Before we get to today's story I wanted to let everyone know
that I will be a guest on the show: Morning Blend on NBC channel 4
(TMJ Milwaukee) this coming Tuesday morning. The show airs live
from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. We will be talking about the new Chicken Soup
for the Father and Son Soul book, which I have three stories in, and in
general about being a father.

You can visit the show's web site at: http://www.themorningblend.com

Be praying that I will be able to share exactly what God wants me to
share and that it will be an encouragement to fathers out there.

From my family to yours,

Author, Michael T. Powers

P.S. If you live in the Milwaukee area and happen to see the show
this Tuesday, send me an e-mail and let me know what you thought!

P.S.S. If you live in the Milwaukee area and would be willing to tape
the show for us on your VCR, please email me at: HeartTouchers@aol.com



______________________________________



Our Son Came Home

By:  Virginia M. Baty


The phone rang.  It was Father's Day, and our youngest son, Dale, was
calling long distance to wish his dad a happy Father's Day!  This would
be an unforgettable Father's Day.  After chatting a while, he told us
that he had accepted Christ as his personal Savior only five days before.
Needless to say, we were thrilled beyond words, for we had prayed for
his salvation for 10 long years.  There was little sleep that night as we
continued to praise God for His goodness to us in  bringing Dale "home!"
Dale is our third son, the middle child of five, all born in the span of
five and one-half years.  He was always a loving child and possibly
needed more attention than we were able to give him.  However, we have
committed that to God, knowing that we did our best with His help.  At a
very early age, we dedicated all of our children to God, realizing how
much we needed His guidance and strength to raise them for Him.  They
were each taught Christian principles and we went to church as a family
from the beginning.  They were involved in the activities of the church
from early childhood through most of their teen years.  One of the
scriptures we have stood upon during these years is Isaiah 49:25, "I will
contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy
children."

Our son began making wrong choices at an early age.  There were, of
course, the usual childhood conflicts, but in his teen years he began to
drink alcoholic beverages and smoke marijuana.  It was never done in
front of us, but he never lied about these things when confronted with
the evidence.  We are grateful for this and felt that there was hope.  By
the time Dale was in high school, things were nearly unbearable at times.
And I never went to sleep at night until he was home.  We prayed
continually that God would keep him safe.  He tells us stories of not
knowing how he got home many times and testifies that he was sure he
arrived home safely because we were praying for him.

There were times during those years that we were at the end of our
strength and understanding, but faith in God gave us courage to keep
going.  We did impress upon Dale that he was only hurting himself, and
though we were crushed and disappointed in his actions, we would always
love him, and that God loved him too!  He was admonished that if he got
into trouble that involved the police or jail, we could not or would not
bail him out.  He would pay the consequences!

Dale drove a motorcycle and did spend one night in the city jail.  He
was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, plus fleeing to
avoid arrest, and speeding.  We did appear with him in court to show our
love and support, but the hardest thing we ever had to do was to leave
him in jail that day.  He tells us now, it was good for him.  Only God
knows why he didn't get into more trouble.  We never gave up, knowing God
would answer prayer in His own time and for everyone's good.
Dale finished high school only because we insisted.  I threatened to
walk him to every class, and I think he thought I would.

After graduation, he moved to an apartment with friends so that he would be
able to enjoy the life-style he had chosen without our rules.  Shortly
after that, we felt God leading us to another town 200 miles away, and a
new job.  We had to leave our son in God's hands!  We knew we had done
all we could with our influence.  We continued to pray and tried our best
to keep communication lines open.  We began to pray that God would send
someone across his path that would have a real impact on his life and be
able to win him to Christ.   John 6:44 became a refuge for us:  "No man
can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." That was
our only hope!

Following a series of circumstances, including my healing from cancer,
Dale indicated that he was "thinking" of becoming a Christian.  We
answered his many questions and kept praying.  That year, he was laid off
from work and having too much time on his hands, he decided to take
guitar lessons.  As a boy he had sung in the City Boys' Choir and had a
beautiful voice.  Of course, the devil taunted us with the idea that Dale
would get involved in a rock group, but we held on to God's promise and
kept praying.

During the next few months, his guitar teacher, who was also on drugs,
became a Christian and began to witness to Dale.  Our son saw his
teacher's life changed and watched as God worked miracles to save his
marriage.  Dale began to think of how rotten his own life was.  He had a
lovely wife, a nice home, tow cars, money in the bank, but he was
miserable!

At the same time, our second son, who lived in the same town and had
been praying and fasting for Dale, along with trying to spend extra time
with him.  He was a big influence in the change that ultimately took
place in Dale's life.  One night, on the way home from his brother's
home, Dale began to reflect on his past life and present condition.  He
thought of his oldest brother, who had just taken his first pastoral
assignment, who never had much of this world'' goods throughout the years
of his college training, and yet, was always happy.  By the time Dale
reached home, he went directly to his bedroom, knelt by his bed, and
asked God for forgiveness and was wonderfully saved!  God delivered him
from all his bad habits.  Dale is living proof that God does hear and
answer prayer!

By Virginia M. Baty
vmbwrites@juno.com

*****
A little bit about Virginia:

I am a free lance writer and live in Olathe, Kansas with my husband of 47
years, David.  We have five grown children and 13 grandchildren.  I have
been writing personal interest stories and poetry since 1983.  My hobbies
are reading, walking, piano playing, and chrocheting.