ZMED BROTHERS

Last year, we attended a concert by the Zmed Brothers (The Everly Brothers Experience) in Hartville, Ohio. The older brother, Zach, shared with the audience that he had gotten married and now had a baby girl. We went up after the concert to congratulate him on his marriage and daughter.

When we had our opportunity to talk to him, Donn told him, “We’ve been married 53 years.”

“Wow!” Zach said. “Do you have any advice?”

“Jesus!” Donn said and I added, “Jesus is the glue that holds us together.”

“Yes!” Zach exclaimed. “Even when I’m on the road, my wife and I have our devotions together every morning.”

We told Zach we’d be praying for them. “There are so many temptations on the road,” I added.

Zach nodded, and said, “I go to sleep every night looking at a picture of my wife and daughter.”

We were so encouraged to hear his testimony of faith and prayed for them occasionally. As usual, we bought tickets for their concert again this year when they became available. Yesterday as I was getting ready for our trip to Hartville Restaurant, the thought occurred to me, I should give Zach and his wife a copy of one of my devotional books. He said they have devotions together every day.

I went upstairs to get a book, personalized it and signed my name. I’d ask his wife’s name and add it later.

As usual the brothers and their drummer and bass guitarist put on a great show. They are a combination of the Everly Brothers’ music with Smothers Brothers’ humor. I was delighted when Zach introduced a song honoring his wife (she and the baby don’t travel with them) and then said they would be remiss if they didn’t do a song of faith. It was a song I knew but can’t recall its name.

We were at the far side of the auditorium, opposite where they’d greeted people and sold their CDs last year. We thought we’d have to wait in line a long time to give Zach my Homespun Faith book. However, just before they ended the program, Dylan nodded toward our side of the auditorium and said, “Come greet us and pick up one of our CDs if you like.”

Because of our location, we were one of the first in line to speak to them. When it was our turn, I said, “I don’t know if you remember us but last year, we told you that Jesus is the glue that holds us together.” Zach smiled and nodded.*

I continued, “We have something for you. I’m a writer and we want to give you one of my devotional books.”

“Oh that’s so kind of you! My wife and I have devotions together every morning.”

“You told us that last year and that’s why I wanted to give you one of my books. Could you tell me your wife’s name so I can sign the book to both of you?”

As I finished signing, Zach said, “Do you have contact information somewhere here so that I can reach out to thank you, maybe an email address?”

I showed him our phone number and website address on the bookmark we give with every book, and then added our email address which we don’t normally give out. Zach took the book with a grateful smile. “This last year has been the hardest year of our lives. Thank you so much!”

Donn said, “How’s the baby doing?”

“She’s doing fine. Thank you so much for asking about my daughter.”

We asked someone standing nearby if they’d take our picture with Zach, and then moved on to let other folks talk to him.

Please pray for Zach and Kelsey and their daughter, that their faith and their commitment to each other would stay strong.

 *I don’t think Zach had a clue who we were but later I realized he’d only seen us once before. I look completely different than I’d looked a year earlier in the middle of chemo, wearing a wig that looks completely different from my “curly after chemo” hair and still wearing glasses!

JUSTIFIED

Last year at the Stoneboro Fair we heard a musical group called Justified who sing quite a variety of music. I started following them on Facebook and a few weeks ago, I received a notification that they’d be at Bay Shore Campground. We were free that evening and decided to go since it wasn’t too far away.

When we arrived at the Campground, we were greeted by a closed gate sort of thing which, we discovered, only opened for people staying at the Campground. A young lady came out of the office and explained the concerts were only for campers and their guests.

I told her I’d received a notification from Justified since I followed them on Facebook after hearing them at the Stoneboro Fair. The woman said her boss would be along shortly, and she’d find out if we’d be allowed to stay. “Please just pull off to the side of the road until my manager comes.”

We waited, and I was determined to keep a good attitude although it was tempting to be annoyed. About ten minutes later, the manager arrived and soon her messenger came to tell us, “You’re allowed to stay…this time.”

After thanking her, I said, “I can assure you that we’re law-abiding citizens!”

We drove into the campground, took out our chairs and walked over to sit down beside the small stage. The lady we knew to be the singer walked over to talk to us and ask our names—turned out the other two people already seated there also had names beginning with D—Dave, Debbie, Daisy, and Donn!

When we told her we’d almost been turned away, the singer was quite upset because she’d been told by the manager to let folks know they were going to be there. It was an amazing concert—three hours long with some Zach Williams and Casting Crown songs.

They did a lot of requests and when I asked her if they knew Casting Crowns I’ll Praise You in the Storm, she said, “We do but we haven’t sung it for a very long time, maybe 2008!”

I responded, “If it’s been too long, that’s okay.”

But they decided to “try it!” Flawlessly done for the honor and glory of Jesus!

During the evening, the singer, whose name I discovered later is Laurie, told the group that she been blessed to open for Kenny Rogers at one time. Later, a bigger door  opened, but she was diagnosed with breast cancer so that door was closed.

As the evening progressed, the thought came to me, I should give her one of my Homespun Faith books. We always keep a box of books in the trunk in case we need them, and this seemed like prompting from the Holy Spirit. My plan was to give her the first Homespun Faith book, but then I thought the most recent one might be best since that’s the book that contains my breast cancer journey.

I told Donn what I was thinking and walked to our car to get a book. By then I had learned Laurie’s name so I could use it to sign her book. When the concert was over, I walked to the stage to give her the book. She accepted it warmly as I explained that I was an author and why I’d chosen this book. She said immediately, “I want a picture.” *

As we talked another woman stood on the stage listening to our conversation. She told us, “I wanted to tell both of you, I’ll be praying for you. My daughter has breast cancer, too, 32-years-old with two little kids.” And so “The Club” (see my blog by that name on July 13, 2023) expanded. Laurie’s cancer was quite a few years ago.

The lesson I sense God is teaching me through this is that people who are in the spotlight need people to reach out to them, too. Sometimes we fear rejection or we’re intimidated by their fame, but they may need ministry more than the people in the crowd. When we allow intimidation or fear of rejection to keep us from reaching out, both we and they miss a blessing.

Father, help us to be the hands and feet of Jesus regardless of the status of the person we’re reaching out to and may we allow love to compel us to obey the promptings of your Spirit. Amen.

*As I wrote this blog, I went to Justified’s Facebook page to make sure I had the right location for the Campground where they ministered. I noticed that there was a post about the program we attended titled “Justified is at Bay Shore Campground” that had a collage which contained this picture of Laurie and me.