JESUS AT THE CLUB WITH THE EAGLE SQUAD

Greetings -

Scriptures are from the King James Bible.

This is fiction with true possibilities.

(NOTE: I don't encourage Christians to frequent clubs.  What I do encourage is for Christians to be ABSOLUTELY sure of what our Lord leads to do...)

JESUS AT THE CLUB WITH THE EAGLE SQUAD:

Three spiritually proven mature happily married Christian couples, after counsel with their pastor, decided to, once a month, go to Club Bliss to glow for the glory of GOD.  The couples worship at Great Grace Tabernacle.  They are a diverse group – two Caucasians, Michael and Jennifer – two Native Americans – Pedro and Carla – and two Black Americans – Robert and Lisa.  Each of them has been in Christ for more than 15 years and they all have received intense training in love demonstrations and spiritual warfare.  Their group is called Eagle Squad.

The Lord has spoken to the Eagle Squad about the need for more Christians to be relevant to those who are in the world.  The Eagle Squad’s mission that they chose to accept is to, monthly, be present at Club Bliss – inside for 20 minutes and right outside the club for two hours with the Eagle Squad’s red van called, Love Lifted.  Those words, Love Lifted, are stenciled on the van’s exterior sides.

The Eagle Squad shows up at Club Bliss faithfully every month dressed modestly but attractively (no dowdy attire.)  And they are “armed” with love, compassion, and heart-shaped mints to offer the club clientele.  In Love Lifted, the Eagle Squad members read their Bibles and pray before entry to Club Bliss and after they leave the club, they read their Bibles and pray in Love Lifted, as well.  They keep their Bibles with them in the club but not where they are visible to the patrons of the establishment.

The couples order soft drinks on the rocks, sit and converse among themselves - sensitive to the club atmosphere.  They stay at their table but the glory of the Lord upon them is dominant.  People walk by them, some pause, and look puzzled.  The Eagle Squad members smile glowingly and offer the heart-shaped mints.  People accept, give thanks and move on.

Three months pass.  The Eagle Squad continues to sit in Club Bliss for 20 minutes and afterward to remain right outside the club for two hours with Love Lifted.

One night, a young woman, Amy, walks up to the Eagle Squad table in tears.  Her boyfriend has just entered Club Bliss with another woman.  Amy is crushed.  In the club, none in the Eagle Squad has ever preached or declared Christ.  They have been a presence that has habitually glowed, sat, ordered their soft drinks on the rocks, and talked among themselves.  They have also consistently given warm smiles, and offered and handed out heart-shaped mints to the club patrons.  Some patrons engage in small talk with the Eagle Squad, and walk away feeling uplifted but not understanding why.  The group is amused at how people cannot figure the presence of GOD that flows from within them.

Somehow Amy is compelled to approach the Eagle Squad table.  She knows that there is something pleasantly different about these people.  Though she doesn't know what it is, she feels secure in confiding in the Eagle Squad members.  They don't mention Christ to Amy.  Carla and Lisa invite her out to the Love Lifted.  Amy accompanies them.  Carla and Lisa listen to her pour out her sorrow as tears flood from her eyes.  They comfort Amy and invite her to sit there with them while she regains her composure.  While there, Amy comments on why she felt led, in the club, to approach the Eagle Squad.

“You all glowed with an energy that I couldn't resist,” Amy remarked.

Carla smiled and gently replied, “Our glow energy is from JESUS.”

Amy looked surprised.  She asked, “What are you all doing in the club?!”

Carla and Lisa laugh that Amy wonders.

“Spreading GOD’s love,” answers Lisa.

“Yes,” chimes in Carla, we wait on the Lord.  He sent you to us.”

Amy smiles. “Yes He did.  I thank GOD, and you for being here.”

Lisa joyfully tells her, “We're glad to help.”

Amy asks if she may have their numbers. 

Lisa hands her a card with the Eagle Squad contact information. 

Amy thanks them and leaves for home. 

Carla and Lisa re-enter the club. 

The Eagle Squad sits a few minutes more, pause to observe the bartender, hand out more mints and then depart to be outside for the time that they have left to remain right outside the club.

A drunken man, Walter, comes out of Club Bliss and stumbles near Love Lifted. 

Pedro helps him to balance. 

Walter curses Pedro and the rest of the Eagle Squad.

Pedro, undisturbed, says, “We love you, man.”

Walter looks startled.  He staggers away but he doesn't curse anymore.

The Eagle Squad quietly prays for him.

More months go by and the Eagle Squad club mission has indeed bore fruit.  By now most of the club patrons know that the Eagle Squad are in service for GOD.  They get some respect because they don't force the gospel on anyone.  Naturally, some folks are hateful toward them, but the hatred cannot quench the glow of the glory of GOD.

One night Teddy, the bartender, walks over to the Eagle Squad in front of Love Lifted.  He shares with them that he is a backslidden Christian who is tired of his life in sin. 

They listen and converse with Teddy.  They ask him if he desires prayer. 

Teddy answers yes. 

Together they pray.

Teddy joyfully exclaims, “I clearly felt the Lord tug at my heart.”  He confidently states, “I know I’ll be back, people, in fellowship with the Lord.”

Robert shouts, “Hallelujah!”

The group praises the Lord.

Michael eagerly tells Teddy, “You are welcome to join us for services at Great Grace.”

Teddy is not ready.  “Maybe I’ll come.”

One month, as the Eagle Squad was about to leave Club Bliss, a sober Walter approaches them and apologizes for his drunken conduct that night outside the club near Love Lifted.  He tells them that he has been sober for three months. 

They congratulate Walter and warmly assure him that all is forgiven.

Michael steps forward and shares with Walter, “I was an alcoholic until JESUS saved me and made me a whole man.”

Walter looks hesitant, mumbles a few words and rushes away.  He wasn't at all feeling the episode of the CHRIST testimonial.

The group is NOT discouraged.  They keep Walter in prayer and keep to their monthly mission at Club Bliss.

A few more months went by and lo, one Sunday in church, Pedro looks up and in walks Walter with a big smile on his face and twinkles in his eyes.  And seated on the other side of the church on the center aisle is Teddy, the bartender, with his hands lifted in praise.

For weeks, Amy has been mentored by Lisa and Carla in their homes.  Praise the Lord; they succeeded in loving the hell out of her.  Subsequently, she accepted Christ as Savior. 

One Wednesday night Amy attended Great Grace Tabernacle for Bible study. 

Lisa encouraged her to sign up for the newly developed class called Eagle Squad 101.  Amy was delighted to do so.

Two Sundays in a row, Club Bliss patrons came to Great Grace.  Some became Christians and some fell away.  Those who remained got serious about GOD.  They left Club Bliss so GOD they wouldn’t miss.

They came to know and understand that CHRIST lives and glows in glory.  Now that is authentic BLISS!

As months go on, meanwhile back at the club…the Eagle Squad continues with Love Lifted…

Scriptures from the King James Bible:

The Acts 4:33
…and great grace was upon them all.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  

Exodus 19:4
…and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

Sandra

Written Monday September 27, 2010

© Copyright 2010

NOTE: This is from the Archive Ark.  The original post dates were  September 27th and 28th of 2010.