<TITLE>24. Par 70-73</TITLE>L-70 And just then, I looked... Years ago, I used to have an old hunting dog; his name was Fritz. And he was half Airdale and half Newfoundland; he was a great big dog. And he used to go with me everywhere when I'd go hunting, and the best old thing I ever had. He'd lay with me, and he put me in school clothes from hunting, treeing opossums and skunks, and whatmore I trapped. And so, he just kept me in school clothes. And I'd leave him anywhere; he'd find his way home.
And one day when we moved into the city, a policeman come by and throwed a dog button in the yard and killed him. When I come home and buried... I was just about sixteen, seventeen years old. And I patted the last bit of dirt on there.
I said, "Fritz, I'll--I--I'll kill that man for that."
Went in the house and got my rifle, and started down to the police station to get him. And when I got on the road, a little old Ford run up behind me; it was my father.
He grabbed that rifle out of my hand; he was a little bitty man, slapped me up side of the head, and said, "Get in that car."
And I went back, and I said, "Fritz..." Went up to his grave, I said, "Fritz, here's what I will... If Pop won't let me do it that way, I'll find him on the street walking someday, and I'll lose control of my car. I promise you I'll get even with him (See?) for killing you." And I meant it.
And about a year after that, I was saved. And I led this man to God, and buried him after he was saved: Mr. Short, the police...

L-71 My old dog was gone. I always thought after I was saved, I thought, "Wonder when I get over there, if I'll see old Fritz." And while I was setting there, I looked coming down across the hill, and here come old Fritz coming up to me. And he was just licking his tongue you know, and panting like that, looking at me. And I looked coming behind him, and here come old Prince, my horse, my saddle horse. And he run up to me, and he put his neck around me.
And I said, "O God, what is this?"
Just then, a voice spoke and said, "All that you ever loved, and all that ever loved you, God has given to you. We're all here together." Oh, my, my heart just melted within me. "All that you ever loved, and all that ever loved you, is gathered here with you to meet God."
And I said, "Oh, praise be to God!" And about that time, I felt myself moving. I said, "I don't have to go back, do I?" And I kept... And in just a minute, I was back there at the bed again.

L-72 Friend, death does not change a man; it just changes your dwelling place. I've got a wife, very sweet wife, setting right there. I've got three little children, tw--two little girls and a little boy, and Billy Paul. I want to live for them. But my first purpose is live for Christ, for my ministry.
The second, I'd like to live long enough that I could see my little Joseph setting there become a minister; take the spirit that I shall leave him. May my spirit come upon him. When I dedicated him to God, standing there in his mother's arms... I don't know, there's ten or fifteen babies.
When I picked him up, the Spirit caught me and said, "Joseph, my son, you are a prophet." God, let my spirit come in a double portion on my son.

L-73 When I come to the end of the road, and I can't go no farther, I want to hand this Bible to Joseph, and say, "Honey, don't you... Don't you compromise on one word. Stay true to God; if it takes everything there is, you stay true to God."
When I can see you do that, and see Joseph take my Bible and walk to the pulpit as a anointed servant of God, all done then; all I can do for God. It'll be a happy day when I know that this old wrinkled up, worn out hull could be swapped. When a leak in this old building, the life leaking out of it, there's a better home just across the river yonder.


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