If My People...

 Last week Tony preached in what has been our “home away from home” church for the last couple of decades, Holly Brook Baptist, near Tyler, Texas. Tony’s parents called it home, and then after Mom passed away it was for Dad a real family place for the next 16 years until he joined her.  A good many of the folks we’ve known there over the years have moved on to Glory, leaving widows, widowers and kids, but all are comforted by the assurance that one of these days we’ll see a reunion like never before.

We've been all over Texas for almost a month now, and regret that we still didn't get to see all of you.  It seems all those “Texas is sooo big…” stories are true! Many family members and friends made sacrifices to see us, taking time off from their busy schedules, driving long distances to meet us halfway, etc. One couple even invited us to come stay in their house for a week …… while they were away for a conference! To all of you: we just can’t thank you enough. If we missed you, please forgive us. 

In the meantime, it’s been like drinking from a fire hydrant, reliving the past, swapping old stories and remembering every day those “ties that bind”.  Sometimes I wonder if this will be like part of Heaven, meeting people around every corner and rekindling fond memories.

On a sadder note, we’ve been reminded every day of the depths to which our nation has fallen. We must keep it in perspective; America is not the war zone the media would like to paint for us, but it is true that a lot of the peace and security we used to take for granted is now being challenged. The middle schooler of one couple we know refuses to go to school for fear of being shot. Remember when the local bullies with spit wads were the worst with whom we had to contend? 

We have yet to witness even one tragedy that the media is telling us is rampant (PTL!), but there is a pervasive mood that we’ve never seen here before. Every single church we’ve visited has a “security team” in place, men and women who are armed and ready to confront anyone with less-that-holy intentions. The better ones are working with the local police and undergoing extensive training, while others are simply rostering those who are coming to church legally carrying anyway. The stuff of nightmares. 

A friend of ours had an idea that sounds encouraging.  It all started with a Sunday school class, and that Bible classic, Elijah on the mountaintop mano-a-mano against the prophets of Baal. It was a decisive victory for God that day, but then poor Elijah got spooked and ran, not stopping until he was totally exhausted. With God’s help, he managed to pull himself together, and when he reminded God in 1 Kings 19:10ff, “The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too”, God responded with an assignment: Go anoint Hazael king over Aram, anoint Jehu king over Israel, and then anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet.”

“And by the way,” God added, “yet I reserve 7000 in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal…”

“It ain’t over til it’s over, Elijah. And it won’t over until I have won the victory.” As God reminded King Solomon, He also reminds us, in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

This is the way we feel about America.  At every turn , we’re finding dedicated Christians, still working and doing their best to be the Church God established.

So our friends idea?  He and his wife, and a growing many others, are setting an alarm for that time in the day that suits them best, in their case, 7:00PM, to just sit down and PRAY for the nations. Think about it. And the next time you see us, ask if we’re still praying every day at 7:00. I do hope we’ll have a good answer to give you.

Housekeeping issues, we are now headed east. Tony only has one more preaching obligation near Branson, Missouri, and that'll be about the time you're reading this.  We hear from so many that they prefer 'live' blogs from me instead of the old ‘re-gifted’ ones, so I'll try to do my best, keeping in mind that some weeks it just won’t be possible, with the lack of internet. 

We leave for Europe August 9th and then who knows?  We're dialoguing now with the mission board about perhaps working with some Ukrainian refugees somewhere. Also we're taking a Martin Luther tour with funds provided by Tony's Reedy Creek Bible study, so we'll have a LOT to talk about eventually. 

God’s speed, and have a think about spending a few scheduled minutes a day to remind yourself that God has got this. 

Love ya, 

Marsha