Salvatore had a family too. He understood. He understood loyalty just like he understood that Grand Avenue Social Club didn’t necessarily have to be located on Grand Avenue.

Wolfowitz hits button again. Harder this time. More annoyed at that damn country song. Some kind of hillbilly thing keeps wafting up through his window. Wolfowitz and Joey Clown hear:

When I was just a baby. My Mama told me son Always be a good boy Don’t ever play with guns But I shot a man in Reno Just to watch him die, When I hear that whistle blowing’ I hang my head and cry.

Wolfowitz decides to clean mess up himself. Reaches down to scoop up a handful of desk drawer junk and cuts himself on business end of a staple remover at exact same moment that Joey Clown draws blood on concrete reaching for his coffee. Both men bring middle fingers of their right hand up to their faces. Two middle fingers raised proudly at world. Tiny pricks of blood at tip of each. From behind those two fingers, one in carpeted office of World Bank in Chicago, one on a stoop on west side of Chicago; Johnny Cash sings:

I bet there’s rich folks eatin In a fancy dining car They’re probably drinkin coffee And smoking big cigars, But I know I had it comin, I know I can’t be free, But those people keep a moving And that’s what tortures me.

Wolfowitz and Joey Clown both think. “Ah, no big deal.” Joey wipes blood on his pants. Wolfowitz takes out an embroidered handkerchief, then throws it in leather trash basket when he’s done.

Wolfowitz has a busy day. Calendar is jammed. Somebody wants to get in to see him? They got to wait at least a month. Unless it’s Mr. Rove or Don or one of boys. Joey? He might play some cards later on. Not so busy. Busy hiding in plain sight maybe. Wolfowitz knows he can’t be holding meetings in this place with some damn country rock and roll song coming in through window. Wolfowitz gets up to shut his window at exact same time Joey finishes thumbing thru his Sun Times looking for stories about himself. Joey now up on his feet too. He goes inside just as Wolfowitz shuts tight his window.

And what do you know? Both men now shut up inside. And they can STILL hear Johnny Cash sing:

Well if they freed me from this prison If this railroad car was mine I’d guess I’d move out over Farther down line Far from Folsom Prison That’s where I want to stay, And I’d let that lonesome whistle Blow my blues away.

Blow my blues away.

Roger Wright's Blog is "Church Food Connections"

We three had many a season of prayer. Sometimes it would be just Mike and me, and sometimes just Dan and me. Other times all three of us we come together to pray. None of us were perfect. Like Paul, we all can say, "The spirit is willing but flesh is weak." However, God looks at intent and purposes of heart.

I want to tell you about one example of prayer for each of my friends. Mike called one night. He was facing some really rough trials and had been struggling in prayer. He lived about seven miles from me and he wanted to meet me at Huddle House to have a cup of coffee and fellowship. Before I left house, Lord spoke and said, "Take that Bible, that small one that contains both old and new testament, and bring it with you. I've got a word for Mike."

I met him a few minutes later, and as we drank our coffee, I said, "Mike, Lord has a word for you." I pulled out my Bible, opened it to II Kings 13.15, "And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows." As tears filled his eyes when I spoke these words, Mike said, "Before I left my house, Lord told me to put my bow and arrows in my truck. They are out there now." I said, "Let's go. We got to go out to a secluded place , pray, and replay exactly what Elisha and Joash did (II Kings 13.15-17). We did, and when that last arrow headed toward sky, Mike shouted for joy as Spirit of God moved on him and gave him assurance of victory!

I received a late night call about four years ago. It was Dan. he was in hospital because of stomach problems. His bowels had burst. He was really in bad shape. As I went into intensive care unit, where his family were gathered around him, he feebly greeted me and began to talk. He said, "Brother, I ain't gonna make it this time. I'm ready to go, and I told my wife I wanted you to say a few words at my funeral." I looked at him and said, "Dan, God ain't through with you yet, you still have a work to do," I put my hands on him and began to pray. I asked God to mend those places where surgery had been done and to raise him up.

In about two days, he went home. Although he was weak, Lord began to slowly mend him. He had additional surgery later to remove bag doctor's had placed there for his bodily functions. As I'm writing this, Brother Dan has fully recovered and is still working, praying and serving God.

Both Mike and Dan have prayed for me often. I appreciate them and may God richly recompense their labors for him.

James 5.16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man availeth much."