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Are you traveling on Alligator Alley?
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Posted by: shalu
Wow, this really ministered to me as I read it. So enjoy!!!
Shalu
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- - - - -
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is
the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only
a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
Twice in the past five days, Bob has taken his favorite trip across
Florida to bring back van loads of newly reprinted books from the book
printing company. Three of our most popular books have just been
reprinted. These trips reminded us of a chapter Bob had written in
"Rejoice on the Road" about this route that he drives often. Although
some things have changed on the "Alley" since that book was written,
we wanted to share the original story with you today:
- - - - -
ALIMONY AND ALLIGATORS -
Today I get to pull the seat out of the van and make my favorite short
trip. I will be going across the state to pick up a book order from
the printing company in Naples, Florida.
If you were to take a map, and draw a line west from Fort Lauderdale,
for 90 miles through the Florida Everglades, you would have just drawn
Alligator Alley, the road that I will be traveling.
Years ago, Alligator Alley was a narrow two-lane road where vehicles
traveled much too fast. Most accidents out there were head-on
collisions and had multiple fatalities.
Today's ride will be much safer than the 100 miles per hour ambulance
runs that I used to make out on the Alley in the Sixties. Back then,
we had little help to offer victims, except for a fast ride to the
hospital in a powerful Cadillac ambulance that also did double duty as
a funeral coach.
It used to be that all the church could do for victims of divorce was
to keep them comfortable during a ride into divorce court. Because of
that, generations of families who rode to the courthouse in the
ambulance of divorce are now being carried away dead in that same
vehicle.
Back then we did not have the medical equipment to diagnose people
properly. If an individual looked dead, then he was assumed to be
dead. If someone has tossed you on a stretcher, all bloody from
circumstances, and is hauling you off to divorce court with a sheet
pulled over your head, get up, before it is too late. Tap on that
glass partition to get the driver's attention. His name is Jesus. Ask
Him to help you. He will clear everyone out of the way and carry you
to the Father for help. Your marriage might be badly wounded, but it
is not dead, as long as Jesus is the driver. By the way, He will
always be there, ready to help.
Fatal accidents out on the Alley have been greatly reduced. The road
still has that designation, although it is now part of I-75. There are
now four smooth lanes with wide shoulders and a grassy median that
must be close to 40 feet wide. The road is flat and straight as an
arrow. Canals parallel the road on both sides. What must be the
world's longest chain link fence separates Alligator Alley from the
Florida Everglades. In most places, all that can be seen on the
horizon is sawgrass and a few cypress trees. Huge, white, billowing
clouds usually seem to fill the blue skies over the Alley.
In our marriage before divorce, Charlyne and I would often find
ourselves racing toward a head-on collision at full speed on Alimony
Alley. Every so often we collided, and one of us would be carried off,
leaving both of us bleeding and wounded. Jesus would come by to help.
We would allow Him to patch us up, and then refuse any more care from
the Great Physician. It would not be long before we found ourselves on
a collision course again. We finally pulled the sheet over what looked
like our dead marriage, until Charlyne realized that marriages do not
just die. The Lord's help was sought and He pronounced it "Not dead,"
and began His healing.
Today, when my wife and I find ourselves about to collide, we have
that wide "median" of prayer to keep us from connecting head-on. Once
we pull over, we are quickly able to begin traveling together in the
same direction. By the way, the Lord gave both of us wide "shoulders"
when He rebuilt things around our home.
After paying the toll in Fort Lauderdale, only one business will be
passed for the next 90 miles. There is a lone service plaza midway, on
the Miccosukee Indian Reservation. That place could easily advertise
"the best coffee and cleanest rest rooms within 45 miles," because it
has the only coffee and rest rooms for 45 miles. Nevertheless, both
receive an A+ from me. Like most motorists, I stop almost every time
I pass that way.
On the highway of life, God has constructed His own beautiful service
plaza. Like the Miccosukee Indians, His place of rest and restoration
is the only one around. Nevertheless, many of us have buzzed by
without a second look. The trip down whatever road you are taking will
be more pleasant when frequent visits are made at the Lord's rest stop.
Last week there was a hunting accident far out on the Alley. The
victim was brought to the only phones around, at the service plaza,
where a rescue helicopter picked him up. People have discovered that
by rushing to the service plaza they can get the best care. People
have also discovered that by coming into God's presence, their
marriage can get the best care.
I arrived at the printing company shortly before 5:00 PM. Before I
could receive the books, I had to pay for them. There is also a price
to pay before you receive a healed marriage. It was a joy paying for
our books, knowing what was awaiting behind that big roll-up door.
Once you realize what awaits you in a restored marriage, you will
gladly pay the price in sacrifice to God's way.
Watching three men load cases of books into the van, I wondered where
each book would finally end up. It was hard to imagine. May the Lord
be pleased to have us run out of restored marriage books again real
soon.
On the way back to Alligator Alley, I passed a mobile home park. Their
sign advertised that they were an "Older Adults Community." They had
discovered another name for retirees. Our society calls the murdering
of babies, "termination of pregnancy." People no longer fornicate and
commit adultery. They have "affairs." We serve our mates with
"Dissolution of Marriage" papers, instead of saying that we are
killing a family.
To God, sin is still sin. I could ride across Alligator Alley and call
it the "Bob Steinkamp Highway." It really would not matter a bit to
the people in charge. I can call it whatever I wish, but that does not
change the official name. God gives us an official name for His road
map for us, the Bible.
If I were to start taking down Alligator Alley signs and replacing
them with "Bob Steinkamp Highway" signs, it would not be taken lightly.
Ridiculous, you say? Why then, are we allowing society to continue
taking down God's name signs for sin and replacing them with man's
names that are easier to accept, while we stand by and say, "Oh,
well?" America, wake up! Pastors, wake up! My friend, wake up! Sin is
sin and God will not tolerate our trampling all over His laws.
I have stopped at a recreational spot far out on the Alley. There are
no buildings here, but only a place to pull off the road and a trail
leading into the Everglades. I have the place all to myself. If we had
to find Florida's equivalent of North Carolina's Inspiration Park, it
would have to be in the Everglades. The sound of passing cars can
easily be shut out when I consider the refuge that God has given us,
right between the hustle and bustle of Florida's Gold Coast on one
side of the state and the Gulf Coast on the other.
I discovered that I could slide open the side door of the van and
stack two of the cases of books just inside the door to use as a desk
for my laptop computer. Standing outside, it is just the right height
for me to type. I reflect on the 288 families who will receive those
books from the cases that now serve as my desk.
Lord, how I wish that each of those 288 standers and 288 prodigals
could be out here with me, to experience Your peace in the midst of
their present turmoil. How I wish that I had Your vision, and could
hand each one a book, and promise them, "Your marriage will be
restored on_____, and life will be as peaceful as the Everglades at
the end of the day." Lord, the time is Your business, not mine, so
Charlyne and I will continue to encourage others until You say,
"Everyone is ready for the prodigal's return."
Several miles back I passed an area where the six foot tall chain link
fence had been pushed down. Two large planks had been used to hold it
in place, perhaps until it could be repaired. This was in an area
where alligators can be seen once in a while. Someone wanted to make
sure that the gators stayed off of the roadway. The Lord reminded me
that Charlyne and I are much like those boards. We don't always see
the results of what we do, but we are helping you keep the "alligators"
out of your home. Our assignment is only temporary, because the Lord
already has your work request for His repair.
A tractor trailer joined me at the pull-off area. I met Bob, the
driver, and his young son, Will. Bob comes that way often, and had
stopped to see if he could show Will an alligator. They were from
Mississippi and had unloaded in Tampa. He would be carrying a load of
plants back to Mississippi the next day. I stopped typing, and talked
with Bob and Will until the sun was about to set.
Bob appeared to be in his early forties. He was clean-cut and wore
boots, jeans, a plaid shirt, and a baseball cap. Nothing would
indicate that he was anything other than a truck driver. He told me
about his truck, which he had driven 500,000 miles on tires costing
$400 each.
While we were chatting, I thought about marriages that had traveled
far. They also ride on expensive tires. The only difference is that
Jesus Christ has purchased them for us. Bob's huge truck would not get
far on small passenger car tires. Yet, prodigal spouses continue to
take off those tires the Lord has provided and attempt to travel on
the cheap recaps of other relationships. That just does not work.
As I had done on other occasions, with other travelers, I gave Bob
some of our books. I suspect that tonight, somewhere in a truck stop,
there will be a man reading about God's plan for marriages.
We both planned to stop at the Indian Reservation to eat. Just before
we pulled out, I learned that Bob not only drove that truck for a
wholesale nursery, but that he also owned the chain of greenhouses,
and that he makes this trip once every three weeks to pick up his own
plants.
As I followed Bob and Will down the road, I thought, "It would be
super to be able to drive that truck the 20 miles to where we are
stopping to eat." The Lord checked my thoughts with, "Bob's probably
thinking, 'It would be great to drive that little white van and write
books." Lord, forgive me for forgetting your blessings along the way.
When you come to visit, you can't miss the exit for the service plaza,
because Snake Road is the only exit out there. If you continue north
on that narrow road for fifteen miles, you would reach the air boat
rides. By the way, there are no fences to keep the alligators off
Snake Road.
I held the door open for a man who was coming out of the store. He had
a toothpick in his mouth, and the satisfied appearance of someone who
was rested and has a full stomach. "Ank ya," he replied with a grin.
Behind him came a youngster, about the age of Will. He also had a
toothpick in his mouth and walked just like his dad. "Ank ya," he said
as he walked through the door. Father and son headed toward a huge
orange semi. That boy was attempting to be just like his dad, and was
being very successful at doing so. I wondered where dad would be
taking him spiritually. Are prodigal dads so deceived that they feel
they can run off and play house with another woman, and their sons
will not follow in their steps somewhere down the road? Yes, they are
that deceived. You must stand and pray, asking God to break that
generational curse.
I called Charlyne from "the best pay phone around," and like a kid
wanting to stay out and play longer, promised her that I would be home
before it was "real dark." I told my wife that a trip to the
Everglades at sunset had to be in our immediate plans.
There was no traffic at the east toll gate. "You look tired," I
commented to the elderly lady collecting tolls.
"I have a bad headache," she replied.
I drove off the Alley praying for that woman. The Lord reminded me,
"Why didn't you pray for her back there, or at least tell her that you
would be praying for her?"
"Lord, people just don't pray for toll collectors while they sit at
those little booths," I replied.
"Why not? I did not have another car in sight."
Once again, God reminded me just how much people need His healing
touch, and of how much He desires to use each of us to minister for
Him. Do you realize that if I had been listening to the Lord, I could
have prayed for that tired woman, and possibly even have led her to
the Lord? From now on, I must be careful to be ready to serve Him in
any circumstance.
As soon as that first car almost cut me off at the multi-layered
interchange of I-595 and I-95, I knew that I was back in Fort
Lauderdale. Sunset in the Everglades had been special, but passing
mile after mile of homes I remember why Charlyne and I minister:
Families who are falling apart need to know the Lord.
When you visit Florida, there are two things that you must do. First,
plan to be here on a Monday night for Bible study. Second, take a trip
out to the Everglades on Alligator Alley. Until the Lord brings you
down our way, my wife and I will keep holding up that fence of
encouragement. We don't want any more "alligators" crawling into your
home. (From a 219 page book, "Rejoice on the Road, by Bob Steinkamp
and available in the Rejoice Bookstore - http://stopdivorce***** )
- - - - -
"The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way
guards his life." Proverbs 16:17
God Bless,
Bob and Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, Florida 33061
http://rejoiceministries*****
http://stopdivorce*****
Posted by: JG
Dear Bob and Charlyne Steinkamp
Thank you for the wonderful post.
If you are going to post links on this site then the price is to place a link on your sites for annointed.net.
Thank you for being a Partner.
Jerry
Posted by: shalu
Jerry,
I am sorry it was me that posted this, not the Steinkamps. I get their daily bits of inspiration regarding restored marriages and standing in the gap for your spouse. Today's just really touched me so I posted it on the site....next time I will ask to make sure that this is alright. Sorry for any mixups!
Shalu