long post-- Testamony/Confession

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Oh God…. Not this guy!

On Tuesday may 20, 1997 I was taking a break between roofing
appointments about 5:30 in the afternoon,  I needed to get some paper
work done and had about 20 minutes to kill before my next apt.  I drove
down to a local Convenience store and after buy myself a soda I pulled
up next to the street under a shade tree and got out my paper work . 

While I worked I listened to a preaching tape I had there in the truck. 
The subject of the tape was… Soul winning.

As I listened to the preacher on the tape tell about witnessing to folks
that are…
"unsavory"  He told how he had worked with a young drunk,  one who would
not work, sold blood to eat, how he had lost a young preacher because he
would not run this young drunk off.  he just kept working with him.  The
young man he was talking about became the National UPC Prison 
Ministries Director Bro. MaHanny.   I like to think I am a Soul Winner. 
I teach Home Bible Study,  I work a lot with new converts I try… But the
preaching on the  tape began to get to me… as I listed to the tape I
could feel the spirit of God.  And put down my pin and prayed this
prayer.

"  God I’m so hungry to win someone… would you please open an
opportunity for me to talk to  someone tonight who wants a change in
there lives"

it was not a long prayer,  not special,   no bells rang,  it was a
simple request.
And I was sincere.  What was unusual was what happened next.

As I went back to work I continued to listen to the tape,  about 2 min.
latter I saw a movement in my rear view mirror and looked back.  There
was a middle aged man in a wheel chair trying to wheel himself up the
slight hill from the Connivance store to the side walk… he was obviously
have trouble so I helped him up onto the sidewalk.

He said thanks and rolled himself up next to my truck as I again started
to work on my paper work ignoring this bum.

He interrupted my thoughts and told me he needed to sit there a few
minutes to rest.  I told him OK and continued with my work.

after about 2 minutes he ask me what I was listening to I told him it
was a preaching tape, and thought to myself I wish this guy would go on.

He sat there for perhaps another 3 minutes before he asked a question
which finally got my attention…  He asked

 " What’s he preaching about? "

I looked at him for perhaps 5 Seconds and these thoughts went through my
carnal head…

Oh God… not him!  I don’ t  want this guy… look at him… he needs a
shave,
he has a 5th in his wheel chair cup holder,  He has a Cigarette in his
hands and Cigarette burns all over his pants.  Oh God… I want a MaHanny!

I’m not proud of those 5 Seconds but its is the truth so its part of
this story.

As I sat there in my truck looking at this man I began to cry… I had
asked God for someone who wanted a change in there lives and nearly
missed the opportunity.

The Guy asked me what was wrong,  and I told him about my prayer just
before he showed up.  Then He began to cry.

This is what Greg told me.

I was hurt in a motorcycle accident 23 years ago,  I have been cussing
mad at God every since.  He had been in College,  engaged to a beautiful
young lady and had a bright future ahead of him.  

That was before he got drunk on night and tried to out-run the police on
his motorcycle,  Greg hit a curb flew 20 feet through the air and ended
up paralyzed from the mid chest down. 

He has been in that chair for 23 years,  The Gal left, and he is alone, 
each day he makes his wheel chair trip 11/2 miles from his apartment
down the main street of Pittsburgh California and back … that’s his life
along with his bottle he picks up at the connivance store every day
where I met him.

He told me things had been going like this for years,  Until 2 weeks ago
he had had enough.  He sat in his living room looking at his loaded 357
Magnum but could not get up the nerve to use it.  He told me he prayed
this prayer.

"God I know its not your fault I got hurt.  But I cant take any more,  I
have to have a change in my life,  would you help me."

I guess to anyone walking past it would have been comical… 2 grown men
sitting there with tears running down there faces…

I don’t know what God has in store for Greg.  I’m picking him up at 5:30
tomorrow afternoon at 5:30 and he will be in a Pentecostal church for
the first time.

I’m sure God has something good in store for Greg,  He is hungry.

As for me… I still cry when I think how close I came to missing my
opportunity with  Greg.

Lets me know just how far I still have to go   
"Just to be like my Jesus"