Totally Out of Control – a Great Place to Be!

It had been a long day. I left early last week on Tuesday morning to drive south of Raleigh, NC to visit an inmate in prison. We spent more than an hour together talking about life, the Bible, and Jesus… it was a good visit.

Then I headed to the Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem to visit a church member who had just come out of surgery for a very serious form of cancer. Which, by the way, the doctors have now declared her cancer-free from a form of cancer that has no cure! It is a God thing!!

After visiting, praying, and meeting other family members… I headed to my car. I had told them that it was just a few miles away at Old Salem where I first kissed Mary. She was attending Governor’s School… I think the historical marker is still there!

I was driving west on Interstate 40 heading towards I-77 which would lead me home. I had just passed exit 182 outside of Winston-Salem. The signs told me that there was road work ahead and to be prepared to slow down. For just a moment I thought about taking an exit to find a way around the construction. The traffic slowed to 35 miles per hour. It didn’t look like it would be too bad.

I was paying very close attention to the car in front of me. I didn’t look in my rear view mirror, which was a good thing. Otherwise I would have seen the car coming towards me at 85 miles per hour making no attempt to slow down. A 24-year-old was talking on his cell phone to his girlfriend. He did not realize that the traffic had slowed considerably. If I had seen the oncoming vehicle, I would have stiffened every muscle preparing for the impending impact because I had no route of escape. That body reaction would have increased my injuries many fold.

Instead, I was simply looking ahead. I heard the initial impact… but was not sure what had happened. After my Ford Explorer spun around two times, it hit the guard rail facing into the east bound traffic which was about 30 feet away. I’m very thankful for the person who invented guard rails… and seat belts!

I do remember feeling completely at peace and calm. I felt no jarring or banging. I knew I was out of control, but at the same time everything was under control. Later, at the hospital, I was praying and thanking God for protecting me. He told me that he had placed a team of angels around me during the accident. I believe Him! That explains the calmness I felt the protection I had. Other than a bump on my head, there was zero pain.

I remember someone coming to my car. I have no idea what they said, but I think I did what they told me to do. I got out of my car. I saw that the car in front of me had been hit as well… either by me while I was spinning or by the other car. There was an older couple in the car. I asked them if they were okay.

Then all of a sudden it occurred to me that I had no idea where I was and why I was there. I didn’t know what day it was or what I had been doing for the past 24 hours. “Why am I standing in the middle of the interstate? Why is the back of my car gone?” Someone told me where I was. “So why am I in North Carolina?” My next thought was, “My brother, Elliott, is a Captain with the High Point Fire Department. He is the closest family member.” I called him. “Hey. I’ve been in a wreck on I-40. Can you come?” “Be there in a moment,” he said. Ten minutes passed and I was still confused. I called my brother again. “Did I call you earlier?” He said, “Yes and I am on my way.” “That’s great, because I don’t remember calling you.” He told me later that after the second call he drove much faster to get to me.

I called Mary. Her first words were, “I’m talking to Molly, I will call you right back.” I simply said okay. Mary was talking to her sister about her dad. He was having some serious health issues and Mary was getting an update. If I had said “I’m in trouble,” she would have given me full attention. But at that moment, I didn’t even remember being in a wreck, so I didn’t say anything. She felt horrible when she found out what was going on… but it was not her fault. I wasn’t able to communicate anything. (We are working on a new system of communication!)

Okay… I’m in North Carolina. My brother is on his way. So why am I here? Where have I been all day? I could not remember anything. About that time an EMT asked me if I was okay. “I don’t know. I know who I am, but I don’t know why I am here.” He asked, “Do you know what day it is?” “No,” I admitted with great embarrassment. They took my blood pressure… it was high. “Do you want to go to the hospital?” he asked. “I’m fine,” I said. Remember, I’m a guy and we don’t like to admit we need anything… (I think that the “male ego” was a little joke by God on man.) The EMT said, “Sign here that you don’t want to go to the hospital.” I signed and they moved to the others.

Why I did the following, I have no idea, but it made a difference. I was sitting on the guard rail in the middle of the interstate. I took out my Blackberry and began twittering. That sent instant texts to cell phones and Facebook. I thought if I could start writing about what is happening my memory would come back. I began to tell people what was happening. Within in five minutes I received over 50 text messages and multiple phone calls. I didn’t answer the phone because I was too confused. But the peace that overwhelmed me was reassuring… people were praying! Over the next 30 minutes I had more than 100 text messages and phone calls. More peace and calmness!

The people in the car ahead of me told me that they saw everything. They saw the car coming; they saw my car spin twice; they saw their car get hit by the other car. The police said I was going 35 mph and the at-fault car hit me at 85 mph.

I looked across the road and saw my brother. He talked to the fire fighters and made his way to me. I knew I would be okay. “You okay?” “I’m not sure. I can’t remember anything.” “Where is the EMT?” he asked. “They left.” He got mad. “You need to go the hospital. I’m not taking any risk.” “Fine with me,” I said.

Somewhere in all that process, I gathered all my stuff out of the car and put it into a garbage bag. I have no idea where I got the bag from. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be driving that car again. “Is it totaled?” I asked the wrecker guy as he was pulling my car onto his tow truck. “Oh yeah,” he said.

I noticed that the driver seat was completely flat and the back of my driver’s seat was laying into the back seat. “How did that happen?” I wondered.

I finally talked to Mary. “Are you going to the hospital?” she asked. “I’m okay, I don’t need to go.” “YOU ARE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL,” she informed me. “I can tell by your voice that something is wrong.”

Elliott got me to his car. We drove the five minutes back to Baptist Hospital. We walked into the ER. It was packed. I was taken to triage. I was with a nurse for five minutes. They took me straight to an examination room and within a few minutes I had my first exam by a physician. “I think you are okay, but let me talk to someone else.” A few minutes later he came back with another physician. He examined me. I still don’t remember much from the day. “I think we should do a CAT scan. Do you want to do that?” He knew I was a pastor and I said “You don’t tell me how to preach and I won’t tell you how to practice medicine.” He laughed and said we would do the scan.

While I was waiting for the scan, a nurse came in. “Are you Mack Brock?” “Yes.” She shook her head and said, “Let me look at your wrist identification. We have you classified wrong,” she said as she left the room. Elliott looked at my id. “They have you listed as a black female.” We laughed. The nurse returned to change my id bracelet. I told Elliott, “I’m going to have fun with this. This will let everyone know I’m okay.” So I twittered the news. I noticed on my phone that I had another 100 messages. I had messages from friends all over the country. I love technology.

The physician reported to me “You have a concussion with amnesia. Your memory will come back and you will be fine.” A third physician came in to give me one final check. They were awesome.

Mary was on her way, so Elliott took me half way to meet her. Elliott told her that he was finally glad that he was able to take care of his big brother. It was reassuring that he was there. It took a great deal of pressure off of Mary as well.

Well, I’ve been examined three times since being home. I still have some fuzziness and trouble concentrating… but all is well. God has been very good to me. I have to take a short break from preaching because of the inability to concentrate.

God taught me that the reason I was calm during the wreck was that the outcome did not matter. If I survived, then I get to remain with my family and friends. If I did not survive the wreck, then I get to be with Jesus in heaven. It was a win-win situation.

As for my brain, I am claiming Romans 12:2

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)

I need God to renew my mind. This kind of work is done by the Holy Spirit as we become consistent in our study and meditation on Scripture and through prayer. So my prescription for recovery is to take a break from the internet, television and movies, and give my full focus on God’s word and prayer.

Let me say again, thank you for the outpouring of your love and prayers this past week.

I love you!

A Labor Day That Lived Up To Its Name

So I think my wife deceived me. She convinced me that Labor Day was actually a day set aside to have a contest to see how much work you can get done in a 12 hour period. AND I FELL FOR IT! For some reason I could not sleep Sunday night. Great day at church; wonderful worship; loved preaching Galatians 5; had lunch with great friends… but for some reason I just could not go to sleep. Maybe it was the thought of 83 year old Jerry Lewis staying up all night for his kid’s telethon. (I use to watch it every year.) Imagine… he has collected over $1.5 billion dollars since he began the telethon.

Anyway, after not sleeping most of the night, we were in the yard by 9:00 on Monday morning and we finished at 9:00 that night. We cleared the area between the road and back yard; measured for the line of the fence along the back; cut down trees; pulled down thorny vines from other trees; dug holes; placed timber for the fence; moved concrete bags that had harden from our lovely humidity; busted up the hard concrete with a mallet to make it usable; set the post; somewhere in all that we split a subway sandwich; Mary went to rehearsal at the church; then we closed off the day by moving 2 large pallets of 8 foot 2 X 4’s from the garage to the back yard. If there was a contest – then we won… and I want my prize!

One bright moment… we had two baby squirrels playing on our back deck. They were not afraid and came right to me… and no we are not making them pets.

During the day, God reminded of some truths in his word.

First were the thorny vines. They covered the trees along the road in our back yard. When you first see a vine growing, it is a small vine just a few inches long with a few leaves; not much to it and certainly nothing to take serious. But left unchecked it will quickly make its way up the tallest tree… and it will invite all of its siblings and cousins to climb along. It was not easy removing those things. My legs and arms look like I got into a fight with Edward Scissorhands. I did get some cool cuts on my legs. One looks like the mark of Zorro. Then there is the triangle and an upside down 7. (I know I’ve got a weird sense of humor.)

Sin is like that. It may start out harmless and small, but it will soon overwhelm your life. It will affect everything. Once it has weaved itself into your thoughts and your behavior – it affects those around you. It’s not easily removed and sometimes takes the help of others… maybe you have the scars that prove this to be true.

The other truth was revealed through a couple of baby squirrels. As I was going to get a drink, this very small squirrel was looking for something to drink on our porch. As I approached, he wasn’t nervous, nor did it run off. In fact, it crawled right towards me. I got a saucer of water and he got his fill. Soon his sibling showed up. Then I remembered… last Thursday, we found a dead squirrel at the bottom of the tree the babies were in. So they are probably orphaned. God reminded me that if He is aware of even the smallest of his creatures, certainly he is aware of my needs.

(Jesus) What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Matt. 10:29

(God) I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. Psalm 50:11

Soaring with the Eagles

I flew my first glider when I was 16 years old. I will never forget the drive to Chester, SC to a glider school located at the airport. It was amazing. After an orientation by the instructor and the pre-flight check of the glider, I crawled into the front seat – the instructor into the back. A tow-line that looked like a ski rope was attached to the tail of the tow-plane was also attached to the nose of the glider. After getting the slack out of the tow-line and checking my controls, I gave a signal to the line-boy who held my wings level. He signaled the pilot of the tow-plane. He began his take-off run. After about 20 yards, the line-boy was able to let go of the wing since the glider had enough lift under the wings to stay level.

Within just a few moments, I was 10 feet off the ground. WOW!!! It was thrilling. I had just gotten my driver’s license and now I’m flying a glider. The instructor taught me how to stay within the “box” behind the tow-plane. After a series of turns, we made our way to 3,500 feet. Then it happened. I pulled the big red knob in the center of my instrument console. The rope disconnected from the glider; the tow plane dove down to the left and I took a steep turn to the right. After having my flight determined by the tow-plane, I was now free to fly as I desired. It was freeing, exhilarating, and very quiet. All I heard was the air rushing over my canopy and wings.

Because there is no engine in a glider, forces of nature have the primary affect on the flight. One force – gravity – pulls you back to earth. The glider began its decent. Within 20 minutes I would be back on the ground. However, I did have an alternative. I could find a thermal. A thermal is like a tall smoke stack of warm air that is rising from the ground. If you find one you can make tight turns within the column of warm air and the heat will cause the glider to rise. When you gain the altitude you desire, you simply fly out of the thermal. If you can continue to find thermals, you could literally keep a glider in the air all day.

The thing about thermals is they can be very bumpy. That is one of the many clues that you have found one. You feel the disruption of air around the glider. But unless you are willing to go through the bumps, you will never get the altitude.

Another clue I look for is a hawk or an eagle. If I spot one in a tight circle, there is a chance he has found a thermal and is seeking to gain altitude. Once when the kids were very young, we were visiting Mary’s brother on Signal Mountain in Tennessee. As we stood at a cliff looking over the city of Chattanooga, I spotted an eagle about a hundred feet below us. He was circling. I told the kids “Watch this eagle. I bet he will circle; never flap his wings; and will soon be higher than we are.” Sure enough, just as if we had planned it, the eagle stayed in a tight circle and quickly rose to hundreds of feet above us – he didn’t flap his wings once! Then he tilted his wings, flew out of the thermal and headed off into another direction. Amazing.

My glider flying and that eagle reminded of this verse:
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

We have reached our two year mark on our new campus. What I thought would be easy has been hard and what I thought would be hard has been easy. Go figure. We have seen many dear friends make their way to other fellowships. (I was told by countless pastors and consultants that this would happen.) I know many of you have been hurt as your friends have left. I have hurt. Even though I knew it was coming, it still hurt. I was their pastor and I loved them… I still do. Being a relational person made it sting even more.

However, I had to be obedient to the Lord. I answer to Him and Him alone. I have no doubts that we are heading in the right direction. Although I will confess that I have not executed everything correctly, I have no doubts of God’s vision for Gateway. He has planted us into a sea of people who do not know Him.

But when you go through some bumpy air while flying… you don’t ever get out of the plane! You keep flying and let the Lord give you the lift you need under your wings. When you are flying at 35,000 feet in an airliner and you run into some very bumpy air… you stay in your seat, tighten your seat belt and trust the pilot! Well, I have put my trust in the Lord.

In the last two years, over 200 people have joined our team. As you have, they have bought into the vision for this church. We have baptized ninety-five new believers. We have many more waiting for baptism. God is great!

I want to thank the Gateway family for believing in our Lord and the vision He has given Gateway. I want to thank the Gateway family for believing in me as your pastor and your leader. Your prayers, kind words, and notes of encouragement bless me more than you will ever know. Never, never, never stop praying for me!

I want to thank the Gateway family for allowing me to build a great team of staff who believe in the vision God has given Gateway. I love working with this team!

Now let’s soar high for the Lord. Let us continue the race and not grow weary of the journey. Let’s ask God to give us hundreds of new believers this fall. Let’s believe God for that which seems impossible to us. Let’s put ALL of our trust in the LORD!!! You are going to love the view when we soar high together!