Walking
along
Interstate
44, his face
weathered by
wind and
time, Harold
turned and
held up his
thumb, his
faith low
and his
pessimism
high as he
observed the
annoyed
looks and
scowls.
You wouldn’t look at me that way if you knew what I
did for you,
he thought
to himself.
Car after
car passed
Harold. He
kept walking
ahead but
his thoughts
were bound
to the past.
Years of
surviving
enemy
jungles, hot
humid nights
spent
watching and
wondering if
he would
ever make it
home
alive—had
taken their
toll—leaving
Harold
hardened,
scarred and
bitter.
Failed
marriages,
rejected and
abandoned by
his kids,
and the loss
of jobs had
left Harold
feeling
defeated and
disrespected.
“No
respect,” he
said aloud.
They wouldn’t treat me this way if they knew what I
did for
them, for
this
country. Finally making it to an old truck stop along the
interstate,
Harold made
his way
through the
open door of
the busy
gathering
place. His
long graying
hair ratted,
his hands
filthy, his
clothes
tattered. He
sensed the
stares.
“Bum,
loser,
deadbeat…”
just a few
of the names
he heard
hurled at
him. He was
certain
others who
weren’t
lashing out
were having
the same
thoughts,
though.
Sitting down
at a booth,
Harold lit
up a
cigarette. A
friendly man
approached
him.
“Sir, my
name’s Jack.
What can I
get for
you?” the
young man
asked.
“How about a
million
dollars and
a cup of
coffee,”
Harold
cracked.
“Well, if I
had a
million
dollars, I
wouldn’t be
working
here, but
I’ll
definitely
get you that
coffee,”
Jack said
with a
smile.
Harold,
taken aback
by the man’s
pleasant
tone and
warm nature,
found it in
himself to
smile as
well. He
quickly
became aware
of his
surroundings.
Nervously
and
skeptically,
Harold
looked
around the
room
assuming the
scorn of
others.
Running his
hands
through his
hair and
then rubbing
his eyes, he
felt
defeated and
worn out.
But Jack
interrupted
Harold’s
thoughts of
despair.
“Here’s that
coffee and
if you don’t
mind, sir,
I’d like to
buy you a
special
meal,” the
young man
said.
“Nah, that’s
not
necessary,”
Harold spoke
with pride
rising up.
“Well,
listen, I
don’t have a
million
dollars, but
this
restaurant’s
mine and I
reserve the
right to
‘treat’
whomever I
want. You’re
a first time
guest in my
restaurant,
and first
time guests
get to eat
free!”
Harold
looked
around
sheepishly
as if he
were part of
some sort of
joke.
Quickly
realizing it
wasn’t a
joke, he
reluctantly
agreed with
a sheepish
nod and
said,
“That’s
mighty kind
of you.
You’re
right. I
am a
first time
guest. So
tell me,
what’s
good?”
Jack smiled,
“Tell you
what, I’ll
bring you a
menu and
whatever
looks good
to you, I’ll
make sure
it’s cooked
just the way
you like
it.”
Harold
exhaled.
“Well, this
is
different,”
he thought
to himself.
Having never
felt
welcomed
anywhere
before, he
now sat at
the table of
a genuine
restaurant
owner,
almost
feeling like
royalty.
Who am I kidding, this is just someone who thinks
I’m a
charity case,
Harold
thought, as
his
pessimistic
side reared
its ugly
head.
It’s the
least the
guy should
do,
especially
if he knew
all
that I’ve
done for him,
Harold said
to himself.
Jack,
walking back
could see
the hard
countenance
on Harold’s
face and had
to choke
back a tear.
“Lord, I
know you
brought this
one in,
please move
through me
for your
glory in
Jesus’
name,” he
prayed.
“Well here
you go, take
a look at
whatever
suits your
fancy and
I’ll be glad
to get it
for you. Oh,
and I didn’t
catch your
name
earlier.”
“Uh, oh, um,
thanks,
Harold…or
Sergeant
Harold
Anderson if
you will,”
Harold
replied.
“You don’t
say?” Jack
stated and
continued,
“Well,
Sergeant
Anderson,
it’s my
honor to
have you
here.
Please,
order
whatever you
want.”
It had been
a long time
since Harold
could order
up like
this.
Feeling
ashamed and
unworthy, he
wrestled to
ask for all
that his
stomach
begged.
“I’ll have
your
‘special,’”
Harold said
with
thankfulness
in his
voice. “On
the sign up
there it
says, two
eggs, bacon
and toast -
$4.99.”
Off Jack
went but
minutes
later he and
two ladies
came out
from the
kitchen
rolling a
tray. On the
tray were
eggs, bacon.
In addition
pancakes,
biscuits and
gravy,
oranges,
grapes and
much more.
“What in the
world? What
is all
this?”
Harold
asked.
“It’s our
Champion’s
Breakfast—only
rolled out
to our very
special
guests,”
Jack
replied.
Harold’s
eyes
surveyed it
all. Because
of his
pride, part
of him
wanted to
bark at the
young
restaurant
owner,
I’m no
charity case!
But
there was
something
deep down
inside that
wanted to
know:
Why?
Why me? Why now? Harold thought.
The reality
was that
Harold was
starving. He
gratefully
began to
devour the
meal. (For
the first
time in a
long time he
began to
feel full
and it felt
so good.) As
Harold was
finishing
off his last
bite, a
young lady
walked up to
clear his
table.
“May I?” as
she removed
the dishes
and his
glass.
“Sure
thing…all
done,”
Harold
replied.
With a smile
on her face
she asked,
“What did
you think?”
“It was the
best meal
I’ve had in
a long
time,” he
said with a
smile.
“Well great,
Jack will
sure be glad
to hear you
say that,”
she said.
“Jack sure
seems like a
nice guy,”
Harold said,
as he took
in a sigh
from feeling
overstuffed.
“Yeah, he
is. I have
to tell you,
before this
job and
meeting
Jack, I’d
never
stepped a
foot into a
church.
Thankfully,
the Lord
knew that
and he put
Jack in my
path.”
The young
lady
continued
with her
story:
“Meth,
broke, a
single
mother and
hopeless was
all I felt
for many
years, but
one night I
stumbled
into this
place and
boom…JESUS!
Jack is all
about JESUS!
And He’s for
real.”
“Jack?”
Harold
asked,
puzzled.
The lady
grinned,
“The JESUS
that Jack
preaches…HE’S
FOR REAL.
And if you
knew what He
had done for
you, you’d
want to know
him too.”
Then just as
fast as the
young helper
had made her
way to
clean-up,
she was
gone.
Harold sat
in his booth
full from
his meal.
Suddenly a
feeling of
confused
emotions
overwhelmed
him.
But why me,
why now?
Harold
thought to
himself.
Approaching
toward the
table from
the kitchen
area was
Jack,
walking with
a big old
grin on his
face, his
smile almost
taking
Harold
aback.
“I hear you
liked the
food?” he
said with a
smile.
“Yeah, it
was
delicious. I
really
appreciate
it.” Harold
quickly
replied.
Expecting
that it was
now “sermon
time,”
Harold
suddenly put
up a wall.
Jack looking
at Harold,
asked, “May
I?”
With Harold
nodding his
approval,
Jack took a
seat and
sighed,
“Thanks,
it’s nice to
take a
break, you
know?”
Jack sat
there and
took a great
interest in
hearing
Harold’s
story. He
asked where
he was from,
where he had
been and
where he was
headed.
“Not real
sure where
I’m headed,”
Harold
answered,
“Any place
I’m welcome,
I reckon.”
Jack feeling
a lump in
his throat
and
swallowing
back the
tears,
offered a
solution:
“Tell you
what Harold,
I have an
old farm
house near
the edge of
town. It
used to
belong to my
parents. It
has plenty
of room and
you’re
welcome to
stay there
as long as
you like.
Maybe help
with some
chores, put
out hay for
the cattle,
that type of
thing. You
can stay
there until
you’ve had
your fill.
How does
that sound?”
Harold, upon
hearing
those words,
sat
fidgeting in
his seat.
This kind of
generosity
wasn’t
normal.
Harold
looked
puzzled,
“Can I ask
you
something?
Are you a
weirdo or
what? Why on
earth would
you allow a
total
stranger
into your
world?”
Jack, had to
chuckle.
“No, I’m not
a weirdo,
Harold.
Besides,
you’re wrong
about
something.
It’s not my
world. What
I have
belongs to
my Lord.
He’s told me
to share it
with whoever
comes and
needs it.
You wouldn’t
be just my
guest, but
an invited
guest of God
Almighty.”
“You don’t
say?” Harold
caught
himself
sarcastically
responding,
“I’m sorry,
forgive me,
but I’m not
too much
into the God
stuff.”
“That is
quite
alright
Harold
because He
is totally
about, you.
When you
hear all
He’s done
for you, you
will
understand,”
Jack
answered.
Jack helped
Harold with
his bag and
drove him
out to the
farm. He
helped him
settle into
his new
living
quarters.
“Shower is
over
here…towels
are over
there. Help
yourself to
whatever you
like. I’ll
be back to
check on you
in the
morning,”
Jack said.
Harold stood
stunned and
silent as he
watched Jack
drive off
into the
night.
Why? Why so
kind? Why so
kind to me?
he kept
thinking.
Jack,
driving off
into the
distance,
could barely
see the road
for the
tears that
were pouring
out of him.
His heart
breaking, as
God the
Father
allowed Jack
to share
what he too,
was feeling
– hurt and
desire to
see this
precious
lost and
lonely soul
find what
his heart
longed for.
Jack prayed,
“Father,
please, let
your WILL be
done. Please
touch
Harold’s
life in a
way that
only you
can.” As
Harold
prayed those
words, deep
inside him
he heard
these words,
“I AM and I
WILL. The
heart you
have for
Harold is
not of you,
but of ME. I
am moving in
you and will
continue to
do so. I
love Harold
with an
everlasting
love. Trust
and obey me
and you will
see my
glory.”
Realizing he
was hearing
directly
from his
Heavenly
Father, Jack
pulled his
car aside to
the edge of
road. He got
out and
lifted his
hands toward
the starlit
night and
began to
worship.
Praising
God, he
whispered,
“Thank You
Jesus…Thank
You for
moving in
me, Lord.
Thank you
for your
heart that
NONE should
perish.
Thank you
for your
hope, mercy
and grace.
It’s YOUR
goodness
that leads
us to turn
to you.
Thank you
for who you
are.”
Meanwhile a
few miles
back at the
old
farmhouse,
Harold
carefully
studied his
new
surroundings.
He slowly
paced the
house,
staring at
old family
pictures. He
came to one
picture in
particular
and froze in
his tracks.
He quickly
lifted it up
off the end
table
nestled
close to the
couch. It
was a
picture of
Jack dressed
in military
gear. The
frame
surrounding
it had the
outstretched
arms of
Jesus and
right beside
the picture
was an old
book titled:
Prayer
Journal.
Harold
looking
around
sheepishly,
but with
great
curiosity,
opened and
read what it
said. It was
written by
Jack’s
mother. Its
words were
more than
profound…
Jack’s First
Day at War
Dear Lord,
With great
angst I
write this
prayer.
Heavenly
Father, I
realize you
know all too
well what it
means to
send a son
into harm’s
way. I thank
you so much
for the fact
that you
sent your
ONLY Son to
die for me
and my
family.
Lord, I fear
I fall
short. As I
watched my
son board
the plane to
fly into
harm’s way,
I did NOT
want to let
him go. But
I realize
the duty and
the call. I
know your
Word says
you send
angels to
keep charge
over us. I
BEG YOU NOW
Lord, that
each and
every moment
that my son
is gone that
you, oh Lord
would send
angels to
keep charge
over him.
Keep guard
over him and
bring
him home
safe and
sound, in
Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Harold
scanned
through the
pages…
Day
20, day 70,
day 300, day
365.
Thank you Lord for keeping him
safe as I
continue to
stand in the
gap and pray
that you
would
continue
guard over
his life,
spirit,
soul, and
body...
Jack’s
Second Year
at War
THANK YOU JESUS, JACK’S COMING HOME –
ALIVE! They
told me had
the bullet
been any
closer, he’d
be dead. But
by your
grace he’s
alive! I
know by whom
that miracle
was wrought
Lord and all
I can say
is: THANK
YOU JESUS!
Harold
studied the
journal.
Must be
nice, he
thought,
wish someone
had been
praying for
me
like that.
Choking back
tears,
profound
loneliness
invaded
Harold’s
thoughts.
RING.
RING.
RING…
There in the
kitchen, the
telephone
was ringing.
Harold
paused and
decided to
answer,
“Hello?”
“Hey Harold,
so glad you
picked up,”
Jack’s voice
said on the
other line.
“I forgot to
tell you
about the
shower. The
cold knob is
really the
hot and the
hot knob is
really the
cold.”
Harold
interrupted
with
laughter,
“Is that
right?”
Jack
continued,
“Well
anyway,
didn’t want
you to scald
yourself.”
Harold
promptly
responded,
“Well no, I
wouldn’t
want that
either,
thanks. And
by the way,
thanks
again, this
is mighty
kind of
you.”
“Well you
are very
welcome to
stay as long
as you need
and hey, get
a good
night’s rest
will you?”
Jack said
with a
laugh.
“Will do,”
replied
Harold.
Harold hung
up the phone
and again
had to ask,
Why me?
The next
morning,
Harold sat
up in bed
and
stretched
big with a
yawn.
Clean-shaven
and feeling
so refreshed
from
sleeping in
such a
comfortable
bed, he
jumped up
and ran to
take another
shower.
Wow, two showers in two days. This is the life,
he thought,
I could get
used to
this.
But no
sooner had
those
thoughts
come,
Harold’s
pessimistic
side kicked
in:
Just who am I kidding? This
ain’t real
and this
ain’t for
me.
Depression
began to
settle in
once again.
Walking out
of the
shower and
over to his
old shaggy
and tattered
clothes,
Harold
realized he
would have
to put on
his same old
clothes. He
somberly
climbed back
into bed
wanting to
hide from
the world.
Suddenly
there was a
knock at the
door,
“Harold, you
awake?”
It was Jack.
He was
holding a
cup of
coffee in
his hand and
carrying a
duffel bag.
Harold
hurried to
open the
door—quickly
putting on
the robe he
had found by
his bedside
the night
before. Jack
stood
smiling ear
to ear
startling
Harold back
to his new
reality.
“Good
morning! Did
you sleep
well? Hope
the bed was
comfortable.
Hey, I
brought you
some coffee
and
HERE…hope
these, fit.
I have some
clothes that
don’t quite
fit me. I
think they
might fit
you better.”
Harold was
so stunned
that he
couldn’t say
a word, as
Jack
continued,
“I think I
got this
last year
for
Christmas.
But hey –
they must
think I’m
skinnier
than I am,”
he said
laughing.
Harold still
in silence
and shock
opened the
duffel bag
to see new
clothes –
something he
hadn’t worn,
since God
only knows
when.
“Well, uh
yeah, these
should work
just fine.
If you don’t
mind I’ll
step in
there and
put ‘em on.”
Jack with a
smile on his
face said,
“Oh yes, by
all means
please do.”
Harold
stepped into
the bathroom
and into the
new clothes.
Taking a
look in the
mirror,
Harold felt
a tear on
his
weathered
cheek.
How long, he
tried to
remember,
how long
since anyone
had given
him the time
of day or
taken any
kind of
notice?
Feeling
humbled and
unworthy but
all the
while so
thankful, he
stepped out
of the
bathroom,
sheepishly.
“What can I
say but
thanks? I
clean up
pretty good,
huh?”
Jack
responded,
“Well that’s
just a
start. I’ve
got more
clothes that
don’t fit,
but it
appears they
might be
just your
size. Say,
you must be
starving and
I need to
get to the
restaurant.
How does
another
Champion’s
Breakfast
sound?”
If you keep
feeding me
like that,
these
clothes
might not be
my size for
too long,”
Harold said
with a
chuckle,
“but sure,
yeah. How
can I say no
to that?”
Getting into
Jack’s
vehicle,
Harold
noticed
right away
the Bible
sitting in
the tray. A
wooden cross
hung from
the rearview
mirror and a
sticky note
that read,
“For I know
the plans I
have for
you, says
the Lord, to
give you a
hope and a
future.”
Jack got
into the
truck and
closed the
door.
“You sure
must be a
religious
fellow
Jack,”
Harold said
shaking his
head. “I’ve
never taken
to religion
– didn’t
reckon it
could do me
much good.”
Jack paused
and looked
at Harold,
“You’re
right
Harold. It
wouldn’t do
you any
good.”
Jack tuned
the key and
started the
engine.
Harold’s
eyes grew
wide, “Why
not me?” he
asked.
“Well, you
see,
religion
does NOBODY
any good,”
Jack
responded.
“But you
obviously
put it into
practice.
You have a
Bible and
you do good
deeds,”
Harold
replied.
Jack turned
to Harold
and with
great
compassion
said, “It’s
NOT RELIGION
Harold, its
JESUS.
Knowing Him
is what
makes me
want to do
good things
and it’s Him
whom I seek;
to know Him,
to actually
get to know
Him.”
Harold could
hear the
passion in
Jack’s voice
as he
continued,
“Look out
there Harold
what do you
see? You see
the morning
sun, the
dew, the
grass, the
trees, and
the birds.
Do you hear
them? The
one who made
all that –
the very one
who woke you
up this
morning and
gave you
another day,
desires that
you and I
would seek
to KNOW HIM.
Isn’t that
amazing? And
Harold, you
will want to
KNOW HIM,
when you
realize all
that He’s
done for
YOU.”
Seeing that
Harold was
uncomfortable
with the
conversation,
Jack said,
“We can talk
more Harold,
but let’s
get going,
breakfast is
calling.”
Jack put the
truck in
drive and
started down
the road.
Harold
looked out
and around
him as he
and Jack
drove toward
the
restaurant.
Jack’s words
reverberated
in his mind:
“The very
one who woke
you up this
morning and
gave you
another
day…desires
that you and
I would seek
to know
Him.”
This is really awesome, Harold thought to himself as
he bit into
the sausage.
The biscuits
and gravy
were
delicious.
Eggs and
bacon cooked
to
perfection,
just as they
were the day
before.
Diving in
full bore,
Harold ate
until his
could hold
no more.
Once he
finished, he
sat looking
around the
restaurant.
Over in a
corner, he
saw Jack and
his crew
huddled in a
circle. They
were all
holding
hands and
their heads
were bowed.
Harold’s
curiosity
caused him
to turn an
ear in their
direction.
He leaned
over and
tried to
silence the
other
background
noises as he
heard,
“Heavenly
Father, we
ask that
each and
every person
that steps
foot into
this place
today would
sense your
presence and
know that
this place
is
different.
We pray Lord
that this
would be a
place of
refuge.
As we
have prayed
so many
times
before, we
are praying
believing
that this
truly is a
‘table in
the
wilderness’
in Jesus’
name, AMEN.”
The circle
broke. The
cook and
waitresses
scattered to
resume their
daily
duties.
Heading
toward
Harold, Jack
asked,
“Well? How’s
it, tasting
today?
Harold
nodded his
head in
approval,
“Great! It
tastes
great!”
Harold sat
in the
booth, his
stomach full
and his
heart
warming. He
watched
silently as
he noticed
one of the
waitresses
take a
hearty
breakfast to
what
appeared to
be a single
mom and her
three young
kids.
Straining to
hear her
words, the
waitress
spoke, “This
breakfast is
compliments
of the
owner. He
has said
that you are
his very
special
guests of
the day.”
Harold could
see the
emotion in
the mother’s
face, “Thank
you, thank
you,” she
was saying
to the
waitress.
Jack with
his usual
smile,
walked up
alongside
the
waitress,
“Ma’am, just
want you to
know…the
King of all
kings has
instructed
us to take
good care of
you today.
Is there
anything
else we can
do for you?”
The mother
began to
sob, “I had
just prayed,
God if you
are real,
please show
me.”
Jack kneeled
down to her
side and
motioned for
a couple of
other
waitresses
to come
over.
“Ma’am, if
you don’t
mind, I’d
like to take
this time
and not only
tell you
that, yes,
He is real,
but I’d also
sure like to
introduce
you to Him.
I want to
share with
you all He
has done for
you.”
Harold sat
in the
distance,
watching and
listening as
Jack told
this single
young
mother…“Before
you were
even formed
in your
mother’s
womb…God
Himself had
spoken of
you. You are
His
handiwork
and you have
been
fearfully
and
wonderfully
made. For
years the
Lord has
given you
day after
day as a
gift…hoping
you would
ask, ‘Who
made me? And
who put me
here?’ There
have been
many who
claimed to
be the one
who did, but
there was
only ONE in
particular
who came to
this earth,
born of a
virgin,
lived a
sinless
life,
performed
many
miracles,
and that Man
was Jesus.
He announced
that, ‘You
(meaning all
of mankind)
will put me
to death BUT
in three
days time I
will be
alive
again…and
whoever
calls upon
ME shall
NEVER
DIE…for I am
the
resurrection
and the life
and they
that believe
upon me,
though they
were dead,
YET shall
they LIVE.’”
Jack
continued on
with his
plea and
then asked
permission
to help
invite Jesus
into her
life. The
mother
nodded with
approval.
Jack and the
waitresses
formed
another
circle with
the young
mother. As
Jack was
starting to
close his
eyes to
begin to
pray, he
felt a tap
on his
shoulder. It
was Harold’s
hand.
“Jack, can I
invite Jesus
into my
life, too?”
he asked
with a
broken
voice.
Jack could
not contain
his emotion
and began to
cry as he
answered
Harold’s
question,
“MOST
CERTAINLY.”
Feeling the
presence of
God in his
restaurant
that day,
Jack decided
to be bold
and invite
all of his
customers to
join in
prayer.
“Please, if
I may – this
is a most
glorious
day, a day
like no
other. You
are all
invited to
join us as
we call upon
the Savior –
your Creator
– Jesus
Christ. If
you too,
want to know
for certain
that when
your time
ends on this
earth that
you can and
will have
eternal life
in heaven,
please come
join this
circle.”
Jack,
through his
obedience
witnessed
the glory of
God as he
was allowed
to see God’s
Spirit move
in him and
through him
to touch his
world and
those around
him.
That night,
back at the
old
farmhouse,
Harold got
on his knees
and began to
thank Jesus
for all that
He had done
for him and
for bringing
him to this
town.
Across town,
that same
single
mother of
three tucked
in her young
children.
“Mommy,
since we all
asked Jesus
into our
hearts that
means we are
going to be
a family
forever?”
the youngest
child asked.
“Yes Honey,
that’s what
the nice man
said.
Remember, he
said whoever
believes in
Jesus shall
be saved
forever. So
yes, we are
going to be
a family
forever,”
she replied.
“That’s good
mommy, I
want you to
be my mommy
forever…”
No sooner
had she
pulled the
covers
around her
little girl,
A LOUD
TRUMPET
SOUNDED
followed by
a mighty
shout: “COME
UP HERE!”
Jack,
Harold, the
single mom
and her
children
joined
millions of
believers
worldwide as
they
ascended to
their
glorious
destiny.
Jack found
himself face
down before
the Lord
crying his
heart out.
The glorious
presence of
God
encompassed
them all.
Jesus came,
lifted up
Jack and
brought him
to the
Father.
“Here he is
Father…”
Jesus said,
“WELL DONE
MY CHILD.”
This was
heard all
throughout
heaven.
“I was
hungry and
you gave me
food, I was
thirsty and
you gave me
a drink. I
was homeless
and you gave
me a bed.”
Jack broke
down once
again and
began to
cry, “When
Lord, when
did I give
you a drink.
When did I
feed you? As
he stood
there
shaking and
trembling in
wonderment,
he felt a
tap on his
shoulder.
It was
Harold.
“Thank you
Jack for
sharing
Jesus with
me so I can
be here with
our awesome
Lord in this
incredible
place and
saved for
eternity,”
he said.
He gave Jack
a huge hug
and they
both wept
with great
joy.
They had
made it…They
were both
ready for
that
glorious
day!
FOOTNOTE
This is the
first of a
series of
short
stories from
my,
Sounding the Alarm Preludes to the Rapture collection. Please feel
free to
download the
stories as
formatted
and use them
as
witnessing
material.
Tim Cameron
timcameron@centurytel.net