Category: stories

He was the preacher’s kid; I was the principal’s son. He got me in a lot of trouble growing up; he’d say it was the other way around. He was better at English and Speech; I was better at Math. We went on mission trips together, we played ball together, and we were constantly in one another’s home. When he was in the tenth grade, his dad took a job to preach in a church in Alabama. It seemed like the parting of David and Jonathon, but we both survived. I got to be in his wedding a few years later, and soon we both had families of our own.

Last week, my dad and I went to visit Gary. On December 8, he had a stroke. After thirty-eight days in the hospital, he is now recovering at his parents’ house. We talked about old times, we shared recent struggles, and we laughed a bit at our health conditions… though our parents didn’t. One of them commented, “Who would have thought you boys would be in the physical shape you’re in at your ages?”

Gary’s 44 years old; I’m 43. Who would have thought? But here lies a message we can proclaim. We’ve both had successes; we’ve both had failures. But what matters? What can we say to our children that holds true wisdom? “Run, play, study, learn, work, marry… but above all know the Lord! Without Him, it is all meaningless.” “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”

Maybe Gary and I are to speak boldly to everyone we meet: “There’s only one thing that matters! Where will you be standing when the storm hits? Jesus is the only Rock. He is the only Refuge that is secure. Do you know Him? If you do, you’ll make it through any trial. If He’s not your everything, though you may think you’re on top of the world, you are in great danger. Why not go to Jesus and find what is most important?” Two old friends know.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

Toward the end of the summer of 2000 we got to visit some missionary friends in Jerusalem. We came home through Athens, Greece and had a little difficulty. A good friend had given us buddy passes for this trip so we were flying stand-by. When we arrived in Athens on Thursday, the airlines told us we would not be able to fly home through the weekend because all flights were full. What a dilemma! I was to start teaching school on Monday! Also, two motel rooms per night in Athens would cost a pretty penny (or a pretty drachma in that country)! Of course the kids were celebrating. They didn’t have the same concerns about school or drachmas that I did. So what do you do when you have no control of the situation? You do what we should always do… pray.

“Lord, here we are again in a different jam. You let us take this trip, will you get us home?” The next day, we went to the airport and had a great surprise as they called our names to get on the plane. God was revealing two things to my family: the sheer foolishness of having confidence in ourselves and the great wisdom of having confidence in Him. We arrived home on Saturday. I taught school Monday through Wednesday. I found out I had cancer on Thursday.

Do you know one of my first thoughts after the bad news came? “Lord, you brought us home from Greece last weekend. You can get us through this.” The faithfulness of God in a lesser trial became a blessing for the new storm. I am convinced of this: God wants us to have confidence in Him always… and the devil doesn’t.

The longer the trial or the more intense the struggle, the louder we hear our enemy whisper, “Look what your God lets happen to those who are His!” I resist by arguing, “But God has never let me down. He has rescued my family before.” “But those were little problems… you are dying! How can you trust Him any more?” How tempting it is to lose confidence when things are difficult. How critical it is that we heed the Spirit’s instruction: “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”

It is easy to have confidence that God is with you when everything is going well. But what if things start to fall apart? What if you lose your status in the community? What if you are criticized for doing what is right? What if disaster strikes your family? What if death enters the picture? What if everything in the human view says God has abandoned you? These are tests. Here is our answer: “Come to Me. I will never leave or forsake you.” Jesus experienced rejection, hardship, shame, and death… yet He never lost hope in His Father. Our Good Shepherd will teach us to have such confidence as we trust in Him.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:19-23

‘If I can just get my strength back, I’ve got to find Jim.’ I said this to my family soon after I got out of the hospital. When you don’t think you have long to live, the important things come clearly into focus. We’re probably all supposed to live with such clarity.

Several times, since we’ve known each other, Jim has tried to escape a life of drug addiction. I knew he was back on the streets of Atlanta and I knew things needed to change. When I got a little stronger this past summer, I went to find him. For three weeks I searched for him to no avail. “Lord, you love Jim more than I do! Why can’t I find him?” Even in our most noble pursuits we must depend on God to be at work. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”

Jim heard I was looking for him. He was sick of the life he was in – no home, no food, no future. He started turning away from the things he knew were wrong. He went four days without drugs while praying that I would find him. God heard our prayers.

What a reunion of friends! A weak, bald-headed cancer patient and a skinny guy with long hair, owning only the clothes on his back, hugged on the street corner. Jim came home with me. He knew he had a difficult path before him, but he also knew God gives hope.

Some of our best friends have opened their home to anyone in trouble. For several weeks, Jim has lived with a wonderful family who has offered nourishment for the body and soul. Jim has stayed clean over two and a half months. He is working, he is walking with the Lord, and he is surrounded by people who really love him. His Hope is our Hope and I’m so thankful Jesus rescued my friend.

Jim’s story is not much different than mine. I struggled with different sins, perhaps, but the end was going to be the same. A Good Shepherd came looking for me. He picked me up, put me on His shoulders, and rescued me. When I repented the angels in heaven rejoiced! He put me in a wonderful family and He has surrounded me with incredible love. He has saved me and He has given me work to do. I am so thankful. I want to be just like this Good Shepherd.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” John 15:16

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:3-7