by Pat Simmons
When Philip called back, Cameron hurried through the pleasantries. “I love your sister. I want to marry her, but Jesus is tearing us apart, not bringing us together.”
When Cameron finished venting, Philip’s first comment was simply, “Hmm.”
“If the Lord is pulling you two apart, then it’s for a good reason. What seems to be the sticking point?”
That was the million dollar question. “We seem to have a difference of opinion about the definition of being heaven-bound.” What was it about Philip that made him comfortable with sharing the details of his conversations with Gabrielle?
“You’ve come to me just as Nicodemus approached Jesus with a perplexing question. Despite his high IQ and status as a member of the Jewish ruling council, he couldn’t comprehend God’s complete, simple plan for salvation. In John 3:3–5, Jesus told him no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and spirit. Have you done that?”
“I didn’t think that was necessary if I accepted Christ and believed on Him that I’m saved.”
“Among other things, the Bible is God’s instruction in righteousness. I think we both can agree on that, but I would encourage you to complete your course work with Jesus. Are you attending church with my sister?”
“Some, but I just can’t get into the preaching,” Cameron admitted with a deep grunt. “I can’t focus. Maybe I needed to be under a tent,” he said off-handedly.
“I’m back stateside now to hold a weekend revival in Miami.”
It was just a joke, but Cameron gave it some real consideration. Maybe a change of environment might be good for him. Coming to a decision, he asked Philip for the times and location. “I’ll book my flight. Again, please don’t share this information with Gabrielle … I don’t want to come across as weak.”
“If only you would allow yourself to be weak, because that is when we are the strongest in the Lord,” Philip counseled and then gave him the information. “I look forward to seeing you, but let’s do some prep work before you come. It’s repenting time. Confess your faults to God, the sins you’ve committed with your body and in your mind. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Philip seemed to command his soul’s attention through the phone, causing Cameron to shut out everything around him. As he listened to the man of God pray, a tear escaped from Cameron’s eye for the first time in recent memory.
Something was wrong. Jamieson men did not cry. They were equipped to lead the world. Ever since he was a boy, he was drilled to have pride in himself. Now Philip was asking him to turn over his driver’s seat to Jesus and allow Him to direct his path.
Another tear escaped, as Philip prayed for him to have the faith to trust and believe not just handpicked Scriptures, but the whole counsel of God. When they ended the call, Cameron’s face was wet. The floodgate had opened.
You say I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing, and you don’t realize that you’re wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
Cameron blinked. It wasn’t Philip’s voice this time. It shook with the authority of God. Was Jesus condemning him? That’s when Cameron heard his own soul cry out, “Lord, save me.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Gabrielle hadn’t spoken with Cameron much in the past week. It was time to accept that she and Cameron had drifted apart. Talise’s mother-in-law had been right. There were still red flags.
Yet she had to give Cameron credit for trying. After their last conversation at the family reunion, he had attended church but only seemed to suffer through it for her sake.
Sniffling, Gabrielle dabbed her nose and finished her morning prayer. Getting up from her knees, she took a deep breath to gather her emotions. As she walked into the bathroom and studied her reflection in the mirror, she whispered, “Lost love.”
“Oh that men would give thanks and praise unto Me for My unfailing love and wondrous deeds,” God spoke from Psalm 107:15.
Gabrielle nodded and closed her eyes. “Yes, Lord, in good times and sad times, I will praise Your name,” she uttered, trying to let the words settle in her heart.
As she gathered mental strength, Gabrielle showered and began to praise Him for all He had done. She thanked Him for her family, health, job, safe travel to foreign countries over the years, and the love of a good man. The more she praised Him, the anointing fell. When the presence of the Lord descended, she worshiped Him in words and song.
After her shower, not only did her body feel clean, but her soul felt clean. With a ravishing appetite, she went into the kitchen. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was only seven thirty.
Checking the ID, it was her mother. She frowned. An early call could mean something was wrong. “Hello,” she answered tentatively. “Mom, is everything okay?”
“That’s why I was calling. I was sitting here reading my Bible, and God placed you on my heart. Are you okay, sweetie?”
How was she to answer that? If she said no, then her fellowship with God earlier would be in vain. But a yes response felt like a half truth. “I had church this morning with Jesus. I’ve been bummed lately about Cameron, and God wanted me to praise Him.”
With her phone anchored between her shoulder and ear, Gabrielle opened the refrigerator door and grabbed some eggs to make an omelet. She smiled, thinking about how her mother stuffed her omelets with two kinds of cheese and Italian sausage, but she didn’t have those ingredients.
“How do you know God is a healer unless you’re sick? How do you know God has the answer unless you have a problem? How do you know God is a way maker unless there’s no way out?” Veronica began to sing the lyrics to a song. Gabrielle was convinced God had given it especially to her mother when she was a child.
Closing her eyes, Gabrielle listened as tears fell. “Thank you, Momma.”
“Love is a good thing, sweetie. God has Cameron in your life for a reason. Maybe it was never about you, but Jesus was working on him. Remember, God has a blessing with your name on it. Trust Him for the gift.”
Gabrielle nodded. Soon the conversation turned to what she was mixing into her omelet, how her job was going, and the big case over which Drexel was presiding.
“I sure miss the airlines, when you could jump on the plane and come home just about any time.”
“Me too.”
“But that won’t keep me from my baby. Your dad and I can drive down, so can Drexel, and you know Dashan won’t want to be left out.”
Gabrielle imagined how nice it would be to see them again. “Sounds like fun, but hold off for now. I may be jetting off to the Philippines soon because of some restructuring at that office. I’ll know after a conference call this morning.”
“Will do. While you’re over there, bring home one of those hot Filipino men.”
“Right.” Gabrielle laughed at her mother’s nonsense. “I can’t handle the men here. What makes you think I can handle one over there?”
“Honey, you’ve been handling men all your life.”
“Yeah, and you see what that’s gotten me—a man with common sense, but no God sense,” Gabrielle griped, as they said their goodbyes. Immediately, remembering her prayer time with Jesus, she repented of her complaining.
“Okay, God. Let me rephrase that. I don’t want to be a nun.”
Cameron headed to the airport straight from his office. He had to agree with Gabrielle about her brother. There was something special about the evangelist. Philip truly had a gift if he could get Cameron on a plane to attend church.
The man of God had opened Cameron’s eyes to see that his life in Christ was deficient. Yes, Cameron already believed that God raised His Son, Jesus, from the dead, he believed in the Name of Jesus for his salvation, and he believed the Bible. The only thing left to fulfill was Acts 2:38. He was not ready to fully surrender his life to Christ.
Once he was settled in his seat on the plane, a woman made herself comfortable and sat next to him. Instantly, he thought about Gabrielle. At
this point in his life, despite all his worldly possessions, he had nothing to offer her.
The more his seatmate tried to engage him in idle conversation, the more he pulled his mind toward Jesus. He had fought hard not to lust after his woman, he wasn’t about to lust over a stranger. At times like this, he wanted a ring on Gabrielle’s finger and his too. More than anything, Cameron wanted them to belong to each other.
It had been a while since he’d visited Miami. Years ago, he attended the National Society for Black Engineers conference. The thought never once crossed his mind that he would return later for a tent revival service.
After landing, he located the ground transportation area to pick up his rental car. Programming the GPS, Cameron headed toward downtown Miami where his hotel on Biscayne was located. It was literally across the street from Bayfront Park where the revival would begin soon. He checked his watch—only an hour and a half to spare.
In spite of cutting it close, he was determined to be in attendance. Noting the many other nearby attractions, his immediate focus was on the revival. Nothing could distract him from it. Whatever confidence Gabrielle had in the Lord, Cameron wanted it also.
He checked in, showered in record time, and dressed for Miami’s eighty-degree, late September weather. Crossing Biscayne Boulevard, Cameron headed to the park where men and women were passing out flyers. Many wore T-shirts declaring Jesus Is Coming Back—Be Ready. He accepted a flyer, which invited the public to the Tina Hills Pavilion where the honorable Evangelist Philip Dupree would preach the uncensored Word of God.
Instead of a large white tent, the organizers had constructed a covered platform. A crowd was already gravitating toward the music. As though a magnet pulled him by a force greater than him, Cameron strolled through the crowd. Any other time, he would have been content sitting in the back. But not now. Cameron spied an empty chair near the front between two wide-hipped women.
Glancing around for other options, there weren’t any. Taking a deep breath, Cameron proceeded ahead. He was already out of his comfort zone. The pair seemed more than eager to shift their bottoms to make room for him. Seconds later, he was sandwiched in between. Evidently, the Lord had a sense of humor because Cameron wouldn’t be able to escape if he wanted to.
With his eyes closed, he didn’t want anything to distract him while he meditated on everything Philip had said the other night. When the music softened, a young man invited anyone who had something good to say about the Lord to stand and share it with the crowd. One after another, people testified about healings, drug deliverance, homes for homeless families, and so on.
Suddenly, Cameron felt ashamed that he had no ready testimony about what God had done for him. Jesus had blessed him with good health and a good life. As he continued to listen, one man boasted of how he had everything his heart desired, but he didn’t have Jesus.
“I was miserable without Jesus. Friends, women, and money could no longer satisfy the hunger in my life,” the older man said to the audience. “But one day, I found a Bible someone left on a table in a restaurant. I picked it up and began to read it. The next thing I knew, a woman came back to get her Bible. When she saw tears streaming from my eyes, God let her know His Word was to be shared. She told me that I could have it.”
He pumped a worn Bible in the air. “This is more valuable than my Lexus, my ten-room home, or the hundred-dollar bills I used to carry in my wallet just because.” When the man started dancing, others rejoiced with him. Even Cameron got on his feet and clapped along with those who shouted, “Praise Jesus!”
The testimonies continued, further convicting Cameron that he had shunned God without even knowing it. Soon enough, Philip came to the stage and asked everyone to stand.
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice!” he shouted. “If we fail to praise Him, the Bible says the Lord who created the wind, sea, and mountains will command the rocks to rise up and praise Him. Praise Jesus!” he instructed the crowd. More dancing, rejoicing, and talking to Jesus followed.
Finally, Philip regained the attention of the crowd, which had grown to a huge number.
“If you have your Bibles in hand, go with me to Galatians 5:19–21, and I’ll begin reading, ‘The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.’”
He closed his Bible. “That sounds scary, doesn’t it? And you should be scared if your lifestyle is listed among them. When is the last time you thought, read, or heard anyone preaching about hell?”
Cameron had to think. He couldn’t recall.
“If I don’t preach it, if it’s not discussed over the water cooler, or even if you choose to never think about it—that doesn’t mean hell isn’t ready and waiting for its next victim. Don’t let it be you. Just say no to the devil!”
For the next hour, with a captivated audience, Philip broke down the process of what it takes to be completely saved.
Finally, he ended with, “Come today and get your sins washed away. The blood of Jesus, without detergent or bleach, will wash you clean … won’t you come?”
Despite the tight fit between the two ladies, Cameron leaped from his seat. Accepting the call, he was ready to experience his Nicodemus moment.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Gabrielle received the news secondhand before Sunday’s church service. Talise via Ace told her that Cameron was out of town, and he didn’t offer any clues about his destination.
She had digested that tidbit with sorrow, despite the morning sermon about “Casting our cares on Jesus because He cares for us.”
As a couple, she was used to being privy to the details—both small and important—in Cameron’s life. Gabrielle told herself it didn’t matter anymore. She was packing for her own trip—a daylong flight to the Philippines. Unfortunately, her trip was a job-related one to put out fires and stabilize her staff.
Monday morning, she boarded the American Airlines plane for Chicago. It was her first of two stops, which would add up to a twenty-five-hour flight to Manila. At least, she had a two-and-a-half-hour layover where she could have breakfast with her parents.
They were waiting for her by the baggage claim area. After hugs and kisses, the Duprees whisked their daughter away to Yia Yia’s Pancake House for some special Belgian waffles. Once they were seated and had placed their orders, Veronica made her concerns known.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? I read that it’s monsoon season this time of year.”
“I know.” Gabrielle nodded. “You would think the company could have launched a new product line and handled restructuring another time of year. I won’t be there long, so I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Her father drummed his fingers on the table. “Still no word from Cameron, huh? I’m disappointed, but relieved that it’s over if he wasn’t going to do the right thing.”
Now Gabrielle wished she hadn’t told her mother about the ultimatum she gave Cameron. And he did try, so she couldn’t fault him for that. It was as if he was allergic to the walls of the church building.
“Bernard, don’t go worrying her about him before she gets on that plane, or it will ruin her flight,” her mother scolded him.
“It’s all right. This too shall pass. I will praise God anyway, Daddy.”
“That’s a good attitude,” her father said, as their food was served. Knowing they had to get her back to the airport in time for her flight, he requested the check upfront.
Although breakfast was abbreviated, she enjoyed her meal and gave her parents tight hugs when they dropped her back off at O’Hare Airport.
Breezing through the security checkpoint, she had one hour to spare before arriving at the terminal gate. Gabrielle spent some time browsing in the airport gift shop.
Once aboard th
e Korean Air jetliner, she settled in for the thirteen-hour flight to Seoul. Then she would change planes for another four-hour flight to Manila. Sadly, there weren’t enough movies to watch or books to read to keep her mind off Cameron. The only option she had left was to put on her headset and hope for sleep.
Awhile later, she stirred from her nap. To utilize the time, she pulled out her dictionary and brushed up on her Spanish. Then, out of sheer curiosity, Gabrielle tried her hand at Filipino, although English was widely spoken. Somehow, her mind kept drifting back to Cameron.
The next day, the plane finally touched down in the Philippines. After retrieving her luggage, she boarded the shuttle to her hotel suite five miles away in Makati.
Nodding to a few weary-looking passengers, Gabrielle was now wide awake. Jet lag hadn’t kicked in yet. She was still operating on Central Standard Time not Greenwich mean time. Glancing out the window, she could see downtown in the distance. Called the City of Skyscrapers, this enchanting place would be her home for the next six days.
Finally checked in, Gabrielle used her international calling card to let her parents know she had arrived and was in her hotel suite. She chatted with her mother, who cautioned her to be careful and do plenty of shopping. When she disconnected, Gabrielle indulged in a hot bath, which didn’t do anything to make her sleepy.
Grabbing her laptop to check her email, she was online when an unexpected Skype call came through. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized Cameron’s number. They had barely spoken the previous week, and now he wanted her attention.
She couldn’t deal with him at the moment. Gabrielle was there to do a stellar job. As her first overseas trip for the company, she planned to prove why she deserved the salary they paid her. Opting to focus on the task ahead of her, she courageously rejected his call when she wanted to talk to him so badly.
On Wednesday morning, she woke sluggishly. A shower and some food helped her get her bearings. Gabrielle then left the hotel and walked with a purpose into the Rockwell Center to the satellite office. Expecting to meet with three shifts, she prayed her sleep would hold off for the time being.