This is Grayson Chapel.  It is on FM1365 between Teague and Mexia Texas.   On September 4, 2011 a fire started about 10 miles north east of this building.  Started by an exploding transformer and fueled by 20 to 35 mile per hour winds, 7500 acres burned over the next four days.  Nearly three months of 100+ degree weather with no measurable rain made our area a tinder box.   Nine volunteer fire companies sprayed what water they could, bulldozed fire lanes, and scores of fire fighters worked with rakes and shovels.

Crews were spraying water on the chapel when the call came to clear out.  The high winds were more than the crews could contain.  The fire blew through this area and fire fighters report that it then "rolled over the top and kept going".  Pasture and trees to the right burned and a house burned to the ground to the left.  The fire followed a straight line all the way through the property and left the building and cemetery untouched.



I believe in miracles yet I also believe in the physics of fire.  Several have tried to make "sense" out this but haven't come to a consensus.  Mystery and miracles often get kicked to the curb.  This story is best answered by simply allowing God to be the answer.  A CBS reporter from Waco asked me if I was surprised.  I hadn't heard the story or seen the building yet.  These pictures were taken on the 10th, 6 days later.  Before I could really think about it I blurted out "no".   She waited a second for an answer and again, before thinking, I told her that sometimes God just shows up and usually when things are terrible.


One said water residue steaming, another wind blowing up and surrounding the building or maybe just a freak thing....whatever.  Everything around the church burned and the building just east of the church vaporized.  Is it so hard to just praise God for a visible presence?

Coming to Christ was hard for my too rational brain about 25 years ago.  After being so real to me as a kid, I walked away.  God wooed me back  and sent some particularly patient people to allow me to get over being stupid.  This fire is just one more time that God showed up.  There have been many times that I settled for the scientific answers and trashed all of the rest as superstition.  Faith is a wonderful thing.  When reasons wears thin, God overwhelms but you have to choose faith.  Today at Grayson's Chapel,  but also watching volunteers sacrifice to fight an unstoppable wildfire, I choose to recognize God being God.  Our community came alive, fire was bent and no one was killed or seriously hurt. People showed up with sandwiches, water, gatorade, and personal heavy equipment and cared for the five family burned out of their homes.  This is all a visible move of God's hand.

I have arrived at two conclusions:  First, Jesus Christ is alive and still in the miracle business.  Second, I want these people praying for me.  Choose faith for life.