Fwd: [Mich_Homeschool] Subject: God Used a Toothache
[email protected]
I got this tonight in my email, of course it has come down the line, and it
touched me enough to forward it to all of you.
Blessings
Stephanie
<< Friends, It happened again. I ran into God yesterday (Sept. 19, 1999) and
had
to share the encounter with you. Again, please feel free to forward this to
anyone you feel might benefit from reading it. Please grab a blanket and
prepare for some more chill bumps....
GOD USED A TOOTHACHE
Friday morning I was reading the paper and noticed Darrell Scott (father of
Rachel Scott, a student who was killed at Columbine High School) was coming
to
speak Sunday afternoon at Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville.
I really wanted to go hear what Mr. Scott had to say but was a little
apprehensive about announcing anything to my youth group about the event
since
it was going to be held at a Baptist church. I had a feeling someone would
get
offended if I promoted it. So, instead of any announcement in the main
worship
assembly, at the end of my Sunday school class I made mention of the event,
told
my high school kids I'd be going and invited anyone to ride with me who
wanted
to go.
I expected to take two or three kids in my truck. Instead I ended up having
to
fire up the White House Church of Christ van as 11 of us made the short trek
to
Two Rivers.
I wish I could have recorded the looks on the faces of everyone we passed in
the
parking lot at Two Rivers as our van, with all its Church of Christ
lettering,
motored to a resting place. Shock. Disbelief.Happiness. I'd be a rich man
if I had a dime for every person I saw mouthing the words, "Church of
Christ??????" as we passed.
I guess we broke traditional protocol, but we had a face-to-face meeting
with
God we would never have had if we hadn't.
The service was unbelievable. Just five short months after the April 20
tragedy, Mr. Scott shared the "untold" stories from Columbine, the stories
the
liberal media may never tell, the stories he has dedicated every waking
moment
of the rest of his life to sharing. He talked at length about the 12
students, including his daughter Rachel, who left this world on April 20.
Of the 12 students who died, eight professed to be Christians.
As Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris (the two gunmen) came down the hill behind
the
school to begin their assault, their first target was Mark Taylor. At the
very
moment bullets pierced Mark's body, he was witnessing to two of his friends
about his relationship with Jesus Christ.
They next turned their guns on Rachel. Three weeks earlier Rachel had
witnessed
to Dylan and Eric and warned them about the violent video games to which
they
seemed to be addicted. Their first shot hit Rachel in the leg.
A second plowed through her backpack into her midsection, knocking her to
the
ground. One of the gunmen walked over to where Rachel lay face down, still
alive. He pulled her up by the hair of her head and asked, "Do you still
believe in God?"
"You know that I do," Rachel managed to reply.
Immediately after her reply a bullet entered her temple.
Mr. Scott shared the story of John Tomlin, another victim. John had been on
mission trips to Mexico and was hungry to do more. During each school day
he
decided to do something small in hopes it might cause someone to think about
spiritual things. He left his Bible open in the dash of his truck.
At 4 a.m. one morning after the tragedy, Mr. Scott looked around as he was
beginning an interview with NBC's Maria Shriver and noticed a circle of
people
around John's truck, talking about the Bible in the dash.
Mr. Scott spoke of his son, Craig, who escaped death after looking down the
barrel of a gun. He escaped because his friend crouched next to him in the
library, Isaiah Shoels, was black and a more desirable target for the two
gunmen
who hurled numerous racial slurs and putdowns in his direction before
killing
him execution-style.
Cassie Bernall's story has received more national attention. She too
answered
the gunmen's question of "Do you believe in God?" in the affirmative, taking
a
bullet after her response. A national "She Said Yes" campaign has resulted
from the statements she and Rachel made, looking down the barrel of a gun.
Rachel's funeral was broadcast in its entirety on CNN. Millions of viewers
tuned in, making it the highest-rated broadcast in network history. With
millions of eyes tuned to the broadcast, Bruce Porter brought the message,
asking "Who will take the torch?" referring to the torch Rachel, Cassie,
John,
Mark and others had dropped.
At that very moment a young man in Texas had a gun to his head, ready to
take
his own life. As he listened to Porter's plea and thoughts that followed,
he
lowered the gun from his head, began to cry and prayed for forgiveness.
Not long ago he ran 1,000 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas to Washington,
D.C.
with a torch in his hand.
Needless to say, by the end of the service I had been on an emotional roller
coaster. My shirt had a hefty salt deposit in it from the tears I had shed,
but
I left the service encouraged, excited and ready to share the "untold"
stories with anyone I could.
We all climbed back in our van and headed back to White House. We were
going to
be just in time for Sunday night services. I kept thinking on the way back
how
much I would have loved to share with the congregation that night just a
tiny
bit of what we had experienced at Two Rivers that afternoon. I was a bit
discouraged because I didn't know how long it would be before I was in the
pulpit again and had a chance to share.
As I walked in the door, two minutes before services were to begin, one of
our
elders pulled me aside and asked, "Has anyone said anything to you about
speaking tonight?"
"No," I said.
"Well Keith (our preacher) has a bad toothache. He's not going to be able
to
speak. I guess we'll just have a song service...."
"Please let me speak," I butted in. "Something happened to me this
afternoon
I've got to share."
"Okay, you're on," he said.
During the opening moments of the service I prayed fervently that God would
use
my words to help someone realize their need for Jesus.
As I began to share some of the stories previously mentioned in this email,
I
felt a peace and strength I have never felt before. It was not me talking
up
there. Even though I had zero preparation for this "sermon" my words seemed
to
flow like never before. Everything was coming together.
In sports terms, I was "in the zone."
I pleaded with the young people who had never committed their lives to Jesus
to
do so. I told them they didn't have to know everything at first.
That's what being born again is all about. Starting new. I encouraged
those
who had given their lives to Jesus before and didn't have him at the center
of
their lives to make it right.
As I stepped down from the pulpit with the words of "Just As I Am"
resonating from the walls, I knew something special was about to happen.
A teenager came forward, then an 8-year old boy, then a mother, another
teenager, and another, and on and on.....
Three came to commit their lives to Jesus for the first time and be
baptized.
Several others came to recommit their lives to Jesus. They came largely
because
of the stories associated with 12 young people from a tiny town in Colorado.
It only occurred to me about an hour later as I sat in Subway eating a
sandwich
there was something special about the number of people who had responded at
church that night.
There were 12.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have
called
you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known
to
you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear
fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you
ask in
my name. This is my command: Love each other." - John
15:13-17
In HIM,
Brent High, Youth Minister White House Church of Christ White House, TN
Stephanie
Teacher and Mommy of 4 homeschooling fanatics, wife to the best principal,
protector of many pets and wild ones, and unpublished writer.
I think that I will move closer to the gym, that way between sets,
I can run home and eat something sweet to keep up my energy! s.
Believe in others, and be a part; believe in yourself, and be the lead.
s.
***Life's Learnings Academy - Protecting Our Children***
IT'S GREAT TO LEARN WHERE THE PRINCIPAL LOVES YOU
From: "Shelly" <sturashoff@...>
Message: 13
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 16:56:39 -0500
From: "Kelly Jeffcoat" <jeffcoat@...>
Subject: God Used a Toothache
I received this in the email a few weeks ago and just now read it. The
author is right...it definitely gave me goosebumps from head to toe!!!
======================
Friends, It happened again. I ran into God yesterday (Sept. 19, 1999) and
had
to share the encounter with you. Again, please feel free to forward this to
anyone you feel might benefit from reading it. Please grab a blanket and
prepare for some more chill bumps....
GOD USED A TOOTHACHE
Friday morning I was reading the paper and noticed Darrell Scott (father of
Rachel Scott, a student who was killed at Columbine High School) was coming
to
speak Sunday afternoon at Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville.
I really wanted to go hear what Mr. Scott had to say but was a little
apprehensive about announcing anything to my youth group about the event
since
it was going to be held at a Baptist church. I had a feeling someone would
get
offended if I promoted it. So, instead of any announcement in the main
worship
assembly, at the end of my Sunday school class I made mention of the event,
told
my high school kids I'd be going and invited anyone to ride with me who
wanted
to go.
I expected to take two or three kids in my truck. Instead I ended up having
to
fire up the White House Church of Christ van as 11 of us made the short trek
to
Two Rivers.
I wish I could have recorded the looks on the faces of everyone we passed in
the
parking lot at Two Rivers as our van, with all its Church of Christ
lettering,
motored to a resting place. Shock. Disbelief.Happiness. I'd be a rich man
if I had a dime for every person I saw mouthing the words, "Church of
Christ??????" as we passed.
I guess we broke traditional protocol, but we had a face-to-face meeting
with
God we would never have had if we hadn't.
The service was unbelievable. Just five short months after the April 20
tragedy, Mr. Scott shared the "untold" stories from Columbine, the stories
the
liberal media may never tell, the stories he has dedicated every waking
moment
of the rest of his life to sharing. He talked at length about the 12
students, including his daughter Rachel, who left this world on April 20.
Of the 12 students who died, eight professed to be Christians.
As Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris (the two gunmen) came down the hill behind
the
school to begin their assault, their first target was Mark Taylor. At the
very
moment bullets pierced Mark's body, he was witnessing to two of his friends
about his relationship with Jesus Christ.
They next turned their guns on Rachel. Three weeks earlier Rachel had
witnessed
to Dylan and Eric and warned them about the violent video games to which
they
seemed to be addicted. Their first shot hit Rachel in the leg.
A second plowed through her backpack into her midsection, knocking her to
the
ground. One of the gunmen walked over to where Rachel lay face down, still
alive. He pulled her up by the hair of her head and asked, "Do you still
believe in God?"
"You know that I do," Rachel managed to reply.
Immediately after her reply a bullet entered her temple.
Mr. Scott shared the story of John Tomlin, another victim. John had been on
mission trips to Mexico and was hungry to do more. During each school day
he
decided to do something small in hopes it might cause someone to think about
spiritual things. He left his Bible open in the dash of his truck.
At 4 a.m. one morning after the tragedy, Mr. Scott looked around as he was
beginning an interview with NBC's Maria Shriver and noticed a circle of
people
around John's truck, talking about the Bible in the dash.
Mr. Scott spoke of his son, Craig, who escaped death after looking down the
barrel of a gun. He escaped because his friend crouched next to him in the
library, Isaiah Shoels, was black and a more desirable target for the two
gunmen
who hurled numerous racial slurs and putdowns in his direction before
killing
him execution-style.
Cassie Bernall's story has received more national attention. She too
answered
the gunmen's question of "Do you believe in God?" in the affirmative, taking
a
bullet after her response. A national "She Said Yes" campaign has resulted
from the statements she and Rachel made, looking down the barrel of a gun.
Rachel's funeral was broadcast in its entirety on CNN. Millions of viewers
tuned in, making it the highest-rated broadcast in network history. With
millions of eyes tuned to the broadcast, Bruce Porter brought the message,
asking "Who will take the torch?" referring to the torch Rachel, Cassie,
John,
Mark and others had dropped.
At that very moment a young man in Texas had a gun to his head, ready to
take
his own life. As he listened to Porter's plea and thoughts that followed,
he
lowered the gun from his head, began to cry and prayed for forgiveness.
Not long ago he ran 1,000 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas to Washington,
D.C.
with a torch in his hand.
Needless to say, by the end of the service I had been on an emotional roller
coaster. My shirt had a hefty salt deposit in it from the tears I had shed,
but
I left the service encouraged, excited and ready to share the "untold"
stories with anyone I could.
We all climbed back in our van and headed back to White House. We were
going to
be just in time for Sunday night services. I kept thinking on the way back
how
much I would have loved to share with the congregation that night just a
tiny
bit of what we had experienced at Two Rivers that afternoon. I was a bit
discouraged because I didn't know how long it would be before I was in the
pulpit again and had a chance to share.
As I walked in the door, two minutes before services were to begin, one of
our
elders pulled me aside and asked, "Has anyone said anything to you about
speaking tonight?"
"No," I said.
"Well Keith (our preacher) has a bad toothache. He's not going to be able
to
speak. I guess we'll just have a song service...."
"Please let me speak," I butted in. "Something happened to me this
afternoon
I've got to share."
"Okay, you're on," he said.
During the opening moments of the service I prayed fervently that God would
use
my words to help someone realize their need for Jesus.
As I began to share some of the stories previously mentioned in this email,
I
felt a peace and strength I have never felt before. It was not me talking
up
there. Even though I had zero preparation for this "sermon" my words seemed
to
flow like never before. Everything was coming together.
In sports terms, I was "in the zone."
I pleaded with the young people who had never committed their lives to Jesus
to
do so. I told them they didn't have to know everything at first.
That's what being born again is all about. Starting new. I encouraged
those
who had given their lives to Jesus before and didn't have him at the center
of
their lives to make it right.
As I stepped down from the pulpit with the words of "Just As I Am"
resonating from the walls, I knew something special was about to happen.
A teenager came forward, then an 8-year old boy, then a mother, another
teenager, and another, and on and on.....
Three came to commit their lives to Jesus for the first time and be
baptized.
Several others came to recommit their lives to Jesus. They came largely
because
of the stories associated with 12 young people from a tiny town in Colorado.
It only occurred to me about an hour later as I sat in Subway eating a
sandwich
there was something special about the number of people who had responded at
church that night.
There were 12.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have
called
you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known
to
you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear
fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you
ask in
my name. This is my command: Love each other." - John
15:13-17
In HIM,
Brent High, Youth Minister White House Church of Christ White House, TN
touched me enough to forward it to all of you.
Blessings
Stephanie
<< Friends, It happened again. I ran into God yesterday (Sept. 19, 1999) and
had
to share the encounter with you. Again, please feel free to forward this to
anyone you feel might benefit from reading it. Please grab a blanket and
prepare for some more chill bumps....
GOD USED A TOOTHACHE
Friday morning I was reading the paper and noticed Darrell Scott (father of
Rachel Scott, a student who was killed at Columbine High School) was coming
to
speak Sunday afternoon at Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville.
I really wanted to go hear what Mr. Scott had to say but was a little
apprehensive about announcing anything to my youth group about the event
since
it was going to be held at a Baptist church. I had a feeling someone would
get
offended if I promoted it. So, instead of any announcement in the main
worship
assembly, at the end of my Sunday school class I made mention of the event,
told
my high school kids I'd be going and invited anyone to ride with me who
wanted
to go.
I expected to take two or three kids in my truck. Instead I ended up having
to
fire up the White House Church of Christ van as 11 of us made the short trek
to
Two Rivers.
I wish I could have recorded the looks on the faces of everyone we passed in
the
parking lot at Two Rivers as our van, with all its Church of Christ
lettering,
motored to a resting place. Shock. Disbelief.Happiness. I'd be a rich man
if I had a dime for every person I saw mouthing the words, "Church of
Christ??????" as we passed.
I guess we broke traditional protocol, but we had a face-to-face meeting
with
God we would never have had if we hadn't.
The service was unbelievable. Just five short months after the April 20
tragedy, Mr. Scott shared the "untold" stories from Columbine, the stories
the
liberal media may never tell, the stories he has dedicated every waking
moment
of the rest of his life to sharing. He talked at length about the 12
students, including his daughter Rachel, who left this world on April 20.
Of the 12 students who died, eight professed to be Christians.
As Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris (the two gunmen) came down the hill behind
the
school to begin their assault, their first target was Mark Taylor. At the
very
moment bullets pierced Mark's body, he was witnessing to two of his friends
about his relationship with Jesus Christ.
They next turned their guns on Rachel. Three weeks earlier Rachel had
witnessed
to Dylan and Eric and warned them about the violent video games to which
they
seemed to be addicted. Their first shot hit Rachel in the leg.
A second plowed through her backpack into her midsection, knocking her to
the
ground. One of the gunmen walked over to where Rachel lay face down, still
alive. He pulled her up by the hair of her head and asked, "Do you still
believe in God?"
"You know that I do," Rachel managed to reply.
Immediately after her reply a bullet entered her temple.
Mr. Scott shared the story of John Tomlin, another victim. John had been on
mission trips to Mexico and was hungry to do more. During each school day
he
decided to do something small in hopes it might cause someone to think about
spiritual things. He left his Bible open in the dash of his truck.
At 4 a.m. one morning after the tragedy, Mr. Scott looked around as he was
beginning an interview with NBC's Maria Shriver and noticed a circle of
people
around John's truck, talking about the Bible in the dash.
Mr. Scott spoke of his son, Craig, who escaped death after looking down the
barrel of a gun. He escaped because his friend crouched next to him in the
library, Isaiah Shoels, was black and a more desirable target for the two
gunmen
who hurled numerous racial slurs and putdowns in his direction before
killing
him execution-style.
Cassie Bernall's story has received more national attention. She too
answered
the gunmen's question of "Do you believe in God?" in the affirmative, taking
a
bullet after her response. A national "She Said Yes" campaign has resulted
from the statements she and Rachel made, looking down the barrel of a gun.
Rachel's funeral was broadcast in its entirety on CNN. Millions of viewers
tuned in, making it the highest-rated broadcast in network history. With
millions of eyes tuned to the broadcast, Bruce Porter brought the message,
asking "Who will take the torch?" referring to the torch Rachel, Cassie,
John,
Mark and others had dropped.
At that very moment a young man in Texas had a gun to his head, ready to
take
his own life. As he listened to Porter's plea and thoughts that followed,
he
lowered the gun from his head, began to cry and prayed for forgiveness.
Not long ago he ran 1,000 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas to Washington,
D.C.
with a torch in his hand.
Needless to say, by the end of the service I had been on an emotional roller
coaster. My shirt had a hefty salt deposit in it from the tears I had shed,
but
I left the service encouraged, excited and ready to share the "untold"
stories with anyone I could.
We all climbed back in our van and headed back to White House. We were
going to
be just in time for Sunday night services. I kept thinking on the way back
how
much I would have loved to share with the congregation that night just a
tiny
bit of what we had experienced at Two Rivers that afternoon. I was a bit
discouraged because I didn't know how long it would be before I was in the
pulpit again and had a chance to share.
As I walked in the door, two minutes before services were to begin, one of
our
elders pulled me aside and asked, "Has anyone said anything to you about
speaking tonight?"
"No," I said.
"Well Keith (our preacher) has a bad toothache. He's not going to be able
to
speak. I guess we'll just have a song service...."
"Please let me speak," I butted in. "Something happened to me this
afternoon
I've got to share."
"Okay, you're on," he said.
During the opening moments of the service I prayed fervently that God would
use
my words to help someone realize their need for Jesus.
As I began to share some of the stories previously mentioned in this email,
I
felt a peace and strength I have never felt before. It was not me talking
up
there. Even though I had zero preparation for this "sermon" my words seemed
to
flow like never before. Everything was coming together.
In sports terms, I was "in the zone."
I pleaded with the young people who had never committed their lives to Jesus
to
do so. I told them they didn't have to know everything at first.
That's what being born again is all about. Starting new. I encouraged
those
who had given their lives to Jesus before and didn't have him at the center
of
their lives to make it right.
As I stepped down from the pulpit with the words of "Just As I Am"
resonating from the walls, I knew something special was about to happen.
A teenager came forward, then an 8-year old boy, then a mother, another
teenager, and another, and on and on.....
Three came to commit their lives to Jesus for the first time and be
baptized.
Several others came to recommit their lives to Jesus. They came largely
because
of the stories associated with 12 young people from a tiny town in Colorado.
It only occurred to me about an hour later as I sat in Subway eating a
sandwich
there was something special about the number of people who had responded at
church that night.
There were 12.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have
called
you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known
to
you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear
fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you
ask in
my name. This is my command: Love each other." - John
15:13-17
In HIM,
Brent High, Youth Minister White House Church of Christ White House, TN
>>Blessings,
Stephanie
Teacher and Mommy of 4 homeschooling fanatics, wife to the best principal,
protector of many pets and wild ones, and unpublished writer.
I think that I will move closer to the gym, that way between sets,
I can run home and eat something sweet to keep up my energy! s.
Believe in others, and be a part; believe in yourself, and be the lead.
s.
***Life's Learnings Academy - Protecting Our Children***
IT'S GREAT TO LEARN WHERE THE PRINCIPAL LOVES YOU
From: "Shelly" <sturashoff@...>
Message: 13
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 16:56:39 -0500
From: "Kelly Jeffcoat" <jeffcoat@...>
Subject: God Used a Toothache
I received this in the email a few weeks ago and just now read it. The
author is right...it definitely gave me goosebumps from head to toe!!!
======================
Friends, It happened again. I ran into God yesterday (Sept. 19, 1999) and
had
to share the encounter with you. Again, please feel free to forward this to
anyone you feel might benefit from reading it. Please grab a blanket and
prepare for some more chill bumps....
GOD USED A TOOTHACHE
Friday morning I was reading the paper and noticed Darrell Scott (father of
Rachel Scott, a student who was killed at Columbine High School) was coming
to
speak Sunday afternoon at Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville.
I really wanted to go hear what Mr. Scott had to say but was a little
apprehensive about announcing anything to my youth group about the event
since
it was going to be held at a Baptist church. I had a feeling someone would
get
offended if I promoted it. So, instead of any announcement in the main
worship
assembly, at the end of my Sunday school class I made mention of the event,
told
my high school kids I'd be going and invited anyone to ride with me who
wanted
to go.
I expected to take two or three kids in my truck. Instead I ended up having
to
fire up the White House Church of Christ van as 11 of us made the short trek
to
Two Rivers.
I wish I could have recorded the looks on the faces of everyone we passed in
the
parking lot at Two Rivers as our van, with all its Church of Christ
lettering,
motored to a resting place. Shock. Disbelief.Happiness. I'd be a rich man
if I had a dime for every person I saw mouthing the words, "Church of
Christ??????" as we passed.
I guess we broke traditional protocol, but we had a face-to-face meeting
with
God we would never have had if we hadn't.
The service was unbelievable. Just five short months after the April 20
tragedy, Mr. Scott shared the "untold" stories from Columbine, the stories
the
liberal media may never tell, the stories he has dedicated every waking
moment
of the rest of his life to sharing. He talked at length about the 12
students, including his daughter Rachel, who left this world on April 20.
Of the 12 students who died, eight professed to be Christians.
As Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris (the two gunmen) came down the hill behind
the
school to begin their assault, their first target was Mark Taylor. At the
very
moment bullets pierced Mark's body, he was witnessing to two of his friends
about his relationship with Jesus Christ.
They next turned their guns on Rachel. Three weeks earlier Rachel had
witnessed
to Dylan and Eric and warned them about the violent video games to which
they
seemed to be addicted. Their first shot hit Rachel in the leg.
A second plowed through her backpack into her midsection, knocking her to
the
ground. One of the gunmen walked over to where Rachel lay face down, still
alive. He pulled her up by the hair of her head and asked, "Do you still
believe in God?"
"You know that I do," Rachel managed to reply.
Immediately after her reply a bullet entered her temple.
Mr. Scott shared the story of John Tomlin, another victim. John had been on
mission trips to Mexico and was hungry to do more. During each school day
he
decided to do something small in hopes it might cause someone to think about
spiritual things. He left his Bible open in the dash of his truck.
At 4 a.m. one morning after the tragedy, Mr. Scott looked around as he was
beginning an interview with NBC's Maria Shriver and noticed a circle of
people
around John's truck, talking about the Bible in the dash.
Mr. Scott spoke of his son, Craig, who escaped death after looking down the
barrel of a gun. He escaped because his friend crouched next to him in the
library, Isaiah Shoels, was black and a more desirable target for the two
gunmen
who hurled numerous racial slurs and putdowns in his direction before
killing
him execution-style.
Cassie Bernall's story has received more national attention. She too
answered
the gunmen's question of "Do you believe in God?" in the affirmative, taking
a
bullet after her response. A national "She Said Yes" campaign has resulted
from the statements she and Rachel made, looking down the barrel of a gun.
Rachel's funeral was broadcast in its entirety on CNN. Millions of viewers
tuned in, making it the highest-rated broadcast in network history. With
millions of eyes tuned to the broadcast, Bruce Porter brought the message,
asking "Who will take the torch?" referring to the torch Rachel, Cassie,
John,
Mark and others had dropped.
At that very moment a young man in Texas had a gun to his head, ready to
take
his own life. As he listened to Porter's plea and thoughts that followed,
he
lowered the gun from his head, began to cry and prayed for forgiveness.
Not long ago he ran 1,000 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas to Washington,
D.C.
with a torch in his hand.
Needless to say, by the end of the service I had been on an emotional roller
coaster. My shirt had a hefty salt deposit in it from the tears I had shed,
but
I left the service encouraged, excited and ready to share the "untold"
stories with anyone I could.
We all climbed back in our van and headed back to White House. We were
going to
be just in time for Sunday night services. I kept thinking on the way back
how
much I would have loved to share with the congregation that night just a
tiny
bit of what we had experienced at Two Rivers that afternoon. I was a bit
discouraged because I didn't know how long it would be before I was in the
pulpit again and had a chance to share.
As I walked in the door, two minutes before services were to begin, one of
our
elders pulled me aside and asked, "Has anyone said anything to you about
speaking tonight?"
"No," I said.
"Well Keith (our preacher) has a bad toothache. He's not going to be able
to
speak. I guess we'll just have a song service...."
"Please let me speak," I butted in. "Something happened to me this
afternoon
I've got to share."
"Okay, you're on," he said.
During the opening moments of the service I prayed fervently that God would
use
my words to help someone realize their need for Jesus.
As I began to share some of the stories previously mentioned in this email,
I
felt a peace and strength I have never felt before. It was not me talking
up
there. Even though I had zero preparation for this "sermon" my words seemed
to
flow like never before. Everything was coming together.
In sports terms, I was "in the zone."
I pleaded with the young people who had never committed their lives to Jesus
to
do so. I told them they didn't have to know everything at first.
That's what being born again is all about. Starting new. I encouraged
those
who had given their lives to Jesus before and didn't have him at the center
of
their lives to make it right.
As I stepped down from the pulpit with the words of "Just As I Am"
resonating from the walls, I knew something special was about to happen.
A teenager came forward, then an 8-year old boy, then a mother, another
teenager, and another, and on and on.....
Three came to commit their lives to Jesus for the first time and be
baptized.
Several others came to recommit their lives to Jesus. They came largely
because
of the stories associated with 12 young people from a tiny town in Colorado.
It only occurred to me about an hour later as I sat in Subway eating a
sandwich
there was something special about the number of people who had responded at
church that night.
There were 12.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have
called
you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known
to
you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear
fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you
ask in
my name. This is my command: Love each other." - John
15:13-17
In HIM,
Brent High, Youth Minister White House Church of Christ White House, TN