Two things I’m most likely to remember about Fayetteville, NC are Berean Baptist Church and Fayetteville’s Police and Sheriff’s Departments. 

  But before I get into that I want to share some of my thought’s this morning while at a Chick-fil-A in Florence, SC.   Everyone who went thru the drive thru saw what you see in the picture posted here and that’s great.  The unusual thing is what I saw as I sat having coffee looking out the window, so let me explain. 

Hello, JESUS SAVES!

   Considering, I designed the layout of the graphic including all of the words; it was not until today that I saw the whole picture.  Here are 2 verses that came to mind: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) and “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” (Deut. 17:6)  Okay now do you see the general call and whose call is it?  Can you see two or three witnesses?  To me that’s pretty awesome but I will go a little further looking at the colors of the center stripe in light of (John 3:19) “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” So looking at the color scheme we have two dominant colors white and black right?  The white represents “the light (the Way, the Truth, the Life, JESUS) has come into the world….”  The black represents “darkness” and men loved darkness (loved Unrighteousness, loved Evil, loved Sin) rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” Look at the beginning of the verse “And this is the condemnation,” (judgment) who’s judgment?  Remember the witnesses?  I’m almost done, looking at the small stripes there are two colors black and burgundy.  It has been established that black represents Sin, white represents JESUS and I believe the color burgundy represents the blood of Jesus as in (1 John 1:7) “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  So the color Burgundy represents the Blood of Jesus as the Covering for Sin (Black)!  Last note, the words Jesus and GOD where crafted with letters taken off of vehicles and headed for the trash.  Thinking about that now, isn’t that where most of the American culture would have them?  Not the letters, but Jesus and GOD!  Today, many were confronted with HIS CALL: Repent! Don’t Die In Your Sins!  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. (1 John 5:7)  All Glory to GOD!  Amen.

  Back to the week in Fayetteville, Berean Baptist Church the Police and Sheriff’s Departments in a little while. 

   Please keep in mind that while I have traveled much of this country, the experiences that I have had are very, very few in number and may or may not be an accurate overall picture of the Church in America.  One of the hardest and quickest reality’s that I encountered when; “The Journey 50 States One True Story JESUS!” began was the response of churches towards me in this calling.  Some of which was due to me being naïve.  When I started out I thought wherever there was a Church, I had a place to go and surely a place to park.  There’s no way anyone could misinterpret what I believed, who and what I loved the most and no one would think I might be coming to do harm and make a quick getaway.

  Not so fast: Hello! Pinch me!  Wake up call!  Reality check!  No way!  You’ve got to be kidding!  JESUS Help!  Here are a few terms that I have grown accustomed to hearing (growing pains):  I don’t know you,  You can keep your references I don’t know your pastor,  We don’t have insurance for you to park here at the church,  You don’t use the same translation,  You need to go where the poor are,  No pastor in this town is going to welcome you,  It takes a month or more to make these arrangements,  We don’t believe what you believe: (in a literal Hell),  We don’t want to be associated with your ministry,   We want to reach people in a different way,  We would need to have a board meeting first and …….. on and on it goes.  By now I think you get the idea. 
   But here’s the Hope that I want to convey the Loudest:  GOD is Faithful, The LORD has Kept, Carried,  Encouraged and Provided; True Love, True Friendship and Treasures which I will praise GOD for Eternally. 

  So along with the Apostle Paul and every Born Again Christian I can say with Certainty, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29 (NKJV)

  Though indeed growing pains, what shall I say except; LORD help me that I may forgive every offence because through all of them I have come to know YOU better and this I count as JOY!  Amen.

  Wow, I didn’t plan to write so much and I need to finish as the time has gone by quick.  I’m very grateful to GOD, for Berean Baptist Church of Fayetteville.  They stand out as a Stark Contradiction to what is largely represented as “American Christianity”.   True to The WORD of GOD,  Determined to Follow the Commands of JESUS Christ and Resolved there can be no Compromise.  In other words; Eternity is Eminent and every living soul who is not Born Again is headed headlong for Eternal Destruction.  Christians are saved to complete the Mission that the Lord Jesus Christ inaugurated.  We are Not to be at Ease in Zion.  No!  We are the called to WAR.  We go into battle from the point of Victory in which the LORD has obtained.  Every Saint this side of heaven needs to be encouraged while it is yet today.  Through Jesus Christ we are assured of victory over Death, Sin and the Grave!  Amen. Amen.  

  Thanks, Berean Baptist Church for receiving me in the Love of Christ, Thanks for Your Prayers and Thanks for every encouragement.  It’s an honor to have met you and I look forward to the time when I will see you again.

Berean Baptist Church Fayetteville, NC Thank You.

  I will close with more good news.  With regard to The Sheriff’s and The Police Department of Fayetteville I was blessed in that members from both departments went out of their way to encourage me in doing The Lord’s work!  This has happened a few times along this journey, but each and every time I’m so thankful because this is another way that GOD demonstrates that HE has a people everywhere I go.   Although these men that I’m writing about as well as every person not mentioned who encouraged me probably will not see this; I thank GOD and each of You for your kindness.  May God bless You!

  Brothers and Sisters,

  My Family, who are around this country and to those who are scattered abroad; May GOD the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ bless you according to the riches which are in Christ JESUS!  Amen.

  Having arrived at the next stop in Florence, SC I hope to write you again next week about this time.

                                                                          Agape,  David