Connecticut |
| Posted by Bill Orf (billorf) on Oct 04 2007 at 11:10 AM |
Home from Connecticut! We have completed the 28th PBR event of the year and are quickly approaching the end of the season. This week we will be in Salt Lake City, then Columbus, OH and finally the world finals in Vegas. As you consider the number of events we have and the amount of time spent traveling and doing the work of the ministry, you could see how something like this could become diluted and ineffective. Although it is strenuous it is stories like the one I will be telling you that help me stay passionate about what our Father has asked us to do.
We had a very small group show up for service this last weekend, but among those who came was a woman that had a desperation to be delivered from a consuming feeling of anger and hatred. Apparently while this woman was at a PBR event about a year ago she had come to one of our services and received Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Following the service she got an emergency call from home and found that her son had just been attacked and beaten nearly to death by another young man in their community. She flew home and for several months watched her son fight to regain his health and his ability to function. Although her son was getting better, she was becoming more and more consumed with hatred and rage. She confessed that it was affecting every area of her life and although her son had found a way to forgive, she could not. As we visited I could see one of her hands clinched in a fist and her anger became visible. I asked her what the young mans name was and she told me. I then asked if we could pray for him. She didn’t seem to want to do that so I told her a story about me when I was in High school. I described a situation where I had beat up a kid just because I did not like what he was wearing. I explained how I was lost and confused and did anything I could to look cool and make myself feel better. Although I hurt this young man, I was the one hurting inside. I was rescued by the Lord and through the prayers and love shown by others in my life I was now in a place to help her. She understood and I began to pray for this young man that had wrecked their lives. Then she, through tears, prayed a mother’s prayer for a young man whom just moments before she had despised. Sweet freedom! To forgive is to set the captive free, only to find that you were the one held captive.
Till we finish the race,
In Jesus name,
Todd
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