He Wasn't Afraid

Pictures & Story By: Lisa Petrarca


Once you become more diligent in prayer, your desire to read the scriptures and understand Gods word becomes stronger. The things that used to be important are no longer the main focus. Your transformation starts to take place.

Standing stoically, alone in the middle of the Huntington Beach pier was one man, holding a large wooden cross, stretched high above his head, reaching towards the sky. On the cross was carved, "Jesus, Lamb, God my Redeemer, Grace, Wonder working power."

He was handing out a paper with a Bible verse to all who walked by. He was one man, standing alone in a sea of people. Standing for faith, for Jesus Christ, Proclaiming the life saving message to anyone willing to reach out their hand and take what he offered.


As always, there were those who scoffed at him, laughed and thought he was crazy. The man didn't seem to mind, actually, he didn't seem to notice those who were taunting him. He was standing for the Lord.


In the United States, people are afraid to talk about our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, they're afraid of being ridiculed. In other countries people are actually getting killed for their faith.

How deep are you willing to go?

Are you willing to stand up for what you believe in, even if it means others will laugh at you, think you're crazy or, as in other countries, seek to take your life? Are you willing to stand alone in a sea of people? When everyone around you is living for themselves, are you willing to deny yourself, take up your cross, (whatever the Lord has put on your heart) and stand alone for Jesus Christ?

In our human nature, this would be impossible, but when we have been filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can stand up, stand out, face our adversaries, knowing that we have a purpose. Go deeper in your prayer life, pray throughout the day, let go and let God take control.

As I walked back by the man, I noticed a peace, marked with a complete love for his Savior. He stood for Jesus Christ, whom so many years ago sacrificed himself for him.

Are you willing to stand?

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, "I am only a child." You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth.
Jeremiah 1:7-9

To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord, and I cannot hold it in.
Jeremiah 6:10-11

Take The Gift

Take The Gift
by Lisa Petrarca

Crossing the busy intersection, there stood “Moses,” a local street preacher who received his name from the people in town. He can be seen on any given day at the Huntington Beach or Newport Beach Pier. He doesn’t shout out or yell at people as they pass by, he stands at the corner, while people wait for the light to change. He reads from the Bible, verse after verse, hoping that God will use him to touch someone’s life. He has chosen the life of a servant. He knows that people laugh, mimic, mock and call him a freak, but he just continues to read. He has sacrificed his own personal need to be accepted and focuses on others.

Directly across the street, a large group of people is circled around something. Pushing up through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd I peak through to see what is so interesting to hold everyone so captivated. There is a man, about the same age as “Moses” but unlike “Moses,” he must be a VERY important person to have so many people stop and take time out of their busy day to listen to him. I finally squeeze my way close enough to stand on my tippy toes to get a glimpse of this obviously VERY IMPORTANT person. The moment my eyes focus on his face, I hear him shout, “Everyone ready…here goes!” In his hand he is holding the largest, thickest nail I have ever seen. In his other hand he is grasping a hammer. He places the nail up into his nose and begins to hammer it in. The crowd responds with loud gasps and some even cover their eyes…only to remove them to watch again. I rapidly turned around and pushed my way back out.
Glancing across the street I see Moses still standing stoically alone, holding God’s word and waiting for the crowd to come his way.

In today’s world, the one who can shock and horrify people is the one who draws the crowd. The preacher on the corner is ignored…“He’s crazy!”

This Easter, remember that Jesus also had huge nails hammered into his body, Not for entertainment, not to draw huge crowds, but to save each and everyone of us. His ultimate sacrifice should not be taken for granted. Don’t waste this precious gift he has freely given you. We all sin…we all can be forgiven. TAKE THE GIFT!

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15