On the 26th June, 1984 I spoke at a partly-televised United Firefighters Union rally in Roma Street, Brisbane. I challenged the responsible minister Martin Tenni to a $10,000 wager over misleading the parliament with false figures, in an attempt to justify a downgrade of fire services across Brisbane. I was putting up my own money and proposed that the winner donate the proceeds to the burns unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital. I never heard a peep back from Minister Tenni but the best part of the day was yet to unfold.
After the event, I was walking along Queen street with my brother, a fellow firefighter, and another friend. We were talking about faith and the possibility of Jesus being alive and active today, just as the scriptures say. As we passed a Christian bookshop I suggested, “Let’s look in here.” I’d never been in a Christian bookshop before but, in we went.
My brother had an understandable look of concern on his face so, grabbing a book from a stand in the foyer, I said to him, “Look, I know you think I’m crazy but, don’t take my word for it, have a look at what it says in here.” Opening the Bible to a ‘random’ page, I placed my finger on the text and read these words, “Listen to your brother David, for the words he speaks are true!”♧
I closed the book, purchased it at the counter and gave it to him. That same Bible had a place on his bookshelf for the best part of thirty years.
David.
