Epicenter

Maggie and James were the only ones to go "down" tonight for the block party at the little yellow house. Bu they had some kinda fun. Maggie go proposed to and James got tickled by it. And they heard the greatest news!

Today at the noon Bible Study Beatrice had come bursting in as happy and bouncy as can be. "Oh, isn't God good?!" she said. She had wakened this morning and heard a voice saying, "Go to the prayer meeting."

When she opened the door there was a guy standing there with money in one hand and drugs in the other. She told him, "Not today!" and skipped on over to the meeting to tell how she had given her heart to the Lord!

I am thinking that the story of another neighborhood prostitute who was found beaten to death last weeekend has sobered a number of people on the street. She for one has finally yielded her life to Jesus! A very sad thing turns happy.

The word epicenter keeps coming to mind. What if those folks who ask, "Can anything good come out of Mississippi?" are wrong? What if The Big Spiritual Revival we all want to see happen in America, starts at a little yellow house in the crack alley in downtown Jackson? Wouldn't that be just like God to "confound the mighty"?

Fawn

As I was huffing and puffing at my exercise place I caught sight of a young woman walking past the window. As he does sometimes, the Holy Spirit said, "Take note."
So when I was finished and she was still out on the sidewalk, I went up to her and asked how she was.

For you New Yorkers, this is normal Mississippi behavior :) She immediately began telling me her life story. She was Fawn, a Vietnam war baby, was out of money and food, had a 14 year old son at home, and was supposed to be starting a job that morning but it did not work out.

However... she then proceeded to lift her voice loudly in a Vietnamese accent in praise and adoration to God for his constant care and faithfulnes. She prayed for me and my friend who was also there, and for our families, for the Africa trip, and for the whole USA, and Africa and Israel! Oh we had fun there outside Curves!

She and I then went for groceries and headed for her apartment, which was deep in a wonderful scarey part of Jackson I had never been to. On the way we stopped, so she and Amy could meet and see where the little yellow house is located.

After I dropped Fawn off at her apartment, I nervously prayed God would show me the way to the freeway westward toward the town where Peter was to run his final State wide cross country race. I called the school to say I'd meet him there.

Whew, God is so nice. After spending those couple hours with Fawn in the car, I was so pumped up and singing praises to God that he showed me the way there, and Peter did great coming from way in the rear past several guys. Once again he sliced a minute off his time. He is becoming a good runner and such a sweet young man, one of the best three I have ever met.

Work Force

Got a call from a our big black firend who works outside the one remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi. He wants fellowship and some extra prayer support as he comes up against some hard hearts down there.

"Why not join us Sunday evening at the little yellow house?" I suggested. We are praying for more people like you to come, get prayer, and get equipped to go out to work for God."

"Sure, but I smashed my car and it'll take me 2 hours to walk there."

so...Mag and the boys and I headed down the interstate to pick up Bruce. After some searching, we found his house. His brother Joseph asked if he could hitch a ride with us to the gas station. So we all watched mesmerized as he shifted and clicked his knees with the pins in them to get his legs into the back seat, cracking jokes all the while about his condition.

Then when Bruce told him that Peter was a joker, he asked Peter if he'd met his great friend, Julio. I thought, "Oh, no, he's going to ask us to pick up someone else. I am already traumatized by this culture shock going on in my back seat!" Besides how many big, black, funny guys can we fit into the back seat?"

He swung his left arm up and announced, "Here's Julio!" We all gasped at his arm with no hand. After showing it off, more joking and banter back and forth, getting lost on the freeways because both guys were talking at once and giving contradicting directions, we finally pulled in to his gas station, and waited as he unclicked his knees with his one good arm, held a cigarette with his stump, and lit it with the good hand. Assured that he'd be fine, off we drove to the Bible study. Maybe next time he'll come too.

Sigh, it will be nice to have a quiet little study, we were thinking as we pulled up to the house. There was only one car out front, but that did not mean the Bible Study would be a small intimate group. It only meant that none of the visitors had cars. Most homeless folks don't own cars. And the Lancaster's big diningroom and kitchen were crowded with homeless people!

"Amy! Where did all these brothers come from?" I whispered. "God!" she whispered and smiled that big smile of hers. There were at least 20 new people, four ladies and the rest men, all with Bibles open and some with pens taking notes! Praise God!

I slipped into the back row next to a smallish, older, black man who was kind of hunched over, but still reading his Bible and following along. When he straightened up and took his turn to read Acts 20 in a clear strong voice, I realized I was sitting next to a man the neighborhood considers to be very dangerous, who steals in broad daylight, walking down the middle of the street like a furniture store with legs. He will be carrying a lamp, a computer and other assorted sundry itens he had "found" inside folks homes.

This is his livelihood, but as Amy says, he's welcome at her house because he needs Jesus like all the rest of us.

Besides, he is another one who was called to preach years ago. Imagine that. There he sat with several broken ribs from a recent fight, a gash across his face, but studying the Bible as part of an overflowing room of others who miraclulously have stepped forward in answer to our prayer: "LORD OF THE HARVEST!! SEND FORTH WORKERS!!"

Now, Lord, who is going to save, heal, deliver each one? "No problem," says Jesus, "I'd be happy to do the job."

Lights Come on at the Park

This morning Maggie and James and Peter and I went down to the outdoor church in the park and to visit with our homeless friends. We were greeted by many. (Oh, Jesus help me remember their names.)

I noticed Michael in the food line sitting on the ground, but when Mr. Bill finished preaching and offered the invitation for prayer, Michael gave up his spot, and I had the privilege of praying for him. He wants to have doors open for him as he shares Jesus with folks!! Wa-hoo! Yeah, God!

Pam, the Katrina hurricane refugee, who prayed 3 weeks ago to receive Jesus Christ wanted prayer for a project she is working on. James and Peter listened to her insights about God wanting to "reconfigure" her life bit by bit. A great way to put it, Pam.. Oh, I love her.

While she was telling us this, a demonized man who had approached me before, came up and tried to draw me into conversation. Pam and her friend drew back and looked scared. But God helped me to look the man in his eye and quietly tell the evil spirit to shut up. That I would talk with the man when I was finished with Pam. He turned on his heel and walked off.

Pam asked wide eyed, "What was that? I felt something bad."

I said, "Just a demon on the man. Stay away from him, and ask Jesus to shield you. You will be fine. Just be sure to draw really near to the Lord yourself."

We all agreed that each of us has areas where we need deliverance. He "said" he wanted to talk about spiritual warfare, and maybe his coming up to me meant he wanted help, but his manner was very weird and I was not prepared to deal with it just then.

I hope soon he'll get his deliverance and live in freedom and joy, filled with the Holy Spirit instead. In the meantime I pray that thing will muzzle itself.

Jesus instructed us to do three things: cast out demons and heal the sick, and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. Regarding deliverance, folks have to want it and fill their life with Jesus' Spirit instead or it doesn't stick.

On the way home from the park Peter said he had an awesome time and James could not think of one reason not to go back next week. We stopped at the Waffle House for brunch, and the three kids abandoned me and treked home acoss the barrens to our place. Half hour later they arrived at our garage door, muddy, animated, and amazed at how many wild raspberry bushes had grabbed at their jackets on the way!

"Told ya," I laughed.

Fast trip

Now that Rob has his learner's permit, Bob took him to drive shotgun up to visit his mom this weekend. They will be traveling all day tomorrow to get home for school and work Monday. But it was worth it. They were there when sad and glad news came. Great Uncle Bill passed away in Newfoundland today, and a new baby nephew or niece is on the way!

Mom sounded happy and more perky when she called to tell me they'd been and gone. We are not putting any faith whatever in the doctor's report. She has confounded them so many times now we have lost count. But still she is weak and we'd love prayer that she'd recover. We of this generation and the next need those Grandma prayers going up!

The ladies at the synagogue surprised Maggie this morning with a laundry basket full of little toy cars and hygiene products, etc. for her to take with the boys when they go in less than 3 weeks. We are so thankful to the Lord for all the support and the opportunities Maggie is getting to tell about the needs.

She has been lately challenged to get some training before going back indefinitely to South Africa, and the Lord is rather clearly pointing at Brazil for a five weeks school!!

In the midst of her questioning the call this week, a visiting missionary from Brazil came to speak to our street people backyard church this week - Jean Marc, a former drug addict, who ran away from home at 14 and lived on the streets of Rio de Janeiro until a young lady shared the love of God with him. He gave his heart away to the Lord that day 12 years ago and became a missionary.

He says that Brazil commissions more missionaries than any other country in the world, and the training is great there. Also that Portuguese is spoken in South Africa.

We shall see. God will direct her, I know. We appreciate prayers.

Rob teases his friends over the fact that they can hardly imagine going to Michigan, let alone Africa! Most consider Texas a foreign county. Well the international travellers will be back tomorrow, and those four of us here will rise early to go see our friends downtown. So I am off to bed. Blessings all 'round.

All Heaven Breaks Loose

Last night in place of the usual inner-city Bible Study, a New Orleans pastor visited us and brought his dance, drama, and worship team. Well, you know New Orleans!.... What a blessing they brought with them!

They worshipped their hearts out and loved on our street people. Jimmy Carwash was there in the front row, tears running down his cheeks. Throughout the evening he must have had hands-on prayer three times. He got a new jacket, a blanket, gloves, a scarf and a stomach full of chili and biscuits.

Amy's backyard was full of other friends from the street and neighborhood. Prostitutes stared solemnly while the song about Mary Magdalene's alabaster box was dramatized before them. I watched Amy leading Smiley, one of the two thieves who compete for the neighborhood, up to get soup, while we comforted Beatrice who looked so cute in new glasses and has gone all week long without drugs.

We all notice what is happening to Gail, the sweet lady who has had such a terrible life. Amy first found her very broken from a childhood of being fed straight whiskey in her baby bottle through years of abuse and battering, AIDS and a host of other ailments. Now she walks staight upright and can talk more coherently. Still, she stood weeping as two ladies told her how God had delivered them from many of the same things. The two women had come for the first time. Both want to minister to others.

On their way to the big party, they had gotten lost and circled the block twice, stopping to ask directions of a man walking along the road. The second time they stopped to speak to him, they realized that God wanted them to tell him where hot food was being served. He gratefully got into their car.

It was Eugene, a big robust older man, whom I recognized as one of our Sunday morning crowd from the park! I believe he also may be one God is calling to preach the Word.

While the ladies were praying for Gail, another woman came up, whom they recognized as an old friend from the Sate Penitentiary where they had both given their lives to the Lord. Exciting divine connections!

All evening folks kept arriving as word got out on the streets, as the saying goes, "one begger telling another begger where to find food."

To the delight of our Rob, James and Peter, Maggie's fun-loving friend, 16 year old Marcel showed up with his two aunties. Part way through football with the guys, he left them and came and stood quietly next to Maggie.

He said to her, "Maggie, I know what a person needs to do for God. It's really simple."

Maggie asked, "What is it, Marcel?"

He replied, "To love Him, to serve Him, to not lust, and to not have greed."

Very powerful words from a young man with no daddy, who daily passes through metal detectors into his highschool and walks down the street to his granny's house past guns and drug addicts.

When she got home Maggie just cried because, as they talked, God had allowed her to feel the boy' loneliness and pain...Another worker that our Heavenly Father is healing and calling.

Eventually as the evening wore on, most folks wandered off wearing their new scarves and jackets. Those who remained, gathered in a big circle to cry out to God for Jackson. Jimmy Carwash thanked God for the group, "Ah feel so protected and good rahght here."

When it came time to leave, Rob was in the driver's seat. We drove Jimmy deep into town, to a truck he occasionally sleeps in. Our boys listened wide-eyed as he told them to take good care of their mamma and be sure and grow up to be men of God.

So...the boys are getting practised up for their trip to Africa, and we all can pray for Jimmy that he will get some ID, save his money, and that God will send him forth, free from drugs, alcohol, and the need for that big stick he carries, to joyfully serve God "in the harvest fields. For the harvest truly is great and the laborers are few."

"A.C."

Yesterday morning dawned COLD and drizzly. Maggie and I stood and looked at each other in the kitchen, "Let's pray about whether God really wants us to go down to the homeless church this morning. Maybe we should just stay home and rest today."

Yeah, sure!

The others were still sleeping, so we pulled on jackets and off we drove. As we did the sun began shining and drying up the roads, leaving the sky blue with scattered clouds and the air sparkling.

Of course we were very glad we said, "Yes, Lord," because there were humble souls wrapped in blankets there who had hunger in their eyes for more than breakfast.

After Mr Bill preached a strong message from I John about loving folks, we got into conversation with some who had questions about the pain and suffering in the world. We explained how God hates it too and wants to fill them with His power to go and do whatever He says in order to change it.

Another new friend "A.C." told me he was desperate that God will come into his heart and that his heart was wide open for him. I told Him Jesus said, "You must be born again," and that it was a deeply spiritual thing, where a desperate person opens up and God's Spirit comes in and gives him a new heart. He had to believe that Jesus had nails in His hands and feet on account of his, A.C.'s, sin and receive Him, to see Him as the Savior for those sins. A.C. asked if I could help him with the words to a prayer to tell Jesus that, which I did. After that he went and stood in the food line.

Now it is up to God to go after the man and empower him to reach his friends who also live on the street. I told him where the power comes from and to listen closely to the voice of the Spirit inside him telling him to turn right or left to stop or go. He said he would.

Jimmy "Carwash"

Again this week we had a fun with the folks in the Sunday morning "homeless church" in the park. When Mr. Bill asked, "Who here is following God the best they know how?" little Linda, dressed in men's cords and boots and a baseball hat on sideways called out with a broad, toothless grin, "I am! I am!" and danced up to the front.

Big John, whose brother is an NFL football player, was acting out whatever the pastor said, until I told him to come sit beside me. Eddy was back and wanted to talk, and Kenneth had on his red sweatshirt with the hood pulled up. His eyes said he was ready and waitng for God to touch him.

There was a new, sweet little couple sitting on the park bench, each with a shopping cart full of wheels and stuff. Pam, the Katrina refugee lady, was back with a friend, and was so happy to be prayed for again.

Another 'old' friend was there. Jimmy "Carwash," I smiled, "it is nice seeing you. I missed you when we went up north last weekend."

"He shook his head sadly. I wrote your name down, because it's so hard to remember, and I said I'd pray for y'all, but I only prayed once."

"That's fine," I said. "It worked!"

"No," he replied, "I really need to give my heart back to da Lord. I need to be obedient to Him," he said, his head hanging down. "I struggle so much with doing what's right. Even today...well, Ah'm planning to do something bad."

I suggested instead that he fill his time with positive things, hang around other believers, and that maybe this evening he could come to the Bible study at Ms. Amy's little yellow house a few blocks over. He promised he would not disappoint me, but would be at the Conaco station at 5:45 pm for me to pick him up.

I half expected him not to show up, and as Maggie and I were driving there, I said, "Mag, what are we doing, you and I? Here we are going into the part of Jackson we are not supposed to go, to pick up a homeless guy we met at the park. There is going to be lots to share with Dad when he gets back from Boston!"

She just laughed, "Mom, God told us to do this, so we better do it."

Earlier she had made a run down there with our boys to pick up some darling teenagers from another forbidden address. She had invited them all to see that wonderful movie, "Facing the Giants". When she had arrived, the 16 year old boy jumped into the car and suggested they wait in that parking lot till the girls, who were still dressing, should come out.

That particular parking lot happened to be the place where the drug dealers meet, and as the kids sat joking in the car, one came over, aggitated, and asked what they were doing. Maggie said not to worry, but pulled away anyway and soon the girls came out.

So she was all relaxed about this evening's adventure. "Jimmy will be there, Mom. Don't worry," she said and pointed. "There he is! He's waiting for us."

I replied, "Maggie, that's just a bum!"

Well, of course it was a bum, but it was our dear 'bum,' with his ragged jeans, chains, and dirty jacket, carrying his plastic bag, a handkerchief on his head.

He shuffled over to the car. "Hey y'all, I am so glad you came. Ah bin walkin' and walkin' and thinkin' and quotin' Bible since 10:00 this morning. I fell asleep and someone asked me if I was drunk, but I woke up and said, "No! I'm fixin' to go to church!... So here I am."

He had kept walking and struggling all day long, and it was our prayers and the Holy Spirit that kept him going and out of the trouble he had planned.

Well, the Bible study went fine. Another street friend joined us, a lady who slept down on the floor at my feet most of the time. That was ok; she needed a sweet, safe place to rest for a change, and this was it. When she woke, she turned and smiled up at me with a totally toothless, beautiful smile and patted my knee.

During the study, I peeked at the notes Jimmy was taking beside me in the neatest printing I have ever seen. "Always be led by the Holy Spirt," he'd written.

At one point he spoke up and very seriously shared a bit about his life and how it pertained to our Bible chapter. Afterwards we all prayed for both him and Beatrice and gave them a hot dinner.

We dropped off Beatrice at her place, and Jimmy explained that he would not be sleeping at the mission tonight. Since he had come to the meeting, it was too late and they'd be closed. He would need to be taken elsewhere.

Ok, I thought, maybe you had to sacrifice your bed at the mission for the Bible study, but as long as you have a place to sleep, that's ok, because it's starting to rain.

He directed, and we drove until he said to turn in at this parking lot. I pulled in and saw no lights and no people or signs of life. Hmmm, whatever you say, Jimmy Carwash.

Getting out, he gathered his things, and looking back into the car he said, "Thank you. I am glad I came. For once I obeyed God."

I almost cried, and he walked away into the dark. Maggie and I sat waiting for some door to open in the building, but the last I saw was Jimmy settling himself under an overhang.

Off we drove with his last words in our ears, "I'll be praying for y'all."

Born again!

Around noon a car pulled up the drive. One of the kids called , "Mom, I think it's the gentleman who built this house."

Twenty five years ago Mr. Ed plannned and oversaw the building of his and Mrs. Edwena's dream home, which we now own. Occasionally, since they have been in the senior home, they have dropped by to see us and look at what we have done to the place. Today was no different, and yet it was different.

I glanced out the kitchen window to see their caregiver, Beth, getting out of the car to arrange Ed's wheelchair. This gave me a chance to quick throw the dirty tea towels into the washing machine and wipe down the counter tops, before the side doorbell rang.

There sat Mr. Ed in his wheelchair smiling his big smile. "Ah jes thought Ah'd come by and see how y'all are doing."

I gave him a hug and went out to convince the ladies to come on in for a visit. We wheeled Mrs. Edwena in and gave her the grand tour like we always do when they come over, and then sat talking in the dining room. Mr. Ed commented they had a new pastor at their church, and that it was a lady. My response was that that was lovely as long as she taught the people how to be born again.

I surprised myself by adding, "You know about being born again, don't you? Jesus said we MUST be born again."

"Well, no," Mr. Ed said. He had been at maybe 5000 or more Bible studies and church servises in all his born days, but he knew he had never once heard about being born again. I turned to his sweet little 87 year old wife who has Parkinson's disease, but is still sharp and talkative.

"Mrs. Edwena," I asked, "Do you know for sure you will go to be with the Lord when you die?" Suddenly tears began running down her cheeks and she said. "I don't really know for sure. How can anyone really know for sure?"

"Oh, you can know for certain!" I responded. You can receive God's free gift of eternal life by asking Jesus Christ to give you a new heart right this minute. That is why He died with nails through his hands. So that we all can have our sinful hearts cleansed and made new. Would you like to be born again?"

She said, "Yes, I would." All their years of church could not give them even one prayer to request this of God, so I gave them the words and they repeated after me, "Lord Jesus Christ, I believe you are the Son of God and that you gave your life for my sins. I receive you as my Savior and from this day forward I will do whatever you say with my life."

Their caregiver was elated and amazed. "I know why we came here today!" she said. "All these years, Mrs. Edwena, and I did NOT know you had never gotten saved!"

Now...I have sometimes wondered about the idea of saying a little prayer to be saved, and making it all that simple. But not today. Today I really truly believe that a little 87 year old lady gave her heart to Jesus Christ and that God will welcome her into His Heavenely Kingdom, NOT because she's been a faithful church lady all these years, but because she asked Jesus to give her a clean heart.

Oh, praise His name forever!!

Happy Days

Last weekend the four kids and I got on a nonstop plane to Detroit, picked up our rentacar and headed to Windsor for a very full and fun weekend. It was Marnie's daughter, Kristen's wedding to Martin Callaghan, a young man she met in Regina. Since the two of them are outdoorsy types, the ceremony was held in a park by a nature center.

Though the weather had been stormy for a month, the sun broke through and God gave us clear blue autumn skies and 70's temperature. It was idyllic, and especially so because two of our daughters, Steph and Em and their husbands and two grandbabies were there, my mom-in-law, and parents, several aunts and uncles and cousins with their spouses and several children each, some of whom were internationally adopted and are now in their teens and balls of energy and fun. There were kids everywhere. The guys got a football game going. So it all made for a very interesting wedding!

Back home Sunday, we were just in time to prepare for a busy week with a cross country track meet for Peter. He beat his former time even though the track was hilly! Then today James had a reginal swim meet which was held in our brand new YMCA.

Here is Mississippi the Y is Christian and there are big banners with Bible verses and a commitment to the public that this establishment is for the glory of God. As with all sporting events here in the Bible Belt, the swim meet was opened with prayer giving honor to Him and in Jesus' name. All this makes for a wholesome and pleasant environment to bring up children.

We also are well aware of the difference prayer for our school has made as we had a very happy group of kids and parents. We got 3rd place out of 19 schools and this is only our team's second year! We DO give God the glory. We also got extra points because our parents screamed louder and our children hugged each other more than any other team. Not really extra points... but we should have. :)

The deep South continues to be for me a complex mix of big-hearted Southern hospitality (Yes sir! Yes, ma'am!)and sideways glances. I still get such a kick out of the country humor. There is laughter when I admit to being a Canadian ferregner but I know what they are thinking. At LEAST, I say, I am not a Yankee! More laughter. It takes time for outsiders to get past being that to being a real friend, but it is coming.