That's already happened. Let me finish. That's already happened. Okay? And it's happened. And then that guy spends the rest of his life feeding homeless people and getting kittens out of trees and stuff like that.

It shouldn't be allowed. Do you have a place in your heart for him? No. No, Jesus doesn't have a place in his heart for people who sin against him and then don't repent and trust His forgiveness. Okay? Only Jesus Christ can forgive the sins that you've committed against Him.

It's up to Him when He forgives it. And He made a way and it was by Him paying for it. But you've got to trust Him, not yourself. Can you guys do me a favor? Yeah. I'm homeless and I don't want to mess this up.

Can you take this back? Keep the card. We've got a thousand. I want a number. Yeah, let me give you my number. My phone is dead.

My phone is... You got a pen? Yeah, in the box There should be a pen I'll give you my number You don't understand how bad I just want to grow And grow So where are you going to stay tonight? In the tent? Yeah What's your number? 614?

I'm going to give you mine But I just want to know when you call me Or text me, what number is it going to come from? Yeah, okay, 614 364 0797. Okay, 3640797? Yes sir. Okay, so when I see that I'll know it's you. Yeah yeah So this is my number okay I mean like look look my dad my dad my dad all the way growing up was a marijuana user Yeah Okay now he probably Do you have that?

Yes. That's for you. Don't leave that in some homeless shelter or something. Okay, I'll change my number or whatever, okay? Appreciate it, man. Let us pray for you.

Please. Let's come over here. Please. Kurt, why don't you pray for Rick, okay, man? Let's ask God to bless Rick. Lift your spirit high and just pray, Lord.

Believe what you believe. I don't know if I gave you the kind of inspiration. I know I probably didn't. Put a good place on my world. All right, let's ask God to bless Rick. All right, God, I thank you for this, and I thank you for bringing Rick along this way and being able to talk to us.

And I thank you for giving me and Michael words to say to him and that he was able to understand and listen to us. And I pray that you will just guide him in the way that you want him to go and just reveal to Him what you want to know and that He will just understand about you more and that He will just come to realize what you have done for Him and that He will accept it and that we might be able to see Him in heaven forever and just be able to have that joy with Him and worship Jesus together with Him. That would be a great thing to do, Lord, and I can't wait for that day.

So I pray that you will just guide Him through the steps that you want Him to take and that you might bring other people about in His life to help Him grow in you and that we might be able to talk to him some other time and help him grow, Lord. Thank you for this. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Amen, Lord. Give me a hug.

That was beautiful, man. That was beautiful. Thank you, Rick. That was beautiful. Give me a hug, too. Yes, Lord.

Thank you. Give me a call, okay? And I'll talk to you. I was sober for a long time. Okay, I've been there. Never been homeless, but I've been in trouble.

I've had some difficulty, okay? Okay. But it's Jesus. He must be born again, Rick. Right. So.

I think I think I think just all the care and forgiveness I am is just trying to show me the level that I can get to that high of being reborn again but not being reborn again but and it's smacking me in my face back at the same you know what I'm saying yeah oh yeah you know what I mean hey I'll tell you something a lot of people won't say the devil's a very real person or an angel whatever you want to call him but the devil is wanting to keep people down he's wanting to keep people from Jesus and he'll do it By either giving you too much success so you ignore Jesus, or he'll give you so much failure you ignore Jesus. Right. So he's kicking you.

Right. I hate to fail you, but... But you know what? The guy with all the money and all the girls and all that stuff, he's going to hell too. Yeah. The devil doesn't care what keeps you from Jesus.

Right? He'll do whatever. Right. So you fight to see Jesus. Find a way. Find a way to get teaching you can listen to instead of read if you have trouble reading.

Have people, you know... Call me this week. I work 7 to 4 every day. Give me a call. I'll talk to you. What I would like to do is when I call you, I would like to have my girl to call you.

Yeah, if Bettina can call me. Okay. Yeah. She can either tell you about herself or tell her. Sure. She'll probably call me.

Yeah, we'll see what's going on, man. She's a good girl. You'll like her. So where are you going now? I'm about to walk up high street. It's too early for me right now.

I can't sit still. Sure. I can't say still. All right, don't drink anything tonight, man. I'll try not to. But if I do, please pray for me.

I will. But don't waste your money. I know. I know. I know it's hard. I know.

One day at a time. Just don't... Just get through today without a drink, man. And that money will start adding up that you were spending on alcohol. I know, right? Yeah.

Yeah, I know. My girl tells me that every day. Oh, yeah. I know. I just... I'm not...

I click it, but... The devil's trying to take over me. All my willpower to... Enjoy the spirit of the fast life instead of the graduated life. Yeah. You know what I mean?

I'm just watching what's going on over there. Okay. I love y'all. I'm kind of angry. Hey. To you.

You guys are a good spirit. God bless you, Rick. Thanks, man. You guys are a good spirit. Hey, we appreciate you, man. Thank you, man.

Thank you. That guy looked angry over there. I'm going to go see what he was doing. He looked like a pastor, actually. I found a, this is a New Life group. What's going on?

New Life Church in Gahanna. Oh, hi. My name's Michael Coughlin. How you doing? What's your name? Gabriel.

That's my wife Melissa and our dog Evelyn. Hi, Melissa. Nice to meet you. Joshua. What's your last name? Gergich.

Gergich? Yeah. I'll remember it then. We're the Serbians. Okay, okay. Yeah, we have some good friends at New Life Canal.

Yeah, there's also, we just, there's a thing they're doing now in Whitehall. Oh, really? Yeah, with the, one that's down on East Broad Street. Okay, okay. They're connected with some other people. Okay.

Yeah, my neighbor goes to New Life, Gahanna. His name's Orville. Orville? Redenbacher, by any chance? No. We like popcorn.

He's kind of a tall guy. He's probably about 70 years old. Moves pretty slow, but that's where he goes to church, actually. Well, it was nice to meet you guys. Yeah, you too. Gabriel and Melissa, is that right?

And Evelyn. Don't forget about Evelyn. Okay, bye, Evelyn. So I just didn't know if you knew anywhere from there. That's why I was... Yeah, my neighbor goes there, yeah.

That's cool, yeah. That one guy looked like Pastor. I thought it was Pastor. Did you see the guy that came up to you? Who was that guy? He looked like he was angry or something.

He said he went to a church down the street. Oh, okay. Oh, wonderful. Well, that's great. How did the arrest that guy go? I got some pictures of you guys.

Oh, did you? You're a good picture guy. I always forget. It's just helpful to have, you know.