I’m sure you’ve seen the team of ‘scientists’ (thrill seekers) who load up their vans with equipment and chase storms. They literally drive straight towards tornados. The first word that comes to my mind to best describe these folks – CRAZY!!! (they are however willing to sacrifice their lives to save others with the research they gather from their adventures - COMMENDABLE!)

Not long ago, I had a super long visit at the nursing home. Just as I thought my visit was over  (after 2 hours) I decided to sign my family up to perform as Christian clowns.

After I signed up, I gave the nurse my ‘business’ card, and asked her to visit this website, and asked her if she knew anyone drug addicted or depressed, to please refer them to this website. She looked at me and suggested I visit Gary. I asked her Gary was and where I could find him... she then pointed down the hallway, and gave me directions to his room. I told her that I would be happy to visit Gary, and set off on another adventure.

As I stood in Gary's doorway, waiting for Gary to get off the phone, immediately I knew this visit would be a challenge. Gary (age 45) appeared to be on the wild side, vulgar language dripping from his tongue, a long braided pony tail, mostly/naked women on his wall… He noticed me (and probably my Bible too), looked away and kept talking. I told myself, I would wait :o)

As I waited, I ventured across the hall to a lady who had a big smile for me. Connie Sue and I talked for about 45 minutes, all the while glancing across the hall to see if Gary was still on the phone.  I discovered that me and Connie Sue’s visit was no accident. She impressed on my heart her fear of Gary, that Gary has anger issues, and is quite vulgar…

Connie’s first words to me were this:  “I’m just waiting for my Jesus to come back, He is coming back for me you know”. She asked me what church I attended, and then told me she is Pentecostal, and I thought to myself hallelujah! But as the conversation deepened, I realized the bitterness in her heart towards Gary. Her bed faced Gary's room, and she had a perfect view of Gary (all day long).

She brought up his vulgar language, and told me that he is 'down-right' hateful. Each morning, Connie's breakfast is delivered cold, because Gary's many requests from the nurses required much attention, that by the time her food was delivered to her, it was COLD. I assured her that God was sending me to Gary, and that I would give Gary a choice to choose or deny God.

Connie has had a rough road having Cerebral Palsy from birth and not being able to walk, run, dance, roller skate, skip… Her smile and laughter however told me a different story that Jesus was with her every step of the way.

We laughed as I explained to her how God would ‘take care’ of Gary. I reassured her that our God is more powerful than him and his ways. She expressed her concerns to me that Gary would probably 'cuss me out'. I expressed to her that God gave me a special heart for all the Gary’s in this world, and that what Gary needed was unconditional love, at minimum, a chance to meet Jesus.

Gary is special to God. I knew God was sending me to Gary, to let him choose God or Satan. I did however want to march around the nursing home 7 times before talking with Gary, because I knew the challenges awaiting me. But, I knew that when the Holy Spirit is involved all things were possible. And I for one BELIEVE in miracles!!!

Gary seemed to STAY on the phone to avoid me, so I told Connie, ready or not, Gary is getting a visit (from me and God). I asked Connie to soften her heart, to not let Gary steal her joy, and to pray like never before, and I ventured off to Gary's room.

I stood in the doorway and stared at Gary for a few minutes as he continued to talk on the phone. He finally paused, put his conversation on hold, and roughly asked me what I wanted. I told him that I needed to talk to him. He told me that his phone conversation was about to end, and told me that he intended to go outside for a smoke. I asked him if I could go outside with him to smoke, and he said sure :o)

I went back over to Connie and asked her to continue to pray, that me and Gary were going for a stroll outside to talk (mind you the temperature was below zero). She smiled at me with the most beautiful smile, and Gary hung up the phone (Praise God!!!).

Gary is in a wheelchair, so I offered to push him ‘out the door’. He asked me if his smoking bothered me, and I told him that I smoked for 28 years, that I understood.

I’ve discovered over the years, that it’s always best to let others talk first. Not only to receive what is on their minds, but to get me an idea of what you're dealing with, and to know how to respond. (I'm sure this is what 'mind-readers & psychics' do as well).

He immediately told me about the many storms he had gone through (that never seem to end). Bar fights gone bad, the car wreck he was just in, the many surgeries throughout his life, his ex-wife, his lack of God… Thank God his cigarette was done, because he then extended an invitation to talk in his room, where it was warm.

He took me through storm after storm after storm, from child hood leading up to his wheelchair, pin-rods and braces. He looked at me as to question when I would speak, but believe me - he had much to say and my heart was aching for this guy. At the same time, my heart was joyful, because God spared his life, and had humbled him (and me), for our conversation.

During the conversation, he expressed to me his love for his 5-year-old boy, and proudly showed me of him upon his wall. When said the words 'unconditionally love', Gary immediately told me that his son loved him “no matter what”. When I told Gary that God was keeping him alive for a reason, he agreed, and told me about his recent wreck. His Ford 150 rolled several times, and the cab was crushed so bad, that he many questioned how he could still be alive.

He told me that two nurses just happened to be the first on the scene of his wreck to help him, so then we talked about ‘coincidences’ (miracles). 

I thought this conversation would be difficult... yeah right!... this guy was humbled to the point of listening and hanging onto every word (me and God) had to say. Isn’t God good? Thank you God!

I told him that his life was important to God, and that his story could be told to…he interrupted and said "kids". He seemed to be able to finish most of my sentences.

I asked him if he could kill his son to save others. He told me "Hell No!" His vulgar language never skipped a beat. I explained to him that God sacrificed (had put to death) His Son Jesus to save him. Again, Gary could relate to this HUGE sacrifice, because Gary had an only son. I told him that God would forgive any sin that Gary could dish out – all except one – refusing salvation, God's free gift, by God sacrificing His ONLY Son Jesus on the cross.

Gary believed in God, but told me he didn't know who Jesus was. Gary had never heard John 3:16, had never been to church, and asked me to bring him a Bible, the next time I visited (PRAISE GOD!).

I asked Gary if I could turn off the television, he said yes. I asked Gary if he wanted to receive God’s free gift, reminding Gary, about the one sin God was unable to forgive. He told me yes! I asked Gary to repeat after me, but that he needed to say this prayer from his heart, he told me he understood. He asked me if he needed to close his eyes, I told him it didn’t matter.

My friends, Gary has been forgiven, and has been accepted into God's Kingdom, and is now being (taken good care of) by Jesus. Father Above Is Triumphant Hallelujah (FAITH), PRAISE GOD!!!

I asked Gary an important question. I asked Gary if he would ever stop being his little boy's dad... he told me NO!!! ... that he would never stop being his son’s dad (NO MATTER WHAT). I told Gary, that God is the same way, and that God would never stop loving him.

I then asked Gary another important question. I asked Gary if he was tired of chasing storms, and he told me "HELL YES!!!". I told Gary to let God soften his heart, and I explained to Gary that he needed to ask God for a hedge of protection, to read the Bible, and to stop searching for 'storms'.

I explained to Gary that when we disobey God, it is like chasing storms. That his storms would end, if he would just spend time with God, and do his best with doing what God wanted him to do.

Gary seemed to be eager to end his many storms.  Are you?

God Bless!

In His Hands,

Love, Glen

P.S. Gary will receive his first Bible today! And, I’m sure he will read it.

P.S.S. During lunch time on the 29^th, 11:45am, at the Hearland Nursing Home, Spingfield, Ohio, Jack (J.J. the clown) and I (Joey the clown) performed our clown skit.

Please click on the video below.