Dan and Fire were sitting in a booth at Loren's BBQ. However, the guys got their usual: 3-piece Chicken meal and a Chocolate Milk Shake. (They had forgotten they were no longer 18.) Dan couldn't believe the difference in Fire's countenance. He could already see the Holy Spirit working in him.
Fire started, "I read the first 5 chapters of John last night."
"Wow, I have to say I am impressed, Fire!"
"Why is that, Danny Boy?"
"Well, I expected you to read one chapter per day."
"Oh, was that wrong of me?"
"Not at all, Fire. It is wrong of me to have low expectations. I guess it is a confession that I rarely read that many chapters in a day."
"Got ya. Well, I figure I am making up for lost time! I wanna know all I can about Jesus."
"Praise the Lord!!"
"Do you mind if we work on our list some more, Danny?"
"I would love to, Fire. Let's focus on questions 1 and 8 today."
"OK. Let's jump to number 8. Can I...my family go with y'all to church?"
"YESSIR! It would be the greatest blessing ever, Fire!"
"When will I get to be baptized?"
"Hmmm. I don't know."
"When do you want to be?"
"The sooner, the better!"
"OK, I'll talk to our preacher, John Moses, about it."
"Thanks, Buddy."
"You're welcome, Fire."
"I wonder if we could talk about what you learned from the first 5 books of John."
"For sure. And you can help me with some of the parts I didn't understand."
"I think that will work fine."
"Fire, do you remember anything about Chapter 1, the first 5 verses?"
"Uh OH, was I supposed to memorize all this, Big Guy?"
Dan laughs. "No, Fire, I'm sorry, that question was unclear. We will look at the Bible, but I just wondered if anything stood out in those verses."
"HaHaHa! Danny Boy, I am glad I didn't have to memorize all that. You know I didn't do too well in school! Ha!"
"Fire, you're a smart guy. I don't think you liked school."
"Thanks, Dan. I hated school. That sitting still and teachers making empty promises and takin all those big tests made me never want to read again."
"How do you feel about reading the Bible?"
"I can't explain it. It's like it is alive! It gives water to my dry soul! I praise God, who saved me for it!!"
"Wow! That is so cool that God has immediately blessed you like this!"
"Danny Boy, is my experience different from others?"
"I'll say! Most Christians develop this spiritual insight in time. What did you learn first as you read from the Book of John?"
"2 things: First, Jesus was there when the world was created. As a matter of fact...He brought life to everything! Mind if we read the first 5 verses, Dan?"
"May I have the honor.."
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 He is existed in the beginning with God. 1:3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 1:4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
"That is awesome, God! Thanks for reading it Danny Boy!"
"What was the second thing, Fire?"
"The first 2 things Jesus said. He asked, 'What do you want?' and 'Come and see.' I believe these words are key to reaching people. I didn't know what I wanted (or needed), but it was Jesus! When Jesus said 'Come and see', it was about where he was staying, but I take it for much more. If we 'Come and see' Jesus, He is ALL we need!"
WOW! Dan thought. "Wow, Fire! That was so insightful! God has blessed you with the gift of knowledge. I believe you will be a teacher of His Word!"
Before Fire could respond, Denise called. Fire told Dan that Denise needed his help in the yard.
"I better go if I want supper!"
"Understood. We'll talk later. But, this was a blessing to me."
"Me too, Brother!"
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