I just finished writing a letter to my friend, Billy...
He and I have been corresponding for many years. In his most recent letter, he shared with me the news of how he led his mother to the Lord only weeks earlier. He was thrilled about this, and I am very happy for him. I will now share a portion of what I wrote in my letter to him:
"Hey, Brother Billy!
"It's a beautiful day here in New York. The sun is shining and the humidity
is low. Fall is my favorite time of the year, and I'll be glad when it arrives.
I'm not a summer person, and I take it that Nebraska gets real hot, too. I've
heard about the terrible drought in the Midwest. I've been praying for farmers
and ranchers asking the Lord to have mercy on them. But I realize our nation is
also under various kinds of divine chastisement, and this is one of them.
"I have your letter dated August 17. I want to thank you, Billy, for all the
encouragement you've given me throughout the years. Your mail and prayers
are a blessing. Thank you and I have asked God to bless you in every way
possible.
"That's great news about your mother. I pray God's best for her life. My mom
died in 1967, and of course I didn't know Jesus back then. I was only fourteen.
But I hope that in those few months when my mom was in the hospital waiting
to die - she had cancer and passed away at the age of 52 - that someone shared
Christ with her and she accepted the Lord. I have no idea if this happened, but
I hope it did.
"And thanks for your comments about the New York Daily News article
(August 10, 2012). I was very nervous about the 35th anniversary as I knew the
media would revisit the past. As it turned out, God showed me great favor. I
received nice comments about it. A well-known pastor from New York City
sent me a letter expressing his joy at the way Christ was presented to the
residents of his community. I am very grateful.
"For other news, I did not make a job change for now. I am sticking with what I
have. I work in the prison's 64-man mental health housing area in the afternoons,
and in the kitchen at night. And for some other great news, my noisy neighbor was
transferred. I have a new neighbor now, an older man who is quiet, kind, and
respectful. The Lord heard my prayers! Have a blessed day..."
D.B.
"Hey, Brother Billy!
"It's a beautiful day here in New York. The sun is shining and the humidity
is low. Fall is my favorite time of the year, and I'll be glad when it arrives.
I'm not a summer person, and I take it that Nebraska gets real hot, too. I've
heard about the terrible drought in the Midwest. I've been praying for farmers
and ranchers asking the Lord to have mercy on them. But I realize our nation is
also under various kinds of divine chastisement, and this is one of them.
"I have your letter dated August 17. I want to thank you, Billy, for all the
encouragement you've given me throughout the years. Your mail and prayers
are a blessing. Thank you and I have asked God to bless you in every way
possible.
"That's great news about your mother. I pray God's best for her life. My mom
died in 1967, and of course I didn't know Jesus back then. I was only fourteen.
But I hope that in those few months when my mom was in the hospital waiting
to die - she had cancer and passed away at the age of 52 - that someone shared
Christ with her and she accepted the Lord. I have no idea if this happened, but
I hope it did.
"And thanks for your comments about the New York Daily News article
(August 10, 2012). I was very nervous about the 35th anniversary as I knew the
media would revisit the past. As it turned out, God showed me great favor. I
received nice comments about it. A well-known pastor from New York City
sent me a letter expressing his joy at the way Christ was presented to the
residents of his community. I am very grateful.
"For other news, I did not make a job change for now. I am sticking with what I
have. I work in the prison's 64-man mental health housing area in the afternoons,
and in the kitchen at night. And for some other great news, my noisy neighbor was
transferred. I have a new neighbor now, an older man who is quiet, kind, and
respectful. The Lord heard my prayers! Have a blessed day..."
D.B.