Unfortunately it seems that my good friend, former Charlie Manson family member Dennis Rice, will not be speaking at Honey Lake Church this coming weekend after all. A couple of weeks ago he sent me an e-mail and said he was in the hospital with pneumonia. He did get out of the hospital and I saw him in California over the weekend, but he looked very weak.
He told me his cancer doctor told him that he probably had at best two months to live and that was one month ago. He looked at me and said, “My kids are giving me grief that they want me to spend some time with them before I get outta here, and I promised them I would. I’m afraid if I make that long trip to Florida from my home in Arizona that I might not be able to fulfill my promise to them”.
I quickly told him that I understand and not to worry about it.
In spite of his deteriorating health and the cancer that has rapidly spread throughout his system and is killing him he was smiling. We stood in the hall of the hotel talking and I told him that I was envious that he would get to walk those streets of gold ahead of me and he smiled a smile as big as Texas and told me that he was really looking forward to it. If I don’t see Dennis again before I get to heaven that is precisely how I’ll remember him, standing there smiling and excitedly talking about seeing Jesus face to face.
Dennis wrote a little book entitled “Free Indeed” that tells his story of becoming a Manson Family member and trying to break Charlie Manson out of jail. One of his life’s verses is now John 8:36, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed”. The same Lord that set Dennis free, set me free and has/will set you free if you will surrender your life and allow Him to do so.
So what happened after Dennis accepted Christ? Dennis writes in his book, “God says in His word in Joel 2:25, “I will restore to you the years that . . . the locust . . . has eaten away”. What does that mean? It means that all the time we’ve thrown away serving ourselves, the world, or the devil, when we get saved, God begins to restore that time to us. He’s done that for me.”
And he’s done that in grand fashion for this old sinner too. We both now have wonderful loving families and ministries that have led tens of thousands to the Lord. Dennis sent me his video recorded testimony and I’ll get it up on the Honey Lake Church and Worldwide Ministry website as soon as I can. You will find it fascinating and will marvel at how God powerfully transformed this man’s life.
But don’t jump the gun, I’m not writing his obituary here. I’m well aware that he was given a similar ominous warning from his doctors three years ago and who knows God just might keep him around for another three years or even longer. He is spending every available minute leading others to Christ and God just might have more witnessing assignments on the agenda, (who knows maybe even Honey Lake). I’m praying that God will heal him and allow him that time to be a witness for Him and I ask you to do the same today.
So who is going to speak at the Honey Lake Church service this weekend? That would be me and even though many of you have heard my testimony, (some even several times), one thing I can guarantee is that you haven’t seen or heard what I’ll share this coming Sunday. You will not want to miss it! I guarantee it!
So come to Honey Lake Church this Sunday and bring your mom. It’s Mother’s Day, and after our awesome church service, we have all sorts of family activities planned including our highly acclaimed Honey Lake delicious Sunday brunch. Why not give mom a spiritual feast and then allow her some time off from cooking this Sunday and maybe even a little spa activity and treat her like royalty. All in all it should be a great day in the Lord.
Phil. 1:6
He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.