Thanks for your thoughts.
Yeah, we were like an old married couple and bore the brunt of many jokes coz we were always together. I stayed loyal to him as a friend during a time he was viewed as a bad association. I had elders counsel me that I need to be wary of who I associate with etc.. But we were the best of friends and still are in a way. It was a very moving time to see him and we hugged and talked and it felt like the old days... I hope I have planted a seed. I told him I appreciated his visit and that he knows where I am if ever he wants to visit.
Ozzie, 7 years is indeed a long time, and the local elders know where I am. How odd that it takes an elder from another town to make the effort to visit. He told me that everythinghas changed now, that it is all about showing mercy etc.. and that there is only one place where you can see the true quality of love. I nearly choked on my tongue as I replied to him and said why is it then that he is the one calling and not the so called shepherds... where is the love in that ?? I said to be honest, there is no way I would want to live forever in a paradise with these people. He understood and nodded in agreement.
That's interesting that they have been given instruction to follow up inactive ones, who knows, I might be able to really let my hair down with my next lot of visitors.
Avishai, use it, I would be interested to know how many others have had a similar response.
Kep