Duane Brannon had a great job, a wonderful wife, four beautiful
children. Why was this middle-aged dentist feeling so restless and
dissatisfied? On the outside, he "had it all," but on the inside,
he needed . . . something more. To identify what it could be was
beyond him.
One Saturday, Duane thought a nice change of pace would be inviting
the entire family out for lunch following church the next day. "We
can drive down to Old Town and eat at the Casa De Bandini," he said,
referring to a classic Mexican restaurant in San Diego's restored
Old Town quarter.
"It's too far," one child complained.
"I don't want to go either," chimed in his teenager.
"Let's make this a special occasion," Duane persisted. "We can get
all dressed up and have a special meal out."
The next day, the children still registered mild protests as the
family Suburban headed south for the thirty-minute drive. On this
Memorial Day weekend, however, it seemed like everyone had the same
idea--eat authentic Mexican food at one of the restaurants ringing
the pioneer square at Old Town. Nearing Casa De Bandini, they found
no place to park.
"Why don't you take the kids and put our name in," Duane said to
Becky. "I'll try to find a place to park this beast."
For ten minutes, Duane drove up and down the narrow streets.
Finally, he gave up and headed several blocks northeast of the
restaurant, a good ten-minute walk. Duane parked the Suburban and
began walking briskly in what he thought was the direction of the
restaurant.
Walking up one block, he realized that he passed the right street.
Should he turn around? "No," he thought. "I'll just make a right at
the next corner and work my way over." He stepped up his pace
knowing Becky and the kids were waiting for him.
Up ahead someone was making a scene-"another one of those crazy
homeless men," Duane thought. As he approached, however, he saw
that the man was dressed in combat fatigues. He pegged him at fifty
years old with his gray beard. "A Vietnam veteran?" Duane wondered.
Maybe twenty-five people sat on the sidewalk or stood listening
to the veteran imploring the crowd, "Don't forget the veterans this
Memorial Day weekend! This is not the time to forget our comrades who
made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country."
Duane noticed a small memorial statue and plaque--and very little
space to walk through. He decided to stride quickly in front of the
veteran, who was calling out names of San Diego County men killed
in Southeast Asia.
Just as Duane passed directly in front of the man, as his ear was
twelve inches from his mouth, the former soldier loudly proclaimed
"Jack Davis."
"Jack Davis?"
Duane stopped in his tracks and looked at the veteran. Jack Davis
was Duane's good friend at Fallbrook High School in San Diego. Jack
was killed in Vietnam when his helicopter went down. Instantly,
Duane recalled Jack's big smile and what a good buddy he had been.
Losing him was devastating.
Then Duane was jerked back from the reverie. What were the odds
that Jack's name would be called out at the moment Duane passed
directly in front of this veteran? Had God orchestrated this event
on a Sunday afternoon?
Duane knew the answer. God had wanted to remind him of Jack, who
died so young without ever experiencing the love and closeness of
a wife and children.
What did Duane have to complain about? So what if he was down
in the dumps!
God had made an appointment for Duane to learn an invaluable
lesson. From that "chance" moment, he understood that life was
God's gift to be appreciated each and every day.
"Jesus said, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me
teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest
for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29 NLT).
Excerpted from IT'S A GOD THING by Luis Palau (Doubleday).
Copyright (c) 2001 Luis Palau. Permission granted to forward to
family and friends. All other rights reserved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can read more inspiring IT'S A GOD THING stories online today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IT'S A GOD THING:
Pictures and Portraits of God's Grace
by Luis Palau with Mike Yorkey
Doubleday (New York)
ISBN 0-385-49800-4
hardcover
Want to read more stories like this one?
Order "It's a God Thing" at Luis Palau's Faith Resource Center.
"Often called "the next Billy Graham," Luis Palau is among the best-known American evangelists in the world today. His sermons on spirituality and the Christian life, as well as his calls for international and racial harmony, have been heard by hundreds of millions of people..."
"'It's a God Thing' brings together stories Palau has gather on his travels. These stories, often beginning with the words "You won't believe what happened to me," unfold to reveal an unusual and frequently miraculous series of events that transformed the life of the storyteller....Through its simple, true-life stories, "It's a God Thing" illustrates the small, often mysterious ways in which God orchestrates events to create something positive amid the confusion and pain of daily life..." Order the book and read it for yourself!
"Lest We Forget"
"And He [Jesus] took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and
gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for
you; do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19, NKJV).
Today in the United States is Memorial Day--a national
holiday "originally held in commemoration of soldiers killed
in the American Civil War (1868). Its observance later
extended to all U.S. war dead. National observance is marked
by the placing of a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns in
Arlington National Cemetery."1
It is good to remember every day, and to celebrate this day
with special thanksgiving for all who gave their lives to
give us freedom. May we also remember in prayer today all of
our Christian brothers and sisters who live in countries
where they don't know the freedoms that we have.
As a kid growing up in Australia during World War II, how
well I remember what the Americans did for my homeland. Had
it not been for the American soldiers with the backing of
the American Congress and people, Australia would not know
the freedom it knows today--neither would the rest of the
Western World. And if it weren't for the strength and
determination of America today, we would all be living in a
much different world. What if a Saddam Hussein or an Osama
Bin Laden had the military might of the U.S.? The
consequences would be unthinkable!
Someone asked Albert Einstein what kind of weapons would be
used in the third World War. "Well," he answered, "I don't
know . . . but I can tell you what they'll use in the fourth
world war. They'll use rocks."
Let us thank God that, in spite of its weaknesses, America
today is being led by a Christian at the helm of the nation.
However, unless America turns back the tide that is rapidly
taking it away from its Christian moral heritage and roots,
it is highly improbable that our children or our children's
children will continue to be blessed by the great freedoms
that America still enjoys today. And for all who live in
this great land of opportunity and despise, misuse, and/or
abuse it, unlike many countries, America gives them the
freedom to leave! Very few do though!
May we in the West never take our freedoms for granted for,
"Eternal vigilance is still the price of freedom." And above
all, that includes moral vigilance. For as God's Word says,
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any
people" (Proverbs 14:34, NIV ). And as Jesus told us to
remember his death for us, let us also remember all who have
given their lives to give us the wonderful freedoms we know
today, for there is always a great price to purchase and
maintain freedom.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, we thank you especially today
for all who have given their lives to keep us living in a
land that knows unprecedented freedom. Help all of us in the
free world awaken to our need to be eternally vigilant in
moral integrity, righteous living, trusting in you. And we
pray for all living in lands where they are under great
bondage, and where the gospel is forbidden to be preached,
proclaimed or followed. Thank you for hearing and answering
my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, Amen."
1Encyclopedia Britannica
--selected: From
Daily Encounter (c) Dick Innes 2002. Subscribe
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