don’t you remember that Richard said he was full.”
“Yes, of course, I’m sorry Richard. Just leave it there. Don will eat it later.”
“Wait a minute. Finders, keepers. My stomach just got as big as my eyes,” Richard said as he reached for the cake.
Melissa flashed Richard a look of gratitude.
The time passed quickly—so quickly that when Richard looked at his watch, he was surprised to see that he’d been there three hours. When the Ingrams refused his offer to help with the dessert dishes, Richard said good night and promised to visit again soon.
Melissa led him to the front door. As she opened the door for him, she took his hand and squeezed it.
Richard smiled his thanks. His cheeks showed rosier than usual in the porch light. “I hope you’ll be more careful next time you go running.”
“Yes, I will! I’m going to run with Otto.”
“You are?” Richard’s tone conveyed disappointment. “Is Otto your boyfriend?”
“No,” Melissa laughed. “Otto is our German shepherd. We had him locked in my room. He has a tendency to jump on our guests.”
After another good night, Richard headed for his car. As he walked along, he thought, Lucky dog.
7
Meeting About Prayer
Memories of his good time with the Ingrams, one Ingram in particular, monopolized Richard’s thoughts for some days. But with effort, he began planning the youth group meeting. Cal gave him some good ideas over lunch one afternoon and Richard completed his preparations in time. He decided the evening’s theme would be prayer.
“I’d better practice what I’m going to preach,” Richard said to himself. He spent an hour praying in his room that the teens who came would hear truth that would strengthen their faith in Christ. Richard claimed God’s promise in Isaiah 55:11. He read the verse out loud: “So shall my word be which goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
Richard arrived at the church half an hour early to get the meeting room ready. The group, aged 14 to 17, met in Room 21, the Olive Carlyle Room. He glanced over his notes, checking to see if he had marked certain passages of Scripture.
“Hi. Are you the new youth leader?”
This greeting caused Richard to turn from the window, where he had stood while saying a silent prayer. “I’m the youth leader for one night, anyway. I suppose you’re a member of the group.”
“Yep, for three years. The rest will be along pretty soon. Cal always likes us to be on time.”
His prediction proved correct. In a few minutes Richard found himself facing fifteen young people, whose facial expressions showed both curiosity and apprehension.
“It looks like everybody is here,” Richard said.
“Except for Jimmy. He ain’t all here!” Rewarded by the laughter of the other teens, the jokester added, “And his brain ain’t likely to join up with his body for another half hour!”
Richard noticed that the teens directed their laughter toward a boy in the front row, who seemed to take the teasing good-naturedly.
Rising up in his chair, Jimmy glanced toward his tormentor and retorted, “At least, I have a brain, Leroy!”
“My name is Lee,” muttered Leroy.
Richard waited patiently for this exchange to conclude, then announced, “We’re going to sit in a circle. Please move your chairs.”
The thundering noise that ensued sounded more like the eight girls and seven boys were remodeling the room instead of simply repositioning chairs.
Moving his chair into the completed circle, he said, “My name is Richard. Tell me your names. I know you’re Lee, and you’re Jimmy.” He glanced toward each of the boys who had teased each other minutes before.
After a brief pause, one of the girls said, “My name is Sandra, but I prefer Sandy.”
“Okay, Sandy. And the young man on your right? What’s your name?”
“My name’s Chris. Named after Christopher Columbus.”
“I’m Jose Ortega. We’re really glad that you could take over the group for Cal. He asked us to help all we could.”
“That’s great, Jose. This is my first time leading this kind of group. So, your help will be appreciated.”
Several students then yelled out their names so rapidly, that Richard couldn’t catch them all. “Hey not so fast,” he pleaded.
“I’m Debbie Martin,” one girl said slowly and deliberately, so that Richard would be sure to hear her name correctly.
Soon all the members of the group had contributed names.
“Well, I think I know your names now, but I may have to ask you again. We’re here this evening in the name of One whose name ‘is above every name,’ as we read in Philippians 2:9. Verses 10 and 11 tell us, ‘that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God.’ I believe that one of the ways we confess that Jesus is Lord is through prayer. And that is the subject of our lesson this evening. Jose, would you get us started with a prayer?” As Richard made this request, he wished he’d asked Jose earlier if he would mind praying.
Jose offered a simple prayer, asking God to bless their meeting and help Richard.
The circle of teens became very quiet, and a mood of expectancy settled over the group.
“When I was a small boy, my Uncle Mac taught me to pray. You see, my uncle raised me. He told me first to thank God for what He has done for me and for others, including answered prayers; second, to petition God to help me and others, including requests for healing; third, to confess my sins to God—openly and honestly—including the things I’ve left undone; fourth, to praise God for the wonders of His creation and His salvation through Jesus; and fifth, to listen for God’s voice and sense His will, including the whispers of my conscience.”
Richard paused for questions, and Lee’s hand went up.
“Yes, Lee?”
“What’s ‘bedtishun’?”
Richard restrained a smile and said, “‘Petition’ means asking someone who has authority to give you something, usually something that takes a lot of power.”
“But like what’s prayer, really, Richard? When the minister tells us, ‘Let’s pray,’ I listen to him pray, or anyway, I wait ‘til he’s finished.” Debbie made this comment and paused thoughtfully. Before anyone could say anything, she added, “I just don’t have the right words like the minister.”
Richard
