The Shepherd’s Rod

By Ted Bradshaw

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669845485

Ted Bradshaw

Ted met the living Jesus at 27. Baptized in the Holy Spirit, Ted graduated seminary as M. Div. Served as a Student Pastor, later Pastor of a yoked parish - Baptist and Congregational churches. Ted became a Christian Counselor, worked in parachurch organizations, on staff in an Episcopal church. Ted went short-term missions to Slovakia; Pakistan; St. Petersburg, Russia; Micronesia (3 times); Philippines and Bulgaria. Ted has written “Servant of the Servants of God”; a novel “Saul – The Traitor!©” His wife Ruth of 57 years has given him two daughters. He has seven grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren."

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The Shepherd’s Rod

Ted Bradshaw

Copyright © 2022 by Ted Bradshaw.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/26/2022

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

841814

CONTENTS

Introduction

Spring 2005

Chapter 1    Doldrums

Chapter 2    Hitting the Ground Running

Chapter 3    The Counterattack

Chapter 4    Stretching Out

Chapter 5    Into The Fray

Chapter 6    Discovering the High in High School?

Chapter 7    Glimmers Of The Future

Chapter 8    Encounters Of All Kinds

Chapter 9    The Spreading Of Wings

Chapter 10  The Value of Love

Chapter 11  There and Back Again

Cast of Characters

Dedicated to

The Inspiration of the Holy Spirit

and

Ruth, my loving and faithful wife of six decades

and unnumbered years to come!

Introduction

Chronology

Spring 2005

Hello, Bill Westover speaking

Reverend Westover, this is Jim Feldon of 1st Church.

Bill’s heart leaped at the name Good to hear from you, Mr. Feldon. It meant either the opportunity to serve again or hopes dashed – again. O, Lord, I want to serve You. If this is the place, give me the grace to follow You, he silently shot to God. It seemed an eternity before Jim Feldon responded.

Well, I wanted to call you right away with the results of the members’ vote. We’ll be following this up right away with a formal letter. Bill’s heart beat faster as he waited for Mr. Feldon to continue. The members voted to extend a call to you.

"At last! Thank You, Lord for Your confidence in me," thought Bill. "I’m very glad to hear that, Mr. Feldon. The family has been talking about this possibility, so we are prepared to move. However, before I make a final commitment to you, I will have to read the full details of your proposal, then we will ask the Holy Spirit to confirm the call.

Jim Feldon hesitated, and then reluctantly replied, I understand, Reverend Westover. The Church is prepared to wait for your answer. How long should I say?

Depending on when your letter arrives, I’d say not more than a week.

"Thank you, Reverend Westover. That sounds reasonable. Well, good bye now.

Good bye and God bless you, Mr. Feldon.

Bill sat next to the phone with his hand resting on the receiver. He began reminiscing about the journey to this point. There were serious ups and dangerous downs. His alcoholism led to nearly flunking out of college. Bill received God’s love, forgiveness and salvation, led to Jesus by an uneducated traveling salesman. His meeting Elaine and their friendship blossoming into romance. After her Masters in Psychology they married. Elaine supported him through Seminary. Then when he was hired as a Youth Pastor, Bill supported Elaine’s working on her Doctorate in Psychology.

The Youth program was going well when Bill was recruited by a prestigious church to build a ministry in the Bawdy District, run by two competing gangs. He almost quit before he started, But the Holy Spirit encouraged him to lead a couple to the Lord. One of the gangs threated to kill him and rape Elaine, but God miraculously sent angels to deliver them. By ones and twos Jesus saved distressed people, prostitutes, gang members. Gang members who quit were severely beaten, but kept the faith.

I, too, was severely beaten," Bill remembered, but Jesus, You saved my life and brought down that gang, while miraculously converting the other gang, including the fearsome gang leader. Thank You! You transformed that red-light, Bawdy District into Grandville. You built up that church to three hundred saved and rejoicing believers. YOU transformed that district from a disaster zone into a beautiful and growing community. Praise You, my good Lord!

Bill remembered the struggle to hear the Lord’s call to Bethel Church of the Savior. They went out of duty and with no sense of call. It was a dying church with a remnant of only thirty-five active but discouraged members. Bill remembered how the Lord moved in the hearts of the believers to step out in personal ministry. He watched the Holy Spirit empower the leadership to revive the faith of some and to lead others to Christ. They had so increased in faith that they took on a half-million-dollar reconstruction. He remembered the miraculous healing of a dying saint, the miracle of provision to a couple who were losing their home, the reconciliation of an abused and rejected mission committee leader, and the several people called to full-time ministry. Oh, yes, Lord, You worked wonders in that congregation. It is a sizeable congregation now, with far-flung ministries. I rejoice at being a tool in the Master’s Hand.

Painfully, he recalled his failure in the next church. "That I don’t understand. They were a traditional evangelical church, but my ministry failed them. Did I misread Your call to those people? Was my sense of ministry to them wrong? It was a painful disruption for Elaine and the girls, especially Jenny. Oops. It’s ‘Jennifer’ now. Betsy and Peter were able to readjust more easily. Jennifer’s OK now, thank You Lord. Elaine is blessing the people she counsels and has become a respected member of the practice.

"Then there’s me. Lord, this temp work is not using my abilities. So, I am eager to accept 1st Church’s offer. Lord, don’t let me jump at this opportunity out of desperation. That’s a disaster waiting to crush me if You are not there.

The door banged, so Bill knew Peter was home, then thunderously double-stepping upstairs to his bedroom. It had taken four years to teach Peter to change from school clothes to play clothes, but for almost a year it had been automatic.

Knowing Peter would want a snack, Bill went into the kitchen to put together several sandwiches. As a house husband he was proud (better watch that) of his cooking, now. The kids complained about not having store-bought bread like the other kids, but the complaints stopped as they wolfed down healthy whole-wheat sandwiches.

Then he heard 15 year-old Betsy come in. She knew he would be in the kitchen, so she came in to regale him with tales of her day.

Hi, Daddy! She was the only one who still called Bill Daddy. For Jenny, oops, pardon, Jennifer at 16 it was Father. She probably got that from some old movie. Peter mostly called him Dad, but once in a while slipped in Pop.

Well, Pumpkin …

Oh, Daddy, I’m not a fruit!

What makes you think a pumpkin is a fruit? Most people consider it a vegetable.

Wellll … You know in Genesis it says that fruit have their seeds inside. And a pumpkin has its seeds inside. Sooooo ...

OK, Empress, I bow to your superior wisdom. Want a sandwich?

Just then Peter clumped down the stairs, I’m starved, Dad! Whatcha got?

Sorry, Pete; I don’t understand your German. What does ‘Whatcha’ mean? Please translate.

Oh, you know, what do you have to eat?

"Ahh, I’ve got it now. How about a ‘em sammich and a gals of muck’?

Now you’re doing it, he chuckled, But I can understand your ‘German’. ‘A ham sandwich and a glass of milk’. Sounds great if you’ll double them up. Bill thought, That’s a 12 year-old appetite.

Sure, Bill agreed, then to Betsy, Now what was your majesty saying?

Daddy! Mrs. Barretster gave us a pop quiz in math today an’ I got finished quicker an’ got a 95.

That’s great, Honey!

Ruthie’s parents came and took her out of school today. Everybody has a different idea of why. I guess it’s all gossip.

Yep. Better wait until someone who knows – either the teacher or the family – tells the truth. Then you don’t run the risk of hurting someone’s feelings.

Peter cut in around his last mouthful, Say Dad, I’m heading down the block. Bill and Dan are trying to get up a baseball game.

That’s fine, Pete, but first, tell me about your homework. I’m going to call a family confab tonight that may encroach on homework time.

What about, Daddy?

Yeah, Pop?

Nothing now. I’ll keep you burning in suspense, so you will all get to dinner on time. Now about homework …

Well, I got about nine pages of history and twenty problems of math. Maybe forty-five minutes.

Sounds doable. Get thee hence, varlet!

Thanks, Dad! B… That cut off by the slamming of the kitchen door.

Bill was turning back to Betsy, when Jennifer floated in through the front door. I never hear her anymore. thought Bill. She so ladylike I only know she’s here by the waft of perfume. Gosh! She’s just a few years younger than Elaine when we met! Heads up father! There will be a serious boy drooling around her soon, if not already!

Hullo! Jennifer, is that you?

Yes, Father.

Would you like a snack?

No thanks, as she came around the corner. Got to keep my figure. She added with a coquettish smile.

Bill unobtrusively examined the truth of the statement. A sandwich wouldn’t hurt her, he thought, but not too thin. Just about right. Got to watch those boys!

Say, Lovely, calling a family confab tonight after dinner. He held up his hand. Now before you ask, I’m not telling. And before you speculate, listen to Betsy’s teaching on gossip. With that Betsy glowed.

OK, Bets, what does that mean? If I can’t get any real information, at least give me something.

It’s about Ruthie. Her parents took her out of school today. Everybody figured out their own reason why. But I decided to wait ‘til somebody involved, like the teacher or family, tell us the truth. Everyone else’s gossip can hurt somebody.

Good girl! Bill thought.

Excuse me, Father. Since you are putting a crimp in my social plans with your mysterious family meeting, I must phone my public and make excuses. Tata!

Tata, Lovely.

Chapter 1

Doldrums

With Peter at baseball, Jen making social connections in her bedroom, and Betsy working on a school project at the kitchen table, that left Bill to contemplate the last several years.

"I’ve been out of the pastorate for over five years, Lord! I thank You that these doldrums are over! Doldrums, My son?

Well, it has seemed like I’ve been in a backwater. Ooops, I’m sorry, Lord. Your time is never useless, I know.

Bill sat in the living room reflecting on the last five years. He became a househusband, doing all the cooking and cleaning. For the first year he even made up the children’s beds, but then he taught the girls how and now they help one another. Eventually Betsy taught Peter and helped him.

It gave him time to study, so he applied himself to polish his Greek and Hebrew and began to study the Bible in the original languages. That drew him into Aramaic and Latin.

Thank You, my gracious Father. I probably never would have done so without Your ‘doldrums’.

But after two years of applications – nothing! No church wanted him. The first half of the third year he became angry and depressed. His attitude reflected in all his doings. He slacked off in the cleaning. Dishes piled in the sink; the house was not vacuumed for weeks. He no longer washed the clothes. Bill didn’t mow or water the yard.

Elaine was sympathetic at first, giving him encouraging words. She spoke to him honestly about the depression and the anger. But Bill was not listening.

He became short with her and impatient with the children. Peter at ten years-old began avoiding his dad. Betsy tried desperately to cheer up Bill. Jen matched his anger with hers. When Bill barked at her she stood toe to toe with him, and at fourteen, blasted back.

The blowup came the day when, after Bill had finally cleaned up the kitchen and washed the floor, Betsy came in to get a glass of juice. In pouring it, she bumped the glass and it tipped over, spilling the contents. It rolled off the table and broke on the floor. In her distress she unconsciously continued to pour more juice adding to the puddle on the table and on the floor.

Bill’s anger knew no bounds. He exploded, You silly and clumsy girl! Look what you have done! And you wasted all that juice. Do you think it grows on trees?

Oh, Daddy, I’m sorry, I’m sorry Betsy wailed. She was frightened at her father’s fury.

"Look at the mess you made on my clean floor! Get down there and clean it up this instant. When Elaine came home, Bill was still in a fury towering over the sobbing Betsy, on her knees wiping up orange juice.

Elaine took charge, Betsy, go upstairs, now! And wash and change your clothes, she said gently but firmly to Betsy.

As Betsy left the room, she turned on Bill, looking him in the eye and said sternly, "I have left you to sort out your problem! But you have not done so. You are destroying this family with your self-centered grieving!

Now, she continued in a no-nonsense voice, you go get in the car. We’re going for a ride. I’ll drive! She left without another word.

She turned and went up to Jennifer’s room, Your father and I will be out for a bit. Please take care of Betsy and Peter. Work with them to prepare dinner.

Jennifer frowned, But I’ve got other things…

Elaine again used an unusual no-nonsense voice. I said ‘please’, but it was not a request. Again, she left with no further word.

As she got in the car, Bill was still seething. She started the car and drove in silence for several minutes to a park and pulled into a secluded section of the parking lot where there were no other cars.

She turned off the key and began praying aloud, Father we are in a very threatening situation! Help!

She turned and looked Bill in the eye, "You are not the man I married. You have allowed the enemy of our souls to insinuate self-pity to corrupt your heart. It has caused you to turn against your family.

Bill! You are our head under God. Your self-indulgent depression and anger are tearing the family apart. Jennifer is rebelling, Peter is hiding. Now the only one of the children who has continued to try to be nice to you, you have brutalized with your temper!

But I had just was…

She overrode him, Don’t try to justify your lack of self-control. She looked at Bill piercingly, We haven’t prayed together for weeks. Are you talking with Jesus any more at all?

That hit Bill like a ton of bricks! He had been looking at Elaine with fury in his eyes. Ready to blast her for her lack of sympathy. It was a thunderous realization that he couldn’t remember when he last had the close, loving talks with his gracious Father. The Scripture was there behind his eyes, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace."¹

He realized that the enemy had been, gradually, imperceptibly separating Bill from His Lord. He had stepped away from his Shepherd’s path and lost his blessing. Remorse flooded him.

Elaine saw with relief, that the fury faded from Bill eyes, to be replaced by tears of repentance.

Oh, M’Luv, I have been desperately wrong, Bill said tearfully. I have not listened to your admonitions. I have surrendered my victory in Jesus to the enemy of our souls. I do not deserve your forgiveness.

Then Bill turned his attention to his Father, Almighty and Righteous Father. You have been more than gracious to me. I have returned that grace with an evil I had no idea was in me. Forgive me Father, cleanse me from my sin of allowing depression to separate me from You. I understand now that I blamed You for my separation from the ministry. Oh. My Savior, Bill sobbed, You died to cover my sins in Your blood. I am not worthy to receive Your forgiveness, since I have disdained all Your gifts and the marvelous works You have accomplished through me. Save me! Deliver me from the clutches of the evil one!

As Bill bent forward with his face in his hands on his knees, he shed tears of genuine repentance. Elaine leaned over, holding him and wetting his hair with her tears of forgiveness and love.

She searched in her purse for tissues and as Bill sat up, she handed them to him, keeping one for herself.

Lord God, Holy Spirit, she prayed aloud, "thank you for your conviction of sin, of righteousness and judgment². you have once again redeemed our family. Strengthen this, my man, for the days ahead."

Bill, turned to look at Elaine, while He prayed, Father, You gave me this woman to be my wife and the mother of our children. You gave me a longsuffering helpmeet. You have given her wisdom beyond mine. Thank You, Father. I desperately need her by my side.

He said to her, Elaine, I need you. Please forgive my wandering away from the Lord, you and the children. You have in so many ways shouldered the burdens I have been unable, and frankly, unwilling to shoulder.

Bill, I do frankly and fully forgive you. After a pause, You have some fence-mending to do with the children, perhaps especially with the girls.

Yes, and that before we eat.

When they returned home, the three children were in the kitchen. Jennifer had set them all to work and dinner was just about ready.

As Bill stepped into the kitchen, the three looked at him apprehensively.

My children, he began to their surprise softly, without the harsh tone they had come to expect, I have been a bad father in the last months. I have treated each of you badly. Jennifer, I ask your forgiveness for my wicked anger towards you. You are a marvelous young woman and deserve my utmost respect for who you are becoming. Please forgive me.

Jennifer stared in disbelief at the transformation. She was speechless.

Betsy beloved, at the endearment, the surprise in Betsy face changed into one of pleasure. You have tried, and tried to help me out of my sin. All I did was dismiss your efforts. Just today I bullied you. I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused you. I have been sinning against you. Please forgive me.

Oh, yes, Daddy! and she rushed over to hug him.

Still holding Betsy, Bill turned to Peter, My son, I have bullied you, too. You are growing to be a man, and you deserve a better example, than I have been recently. I have humiliated you, instead of understanding that you are still growing and not yet complete. I have been woefully wrong. My son, please forgive me. and Bill held out his hand. Peter didn’t say anything, but he took his father’s hand firmly and unhesitatingly.

Elaine stepped in, It is time to eat. We can talk more after dinner.

Yes, Bill thought, it had been an important watershed. Bill had learned the depths of sin that were lurking within. It was humbling. He had been so sure of his righteousness, he had become self-confident, instead of relying on God. He had drifted into shallow water in his prayer life. He had shortened his morning devotions until they were often skipped and finally discontinued.

The stark reality of what he had become gave Bill a sense of his neediness for Jesus that he had not had before. Oh, he had loved Jesus and had called upon Him in his many needs. His prayer life had been deep and real. And yet it had not been seriously tested. He had weathered serious, severe and life-threatening tests, but they were external. The depth of the internal danger had eluded him. But that wakeup call endowed Bill with a deep awareness of the true threat of sin lurking in the deep spaces of his soul.

Elaine began to pray deeply for Bill in their prayer time together. He felt the strengthening and the reconstruction in his spirit. At first, he was embarrassed, and reticent in his prayers, becoming more of a listener and Amening, than an active participant. Gradually as he strengthened and developed confidence in his Savior’s forgiveness, Bill became a full partner and contributor and grew back into the leader.

Jennifer remained aloof. Bill realized he had broken her trust. He patiently bore it without criticism. He put as few restrictions on her growing independence as reasonable. Those restrictions necessary he placed gently. Her response was frustration, rather than contempt.

It was the next year after the blowup that Jennifer got her learner’s permit and Bill began teaching her to drive. Bill had to bite his tongue and do a lot of praying, as he enforced patience on himself. As one who likes to be in control, she had difficulty in turning to allow the steering wheel to return on its own. Seeking to enforce its return caused oversteering. She wanted to drive with plenty of space from the center line. That put her within inches of the parked cars. Bill feared side-swiping them and collision with side mirrors.

He said, when I tell you, I want you to stop straight and put the car in Park. He told her, Stop, and she did. Now I want you to get out, step to the front of the car and look back."

When she did, Jennifer blanched to see how close she was to parked cars and how far away from the line. It took her a bit to adjust, but adjust she did.

Another time he taught her to parallel park between parked cars. They drove to a quiet residential street and found parked cars with enough for her to park between them. He explained the procedure. Jennifer tried to follow them. She took several unsuccessful runs at it. About that time a woman came out of her house and approached, What are you doing? she asked.

I’m teaching my daughter to parallel park.

You better do it somewhere else, she demanded, so they left her neighborhood.

Jennifer learned well and passed her written and driving test. As a result of that time in the car together, Jennifer lost her aloofness and reestablished her confidence in her father. Bill in his working with her adjusted his thinking of her as a child to recognizing that she had become a young woman.

In his enforced leisure, Bill spent more time with Peter. Teaching him to work with the tools. They made repairs together around the house, touch up painting, fixing squeaky hinges, and dripping faucets. They played catch with the football in the fall and baseball in the early summer. They shoveled the walks in the winter. It built confidence into Peter. The result was that he took on a more leading role in family prayer time.

Bill remembered that Elaine’s job at Family Therapy Associates had begun with a small case load, so Dr. Arnold Tremper, the lead Psychologist gave her much of the work at Bedford VA Hospital Suicide Clinic. There were severe challenges. Many of the patients reported that they knew of others in their units that had thoughts of suicide. Elaine discovered that the suicide rate among service men and women was much higher than officially recognized.

She brought home texts and studied and became deeply knowledgeable. Elaine began to have success in bringing those in danger to a solid footing in reality, so they could be released to their families. She became known for her success in talking people down from the brink of suicide.

Her interest began when she was the Law Practice Psychologist in Waterbury, CT and she talked a distraught client out of shooting himself and into giving her his pistol.

In the VA Hospital she developed such a reputation that when she would come into a room of one severely in danger of ending his own life, the patient would relax and be instantly open to listen.

In one case it worked against her. An orderly, named Phillip, reported that an Army Corporal, Jerry, had withdrawn from contact, a typical sign of impending suicide. Elaine hurried to his bedside.

Hi Jerry, I haven’t talked with you in a couple of days, knowing it was important to keep him in touch with those close to him, she asked, What do you hear from your girl back home, Betty, isn’t it?

No, you don’t, Doc! You’re not gonna talk me out of it this time!

What’s ‘it’, Jerry?

This! and with a triumphant, ‘I’ve won!’ look, he whipped out an Army .45 and with one swift move put it in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Elaine was shocked to the core as the explosion spattered blood all over the wall and Jerry fell dead at her feet.

The orderly rushed in and then two nurses. He determined that Jerry was dead. With the damage to the back of his head, there was no question. The nurses quickly took the shocked Elaine out and sat her in a secluded chair with a glass of water. There was a great deal of activity, as Elaine sat stunned, Lord, what did I do wrong? she pleaded. As she began to second-guess her procedure, Did he get a ‘Dear John’ letter from Betty? He was having trouble with his parents. Did they send an upsetting letter? What did I miss? I failed Jerry!, she thought in despair. As she kept running scenarios, she felt a deep peace settle over her accompanied with profound sense of well-being.

Dr. Harvey Bennett, an elderly Physician came over to her with a prescription pad. He smiled gently, tore off the top sheet and handed it to her, Doctor’s orders. he said as he patted her shoulder reassuringly. She looked at the sheet, he had written, Go home to be with your family today and tomorrow. Talk with Dr. Tremper next day.

Elaine obediently left. As she drove home, she prayed aloud, You were there. You knew what that boy was going to do. You knew I had no ability to save him, and yet You let me witness his determination to end his life in that most gruesome way. Lord, protect me from the consequences, bad memories, nightmares, recriminations. I have been trying to serve You … She stopped as she choked up and the tears started to flow. She was off the turnpike and so she pulled in to the curb. As her tears dripped, she pulled out her tissues and began to sob.

When the sobs subsided, she drove on home.

Bill was surprised to see her and he noticed her red eyes. He took her in his arms, M’Luv, tell me about it.

Oh, Bill! and tears began to flow. Bill walked her to the sofa and sat down beside her. She was obviously not hurt physically, so he patiently and lovingly held her. He waited until she had wiped the tears, blown her nose, and cleared he throat. She told him of the horrific incident. She told him of the peace and reassurance of God afterward. She told him of the kindly Dr. Bennett. She told him her prayer coming home.

It my stupid soul! My body is fine. My spirit is strong and sure. But my soul feels for that poor boy. God gave me the assurance that now he is alright. Somehow, I don’t know how, but he was saved, perhaps as a child. I don’t know, but I am sure, somehow. But still I ache for that lost boy.

Bill spoke, "I was in unconscious rebellion against God, not long ago. It was hard on you all. You did all you could to snap me out of it, but I only snapped at you. That boy knew you would lead him away from the precipice. For some perverse reason, perhaps demon possession, he insisted on his own way of relief from the quagmire in his mind. In a crazy way he won.

M’Luv, Bill continued with an intensity that brought her out of her introspective gloom and caused her to look at him, you need to surrender any self-criticism and reject any negative influence you might have contracted from your contact with that disturbed boy or the others in that ward.

I believe you are right. Let’s pray.

Wait, this is an opportunity to teach the children about spiritual warfare. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit if it is alright to hold off until they are home from school.

OK, but I still want you to pray for me.

Yes, let’s! Bill agreed and began, Father, we are needy. Your daughter and son are facing some serious attacks. Strengthen our spirits to withstand the enemy’s attacks.

"I agree with Bill, Father. I was so shaken by Jerry’s suicide that I allowed my guard down. Now, my Lord, I affirm my life is in Your hands. I surrender to anything You want to do in me or to me.

Father, Bill prayed, "we stand together in You. We claim the Your word, ‘For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.³’ We are yours. We renounce any ties to anyone that is not godly. Release us from any bondage, except bondage to Christ. Amen!"

Amen, Father, Elaine breathed with a sigh.

Oh, my beloved husband, I need you to be strong in the spirit. Thank you for your power in Christ.

My beloved wife, thank you for your power in Christ. You rescued me out of my rebellion.

Yes, Bill remembered, that was a hard blow for Elaine, but she by the power of the Holy Spirit overcame it and went on to be a better judge of the step toward self-annihilation.

Elaine arrived Hello! I’m home!

Bill interrupted his musings and greeted her, I’m in the den. He arose and went to her. Their satisfying hug and kiss evoked Bill’s often repeated thought, even after eighteen years of marriage, I really do love this woman!

The girls had been in the kitchen for the last hour preparing dinner. They were becoming accomplished cooks. They had fixed ham, scalloped potatoes, carrots and peas. Jennifer was taking a peach pie out of the oven and its savor wafted through the house as Peter banged in the back door.

Wow! I got home just in time!

Just in time, to wash up for supper, young man, corrected Elaine.

Oh, hi, Mom, Peter greeted with a smile, Sure, I’ll be at the table in a sec, as he hurried upstairs to leave his mitt and bat, and then wash.

Peter and Bill did the dishes after dinner. By eight PM they gathered expectantly around the dining table.

Bill began, I appreciate each of you for interrupting your plans to be here. As you know the last several years have been hard for me. I have applied at many churches, but no takers.

Peter, quick on the uptake, You got a call from a church?

The girls jumped in. Jennifer in her concern reverted to a younger self, When Daddy? in distress.

Betsy, more considered, Where is the church, Daddy?

Elaine stopped the questions, Children! Be patient! Let you father explain.

Thank you, M’Luv. First, nothing is decided. We act together. We all agree that this is of the Lord, or we all agree it is not. But first, we pray to get on the Lord’s wavelength – together. Elaine will you lead off. I’ll pray at the end.

Elaine instructed, "After I pray, we’ll start with Peter and then Betsy and Jen, just before your father.

Our Loving Lord, Elaine began, we are Your daughters and sons. We are seeking to live according to Your will and not our own. Guide our discussion of this opportunity. Amen.

Hey, Jesus, we gotta big decision to make, so we need to really listen to You.

Betsy prayed, The Apostle Paul tells us we can call You ‘Daddy’, ‘cause You love us like our Daddy does. We know that because You love us, even the hard things will be alright. Show us what you want, and make us agree so we won’t quarrel about it. Thank you, ‘Daddy’.

Our Heavenly Father, Jennifer prayed more formally, hallowed be Your name. Your ways are often in conflict with our ways, but we know as hard as they are, they are best. I want to go Your way, even when I don’t want to. So, gracious Father, give us guidance and be patient with us when we resist what You have for us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Lord God, Holy Spirit, do not allow my anxiety to return to the Pastorate, cloud my listening to Your guidance. Do not allow my feelings to run roughshod over those of anyone in my family. You are a gentleman and never force us into anything. Sometimes the negative consequences of our wrong decisions force us back to Your good … No! Best way for us. Guide our discussion, our gracious Lord. Amen.

The family chorused, Amen.

OK, so the cat is out of the bag. You know that I have been talking, recently with several churches. They all nodded. You also know I have not discussed the machinations of church contacts with you children, and that I have with your mother. I believe you have understood this, because I didn’t want to add unwarranted stress to your lives. The children nodded their understanding.

"I have not accepted this proposal. It is not a done deal. I will tell you about the church, the location and the people, as much as I know. You are well aware that we cannot know everything about a church from the interviews and the visits. So, there will be surprises, both pleasant and disappointing.

"Peter you will not remember when we moved to Bethel Church of the Savior, we walked into the kitchen with cupboards and refrigerator stocked with food. It was a real blessing.

"In contrast when we walked into the manse at Chesterwood Evangelical Church, they not only had not, as agreed, placed our furniture in the rooms where they belonged, but the cupboards and refrigerator were bare. We were very disappointed.

But I’m sure you do remember that we had to leave that church. It was painful for me and disrupting for the girls."

Addressing the whole family, "I do not know why, we had to leave. But I do know that the Lord sent us there. Further I don’t know why the Lord has not called me to another church during this, to me, a very long time. But still, I know two things. First, He has given your mother a significant ministry to the men and women in the hospital, as well as clients that have seen her at her office. Second, He has not forgotten me or lost track of me.

"That being said, let me tell you about 1st Apostle’s Church of Livingston. It is a lively church of one hundred believers. They have Sunday School at 9 AM and Worship at 10:30. they have midweek