We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own

hearts
Restore thou them that are penitent
Chapter 31
The school year went by fast and plans for graduation were falling
into place at Connecticut Community College. The three students
who had been brought to Barrys attention did not meet graduation
requirements in physics and in a couple of other classes. The threat
to boycott graduation was still hanging over Barrys head as he was
reminded of it again by a phone message left at his office the day
before graduation: Its not too late to give us a C, the caller had said.
Barry had asked for plain clothes policemen to be on campus in
case things got out of hand. bout twenty minutes before
commencement, fifteen students including the three students who
had failed were silently marching in front of the main auditorium. They
held up placards with the words:
Give us a break!
!C or notgraduate!
Rubik, dont be a prick!
We deserve diplomas too!
reporter from the local television station, a newspaper
"ournalist, and a photographer were present. bout five minutes
before the commencement ceremony began, the protesters started
chanting: C or notgraduate! C or notgraduate! #hen asked by
the reporter the reason for the protest one of the fifteen said: $#e "ust
believe that if a student disciplines himself and attends all of their
classes, turns in all assignments, takes all tests, he or she should be
given a diploma and be allowed to graduate.%
#hat if that students grades fall below the minimum !C, should
that student be allowed to graduate&% the reporter asked.
'es. (efinitely. )ome people learn by reading the book* others
learn best by hands on. The important thing is that the student
attends classes and participates in all required activities. )teve +obs
and Bill ,ates dropped out of college and look how well they turned
out.%
#hy didnt you "ust drop out then and pursue your dream&% the
reporter asked.
- am going to pursue my dream, but - have been advised to get
my diploma as well.%
The graduation ceremony began inside the auditorium without
any disruption from the protesters apart from the chanting that
sometimes echoed through the closed double doors. The president,
the vice.president, the provost, and others took their seats on the
podium, and as Barry was about to give the commencement speech
before the graduates marched, ten graduates "umped out of their
seats, held up placards, and started shouting:
C or notgraduate; Rubik dont be a prick!
!C or notgraduate; Rubik dont be a prick!
/uiet down0% Barry said. $1ets have order in here0%
2veryone looked on an3iously waiting to see what would happen
ne3t. The reporters were busy scribbling down details and the camera
men were snapping photos. s the chanting on the inside increased
the chanting on the outside increased as well.
1ets have some order, please,% Barry repeated.
The ten protesters ran to the front of the auditorium and started
marching across the stage. $C or notgraduate; Rubik dont be a
prick!
The fifteen protesters from outside barged into the auditorium,
chanting as they marched down the aisle,$ell, no! We !ont go! C
or notgraduate!
-m asking you all to please leave quietly so we can continue
with our commencement ceremony,% Barry said. $4isitors, family, and
friends, please be patient with us.%
ell, no! We !ont go! C or notgraduate, the protesters
chanted even louder. few returned to their seats, picked up
te3tbooks and started throwing them at Barry and those on the stage.
Barry signaled for the policemen to remove the protestors. )ome
of the protesters fell on the carpeted floor squirming and kicking at
the plain clothes policemen who tried to put a stop to their protest.
fter one officer was kicked by one of the protestors, the officer sat
on top of him and handcuffed him. Three of the protesters ran up and
down the aisles to avoid the officers. The police were able to squelch
the disturbance within a few minutes and the graduation ceremony
proceeded as planned.
+ust a wonderful ceremony0% Barry said to his wife as they drove
home later that evening. $- told you this years graduation was going
to be great* we even had the press there.%
The 5ubiks received several phone calls that evening from
people e3pressing how meaningful the ceremony had been.
ll - can say is, praise the 1ord,% Barry said to his wife as they
watched the local news coverage of the event. $1ets have a rela3ing
four weeks of vacation and get rested up in preparation for another
great school year.%
#hile they were ending their third week of vacation, Cecelia
started to feel e3tremely weak, constipated, and e3perienced pain in
her back and legs. )he tried to bear it without complaining, but
couldnt hold out for long. They cut their vacation short so she could
make an emergency visit to her doctor. The doctor had a grim look on
his face as he shared the news with them.
The cancer has returned at stage three and the tumor has now
grown into your uterus. 'ou can do chemo, but my advice would be to
remove the entire womb6everything.%
2verything0% Cecelia said in horror.
)he burst into tears as soon as they returned home. $7ow all my
hopes of having children are gone,% she said sadly. $That has been
my hearts desire ever since weve been married. -t has been my
daily prayer. - could never understand why ,od gave children to
mothers and fathers who only mistreated and neglected them. ll
those mothers out there killing their children, killing their newborns*
and here - am wanting a child to love and take care of, and yet -m
unable to have one. Thats not right, Barry.%
Barry could only hug his wife as she poured out her heart.
Chapter 32
#ith graduation and vacation behind them, and in spite of
Cecelias deteriorating health, the 5ubiks looked forward to an
e3citing second year at Connecticut Community College. 8owever, it
seemed as though one obstacle after another kept blocking their
path. #ord started spreading around campus that $the new president,
Barry 5ubik, was discriminating against 8ispanic students.% list of
things supporting this charge was sent to the school board, to the
vice.president, to the dean of students, and to others who held
notable positions at the college. These charges included: harassing
8ispanic students about their immigration status* referring to them as
!wetbacks* and routinely investigating the citi9enship status of
students parents.
The school board called for a meeting with him to address the
charges.
:r. Cromwell, - have no idea what you are talking about,% Barry
said after the director of the school board read the contents of a letter
that he had received. $- have always shown the same respect to all
the students and - have never thought about discriminating against
8ispanics.%
#ell, who do you think would do this&% :r. Cromwell asked.
- have no idea,% Barry said. $;nless the same students who
wanted to force me to allow them to pass last year are planting this
information to get revenge. Thats the only e3planation - can come up
with right now.%
- see,% :r. Cromwell said. $7ow you know these are serious
accusations considering this is a federally funded institute of higher
learning.%
'es, - know,% Barry said. $ll - can tell you is they are false
accusations. 'ou can ask my wife, the previous colleges - have
taught at, my former pastor at the church - used to attend before
moving here, and even the pastor of the church - am now attending.%
- do know you came highly recommended,% :r. Cromwell said.
$But if these accusations keep coming in, - hate to say this, but were
going to have to give you a temporary leave of absence until we get
to the bottom of this matter.%
Barry shook his head in disbelief.
Two days later, while he was going over a few things with his
secretary, Barry began to feel di99y and passed out. fter being
revived by the college nurse, he called Cecelia to drive him to the
hospital. 8is doctor ran a series of tests and kept him in for overnight
observation.
ll the tests came back negative. :y best guess is stress. -
know being president of a college can be highly stressful, but you
must learn to rela3. Cut back on your hours.%
Barry began to think that taking a leave of absence of his own will
as the board chairman had suggested might not be a bad idea.
Cecelias health was not showing any signs of improvement. But
she kept her aches and pains to herself not wanting to add any e3tra
stress to her husband. general tiredness seemed to stay with her
no matter how much rest she got. Chemo did not seem to be doing
any good.
:rs. 5ubik, - deal with reality as you well know,% her doctor, (r.
<ritchard, said with a grim look on his face. $- cant even guess at
how much longer you have left to live6maybe three to si3 months. -t
is not looking good. s uncomfortable as it is, were going to have to
increase your chemo if youre even going to have a chance.%
Cecelia had to leave her "ob as the chemo left her feeling too sick
to do much of anything. To make matters worse, the week Cecelia
received the negative news of the returning cancer, Barry received a
letter of suspension from the school board.
Barry showed his wife the letter.
-t seems like weve had nothing but one obstacle after another
since weve been here,% Cecelia said. $-m beginning to believe we
made the wrong decision to move.%
:e too,% Barry replied thoughtfully. $- really do not know what
,od is trying to tell us,% he said more to himself than to his wife.
#hat am - going to do in three to si3 months&% she said to her
husband.
#hat can we do, but to number our days and redeem the time
as <aul said= and continue to pray for your healing,% Barry sighed.
Barry put in application after application for teaching positions at
various schools from elementary to high school to colleges, but
nothing opened up and there werent signs of anything opening up
soon. >ut of frustration he walked into the local ':C after noticing
the $now hiring% notice on the marquee. 8e was hired on the spot.
- never saw myself working full.time at a ':C6maybe as a
volunteer, but definitely not as my main source of income,% Barry said
to his wife.
#ell, at least it involves teaching6something you love to do,%
Cecelia said. $Those boys are searching for good role models and for
someone to genuinely love them.%
'ou have a point there,% Barry said, $even if the pay is way less
than what -m used to. #ith your medical bills, were probably going
to have to move into a smaller place.%
>ne )aturday before church visitation, Barry confided in <astor
)mith about the series of unfortunate events that had taken place
since he and his wife had moved to Connecticut.
'ou know,% <astor )mith said after thinking, $- believe ,od is
trying to get your attention.%
#hat do you mean&% Barry asked.
5emember - shared with you that you are a natural soul.winner
and you have the gift of evangelism& 'our former pastor even said
so. - believe ,od wants you to quit your "ob and go into full.time work
for 8im.%
:mm,% Barry said.
8avent you felt a calling to go into Christian work& 8avent you
felt a strong urging to go into ministry full.time&%
-m not going to deny that,% Barry said. $-ve felt an urging for
some years now and it has gotten stronger recently. - "ust keep
pushing it to the back of my mind.%
'oure acting like +onah,% <astor )mith said. $,od told +onah to
go to 7ineveh and preach to the people so they could have a chance
to get saved. +onah said, no, and went somewhere else. 'oure doing
the same thing. ,od has been calling you to preach the ,ospel full.
time and you have been running away.%
Barry thought back to the very first time ,od started to speak to
him about leaving his teaching position while back in 7ew 'ork and
going into ministry full.time.
s you know, +onah tried to hide from ,od and ,od caused
some unfortunate events to come his way: first the storm, then being
thrown into the raging sea, then being swallowed by a great fish, then
been spit up on dry land in 7ineveh 6 the very place ,od told him to
go to. ,od had to bring +onah to a low point in his life before +onah
surrendered to him. Thats where you are, Barry. ,od is bringing you
to your lowest in hopes that you will surrender to 8im. - hate to even
think this, but if you dont respond to ,od in the way 8e wants you to,
,ods getting ready to take your wife away from you through death.%
But this is between me and ,od. #hy would ,od cause my wife
to suffer for my disobedience&%
- think you know the answer,% <astor )mith said. $,od will
remove from you that which is dearest to you in order to get your
attention. (o you remember <haraoh& ,od took his son6the thing
dearest to him6to show him 8e meant business when he told him to
let the children of -srael go.%
Barry nodded.
#e can do what we want, but ,od has a specific "ob for each of
us to do and we will do that "ob one way or another6either willingly
or by force. 2ither way is fine with ,od,% <astor )mith said. $5ight
now youre being forced in the direction of obedience.%
<astor )mith remained silent to let his words sink in. $Theres a
?amily 1ife )eminar coming up at the end of ne3t month. -ve
encouraged all of the members of the church to attend. -d love for
you and your wife, if shes up to traveling, to "oin us this year. -t will be
a blessing to you.%
#ed love to,% Barry said.
Come by the office on :onday and pick up two tickets. -n the
meantime, ask ,od to help you make the right decision. By the way,
the position is still open for our 2vangelism >utreach :inistry.%
Chapter 33
Barry was in deep thought on his drive home. 23amples from the
Bible kept coming to his mind. "eter returned to t#e $is#ing business,
but %esus came and called #im back to be a $is#er o$ men&
God !anted 'oses to deliver is people out o$ bondage, but
'oses !anted to do it #is !a(& God #ad to sit #im do!n until #e
became #umble and learned to do t#ings Gods !a(&
I #ave been )ust like %ona#kno!ing !#at God !ants me to do
but !anting to do m( t#ing!anting to keep m( career above
serving God $ull*time; not !anting to leave m( com$ort +one&
(ear ,od,% Barry prayed silently, $'ou have been telling me to
go into full.time ministry for 'ou, but - have chosen to ignore 'our
voice. 7ow, 'ou have placed me here at 7ew +erusalem ,ospel
Chapel with an open position on staff for someone to head their
2vangelism and :issionary >utreach :inistry, and - still wont accept
that position. +ust as +onahs disobedience "eopardi9ed the lives of
the sailors and 'ou had him thrown overboard, likewise, my
disobedience has "eopardi9ed the life of my wife and everything -m
involved in. #e might lose our home* we are constantly having car
problems* my health is in "eopardy* -m about to lose my wife to
cancer. There has been nothing but problems since - took over as
president at the college. #ho ever heard of boycotting a graduation&
1ord, forgive me for ignoring 'our voice* it has cost me dearly.%
#hen Barry got home, he shared his thoughts with his wife and
was surprised at her response.
#ell, nothings holding you back now from filling that position at
the church. 8urry up and call <astor )mith and tell him you accept
and lets get going so that whatever months or weeks - have left, -
can use them to win some souls for +esus.%
lthough Cecelia was not feeling well, she insisted on going to
the ?amily 1ife )eminar. They were blessed. s the seminar speaker
shared with the attendees:
#hen ,od calls you to do a "ob, 8e wants you to do it and no
one else. 'ou can respond to 8is call in one of two ways: 'ou can
hear 8is voice, listen to 8is voice, and obey 8is voice and reap the
blessings from doing so. >r, you can break bad by choosing to ignore
8is voice and be cursed. - always tell people - counsel, when
ine3plicable bad things begin to happen to them6your new car
breaking down, sudden death or ill.health, people hating you for no
reason6- always tell them to check their personal life first to see
whether or not they are walking in obedience to ,od. (isobedience
to ,od will bring a world of trouble upon you.%
s the speaker spoke, Barry and his wife were able to see
themselves. They knew what they needed to do going forward.

#elcome aboard0% <astor )mith congratulated him when Barry
shared with him his decision to accept his offer to head the
2vangelism and :issionary >utreach :inistry. $,od will bless you.%
The ne3t )aturday after Barry made the decision to go full.time,
he was out with the church witnessing and inviting people to church.
8e came upon a group of five teenage boys standing around
laughing and "oking while listening to some hip.hop music blaring
from their music bo3.
8ey, guys,% he said as he approached them. $- have some good
news for you.%
re you going to tell me how - can win a million dollars&% one of
the boys said.
7ot quite,% Barry laughed. $:y news is better than that, and it
begins with these words of +esus from +ohn @:AB: !?or ,od so loved
the world that he gave his only begotten )on, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.%
The boys turned the music down and gathered around Barry and
listened intently to his words.
'ou are in the world, so that means ,od loves you. -t also
means 8e gave 8is only )on, +esus, to die for you and for all your
sins that you have committed* and we all have sinned. Thats what
has separated us from ,od* but +esus paid for those sins. ll ,od is
asking you to do now is to believe that +esus Christ has paid for your
sins. ,od wants you to believe on the 1ord +esus Christ so you can
be saved from your sins and from the punishment of sin which is hell,
and live with 8im forever.%
The boys nodded.
)o all - have to do is believe that +esus loves me and that 8e
died for all the bad things -ve done&% 5on asked. $)hoot0 Thats easy.
- thought it was harder than that.%
Thats what the devil would have you to believe,% Barry said.
- know all about the devil,% another one of the boys said
laughing. $#hen - do something wrong, my grandmother always
hollers at me !the devil is making you do it.%
Barry and the boys laughed.
7ow which of you are willing to acknowledge that you are a
sinner, and are willing to believe on the 1ord +esus Christ, and ask
8im to come into your heart and save you from sin and hell& -f you
do, "ust bow your heads and pray with me.%
#e gotta pray right here&% another boy asked. $- thought you
had to pray in church for ,od to hear you.%
>h, no. +esus answers your prayers no matter where you are. -
asked +esus to save me at a youth camp in the woods and 8e did.
nd 8es answered many of my prayers outside of the church,% Barry
shared with them. $re you willing to pray and ask +esus to save you
right here&%
The boys looked at each other then nodded. $- do,% they all said
one after another.
Barry led them in prayer.
(ear ,od, - do thank 'ou for loving me enough to send 'our
)on, +esus Christ, to die for my sins6past, present, and future. - do
believe and - ask 'ou to forgive me of my sins and save me from my
sins and from hell. <lease come into my heart and save my soul and
change my life so - can have everlasting life. -n +esus Christ name -
pray. men.%
That is good news, :r. Barry,% llen, the quietest of the five boys
said.
ll five boys visited the church on )unday.
The following week, Barry took his wife in for her scheduled
doctors visit to be followed by chemo.
This is ama9ing,% (r. <ritchard, said. $- dont see any signs of
cancer. -ve double checked all the tests. 2verything is gone.%
Barry and Cecelia, although surprised, knew the reason, but did
not go into any e3planation.
,od will bless you when you obey 8im,% was all Barry said as he
shook (r. <ritchards hand.
- cant wait to see what else ,od has in store for us,% Cecelia
said as they drove home.