Back From Rehab

I apologize to my millions of readers for the time away from blogging. I had every intention on writing something up before I left for a few days (Thursday - Monday) to attend my friend's graduation from drug/alcohol rehab. Well I'm back with a lot to report. For starters, let me clear the air a little - this friend I went to see was my wife's 21 year old brother, and he was staying at the Home of Grace in Vancleave, MS. I was very impressed with their graduation ceremony, as the entire focus of the whole thing was God. I won't go forth with all that my brother-in-law was involved with, but he had voluntarily checked himself in after several run-ins with the law, and the problems may all come to a head tomorrow in court. So even though he successfully completed his rehabilitation, prayer is still needed. Let me go into further details about my visit.

The Home of Grace was a really nice place, located somewhere between Mobile and New Orleans on a very comfortable campus. Graduation was held at the chapel (where I found out later that shorts and open-toed shoes weren't allowed and I was wearing shorts and sandals like the rebel I am). We get in there, and there is Christian music playing, and a lot of guys are starting to come in (graduation is every Friday and is mandatory). Things get started off with a Home of Grace specialty song in which the guys sing about being saved and leaving the old man in the grave (fleshly desires). Pretty good stuff I thought. Then a guy busted out a fiery sermon about how Abraham was a friend of God because he got back up after he was knocked down - not because he was perfect. It was a pretty good sermon, though it had about 200 more amens than necessary, but that's ok. I remember looking around the room, as there had to be 100+ guys in there plus the families of the graduates. Satan tried to tempt me to start thinking how I was better than all of them - but my soul wouldn't entertain such thoughts. Sure, I've never seen a drug or even had a drink in my entire life, but God kept me focused on all of my sin and how sweet my own salvation was. We're all saved from some sort of bondage. Then came time for the graduates to be honored, seven in all. They handed out certificates to any who gave up tobacco during their stay, one guy. Then came the interesting part. They handed out certificates with 'born again dates' to all of those who made a public profession of Christ during their time there. There were three. The first two guys weren't my brother-in-law. The family hadn't received any word on if he had any sort of conversion. Then, the third guy was indeed him. Right there in front of me -- could I be witnessing a new brother in Christ? It was so exciting, and tears filled my eyes. Then the ceremony continued with a fairly lengthy charge to the graduates using Romans 12:1-2. He essentially challenged them to live out their new lives because the world will be watching and expecting them to fail again. Good stuff again. The ceremony finished with each of the seven men giving a speech in front of everyone. Some laughed, some cried, some thanked God, but what I was really interested in what my brother-in-law was going to say. To my amazement, a guy who I've seen some serious evil in, got up in front of us all, thanked his "lord and savior Jesus Christ," said that he'd been living life blind and that Jesus opened his eyes, and then thanked and apologized to the family. Truly amazing. His graduation present from me was a fresh copy of 'Desiring God' by John Piper. I hope he reads it. So, big news here. I don't think my letters did much, but they helped me out. Join with me in prayer that his conversion is true and that his life continues to change. Ask for perseverance for him. Thanks!