The Dead Peasants File
Page 21
“It feels good,” Travis said.
“Yeah,” Dillon said, “and nobody is chasing us this time.”
They all laughed.
“Julia and I want to help you,” Travis said. “We're going to let everybody know what kind of pastor they've got here.”
Christopher looked at both of them and grinned.
“That's right,” Dillon said. “You can count us in on that too.”
Christopher laughed. “This is great. I can't believe it.”
Dillon grabbed his arm. “You know what else is great? I got my job back at Morgan. The guy that took Walter's place is one of my buddies. He called me yesterday and told me to get to my post tomorrow when we reopen. Can you believe that?”
“Yes I can,” Christopher said. “I can.”
Christopher sat by Rachel and the boys while the worship team led in several songs. He couldn't remember a time when he felt so at home – or so glad to be there. Rachel snuggled next to his arm when they were seated. When it was his time to speak, he could see that the audience members were on the edge of their seats. He looked out into the crowd and could see Phyllis Eastland sitting with one of her sons. Jim Lawrence was standing in the back with his arms crossed.
Christopher took a deep breath and enjoyed the exhilaration of being back in the pulpit. “It feels good to be back home,” he began. “I want to thank you for allowing me to be gone a couple of weeks and I appreciate the men who preached while I was out.
“I've tried to get some thoughts together that might help explain what I've been through. I searched my mind for a Bible story that fits this adventure. I thought about how frightened I was during the ordeal, but how I knew that God was with me through it all. God is a God of comfort and he is a God of salvation, and he saved me several times when I thought my life was over.
“Really, the only story that comes to mind is that familiar story of a young shepherd boy who takes on a giant. David was minding his own business when he took food to his brothers at the battlefield. He didn't realize that he was about to find himself on the front line of the fight. He didn't know that he himself was about to challenge Goliath. But with God's strength, he did. He took him on and took him down.” Christopher paused and looked out at Dillon and Travis. “Five smooth stones. He took five with him, but only used one. He took aim and let it fly and God did the rest. We live in a world full of Goliaths. A world full of powerful people and powerful companies that thumb their noses at the true God, but when we see evil, we can stand against it. We can stand up for what it right.
“Jesus said the gates of hell cannot stand against the church. I think it's time we went on the offense against evil. It's time for us to take a stand for good. It's time for us to fight back.
“I wasn't trying to be a hero. I never wanted to be chased and shot at and captured. I never wanted to be in a helicopter crash or beat over the head.” He could see that some people's eyes grew as he said this. “I just wanted to stop a company from murdering its people.”
He looked out at Phyllis, who was wiping a tear. “And Phyllis, I want you to know that Ron's death was not in vain. He lost his life in this tragedy, but because of him hundreds of people may have been saved. I want you to be very proud of him.”
Christopher looked at Jim. “And Jim, you lost your house trying to protect me.” Christopher looked down, too emotional to speak for a moment, then regained himself. “I owe you one.”
Everyone laughed.
“And we're going to rebuild your house.”
Everyone applauded.
“We're going to have a big yard sale and maybe a car wash and bake sale, and we're going to rebuild.”
The congregation applauded again.
He cleared his throat. “There was a passage that kept going through my mind last week. It gave me great comfort and I want to share it with you this morning. He opened his Bible to Lamentations, chapter three, and read from it. “He has filled me with bitter herbs and sated me with gall. He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, 'My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.' I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.'”
He closed the Bible and looked out at the congregation. “God has spoken; now it is our chance to respond to him.” He stepped down from the podium, and positioned himself in the front of the church.
The worship leader stood and led the congregation in an invitation hymn. Several people came to the front. Some were kneeling at the altar and others asked for prayer or to make a commitment. A father was weeping. Christopher sensed that he was winning back his congregation. Before the song ended, Travis and Julia, and Dillon, Jenny and Amy all came to join. Christopher was going to baptize most of them. He felt his heart might burst with joy.
After the service, members hugged and encouraged him. It took a long time to clear out the sanctuary, but when it was almost empty, one family remained. Christopher didn't know them. The man walked up to Christopher with his wife and two children. “You saved me,” he said.
“Well, thanks, but God does the saving,” Christopher said, shaking his hand firmly.
“No, you don't understand. My name was next on that list.”
Christopher's eyes grew large. He stared at him for a moment. “Really?”
“That's right. We drove from Nashville to meet you.” The man turned and looked at his wife, who was holding a gold-plated, long-stemmed rose. “And we want to give this to Mrs. Eastland.”
Christopher grinned and nodded. “Well, I think she would really appreciate that. Come, and I'll show you where she lives.”
L. Craig Harris lives in East Texas with his wife, Jodi, children, David and Savannah, and a spoiled dachshund named Jello. He has been writing columns for his hometown newspaper for more than twenty years. He graduated from Texas A&M with a journalism degree and became a television reporter for KLTV in the ‘80s.
He left the television station in 1991 to become a student minister. He is currently a circuit-riding preacher, pastoring two churches. He also works in technology for a school district. You can read his inspirational columns at:
www.instantmessagelive.com.
The Dead Peasants File is his first work of fiction.