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October 30, 2020 6:00 am
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The seasons of your life are always moving forward, marriage, parenting, aging well and Rudolf Focus on the Family is Matthew 24 seven.
Download the Focus on the Family app today from the apps Google play looked at me otherwise, I loose the glasses and I said Norman you know who Jesus is no Jesus said, people begin to look at Jesus coming your heart. He never repeated me for the first time he said of serious consideration. Will let Seaman an ice cream shop was just the beginning of a 29 year friendship between our speaker today. Mike Adkins in the man called Norman man who the Lord had asked Mike to befriend on today's edition of Focus on the Family with our president and author Jim Daly will hear the lessons that Mike Adkins learned and these are lessons that will benefit each and every one of us, John. I've always loved this message because it's a motivator. It motivates us to act, not simply to just read our Bibles and pray which are very important, but to actually do and I think the story of a man called Norman. It's profound in so many different ways. The first is the fact that God loves Norman and even though he's not perhaps as sharp as everyone else and he has other issues, God sent Mike Atkins as his neighbor befriend him and to learn more about Norman and to care for Norman and it's a beautiful story.
I think they could come right out of the Scriptures for us today if they were still being written, and to illustrate the beauty of brotherly love one for another, and that really captures it doesn't it doesn't and I really like the way that God worked on Norman and Mike to Norman had to be pulled out of the life of abuse outcast and yes it and Mike had things that he had to wrestle with, and God spoke to both of them and through both of them to many, many people and it really is an amazing testimony of God doing remarkable things and last time we even heard Mike talk about the Lord lying on his heart to invite Norman on his family vacation. Now I don't know about you, John. But if I had kind of strange neighbor and I felt the Lord saying to me, take Norman on your family vacation. First of all I'd have to get through that myself. Then Jean and I have will not get it just is a great testimony to Mike's faithfulness and he did it and look at the beautiful bouquet that Norman became because of Mike's faithfulness. Let me just quickly introduce Mike Atkins for those who work with us last time or haven't heard the previous earrings of this presentation. He was a federal coal mine inspector until God led him into a full-time ministry of evangelism and singing in his got a number of gospel music albums and lives now in West Frankfort, Illinois with his wife Carmel and after we hear this portion of Mike's message to do something Jim a little different to give them a call and get an update about what God's been doing in Mike's life in and I know he'll have a story. He always has the story to share is a great storytelling indeed and let's go ahead and let our listeners herein roll back just a little bit. Get a recap from the last time and with that, here's a man called Norman on today's Focus on the Family. He walked out of the house and I saw that he all know that this time he is long around the backyard. Suddenly, the presence of the Lord settled all over me. I didn't expect. I was surprised by it, but it settled all over me and when it did seen a confidence what the right work more than I normally possessed begin to well up in me and I did something that surprised even me. I got up barefoot coveralls walked across the street and walked up to Norman in his backyard last line I said you having trouble with your lawnmower. He looked at me and he said you having trouble with your lawnmower. Norman McKinney hurting so much of the spark plug type thing about a lot of prayed and pulled it open. It ran like it been the repair shop just just needed something for the first time I Saul when he grinned real big.
I saw a green and yellow tooth right here the year busy year mine in the singing churches on the weekend and I still know more about you, vacations, and you want the Lord told me he supposed take Norman away on vacation for landlord just and he said sir, I'm tired and couple weeks later was going down the highway.Norman set aside my wife and kids in the back. Dr. Landon and I found the cars we got there. He said bumper car and he got in the place called one side crappy and he had his car sideways and look at legal and finally somebody got loose and the ride was about half only if elected, and she did and they were in a hurry. They came all week and they won't hit somebody before the ride was over there said Norman and they hit him will speed they really try to get that thing going here comes someone else and they were starting to get loose now in great numbers and one by one they come around and they hit Norman in the spirit of the Lord spoke to me and he said that's what they been doing to Norman always people been I had taken Norman knows that in learning more about that to my attention in this closet and I couldn't believe my eyes, old shoes of every description. You can imagine old suits, sweaters, and hung this way all kinds of ties little sparkly ties big why does little ties nothing anyone would want to wear said God, give me opportunity bless me some way, Lord, in a revival to sing at came in and I know the game you know if anything the revival in the Lord said Norman is downtown, about one second I make sure it cost at least in only to getting and taking and he picked it out like it was kind dark blue. He had good taste stitching around here was polyester was nice.
It was expensive and clean. He said it's been years you know what that got killed.
The coal mines. About 50 go with the work will now just a little boy he didn't come home some men came to Hassan said that the roof members funeral song uncle heaven never seen him again.
Norman water for your back in once you get clean close tonight. I will take you down to churches and gospel singing.
When his bathroom pulled the curtain back. The floor was like dirt. The tub was so filthy I had to take all the sex out of the first essay paper sacks and took them all out and cleaned the tub with SOS patent.
When I turn the hot water faucet on it for.
I got it back up and taped it back on. Got it, but it worked all right and I got his watering and then I would really get clean when you're through holler at me okay.
He went in the in the bathroom and I will look at that unbelievable wallpaper sag and rain it got him falling off the walls and ceiling and dirt everywhere. You know coal furnace that belched smoke in the wintertime. Something was wrong with night turned in on time. Sometimes you can use it a solid. He had several covers on his bed. He just crawled under the mattress was like that and I shut the curtain just came out he was a nurse clean the curtain back at you just put a towel around. There he stood, his glasses were all water dripping in the floor and not with a towel around them, and I looked at him and I hear seen mother to just been smeared. Not clean enough, Norman get back in the tub. Norman, I'm serious not get clean. We want to be back in the living room and went back in after he said it was okay that went on time and time again. Finally, the floor was wet.
The mirror was wet. The tub was when I was when he was with when he got finished I scrub his hand.
I got them down like this and hurting the headlock we can get away SOS I got some lava soap and I got to not interrupt the top of his head and pretty soon I will and it was showing through beautiful scripts want to put your faith displays and I didn't want us arriving more from the neck on down is yours. Get it cleaned. When we got finished water all over the place you could rub your thumb on him anywhere he'd squeak. We went downtown to the church. The gospel singing.
We set down people come up to me. So brother Michael really glad to have you visit here tonight. God bless you and your friend about the time they get is and I say that's Norman and I go one Sunday right after that the spirit of the Lord spoke to me and said, today is Norman's day. Take a Bible get a pastor friend. We went over to Norman's we get the book of Romans would begin detailing how we will come short of the kingdom of God. How you could receive salvation.
At first he didn't understand any grasp that he said to me oh I see what you mean. He said I used to listen to radio my mom would play that preacher was on.
He said you mean like my windows right there so dirty and he said you're saying that Jesus if I'm asking clean my heart out like like sometimes I wish this cleanup inside of you. And then, and in the outside to an he said I would like that house with the wind blowing in cracks in the walls who dirty house. Norman brayed a simple prayer and he said Jesus said that if I ask you to you come into my heart like that coming and he was forced white as snow. I rejoiced in God begin to do work, but God began to do work in me. I didn't mind if everybody in town to the ballgame a little bit during intermission buses got to be sent on drinking a Coke about just couldn't stand it anymore. So pray so bad for this little good deed Norman. These guys look at me like we think are going to the second and nine God said is not loving your neighbor as yourself. Taste me when I'm in a church that needs this message because I have a lack of love.
I always mentioned to him that God is praised in a lot of places. Most Christians generally speaking love God. Not many love their neighbor as yourself. I'm going to finish with this. I had pride in God still works on it. He said are you willing to help Norman. No matter how long it takes you willing to help in taking place is making the party a lot lovely sometimes.
He said are you willing to go after the coal shed and bring us: and when he can't carry it anymore and put it in his old Stoker Vatican no light.
After Lord, and sometimes the snow was deep in he had me do so many things in that house. It was beginning to be routine back and forth across the street and in one night he challenged me with what I want to close what he said in the bathroom. One night I was standing there looking his bathroom. I had remodeled his bathroom, but now fixes faucet fixture think getting some new walls and put them in new Celtic ceiling and had a lot of was working on and there's one thing and it bathroom and I just would not touch is over the corner is dirty.
I just said no. I said now God, sing" level of guilt about you and saying dumb about Jesus. Okay Lord, not that he could trouble me about a troubling me about. I kept telling only no thing I said no, what he said all I want you to do is fix that lying in lid on the top of you. See if you look at it and I did it it it had the two boats that held the ring into the ceramic part one of those bones broken often if you actually bumped into you just swing down that one won't hang beside the bow and he said they're not looking someone and I will ask you one these days I'm not brash was our father, but I'm going to ask you think you might asking who put that there in a plastic bag was a brand-new ring all had to do was think about all the way put the new one on put the boat on it was finished, I wouldn't touch settling from television one night and he trouble me sabbatical and hostilities are turned off on turn around, my wife and I just got. She was looking to Sears catalog is standard that are later on when it got my coveralls out pantry and I put them on, put the collar foolishly down found me some gloves and came down over the sleeves. She laughed and told me later if I had operating mask like a surgeon. I had, I got my toolbox and I crept across the street, really over in Norman's bathroom got the tools out started working on it thing and and and and that one, but I just couldn't try to get that box and went on I just wouldn't and got in. A guy was finally willing to do stuff like this is having such a thing and come off when you try to get as close as I could to without touching it, you want things to work on this guy just couldn't get it off and saw the church and in normal Truscott's got a good sense of humor because this is what I finally had to do it's true.
I had to get 54 so I could see up under that thing that ranch and I finally got it on and I moved a bit of rust and dirt just like the 700 club is the Lord took care of he spoke to me and said the floor. He said when you do it unto the least of you do it unto me. It changed me. I didn't care if anybody noticed I didn't want any money. I didn't want any! I didn't care anymore.
I just begin to see when it said I give my body to be burned but if I have not love us for nothing. I begin to understand that word loving your neighbor as yourself. When that Coleman got. He said son getting your car take those songs that I've given you all over the country and radio stations. I think maybe thought maybe I can trust him. Maybe using little bit and I went to Carl radio stations and television suddenly record sales came in and then doors open to speak on the country but he never allowed any of that to happen in my life. The first letter how much I agonized for 35 no matter how much harder than said want to confuse me go to heaven until he taught me love my neighbor as myself. When the warden unforgettable Focus on the Family broadcaster real classic for you today and it should be obvious why this message has resonated with so many over the years, Jim. This is the gospel.
This is love your neighbor lived out and told so powerfully so beautifully by Mike Atkins this is that John and that I hope this message is inspired our listeners to really think about being a good neighbor just what the gospel says and befriend someone like a Norman and the and really allow the Lord to change their own hearts as well.
That's what it's about, isn't it one of the best parts of working Focus on the Family John is getting to meet amazing Christians like Mike Atkins he's just wonderful human being and I give him a call yesterday and he agreed to be on the phone with us to answer a few follow-up questions about Norman Mike. As you know we've been listening to a man called Norman a great story of redemption and you tell it so well.
Mike blesses me every time I hear it, but over the last couple of days with a listening ear Focus on the Family. It's great to have you on the phone.
We really enjoyed the stories you shared in the early part of the message which we heard last time Mike but I'm just wondering when the Lord asked you to take Norman on your family vacation to Opryland Mike what was in your head wondering about really hurt God. One of leading to taking what I don't know what turned out to be Lord, and he taught me so much through Norman Baldwin told people about that will got me across the street getting cleaned up and everything else in the truth, what God is cleaning me up. A lot of ways were maybe not that need that but I need spiritually good friend Norman. He did pass away few years back.
Tell us about that moment that a motion thing for me to become almost a replacement for my grandfather.
My grandfather away when I was teenager or soon after in the moment just replaced them in my heart and April 24, 2000. He went to in the last three hours in the end it was the most precious times of my life because I felt God there so strongly his presence and I watched them last year and as I was covering him telling that you know he was going to see Jesus pretty soon everything was all right and he said he was real. He said I think I know you heard me, and I know he understood what I was saying, but it was one of the most time for me personally because I was a blessing to my live. I could never describe geometry. You know, things John we're talking about that last time is just the conviction that the story brings her own hearts, to look for the people around us that are like the Normans in our own lives and you're talking to an awful lot of people right now, Mike, and what would you say to encourage those of us that might give the excuse that you know the pace of life is too fast and I got young kids and the list goes on and on all remember we have a lot of correspondence. She said after seeing that story and encourage me and blessed me and and should focus on the family. I think she said the start of the men's group down our church age 70 and they meet once a month.
This new form in the group and they have each month a project where they go out and they help someone in great need and that really blessed me to hear that and then some wonderful wonderful letters. I got one here and a master in Tennessee and he said on Sunday after church land can result was very distraught, crying and looking for gold area been asleep in the car driving around for six days and he was exhausted. Got a full tank of gas now, and I heard about a job. 200 miles from here where my working. He said I'm so exhausted I don't think I can make the trip so the pastor boarding the motel room and when I went in the paper the pastor's wife and kids had followed another car and when I got the motel when inside his children about and she explained how this man was flabbergasted. They said no any human could be that alone when the man came out the motel office.
The children ran up to him and little boy and edema.I am and he said that… For me, but I don't need it, and then the boxer graham crackers related to church. Given her family impacted that man that it gave the minister a great opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus with all the Dorset Norman Dorion agreed anyway thanking us for that you and all that sort of thing Mike it's such a powerful story even that little story about Norman's impact illustrates the point and for people to get involved in the neighborhood and in their community.
That's really the essence of it and do it in the name of Christ is not simply to be a good friend, but it does have a purpose to it, and that's to lead someone to the Lord right bottom line the bottom line. Don't know the Lord. While it's almost like what you know one place. I'd love to be in heaven is standing near you, Norman.
Say hello to each other in heaven that'll be great.
A great day it's I want to see you to embrace each other.
My friend, you have done well in emotional. Amen brother Mike we love you. Thank you for your witness and your example to us all.
Thank you God bless you what a touching way to finish off this two-day broadcasting and it's easy to see why this is a Focus on the Family classic presentation and requested either digital download or a cassette or CD by over 40,000 fans since we first aired this in 1984 and we've so enjoyed our relationship with Mike Atkins over the years. You can tell he has such a big heart.
I'm sure you heard that in his voice, and I would encourage you to get your copy of this presentation on CD.
A lot of people still use CDs, including me, we can send that to you only make a donation of any amount to ministry contribute to the work were doing here Focus on the Family join our team reaches by calling 800 a family or follow the link in the episode notes to donate and request that on behalf of Jim Daly, and the entire team. Thanks for listening today to this Focus on the Family podcast. Please take a moment and read us. Share your comments that helps others find us and then tell a friend was long as we once more help you and your family.
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