God: Good morning, Son!
KH: Good morning, Lord.
God: You seem a little down today, Son.
KH: I’m sorry, Lord. This whole thing seems so unfair. I haven’t seen my wife in almost two years now and the court system moves so slow and so seldom overturns lower court decisions. Has all my life for you been in vain?
God: Let’s go for a walk, Son. I need you to talk with a young couple with car trouble, and then I want to show you something you might not believe. Let’s go…
KH: Wow! It’s awfully dark. Where are we, Lord?
God: Hyw 24, south of Peoria, Son. Go talk with that couple in the VW by the side of the road. It will come back to you.
KH: OK Lord…. Excuse me young man, are you OK?
YM: We’ll find out in a minute. My old ’62 VW just quit all at once about 40 minutes ago. We walked up and down the road about a mile each way but nobody lives this far out of town it seems.
KH: Where are you headed?
YM: I’m trying to get this young lady home by 9:30 like I promised her mom.
KH: What’s the problem with the car?
YM: We just cam from a youth activity for Christians that meets at a place called “The Barn” every month. It’s near Morton. They had hamburgers and singing and preaching. It was great! I go every month, but this is her first time.
KH: What’s the problem with the car?
YM: I am not sure. I tapped out the head bolts and put heli coils in this morning. It acted like it overheated. Both temp and oil lights came on when it quit. I shut it down right away, but I think it is serious. Maybe the oil pump quit working or the bearings froze up. I’ll tear it down later. Right now I need to get her home. It’s about 8 more miles to her house by the airport, and I’ve only got about 20 minutes.
KH: Have you known each other long?
YM: No, this is our first date. We just met yesterday. It’s a cool story. Do you want to hear it?
KH: Sure! I’d love to.
YM: Well, I got saved about a year and a half ago, and my friend at school, Tim Smith, started trying to disciple me. We had Bible study and prayer time before school almost every day. He plays the guitar and we sing together some for youth activities, too. We also have a little competition going to see who can date the most girls before we graduate this spring. We call it “missionary dating.” Lots of girls don’t realize there are good Christian guys out there, so we double date a lot with each other or our parents and bring girls to church or youth activities to get them saved or help them grow in the Lord.
KH: Who’s winning?
YM: Winning what?
KH: The dating competition?
YM: Oh, why me, of course! Tim only got to about 170, and he thinks he found “the one” for him about six months ago and sort of unofficially surrendered. I’m at about 300 now.
KH: I see. So is this date #300?
YM: Sort of. Maybe the last one. We’ll see what God says about that. Anyway, last week I was playing another friend, named Randy, for the high school chess championship…
KH: Did you win?
YM: Of course! I got 2nd one year and 1st two years now. Anyway, after I beat him, he invited Tim and me to come sing and share our testimonies at his church youth group. They just started one at 2nd Baptist in Peoria. We went last night. After we sang and shared, this young lady came up to talk with us. She was crying, and since I was in a hurry to get back for my own youth group, Tim said he would pray for her, and I left.
KH: So, what were you crying about young lady?
YL: Well, I just got saved recently, and I had never heard stories like they shared! They prayed about what to wear and asked God to guide them in little details of their life. It’s just new and exciting to me to think that God cares about the small things in my life, too. It’s like He wants to be your best friend, not just some old man you go visit on Sunday. I was just happy.
KH: OK, go on.
YM: Well, when I got home from church last night I couldn’t quit thinking about her, so I called Randy to get her number. Then I called to ask her out for the youth activity tonight. Her mom said yes. I worked all day on my car. Compression had dropped to near zero on two cylinders, and we found several head bolts had stripped out. My dad taught me lots about fixing cars. I’m only 17 and this is my 4th car. I buy them, fix them, and sell them. I worked on it all day and got it done just in time to get her for the meeting. We’re headed to her house now. We’re just about to pray and ask God to fix it, so I can get her home on time. Wanna join us?
KH: Sure.
YM: Lord, this is a bad testimony to be late on our first date. Would you please fix this car enough to run one more time to get her home for me? I love you, Lord, and I trust You to provide for me whatever You think is best. In Jesus name. Amen.
YM: Well, hang on everybody! Let’s try it …VROOM! ….Hey! What do you know? It started! Thanks, Lord.
KH: That’s amazing! Say, what’s your name young man?
YM: Kent Hovind, Sir, and this is Jo McGinnis. What’s your name, Sir?
KH: You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, Kent. We’ll meet again one day, and I’ll explain.
YM: Thanks for stopping to check on us. Here’s a gospel tract from our church. It tells you how to be saved and go to Heaven if you are not sure you are going. I need to get her home, Sir. I’ll see you later…
KH: Thanks for the tract, the story, and the reminder, young man. God does answer prayer in time of trouble doesn’t He.
God: Do you remember that day, Son?
KH: Oh Lord! I remember it like it was yesterday. That VW ran right to her house and died again. The engine was fried. It had metal shavings in the oil. Dad told me to change oil after I fixed it but I was in too big of a hurry for that date. That first date cost me $400.
God: Was it worth it?
KH: Every penny and more! It’s hard to believe it’s been 39 years now. You have supplied all the way haven’t You Lord?
God: I promised I would Son. (Mt. 6:33). Do you still doubt me?
KH: I’m sorry Lord. I guess I still do.
God: Before we go Son I want you to see one more thing. Be careful in the dark, but I want you to walk down that hill about 40 feet… Do you see that tree?
KH: Yes Lord. It’s huge! I’d say over 60 feet tall. What about it?
God: Do you remember that night 39 years ago when you told Jo you had to “go see a man about a dog” as you called it?
KH: Yes, Lord. It was embarrassing, but I had to go pretty bad. Too much Coke at the youth activity, I guess. I ran down to a little bush beside the road. Is this it, Lord?
God: It is, Son. It is still growing, and your ministry for Me is still growing, too. It has grown bigger and put roots out further than you know. I know this legal battle looks bad, but you just stay faithful to Me, and I’ll take care of the small stuff. I’ve got your back. Let’s go home.