Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

name became mud in that area, and wherever I went there werelooks and whispers.One day when sitting at the front in a meeting, her husbandopened the door and staggered down the aisle in a state of semidrunkenness.Leveling a gun at my head, he threatened to blowmy brains out but obviously didn’t or I wouldn’t be here to tellthe tale. It caused quite a stir. We went into the vestry at theback, where he poured a can of kerosene on the floor and triedto set the place on fire. We had asked God to send the fire butdidn’t mean that way!After that episode, another woman came to live with him in hishouse. That was the end of her marriage as far as our dear sisterwas concerned. She lived with us for several years and committedherself to serve the people of God.In those days we received all kinds of threats — threats to smashthe windows, to cut the electric cables. Once on the outside wallswe found scrawled, “Madhouse.” This was one of the attendantconsequences of what we called “revival”.Too many people have a starry-eyed concept of what revival is.If we look in the New Testament, we find that revival meantbleeding backs, prison cells and even death. Those who had avisitation from God often qualified themselves for a listing in theBook of Martyrs, as the Word of God declares: “…all that willlive godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (II Tim 3:12)Tied to the baby chair“That’s all I need,” I thought.Finally, a little chubby hand stretched out towards a crust, and asI watched the journey, I prayed, “Oh Lord, don’t let her miss.” Itlanded upon her lips.Immediately, I was down on my knees. “Now then,” I said, Daddywill eat all the big crusts, and you eat all the little ones.”The moment her will was broken, I entered. When Miriam wasstill young enough to sit in the baby chair for her meals, Godtaught me a lesson. One day I came home with two pieces ofchocolate and two strawberries for my two children, Peter and80