Rick Anderson's Blog, page 10

Belinda's Burden

God laid a burden on Belinda's heart for the soul of a Chinese lady who was a resident of an assisted living facility across the street from where she lived.  The lady spoke no English, so Belinda was perplexed about how she was supposed to communicate with her.

She phoned one of the campus ministries at the college nearby and asked if they had any Chinese students that attended their programs.  They didn't have any Chinese students at the time, but said that they would try to find someone.

A few days went by and Belinda's phone rang.  The lady on the other end was a campus ministry volunteer who said that she had found a Chinese student that was willing to serve as interpreter for Belinda to present the Gospel to the Chinese woman who lived in the assisted living facility.

Belinda set up for them to meet at the assisted living complex on Thursday afternoon.  As it turned out, that wouldn't work for the student, so they decided to make the visit on Sunday afternoon instead.

As they arrived and began to visit out front, the Chinese student, Molly, expressed concern that she might be unable to communicate with the elder lady since the Chinese language had undergone significant changes during the elder woman's lifetime.  Those who spoke an older form of Mandarin had problems understanding the new form of Mandarin that was familiar to Molly.

At that moment, they noticed a Chinese man and woman exiting the building.  Belinda stopped them and asked them if they were family members of the elder Chinese woman.  The man said, "Yes, I am her son."  Belinda asked him if he could help to interpret for her as she had something to say to his Mom.  He agreed and all of them went to visit the Chinese woman.

Belinda introduced herself to the woman through her son's interpretation and began to tell her about the love of God and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.  The woman became convicted during Belinda's presentation of the Gospel.  When Belinda concluded, she asked the woman if she would like to pray to accept Christ.  She said that she would, so Belinda led her in a sinner's prayer, inviting Christ to be Lord of her life.

When she finished the prayer, she turned to the son and his wife.  "Would you like to accept Christ today?" she asked.  "Yes, we would," they agreed, so she led them to Christ as well.  Then she turned to the Chinese student, Molly, and asked her if she would like to accept Christ.  She said, "Yes, I would," so Belinda also led Molly in a sinner's prayer as well.

Today, Molly has finished her undergraduate degree program and is studying at a seminary so that when she returns home to China, she will be well equipped to share the Gospel and to help lead the church.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; "For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.  So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!"  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."

May we each be open to share the Good News with others as we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.  If God is leading you to share the Good News with someone, do so in love and with the knowledge that God has prepared the way for you.  You are not alone.

Plane Ride

I walked down the long aisle of the plane and found my seat, 24D, placed my bag in the overhead compartment opposite my seat and settled into the chair right beside the aisle.  The plane continued to fill up as I awaited the persons who would sit next to me to come occupy their seats.  The plane was filled to near capacity, but the seats beside me remained vacant, even after the door was closed for takeoff.

I looked to my left across the aisle to an African-American lady who sat beside two other passengers who were obviously traveling together.  I thought, "I should scoot over two places to the window and invite her to sit in the aisle where I'm sitting.  That would give all of us on this row an extra seat between so that we won't be so cramped."  The more that I reflected on the idea, the better it sounded.

I nudged her on the arm.  "Ma'am, I'm going to move to the window if you'd like this seat so you'll have more room."  She immediately started grappling for her things and settled into the aisle seat after I had moved over two seats to my right.

We soon began to talk as the plane taxied to the runway for takeoff.  She was a very intelligent person who had moved upward through the corporate world but had become disillusioned with corporate politics.  She told me how she had worked for several prestigious companies that paid her well but she had grown so tired of the seemingly constant disappointments of the corporate environment.

I shared with her that I, too, had worked with large corporations and had gotten weary of corporate politics.  After commiserating for a long while, she finally asked me what kind of profession that I was in now.

I replied, "I used to be a forester for a large paper company, but now I'm a pastor."

I saw the reaction on her face as the realization dawned on her that I was a pastor.  She shifted gears quickly and began to talk about her spiritual journey.  She had been a member of several large churches in both Atlanta and Houston.  She was very Biblically literate and quoted scriptures as we continued to talk about her church experiences.

Sadly, she shared that she had become disillusioned with church life as well.  Pastors and church members alike had disappointed her to the point that she had given up on church.  She currently was not attending church anywhere.

I must admit that I was impressed with her spiritual depth and her understanding of scripture.   She was obviously well versed in the Bible and her theology was sound.  The only thing that I saw that was missing was her involvement in a community of faith.  She had not opted out on Christ, but rather on His Church.  I understand that she had been hurt and frustrated by church people and pastors somewhere along her journey, but the church is the bride of Christ.  He wants us to be a part of it so that we can more effectively bring glory to Him.

"Michelle, I'm a pastor and I tell people all the time not to focus on me because I'm going to disappoint you sooner or later.  I'm human and I'm trying as hard as I can to follow Christ but I can't be the perfect pastor for everyone in my churches.  I encourage everyone to look at Christ and to follow Him.  As for the church, it's a place for broken people who need the healing grace of God poured into their lives.  It's not a place for perfect people.  We're all on a faith journey, following Christ's lead in our lives and we're all at different places on that journey.  Some of us are more mature in our faith than others.  The church is a place for us to practice forgiveness and reconciliation even before we employ it in the world."

She nodded her head, so I went on.

"You have a lot of gifts and wisdom to offer to a church family.  There are people that you could encourage in their faith journey if you would just plug into a church body.  I encourage you to pray for God to lead you to a church family where you could participate in the ministry of the church and to the church.  When you get into a church, don't focus on the people, but focus on Christ.  Let Him lead you in all that you do so that you can be an inspiration to others around you, both inside and outside the church.  Please, don't try to be a Lone Ranger Christian!"

She agreed that she had gifts and graces to minister to others and that she should let God lead her to the church where He wants her to minister.  She admitted that she shouldn't let the actions of others deter her from serving the Lord through His Church.

She let me pray for her, so I prayed that God would lead her to the church home that He wanted her to be involved in for the work of Christ.

What about you?  Have you given up on Christ's church?  Won't you pray for Christ to lead you to a faith community where you can get involved in ministry?  Remember what the writer of Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV) "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

I look forward to seeing you in church!

You are There

Psalm 139:7-10; "I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!  If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.  If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me."

I walked into the dining room at the assisted living facility in Georgia where my Mom has just relocated.  Attempting to help her get to know some of the residents, I introduce myself and her to several others who are sitting around in the room.  I noticed a man who was apparently blind as he walked carefully into the room, wearing a pair of dark shades and carrying a walking cane.  He took a seat and I stepped over to introduce myself and Mom.

I found out that his name was Al, and he already knew Mom.  He was a talker and we quickly became involved in a long conversation.  He intrigued me right away with his optimism and openness to talk about his life.  He discussed with us how he had come to live at the facility and how he had lost his wife just shortly after moving there.

After a few minutes, he began to share that he had been in the US Navy during World War II.  I listened intently as he told me his story.

"I was training at the Great Lakes Training Center when they asked if anyone wanted to be part of the Armed Guard.  I asked a friend what was the Armed Guard to which he responded, 'You just man a big gun someplace like Detroit.'  The next day when we lined up for roll call, they asked if anyone wanted to be in the Armed Guard.  I raised my hand and was immediately packed off to a Liberty ship that was carrying cargo from New York City to Russia.

We were part of a large convoy of ships loaded with supplies bound for the USSR under armed escort to keep us from being torpedoed by enemy submarines or attacked and sunk by an enemy ship.  We had a large gun on the Liberty ship that we took shifts manning during the voyage.

One night when we were 200 miles off the coast of Iceland, I took my post on the gun at 8:00 in the evening.  I quickly noticed that there were no other ships around.  I asked one of the other guys nearby where the other ships had gone.  He replied, 'We're fourteen miles behind because we had an equipment malfunction.'  I immediately replied, 'If we're going to get torpedoed, then now's the time for it because we are unprotected.'  No sooner had I made that statement than two torpedoes slammed into the boat.

The next thing that I recall is waking up floating in the middle of the North Atlantic thanks to my life preserver.  As I looked up, I saw the sinking ship moving away from me as the current carried me away into the night.  I thought to myself, 'This is it!  This is how it will end.  I wonder if I will freeze to death before a shark gets me.'

Just then a life raft filled with crewmembers came around the back side of the boat.  One of them saw the blinking red light on my life vest and they rowed toward me.  Minutes later, they dragged me into the boat.  I was nearly dead from exposure to the freezing water.

In an hour or so, a British ship steamed up to rescue us.  They had heard the sound of the torpedoes and knew that we had been hit.  They hoisted me up in a cargo net since my legs would no longer work and placed me in the engine room where the heat of the engine would keep me warm.  I spent months recovering in England before being sent back to America.

There's one thing that I can tell you.  When you're floating helpless and alone in the middle of the vast ocean that stretches endlessly in any direction, and someone looks out across it to find and rescue you, then you know that there has to be a God in heaven.  No one has to convince you that He exists and that His Hand has reached out into the void to grab you."

We can never escape from God's grace, no matter where we go.  May we all find comfort resting in the hand of God and may we allow His will to be carried out in each of our lives, in our families, in our churches and in our nation.  God bless you all and God bless America!

Wildfire!

Years ago when I managed a forest for a timber company, we received a phone call tip that a large column of smoke was rising above some of our timberland in Trinity County.  We immediately dispatched two small dozers with fire plows loaded on rollback trucks to head toward the scene as we began to radio for additional heavy equipment support.

Historically speaking, the area of southeastern Trinity County was known for having wildfires that were difficult to contain once they got started, so we didn't waste any time in getting all of the heavy equipment on site in order to attack the advancing flames.

Sure enough, when our men arrived on the ground with the dozers, the fire was moving at a rapid pace through the pine trees, burning everything to a crisp that lay within its path.  The crews wasted no time in getting unloaded and plowing around the flanks of the fire.

James unloaded his dozer and was instructed to plow a fire lane around the southern side, flanking the flames in order to keep the fire from continuing to spread.  After he plowed for an hour or so, the wind shifted and the side where he had been plowing became the head-fire as the wind pushed the fire in his direction.

Flaming cinders and blinding smoke began to descend upon James and he soon realized that he was in danger.  He attempted to turn his dozer away to flee from the immediate vicinity of the fire but he straddled a stump that caused his John Deere 450 to high center.  James wiggled and wriggled, attempting to free the dozer as the blazing fire and choking smoke began to engulf him.

Finally, James could stand it no longer and was forced to unbuckle his seatbelt, jump from the bulldozer and run for safety.  The fire quickly enveloped the machine and ravaged it ruthlessly.  James, however, had gotten away from the destruction of the wildfire and found safety far away from the dangerous flames and suffocating smoke.

The Prophet Isaiah tells us in Chapter 55:6-9 "Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says 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."

Those who choose to follow their own way of life, indulging in sin will end up being consumed in the merciless grip of the prince of this world.  As the Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8; "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

Anyone who wants to be escape the decimation of living a life of sin must run away from the sinful ways of this world that only lead to destruction.   Everyone can find shelter if they will only run into the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved all of us enough to die on the cross to pay the price for our sinfulness.  His ways are not like our ways, for He is merciful, just and righteous.  We can find true joy, hope without end and lasting peace in Him.

How about you? Are you tired of the pain and emptiness of living a life of sin?  You don't have to continue to plow that ground.  You can find rest for your weary soul and hope that never fades.  Won't you come home to Jesus today?  It's easy.  He's waiting for you right now.  Just turn away from sin and seek Him with your whole heart.  He will save you, embrace you and shelter you in the shadow of His wings.

Rebirth

Last year I was cruising through the garden center at Lowes when my eyes fell upon a beautiful calla lily, which is one of her favorite plants. I couldn't resist the temptation to buy it for her, so I brought it home with me. Kim was ecstatic about the little lily and quickly adopted it as her favorite.

We repotted it and put it in our front flowerbed so that it wouldn't get too much sun. Almost immediately it began to show signs of fatigue. The leaves and flower appeared to be withering, so we redoubled our efforts to pamper our new baby.

Within a few weeks, it was obvious that the lily wasn't going to survive. It had withered down significantly despite all of our efforts to revive her. We reluctantly dug a hole near the wall in the flowerbed and stuck the dying plant in the soil for her final resting place.

Winter came and went, and the burst of new life filled the flowerbeds as spring burst forth. We began to find new flowers to stick into the bed as we watched the perennials and bulbs slowly awaken from their winter's nap.

Several weeks went by as we bustled about life with jobs and kids in school. Suddenly, one afternoon I began to water some of the new plants that we had stuck in the front flowerbed when my eyes fell upon the spot where we had planted the calla lily. To my surprise, the calla lily had burst forth with a vengeance and had grown substantially from the withered little plant that I had last seen during the fall!

The transformation was impressive! I quickly ran into the house to tell Kim who was gleeful to find her calla lily firmly established and growing well. Needless to say, we were surprised to find life where there had once appeared to be only death and decay. We had given up on the lily as being dead already, but God had other plans that we couldn't see.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6:4-11;"For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus."

Hold onto Christ and to your faith in Him. He is the source of your new life! Do not turn again to the sins of this world that only bring death and decay. Rather hold onto the new life that Christ has given you and may others see the transformation in you. May others be surprised at how much you have grown in your faith and how your entire life has changed since you gave your life to Christ. Stand tall and bear witness to the life-changing power of Christ in your life! Be ready, in season and out of season, to proclaim to others the source of your life and joy!

The Turn-Around Church

We walked up the small hill from the dock, headed down a narrow street that took us quickly within sight of the Atlantic Ocean, which overwhelmed the horizon. Barely visible, protruding now and again from underneath the waves was the coral reef that lurked dangerously close to the surface of the sea.

My friend pointed to the small, white church that stood immediately before us. "There's an old story about this church. You see, back in the 1800's, the people that lived on this island had to resort to outlandish lengths in order to provide for their sustenance. There was little to no agriculture to speak of, since the island is primarily made up of limestone and coral. Some of the islanders resorted to tricking ships into crashing on the coral reef and then pillaging any goods that they might salvage from the shipwreck. Some people hung lanterns around the necks of cows that deceived the passing ships into thinking that the lights came from other ships. They would think that the way was clear ahead and end up plowing right into the reef."

We stood beside the church, which looked out over the reef, just as it does today. He continued, "They had a church meeting one Sunday and the pastor was in the middle of delivering his message from the pulpit. He looked out over the heads of the congregation, through the large windows at the back of the church and out toward the ocean. At that very moment, a ship lost her way and crashed on the reef. It was a tradition of the islanders that the first person on the scene of the wreck became the manager of the salvage operations and got first dibs on the spoils."

"The pastor quickly told the congregation to bow their heads in prayer. As they complied, he quietly slipped out the door, hurried to his row boat and paddled out to the wreck. The pastor became the first person to the wreck and became the manager of the salvage operation. When the congregation realized what had happened, they were unnerved at the audacity of their preacher! They immediately set about turning the church around! They took up the pulpit, chairs and pews, then they placed the pulpit so that the preacher faced away from the ocean and the pews all faced toward the sea. What had been the rear of the sanctuary was now the front and what had been the front was now the rear as they effectively flipped the interior of the church 180 degrees. Now, that's what you call a turn-around church!"

I would hate to be that pastor and have to face the congregation again after taking advantage of them in such a selfish manner. I suspect that you're aware of other misbehavior by pastors that has caused pain and upheaval in their church.

The Apostle Paul tells us in one of his letters to Timothy, a friend and pastor: 1 Timothy 6:9-11; "But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness."

I know many of the pastors in the East Texas area and I know that they are doing their best to lead their churches in a selfless manner, doing their best to shepherd the flock as the Lord would have them to lead. It's a great responsibility and privilege. It's a calling that only God can place on the life of a person. Please remember to pray for your pastor as they strive to be the church leader that God would have them to be. They need your encouragement, support and prayers as they seek to guide the church toward the vision that God has for each faith community. As a pastor myself, I thank you for your prayers. We need them so that the church doesn't get "turned around"!

Reaching an Unbelieving World

Sept 11th, 2001, Joanna awakened before dawn as nurses rushed into her daughters' room at the hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.  They ripped open the blouse on 18 month old Molly and began squirting beta dyne solution on her chest.  Joanna arose from the cot where she lay beside her and asked them what they were doing.   "She's got to have emergency surgery!   She has a blood clot that is on the way to her heart and we've got to operate immediately in order to save her life!"

Joanna watched as they wheeled Molly from the room and down the corridor to surgery.  She sat alone and wept in the room where her daughter had been fighting for her life.  She had neuroblastoma stage 4 cancer with a tumor that had wound its way around her heart and metastasized to other parts of her body.  She was dying and there was nothing to do but pray.  The doctors had just the day before stopped her chemo treatment because the treatment was killing her.

It would be hours before the first plane would slam into the World Trade Center, but God had already begun to work.  While Molly was in the OR, the phone rang in her room.  Joanna picked up the phone and the lady on the other side asked, "Is this the room of baby Molly?"

Joanna replied, "Yes, it is."  The lady said, "You're invited to a healing mass at the church tonight at 7:00.  Please come and bring her to the service."  Joanna thanked the lady and hung up the phone.  The phone call provided a desperate mother with hope which she clung to doggedly, even as the planes crashed into the skyscrapers just a hundred miles away.

When the Molly returned after the surgery, they gave their report:  "We don't think that she's going to make it."  One of the doctors even told her crassly, "You might as well dig a hole in your backyard because you'll be burying her soon."

Unwilling to let go of hope, Joanna asked the doctors if she could take her child to the healing mass at the church.  One of the doctors pointed a finger in her face and threatened her, "If you try to take that child from this hospital, I'll have you arrested.  That's how much I believe what God can do for this child!"

The afternoon slipped away as Joanna watched Molly's little chest rise and fall with every breath.  Late in the afternoon, the doctor came back in the door.  "What have you given her?" he asked Joanna.  "Nothing.  I haven't given her anything," she replied.

"Her blood count has increased dramatically!  It was critically low just this morning!  Something has happened to this child," the doctor retorted.  Joanna grabbed the doctor by the arms and said, "God has done something here!" The doctor lowered his eyes and said, "Take her to the healing mass if you wish."

Joanna put Molly in a stroller and drove to the church.  When she pushed Molly to the church entrance, a man told her, "You can't come in.  It's standing room only tonight and there's no more room for you."  Joanna was crushed and turned to walk away.  Just then someone tapped her on the shoulder.  "Is that baby Molly?" a lady said.

"Yes, it is," Joanna replied.  "Then come with me," the lady whirled around and led Joanna into the church, down to the very front to the small pew reserved for the priest.  On it was a sign: "Reserved for Baby Molly."

Nearly ten years have passed since that day that all of us will never forget.  Joanna will never forget it for a different reason.  Just a few weeks ago, she took Molly back to the hospital in Wilmington for a check-up.  She's cancer free!  While they walked together down the hallway, they met the same doctor she had during her illness.

He recognized Joanna and then his eyes traveled to Molly who was now eleven years old.  He reached out to her and hugged her, then turned to Joanna and said, "God has done something wonderful here!"  Joanna just smiled and replied, "Yes He has, doctor…Yes, He certainly has!"

I sat in the audience a few days ago and watched as the 5th Graders processed one by one across the stage to receive their diplomas for graduating from Elementary School.  I saw one of my children walk across followed momentarily by a young survivor named Molly.  I glanced at the proud mother who hurried up front to take a picture.

Acts 17:27 "His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him– though he is not far from any one of us."

Yes, God was working on September 11th, 2001 just as He works today, reaching out to bring hope and salvation to a broken and unbelieving world.  God is so good…all the time!

More Precious than Gold

A couple of months ago, my brother invited Kim and I to join he and some of his family on a trip to the Bahamas. Now, I haven't spent a lot of time with my brother and his family in the last 20 years, since I moved from Alabama to Texas, so I thought that it would be a good thing for us to do.

The first hurdle was whether or not we could get someone to keep the kids, since they were still in school during the time that they were planning on going on the trip. We checked with our baby-sitter and with Grandma and both assured us that they would have everything under control. After getting confirmation from them, we began to move forward with our plans to go. We made our airline reservations and sent in our part of the fee for the four-bedroom house where we would be staying.

I made a arrangements for a pastor to come fill in for me the week that I would be gone. No problem! Everything moved forward like clockwork. There appeared to be no hitches in our plans…that is until two nights before we were supposed to fly out of Houston.

My brother calls me to tell me that he still doesn't have his passport. He had sent his in about six weeks ago and it still hadn't come back in yet. He said, "Don't worry, because it'll probably come in tomorrow." I told him that we'd be praying for the passport to come in on time.

The next afternoon we get an email. My brother's passport didn't come in! We had made all of these plans in order to spend time with my brother and his family, and it was shaping up that he wasn't even going to be able to come on the vacation. Everyone was upset!

Kim and I boarded the plane in Houston and flew to Ft. Lauderdale, where we had a long layover until late afternoon. Not wanting to sit at the airport all day, we took a taxi into town and found a good restaurant for lunch. As we were eating, I got a text message on my phone: "The passport came in! Hallelujah!"

Kim and I said a prayer of thanksgiving that God had showed up at just the right time, once again! My brother received his passport just in the nick of time for them to make their flight to the Bahamas.

We hailed a cab that carried us back to the airport and took our crop duster plane ride on to the Bahamas. The next day, my brother and his family arrived right on schedule. The passport had arrived on the last mail run before their flights left the following day.

Sometimes, when we need God to answer our prayers the most, it seems as if He's not listening. It seems as though He doesn't care about us or our situation. Our response should always be to continue to pray for God's hand to move. If we pray in earnest, God will answer. Oftentimes the reason why He doesn't answer right away is that He's trying to grow our faith in Him. 1Peter 1:7 says, "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold– though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

So keep praying and hold onto the Lord through all circumstances, thanking Him all along the way. Your faith will continue to grow as you learn to trust in Him who loves you enough to want the very best for you, and your faith is more important to Him than gold.

Broke Down on the Way to Hopetown

Psalm 33:20-22 "We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone."

The six of us walked down the pier and loaded up into the twenty foot boat in order to head the fifteen miles across the bay to Hopetown, Bahamas, where we could get the groceries that we would need for the weeklong stay that we were just beginning.  My nephew, Dax, fired off the 115 horsepower outboard motor on the boat that had been dry-docked for six months or longer and we slowly scooted away from the pier.

Once we hit deeper water, Dax put the hammer down and we swiftly gained speed.  The boat began to crash against the rough waves that were driven by a steady wind that we headed into as we blew past catamarans and boats of all sizes.  We entered open water and continued to race in the direction of Hopetown.

All of a sudden, the boat died!  My nephew began to frantically try to restart the motor from his position at the helm but it was no use.  We had an obvious electrical malfunction and had lost all power on the craft.

We floated helplessly in the middle of the large bay, driven only by the force of the wind.  It seemed like about ten minutes passed before we noticed a small boat heading across the bay.  Kim and I stood up and waved towels over our heads so that they might notice us drifting aimlessly.

After several minutes of flapping our towels, the craft finally changed direction and headed straight toward us!  Thank God, they had seen us!  We watched as the small boat carrying two men slowly crept up beside us.  We told the men of our plight and they hastily agreed to tow us back to the house where we were staying.

In a matter of minutes, we had ropes secured and began the slow journey back to our home dock, pulled by a much smaller boat with a motor less than one-third the size of the dead motor on our boat.

I couldn't help but ponder what Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke 13:29-30, "And people will come from all over the world– from east and west, north and south– to take their places in the Kingdom of God.  And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then. "

I know that I considered the little boat that tugged us pretty important at the time!  I was certainly happy that they had seen us in our distress and come to our aid.  Come to find out, the two gentlemen who dragged our boat were just returning from Hopetown, where they had been to purchase supplies.

Hmmmm.  Maybe there's a moral to this story.  Maybe as we journey through this life looking for our Hopetown, we shouldn't get caught up with the size of our boat or the power of our motor, but rather we should be willing servants traveling in whatever vessel that the Lord has given to us.

Maybe we should be content with what we have and willing to share our good fortune with others who may need a helping hand.  Maybe then we can make it to Hopetown without breaking down.  Maybe we can help others to prepare for their own journey to Hopetown.

When we made it to our dock, we thanked the Good Samaritans, who wouldn't allow us to compensate them for their time and trouble.  May we go forth and do the same as God gives us the opportunity and the ability.  To God be the glory!

Waiting on God's Surprises

As I stepped from the car and over to the marble headstone that lay flat on the ground, I noticed that the rain from the previous evening had washed dead grass over her name.  I bent over and swept the grass away so that her name was clearly visible.  I looked at the birth and death dates and thought about how much had happened since Judy's passing on June 30th, 2007.

Later in the morning, I walked into the cardiac ICU at Methodist Hospital in Houston and saw the daughter of one of my church members.  She had been taken by Life Flight just a few days prior with a life-threatening heart condition while her Mom hurried the 150 miles down Highway 59 to the Medical Center.

The change of both mother and daughter was dramatic.  The daughter had been on a ventilator when she left on the helicopter and now only had an IV in her arm, although she was still in ICU.  The Mom who had been so disheveled a few days prior, now seemed thankful that her precious daughter was still alive and she had hopes of bringing her home one day soon.

An hour or so later, I walked several blocks to a rehab center nearby to visit a young man who had received a brain injury in a car accident over five months prior and had yet to regain consciousness.  His Mom was upbeat and filled to overflowing with faith that God was working a miracle in the situation.  Her son had nearly died after the accident and all hope was nearly lost, but for God's hand working in the situation.

I sat and watched as the speech therapist lovingly caressed the young man in his wheelchair and tried to softly coax him to say, "Ahh".  To my surprise and to the joy of the Mom, he complied with not one, but two "Ahhs".  Tears ran down the thankful Mom's face and my own heart was warmed and encouraged.

As I took the long walk back to the parking garage where I left my car, the sky threatened to storm again, so I hurried to get under cover.  I thought back to the headstone that I had cleared just this morning and thought to myself, "God has worked some amazing miracles in the life of my family, even though we lost my wife and the mother of my children!"

Even though we were devastated just a few years ago, God has not ceased to surprise us with His loving grace as He has provided a new wife and Mom who loves me and my kids without bound.  God has given us not one, but two great church families to love, support and nurture us in the love of Christ, and we still live in the same community with our previous church family!  My family and I have been greatly blessed!

I remember looking from Judy's name on the headstone to the name stenciled on the left, which was my own name.  It's very humbling when you see your name on a headstone and know that one day another set of dates will be carved into the stone.  Yet even then, God is not through with His blessings for us who believe and follow Him.  Even then, our journey is just beginning and we have nothing to fear!

The Apostle Paul may have said it best when he quotes Isaiah in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

May you be encouraged, regardless of your life circumstance, for God is working a miracle in your world.  He is not through with His plans for you.  His hand is moving to heal, reconcile, renew and redeem.  Walk with Him and watch what He can do in your life.