Preface: I don't usually do two....Tuesdays With Special Dog....posts so close together. There is a recent one just a few days ago. This is another conversational post about two men....Special Dog and John....who meet monthly at a Manhattan Starbucks to talk and fellowship....but in this one they are in for a little of the unexpected:
Special Dog and John were enjoying the sunny and warm day....sitting at tables outside of a Manhattan Starbucks.....fellowshiping.....and just enjoying each other's company in their monthly get together. It seemed that most of the retail businesses were celebrating Spring with flowers in urns on the sidewalks or baskets hanging from their awnings. The sun was reflecting gorgeous blue beams off of the glass and steel skyscraper directly across the street. A white van had pulled up in front of them....with an array of antennas on top of it....it was a news van of one of New York City's television stations. Both John and Special Dog wondered what news story they were pursuing. It only took a minute or two for an attractive lady to fiddle with a microphone as a man hoisted camera straps over his shoulders....as Special Dog thought to himself.....
S. D. (Please don't point that thing at me!)
The woman went up to a couple seated at the end table....put the mic up close to a patron....and asked a question that Special Dog could not hear.
S.D......(Please God....don't have them come up to us!)
A minute or two later the lady reporter moved closer to another table with a woman sitting by herself....with the same routine. This time Special Dog could at least hear the question asked of the patron...."And how do you feel as to where America is going right now? Are we on the right course?" The woman's answer was hard to discern but it was something like...."We need to put our attention back on America gain....on our own troubles." Special Dog was sweating....
S.D....."Oh Lord....don't let her come up to us....give us an earthquake or something!"
If John were not present Special Dog would have laid a few dollars down on the table and been long gone. John was saying something but Special Dog was only focusing on the approaching reporter.....who asked the same question of a man sitting alone....whose answer to the same question was...."No....we are not going in the right direction.....we need to seriously address the issue of global warming." The reporter then approached and looked directly at John....
S. D......(Thank you Lord!)
....and then turned to Special Dog.....stuck that mic right up to his face.....and said.....
Reporter...."Hi.....I'm.....(so and so.....from WB....something or other).....I have a quick question for New Yorkers....Is America going in the right direction....and what do we need?"
Special Dog was definitely that deer staring into the headlights....but uttered....as a plea for mercy....
Special Dog...."I'm not a New Yorker!"
But that wasn't going to get him out of this....as she kept the mic right up to him. Special Dog prayed....(Why me Lord....I can't speak in public....don't you have an Aaron here somewhere?).....but he paused....and then began....
S. D......"America is one half pagan....and one half asleep. A video of a dog doing something funny can get a million views....but if you can even find a preacher warning us of our idolatry....he'll be laughed at or ignored. One side lives for one purpose....to get God out of everything in America.....the other side just wants to win in November so that they can have their America back....an America that was already was under judgment. We have abandoned everything good that we once stood for. God has given us what we wanted....to be masters of our own fate. His judgments....
The reporter interjected a....'Thank you"....as to move on but Special Dog kept talking...
S.D...."His judgments are everywhere....domestically and internationally....we have had a half century of dire warnings from preachers like Billy Graham but ignored all of it....we are not going to get out of this....there are no more Jonahs giving us forty days....or forty years....no more Jeremiahs pleading with the leaders and the preachers and the people....we only have one option...."
The reporter pulled the microphone back and looked to the next table....for this was a live mid-day broadcast directly to the studio....but before she could step back Special Dog continued...."
S.D....."All of the leaders of this world....and all of their power....that United Nations over there.....will not be able to stand before the coming King of Kings....but the offer is still there as of today.....'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.....turn to Him...."
The reporter stumbled a bit over the leg on John's chair....looked into the camera now facing her....smiled a somewhat crooked smile and said....."Well there you have it.....back to you Tom in the studio!" She and her cameraman were packed up back in the van and gone before Special Dog could even turn his attention to John....who looked as if he were in shock. The van drove off....with a slight squeal of the tires. There was silence from everyone who witnessed this....except for one elderly man at the next table down the line....who slowly got up....came over to Special Dog and said....."I was praying that God would not have them ask me that question....for I am old and as you can see feeble....but He provided you. God bless you....and may someone out there listen to your warnings." With that he moved on.....as Special Dog looked back to John....who was always shy as to praying....but this time he bowed his head and began loud enough for others to hear....
"Dear Lord.....mysterious are your ways.....but wonderful are your decrees! You move as a whirlwind....scattering everything not held down....but leaving that which is embedded in thine own soil. You confounded them today O Lord. You pulled them here as a line pulls in a big fish....and you flayed the meat of their plans. May the ears that are open....have heard and taken heed of your coming judgments....and may we all look to Thee if this dust now choking us settles....knowing that they will say....."Finally....peace and security"....a sure sign for us to look up....and see our redemption approaching!"
John had never spoken like that. Both men knew that God was now beginning to speak through the most unlikely of vessels. They stood....hugged....started to walk away....both turned back for one last wave....both pointed up to the heavens....as a dark cloud was just beginning to appear.....and some wind!
