The history of what happened next has been kept by Rhett's family, the Turnipseeds from South Carolina. It was recounted in a column by Wesley Pruden in the "Washington Times."

After the Civil War, Rhett Turnipseed became a drifter and gambler, eventually ending up in Nashville. On Easter morning 1871, Rhett attended a Methodist revival meeting. He was moved by what he heard and converted to Christ and the Christian faith.

Soon after, Rhett attended divinity classes at Vanderbilt University. Eventually he became a Methodist circuit-riding preacher in Kentucky.

Did Rhett and Scarlett ever cross paths again? Yes, the Turnipseeds tell the following story. Reverend Rhett was worried about a young woman in his flock. She had run away, and rumor had it she was working in a house of prostitution in St. Louis. Reverend Rhett rode off to look for her.

He found the young woman, but was told the madame of the house had no intention of letting her go. Asking to speak with the madame, Rhett discovered she was none other than his former love, Scarlett. Reverend Rhett challenged the madame to a game of cards. If he won, the young girl he had come to fetch would be free to leave. And win he did: with a royal flush - an ace, king, queen, jack and ten of spades.

The story ends well for all concerned. The young girl married well. After her encounter with the converted Rhett, Emelyn (Scarlett) left prostitution, had a conversion experience, and joined the Methodist church. Eventually she opened an orphanage for Cherokee children. She died in 1903, and her grave is marked to this day.

The true sequel of Rhett and Scarlett is more astonishing than any fictional account could be. It's the story of God's grace moving in the lives and hearts of a man who was a drifter and a gambler and a woman who lived off the proceeds of prostitution. If God can save people like these, surely He can work to save people in our world today.

In the 60's, a popular folk song was Blowing In The Wind. Maybe like Rhett you have "gone with the wind." You have found yourself purposeless, empty, and drifting. You need an encounter with The Wind.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus was sought out under the cover of night by a religious drifter named Nicodemus. He was a seeker who had religion but no reality of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless on is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:7-8)

You cannot see the wind, but you can see the effects. You cannot see the Wind of the Holy Spirit, but you can see the effects of the Holy Spirit of God when a person puts faith in Christ, God's only begotten Son and is born again of the Spirit.

Rhett and Scarlett were "gone with the wind." But the Wind of the Holy Spirit changed their lives forever. Have you been born again? You can be. Knowing your sins are forgiven and you are ready for heaven is as simple as following these steps:

A - Admit you have sinned.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

B - Believe in Jesus.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, the whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

C - Confess and leave your sin.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:19)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in His should not perish, but have eternal life." (See John 3:16-18)

When you are truly gone with the Wind of the Spirit and follow the Son, you will have a new direction, dimension, and destiny.

Shalom.