ON ACROSS THE MILES

I was in my first year of Bible College at Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul Minnesota.  It was 1978. 

One afternoon, while working at Budget Rent-A-Car at the Minneapolis Airport, my boss, Mr. Larson, asked if any of us guys wanted to take a fleet of cars to Fargo, North Dakota on Friday. He said it would put another $50. on our pay check if anyone wanted to go. It would mean skipping classes on Friday. 

There were eight of us who volunteered. Three of us were from the Bible School and the rest were just other guys who worked for the company. Now Fargo was about four hours away from Minneapolis.  

So that Friday we all arrived at the Budget terminal at 6 o’clock in the morning. We were all assigned to our individual cars.  It so happened that we were delivering seven brand new Chevy Camaro’s. I was given a bright red one with silver flames on the hood!  WOW!  I remember saying to one of the other guys, I think we’re gonna have a fun day!! He agreed! Ha! 

The eighth car in our fleet was a Chevy Caprice station wagon.  This would be the common car that we would all return to Minneapolis in later that evening. Once we had all the cars fuelled up and ready to go it was about 7 o’clock. And as our eight vehicles hit Interstate 94 it wasn’t long before we were cruising at wonderful speeds of 70, sometimes 80 and once in a while 90 miles per hour. Shhhh! Don’t say anything to my mom! I don’t need any friction today! Ha! Ha!  After all, it was many years ago and there has to be a statute of limitations preventing any recourse from her! 

We arrived safely, thank the Lord, into Fargo at about 11:30. We only stopped long enough to park the Camaro’s and then we all piled into the Caprice station wagon for our trip back to Minneapolis.  

Now this is where the story takes on a whole different atmosphere. Three Bible school students and five unsaved guys in one vehicle!  As I recall, the Caprice had a folding rumble seat in the very back of the car that faced the back window. That’s where one other student and I ended up. The other six guys including the other student sat in the regular passenger seats. We hadn’t gone very far from Fargo when all of a sudden we took an exit. I watched as our car pulled into a liquor store and a couple of the unsaved guys ran in and came out loaded up with several cases of beer. 

The next few hours were perhaps some of the most frightening hours of my life. During that course of time one of the unsaved guys introduced a bag of marijuana. The smoke that filled the car was perhaps the worst smell I had ever smelled in my life. It literally made me feel sick to my stomach!  Please understand, I was raised in a Pastor’s home all my life and was never exposed to that sort of lifestyle. Not even at school! Thank God! 

I remember that we were travelling at a high rate of speed...nothing compared to the trip up to Fargo. The car swerved from time to time across the lanes. I turned around several times to see just how fast we were travelling. Each time I looked, the needle was pointing straight downward at about 6 o’clock with the needle completely buried. That means we were going in excess of 115 to 120 miles per hour and we did this steadily from Fargo all the way to St. Cloud, Minnesota, normally a three hour drive. It gives me shivers as I think about it now! I remember the driver of the car was so high and intoxicated that I was literally terrified!  Frightened beyond words!  I still have trouble riding in the passenger’s seat today!  When we were about four miles outside of St. Cloud, we once again took an exit and the driver drove directly to a liquor store.  It was at this stop that I said to myself and the Lord, “I’ve had enough! God, please get me out of this car!” I remember asking to be let out of the car and said I had to go to the bathroom. I made my way over behind the building as though I was just going to relieve myself.  But once I got out of site of the car I ran like a ‘mad-man’ and found myself in the middle of a trailer park. I remember crawling underneath the porch of a mobile home with my heart pounding so hard I could hardly breathe! I also remember the driver hollering for me and cursing because I was not returning to the car. They wanted to get going and I was holding them up. They then proceeded to drive around and around, up and down every street of the trailer park cursing and hollering my name. This went on for so long until finally they gave up on me and left.  I knew this made them so mad, that if I had shown my face I would have perhaps received the beating of my life! 

I remember laying under that porch for the longest time crying and pleading with the Lord to help me. I was over 2000 miles from my home in Hoyt, New Brunswick and Oh! How I wished I was there! I didn’t know where I was nor did I know exactly how far I was from St. Paul. I recall staying there for a very long time. 

Once I felt it was safe, I crawled out from under the porch and began walking.  I walked for what seemed to be many miles until I came to a sign that said, “Welcome to St. Cloud, Minnesota.” Once inside the city limits I remember searching until I found a phone booth.  I didn’t know anyone in that city, so I began looking through the listing of churches in the yellow pages. I found a Pentecostal church in the listings and took note that that the address was 301 7^th street avenue and I was on a double digit avenue.  I do remember that I still had a very long walk ahead of me. Since I didn’t have a dime on me, I wasn’t able to make a call. I recall it got dark as I walked along until late that evening when I came to the street where the church was located. As I walked closer to the church all the lights were on and it appeared that they had been having a service and it had just ended.  I knew I didn’t smell very nice and I was reluctant to go in but I knew I had to. 

As I stepped into the foyer I was greeted by an older man who said to me, “Can I help you?” I said, yes, I need to speak with the Pastor. He said, “Just a moment and I will get him.” In a minute or two the Pastor came to where I was and asked me if he could help me.  I said, “I am from a Bible School in St. Paul and I need to get there tonight, somehow.”  He said, “What’s the name of the Bible School?”  I said, “Apostolic Bible Institute.”  He said, “Stay right there, I’ll be right back.” I had no idea what he was doing.  Within a couple minutes he returned and said there will be a car outside in just a few minutes with someone you’ll want to meet!”  I said, “Okay.” So I stepped out of the church onto the sidewalk and waited.  Within a few minutes a small car, a Monza, pulled up to the curb. I was startled and shocked as I looked at the person in the driver’s seat.  It was the President of my Bible College, Bro. Robert Sabin!!  It turns out that he was there at that very church that very evening speaking at a rally and when he left the church after the service he remembered that he had left his topcoat at the pastor’s home and had to go and get it.  The pastor had intercepted him by telephone and got word to him to come back to the church before leaving for St. Paul.  

Now folks...only God can orchestrate something like that!  The Bible says that, “There hath no temptation (or trial) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted (or tested) above that ye are able; but will with the temptation (trial) also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” That is not the end of the story!  There is another twist to this story that you can read on my blog entitled, ACROSS THE MILES PART 2! SRR

ON NEVER EARLY, NEVER LATE, BUT ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME!.... May 28, 2012

It was 1996 shortly after moving to Quebec that our ’89 Oldsmobile Cutlass died.  We had already been planning a trip to New Brunswick.  The girls were so excited because on this trip we were going to a place they absolutely loved! Magaguadvic Youth Camp. Both girls had been to that Summer Camp every summer during our pastorate in Springfield and Back Bay. And since we didn’t know of any Christian camp in Quebec we decided we would take them down to New Brunswick.  

We didn’t even have enough money to buy another car and we knew we couldn’t borrow money to buy one!  So, we just waited.  For one solid month we endeavoured without a vehicle.  It was hard!  I did have my motorcycle and once in a while I would take Esther on the back of the bike to the grocery store to buy supplies.  We could only carry a few at a time.  

I remember feeling discouraged about the situation and was wondering what are we going to do.  As we got closer to the day that we were supposed to go to New Brunswick, the girls became more and more anxious wondering how we would be able to go. 

The day came and still no car. But that morning I told Esther, I think I’ll just go up the street and check out one of the local car lots. Knowing that I didn’t have any money for a car, I must confess that my expectation of coming home with a car was low. 

Well, while I was gone Esther entered into her “TURBO FAITH” mode. Now if you don’t know what that is, it’s when you get this overwhelming sense that something is about to happen and it’s gonna be good! You see, since coming to Quebec we have noticed that when you live totally by faith you simply believe that God is your supplier and that HE CANNOT FAIL!  

It wasn’t long after I had left the house that she called the girls into the kitchen and said, Girls, I want you both to go to your rooms and I want you to pack your suitcases and we are going to set them right out here by the front door because, TODAY WE ARE GOING TO CAMP! One of the girls looked at her mom and said, “Are you gonna pack your suitcase too?  Esther responded, “YES!”.  

As I was looking at the cars on the lot a young salesperson came over to me and asked if I needed any help. I said, “As a matter of fact I do.”  I said, “Are you the manager?”  He said, “No, but the manager is right there in the office.”  I said, “I’d like to speak with him.” He said, “Sure!”  

As I walked away from the salesperson I noticed he stayed by my motorcycle as I went into the office.  I introduced myself to the manager and said, “I have a problem.” He said, “And what’s that?” And I said, “I don’t have a car and I need one today.”  He said, “How much money do you have?  I said, “I don’t have any money.”  He said, “You do have a problem.”  

Without any hesitation and without any forethought about this, I heard myself say these words, I don’t have any money today but I do have that motorcycle and I can have money within 30 days.  I no more than got those words out of my mouth when the young salesman walked into the office and said to me, “I want to buy your motorcycle.” I looked at the manager and he looked at his salesman and the manager looked back at me and said, “Which car do you want. We can make a deal! 

The timing was like it had all been rehearsed. It all happened within just a few seconds! We quickly drew up the details and that day I drove off the lot with a beautiful, white 1994 Ford Taurus in perfect condition with only 60,000 kms. I was so excited!  

I remember driving into the driveway and Esther and girls came running outside. I’m sure the girls were thinking, Our dad is such a Hero!” while at the same time I was thinking my Dad “up above” is such a Hero! Living by faith is like walking a tightrope at times but there is one thing I know....MY DAD IS NEVER EARLY AND NEVER LATE, HE’S ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME! SRR

ON WHAT MOM SAID..... May 27, 2012

As long as I can remember I have always gone to church. I think I could count on one hand the number of Sundays that I have missed going to church throughout my entire life. Seriously, I think it was only four times! And I think they were because of snow storms! Living in a Pastors home and now being a Pastor perhaps has had a lot to do with that! It’s simply a way of life.  When it was church time...we went to church! No questions asked! BECAUSE MOM SAID!  If I had said, “But mom, I’m sick, I don’t think I can go to church today.”  Mom would have undoubtedly replied, “Prove it!”.  And if I did go to the bathroom and vomit she would have probably said, “There, now don’t you feel better? Let’s go to church!” HAA! 


That may sound kinda cold hearted but here’s the point.  The Bible is clear on it’s instruction, “Proverbs 6:20  My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the LAW OF THY MOTHER JUDY!” HAA! (I added Judy!) The Bible also says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.”  Notice how it explains why we should not forsake our gathering together. To exhort one another and to do it more as you see “the day” approaching.  What is “the day” that this is talking about?  It is speaking of the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  


You see, when we come together we are acknowledging that Jesus is going to come again and we will all be raised ‘together’ to Him in the air!  In another place is says that we should encourage one another and spur one another on by coming together and speaking of the coming of the Lord.  What better way can we do this other than by coming together for a church service and speaking about the Lord’s return for His people?  I think the influence of the world has caused people to have a distorted view of Sunday church service.  Our hearts and minds have become clouded by the worlds thinking, “Oh, this is my day off...I just want to sleep!” or “Let’s all go to the beach and just relax in the sun. It is called the ‘day of rest’ you know.”  


According to Hebrews it says in chapter 4 verse 9, “There remaineth therefore a REST to the people of God.”  In verse 1 it says,  “Let us therefore fear (or be careful), lest, a promise being left us of entering into His REST, any of you should seem to come short of it.” And verse 3 says, “For we which have believed do enter into REST.”  There is something that happens to you when we come together and sing praises to the Lord and listen to the Word of God through our Pastor.  This is how our spiritual batteries are recharged.  There is a special rest that can come no other way other than by gathering together with other believers for the purpose of exhorting, encouraging and strengthening!  So many people can’t figure out why they are so tired all week long. 


HERE IS THE SECRET!!  There is a special rest that will come to you if we will follow this simple instruction.  Give it a try and see for yourself!  How about changing those plans today! C’mon, Let’s all go to Church!  BECAUSE MOM SAID!! SRR

ON FOLLOWING..... May 26, 2012

ON FOLLOWING.....  May 26, 2012 
As I was saying yesterday, I have always had a vivid memory of my early childhood.

When I was six years old we lived in a small lobster fishing village called Friendship, Maine. I remember the trailer (mobile home) we lived in situated beside the church where my dad pastored.  The lane leading to the church and our trailer was quite long and I recall the winter that we got this HUGE snow storm (all snow storms to a six year old are HUGE!) Dad, mom and I had been somewhere, perhaps to Rockland or Dameriscotta to get groceries or to do the laundry. As I remember, we drove home through the snow storm in dad’s 1962 Volkswagen van. When we arrived at the top of our driveway the snow was so deep dad couldn’t get the van down the lane so he parked it beside the street, we got out, loaded up our arms with supplies, and started walking through the snow down the lane toward the trailer. Now dad (Ray) had long legs, so he was able to trudge through the snow with little effort.  However, My mom and I had a short wheel base, (still do, now that I think about it and that comes from the Bell side!). For some reason mom (Judy) led the way, dad was in the middle and I brought up the tail. Dad could see that mom was struggling with her short legs to get through the snow and I was whining that I couldn’t take that big of steps.  So we stopped a moment and dad said, “Jude, let me lead the way.”  We repositioned ourselves with dad at the front, me in the middle and mom in the rear. With his huge number 11’s dad began to break a trail through the snow with short methodical steps and before long we were walking through the front door of the trailer. It may seem simple, but folks, it’s a whole lot easier when we let daddy take the lead!  Our heavenly Father has pretty big feet and He can break a trail for us through every storm if we will simply stop and reposition ourselves. Too often we try to take the lead in things pertaining to life and God says, “Why don’t you just follow Me!” Remember the song, “Where He leads me I will follow. Where He leads me I will follow. Where He leads me I will follow. I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way.”  Psalms 23:3 says, “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.”   Happy trails everyone!  SRR

My Mom added to this story:    It was late at night coming home from a rally in Carmel, me. I was 9 month pregnant. The three of us struggled thru the very deep snow (to my waist) .. It was that night that my daughter decided to enter this world. In the early morning hours we had to trudge back thru the deep snow & head for the hospital in Rockland, Maine. Jody was born the following day, Jan. 13, 1966..I shall never forget that night!

ON GOD’S PRESENCE..... May 25, 2012

ON GOD’S PRESENCE..... May 25, 2012

You may or may not believe this, but I have a very vivid memory of my early childhood.  I vividly remember the time when there was a great move of God’s Spirit in our little church in Friendship, Maine.  People were so touched by God’s presence that Sunday night after Sunday night people were receiving the Holy Ghost and people were regularly being baptised in Jesus’ Name.  It was a season of revival as I recall.  During that time there was a young teenage girl who began coming to church and she would be dropped off by her dad for each service and at the end of the service her dad would be there to pick her up.  He usually stayed in the car and to my recollection, he had never been inside the church but was faithful in bringing his daughter to church and picking her up afterward.  I remember he was a very big man, much bigger than my dad.  In those days my dad was like a “bean pole”. What stood out to me was that this very big man drove a little tiny Volkswagen Beetle. One Sunday night the Spirit of God was so strong in the meeting.  People were weeping in the presence of the Lord, and some were even “slain out” in the Spirit. That night Debbie received the baptism of the Holy Ghost! After the church service I remember going to the trailer and dad saying, “I wonder what Debbie’s father thinks when he picks up his daughter as she goes to the car crying each night?  I hope it doesn’t cause a problem for her.”  Well, it was the very next Sunday night that the Spirit was moving once again and like the night’s before, Debbie goes to her father’s car weeping because of the sweet presence of God.  This night, however, her father was visibly disturbed! He got out of his car, walked into the church and pointed his finger at dad and simply beckoned for him to come outside.  I’m not exactly sure what went through my dad’s head at that moment but it appeared that his heart went into his throat as I saw him try to swallow and then it was as though dad went white as a sheet! Without any hesitation dad walked directly over to ME and grabbed my arm and ushered me outside with him. Then MY heart went into MY throat and I began wondering, “What have I done and where are we going!?” I’m quite sure that was the day I peed my pants! Now that I look back at that time, I guess dad realized that he was about to get a “first class throttlin’” and probably would have peed HIS pants! I realize now that he was just wanting his 7 year old son to protect him! HA! The father simply said to dad, “Get in!”. Dad pulled me over to the car, shoved me into the back seat with Debbie and dad got into the passenger’s seat beside the father. It kinda looked funny because the man was so big and dad was so skinny. For a moment the four of us just sat there in silence.....He started the car and we drove away from the church.  We didn’t go very far when the father pulled the car over to the side of the street, turned the car off and then the father turned to dad and began to speak.  I remember looking up at him and seeing tears run down his cheeks as he began to say to dad, “I don’t know what’s been happening to my daughter but it’s so beautiful and I want what she’s got!” Suddenly there was an unexplainable relief that came into that little Volkswagen!  Then my dad put his hand on his shoulder and began to share the Love of God with this man and dad said, “Would you let me pray with you?”  He literally shook the whole car as dad prayed for him!  He bawled like a baby!  I shall never forget it!  Folks....That’s what happens when God’s people invite His presence into their midst!  Lives are transformed!!  Hey....Let’s have REVIVAL!!!!   SRR

ON SOULWINNING..... May 24, 2012

Dad, our mobile Home, VW, and the Church

When I was six or seven years old living in Friendship, Maine I recall a difficult time when my dad received that dreaded phone call that Brother George Beals was lost at sea.  George was one of the strong, faithful men in the church in Friendship.  They found his lobster boat but never found his body.  As a young boy, I recall the deep sadness that gripped our church family and especially the deep sorrow of my dad.  George had three boys that were very close in age to me and were dear friends of mine.  I remember feeling so sad for Timmy, Craig, and Nathan that they had lost their dad.  My dad (Pastor R. J. Roach) would tell how he would awake in the night in the middle of a terrible dream for many nights afterward hearing George’s voice calling out, “Save me! Save me! Please, someone save me!” In the night my dad would get dressed and drive down to the wharf in hopes that he was really hearing George’s voice and that he could rescue him from the icy, cold Atlantic waters.  Even as I sit here weeping as I write, there is a profound longing in my heart as I hear the voices of the unsaved crying out, “Save me! Save me! Please, someone save me!”.........  From that time on, the song, “Throw out the lifeline” took on a whole different meaning for me. It goes like this;  

Throw out the life line across the dark wave; There is a brother whom someone should save; Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare To throw out the life line, his peril to share?

Chorus
Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line! Someone is drifting away;
Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line! Someone is sinking today.

Throw out the life line with hand quick and strong: Why do you tarry, why linger so long? See! he is sinking; oh, hasten today And out with the life boat! away, then away!

Throw out the life line to danger fraught men, Sinking in anguish where you’ve never been; Winds of temptation and billows of woe Will soon hurl them out where the dark waters flow.

Soon will the season of rescue be o’er, Soon will they drift to eternity’s shore; Haste, then, my brother, no time for delay, But throw out the life line and save them today.

This is the life line, oh, tempest tossed men; Baffled by waves of temptation and sin; Wild winds of passion, your strength cannot brave, But Jesus is mighty, and Jesus can save.

Jesus is able! To you who are driven, Farther and farther from God and from Heaven; Helpless and hopeless, o’erwhelmed by the wave; We throw out the life line, ’tis “Jesus can save.”

This is the life line, oh, grasp it today! See, you are recklessly drifting away;
Voices in warning, shout over the wave, O grasp the strong life line, for Jesus can save.

Whose voice do you hear calling today for someone to rescue them from icy, cold waters of sin......?  Is there a friend, or loved one that burdens your heart......?  Go ahead...Throw out the lifeline today!

Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”  Let’s throw out the lifeline!  SRR

ON WORDS..... May 23, 2012

ON WORDS.....  May 23, 2012

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs 25:11
People are all created differently, however, there is one thing we all have in common and that is our “feelings”. It is so important to be careful what we say to someone or even about someone! Words either hurt or heal, crush or console, destroy or deliver. Someone once said there are three things that can never be recovered. A word that has been spoken, time that has passed, and opportunities that are missed. Have you ever said something and then thought...I wish I had just kept my mouth shut! Proverbs 29:20 says, "Seeth thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him." OUCH! 

Here’s the thing! Words can never be taken back once they are spoken and the hurt they can cause are a terrible thing for anyone to have to deal with. Let’s all make our words “good words” fitly spoken. They will be like apples of gold in pictures of silver. When I read that, I see a framed picture with light shades of silvery sky, trees of glistening silver, loaded with shiny golden apples, silver grass, and a silver basket of more shiny golden apples! The golden apples are the first thing to catch your eye! Beautiful!! My Uncle Henry had an apple orchard out near ‘E’ Plantation in Blaine, Maine. In the fall, his apple orchard was always loaded with Yellow Transparents and they were sweet and juicy and I hardly need to tell you that they tasted “some-ole-good”! That’s Maine lingo in case you didn’t know! Can you imagine what our world would be like if all our words were sweet and juicy without any anger or malice or jealosy! Choose your words carefully and let each word be seasoned with love! SRR