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| Khian and Sanya (Click on photos to enlarge.) |
What a meeting yesterday. I was not feeling very energetic
early in the day. I had been in Miami
touring for several hours the day before (you will see photos and the story on this
blog tomorrow), and then Waylan and Regena took me on a night out with friends; we talked and laughed in and out of a Japanese restaurant until close to midnight .
I woke up the next morning at my usual 4:30 ,
and that’s how things started Sunday, not to mention the flu-type issues vexing me all week.
Nevertheless, when I sat down to connect spiritually with those gathered at 2 p.m. yesterday ,
nothing hindered the spirit or the sinews of the mouth. That’s generally what happens. Any kind of
trouble disappears in light of the message, and the joy of communicating it. Twelve attended this South Florida Scripturefest.
I spoke on my Catholic background; the condition of the
world today; why I think these are the last days of the eon (“Many generations
have thought they were the last generation; we are the only generation to be
right”); the cross as the centerpiece of universal history; a brief history of
Israel; the purpose of Jesus Christ on earth; the purpose of Christ Jesus in
the heavens; an explanation of predestination; the call of Saul on the road to
Damascus; the reality of the death of Christ; key differences between the
gospels of the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision; the destinies of all those
in attendance; the completion of the universe, in Christ.
I don't know how long I talked. It seemed short to me,
but it may actually have been close to 90 minutes, which I never would have
done on purpose. No one was moving, everyone was aggressively listening and letting things soothe them, so I let the good
times roll.
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| Marie and Kate Horne; sisters |
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| The brothers McNight: Jordan and Josh |
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| Tonya and Ashley |
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| Tonya and her husband Adam |
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| Josh McKnight and Tim McClellan |
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| Kate Horne and me. Kate was struggling with church back in 2001, when she "happened upon" my book, How to Quit Church Without Quitting God, at the Miami, FL, public library. That book changed her life. She has been a great supporter of the ministry and a great friend, from that day to this. |
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| Adam, Tonya and me. |
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| Khian and Tanya say good-bye. |
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| Mary Ellen heads out after a great time. |
The Word went forth with power—thanks be to God. It was a
complete success. Several people heard things they’d never heard before. Many
people hung out afterward. So many thanks go to Waylan and Regena Dabbs, for
opening their home and providing for the needs of the saints. Waylan and Regina
have provided for all my needs here, and then some. I am in such good care.
When everyone left, Waylan, Regena and I hit the hot tub
with a little cognac and some white wine, conversing for at least ninety
minutes under the dark Florida
sky. Between the spiritual and emotional expenditures of the day, the heat of
the tub, the kick of the cognac, and the warm, west wind, I barely made it to
bed before sleep did its sweet thing to my surrendered frame.
Grace and peace. It is all grace and peace, friends. Find
one another.
© 2013 by Martin Zender
