HOME INVASION

Can you think of anything worse than someone coming into your home with evil intent?

Although we did not know the victims, a home invasion happened in Fayetteville yesterday.  The incident seemed so unlikely...and random...and cruel.

It happened out close to our church (aka "our little church"), which is @16009 Black Oak Road.  The Black Oak community is in a beautiful valley about 20 minutes from the south edge of Fayetteville.  The residents know one another and it is quiet and just a good place to live.

But yesterday morning @15860 Black Oak Road, 78-year-old Herbert Davis (his friends call him Dean) left home to get coffee.  Later, his 73-year-old wife Betty opened her front door to someone in need who asked to use their phone.  Once inside, Betty was tied up and a "bomb" was strapped to her leg.  Then when Dean returned, he was duct-taped to a chair.  The plan was to force Betty to go to town to withdraw money.

Sound Hollywood?  Well, Hollywood has reached our peaceful valley.  And someone probably only paid a dollar for the idea @Redbox.

GOD'S PEOPLE PRAY
Here is a bit of the back story.  Mike and I made a WalMart run after lunch and as we passed the bank, we rubbernecked as we saw all the yellow tape around it.  The story then became obvious as we got home and saw our numerous emails.

We live in a neighborhood about 25 miles from Black Oak.  Our neighbors here have been doing a Bible study together for twelve or thirteen years.  Although not everyone goes to the same church, we have common ground.  And one of the emails was from Janice, our neighbor who goes to the Davis' church.  The message WAS IN ALL CAPS...a plea to please pray for their friends Dean and Betty who were in trouble.

At that point there were many unknowns but prayer was what we knew we could do.  Betty Davis had walked up to the bank counter looking dazed and told her story of why she was there; she was quickly escorted out of the building so no one would be hurt.  No one knew where the extortionist(s) were or if a finger was on the detonator.  The Davis' stolen truck was missing.  The police were headed out to Black Oak to find Mr. Davis.

Then we got more emails.  Dan is our neighbor across the street.  He added to the prayer request..."Dean and Betty have been my clients for 30 years.  Please keep praying for this sweet and godly couple!"

Lou, one of our men @Black Oak, drove down to the church to check on reports that the church parking lot was full of police cars.  An email from Fonda, one of our Black Oak church friends, said she thought when her family moved out to the country, they were moving to safety.  Everyone was shocked.

THE NEXT MORNING
The story is still evolving.  The bomb squad cut off whatever was strapped to Betty's leg and we wait for their evaluation.  Dean Davis was found unharmed.  The abandoned truck was found in good shape.  The extortionist(s) have not been found.

WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE
1.  Betty Davis was brave.

2.  Dean Davis must have agonized as the minutes dragged on and he was helpless to move or protect his wife.

3.  This couple do not go to church @Black Oak so I wouldn't know them if they walked in the door.  But people I trust say the Davis' are godly people.  Being "godly" means their lives illustrate God's character qualities.  God is faithful and a defender.  That makes me strongly suspect that Dean and Betty prayed fervently for each other.  (Or if they were so scared they couldn't pray, they could take comfort in the verse that says the Holy Spirit takes over and prays for our needs when we can't get a prayer out.)

4.  God's people went to bat for a brother/sister in Christ and we need to continue to pray that the outlaw(s) be caught.  It is a privilege to have prayer cover.

5.  This morning as we heard the good news that Dean and Betty were safe, the body of Christ will be thanking Him.  Now we will ask for coping grace that would draw the Davis' eyes off their trauma and onto Jesus.

None of us know the future, but we can know Who holds the future.  He is our safety.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/fayettevillekhbs-18191180/elderly-couple-survives-potentially-deadly-extortion-scheme-27832164.html