I see the need for God's divine power to be in operation at every church service...
For not all who walk through the doors of the prison's chapel are earnest hearers of the Word of God. Some, unfortunately, are troublemakers and thorns. Jesus Himself said that the good wheat and the wicked weeds which try to corrupt the wheat must grow together until the harvest at the end of the age.
To illustrate this point, today, the sharp-eyed ushers and "door greeters" who always position themselves by the entrance of the chapel to welcome the men into the fellowship, were alert and ready. They diffused a potentially explosive situation. Two men, right at the doorway of our little house of worship, were ready to square off and exchange punches. One even took a swing and grazed his neighbor's cheek. This could have resulted in a tumbling of bodies and a sparring of fists. But my men worked quickly to separate them.
One usher led one of the offenders into the hallway to cool off, while the other took the second man into the chapel itself and eased him into a corner to calm him down. They did a great job. The prison guards did not have to get involved at all, and our service went well from here. Even the two men, who previously tussled, sat quietly for the remainder of our 90-minute gathering.
I'm thankful for the good heads up work the ushers did. They diffused what could have been a bad situation. They kept the peace. And this, I believe, was accomplished through the wisdom and power of God.
D.B.
To illustrate this point, today, the sharp-eyed ushers and "door greeters" who always position themselves by the entrance of the chapel to welcome the men into the fellowship, were alert and ready. They diffused a potentially explosive situation. Two men, right at the doorway of our little house of worship, were ready to square off and exchange punches. One even took a swing and grazed his neighbor's cheek. This could have resulted in a tumbling of bodies and a sparring of fists. But my men worked quickly to separate them.
One usher led one of the offenders into the hallway to cool off, while the other took the second man into the chapel itself and eased him into a corner to calm him down. They did a great job. The prison guards did not have to get involved at all, and our service went well from here. Even the two men, who previously tussled, sat quietly for the remainder of our 90-minute gathering.
I'm thankful for the good heads up work the ushers did. They diffused what could have been a bad situation. They kept the peace. And this, I believe, was accomplished through the wisdom and power of God.
D.B.