Guest Coffee Talk #144
July 22, 2008
By Don Hawkins Rev. Don Hawkins (donh@fcfwv.org)
is the Senior Pastor of Faith Christian Fellowship, Assemblies of God (Mt. Clare, WV). Don has served as Director of Church Relations at Valley Forge Christian College, and he founded Shepherd's Staff Ministries, a ministry providing support for pastors and churches.
This Guest Coffee Talk is taken from the book: Rest Stops for the Soul
Stories - Reflections - Poems
by Don Hawkins
Note from Ric Walston:
I have long thought that too many Christians try to make Christianity seem like an odd, ultra spiritual—and even sometimes magical—religion.
Recently, I acquired a book in which the author has short stories and more. I greatly enjoyed two particular stories that he relates in his book, and so I asked him if we could turn them into a Guest Coffee Talk, and he was gracious enough to agree. So, for your enjoyment, here's an excerpt called "The Twilight Zone" from his book.
The Twilight Zone
When some people "get spiritual" you can almost hear the tune to that old Twilight Zone playing in the background: "Do, do, do do..."
Of demons and ushers . . .
One Sunday, many years ago, a fellow came up to me after the morning worship service. He was all excited. He said, "Pastor, I saw four demons leave the service this morning!"
I didn't want to get into the world of the demonic. I had taught Sunday School and preached and was tired. I wanted to go eat. I kept walking to the nearest exit. I said, "You saw WHO do WHAT?"
He said, "I saw four demons leave the service this morning!" ("do, do, do do...").
I said, "When?"
He said, "It was right after the offering was taken and before you preached."
I said, "O no, those were the ushers! They were just taking the money out to count it!"
He never came back. I'm sure I wasn't "spiritual" enough for him.
Of raising tables and Jesus . . .
On another occasion "Judy" called me from the hospital. She said, "Pastor, I'm in the hospital and I'm scared. I need you to get up here as soon as possible!" I assured her I would be there faster than a speeding bullet.
When I entered the room, sure enough Judy was in the hospital and she was scared. I said, "Judy, what's the problem, hon?"
She said, "Pastor, you see that table?"
I said, "This table?"
She said, "Yes, that table!"
I said, "Yeah."
She said, "Last night that table came up off the floor!" (Do, do, do, do...)
I said, "You mean it rose up off the floor? How high?" (Inquiring minds want to know!)
Judy said, "About half way between the floor and the ceiling!" (The "do, do, Do DO", is getting louder!)
"Judy, what do you think made that table rise up off the floor?"
"I think the devil did it!" (DO, DO, DO, DO!)
""Why do you think the devil would do it?"
"I think he did it to frighten me!"
I said, "Well, it worked didn't it? Judy, you know I could lift this table. That's no big deal. But on the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead! Now that's a big deal! Don't worry about the one who can raise a table being against you when you've got One who raised the dead being for you!"
The music died down and Judy rediscovered a peace that passes all understanding.
"If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31.
