Thoughts from the road
My demographic more and more seems to be the homeless, the addicted (and recovering), the prisoner and those living on the edge of society. I’ve never been homeless or in prison but I did spend several years ‘driving hard down a road called alcohol’ living a pretty hedonistic kind of life. It may seem strange to say this but I can almost thank God for those days as they gave me an understanding, at some level, of the way many of these people think - and I’ve never forgotten how pointless it is but also how locked in to it people easily become. After a visit to a soup kitchen during a Dublin a ‘Speakout’ over the Easter weekend a Christian guy said to me he had realised again how quickly he had forgotten where he came from to the point of looking down on those poor wretched souls. Paul, the apostle, after a life of pure Christian service still saw himself as the ‘chief of sinners’. Whatever our background may we never forget that we are sinners saved by grace and without Christ no different than anyone else.
Twice in recent months we hauled out the ‘Drugs Programme’, once in Dublin and once in Larne and in each situation it seems to have had real effect. A new Polish internet TV station has requested a DVD copy where it is hoped it will reach many teens and others - (if you’d like one just ask)
The Irish trips were both encouraging. In Dublin we spent part of the Easter weekend in the open air singing and passing on the Good News alongside a bunch of young people from the Young Life Organisation. On the Saturday an open air meeting and a B B Q were planned and the heavens opened! But we carried on in spite of the weather – you can play acoustic guitar in the rain but don’t try it with an electric – it can be a ‘shocking experience’; and guess what – a bunch people were contacted who subsequently came to the B B Q and other events over the weekend. It reminded me again that faithfulness in adverse circumstance is very much part of the Christian life - we’re not to be just fair weather sailors!
I mentioned the last time I put fingers to keyboard that we were hoping to build a few more bridges with some of the residents in a local rehab unit by putting on an occasional meal at the church. We’ve had two already and plan several more throughout the year.
The format is simple with a meal and chat followed by yours truly giving a 20 minutes to half an hour ‘Country Blues and Gospel Shoes’.! The response is encouraging and a number come regularly to Sunday worship. As I listen to their stories it makes me realise again how great is the need for a ‘new birth to a living hope’ for all who’ve had drug controlled lifestyles.
Comments - ‘I have just completed a rehab at ....... and every evening we played this CD. All the peers told me of when you played for them. This CD was inspirational......’
‘ I have seen you sing live twice in HMP ..... and I spoke to you about Blackpool as I was hoping to move over there. Well I have finally arrived here and found employment after having been in jail for 18 months and being a Christian really proves to these people that God does change people for the better as I have proved it now thanks be to God’.
The ‘Cafe Church’ opportunities have continued to come in and seem to bring in good numbers with a steady take-up of the literature offered and a growing interest in the ‘Eternal stuff’ – which is the only stuff that really matters and the only stuff that will last! The rest of the year seems to be ‘much of the same’ but isn’t that the nature of evangelism - you just keep doing it where the opportunities are presented? To quote a line from a song by the late Keith Green:-
Doin’ your best,
Pray that it’s blest,
He’ll take care of the rest.
And He will...so I guess I’ll keep on pressing on to the end of the road.
Talking about literature we’ve produced a few postcards over the last few years designed to make people think about the stuff that will last. Generally these have been very well received, not too many just dumped on the ground. The ‘JESUS’ card was the first one. I’ve just revamped the text on the back, this time asking three questions:-
WHO IS HE?
WHY DID HE COME?
WHAT’S THAT TO ME?
with New Testament verses giving the answers! They’re available from me. I have a couple more cards ‘in the pipeline’ hopefully ready this Summer.
Andy Werner (the producer and director of the CHOOSE LIFE DVD) and I are looking to produce another ‘concert to camera’ in the next couple of months and hopefully some of the same material will find it’s way onto a CD. These and a steady flow of prison visits etc should keep me busy through what’s left of the Summer (?!)
I’ll try and put a few more thoughts down as the year progresses and as things occur and/or happen to me…. no promises mind.
Keep looking up and keep on keeping on,
May God bless you and keep you wherever you are,
Gus