A Surprise

One Thing is an annual conference hosted by the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. Last year I made plans to attend. An anonymous donor paid my entire way. This gesture was gladly received. Then two days before the bus left for the conference, I had a mental break. Instead of attending One Thing, I was trapped inside a hospital.

I cried myself to sleep most of those nights in the hospital. I knew God was blessing everyone who attended the conference, and it broke my heart that I wasn't there to experience God's hand. It was extremely difficult to heal from that disappointment. I had to fight against the temptation of fear and mistrust.

I am making plans to attend the conference this year. I have the money and the days don't conflict with my work. There are moments in my life when I sense God is "up to something." Now is one of those times. I visually see God holding something behind His back. He has a big smile on His handsome face.

I ask Him, "What is behind Your back?"
He laughs and then replies, "Can't tell you! It is a surprise!"

I am eager to see where God takes me. But, I am even more eager to feel His presence daily, to see Him dance over me, and experience His deep jealousy for my heart. Pitter Pat!

The Unity of the Church

Many people pray for the church to be united. I have suffered from the divisions and conflicts within the body of Christ. However, I believe God is capable of healing our brokeness and foolishness.
I don't think unity has anything to do with denominations putting aside their difference. I don't think unity has anything to do with us changing our beliefs. Unity isn't about our beliefs! Unity is about loving each other, and sharing our lives together. Even if we believe in infant baptism and they believe in emmersion...we can still experience unity. Unity is reached when we love each other, and serve each other in a community!

Provision

I lost my paycheck. I live paycheck to paycheck, so loosing my paycheck is serious. An entire week has passed, and that paycheck still hasn't been reissued.

I promised myself that I wouldn't succumb to fear. Whenever I felt worry creep up on me, I would thank God for His many blessings. I refused to grumble and complain. I faltered some, but overall I trusted God.

Today I attended my work Christmas party. I won $200.00! The relief felt glorious. I want to live with faith everyday. It produces results! Worry and fear, they aren't worth the effort.

Stealing Our Healing

Recently, I have been wrestling with the role of healing in a believer's life. I believe God is able and willing to heal his people. I struggle to understand why some people don't experience healing. There are Christians who are faithfully contending for healing, and have been contending for years, without results.

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with someone who believes God uses doctors to heal now. I don't fully agree with this statement. I think we turn to doctors too soon. We don't give God the chance to heal, and this weakens our faith. I don't think doctors are evil! I know God has given doctors talents, knowledge, and compassion. But, most Christians trust doctors to heal more than they trust God to heal.

This is a sensitive subject because recently parents wanted God to heal their child; therefore, they stopped medicating the child. The child died. Now the parents are facing charges of murder/neglect. This is tragic, and it makes my faith squeamish.

Now I have a question...

Some Christians assume their lack of faith is preventing healing. However, many of these Christians have faith for healing. I fear the lack of healing may be a result of others who don't believe. What if the community is stealing the healing? In Matthew 13, Jesus refuses to do miracles in His hometown because they lacked faith.

What if Christians have faith for healing, but the majority of their community lack that faith? Can their lack of faith steal my healing, your healing, or your child's healing? It is a provocative question, and I haven't answered it yet.

I considered it could be true, and it made me furious. My dedication to prayer will eventually produce results, but will those prayers be hindered because of the lack of faith that surrounds me?

A Powerful Delusion

Today in class, I was put in a position where I was required to share my opinions about homosexuality.

One lady asked, “How can you believe homosexuality is a sin when all the new scientific research suggests homosexuality is not a choice?”

I responded in this way:

“I believe the Bible is more accurate than scientific research. I don’t trust myself to scientific research that doesn’t line up with scripture. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin; therefore, homosexuality is a sin”

After this response, I experienced both external pressure and internal insecurity. I felt the whole room lose respect for me. The audience didn’t express this disrespect outright, but I saw it on their faces. I am sure some of them considered me ignorant to respond in such a way. How can I ignore science when it proves a theory?

After observing the room’s reaction to my statement, I became ashamed at my answer as well. The answer was honest; I REALLY don’t trust science when it negates scripture. I strongly believe that scripture is inerrant, but the external pressures were weakening my resolve. I felt defeated.

On my drive home, I convinced myself that my answer was honest and correct. I shouldn't be ashamed of the gospel! Then I got to thinking. People assume that if science can disprove something than that something is disproved. I am bold enough now to ignore that assumption.

A scripture verse came to mind. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (New International Version)

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”

Suddenly, I realized that scientific "fact" could be a part of that delusion. People who trust science over scripture are choosing to believe a lie; therefore, God deludes them by tampering with all their scientific outcomes and evidences. It may seem far-fetched, but it is possible.

One friend was telling me that she believed creation was created in 6 days. I asked her what she thought about all those SUPER OLD dinosaurs’ bones. She replied, “Maybe God put them there to test our faith.” I laughed when she told me this, but now I think that response is adequate and very possible.

Any scientific fact that negates God’s sovereignty or demeans his perfect law isn’t fact at all. Any evidence that belittles my faith and mocks my God shouldn’t intimidate me. I will just assume God is allowing men to believe a lie by sending a delusion because these men love wickedness. Don’t let scientific “facts” rattle your faith.

Songstir

I have been using a software program called Audacity to record some songs. Just posted a couple of those songs on purevolume.com. If you are interested in hearing me sing, click the link.

PUREVOLUME

Judging Art

Now that I have decided writing will be my profession, I need to set some guidelines. Today’s entertainment culture is drenched in immorality and satanic influences. I am struggling to define what is acceptable and what is irreverent.

Recently, a friend rebuked me for reading and watching the Twilight series. Before Twilight, I encountered numerous Christian who disapproved of the Harry Potter series. I love both of these series, and I respect these writers for their creativity and talent. These books and movies are poetic and powerful pieces of fiction.

I am also moved by art that may show nudity. I realize some of the art is simply pornographic and detestable. However, there are artists who use nudity effectively and create masterpieces.

I realize I must show proper restraint. There is no need to use profanity and overtly sexual imagery in my writing. But, I think for any book to be effective, it must have a dash of reality. The days of the Beavers and Lassie are over. Some of the most powerful art is the art that accurately portrays the human condition.

I personally don’t think the Harry Potter series or the Twilight series are demonic. I think they are make-believe. I know many people who refuse to watch Harry Potter, and yet they have no problem watching shows with murder and theft. Ocean’s Eleven is a perfect example. It is a popular show with Christians, yet it is main premise is theft.

I am not here to judge anyone. If you believe something is immoral, don't watch it! You know when you are being tempted. You know what leads you astray. There is NOTHING wrong with guarding your heart!.

I simply want people to recognize that God is an artist and an author. In His own holy word, the Bible, He shares the stories of sin and failure. There are graphic stories in the Bible, but no one would accuse God of writing smut. Why? The motivation behind sharing those stories is the motivation of love. God shares those stories to protect others from making the same mistakes. Reality is an effective tool against sin.

As an artist I want to hit people where they live. I don’t want a “moral” movie that fails to minister to anyone. People are hurting, sinful, and lost. As an artist, I don’t want to ignore that fact. I love this scripture. Titus 1:15-16

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.”

If my heart is pure, I will be able to approach everything with a proper guard. If I am corrupt, I will find pleasure in immorality and sin. Feel free to comment.