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The Grace of Adoption

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 5, 2021
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
 
Heavenly Father, I share John’s wonder at this astounding truth: that you, the Holy God, the Righteous One, the Just Judge, the Good Creator King, would want to take your enemies, meaning every human being–evil, depraved, ugly, stubborn, rebellious and destructive as we all are—and, if they are willing, to transform them into new creatures and adopt them as your children!
 
What a turn-around: to bring your adversary into the palace and place him into your family, making him your heir!
Your astounding act of justification is the great gem of Truth in the New Testament—you, the Just Judge, by the propitiation of Christ’s shed blood, satisfied the law and bought for us, your enemies, complete forgiveness, restoration and eternal life–and a place in your plan. By your work, Lord Jesus, we stand justified before the court of Heaven.
Adoption, however, is another matter altogether. Justification is a forensic idea, meeting the demands of the law, coldly correct, handed down in court. In contrast, adoption is a family idea: warm, welcoming, accepting, being offered to a new position of privilege and grace. And this is what you offer!
 
This Agape love of yours is astounding. In one way, it is a brutal love–brutal to you the Lover, who suffered all the agonies of the crucifixion, and now gives and gives, unswayed by the lack of positive response from the rebellious, self-centered, unbelieving, negative objects of your love–us.
 
This love, so painful to you as you are grieved daily by our rebellion, is so gracious to us: embracing, caring, kind, forgiving, correcting, guiding, rebuking, nurturing, directing and cherishing.
As J.I. Packer puts it in his powerful book, “Knowing God,” the Judge becomes, “our perfect parent—faithful in love and care, generous and thoughtful, interested in all we do, respecting our individuality, skillful in training us, wise in guidance, always available, helping us to find ourselves in maturity, integrity and uprightness….”
 
In making us your children, Heavenly Father, you have invited us into the deep, intimate relationship you have with the Lord Jesus, giving us what you gave Him in His time on earth: grace, affection, fellowship, honor, and authority. As you loved your only begotten Son, so you love your only adopted children. “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ”!!! (1 John 1:3).
 
We must stand in awe, in wonder, in thankfulness, Lord God, at your desire and ability to love us so. You have made us those in whom you delight and rejoice.
 
You are gloriously great in your patience and goodness as you faithfully work in us, suffering grief every day at our hands as we, in our laziness, selfishness, pride, rebellion and unbelief, choose to disobey you and do our own deadly deeds according to our own puny plans. And this instead of responding to your invitation to join you in your glorious and great plans for restoring the universe to its pristine pre-fall condition. But you forgive us and continue to work lovingly in our lives.
 
Prayer: “Forgive us for failing to marvel at, revel in, exalt in and glorify you for this great and uplifting privilege of being your children. I thank you, praise you, rejoice in you, lift you up and honor you. I commit myself to obey you, Father, just as my elder brother, the Lord Jesus, loved you in obedience. May glory be to you forever and ever. Amen.”
 
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Chapter 31 Further Freedom

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 4, 2021
Later in the summer I began to experience a new bout of emotional turmoil. I had to spend three to four hours a day in quiet time with the Lord just to maintain my emotional balance. This was different from my depression, as I was still able to function, but felt like a stalk of dried grass blowing in the wind: fragile and in danger.
 
The first course of action I took was to ask the Lord for help and guidance. He was not long in answering. A man in our church had some tapes from a deliverance ministry and suggested I listen to them—although he knew nothing of my present problems.
 
The tapes were sessions of a pastor working with distressed and disturbed believers and nonbelievers, many of whom had demonic oppression or possession. I remember one where a woman had begun to speak in tongues while working as a missionary in Africa. The Pastor had her speak in this new tongue while he asked questions like, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command you to answer this question: who is Lord? Who is Jesus Christ?”
 
The woman continued her tongue, but was becoming agitated, sometimes grunting. “Who is the Savior of the world? Who shed his blood for all sinners?” The woman suddenly shrieked and shouted, “Get this thing out of me!” The pastor went on to help free her from the demonic influence she had inadvertently put herself under.
 
Later in the tape the man pointed out that all the people who came to him were troubled people, so they should not be seen as a normal sampling of Christians. He added that he believed not all who spoke in tongues were demon possessed or oppressed. And not all who had emotional problems were involved in the occult.
 
However, the symptoms that were described in these tapes were similar to some I was experiencing in my life. I got the phone number of the pastor and called him at his church in the mid-West. He said he would get back to me with the name of someone in my area who could help me.
 
Later in the day he called and said that he couldn’t locate the information for the man he preferred but had a back-up, Pastor Burchett at Quidnessitt Baptist Church in Rhode Island.
Little did I know how important getting this “second choice” would be in my life, introducing me not only to freedom and grace in Christ but also to a host of people who would help and mentor me for many years to come.
 
I called Pastor Burchett and he immediately gave me an appointment. I had no idea that he was the pastor of a large church and a very busy man, yet he willingly made time for some troubled young person he’d never met.
 
Pastor Burchett was quite an intimidating person. When you asked him a question, he would hesitate for an uncomfortable length of time before answering. I found out later that he was praying for wisdom in what to say, a godly and wonderful practice, but disconcerting if you didn’t know what he was doing.
 
He began our time with prayer and then started to probe, asking about my present state of mind and emotion, and he uncovered all kinds of things, including my compulsive comfort seeking.
 
He asked about my family history and wanted to know about any involvement in the occult among my relatives. There had been such involvement on both sides. He explained to me that when a child is very young, the will of the parents can override the will of the child and inadvertently make him open to occult influences. My viewing of the monster movie at age four was one such example.
 
“Now we are going to do a ‘house cleaning’ in your life,” said Pastor Burchett after he had finished his probing. “We will be working through four different areas of your life, taking four steps in each: confessing, receiving forgiveness, reclaiming ground given to Satan, and surrendering these areas to the Holy Spirit so He can fill them.
 
“We’ll use the categories in the description of the fruit of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-20.” He had me open my Bible to the reference and read out loud, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;”’
 
Pastor Burchett interrupted me, “There’s the first category, sexual sins.”
 
I read on, “idolatry and witchcraft;”
 
“And that’s the second category, sins of the occult. Continue reading.”
 
“…hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy.”
 
“There’s the third category, sins in relationships. And now the last one.”
 
“..drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”
 
“This is the area of sins of appetites.”
Pastor Burchett had us both get down on our knees before our chairs. On my chair he laid a paper with the four steps written out on it.
 
He began our time with prayer. “Lord Jesus, I praise you that you are the Victor over sin, self and Satan. I praise you that in your suffering, death and resurrection you bought freedom for us from the powers of darkness, and as Steve and I go through these steps to freedom, I pray that you will protect us, expose his sin and bring him out into the true freedom you have provided. Amen.”
 
He raised his head and looked at me. “Ok, Steve, start now with sexual sins, whether thought, action or habit, confessing everything you can think of.”
 
“Out loud?” I asked, cringing at the thought.
 
“Yes, out loud.”
 
I began; it was humiliating to mention the lustful thoughts and other shameful struggles I’d had, the times I’d looked at the wrong kind of pictures. I choked on some of the words, but finally I came to the end of what I could remember.
 
Then he had me ask for forgiveness from the Lord Jesus, accept it and praise Him for it.
 
“Read the next sentence, and pray it out loud,” he commanded.
“In the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, I withdraw any ground, any authority I’ve given to Satan in this areas of sexual sin. I belong to Jesus Christ and this area of my life I surrender to Him. I ask you, Lord Jesus Christ, to fill this area of my life with the Holy Spirit; I invite you to rule here.”
 
Next he led me in a time of praise and thanksgiving, giving God glory for what He has done in providing all we need in Jesus Christ.
 
He led me on to deal in the same way with sins of the occult, sins in relationships and sins of appetite.
 
There were immediate, discernible differences inside me. For one thing, some strong negative feelings I had against my father were gone. There was a new sense of freedom. I didn’t feel so fragile.
 
I looked at my watch. Pastor Burchett had spent three hours with me! But he wasn’t done yet.
 
“You have had victory here today,” he said, “but Satan is not going to give up easily. He will counter attack, he will throw lies at you, he will tempt you strongly in these areas.” He handed me a paper with Ephesians 6:10-18 written on it. I want you to memorize these verses and use them in the battle.”
 
“You need to keep putting on the armor of God and fighting in His power against the enemy. When you are strongly tempted in one of these areas, go through this confession process again and you will find that it will help you. And call me when you need to.”
 
He was absolutely right. The next month was one long onslaught, one temptation after another. But as I followed Pastor Burchett’s instructions, praying through the armor of Ephesians 6:10-18 and using the prayer of reclaiming ground from Satan for Jesus, there was progress.
 
During that month I failed twice in the battle against compulsive comfort but that was the end of it in my life. The bondage of compulsion was broken, the focus was now on loving God, who provided me all the comfort I needed!
 
Truly God sets prisoners free. He freed me not only from my own sins, but also from the sludge of sin from previous generations, the sins of the fathers being visited on the following generations.
 
Jesus broke the chain, opened the door and took me from the dominion of darkness in to the Kingdom of light. This reclaiming of ground from Satan was a huge step forward in my spiritual life and it began to spill over into the lives of those around me.
Picture: Pastor Burchett
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Thoughts for Easter, the results of God’s love for us.

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 3, 2021
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:4,5
 
There are so many reasons to come into your gates with thanksgiving and praise, Lord God. We were rebellious, hateful, destructive, condemned criminals, worthy of worse than crucifixion. But, in spite of this, we were sought out by you, bought at a great price, cleansed of our guilt, transformed from our sinfulness and adopted into your great family. We stand now as your dearly loved children, highly favored, delighted in, rejoiced in.
 
You, in your greatness, your immense, immeasurable love, your superb self-control, your forever faithfulness to your character and Word, your endless working in time, your limitless love, have poured out grace on this rebellious, foretaste-of-hell planet to make your enemies into your sons and daughters, to make us heirs of your unimaginably great riches.
 
We praise you that we can come into your courts with praise, that we, who deserve banishment, have been given unlimited access to walk right in and speak directly with you. You have made it possible for us to come and worship at your footstool without any formality, further sacrifice or ceremony. You are the God of accessibility; you are the God of availability; you are the Lord of accumulated grace, always giving, always good, always gracious, your gates always wide open.
 
But in spite of your great grace towards us, Lord, we get tired of the battle, we waver, we are inconsistent and unfaithful. In stark contrast, you are entirely different, for your faithfulness continues through all generations. From eternity, Lord God, you have remained unchanged, faithful to your character, to your Word and to your purposes. You never tire, you never waver, you never are inconsistent or unfaithful.
 
You are worthy of love and obedience, of exaltation and worship, of praise and honor, for in your goodness, your greatness, your grace and your glory you are beyond human conception, beyond understanding and logic, beyond imagination.
 
Prayer: “May I bring honor to you today, Lord, in my motives, attitudes, words and actions. Help me to set my heart and my mind on things above. Guide me in thinking and living as a child of the King so those around me may be blessed in the reflected glow of your greatness. Amen.”
Picture: from a friend’s email
No photo description available.
 
 
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Psalm 33:18

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 2, 2021
 
Psalm 33:18 “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,”
[It is wise to choose to fear and reverence You, Lord, rather than people. This means to stand in awe of your wisdom, to care deeply what you think about each thing, and to live in submission to your Truth rather than culture or personal preference. Fearing you leads us to choose what is right, rather than just what is comfortable.
Our hope must be in your gracious and good heart of love, not in people, or circumstances or our own efforts. We must choose to come to you in each situation, to seek your help, to rest in and trust in you. Then you will act on our behalf. You call us to an active partnership role, to live in responses of faith.
King Jehoshaphat demonstrated this for us in 2 Chronicles 20 when he was suddenly confronted by a massive invading army. He chose to fear you rather than the enemy and demonstrated this by immediately coming to you for help and guidance rather than turning first to his generals. He proclaimed a fast and called all of Judah to prayer with him.
He then demonstrated his trust of you by sending a choir out before his army to sing praises to you. And as the choir began to sing, you caused the enemy soldiers to turn on each other and the whole attacking army was destroyed.
You saved Jehoshaphat and his people by
–your power
–poured out in response to praise
–generated by trust
–that flowed from fearing you.]
Lord help us to find our hope in you, to fear you rather than whatever threatens us. Help us to actively trust you by coming to you first in any challenge, and by offering praise to your name instead of complaining and living in fear, hopelessness and despair.
May we walk in the light of the truth that, “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining on ever more brightly until the full light of day” (Prov. 4:18).
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Psalm

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 1, 2021
Psalm 33:16 “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.”
[Large armies and great power are not the deciding factor–God is, as shown in many Old Testament stories.
–I think of the huge multinational army that came against King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. He turned to God for help and God caused the enemy soldiers to turn on one another and destroy themselves.
–I think of the great army of Assyria that came against King Hezekiah and how the Lord put to death 185,000 of them in one night by a plague and saved Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:36).
–I Think of David versus Goliath, of Daniel versus the lions.
–Then there is Paul, attacked and beaten by a large mob of Jews at the temple, but God sent the Roman commander to save him. In each case the deciding factor is not might or size, but God.
So it is with us, Lord, we are weak and vulnerable to the powerful forces around us—Satanic, political, financial and physical. Think of how the poor Christians in Syria have had to flee from one conflict after another. But in the midst of such trouble, they–and we–can and must turn to you for help, rather than looking to the puny powers of this world.]
Psalm 33:17 “A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.”
[In David’s days a horse was the strongest weapon available in battle, the most powerful military means, but it was not enough to deliver. The rider needed help from God, or he was doomed.
So it is with us: technology, machines and weapons are available, but they are just tools, useless without you, Lord. You are the Victor, as stated in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.”
You alone, Lord, are the Ruler, the Decider, the Helper of all who turn to you. “My salvation and my honor depend on God. He is my mighty rock and my refuge” (Ps. 62:7). “Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” (Ps. 34:8). In every circumstance we must turn first to you: “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Ps. 34:6).]
Lord, forgive me for first looking for help in the wrong places: my own efforts, people, professionals, possessions, money and machines. Help me instead to call out first of all to you. Then use any means you desire to deliver me in such a way that you get the glory and that all around me will see that it is your work, not that of mere men. Thank you now for how you will answer this prayer for us weak ones, in all that is to come.
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Psalm 33:13-14

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 31, 2021
 
Psalm 33:13-14 “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth….”
[The Lord gazes across the universe, over billions of light years, past thousands of galaxies way down to the tiny Milky Way, then on to one minuscule speck under one arm–the earth, where He is able to observe every single person, to see everything each does. Such all-encompassing, infinite capacity, such penetrating power, such total focus is amazing. No one is hidden from His sight.
What a grief it must be to you, Lord to see your creatures continually choosing to sin, to hurt others, to dishonor your name, to constantly rebel. Yet, in your great love and mercy you keep on looking and stooping down, loving and working among us.
Psalm 33:15 “he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.”
You, Lord, don’t just observe, you think about what we are doing, evaluating and weighing each decision and the motives behind it. This should strike fear in the hearts of rebels, and it should give encouragement to us who are your children to live according to your revealed will in your Word, to be stern and consistent in our dealing with known sin in our lives.
Lord, we can tell you all, confess all, be totally honest with you without condemnation, for you already know all. You are “good and ready to forgive and abundant in mercy and truth to all who call on you” (Ps. 86:35). You are beyond comprehension in your powers and goodness, grace and forgiveness, worthy of our worship and trust!]
[You, as our Maker, Lord, then go on to empower your children to live according to what is right. “By his divine power he has given us all we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him…” (2 Pet. 1:3)].

Photo by Eidy Bambang-Sunaryo on Unsplash

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More from the Add-on Eskimo

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 30, 2021
 
 
“Now, Ayit, a further point,” said Kalowi. “The third thing you are to add to your faith is self-control, that is, living what you have learned. Sharing your faith is part of that.
 
“But I warn you, people do not easily leave the old ways. They are afraid of the spirits, they don’t want to ignore them or to anger them, for they believe the spirits can bring sickness, kill children, prevent to animals from coming. But we know that Jesus is more powerful. If we follow him, he will help and protect us.
 
“Do not be surprised that your father at first hesitates. You are deciding for you. He must decide for many, as he is an important leader; he must make good decisions to lead his family and his boat crew. If he realizes the Way of Jesus is right, he will step out and believe.”
 
Kalowi looked at Okfagit and said to Ayit, “Pray for him, obey Jesus and he will work in your father’s heart.”
 
Ayit nodded. “Alright. I will do that.” Then he smiled, “And now, could we see the teacher?” he asked.
 
“Let us go and see if he has time,” replied Kalowi. Standing, he pulled aside the inner tent cover and led the way out of the house. Okfagit took his leave and went to find his men.
The teacher’s house was different from the Eskimo dwellings, being made out of lumber with glass windows and a wooden door. As this was his first visit, Ayit was amazed to see such a different dwelling. Kalowi led the way to the door and knocked. The teacher, Mr. Campbell opened it and welcomed them in.
Since Mr. Campbell could speak some Yupik Eskimo, Ayit could speak with him directly.
 
“I would like to see the book Kalowi spoke of,” he said.
Mr. Campbell went to a shelf and took down his Bible, handing it to Ayit who opened it and looked at the writing, “the little pictures,” as Kalowi called them. They meant nothing to him since he neither knew English nor could read. He handed it back.
“Kalowi taught me some of it,” he said and recited Psalm 23. Mr. Campbell was impressed. They talked and prayed together before Ayit had to go.
“My father will be waiting for me,” he said. “Please pray for me that I will be a good follower of Jesus,” he said as he stood to leave.
 
“Let me pray now for you before you go,” Mr. Campbell said. Ayit stopped and waited.
 
“Lord Jesus, I thank you for this new brother. It will be hard for him as he tries to leave the old ways. Help him to stand firm, to be a good follower, to effectively share his new faith. And bring him back to visit again. Amen.”
 
Okfagit gathered his crew and they set sail for their home in far East Asia. The boat was heavily loaded, so they had been waiting for a clear day without strong winds. The sail strained on the mast as the light wind pushed the laden boat through the water.
Okfagit, sitting at the tiller, was thinking about what Ayit and Kolawi had shared with him. It was true that all around him was beautiful and that the spirits could not have created so much beauty when they were so ugly themselves.
“Yes, there must be a good creator God,” he said to himself.
 
He then thought of his ancestors who from time immemorial had lived according to their traditions, appeasing the spirits, fearing the spirits of their dead ancestors, showing respect to the animals they killed, carefully performing ceremonies to ensure good hunting. And the reliance they’d had on the shaman, as he stood between them and the spirits, ineffectually working to bring healing and guidance.
 
All this he must abandon if he were to follow Jesus. As Kalowi said, others would see him as a traitor, one who would bring the village into danger by angering the spirits and the spirits of their ancestors.
 
“But,” he said to himself, “I will not bring them into any more danger than already exists, for the Jesus Kalowi told us about is stronger than the spirits, stronger than the shaman, than the devil, even. He can protect us. He is our great boat Captain.
 
“He can also provide for us, as he is the Creator of all things. And besides, in him is the hope of eternal life. Our old traditions gave us no hope, only fear and burdens. I think I will follow him.” And with that decision made, he settled back against the stern, clutching the tiller, suddenly experiencing a peace he had never known.
Picture: at the tiller
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Psalm 33:12

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 29, 2021
 
Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”
[Blessed is really too weak a word for the wonder of being the people of God, being chosen for His inheritance, being part of the universal Church, being included in His Kingdom and in the future being the Bride of Christ.
These great privileges are magnified when I consider what I actually deserved as an enemy of God, being selfish, proud, rebellious and incapable in myself of obeying Him. You, Lord, would have been right and righteous to strike me down upon birth, sending me directly to hell and separating yourself from me for eternity.
Yet you called me to be one of your children, a princeling in your family, a brother to Jesus and an ambassador for your Kingdom. You cleansed and transformed me, you chose and cherished me, and I stand before you dearly loved, deeply cared for, doted on and delighted in. Not because of what I am, but because of who you are: Love itself, Light itself, Life itself, breathing new creation into a life born a ruin, giving worth to what was destructive, making useful what was dangerous.
To belong to you, to be adopted by you, O Holy God, is a marvelous shift of fortune, a wonderful change of status, an undeserved magnificent privilege of grace, a more than miraculous outcome—all dependent on and flowing from your goodness.
 
Praise be to you that you gave worth where there was waste, you gave value where there was viciousness, you gave life where there was lostness, you gave delight where there was death. In you we are wanted, worthwhile and watched over. To be your people is a privilege beyond comprehension.
To think on all this brings praise to my heart and lips. Praise is your due, praise is our privilege, praise is our gift, praise is our joy. You are worthy, O Lord, in every way.
So, we bow before you in thankfulness, gratitude and joy. We rise up to return your love in obedience, rejoicing and praise. Glory be to you in our lives today. Amen.
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Psalm 33:11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 28, 2021

This is a very appropriate message for these days!

Psalm 33:11 “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

[In contrast to us weak humans and to the limited abilities of evil spiritual powers, you are unthwartable, unfoilable, unconquerable, undefeatable, eternally triumphant.

You will bring to pass the overall plans that you have prepared, no matter what people and evil powers may do. You are able to weave their rebellion and rejection of truth into the overall fabric of your purposes for the redemption, salvation and then recreation of the universe. In the process you rescue from the kingdom of darkness all those who are willing to believe and sweep them into the Kingdom of Light.

You are firm and faithful, you are constantly consistent, persistently present and perfectly powerful. What you planned from the beginning has come to pass, despite Satan’s constant attempts to thwart your desires: the line of Judah was preserved, the Messiah came at the right time, the necessary sacrifice was made, the resurrection from the dead occurred and salvation was provided for all, especially for those who believe.

And the rest of your plan will be worked out to eliminate evil, corruption and sin, to bring the New Heaven and New Earth which will be sinless, perfect, full of peace and joy and love. No force could prevent this plan, no power could thwart it. “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Prov. 21:30).

We praise you that you are ever at work to thwart what is wrong and bring to pass what is right. In you we can rest, in you we can find peace, for you have a plan! Help us to live in trust, in praise and in wholehearted obedience to you today.

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(Untitled)

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 27, 2021
Sorry I didn’t post last night–got my second covid shot and it totally incapacitated me for 18 hours!
 
More from my autobio: Chapter 30 Ministry Opportunities
The tire business was also a place of flexibility for me. I could take time off if I wanted as long as Dad was well. So in the summer of 1971 I set up a short-term trip to Alaska for the church youth group.
 
The plan was to go to a school near the town of Palmer, Alaska where my mentor from Los Angeles, Jewel and her husband taught. In the end only one young fellow went with me, but it was a great experience for both of us. He got to see the world and experience many new things. I got to spend more valuable time with Jewel and her husband and received more helpful mentoring.
 
On a weekend off I went down to Homer and visited my first principal teacher at Savoonga, Jim and his family. And at the end of our time there I flew to Nome and visited Dave and Mitzy Shinen
 
As usual, Dave gave me good and wise input. During a Bible study at his house we looked at Psalm 37: 4 “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
 
“This word ‘delight,’” said Dave, “is seen most clearly when our minds are free. What do our thoughts go to? A person? Our sports team? A hobby? That is the TRUE object of our interest, our affection, our delight.
 
“For those of you who have fallen in love, you know very well what this means: you can’t stop thinking about that wonderful person in your life. You delight in him or her.
 
“That is how it should be with God: our thoughts going automatically to Him and the wonder of His character.”
I tucked that definition away, not knowing that it would be a key to some questions I would have later on.
 
While in Nome I also visited some of my Eskimo acquaintances who were working there and was amazed to see how short they were! When you are living among a people, the physical differences get minimized; but to be suddenly reintroduced to the same situation brings these differences into stark contrast.
 
Returning to Connecticut near the end of the summer, I settled again into the rhythm of life. The tire business went through a predictable sales cycle each year. January through March were slow months. Then with the advent of good weather people began to think about buying summer tires and things picked up with good sales going through July.
 
August and September were slow, with vacation and school expenses taking people’s attention and money, although work on farm equipment remained steady through the harvest time.
Fall brought a new influx of customers getting ready for winter, and the first day of snow triggered a deluge of business that often went through the holidays. We had more than one customer who bought his wife a pair of snow tires for Christmas!
 
In this setting, God was beginning to bring new influences into my life that would give specific direction for my future. I wanted a new Bible and went to the nearest Christian bookstore run by a retired navy man named Stan Farmer.
 
While waiting on me, Stan told me about a half-way house, called His Mansion, that he and others were starting in a town about ten miles from my home. It was housed in the old mansion of a textile mill owner, thus the name. He invited me to stop by and see the work, which I did.
 
There I met Joe Wagner, the acting director, and we became good friends. Each Friday I went on a wholesale route, delivering tires to garages and gas stations in the area. On my way home I drove by His Mansion and usually stopped in for a visit, often staying for supper.
 
At the end of that summer I was walking along the edge of a lake in a nearby town, thinking about the girls I’d been attracted to lately–although I had not told any of them about that attraction.
 
There were four of them, and I realized that all of them were just eighteen while I had recently turned twenty-four. “Hmm,” I thought, “if they go on to college that means I’d have to wait at least four years before I could marry any of them.”
 
At that moment a realization came to me, not an actual voice, but more like a proclamation: “You’ll be married when you are 28.” It was such a strong impression and so definite that I took it to be from God. Subsequent events proved this to be accurate.
 
From that point on I basically stopped looking for a wife, trusting God to look for me. I quit dating and gave myself fully to working with the young people in our church.
 
During the early summer of 1972 I suffered a very painful back problem which put me in bed for several days. The Lord wanted to have a word with me about the future and called me aside so I could spend some uninterrupted time with Him.
 
I had been praying about going to seminary, and had even applied to one, but during this time of bed rest, I sensed clearly that this was not the route God wanted me to take.
 
Somehow I understood that He could better use me as an “ordinary guy” than as a trained professional. As a businessman I could be an instrument for God, sharpened in the everyday work world, mixing with ordinary people, sharing my faith with them in practical ways.
 
This is what I was already doing. In fact, ever since starting back in the tire shop, it had been my goal–one God had put in my heart—to share the gospel with each customer I waited on. If no opportunity opened up in conversation, I would at least give them a little tract called “Have a Good Day” when they left.
 
A number of believing customers who had been looking for a good church began attending Calvary Chapel when I invited them. Because of this, some of the members there joked that they should put a sign over our shop door, “Calvary Chapel Annex!”
 
The second direction the Lord had for me while I lay in bed was the idea of our church having a coffee house outreach in two nearby towns where there were a lot of young drug users–and to invite His Mansion to join us in this endeavor
 
The idea was confirmed when very shortly after I had recovered, the Lord brought into my life a fellow whose ministry was helping to run coffee houses. Roland Mitcheson came with a British accent, his guitar and great experience to lead us in this improbable outreach.
 
None of us had been druggies; we knew nothing of the culture and its dangers; we just knew that these kids needed to hear the gospel and we could share it with them.
 
The Lord provided all that was needed, including places to rent, furniture, money and a group of pastors to oversee it. In that first year only one or two of the young people who came to the coffee house made commitments to Christ, but they were certainly worth the effort.
 
Picture: the tire shop in later years
May be an image of outdoors
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