I write about something that happened over twenty years ago. We bought 7 acres of land in Morgan county Tennessee near the Catoosa Wildlife Management area.

One week I spent a few days at a rough camping area in Catoosa to prepare my sermons for the next quarter. I was able to hike during the day and write down my sermons before dark came.

While there I saw the Milky Way for the second time in my life. The first time was from the deck of the USS Independence (CVA 62).

I thought about all those stars had seen over human history (or for God His Story)I wondered what story they would tell if they could.

At this moment the arm of the Milky Way began to reveal their story.

I saw small encampments become small towns and then cities. They started off following God or a god and were powerful and wealthy. Soon they grew comfortable and weaker. They either turned from God or created a god that allowed them to live as they wanted. The poor and weak suffered first but then began to devour each other until another kingdom or nation devoured them.

Like a film going by very fast I saw peoples rise and fall with many peoples at the same time. It seemed always the same except for the very few who turned back to God but they eventually fell too. Years, decades and centuries went by in what seemed seconds but I had no idea of time.

Soon I saw a ribbon in history beginning with the earliest people after creation that flowed through His Story to the present time. I was never told who the peoples were but I knew this was God's people from whom the Son of God would be born!

Faster and faster it moved and I saw the ribbon split in two but I knew it would come back together one day. I don't know how I knew, I just knew.

The story slowed and I could see the birth of America with a desire to be guided by God's truth. I saw again and again evil grow and God would send a revival. Unlike any other nation except Israel, America would see a revival before destruction.

Why I wondered? I saw thousands times thousands of groups gathered in prayer forming an incense to God and a wall to evil. HERE WAS THE ANSWER!!! These same people prayed for America and for Israel!!!

Their simple prayers were more powerful than armies, nuclear bombs and even hell itself!!! Their prayers opened the door of Heaven and Heaven threw hell back for a time. Until America chose evil again.

PRAY! That sends an incense to God who sends a healing balm on us as a people. God is our hope and prayer opens us to receive once again God's blessings.

Long before this I told God I didn't want to see the future but I could tell the two parts of the ribbon were growing closer, which was good because they needed each other.

When I slipped back the fire was dead, the coffee was cold and I wept. All those people and peoples! So many died without hope, without the One true God. I was not comforted and the whole night I wept.

As the sun came up I realized “joy comes in the morning”! I still remember this and weep when I do. Then I remember “joy comes in the morning” and I am at peace.