Good morning and all that stuff. It is time to get up and get something done.
I hope that you can join us tomorrow morning as Pastor Fitsum continues our series in the book of Joshua. Also, our Worship night has been rescheduled to Friday evening, September 24that 6:30 pm.
I talked with brother Jacques several times throughout the week. They have decided to take little Sophia Rene into the orphanage. Please pray for them as the begin to care for this precious six-month-old little girl that lost her parents in the earthquake.
The other morning, I left Children’s Mercy and made may way back toward Shawnee. I order to do so, I got on the highway and then made my way across the lanes of traffic toward the exit for I-670 west, which happens to be on the far left side of the roadway. Sometimes, depending on traffic, it can be very difficult or next to impossible. However, since it was only 6:45 am the traffic wasn’t too heavy yet. As I roared down the on ramp to the highway, accelerating as fast as my little 4 cylinder could go (which is really unimpressive by any standards), I was glad to see that that the traffic was light and that I could scoot across the lanes. I made it almost all the way across but had to slow down a little to wait for a car on my immediate left. As I did, a truck going well above the posted speed limit came up behind me. It soon became apparent that he did not like me only going around the speed limit. He pulled very close to the back of my car, began flashing his lights and honking. It did not seem to matter to him that I had to wait for the car on my left to pass. I was impeding his journey. All told, it probably took around five to seven seconds of going a little slower for the car to pass. Once it did, I moved over. However, the fun was just beginning. The truck pulled up next to me, still honking, and the man hanging his arm out the window, giving me the universal sign of love. The dude was red-faced and screaming the F word over and over. For emphasis, he kept thrusting his arm at me while flipping me off. It was a bit surreal that someone could be that enraged because he had to slow down in traffic to somewhere near the actual speed limit. We continued side by side for a little ways, the madman acting like the demoniac in Mark 5, and me wondering if he was going to swerve his 4×4 truck with his trailer at my Matchbox sized car. Clearly, he wanted me to be able to read his lips, which was not hard since he seemed to have a very limited vocabulary. Finally, overcome by the hilarity of a grown man acting like a two-year-old having a temper tantrum, I started to laugh. I then waved (using all my fingers) and then mouthed the words so he could understand them. No, not those words. I simply said, “Have a good day.” It was probably a good thing that at that point the exit and the roadway separated. As I went on my way, I could see his truck continue straight ahead, horn still honking, arm still out the window, the bird still on display.
I began to wonder about that man. What was going on in his life that would cause him to erupt with such anger over something so petty? I wondered such things as if he had a child that was sick with an incurable illness, or maybe he was going through a divorce, or someone he knew had died. It had to be something more than the possibility of arriving at his destination 7 seconds later than he wanted to. In reality, I felt sorry for him. Something was going on and he was allowing it to mess him up. I felt led to pray for him. I asked God to help him with whatever was going on in his life. Not knowing anything about him, I prayed in general terms, asking God to save him if need be and to become so real in his life that it was unmistakable. I also asked God to help him to have a good day. Before you get the idea that I am super spiritual and always do this, I don’t. There are times when I would just drive on thinking the person was an idiot. But in this case, the Lord impressed upon me to pray. Afterwards, as I drove down I-35, I started noticing all of the cars, everyone seemingly in a hurry. As cars passed me, I began to think about the people, and I wondered what each of them might be dealing with on that day. A long time ago, a wise and mature Christian told me something that has stuck with me. He said to never forget that everyone is dealing with something.
Perhaps this a good reminder in a time in our country where everyone seems to be angry about something. Let’s commit to praying for others. There is already way too much ranting, yelling, and arguing going on.
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-25)
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
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