Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L. Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

Well, it is the lion part of March.  They say, “In like a lion and out like a lamb.”  For those counting on a dry March and a wet May bringing a good harvest, think again.

Oh, all that means that March has started, and I am by myself.  Okay, I have Stormie, and somehow she is calm.  Daddy, that is Easy, is out driving the Turtle and Kevin is the photographer instead of me.  Dr. Ben is with the Storm Chase One team and Dr. Ellie has B.B. and Joseph in the back with two near-rookies.  That is, two freshmen who did a good job when things were not so stormy.

That left me to teach the Sunday school class without my usual backups.  Menzie was with me with the hairbrush, and Joseline, Amazon, is in the restroom too.  Jos is about due to deliver her baby, and she opted to not know the gender.  She was telling me all the things that she was experiencing, and some sounded weird, but then, I said, “Yeah, I ignored that, and Stormie came early.  Then again, you are tracking for being on time.  But, Amazon, you are just starting your pre-med.  Have you had any lessons on every pregnancy can be different?”

“Yeah,” Jos smiled, “But as a good student, I want to learn similarities as much as differences.”

And I laughed, “And the whole time we were talking your eyes never left Stormie.  I think you’re going to be a good Mommie.”

When we came out, Arabella didn’t say anything.  Menzie had Stormie in the carrier.  The crowd was not very large.  I was wondering if the remnants of the flu had hit the younger people at Lily the Pink, but we had flu shots, everyone who could take them.  Blaise and Sophie were there, and Emmett had Arabella, Menzie, and Michael.  But Samuel was missing from the little makeshift choir, along with the aforementioned Dr. Ben.  And Margie wasn’t there.  Otto and Zuzka were missing.

Then, I noticed Michael.  He was getting agitated.  He wasn’t his usual jovial self.  Usually, he let Arabella say the goofy things, but he enjoyed the responses to her silliness.  But today, she wasn’t being silly, and Michael was looking like a thousand ants were eating him from the inside.

I asked, “Jos, can you take Stormie since Easy is off chasing the storm?  Menzie needs to help with the opening song.  And Michael, do you need a hug?”

Michael gritted his teeth, “How did you guess?”

I frowned, “Michael, I was the one who talked you down when the hurricane approached last summer.  Come here.”

He came over and sat on my lap, but he had grown a lot in the past few months.

I said, “Michael, Easy is a good driver.  He has your Mom and B.B. and Joseph to take care of.  Storm Chase One is a completely professional team.  Your Dad is only with them to spot any rescue needs that are out there.  Easy and your Dad know all the swift water rescue teams along their routes.  If anyone can be saved, they are going to make sure the right people get the right information.”

Michael said, “But if it wasn’t for B.B., I would have drowned.  She’s the only one who knew what to do.”

I sighed, “And what do you think the two teams were doing in the storm lull this winter?  They were practicing swift water rescues.  But better than that, we have been working with the local teams.”  I held him tightly, but running my fingers through his hair was a bit harder to do than it was just eight or nine months ago.

Then I looked around the room.  “Everybody, nearly a year ago, Michael lost his birth parents in a flood south of here.  He seems like a fixture with us since he has been in this class since it started.  But when he and I were preparing for a hurricane last summer, Michael got antsy when the storm surge started rising.  We think of Dr. Ben and Dr. Ellie going off in the storm to save other people, but who has them in His hand?”

Missy said, “God does, Michael.”

Jochebed said, “I told you this morning that they will be alright. I feel it in my bones, Michael.  They are very smart.  They know how to stay safe.”

I said, “Let’s all pray.  Dear Lord, ease Michael’s fears.  You are an omnipotent God.  You can part the waters if you want to.  And you can keep people safe from these storms, but will people listen to the warnings?  That is part of why we chase storms, to warn people.  But God, Michael has lost his parents to a flood.  It has rained for three days now, and there was a lot of snow on the ground when the rain started.  We know that rivers will be swollen south and east of Tracy.  Please, Lord, help people understand the dangers and stay out of the waters.  We ask this in your Son’s name, Amen.”

I looked at Arabella, “Fireball, be strong.  Michael needs a strong hand and a warm heart right now.”  Michael went back over to his place between Emmett and Arabella.  Arabella leaned into him, but unlike her bubbly self, she was quiet, like she was listening to his heartbeat.

Emmett said, “I don’t know about my music selection.  I am going to do it anyway, but maybe just a duet with Menzie and me.”

I asked, “What are you singing?”

Emmett shrugged, “Bridge over Troubled Waters.  It’s not a worship song, but it talks about one person being there for another, like God is always there for us.”  When Emmett and Menzie had finished, there was not a dry eye in the room.

Blaise said, “Sis, what’s the topic today, since Samuel is missing and can’t ask the question?”

I smiled, “Our attribute of God is His omniscience.”

Arabella asked.  “Where is Mr. Dictionary when you need him?”

I looked at Arabella and laughed.  “That’s why we have nothing to worry about, Arabella.  Mr. Dictionary has told you that if “omni” is in front of a word it means an unlimited supply of what comes next.  Omniscience is usually translated as all knowing, but there is a lot of arguments whether humans are the only sentient beings on the planet.  Sentience is spelled a little differently, but could we also think of God as all powerful in awareness?  We are aware of things.  We can project forward, even without full knowledge of the future of what might happen if we do this or that.  In storm chasing, that’s what it is all about.  We keep ourselves safe while arming others with enough information to keep them safe, if they are sentient enough to heed the warnings.  So, I think this goes a long way past God knowing everything.  He knows what will happen.  He has everything in His grand plan.  And he is aware of the motives and motivations in our hearts, before we even think of doing something.”

“Now,” I cleared my throat. “Let’s christen our new members who started last week.”

Tammie (Psalm 147:5): “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

Tammie said, “I’m new to all this.  Let me say something first.  I went off to Uof this past semester on a softball scholarship.  I was introduced to lesbian activity and some people encouraged me to do that sort of thing in order to get what I wanted or needed.  I did not like that too much, so I started drinking to cope.  I came home and made things even worse with my family.  I came here, to Lily the Pink, and I haven’t had a drink since then.  I haven’t been tempted to be with a girl, you know.  Mommie Pinkie has me organizing the employee records.  She is talking to the T.R.U.S.T. coaching staff about playing softball next year, and Coach Kessinger is letting me coach this year.  But Rosie is my AA sponsor, and she says that I cannot do it on my own power.  I need a higher power.  But I have never been to church before I got here.  All this is brand new.  If there is a God, this verse is just what I need.  I need the power to keep straight, both romantically and avoiding alcohol.  Rosie is my rock, but this verse says that God understands me.  Does He even know me?”  She started to cry.

Michael got up and went over to Tammie.  “I have learned a lot about God in the past year.  You can trust Him.  You can know Him.”

Tammie said, “But you needed a hug and these people praying for you just a minute ago.”

Michael nodded, “I needed a reminder.  And right now, you need to know that God is right there for you too.”  He leaned down and she stood up.  She was taller than Michael, but not by much.  They hugged, and they both cried.

I sighed, “Okay, God knew ahead of time that Michael needed a reminder and a little reassurance.  We have the right elements to have some localized flooding.  But God gave Michael the courage to get up in faith and go to someone who needed God’s love just as much as Michael did.  This is proof of God’s understanding of the situations each of us face right now.  God’s omniscience goes beyond His knowledge to His understanding and His sensing of all our thoughts and fears.  And remember that He does not give us a spirit of fear.  We are to rely on Him.”

Michael went back to Arabella, and she got up to hug him before they sat down.

Rosie (Hebrews 4:13): “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Rosie said, “So, God is everywhere, and God is aware of everything that goes on, even in our thoughts, but are we held to an account?”

I nodded, “Everyone is judged, but if your name is in the Book of Life, no fault will be found.  But then your good works are judged, and we are rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  So, having your heart set right with God is the most important thing in all the world.”

Tammie asked, “So, how does that happen?”

I shrugged, “It happens in a variety of ways.  But the key is that the Holy Spirit needs to be working in you to tell you that you are on the wrong path, and you need to get right with God.  Revelation 3:20 says. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”  God does not barge in.  Those who have accepted His gift, the gift that cannot be bought, did so by surrendering their will to God.  They realize that God’s plan is better than anything they could dream up.  So, those that do not accept God, eventually get what they want, a life without God, but without God, there is nothing left but pain and torment.  You must choose, Tammie.”

Tammie started to cry, and she bowed her head and nodded.  Rosie huddled close to her and said the salvation prayer with her.  Everyone in the room came to her and placed their hands on her and prayed for her.

Lauren came over from the play area and patted Menzie on the knee, “Mommie!  The buses!”

I smiled, “As we have been doing, let’s end with our benediction.  Everyone bow your heads in prayer.  ‘“‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’”’” (Numbers 6:24-26)

The room was buzzing.  Everyone wanted to both wish Tammie well and promise to be there if she needed someone to talk to.

She finally walked up to me and gave me a hug.  “Aunt Jemima, what have I just done?”

I smiled, “Allowing Jesus into your heart is nothing you do.  You just allow Jesus to bring the Holy Spirit with Him and He will change your desires and start cleaning up the house inside of you.  You will see some things change immediately, but do not get frustrated when you stumble.  You now have God within you, but you need to learn how to listen to His voice and not your own.  By the way, where are you going to church today?”

Tammie smiled, “I thought I would try the First-Third and listen to your Dad’s sermon.  Rosie wants me to experience different types of worship services and Sunday schools.  I think Rota is going to take me to the Latvian Orthodox church next week.  Rota helped me move into my apartment.  But I am not officially one of your upstairs neighbors.  I feel that I need more time with Rosie before I run solo. But once I move in, whoever is below me, they need to be prepared for the one boot drop.” I looked confused. “You know, the people below hear one heavy boot hit the floor and they wait around for the other one, and it never happens.” I shook my head. “Come on, you haven’t done that before?!”

Credits

I am using suggested Bible verses from The Attributes of God, A Journey into the Father’s Heart by A.W. Tozer, in two volumes. My two volumes have a Study Guide by David E. Fessenden, which is designed for each chapter of Tozer’s book. I may review those chapters to keep Stinker from straying too much, but the nature of her class is that the class tends to stray anyway. I am not using Rev. Tozer’s comments directly.

Since I had the rain melting snow two days ago in the latest Babs and Harold story, I decided that at least the weather could be a crossover.  And God has a way, sometimes, in getting the side conversations to weave into the Sunday school lesson.

And here is Bridge Over Troubled Water sung by, who else?  Simon and Garfunkel.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.