meeting07_26

Zion Johnson barely made it to the opening remarks of the Army of One meeting. The drill sergeant was just getting warmed up. "We are the ones, ladies. We are the heroes God wants to use. Unfortunately, we have found that we all aren't quite ready to be His tools. Every tool must be clean and in good condition before it can be applied to perform its particular purpose in life. But God has made us special, girls. We get to be the ones to carry the ball on the last play of the game. No more passing the buck. We get to be the ones privileged to participate in the divine life of knowing God, knowing ourselves, and knowing our families. Thus is the challenge of manhood; to do this means to become the man God designed you to be. That's what it's all about, gentlemen. Now Private Coondog will recite the passage he memorized as part of his rehabilitation."

Zion looked up to listen, but something caught his eye on the horizon. That's an odd looking cloud, whisping up on both sides like that, he thought. It captivated his attention as Private Kuhndall began. "Psalm 101: 2-7. I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure. My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence."

The cloud stretched out bigger than before and seemed to advance on the increasing wind toward the gathering place of this Army of One. Their was definitely something moving amongst the cloud now like familiar shapes, not quite identifiable yet. The drill sergeant continued, unaware of the approaching storm behind him. "Picture it in your mind, ladies. Who do you want to be like? What is the image in your small brains of who you are? Is it someone on a television show? Someone famous in the world? A sports figure? Well, if it isn't Jesus, you are going to be disappointed. And the only way to get there is by letting God transform the image in your minds. Furthermore, He has purposed for us to be active in leadership as men, not to be a bunch of slobby couch potatoes that avoid responsibility."

Zion now could see color in the images bouncing along in the cloud formation. A figure dressed in white battle garb on a white horse followed by a huge number of more soldiers in white. Suddenly there was a flash of red on the robe of the leader. "We are the ones responsible to minister to our families so let's get active. We are to be in the business of "thinking, studying, monitoring, recommending, influencing, and loving" our families and others at home and everywhere else. It's all part of the great scheme of things in knowing God and knowing others. That's doing His will."

Zion's face stared in disbelief at the approaching army. They were now close enough he could hear the sound of armor clinking and horse hooves in rhythm. A banner could be read behind the leader as "Faithful and True". "That's peace in knowing your are with God and no longer an enemy of God. But the Devil prowls around looking to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to keep you too busy to think, too tired to move, and too distracted to be obedient. We are in the War of Worlds, gentlemen and it is a war for the soul where sin matters. 'Leading your family in righteousness is your prime responsibility and ministry. To abandon it for personal pleasue, forfeit it through moral cowardice, or shirk it because of irresponsibility is a sin.'"

Private Johnson felt his heart rate soar with excitement as he could actually smell the aroma of the horses lathered in their perspiration. The leader's eyes blazed like fire beneath the numerous pointed crown on his head. Just the sight of him was paralyzing. The drill sergeant continued to pace through the delivery of his speech, his back to the nearing spectacle. "To minister to your family and others we must learn to listen, men. We must study the Word and listen to God and then take the time to ask questions and listen to our families' answers to determine what their needs are and then we must help meet their needs. We are to be the ones active in meeting their needs, not passing it off for someone else to fulfill. 'You must have the courage to be the man your family wants you to be. Stop and listen to their needs. Then you will be the man God wants you to be, too.' What? Private Johnson, what are you staring at?"

The instructor turned to see what held each of the privates speechless and in awe. There he saw the One, with a name written on His garment that was incomprehendible. He hovered over their heads, under a horse full of vigor and desire. The others stood behind him, restless to follow their king who had now stopped for this group. He looked down upon them and opened his mouth, revealing a giant double edged sword. The army of one stood motionless on the ground and felt the searing burn deep inside their beings, cauterizing their souls until they were complete in unity. They had to close their eyes to absorb the deafening roar of the trumpet blast that followed. As they returned their gaze, the Son of Man spread His arms out, showing the blood stained robe as a Father calling his children to himself in invitation.

"Gird up your loins, men," the drill sergeant managed to studder as the tears choked his voice down to a mouselike croak. "The king has considered us worthy to join His army. This is the ultimate calling, the highest purpose. This is what we've been preparing for. Come on! Let's go, men. Mount up!" Huge, oversized eagles swooped down in a smooth landing, one in front of each of the men. The monsterous creatures gently had to nudge them upon their feathered wings as the men's legs had no strength to maintain balance. Feeling the massive muscles ripple in flexion, the birds lifted off to bring them into formation with the rest of the gathered army. A great shout went up, praising God and the King of Kings as they marched into what would be the greatest battle since the dawn of time.