William Laube was quite a guy. A big sort of fella who for some time, was a police chief in our former community. He looked rough and tough and like someone you wouldn't want to cross. But - if ever you had an occasion to tussle with "the law"... he's the one you would want to come up against.
I will never forget his sitting down with my husband and me one day and telling us "his story"... and an interesting one it was! It seems that Bill had been quite a rounder in his youth. He'd married, had kids and then seemed to settle into his authoritative role in the town.
But Bill had an empty space inside that no one ever knew about. As it so happened back in the day, radio was THE word of the moment and everyone would listen to catch the latest news and local goings on.
Years ago, there used to be Evangelists who would travel from town to town. And, they would concurrently host radio programs and challenge their listening audiences. Bill and his wife would listen to the radio on occasion and of course, he would happen to hear one of those "traveling evangelist" radio programs.
One day he said he'd heard enough! He said he "fell under a powerful spell of conviction" that the program had laid upon his heart. Being the gruff independent thinking, half-doubting person he was, he walked out his back door and verbally challenged God right there in his yard! He said, "if you're real and what this man says is true, then send him here!" It was only a day or so later that his wife told him that there would be a "tent meeting" in town and she wanted him to go with her.
Well, Bill went and lo and behold...guess who the man was who was holding the meetings?
The very man that Bill had challenged God to send him. And the odd thing about it all was that the evangelist wasn't even scheduled to be there at all, but in the next town over. But due to the place flooding where the meetings were to be held, last minute change of plans sent them west!
Bill was still not convinced it was God's hand at work in all of it. But the next day, walking out the same back door, he was struck down with what can only be compared to the pain of being struck by a lightening bolt! He grabbed his head and down he went! He said he doesn't remember how long he laid there, but while he was down...he was "caught up" and taken to heaven.
Now here's where everyone stops, rolls their eyes and lets out a big "oh no, here we go" sigh!! But hold up on that a bit. Because Bill said some really astounding things that were revealed to him whilst laying there on the ground. Things that made me believe this indeed happened to him. Things that instantly...in the blink of an eye, changed this gruff man on the spot! Things that made Bill a totally different man for the rest of his life!
I will write more about Bill's experience and his life... so stick around.
I just happened to think about him today and the impact he had on our lives. We won't ever forget you Bill.
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