For those who believe God can do great things...

[Timmay]

 I have this friend ..close friend who was up until a month ago our Family Life Pastor at my church. He took a position with another church about 90 miles from here and at this time he is still traveling back and forth.  He called me yesterday with something that could have been tragic that happened to him.  We have had alot of rain down here and the other night we had some heavy heavy rain..causing flash flooding.  Well he was driving home and it was dark, he was about 30 minutes from home when he rounded a curve and hit water.  A creek that runs next to the river had started overflowing in the highway.  He said he couldnt back up cause he couldnt see as it was dark out and it was raining really hard.  So he tried to go forward. Well that was a mistake because he said all of a sudden he felt his truck shifting to the left of the road.  Finally he figured out he was sitting on the left shoulder of the road ready to go off into the ditch.  He called 911 and his wife and while he was talking he said the water pushed him into the creek. he couldnt get the door open and water was coming in his truck. The force of the water eventually pushed him into the river so he called his wife again cause he was scared.  She told him to get out of the truck and get on top of it...well when he rolled the window down a big gush of water came rushing down the creek and flooded the inside of his truck and he lost his cell phone.  His wife I guess was in a panic mode because she didnt know what happened.  He said here he was ..out in the middle of no where ..no emergency personel has shown up yet..laying on the roof of his truck and just telling himself..OK this is how im going to die.  Lightening strikin around him..he couldnt see cause it was dark...rain pelting him hard....he jsut started crying out.  Well rescue workers finally made it and had to use a helicopter to get him off the truck.  They retreived his truck yesterday and he said everything is gone.  His laptop ...cell phone..brand new pair of eyeglasses he had just picked up on the way home.  He is the type of person too..that hates car payments.  he just paid off his truck last summer and was excited that he actually "Owned" something.   I asked him what he was going to do for a truck now...and he said well this is where it gets wild.  The former Sr Pastor at our church called him.  That in itself was kinda odd because these two really didnt get along.  Many different views on things and such.  Well some how..Alan ( the former Sr pastor who is now down in Atlanta preaching at a church there) heard about what happened to Keith, he had heard about this in less than 12 hours after it happened.  He wanted to tell Keith that his church all pulled together and they had a Ford Explorer in Atlanta waiting on him.  I was like you got to be kidding...Keith said yeah i know...kinda blew my mind too.  Well Keiths church is sending him one way to Atlanta by air and he is going there on monday to pick up the truck and drive it home.  Talk about God providing....its AWESOME!  I just wanted to share that with you, because if you ever have any doubts or what ever....That story right there can prove alot of things.  TOTALLY AMAZING.

[SLYinKC]

Great story, Tim....

And a good reminder...We are not alone.....

[Rafter]

Every road has a few bumps and potholes and life is no different.
But you're friend seemed to get a lifetime full that evening. One curve ball after another.

I've encountered my fair share of bumps and potholes over the course of my lifetime. And during those times I always hear the old addage, When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. But what if I don’t like lemonade. Yes, I know that it doesn’t mean literally. It suggests that life’s problems or obstacles are the lemons and you are to use that to create something good. My problem with the saying is why does it have to be lemonade? Why not take that “lemon” and turn it into something completely different.  

Hopefully your friend will walk away from these unfortunate experiences a better man. I'm sure he will share them with his congregation. The events that took place will make more than one inspiring sermon. I see a movie or TV deal in the future for this guy.

As for the former Pastor of your church, seems that some of that Southern hospitality and Georgia generosity has rubbed off on him, and made him a kinder, caring and more giving man.

[wpruitt]

Great, beautiful story

[Paul]

Awesome story Timm.  Proof that it pays to believe.   But most of all glad your friend is ok. 

[schro]

Inspiring story.....pay it forward.

[warhawk]

timmy....thanks 4 that inspiring story.  that's a good read 2 start my day.

WARHAWK

[Marz]

Great story... says alot about God but also a lot about people and the human spirit.

Glad to hear your friend is ok.

[Paul]

Tim, might want to ask your friend if there is anything we sly guys can do to help.

[Timmay]

First and foremost...he isnt the type who likes to ask for anything.  Im sure if you all feel as you want to do something for him  anything at all would be greatly appreciated.  You can email him if you want....just email me and i will give you his email address.  Words of Thoughts would be nice.  He is struggling with sleep right now as the event sorta shook him up.  He has called the Dr and I think things are going to be ok with him.  So PM me for his address....

[JDog]

Tim that is a great story and proof of Gods presence in our lives.

[Scott]

I was glad Tim shared this story with me when we met up last night.  I hadn't been on the forum much lately due to time constraints w/work & school so I missed this topic, but I was amazed at the kindness and compassion of Alan and his church.  Truly inspiring that God does have a way of providing for us in strange but amazing ways sometimes. 

Thanks for sharing Tim!

[WannaBePadre]

(How did I NOT respond to this post?!? I must be slacking.)

Tim, thanks for sharing an excellent story. I've read it several times, and it's a blessing each time.

[Timmay]

Padre......are ya slipping?  Ya head must be slicker than we all thought even ! LOL

[herronm]

Timm,  that is a great example of God's power and love.  Thanks for sharing.

Max