A light in the Gloom

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

I can’t help but think that F3 is an example of the “evidence” of things unseen.  When those men gathered in the gloom on 1/1/11  I’m sure they never imagined I would be typing this backblast 6.5 years later.  Just as Dredd described “paving the road 43 feet ahead of us”, I can’t imagine he would imagine 19 men gathering for coffee and sharing their faith 30 miles across the river.  But with each passing week; each example of multiplication by division, there was evidence of a force not seen.  An undeniable truth that the men who gathered together in the gloom each morning had a vision for something beyond themselves that could only be described by one word: Faith.

As the elders of F3 allowed this force to grow and create momentum in the pax, they too demonstrated a good testimony .  They allowed this thing to grow from the bottom up rather than control it from the top down.  Through the reverse-flow incubator, they gave any man with a burden on his heart full support and encouragement to bless their neighbor and pick up the 6.  F3 is clearly an example of something visible that grew because the invisible was not stifled or ignored, but given liberty to take each man on to a higher purpose.

As I stood before 18 men in my spiritual house and shared my testimony of how faith in Christ had saved me I couldn’t help but wonder, “why me?  Why am I standing here before these men?  How can the story of my mistakes help them?”  But as Freight so uncomfortably put it, sometimes the why and the when of faith is not our time, but HIS time.  I found it no coincidence that as I shared how the prayers of my mother had stifled the plans against me (through her faith), my phone began to ring as she called me.  We all got a laugh at the timing but it was clear that wherever I was and whatever I was doing, it was all a result of her Faith.

I personally was convicted at Sparky’s call for personal Holiness.  As he shared from Psalm 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” He challenged us to all lead our families and those around us to the rock that is higher than ourselves.  As my mother had always pointed to that same rock, I was convicted to point my own family in that direction.

I want to thank Tool Time for sharing his heart on what must have been a terrible year of his life.  How he stood strong for his family and had to lean on his savior for his own strength.  How his M, even after the tragedy in her life saved the life of another.  And the wisdom and heart of Def Leopard is an inspiration to us all; directing us towards the most valuable things in life, our faith and our families.

A special thanks to Midwife for Opening up shop for us and sharing with Hayzus on their mission to Florida.  By repairing broken roofs you demonstrated how lives can also be restored from the damages of life.

Also, thanks to T-square for sharing how F3 had helped him be strong for his M as she went through the tragedy of a losing a child. Strong work to all.

Until we pray together again!  Post!