Brought to Belleview: The Visit to the Bluffs

     Belleview is an unincorporated community just a short distance from the Mississippi River.  Our first impression of the community was the shallow perception that there is nothing there for us.  Shopping was few and far between.  As we were allowed into the parsonage for our stay, we quickly compared our home to this place where the pastor stays.  With three kids in tow, we were quick to write off Belleview as the place for us.  The surrounding bluffs provided a wonderful and beautiful view, but we just couldn't find it within ourselves to choose this place, this house for us.  As day turned tonight and after had we enjoyed the delicious meal provided to us by the members of the church, I strolled over to the wood stove and lit a small fire to sit by on this bitterly cold night.  The thoughtful church members placed a television with some family movies for the kids along with some toys to play with to keep them occupied.  April and I sat in the living room and discussed what we thought so far.  This house would be asking us to give up a lot.  Were we willing to make that sacrifice?  As we readied the kid for bed and April went to the bedroom to sleep, I lingered behind by the wood stove for a quiet time of study and prayer for the next days service.  I opened the door to glance outside into the darkness.  There were no lights, save for a small light radiating from the house next door.  I glanced towards the partly cloudy skies and prayed just softly aloud, "Lord, only you know what is best for us.  We are in your hands."
     Sleep for me was short lived.  I woke up before the sun even began its tinting of the early morning hours.  I struggled to make sense of my direction in the darkness.  When my bearings had been gathered, I slowly ventured into the family room and at that moment, I felt a sharp searing pain rush through my shoulders.  I frantically reached for the light switch with one hand and held the painful shoulder with the other.  The light revealed to my surprise a wasp which had stung me twice.  I reached into the freezer and picked up a large cube of ice and placed in on the area where the fierce wasp had viciously stung me.  I picked up the Bible and began perusing through the notes and the text for the day's sermon and mumbled to myself that I will never return. 
     The service was fantastic.  The people were very receptive.  We enjoyed the presence of the Holy Spirit as He met with us in that small white church in the bluffs just a few hundred yards from the parsonage where we stayed.  A potluck dinner followed that morning service.  One thing for sure, these people knew how to cook.  I made my way through the small crowd that had gathered in the Lord's house that day and stayed for the potluck to meet them and to properly introduce myself to them.  They were curious to know more about me.  I answered any questions that they had for me.  It was a very friendly church.  The time had come for us to begin our journey back to eastern Illinois.  We gathered the kids and prepared them for the trip back home.  I bid farewell to the friendly group that we were now leaving.  As I shook their hands, one of the gentleman placed a check into my hands.  I quickly stuffed it into my pocket and continued with my farewells.  As I shook each hand, my mind was telling me that was the last time I would see them.  We pointed our van east, toward home and prayed a prayer for our safe travels.  I smiled at my wife and squeezed her hands.  She looked at me and said something which left me speechless.  I gazed into the mid-wintery bright blue sky with not a cloud in sight and pondered the last 24 hours among the bluffs: the living quarters, the wasp sting, and the morning's service and the potluck which followed.  What was she thinking when she told said that.  She said it with such confidence and conviction.  On that journey home, I replayed her words over and over in my mind.  Could she be right?  It was an image being replayed so vividly and crystal clear in my mind.  When we left Ohio, she told me she could see us in that church.  When we left Belleview, she told me, "God will lead us here".  How profound.

Brought to Belleview: Westward

There was no doubt in my heart that God was leading me to pursue a pastoral position in the church.  Minnesota was not on my list of places to look.  I wanted to go east.  As we returned the call to entertain our curiosity, we discovered that the call was actually from a regional office but the church was in western Illinois.  That was still not what I had in mind.  At first, I was quick to say no, but God would not give up so easily.  I was reminded of the words of a friend who I confided in, “Keep checking doors, keep checking doors, and when God shuts it, keep it shut.  If he keeps it open, keep walking until He shuts it”.  I had shut the door, God did not, I did. 

                A few days later I was in conversations with a church in Michigan that wanted me to preach.  They were concerned because they were afraid they could not afford me.  My reply to them was simply, “God will take care if it”.  He did.  We were blessed financially beyond our wildest dreams.  One thing that I have learned in my journey is that God in His vast infinite wisdom will oftentimes provide for our needs and care for our necessities through the unlikeliest of sources.  Michigan was another example of that.  We received a $100 gas card which could be used across the US and a visit to the post office for my daily mail revealed a financial blessing just 3 days after our return from Michigan.  It seemed to be an affirmation from God saying, “I’ve got you taken care of”.

                What about the call from Minnesota?  After much prayer and counsel, I returned to the door that I had shut and to my surprise saw that it was still open.  I was scheduled to visit the church two weeks after I spoke in Michigan.  God was lining up opportunities and opening doors for us as we sought His will.  We were humbled by His immeasurable grace in our lives.  Our family of five, much like every church I visited and preached were planning for another weekend trip, this time, for the first time, we were going west.

                Two days before our departure, my wife called me.  There was a problem with the van.  My heart sunk.  As I had her to explain to me what was happening, it was obvious the van would not make the trip west.  I prayed.  There were three options.  The first option was to cancel the trip.  I knew immediately this was not a viable option.  To do so would be to cancel the plans God has establish for our family.  The second option was for me to go alone in my truck.  I have never gone anywhere alone and was not necessarily up for another trip alone.  Also, it was an important weekend for my family and we knew that all five of us needed to go.  That lead us to our third option and one we chose.  Get the van repaired.  It wasn’t cheap.  I did not expect it to be.  There was one thing I knew.  God would take care of us.  He has continued to do so; we could not expect any less.  Friday morning, snow flurries trickled around us as the van was taken in for repairs.  I studied my message for Sunday and spent much in prayer about God’s will.  I was so excited about preaching, just like I am in every service, that I forgot the other purpose of the visit.  Is God leading us there? 

                On Saturday morning we awoke to a bitterly cold February morning.  A gusty wind compounded the freezing air as we loaded up the van.  The ground was lightly coated with Mother Nature’s wintry coating of snow.  With the five of us, inside and the heat cranked up a few notches; we bowed our heads and prayed.  Slowly, we backed our van down the icy driveway and navigated the unpaved village roads to the main road that had long since been plowed.  We turned our direction west.

A Line Being Drawn Through the Ages

Now what? It was an absolutely beautiful picture to see on the news images from around the country the long lines for Chick-Fil-A. I saw a video of a church group leading a stirring rendition of "God Bless America" in one NC Chick-Fil-A. It brought tears to my eyes. It must not stop there. Yesterday, as I followed along on Facebook, I could see a battle line being drawn. There is an old Gospel song that includes this phrase, "There's a line that's been drawn through the ages". That line is becoming clearer and clearer. The words of Paul to Timothy became clearer and clearer, I saw II Timothy 3 being played out. Even more sad are those who profess religion but have no godliness muddy the waters. I have heard in the pulpit over the years and have discovered it to be true, "Having religion does not mean being a Christian". My wife and I have already talked about supporting Chick-Fil-A wherever we go and whenever we can. It must not stop there. We also talked about our children. We talked about the future. We read II Timothy 3 together. We cried. We prayed. We shared the earnestness of our heart together and with God. I read a survey the other day that said only 14% of the American parents believe that their children will be better off than the parents were. The reasons that were stated were numerous: economy, freedom, etc. I have another reason that was not mention. It is spiritual. Paul had this to say to Timothy, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (II Timothy 3:12,13) This issue with Chick-Fil-A is not the beginning but an escalation of attacks on the tenets of our Christian faith. It is the intensifying push of acceptance of sin. We must go further than August 1. We must make clear our Bible based convictions. A pastor friend had this to say: "Let's have Jesus Appreciation Day every day." Yes. To appreciate Him in standing with and for Him. I pray that God will help me to teach my children to stand among intense pressure against the Christian faith by standing for myself. We can translate yesterday to a revival, but it must first begin in our heart. Before we can transform the spiritual pulse of America, we must start within ourselves. If we do not, then we can not expect revival. I can't wait to get to Chick-Fil-A again and have a delicious chicken sandwich, but more than that, I can't wait to go to God's house this Sunday and every Sunday and continue to exalt His name above all names. Now I must go one step farther, I can't wait to have Him use me daily for His cause and glory. August 1 and Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day has come and gone, but the spiritual battle continues. There is a line, we must ask ourselves the question of Moses to the children of Israel in Exodus 32:26, "Who is on the Lord's side?"