The word of God is alive and powerful!  What word?  Where is it found in the Bible. The great prophet Isaiah wrote these powerful words that have given solace to thousands who were in need of a power much greater than they could find in themselves.

Isa. 41:10, listen to these powerful words…fear thou not for I AM with thee, be not dismayed, for I AM thy God, I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

The dying notice to my Dad. This powerful scripture was quoted to my dad just before learning of life-ending terminal cancer. What was his response when told he had only 6 weeks to live? “Well, no one can live forever, I’ve had a good life, the LORD has been good to me, and …I accept it!” Powerful words from my precious Dad. 

Death of a deaf-mute.  On a unique occasion, which I considered to be an assignment from God, I arrived at the scene of an accident on Gallatin Road, pried the driver’s door open and laid the injured man on  the street. 

I knelt down before this critically injured man, told him about the Grace and saving power of Jesus Christ and asked if he understood what I WAS SAYING ABOUT THE GOSPEL AND HIS NEED TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS HIS ONLY HOPE TO HEAVEN…he nodded yes, and made indistinguishable muttering sounds. 

I saw that he was not going to live very long and I said, “Sir, I am going to be honest with you… I don’t think you are going to make it.”   He looked totally helpless and I wanted to be sure he understood the gospel so I pressed further to determine that he truly understood. I asked him to blink his eyes twice if he understood the message… this was attempted two or three times and each time he blinked his eyes twice to indicate he understood these critical words of the gospel. 

I can only hope that he understood. He was in my thoughts and prayers for hours but he would die from this accident in 4 hours. The paper gave an account of the accident and said the decedent was a deaf mute. I hope the head nod meant he understood the gospel and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. Only eternity will tell. I hope to see him on my entrance into Heaven. 

Death by cancer in Madison Hospital. This same scripture was given to a man who was in excruciating pain from stomach cancer and facing certain death in Madison Hospital. During this trying time, the gospel was presented clearly and slowly and after several presentations, this gentleman placed his faith in Jesus and happily rested on Isa 41:10. 

In 3 days, I conducted his funeral. He had not been to church in many years, perhaps never!  Chronic alcohol and excessive smoking had robbed this man of many future years of what may have been a much better life. 

Commit to memory. This scripture should be memorized by every person who is a member of Gods Royal Family. It will encourage and sustain you and you never know when you may need to share it with someone in need. God sends the word out, that’s His job; our job is to share it and tell it and then leave the results to him…you may be assured; it never returns to Him VOID! 

Psalm 34, A psalm that sustained me when my life was devastated by an unwanted divorce. Someone I loved left me and my children. Our family was broken and never returned to its original foundation. When you leave someone, if circumstances have been intolerable, in most cases it’s a relief! But when you are left and did not want to be left, it is much worse than leaving someone. To be left is not a relief it is excruciating pain. A great question arose… where could I go but to the Lord. 

Vs 4, I sought the Lord and He answered me. He delivered me from all my fears. 

Vs 5-6, Those who look to him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man cried and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. 

Vs 18, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.     

Psalm 40. My son and I experienced unexpected, unbearable, and shocking personal pain. It was a horror that was beyond human tolerance. We were so cast down and so devastated that ONLY THE LORD could hold us up…. we could go to no one or to anything for help, we were so shocked, so hurt, and so numb with pain that we could hardly breathe. I remember placing may hands on a door frame and screaming, crying, and wailing in pain and disbelief! 

So, what did we do? What happened? In this unbearable pain, we sat down, opened the word of God and began to read, reflect, and think about what God would have us to consider during this major trial? 

Vs 1, we waited, probably not patiently but God heard our cry, 

Vs 2, he lifted us up out of the slimy pit, he set our feet on a rock, he gave us a firm place to stand. 

Vs 16, may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you 

Vs 17, I am poor and needy, may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer, O my God, do not delay. 

We needed HIM and HE came to rescue and uphold us…. Joel and I have reviewed this dark place many times and every time we look back our mouths are stopped, and we are left only to rejoice and embrace each other as we realize that it was God who provided a wide door of deliverance, in our darkest hour! 

Psalm 116: 3-5. Al Arnett was one of my best buddies in the Navy. We served on the USS Tillamook ATA-192, home-ported In Adak Alaska and  Oahu, Hawaii. He is from Alabaster, Alabama. We served together for two years. After being discharged from the Navy for over 15 years I received a telephone call from Al. 

It was good to hear from him! He was just outside my city and said, “Is this Bo my old and best running buddy?” I recognized his voice immediately and said, “yeah Al, it is good to hear from my old friend.” “You devil”, he said, “I’ve been looking all over for you and I finally found you. We are gonna go out and raise some hell tonight, just like we used to do. We’re goanna’ make up for some lost time!” 

I said, “Al, you come on over but there are some things I need to tell you about! Some big things have happened in my life.” “Ok, ok, I’ll see you in a few!” We reminisced for a while and then he asked, “what is this stuff you wanna’ talk about?” I led him down to my study that was lined with doctrinal and bible study books. There was a microphone that had the letters “The bible Hour” where I recorded my Bible lessons that were to be aired on the radio. 

He looked around for a few seconds and asked, “what the Hell is this BO?” My Navy name was “BO”. We sat down and I shared my testimony with him; it took about 30-40 minutes. He squirmed the entire time and did not ask any questions. After about an hour, Al told his wife Ann… it’s time to go! We are not going out tonight! Away they went back to Alabaster, Alabama. His wife Ann was a believer and after a week or so she called and said, “Al was really upset about what you told him. He gripped the steering when all the way home and said several times…” I came to see my old friend BO and he was not there. I don’t know who the hell that was but it was not Bo.” 

For the first time Al went to church with Ann the following week and after a few weeks Al received Jesus Christ as his personal savior. Ann called and said that Al wanted me to come down and preach at his baptismal service and give the people at his church the same testimony I shared with him when he found out I wasn’t the Bo he knew in the Navy. The service went very well and it was a high privilege to speak at his church and then to see him baptized. 

Al came to visit my Church on several occasions. Where we once frolicked, drank and lived on the wild side, I will never forget when we bowed our heads, held hands, prayed, cried and fellowshipped together as brothers in Christ. A few years later I received another call from Al and he left a message asking me to get in touch with him. I did not get back in touch for a few weeks as I was busy in what I thought were more pressing matters… my bad!! 

When I finally returned his call, his wife answered and said, “I’m sorry Bo, Al died of cancer a few days ago. It came on rapidly and in no time, he was gone. But Bo, every time he thought about you, he smiled and said he couldn’t get over you!” I feel so badly and deeply regret that I delayed in getting back to him. 

He is in heaven and I’ll see him there. And for those that read or hear this story about Al Arnette please know, I’ll probably never see you but if you have put all of your faith in Jesus Christ, I will see you heaven. You’ll probably see me talking to my friend Al Arnette! We have a lot of catching up to do. 

For anyone who may need to get in touch with an old friend, don’t put it off…call now and make sure you give the gospel to anyone who does not understand that going to heaven and possessing eternal life is as simple as realizing you cannot save yourself and you must place all of your faith and trust in the King of Glory, Jesus Christ the only Savior of mankind.