thank you friend isn’t tonight a great opportunity for to hear student voice
opportunity for to hear student voice
opportunity for to hear student voice and thought just a great applause for
and thought just a great applause for
and thought just a great applause for all of our speakers this story happened
all of our speakers this story happened
all of our speakers this story happened about 30 years ago and it changed me the
about 30 years ago and it changed me the
about 30 years ago and it changed me the pastor of the church I was attending
pastor of the church I was attending
pastor of the church I was attending called me at home and said I’m going on
called me at home and said I’m going on
called me at home and said I’m going on vacation in a couple of weeks and I’d
vacation in a couple of weeks and I’d
vacation in a couple of weeks and I’d like you to fill in for me
like you to fill in for me
like you to fill in for me I said I don’t think I’m ready for that
I said I don’t think I’m ready for that
I said I don’t think I’m ready for that he said oh I think you’re more ready
he said oh I think you’re more ready
he said oh I think you’re more ready than you think you are I said okay I’ll
than you think you are I said okay I’ll
than you think you are I said okay I’ll do it and that’s the last we talked
do it and that’s the last we talked
do it and that’s the last we talked about it so over the next two weeks I
about it so over the next two weeks I
about it so over the next two weeks I wrote a sermon and picked out songs and
wrote a sermon and picked out songs and
wrote a sermon and picked out songs and and practiced I got to the church a
and practiced I got to the church a
and practiced I got to the church a couple hours early and went through it a
couple hours early and went through it a
couple hours early and went through it a couple of times by myself when the time
couple of times by myself when the time
couple of times by myself when the time finally came everything went smooth the
finally came everything went smooth the
finally came everything went smooth the congregation was really nice and
congregation was really nice and
congregation was really nice and supportive it was a really fun thing and
supportive it was a really fun thing and
supportive it was a really fun thing and I walked out of there feeling pretty
I walked out of there feeling pretty
I walked out of there feeling pretty darn good went home took off my suit
darn good went home took off my suit
darn good went home took off my suit settled down for an afternoon watching
settled down for an afternoon watching
settled down for an afternoon watching the football in the afternoon the phone
the football in the afternoon the phone
the football in the afternoon the phone rang it was zeti one of the older
rang it was zeti one of the older
rang it was zeti one of the older members of our congregation late 60s
members of our congregation late 60s
members of our congregation late 60s early 70s he had never called me before
early 70s he had never called me before
early 70s he had never called me before zeti said one of his oldest friends and
zeti said one of his oldest friends and
zeti said one of his oldest friends and his wife had flown to Long Beach to
his wife had flown to Long Beach to
his wife had flown to Long Beach to spend a few days with zeti the two men
spend a few days with zeti the two men
spend a few days with zeti the two men had served together on a ship in the
had served together on a ship in the
had served together on a ship in the Pacific during World War two and they’ve
Pacific during World War two and they’ve
Pacific during World War two and they’ve been best friends ever since
during the visit his friend had had a
during the visit his friend had had a massive heart attack and was in the
massive heart attack and was in the
massive heart attack and was in the hospital in intensive care just clinging
hospital in intensive care just clinging
hospital in intensive care just clinging to life the man’s wife wanted her pastor
to life the man’s wife wanted her pastor
to life the man’s wife wanted her pastor but of course her pastor was hundreds of
but of course her pastor was hundreds of
but of course her pastor was hundreds of miles away so zeti said I called the
miles away so zeti said I called the
miles away so zeti said I called the church and the church secretary said
church and the church secretary said
church and the church secretary said that you or answering the pastor’s calls
that you or answering the pastor’s calls
that you or answering the pastor’s calls could you come to the hospital he’s my
could you come to the hospital he’s my
could you come to the hospital he’s my oldest friend
oldest friend
oldest friend nope
nope
nope I said sure I’ll be there as fast as I
I said sure I’ll be there as fast as I
I said sure I’ll be there as fast as I can get there so I put on my suit and
can get there so I put on my suit and
can get there so I put on my suit and was thinking what am I supposed to do
was thinking what am I supposed to do
was thinking what am I supposed to do what do I say at the hospital are they
what do I say at the hospital are they
what do I say at the hospital are they gonna know that I’m not a pastor I
better get a prop I went back inside got
better get a prop I went back inside got a Bible off the shelf dusted it off put
a Bible off the shelf dusted it off put
a Bible off the shelf dusted it off put it under my arm drove to the hospital
it under my arm drove to the hospital
it under my arm drove to the hospital when I got to the hospital I went up to
when I got to the hospital I went up to
when I got to the hospital I went up to the intensive care unit approached the
the intensive care unit approached the
the intensive care unit approached the nurse’s station but my shoulders back
nurse’s station but my shoulders back
nurse’s station but my shoulders back and said clergy for mister I actually
and said clergy for mister I actually
and said clergy for mister I actually don’t remember his name anymore and the
don’t remember his name anymore and the
don’t remember his name anymore and the nurse said oh right down the hall there
nurse said oh right down the hall there
nurse said oh right down the hall there Jordan right I was in
so I walked down and I look in the room
so I walked down and I look in the room and there I see is that he anguish just
and there I see is that he anguish just
and there I see is that he anguish just written all over his face I stepped into
written all over his face I stepped into
written all over his face I stepped into the room and when I walked in the man’s
the room and when I walked in the man’s
the room and when I walked in the man’s wife turned and saw me and she got up
wife turned and saw me and she got up
wife turned and saw me and she got up and she said pastor pastor it’s so great
and she said pastor pastor it’s so great
and she said pastor pastor it’s so great of you to come and I reached out my arms
of you to come and I reached out my arms
of you to come and I reached out my arms to give her a hug and as I did she
to give her a hug and as I did she
to give her a hug and as I did she started to cry and then she started to
started to cry and then she started to
started to cry and then she started to sob and her whole body just shook as she
sob and her whole body just shook as she
sob and her whole body just shook as she cried and I just held her
and eventually she stopped crying and
and eventually she stopped crying and she looked up to me and she said pastor
she looked up to me and she said pastor
she looked up to me and she said pastor would you would it be alright if you sat
would you would it be alright if you sat
would you would it be alright if you sat with me for a while so we sat together
and I reached out and held her hand and
and I reached out and held her hand and then I noticed that she took her other
then I noticed that she took her other
then I noticed that she took her other hand and grabbed my wrist too and we sat
hand and grabbed my wrist too and we sat
hand and grabbed my wrist too and we sat there quietly for many many minutes I
there quietly for many many minutes I
there quietly for many many minutes I will never forget the look of her
will never forget the look of her
will never forget the look of her husband he was unconscious his the color
husband he was unconscious his the color
husband he was unconscious his the color of his skin was a light grey his skin
of his skin was a light grey his skin
of his skin was a light grey his skin looks so thin and transparent it looked
looks so thin and transparent it looked
looks so thin and transparent it looked like you could see right through it
after about a half an hour she turned to
after about a half an hour she turned to me and she said pastor what do you say a
me and she said pastor what do you say a
me and she said pastor what do you say a prayer prayer right should have thought
prayer prayer right should have thought
prayer prayer right should have thought of that so I got up and I put my hand on
of that so I got up and I put my hand on
of that so I got up and I put my hand on the man’s forehead and with my other
the man’s forehead and with my other
the man’s forehead and with my other hand I held his wife let us pray
and I realized I didn’t know anything
and I realized I didn’t know anything about this couple I knew he was in the
about this couple I knew he was in the
about this couple I knew he was in the Navy and had had a massive heart attack
Navy and had had a massive heart attack
Navy and had had a massive heart attack and she was grieving and in pain I don’t
and she was grieving and in pain I don’t
and she was grieving and in pain I don’t really remember much of what I said I
really remember much of what I said I
really remember much of what I said I know I said I hope that you feel the
know I said I hope that you feel the
know I said I hope that you feel the presence of God in this room if if these
presence of God in this room if if these
presence of God in this room if if these are to be your last hours or days may
are to be your last hours or days may
are to be your last hours or days may they be without pain and may you feel
they be without pain and may you feel
they be without pain and may you feel this outpouring of love in this room but
this outpouring of love in this room but
this outpouring of love in this room but if it’s possible to see your way out of
if it’s possible to see your way out of
if it’s possible to see your way out of these troubled waters let’s pray for the
these troubled waters let’s pray for the
these troubled waters let’s pray for the compassion and wisdom of your nurses and
compassion and wisdom of your nurses and
compassion and wisdom of your nurses and doctors that they are able to give you
doctors that they are able to give you
doctors that they are able to give you the very best of care you two have been
the very best of care you two have been
the very best of care you two have been through hard times before every couple
through hard times before every couple
through hard times before every couple has
I pray that your faith will bring you
I pray that your faith will bring you through this hard time as well when it
through this hard time as well when it
through this hard time as well when it was time for me to leave the woman did
was time for me to leave the woman did
was time for me to leave the woman did not want to let go of my hands
not want to let go of my hands
not want to let go of my hands she kept saying thank you pastor thank
she kept saying thank you pastor thank
she kept saying thank you pastor thank you you don’t know what this means to me
you you don’t know what this means to me
you you don’t know what this means to me thank you pastor thank you I never told
thank you pastor thank you I never told
thank you pastor thank you I never told her that I wasn’t a pastor and I walked
her that I wasn’t a pastor and I walked
her that I wasn’t a pastor and I walked to my car completely drained
later that night the phone rang and it
later that night the phone rang and it was Eddie it’s a miracle he said just
was Eddie it’s a miracle he said just
was Eddie it’s a miracle he said just after you left the room he opened his
after you left the room he opened his
after you left the room he opened his eyes an hour later he was talking I just
eyes an hour later he was talking I just
eyes an hour later he was talking I just left the hospital but when I left the
left the hospital but when I left the
left the hospital but when I left the room she was sitting on the edge of his
room she was sitting on the edge of his
room she was sitting on the edge of his bed and they were holding hands and they
bed and they were holding hands and they
bed and they were holding hands and they were talking like they had just fallen
were talking like they had just fallen
were talking like they had just fallen in love it’s a miracle
so the topic of this talk is when
so the topic of this talk is when miracles happen and it’s taken me quite
miracles happen and it’s taken me quite
miracles happen and it’s taken me quite a while to get to the point and I bet
a while to get to the point and I bet
a while to get to the point and I bet you think that the miracle that I’m
you think that the miracle that I’m
you think that the miracle that I’m talking about is the man regaining
talking about is the man regaining
talking about is the man regaining consciousness it isn’t they were blessed
consciousness it isn’t they were blessed
consciousness it isn’t they were blessed with a few precious hours together they
with a few precious hours together they
with a few precious hours together they had the chance to say the things to each
had the chance to say the things to each
had the chance to say the things to each other that they hadn’t said before he
other that they hadn’t said before he
other that they hadn’t said before he had his sudden heart attack but the man
had his sudden heart attack but the man
had his sudden heart attack but the man soon tired and a few hours later he died
I’ve come to find out that these short
I’ve come to find out that these short lived deathbed revivals they’re actually
lived deathbed revivals they’re actually
lived deathbed revivals they’re actually not that uncommon I experienced it again
not that uncommon I experienced it again
not that uncommon I experienced it again myself just three years ago when my
myself just three years ago when my
myself just three years ago when my father-in-law was dying but something
father-in-law was dying but something
father-in-law was dying but something did happen in that hotel I never tell
did happen in that hotel I never tell
did happen in that hotel I never tell something did happen in that hospital
something did happen in that hospital
something did happen in that hospital room and that’s what I want to talk to
room and that’s what I want to talk to
room and that’s what I want to talk to you about
I realized that we can’t wait till we
I realized that we can’t wait till we think we’re ready before we take on new
think we’re ready before we take on new
think we’re ready before we take on new challenges we never think we’re ready
challenges we never think we’re ready
challenges we never think we’re ready and opportunities they just pass you by
and opportunities they just pass you by
and opportunities they just pass you by and pretty soon they stop coming so many
and pretty soon they stop coming so many
and pretty soon they stop coming so many of the things that I am most proud of in
of the things that I am most proud of in
of the things that I am most proud of in my life so many of the things in the
my life so many of the things in the
my life so many of the things in the last 30 years are things that I
last 30 years are things that I
last 30 years are things that I committed to long before I knew I was
committed to long before I knew I was
committed to long before I knew I was ready so a little advice from an old man
ready so a little advice from an old man
ready so a little advice from an old man commit before you think you’re ready and
commit before you think you’re ready and
commit before you think you’re ready and then get to the heart work of preparing
then get to the heart work of preparing
then get to the heart work of preparing that’s how it’s done
secondly I sensed that the woman
secondly I sensed that the woman invested a great deal of power in me
invested a great deal of power in me
invested a great deal of power in me because of what I represented she
because of what I represented she
because of what I represented she thought I was a pastor and she gave that
thought I was a pastor and she gave that
thought I was a pastor and she gave that role an enormous amount of power and
role an enormous amount of power and
role an enormous amount of power and authority in her life I think about that
authority in her life I think about that
authority in her life I think about that now in every job I do it’s not a it’s
now in every job I do it’s not a it’s
now in every job I do it’s not a it’s not just about me it’s about the job I
not just about me it’s about the job I
not just about me it’s about the job I represent – I’m a teacher I could wear
represent – I’m a teacher I could wear
represent – I’m a teacher I could wear short pants and a t-shirt to work and
short pants and a t-shirt to work and
short pants and a t-shirt to work and deliver exactly the same lessons but I
deliver exactly the same lessons but I
deliver exactly the same lessons but I don’t I wear dress slacks in a tie every
don’t I wear dress slacks in a tie every
don’t I wear dress slacks in a tie every day because I want people to see me as a
day because I want people to see me as a
day because I want people to see me as a professional I want people to think
professional I want people to think
professional I want people to think that’s what a teacher is a professional
when I work for a major oil company my
when I work for a major oil company my boss told me you represent the company
boss told me you represent the company
boss told me you represent the company first what our clients think about you
first what our clients think about you
first what our clients think about you that’s what they think about the company
it’s good advice because when you
it’s good advice because when you realize that you represent more than
realize that you represent more than
realize that you represent more than just yourself
it elevates what you do sometimes you’re
it elevates what you do sometimes you’re going to represent your profession or
going to represent your profession or
going to represent your profession or your job or your school sometimes you
your job or your school sometimes you
your job or your school sometimes you will represent your parents or your
will represent your parents or your
will represent your parents or your culture you’ll represent your city or
culture you’ll represent your city or
culture you’ll represent your city or your state whenever I travel I always
your state whenever I travel I always
your state whenever I travel I always believe I represent my country and I
believe I represent my country and I
believe I represent my country and I want the people that see me to think
want the people that see me to think
want the people that see me to think that’s an American and that’s good so
that’s an American and that’s good so
that’s an American and that’s good so here’s the big idea because I’ve been
here’s the big idea because I’ve been
here’s the big idea because I’ve been willing to commit the things before I
willing to commit the things before I
willing to commit the things before I thought I was ready and I’ve prepared to
thought I was ready and I’ve prepared to
thought I was ready and I’ve prepared to represent more than just me I have been
represent more than just me I have been
represent more than just me I have been blessed with a rich life crammed full of
blessed with a rich life crammed full of
blessed with a rich life crammed full of amazing experiences I have known meaning
and purpose and connection and that my
and purpose and connection and that my friends that is where the miracles
friends that is where the miracles
friends that is where the miracles happened a life of meaning and purpose
happened a life of meaning and purpose
happened a life of meaning and purpose and connection that is what I wish for
and connection that is what I wish for
and connection that is what I wish for you thank you my friend
”
Be First to Comment