Last night’s meeting—the fourth in five days—was the most
well-attended yet. Two new people joined the circle: Deb Basham and a guy named
Mike.
Two days ago, I got an email from Allegra Leonard in Phoenix ,
Arizona Las Vegas , and she
just found out you were there. She had no idea there was a group in Vegas.
She is so lonely for fellowship!”
The friend’s name was Deb Basham. I called Deb and left a
message, telling her where the meeting was on Wednesday night, and what time. I
got a return message the next morning, and Deb wasn’t going to miss it.
Sure enough, here she came. The door opened, Deb threw
her arms around my neck, and then did the same to everyone else. It was one of
the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, watching Deb graft so naturally into
the group. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have said she'd been coming here for
years. People said, “Deb!” as though she were a long-lost relative. Before
the meeting started, Deb and Melinda chatted away like sisters. Well, in
Christ, they are—and always have been.
I spoke last night on the graduation, in the book of Acts,
from flesh to spirit. The kingdom message starts strong for Israel
with signs and miracles, then slowly disintegrates as Paul takes the stage. By
the end of Paul’s ministry—which goes “from glory to glory”—fleshly signs give
way to spiritual realities. “This is where we are today,” I said. “Nothing is
more impressive now, spiritually, than people who believe God in spite of their
experiences—in spite of being tried and disciplined by the very God they love
and serve.”
In Romans, chapter 8, Paul tells us how nothing can separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus, promptly embarking upon a list of terrible trials.
Then he says, “In all these things, we are more than conquering.” I
emphasized the word in. "We don’t conquer by being delivered from these
trials," I said, “but by enduring them through the power of grace, and in the
knowledge that the trials are fitting us for a celestial kingdom.”
As great as the other meetings were, this felt to me like
the best one yet. I felt so much a part of a family, as did everyone
else.
Deb was just thrilled. At one point, she had tears in her
eyes. “I have been alone in what I believe since 1999,” she said. “You don’t know what finding this fellowship means to me.”
These meetings have been the catalyst that has brought Rick
Kovatch and Deb Basham to a group of loving saints they did not even know
existed. Rick joked last night, saying, “Now you’re stuck with me.” Joe said,
“You’re stuck with us.”
* * *
In about four hours, Joe, Eddie and I fly out to Stockton ,
CA Sacramento .
We are staying at the home of Anita Butler, where the meeting is also, on
Saturday.
(For meeting details, call Anita Butler at 916-524-1080.)
I have enjoyed my mornings here. I’m back at the kitchen
bar, of course, working on this blog. My body finally surrendered to sleep
yesterday morning; I did not wake up until 6:15 .
My morning routine has been pleasant. I come down here, raid the fridge for
fruit, then start on the blog. Sophia comes down for work at about a quarter
‘til seven, makes us tea, and we have a nice chat. About a half hour later, Joe
comes down and makes coffee, and we end up having impromptu Bible studies for
at least an hour. Yesterday morning, Sophia came home early, and Joe, Sophia,
Melinda and I talked for three hours.
I’m already going to miss my morning routine here, just as I
missed my Pennsylvania routine
when I came to Las Vegas, and just as I will miss my Sacramento
routine when I leave there on Sunday. I will have one more evening and morning
here (Sunday night, Monday morning), before flying back to Pittsburgh
on the 24th.
It is currently 6:45 .
I will hurry and post this blog, then get a show recorded before 8:30 .
I don’t know if I’ve ever been busier in the evangel than I
have been here, these past six days. I have loved every minute of it. It has
been taxing at times, but when you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing on
this planet, every rhyme has reason.
We will talk again from Sacramento .
© 2012 by Martin Zender
