And once again...

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

(I still have not got this email program down and apologize for the
"preview" copy.)

Thanks for all the really cool letters to the last letter. I appreciate
it. You are a great source of encouragement to me.

For the last few weeks it has seemed like every time I turn around I am
running into my past in the shape of a pre-Christian. Yesterday was no
different. It happened on 2 occasions. The first opportunity came as a
man was hitch hiking and I picked him up. He was a man who owed me a
lot of money from years ago. Interesting conversation developed and we
ended up talking about the Lord and His benefits. Turns out he lives
about a mile from me. He has agreed to work off what he owes me and
asked if he could stop over and continue the conversation about the
Lord.

The second was even more interesting. My daughter had an appointment,
so I was watching the store. I was talking to some one about old
records. And I was just telling him bout this friend I had had years
ago who I bought all my records from. A few seconds later a man walks
in to the store. I am still in the first conversation and just saying
"see you later" when the second guys says "Lee." I look over and he
says "Mark from R____." This was the guy I had been talking about. I
have not seen Mark in almost 20 years. After the premature birth of my
daughter and all that time in the hospital (Over a year.) We ended up
talking for about 2 hours agreeing to get together with some of the old
crew. A friend of his had died a short while ago and while he recounted
his pain at the loss of one of his few and best friends, I felt the
presence of the Lord. Mark was initially very surprised that I was a
minister and said that the crew would be very surprised(especially a
friend who was my best man in my wedding back then.) But as we talked
about the death of his friend(Also a friend of my daughter, Amy.), it
was evident that he was seeking the Lord on some level fro comfort.
Mark sold his music record business and he is an artist. He is looking
for a studio to sculpt. I am asking the Lord to help me find a place
for him. I want it to be in Springfield so I can see him. My life was
so torn up after the birth of my daughter and was so turned upside
down with moving, etc. , that life just went way too fast.

Have you ever had a friendship go by because of busyness or been in a
circumstance with someone needing the Lord and not knowing how to
communicate it? Both situations were awkward for different reasons. But
the Lord has given me some instruction. Love Him with all my heart and
love others as He has loved me. He also communicates to me to preach
the gospel to every living creature.

I did not want to open this office downtown. It subsequently turned
into a store where my daughter is working. And it is fast becoming a
"gathering" place when I am there. People who I have not seen in ages
are stopping by.

I think the lesson in all this, is as much as we would like to avoid
the world and all it's little tricks, there is a people out there
caught in it's clutches looking for the man(or woman) who will point
them on the way. What would happen if today as you prayed, you asked
him for that opportunity to be a pointer? What would happen if each
person on this list of friends did the same thing? Not only would we be
being obedient to the Lord, but we would be helping mankind become a
little better, a little more friendly.

Interestingly, when I knew my friend Mark, I was in business down the
road from him, in a place where international students were trained.
These were the creme de la creme of their society and countries, They
were trained in diplomacy and leadership. But on many occasions when
one of these wealthy foreign students went into town, they were treated
badly. Many of these students are in leadership positions today. They
are "remembering" what America looks like. I reviewed some of the
pictures from there. They did not look like terrorists or haters of
America.

I am convicted in my heart of my leaving behind the world at the
bequest of well meaning church people. Many suggested I stay away from
people who "might lead me down paths of unrighteousness."

As I spoke to Denny and Mark yesterday, I realized they were my
"inheritance." They are all I get to take to heaven. Who is it you get
to take to heaven?

We thank you for your prayers and your love!

Blessings,
lee

Deeper Relationships meeting on Tuesday night at 6.

http://pcfministries.blogspot.com/
http://compelthem.blogspot.com/