We have a guest this month! Dave Phelps is a member of “The Soldiers for Jesus M/C”. Dave is my very close Brother and Co-Pastor of “In The Wind Ministries” for almost four years. We had a great Easter Sonrise Service this year with 122 present on that frosty morning. Here Dave recounts an Easter visit from a most special Friend.

It was Easter morning of 2007 and it had been awhile since I’d last seen my Friend. As usual, though, that was my fault and not His. Still, I was hoping that He’d come by and I’d get a chance to see Him. But, as the morning passed, I was beginning to feel that once again I’d missed out on seeing Him.

I’d been up since before daylight and had checked the outside temperature. Whoa, a chilly 39 degrees! That meant that I’d certainly be wearing my leather jacket and chaps as I rode over to the Boozefighters #69 clubhouse for the Easter morning Sonrise service at 6:30am. But, according to the weatherman, it looked like there wouldn’t be any freezing rain or snow to have to worry about. I pulled into the lot and parked my bike, just as the sky was beginning to lighten from night into day. There stood “Irish” Ed, the Boozefighter National Chaplain, laughing and talking with some those folks who also had arrived early. I went over and greeted Ed, “Pawnshop” Julie, Mark, and several of my Boozefighter friends. While I continued to greet folks, I kept a lookout for my Friend, but as yet, I still hadn’t seen Him. The only thing left for me to do was to visit with those who’d come to the service that morning and hope He’d show up when the service began.

Wow, what a service it turned out to be! Terry Cargill and the Sons of Thunder had provided a wonderful time of praise and worship! I can say that there isn’t much that can lift your spirits much higher than singing, “Jesus loves me, this I know! For the Bible tells me so!” to a rockin’ rhythm and blues beat! Unless, it’s singing the words of the old hymn “Amazing Grace” to the tune of Eric Burdon’s “House of the Rising Sun”! As Terry and his band led us in music, I thought I saw my Friend moving through the crowd, but when I looked closer, I just wasn’t sure it was Him. Once Terry and the band finished, then “Irish” Ed delivered the message. He lifted our hearts as he shared God’s love for all of us “prodigal children” and how all of us could have our lives changed and renewed. He shared with us that God was a God who believed in second, third, fourth, and even more chances. Ed shared that God that loved us just like we were and right where we are, but loved us too much to leave us that way. Again, as I was watching the crowd, I thought I saw my Friend moving around in the crowd, but I couldn’t see Him clearly enough to know for sure.

After the Sonrise service ended, several of us decided to ride over to Rosedale Street and stop by the Church on the Slab. It is actually a slab of concrete where Terry Cargill and friends conduct praise and worship services every Sunday morning for the homeless folks in the area. After helping set up the tables and chairs for the service, I was talking with my son, Tommy and our good friend Mark, a ministry partner from In The Wind Ministries. I was also watching as the people were arriving to see if I could see my Friend. As we were talking, I noticed a young man ride up that I had seen earlier this morning talking with “Irish” Ed at the Boozefighter clubhouse service. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, and as my PawPaw used to say, “He was a hoss!” After dismounting from his bike, he stood off to the side of the slab area for a few minutes just checking things out. I looked away and continued talking with Tommy and Mark. As I looked back at this young Boozefighter, he had walked over and was speaking to a homeless man that was sitting nearby. As the young man stood up, I saw him drop something on the slab in front of the homeless man and he turned to walk away. At that moment, time for me seemed to shift into slow motion and I noticed several things at once. First, He was here! My Friend that I’d been hoping to see all morning was really here! He was the One that I’d been trying so hard to truly see all morning, but I had only been seeing glimpses of Him. Now, fully revealed, He was right there – in the life and actions of this young Boozefighter! And, His presence could not be missed or denied! Second, I saw that what the young man had dropped on the ground as a gift to the homeless man was his own motorcycle boots that he’d been wearing earlier. Thirdly, I saw the grace this young man possessed as he quietly walked back to his bike, wearing proudly his Boozefighter colors and his white socks. Yes, Jesus of Nazareth, my Friend, the resurrected Son of God, was fully revealed in this young man as he gave sacrificially of himself to someone in greater need! Truly this was an Easter morning to shout out in praise, “He is risen! He is risen, indeed!”

As the young Boozefighter rode off on his bike and time returned to normal, Mark, my son, and I marveled at what we’d just seen. In the actions of this young man, I was reminded of the words of Jesus that I’d read and heard preached many times, “Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” These were no longer merely spoken words, but rather they had at that moment become “living truth” in the life of a young Boozefighter. So, when people ask me why I hang out with the bikers in their clubhouses and in the bars, I just smile and answer, “I’m just hoping to catch another glimpse of my Friend, Jesus, as He renews hope and love in the lives of the hopeless and unloved!”

Keepin’ it real and riding free!

Preacher

Soldiers For Jesus M/C

DFW Chapter

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