This is also the time of the NYS State Fair. I learned from a member of Northside (the church where I serve as pastor), that yesterday at the cattle barn, he met two people I have a connection with from 39 years ago. Tonight Kathy and I visited them both at the fair. So here's the story.
I grew up on a dairy farm. We would show Holstein dairy cattle at our Country fair. If we did exceptionally well, they would be chosen to go to the state fair. We would make the journey to Syracuse. We did this on a few occasions. After my Dad sold the farm, I continued in 4-H and competed in Dairy Cattle Judging.
In 1974, I made the top 50 in the state and was blessed to go on a trip to the Toronto Royal Winter Fair. One of my roommates on the trip was a guy named Joe Axtell. I was a new believer - having given my life to Christ at the age of 14. I thought it unique - and rather amazing - that Joe had a Bible in his suitcase. I would learn that he too knew Christ as Savior and Lord.
The next year, I competed again and interestingly, I made the NYS dairy judging team placing in the top 8 in the state. Joe Axtell also made the team. The two of us along with Christel Ripley and Tim Coon would represent our state at the National Dairy show in Columbus, Ohio and compete against other states. Our coach was Dennis Hartman from Cornell. Here's where it gets interesting.
As it turns out, Our coach, as well as three of the team were all believers - Christel, Joe and myself. Tim did not know the Lord at the time. We spent several days together, competed and returned home. The rest of the story would be learned years later.
Joe would marry Christel in 1979. Joe and I would both become pastors - he and Christel went to Liberty University and I went to Roberts Wesleyan College. Tim came to Christ 15 years later and today loves Jesus profoundly. 22 months ago, Joe went home to be with Jesus.
Tonight, Kathy and I returned to the fair to meet Christel, and we also met her Dad - a highly respected Guernsey farmer. In addition - we met Tim. He too is still in the industry and a highly regarded cattle judge. He is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ today. I marvel at how God works. The picture below is from this evening. Kathy and I are joined by Tim in the center, and Christel (Joe's widow) and Christel's Dad.
This evening was the reminder of the awesome providence and plan of God. God brought Joe and Christel together and he gave them five wonderful children. He surrounded Tim with four believers - that though not realizing it at the time sowed into his life and God would later bring him to salvation. He put Joe in my life to remind me of the beauty of being bold for Christ. All of us grew up on farms and were impacted by the heritage of family and faith.
For me tonight was like visiting stones of remembrance - right here in Syracuse (you will have to read Joshua 4 for that one). It was remembering the powerful working of God in the life of a 17 year old boy who was blessed to spend a week with four other amazing people - and through that our lives and the lives of many others have been forever changed. To God be all the glory!!!!
