The Bug Man

Last week we hired Terminix to come spray for ants. We don't keep food laying around, but we've not been able to get rid of these tiny pests since we've moved into this house. After getting quotes from three different sources, Terminix was by far the cheapest for the job. The guy who came was the same one that I had seen at Julie's house last time we were there; although, I'm sure he didn't remember us. I remembered him because he looked older (he has totally white hair) but then told us he has a three and a five year old. Joshua LOVED him. He was very expressive when he talked and told us about his family (showing us a picture of his wife and kids and artwork his kids had just given him that he keeps in his briefcase), and the Bean wanted to follow him around while he was inside (outside is where they do more of the harmful chemicals to try to create a barrier from entry into our house, so I didn't allow Joshua out there). After he had sprayed around the house, Barry "the Bug Man" came back inside and told me he had a word of encouragement for us.

He said from the moment he pulled into our driveway, he knew that this house was filled with the Holy Spirit and that Jesus dwelled within. He said that without signs or anything tangible, he could feel it the moment he pulled up - we were a light in the neighborhood. I was shocked, and told him he was right - Jesus does live here. He said that I should tell Shawn, too, that he sensed it immediately. After chatting a bit, he told me that he feels called to serve in the underground church in China and thinks that eventually he will be going to serve there. For now, he helps train up leaders to go over there. He said that in China people can't post signs or wear 'WWJD' pins; they instinctively have to know who is a Christian and be 'plugged into' the Spirit. He's been asking God to give him this inside knowledge...and God has been faithful. He said there are some places he goes and feels like he needs to be cleansed afterward and others like ours where he knows that Jesus is there already.

We talked some more and I found out he goes to Christ Community Church in Harrisburg, the church where the parents of my twin friends go. I've heard a sermon or two from the pastor there (I think his name is Dave Hess), and Barry said that in the 70s Dave told him that they needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Neither of them quite knew what they were in for, but they've never been the same since. Barry also works with Justice & Mercy, a group who is trying to get folks who have been recently released from prison back into society to live a 'normal' life of working and going to church, etc. so they don't go back to their old ways. I knew of this ministry from writing one of their brochures through MM. He said that ever since working with this ministry, God has been opening doors for him to go into houses (through his job) where he would need to be to meet people. For example, he went to the Mayor's house and was able to talk with him. He said God has been faithful to put him in a place where he gets to know 'key players' for the kingdom. He was quite interesting.

I remember reading one of my favorite books called "the Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. In this true story, she and her sister had been had been captured for helping Jewish folks and were imprisoned in Nazi Germany. As they were leading devotions one day, they read in 1 Thessalonians 5 to "give thanks in all circumstances." In this particular prison, they were getting eaten alive by fleas. Her sister began thanking God for the fleas and Corrie was flabbergasted - surely God didn't mean ALL circumstances! Laster she found out that the reason that they were able to do devotions and lead others to Christ was because the prison guards refused to go into this flea-infested area to stop them. So, there was a 'reason' to be thankful for the fleas, even though she didn't see it at the time. I thougth of that story immediately when talking to this Barry. I've been cursing these ants and all creepy crawlies that somehow find their way into our house. But, we are to be thankful in ALL circumstances - you never know what God is going to use to further His kingdom.