Spring 2010, Connecticut

 

Public speaking; ah yes, what can I say? In a nutshell, I can do it when needed, but it’s not my favorite activity. When I came home from U.S. Army active duty February 1972, I sat down and set five life goals. Goal number one was: “Work one on one with people.” Not one of those goals included “public speaking” and yet time after time I was placed in the position of speaking. I will admit that “seeing the lights go on” in the eyes of a listener in the audience is tremendously gratifying. On the other hand the glassy eyed “thousand yard stare” signals zero communications. All said and done, I’m glad to stay in the audience, listening!

 

By 2010 I was used to the fact that ABBA, The-VOICE- does indeed speak, and a lifetime of being told otherwise was healing. Learning what to do was another matter. Also by 2010 I was used to keeping Shabbat for three years. So what do I do when dear friends say; “Let’s go to a Church we remember one Sunday.” On top of that the Pastor and congregation were composed of former motorcycle gang members. I’m not talking about nice guys and their wives who like to get out on their Harley for a spin. I’m talking former hard core people who exemplified the fact that Y’shua can turn and create a completely new person!  I said OK.

 

Having agreed, we headed out one Sunday for the Firehouse. Easily a hundred people were seated in folding chairs set up in the open area. The Pastor was engaging and the people very friendly. After the service I had a great conversation with the Pastor. Three or four weeks later my friends asked if I would like to go and I agreed. Realizing that this was a “shorts and Tee shirt” venue, I left the suit and tie at home. We arrived early and sat in the middle of the seating area. I went to prayer. Not more than two minutes into prayer I heard The-VOICE-.

 

“You will be asked to speak.”

 

I spent the next 10 minutes of prayer telling YAH what a bad idea that would be; how I felt unprepared; how I just plain was not ready. Then I realized that it was not a request, rather it was a warning to get prepared because it was going to happen. The only way I was going to get out of it was to get up and leave the room. My prayer changed to a request for shalom and to be prepared for anything. Instead of the tingly feeling of panic, the “shalom that passes all understanding” flooded through me. The service started and I was prepared. I was going to have to speak to this group of loving Believers in Y’shua, 99% of whom I did not know nor did they know me. The first rule of public speaking is “know your audience”. The only motorcycle I had ever ridden (once) was a Honda 150, and that fact was going to remain hidden from this people! The one thing we had in common was the love of Y’shua!

 

The sermon was finished and as communion was passed around, I figured (with relief!) maybe I had heard wrong. As I sat there with bread and wine in hand, mind a million miles away in prayer, I heard “Brother Ed would you please say a blessing for Communion.” Shocked out of my prayer, I instantly said to the Pastor: T---, “I am new here, I have no idea what your normal blessing is.” T--- told me to proceed as I felt led. I immediately explained the Jewish blessing for bread and wine, and then pronounced that blessing for each. I added a blessing for the Congregation. When I was done, there was silence in the room for at least two minutes as the Pastor stood with his head bowed praying silently.

 

That event that Sunday taught me that there are going to be times when we are told to do something, and we will completely doubt our ability to do it or just plain don’t want to do it! I learned that it’s not about us; it’s about being obedient. Period!

Philippians 4: (Aramaic English NT)

13. I find strength for everything in the Mashiyach who strengthens me.