...until out of the corner of my eye I see- a light. Just a tiny hole poking through the darkness at first. But within mere moments I not only see, but am enveloped completely by it, overwhelmed by it. There is not even the smallest trace of darkness anymore. It has vanished so quickly that for a moment I wonder if it was even here. And then it is but a fading memory...
A breeze passes over me, and suddenly I feel lifted with new strength. It is not my own, no mistaking that. My body still feels as though it is made of sand, inconsistant with no ability to hold structure on it's own. Yet this strength holds me together, lifting me to my feet. New found freedom washes over me. Love infuses me. Life takes hold of me. Life...
It is then that I notice something laying at my feet. I look down and find a shell where only minutes ago I lay broken. It looks like me... Or, what was me. The twisted form of myself that had become gnarled from disease. Is it any wonder I could even move, I ask myself? Or were my previous movements just an illusion from the mind of a paralyzed man? What exactly is happening to me?
It is then that I see a lamb, as though it had been slain, yet living in all might and power. It is the very God I had cried out to, the very God whom seemed so very far away, standing not above me, but beside me, holding me up. It is then I realize that this new strength is His. He has taken the darkness from me. I do not have to ask, for the answer is already there- it was He who paid the price for my life. He had ransomed me with His very blood. Then in His power, He took my old self, that broken blackened creature of the night that I was, and changed it.
I am a new creation.
This is my destiny.
I have done many wrongs, hurt God and others, in a life that was a suicide mission. But no more. Now God has set me on a new path; a path of peace though we are in a war, a path of love though we are surrounded by hate, a path of hope despite being surrounded by hopelessness. This is the great adventure. I do not know what lies ahead of my feet. I am so blinded by the Light that it is all I can see- but it is that the Light, the Light of Christ, that I shall follow- no matter where it leads.
I am redeemed.
I am restored.
I am reborn.
The Lord Jesus Christ has came to my aid. The Son of God has taken my place in judgement where I should have stood. He saw my frailty, my weakness, my disease. When all others cringed from me, when all others ran from me, when there was no hope in any other name under Heaven- he ran to me, and purchased the rights to my soul with His very blood. He resurrected my dead soul just as He was resurrected from the grave. He is the Light that I will follow until the end of eternity- and beyond.
This has been my story, from beginning to end. Sometimes I forget myself, and I look back for that shell of a creature I once was. But I never can see it. Oh yes, sometimes my eyes do start to adjust to the darkness again. But they never fully adjust, and I stumble and fall to my knees where the Lamb lifts me up and surrounds me with His love and His light again.
Yes, this has been my story. But my question to you is, is it not your story too? For my brothers and sisters in Christ, do you remember the time when He came to your rescue? Or have you forgotten the joy His love brings? Stop looking back at your past. Turn yourself back around, focus only on Him. Your past is dead and gone, a distant memory cast into the sea of forgetfulness, cast as far from you as the east is from the west. It is forgotten by God... Why don't you forget it too?
As for those of you who may read this, who are still in that miry pit... There is only one way out my friend. There is only one way to freedom. You can remain in that pit, broken, twisted, dying... But there is another destiny that awaits. A destiny not of regret, not of hopelessness, not of hate. It is a destiny of peace, love, hope, redemption...
Your adventure awaits...
Well? What are you waiting for?
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
My Destiny, Part Two: 1000 Apologies
...And it is in this darkness that I somehow muster the strength for a feeble cry... it barely escapes my lips, the smallest of voices in my mind and ears... and yet it echoes in the darkness, as if off of unseen walls in the black, growing louder, louder still until it becomes deafening... help! I cry, as I realize I can no longer move on my own. My spiritual state has struck me down, a sword to the heart, and left me for dead. But somehow I still manage breath. I choke out the whispered apologies...
I have so many to make. I have wasted so much time, precious time given by God... I have committed spiritual treason against myself, my family, my friends... Despite my own efforts, despite my own thoughts of myself I have become the hypocrite, the pharisee, the whitewashed tomb full of dead men's bones... So many apologies... Where to begin?
Where do you begin when you have 1000 apologies to make, apologies that are just words, that can never change the past, that can never mend the damage done, that can never erase the scars... Scars given to others, and to myself. If words can never hurt- then they can never heal. They are just empty expressions, void of meaning. Yet these empty expressions are all I have left in me. It is all my strength to put down my pride and admit I was wrong. It takes every muscle in my body to form the words, I repent. I commission these words with prayer, hoping that He will give meaning to the only thing I have left to give.
My reality lies in the fact that I cannot escape my destiny in my own strength. My reality is that I cannot rescue myself. As my life plays out before me, my reality is that it was not I that ever did anything good... nor was it I that had the strength to whisper my apologies, my repentance.
Repentance... Is it real? Do I have any capability to turn from this disease infected self that I am? Do I have any capability to not just apologize but to make a lifestyle change so radical that it is though I am a new creation? Will my apologies, barren and empty yet from the depths of my soul, will they mean anything?
All I can do is ponder these questions. They echo through my skull, driving me mad with hopelessness, until out of the corner of my eye I see...
...to be continued...
I have so many to make. I have wasted so much time, precious time given by God... I have committed spiritual treason against myself, my family, my friends... Despite my own efforts, despite my own thoughts of myself I have become the hypocrite, the pharisee, the whitewashed tomb full of dead men's bones... So many apologies... Where to begin?
Where do you begin when you have 1000 apologies to make, apologies that are just words, that can never change the past, that can never mend the damage done, that can never erase the scars... Scars given to others, and to myself. If words can never hurt- then they can never heal. They are just empty expressions, void of meaning. Yet these empty expressions are all I have left in me. It is all my strength to put down my pride and admit I was wrong. It takes every muscle in my body to form the words, I repent. I commission these words with prayer, hoping that He will give meaning to the only thing I have left to give.
My reality lies in the fact that I cannot escape my destiny in my own strength. My reality is that I cannot rescue myself. As my life plays out before me, my reality is that it was not I that ever did anything good... nor was it I that had the strength to whisper my apologies, my repentance.
Repentance... Is it real? Do I have any capability to turn from this disease infected self that I am? Do I have any capability to not just apologize but to make a lifestyle change so radical that it is though I am a new creation? Will my apologies, barren and empty yet from the depths of my soul, will they mean anything?
All I can do is ponder these questions. They echo through my skull, driving me mad with hopelessness, until out of the corner of my eye I see...
...to be continued...
Friday, August 24, 2012
My Destiny, Part One: Godforsaken by Law
I HAVE been called many things in my life. There is no denying that. Some has been justified, some- not so much. Some has been hurtful, some- not so much. I have been called hateful; and I have been called too loving. I have been accused of being a mocker of God's Word; and I have been called someone who takes God's Word too seriously. I have been called someone who caused division because I don't always agree with people; and I have been called a person who tries too hard to bring people together. I have been labeled a hypocrite; and I have been hailed as a saint... OK, maybe not literally on that last part, but you get the idea... :)
Yes, I have been called many things, have been many faces to many people... But the real question is what am I when all the masks break away, when the different perceptions are gone, when I am stripped bare to face the throne of God... When I am face down to the King of Kings, about to be judged by His law...
By His law... I am someone who has held other gods- including myself- before Him. I am an idolator. I have taken His Name in vain, both literrally and figuratively. I have mocked Him and His Word. Instead of being at rest and peace with Him, I have waged war against Him in my heart. I have disrespected my parents- indeed, the very gift of life itself. I have hated my brother, secretly killing him in my heart. I have lusted... the very sin of adultery in the shadows of my mind. I have stolen! Things that were never meant to be mine, clutched tightly in my hands... I have lied about my neighbor... and my neighbor's neighbor... And the guy down the street... And the girl 4 houses over... Oh the stories I have told about them... And why not? After all, THEY get all the good stuff- the nice car that should be mine; the huge house that I should be living in...
Hypocrite.
I admit it.
By His law, His holy Word, all of my good is stripped bare. I am exposed before Him and before all for what I am. I am an unclean thing. ALL of my righteousness is as filthy rags. I am dirty, disgusting, grimy, putrid. What is there in me to be proud of? What good in my life can I point to? What love in my life, what light in my soul?
I am hypocrite. Nothing more, nothing less. All of those hurtful things that have been spoken of me... are all true. I cannot deny them. Every accusation- though I would flee from them, to run away and burrow away hiding from them, they hunt me down and devour me because they are truth.
I am nothing. There is no good, no lovely thing about me.
I am Godforsaken, for He cannot look upon sin- and I am sin.
Now that the mask has deteriorated into dust I see for myself who I am. How I long to be able to go back in time, to change choices I have made, to undo wrongs and make them right...
But it is like the poet once said,
"I made a choice that I regret,
Now what I see is what I get
It's too late to look back
I've got no way to switchback."
No way to switchback. No way to undo. No way no how no help. The only thing before me now is to face what I have become, to face this unmasked creature from within, to take the sword and slay the dragon that I have allowed to consume my soul! But... there is just one problem. I do not have the strength of one man, let alone ten thousand. My attempt to reach for a sword falls flat; I cannot even lift a finger. This new sight has caused me to collapse as though dead on the ground, to be surrounded by darkness.
And it is in this darkness that I...
...to be continued...
Yes, I have been called many things, have been many faces to many people... But the real question is what am I when all the masks break away, when the different perceptions are gone, when I am stripped bare to face the throne of God... When I am face down to the King of Kings, about to be judged by His law...
By His law... I am someone who has held other gods- including myself- before Him. I am an idolator. I have taken His Name in vain, both literrally and figuratively. I have mocked Him and His Word. Instead of being at rest and peace with Him, I have waged war against Him in my heart. I have disrespected my parents- indeed, the very gift of life itself. I have hated my brother, secretly killing him in my heart. I have lusted... the very sin of adultery in the shadows of my mind. I have stolen! Things that were never meant to be mine, clutched tightly in my hands... I have lied about my neighbor... and my neighbor's neighbor... And the guy down the street... And the girl 4 houses over... Oh the stories I have told about them... And why not? After all, THEY get all the good stuff- the nice car that should be mine; the huge house that I should be living in...
Hypocrite.
I admit it.
By His law, His holy Word, all of my good is stripped bare. I am exposed before Him and before all for what I am. I am an unclean thing. ALL of my righteousness is as filthy rags. I am dirty, disgusting, grimy, putrid. What is there in me to be proud of? What good in my life can I point to? What love in my life, what light in my soul?
I am hypocrite. Nothing more, nothing less. All of those hurtful things that have been spoken of me... are all true. I cannot deny them. Every accusation- though I would flee from them, to run away and burrow away hiding from them, they hunt me down and devour me because they are truth.
I am nothing. There is no good, no lovely thing about me.
I am Godforsaken, for He cannot look upon sin- and I am sin.
Now that the mask has deteriorated into dust I see for myself who I am. How I long to be able to go back in time, to change choices I have made, to undo wrongs and make them right...
But it is like the poet once said,
"I made a choice that I regret,
Now what I see is what I get
It's too late to look back
I've got no way to switchback."
No way to switchback. No way to undo. No way no how no help. The only thing before me now is to face what I have become, to face this unmasked creature from within, to take the sword and slay the dragon that I have allowed to consume my soul! But... there is just one problem. I do not have the strength of one man, let alone ten thousand. My attempt to reach for a sword falls flat; I cannot even lift a finger. This new sight has caused me to collapse as though dead on the ground, to be surrounded by darkness.
And it is in this darkness that I...
...to be continued...
Monday, August 20, 2012
School Monitors And Monsters in Meridian
I could hardly believe my ears when I heard the news. It was horrifying news... As if there was any good news today. A corpse found floating in a canal. An infant found burned in a burning barrel. Both bad. One horrifying. But perhaps even more disturbing- the news that a Meridian Middle School counselor was arrested over the weekend for child porn charges. As I read the story this evening, the story only became worse...
Apparently said "counselor" is a part of an online group that shares child porn. He pleaded guilty in court today to these charges... and worse. Not only did he claim that he had produced some of that porn; but on top of that, it was revealed that a minor child was found in his home at the time of the police raid, a boy that he had been raping for the past several months. The boy spoke of other boys this monster had abused...
There are several things that drive me mad about this case. The fact that this man was in the schools... Only God knows how many victims he may have had there. The more pressing question though, is this: Did anyone at the school know about this? Had there been any complaints made to the school administration? I would love to say that I have confidence that no one knew of his secret. I would love to say that no child had came forward to issue a complaint about inapropriate behaviour. UNFORTUNATELY... Recent history, history so disturbing, history from a much more prestigous schoool... Penn State... This history has taught us that we cannot take any school official at their word concerning these matters...
What happened at Penn State, some may say is an isolated incident. But is it? The level of corruption was so deep; no man with any sanity or love for innocence would have dared imagine... The fact that so many knew and looked the other way... With such a high profile case that has just sent shock waves across the nation, does Meridian Middle School really expect our community to not question how extensive their knowledge was of this situation?
These are our children we are talking about. We, as a community have put our children in their care. We expect them to keep them safe. It is not beyond comprehension for us to feel betrayed...
The question remains now, what should be done? What measure of justice to level out? The counselor has already plead guilty... I will give you my opinion, however harsh.
First off, we must DEMAND an investigation into the school. We MUST demand that authorities take a long hard look into this case, to establish if there have been any prior incidents, to establish if there has been any other victim that may have came forward only to be ignored. We must demand answers until we are assured that the school had no knowledge of this crime; and if there were those who knew and looked away- they must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
As far as this supposed counselor: it is a favor to society to move on without a trial. Investigate him further, yes. We must discover what other victims he may have. But beyond that spare us the trial. Spare the taxpayers. Spare the children the trauma of reliving their stories. And make the investigation a quick one... And his sentence a quick one.
There is only one judgement that can truly bring any kind of justice. You see, this counselor has already sentenced his victims to a lifetime of suffering. A life, for a life. That is what a true and just sentence would be. If he lives- he will live on with the possibility of offending again. He will live on in a jail cell, where he will not regret what he has done- but rather his sick and twisted mind will relive, again and again to his demented pleasure, the pain of his victims. No- no prison time for this man.
In such cases as this, we must move forward to change the laws. We must give judges the authority to level out what is fit for this crime. This man, this monster that was hired by we the people to watch over our children, this vile filth that abused the hearts of those he was supposed to protect, must pay the ultimate price. Capital punishment. Execution.
It is time that we start taking this crime seriously. It is time we stop pretending the abuser is the victim. How is it fair that the abuser and the victim both live on reliving the crime, one in pleasure the other in pain? No. Protect children of the future. Let judges put molestors to death, and be done with it.
Apparently said "counselor" is a part of an online group that shares child porn. He pleaded guilty in court today to these charges... and worse. Not only did he claim that he had produced some of that porn; but on top of that, it was revealed that a minor child was found in his home at the time of the police raid, a boy that he had been raping for the past several months. The boy spoke of other boys this monster had abused...
There are several things that drive me mad about this case. The fact that this man was in the schools... Only God knows how many victims he may have had there. The more pressing question though, is this: Did anyone at the school know about this? Had there been any complaints made to the school administration? I would love to say that I have confidence that no one knew of his secret. I would love to say that no child had came forward to issue a complaint about inapropriate behaviour. UNFORTUNATELY... Recent history, history so disturbing, history from a much more prestigous schoool... Penn State... This history has taught us that we cannot take any school official at their word concerning these matters...
What happened at Penn State, some may say is an isolated incident. But is it? The level of corruption was so deep; no man with any sanity or love for innocence would have dared imagine... The fact that so many knew and looked the other way... With such a high profile case that has just sent shock waves across the nation, does Meridian Middle School really expect our community to not question how extensive their knowledge was of this situation?
These are our children we are talking about. We, as a community have put our children in their care. We expect them to keep them safe. It is not beyond comprehension for us to feel betrayed...
The question remains now, what should be done? What measure of justice to level out? The counselor has already plead guilty... I will give you my opinion, however harsh.
First off, we must DEMAND an investigation into the school. We MUST demand that authorities take a long hard look into this case, to establish if there have been any prior incidents, to establish if there has been any other victim that may have came forward only to be ignored. We must demand answers until we are assured that the school had no knowledge of this crime; and if there were those who knew and looked away- they must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
As far as this supposed counselor: it is a favor to society to move on without a trial. Investigate him further, yes. We must discover what other victims he may have. But beyond that spare us the trial. Spare the taxpayers. Spare the children the trauma of reliving their stories. And make the investigation a quick one... And his sentence a quick one.
There is only one judgement that can truly bring any kind of justice. You see, this counselor has already sentenced his victims to a lifetime of suffering. A life, for a life. That is what a true and just sentence would be. If he lives- he will live on with the possibility of offending again. He will live on in a jail cell, where he will not regret what he has done- but rather his sick and twisted mind will relive, again and again to his demented pleasure, the pain of his victims. No- no prison time for this man.
In such cases as this, we must move forward to change the laws. We must give judges the authority to level out what is fit for this crime. This man, this monster that was hired by we the people to watch over our children, this vile filth that abused the hearts of those he was supposed to protect, must pay the ultimate price. Capital punishment. Execution.
It is time that we start taking this crime seriously. It is time we stop pretending the abuser is the victim. How is it fair that the abuser and the victim both live on reliving the crime, one in pleasure the other in pain? No. Protect children of the future. Let judges put molestors to death, and be done with it.
Monday, August 13, 2012
The Ukranian Love Song
Talk about a blast from the past... I was looking at my blog stats tonight, and I couldn't help but notice that someone from Ukraine has been reading my writings... Ah, Ukraine... that country brings back the memories. You see, I went on a short term 2 week mission trip in the grand year of 2000 to a little town called Boradyanka, which is about 50 kilometers outside of the Ukranian capital of Kiev. Kiev is really one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to in my life; it's like the Seattle green on steroids. Of course, it wasn't just the scenery that was so fascinating... the people were extraordinarily nice; the history was exciting to learn about; and the food was excellent!! They serve this dish over there, it is chicken fried in this batter... not like anything I have had here. I wish I could have that recipee. It was simply the best chicken I have ever eaten!
I have so many thoughts about Ukraine. I can honestly say that I often wish that I could visit there again. I wish I could see the people I met again. There was the old pastor of the church I worked out of... Such a nice man, but it was comical in a sense to me how he never missed an after lunch nap. There was the host family- we stayed in their son's house. He was on the Ukranian soccer team, so he wasn't home much. But they took good care of us. They had this crazy dog that hated us though! No kidding, it was like cujo on meth! It wasn't very big, only about knee high- similar in looks to a heeler. But you could not have paid me to go within 10 feet of that thing. It became almost demonic when it would see us... and you could hear the anger in it's voice, almost as if it were saying "come here so I can bite your face off!" in every bark. When I say we, of course I am meaning me and my translator Bobby. He was a great kid, and I loved getting to know him.
I think the thing that has always stuck out most in my mind from Boradyanka, though, was the question. Everyone wanted to know why an American like me would come to po-dunk little tiny Boradyanka. Why would I travel half way around the world to a place with maybe a couple thousand people in population. Everywhere we went, that was the most asked question. The answer, of course, was always the same- I came as a missionary, to tell them about Jesus Christ and what He had done in my life. The good news of the Gospel! They were people I had never met before, may never see again- but God had placed a love in me for them, a desire to take His Word to them, to tell them they could have freedom, love, victory, salvation- a life changing experience...
I remember one woman in particular. I don't remember her name, but she was an older woman in her 60's. The pastor took us to her house, and we sat and talked for a while about life- and about God. It was truly a heartbreaking conversation as the discussion went on... It came to a point where she finally broke down. Through tears she confessed that she wanted to be a Christian but just couldn't be. I asked her why, and her answer was- I don't know. I just know I can't. It took almost an hour of pouring over Scripture, reasoning with her, assuring her, teaching her about the love of Christ... Finally before we left she made the step. She put aside her fears and set down her confusion. Her tears were turned from sadness to joy as she opened her heart to Christ.
There are many stories I could tell from this short time I was away from American soil... And over time I will tell more. But I have something on my mind tonight that needs to be said.
We need a missionary mind here in America. Why is it that we have to travel across the oceans to hear stories like hers? It shouldn't be that way at all... I was reading with my son in the book of Acts recently when I came across this verse: "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart." Acts 2:46 I think that this verse holds a key to something that so desperately needs to happen here in America. What is it you ask? "singleness of heart". One heart. Take a look at the churches in China, and ask yourself where is the division of calvanist and armenian. Take a look at the believers in Indonesia and ask yourself where are the Nazarene verses the Baptists. Take a look at the new testament church and ask yourself where were the people who refused to work with each other because they didn't always agree on every little detail. Then compare these churches to the American body of believers, and ask yourself when was the last time we had one heart.
We have walled ourselves in to our buildings, walled ourselves up from each other, forcing the chambers of our heart to beat at differing rythyms, never in synch, risking the health of the Body. All the while, outside our walls lay the broken, the lost, those in desperate need to hear the Gospel. Who will go to them? And when we go what will they see? Will they know we are Christians by the love we have for each other? When we tell them our testimony of how Christ has changed our life, will our words hold any integrity at all?
When I think back to Ukraine, I think of people like that lady, so convinced she could not know the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I think of the boys on the street who had never heard the Gospel before. And I think of all those in America in the same place as them. They are people who will not set foot in a church. They are the people whom we must leave our walls behind to find. And they are the people who need to be reached by a Body of believers, the FAMILY of God, beating with one heart...
Yes, I said family. There are so many broken families these days... don't we have anything better to offer them? People, the time is NOW- we must put down our differences. We must put aside the trivial. No, I did not say put aside truth- for truly some would try and carry this same message but emphasize dropping truth and compromising the Word of God. I am not talking about that. I am talking about true believers, unwilling to replace the word of God, bold in their convictions, going from house to house- or wherever the Spirit leads- in singleness of heart.
Do you want to see revival in America? Do you want to see a spiritual awakening to God's truth in the United States? Do you want to see a Holy Spirit movement that makes this the land not just of the free, but the free from sin, death, shame, the free in Christ? Then my brothers and sisters, it is time that we realize we will be in Heaven for a very long time together, so we better get used to each other now. We are family. We have a nation of lost souls that need us to act on love for each other. Let's get together, one heart, no walls!!!
I have so many thoughts about Ukraine. I can honestly say that I often wish that I could visit there again. I wish I could see the people I met again. There was the old pastor of the church I worked out of... Such a nice man, but it was comical in a sense to me how he never missed an after lunch nap. There was the host family- we stayed in their son's house. He was on the Ukranian soccer team, so he wasn't home much. But they took good care of us. They had this crazy dog that hated us though! No kidding, it was like cujo on meth! It wasn't very big, only about knee high- similar in looks to a heeler. But you could not have paid me to go within 10 feet of that thing. It became almost demonic when it would see us... and you could hear the anger in it's voice, almost as if it were saying "come here so I can bite your face off!" in every bark. When I say we, of course I am meaning me and my translator Bobby. He was a great kid, and I loved getting to know him.
I think the thing that has always stuck out most in my mind from Boradyanka, though, was the question. Everyone wanted to know why an American like me would come to po-dunk little tiny Boradyanka. Why would I travel half way around the world to a place with maybe a couple thousand people in population. Everywhere we went, that was the most asked question. The answer, of course, was always the same- I came as a missionary, to tell them about Jesus Christ and what He had done in my life. The good news of the Gospel! They were people I had never met before, may never see again- but God had placed a love in me for them, a desire to take His Word to them, to tell them they could have freedom, love, victory, salvation- a life changing experience...
I remember one woman in particular. I don't remember her name, but she was an older woman in her 60's. The pastor took us to her house, and we sat and talked for a while about life- and about God. It was truly a heartbreaking conversation as the discussion went on... It came to a point where she finally broke down. Through tears she confessed that she wanted to be a Christian but just couldn't be. I asked her why, and her answer was- I don't know. I just know I can't. It took almost an hour of pouring over Scripture, reasoning with her, assuring her, teaching her about the love of Christ... Finally before we left she made the step. She put aside her fears and set down her confusion. Her tears were turned from sadness to joy as she opened her heart to Christ.
There are many stories I could tell from this short time I was away from American soil... And over time I will tell more. But I have something on my mind tonight that needs to be said.
We need a missionary mind here in America. Why is it that we have to travel across the oceans to hear stories like hers? It shouldn't be that way at all... I was reading with my son in the book of Acts recently when I came across this verse: "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart." Acts 2:46 I think that this verse holds a key to something that so desperately needs to happen here in America. What is it you ask? "singleness of heart". One heart. Take a look at the churches in China, and ask yourself where is the division of calvanist and armenian. Take a look at the believers in Indonesia and ask yourself where are the Nazarene verses the Baptists. Take a look at the new testament church and ask yourself where were the people who refused to work with each other because they didn't always agree on every little detail. Then compare these churches to the American body of believers, and ask yourself when was the last time we had one heart.
We have walled ourselves in to our buildings, walled ourselves up from each other, forcing the chambers of our heart to beat at differing rythyms, never in synch, risking the health of the Body. All the while, outside our walls lay the broken, the lost, those in desperate need to hear the Gospel. Who will go to them? And when we go what will they see? Will they know we are Christians by the love we have for each other? When we tell them our testimony of how Christ has changed our life, will our words hold any integrity at all?
When I think back to Ukraine, I think of people like that lady, so convinced she could not know the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I think of the boys on the street who had never heard the Gospel before. And I think of all those in America in the same place as them. They are people who will not set foot in a church. They are the people whom we must leave our walls behind to find. And they are the people who need to be reached by a Body of believers, the FAMILY of God, beating with one heart...
Yes, I said family. There are so many broken families these days... don't we have anything better to offer them? People, the time is NOW- we must put down our differences. We must put aside the trivial. No, I did not say put aside truth- for truly some would try and carry this same message but emphasize dropping truth and compromising the Word of God. I am not talking about that. I am talking about true believers, unwilling to replace the word of God, bold in their convictions, going from house to house- or wherever the Spirit leads- in singleness of heart.
Do you want to see revival in America? Do you want to see a spiritual awakening to God's truth in the United States? Do you want to see a Holy Spirit movement that makes this the land not just of the free, but the free from sin, death, shame, the free in Christ? Then my brothers and sisters, it is time that we realize we will be in Heaven for a very long time together, so we better get used to each other now. We are family. We have a nation of lost souls that need us to act on love for each other. Let's get together, one heart, no walls!!!
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