...another bear story

I know a woman here in Bear Valley who has made it clear to me that I am never to invite her to church. I have not asked her why for I do not really want to hear the answer.  She is, however a Christian. ...and here is how it happened: When she and her husband lived in a nearby farming community they lost their first child by crib death.  A Christian school teacher who lived down the road from them came to give her caring love and placed in her hands Dr. Harry Ironside's Commentary on the "Book of John".  She read it and dropped to her knees and asked Christ into her life. ...then she bought all sixty-five of Dr. Ironside's other Bible Commentaries.  I asked her: "Do you have a Bible?"  "Oh, no, I just read Dr. Ironside's Commentaries and talk to God every day."  That'll work! ...then she said: "...but you probably don't know who Dr. Ironside is."  I responded: "Oh yes I do. When I was a very new Christian Billy Graham invited him to come to speak for chapel at Northwestern Bible College where Billy had planted me."

In Heaven we will meet ever so many who are "un-churched". ...or are they? God's definition of "church" is much more broad than many Christians think.  Millions of people are meeting in cells in homes,  schools, garages, under trees,  in underground caves, in filthy jails. ...wherever two or three are gathered together.  There are no seminary-trained pastors but there are untold numbers of people who are being equipped by the Holy Spirit to do the work of the ministry.   God and His Word are in their midst: sometimes with only one or two verses written on a scrap of paper.  This kind of "church" may seem less visible because there is no building,  but the Living Christ is very visible through the Light in the believers as they infiltrate Satan's dark world.

When we were in Houston a pastor came to our office and asked if we would like to be a legitimate ministry by coming under the umbrella of his church where there were elders to whom we could be accountable.  Gentle Ted reminded this pastor that he, this pastor had just received his Doctoral degree from a seminary and asked if that seminary was accountable to the elders of his church. "Uhh...well, no."  Then gentle Ted replied: "Our ministry,  Family Life Resources is a government-sanctioned tax-deductible training school for teaching Christians to 'go and make disciples'.   We have a fine Board of business men, an astronaut, the District Attorney of Harris County, and an attorney and a gentleman who is running for Senator.  They and their wives are all in ministry in their large spheres of influence.  We meet in small groups all around our city. ... but thank you for your kind offer."  The pastor left, unconvinced that we were a legitimate ministry.

...back to Dr. Ironside. When he came to our chapel at Northwestern he told us a story about his three children, raised in Chicago where there are long months of freezing cold weather, preventing them from playing out-of-doors.  Often his children played "hide and seek" in their three story-with-attic large home.  One time Harry, now the dad and not the professor/scholar hid in the attic.  His children searched and searched throughout the three lower floors, not wanting to venture up into the scary, dark attic to find their daddy. ...but one did:  his little girl.  I think her name was "Marian".  He saw her come through the door, looking around with wide eyes, ready to slam the door and flee down the stairs.  Harry's thought: "Do I come out of my hiding place or not?  I don't want her to be frightened even more." ...and then he said, softly and gently: "Sweetheart, I am here."  She hesitated, and then ran sobbing to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "Oh, you aren't a big bear at all.  You're my own dear Daddy!" ...and so He is. The evil one wants us to be terrified of Him so he tosses in subtle "buts" (I call them "B.B's": "Big Butts")   right smack in the middle of God's agape love verses.  Sometimes those "buts" come in the form of expectations placed upon believers that make the Lord look like a "bear".  The little cluster of Christians who introduced me to Christ simply loved me.  I felt safe for the first time in my life. ...and I decided to follow Jesus forever.

Dr. Ironside was one of our dear Ray Stedman's mentors. Ray travelled with him for an entire summer, soaking in Jesus-theology.  Years later when we were invited into our first ministry out of seminary to be Ray and Elaine's helpers,  Ted asked Ray what our job description would be. "Well, around here we try not to thwart the ministry of the Holy Spirit in each believer."  Ted: "That's IT?"  "Yes, Ted, that's IT!  The Holy Spirit will reveal to you what your gifts are.  Listen well and we will support you all the way." ...and they did. ...and there was fruit. ...fruit that remains to this day and throughout all of eternity.  In our first pastorate in Bakersfield a visitor asked my Ted: "How many ministers do you have on your staff?"  Ted's reply: "Well, someone told me we have about 900 or so coming through our doors now. They are all ministers of the Gospel." ...and with that the man walked away, scratching his head. ...but I believe I remember that he came back, came to Christ and he too, became a minister of the Gospel.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed, even though some may be missing from our dining tables.  Absent loved ones who know Him are feasting on Jesus. ...and how could anything be better than that, for Jesus isn't a big bear at all, but is our own dear Daddy!

Leaning, leaning, leaning on Jesus
Safe and secure from all alarms.
Leaning, leaning, leaning on Jesus
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!

Love, Jo