The Blog

God teaches us in so many ways. He gives us opportunities so that we can grow. He uses us be a light unto the world. Today our assistant director Danny had the opportunity to show the love of Jesus to someone that he didn't even know. Right around lunch time on Saturday, a man named Doug came into the church office building and asked for Pastor Danny. After they were introduced, the man began to talk to Danny about what has been going on in his life. He told him that he was from Maine and homeless and just beginning to seek freedom from a long alcohol addiction. He told Danny that he had been trying to get to Salem for the past three days where he had been accepted into a ministry rehab program. He believed that if he could just get there, he would receive freedom from his addiction in this ministry. Doug told Danny that he had analyzed what good his addiction had done for him, and he realized that all it did was take away from his life. Alcohol took his wife, his children, his band, his passion for music and most importantly alcohol took away his relationship with God. The program he was entering is a two year long program, and he felt it would bring him freedom and renew his relationship with the Father. Danny saw Doug's sincerity and knew that he needed to do something. After a few disappointing phone calls to people Danny knew could help, he decided he would drive Doug to Salem himself. So along with a few Master's Commission students, they loaded up and made the drive. On the way there, Danny and the Master's Commission students were able to pour into Doug's life and share the love and acceptance that only comes from Jesus Christ. For the entire car ride they just talked and shared about what they had learned. At one point, Danny looked at Doug and told him, "I have been thinking to myself, why have I given this man a ride? I can easily justify it by saying that if I was ever in this situation I would want someone to help me. But that attitude is just the goodness of mankind. Honestly Doug, I am giving you this ride because Jesus Christ loves you and I want you to feel that love and acceptance. Doug I love Jesus and He loves you, so I love you." Doug sat quietly for a few moments, then looked at Danny and said "I don't know the last time someone told me that they love me, and genuinely meant it. Thank you." Doug began to tear up. Finally they arrived and got in contact with the people who were going to help Doug. After they got Doug taken care of, Danny look at his students and said, "We have done a good thing; we shared the love of Jesus with a man the world has thrown away. I know we will see Doug again." After this happened, they all went to McDonalds in Salem for lunch. There was a man sitting at a table all by himself and he happened to catch a glimpse of what one of the students was carrying. As a group this week, we have been challenged to pick up our cross daily, so as a reminder Master's Commission students and staff have been carrying around two and a half foot tall crosses with them everywhere they go. Even though the man was very hard to understand (we later found out he was from Yugoslavia), David did his best to communicate with him. The man asked him what they were doing with the crosses, and asked if they were Catholic. David responded "no just plain Jesus followers." Then the man asked David if he had a bible with him, and if so if he could just read him a little bit. The only Bible the group had with them had been given to Doug before he left, so David began to share some scriptures he had memorized and explain to the man who Jesus was to him and why he was carrying the cross. Then David asked the man what his name was. He said that it was also David. David gave him an apple pie. Then took off his sweatshirt and beanie and gave it to his new friend David. The students then made the long silent drive home, individually praying and hoping for another opportunity to share the love, grace, and salvation of Jesus through a ride to Salem, a cheeseburger, a sweatshirt, a bible, or sharing some memory verses making an impact on peoples lives. God will provide the opportunities for that, there is no doubt. It is what we will do when those opportunities present themselves that really matters. Will we walk away, or will we pick up our cross, die to our flesh and truly follow Jesus.