Very recently, I was at my dear friend Ray Toma’s place. As I walked in, Ray, a former member of the Iraqi Republican Guard, now a Christ follower and part of the Grace Place Association of International House Churches bid me, “Sit down, Rick, relax for once.” So I did.

However, relaxation eluded me. Nearly audible, a voice behind me began to say, “Go to the bank, go to the bank, go to the bank right now.”

I rose from my seat and told Ray that I couldn’t relax and that I had to go to the bank and deposit my paycheck that I receive every two weeks to cover the bills.

As I passed by the corner across the street from the bank, three men with leather jackets, long hair and beards walked up to three younger men in their twentie, and one promptly pulled out a pistol and shot one of the young men in the heart. A young man named Andrew was there and ducked as the bullet was fired. He ...

[ Continued ]