He wants me to be a reporter, telling and retelling the stories of God’s encounters with His people.
MO is at Black Rifle Coffee, Beyond Black is in the cup, noise pretending to be music is on the playlist, and God is in the room provoking:
Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me (Psalm 71:18 NLT).
These words in Psalm 71 suggest that he wants me to be a reporter, telling and retelling the stories of God’s encounters with His people. At least, that’s the way I take it.
Then the psalmist prays, to God:
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again (Psalm 71:20-21).
Ummmmm.
That old man and the one telling this story know when God is about to show up because he’s been there. He has gone through the fire and knows how God works in crisis to bring a blessing. That’s a story worth telling, so I go to the coffee shop each day and listen to the stories God is still telling through others.
God is at work on that today.
You see, my God is not buried in the pages of a book, is yours?
If your God still shows up, it’s time to speak up — not in religious words or spiritualized “holy” talk, but in real stories of real moments, real stories of suffering and pain.
So, tell what He’s doing in your life!
Tell about the blessings, the kindnesses, the surprises, the interventions, the rescues, the healings, the miracles, and the unexplainable moments.
Speak of your personal discoveries and insights and understandings — the revelations, transformations, liberations, nudges, pushes, and the whacks up the side of the head.
Tell about second touches, the out-of-the-blue connections, and all those interruptions, invitations, and instigations.
For a moment, forget the sufferings… the fire and crucibles. Take extra time to tell about His fingerprints in your world and beyond.
His stories are always Good News. So, may your testimony — your story — be a witness for the next generation.
Yes, Abba is still gathering reporters.
And their reporting makes Him smile.
As far as I know, this was Ron’s last complete post on Facebook. He passed from this life in the middle of a new post, his heart full of a new story, but his spirit going to be with Jesus.
I hope you paid extra-close attention to this post and heard it as his triumphant testimony. Ron’s story is now absorbed into Jesus’ story, the real HIStory we all want to share!
As the oldest child in my family, Ron became my big brother when he came to live with us after a horrible wreck in college.
(From an old photo of Al and Margaret Ware, with Ron Rose, and Phil, Byron, and Gordon Ware
as stair steps from about 1966.)
I will miss him. However every cup of coffee, which I drink strong and black, will remind me of his smile, his laugh, and his life.
MO is with Jesus, and they share outlandish stories of grace. I will join him with Jesus one day because Ron chose to be a witness to the next generation! Will we?
— Phil Ware
About the author: Ron Rose has been a unique minister and friend, but he is also a noted author and leader of several ministries. Ron now makes himself available as a listener and friend as he spends time with people on the go and in coffee shops and shares grace and a listening ear connecting them with God who is always in the room!