conversation with a satanist

Had a conversation a couple days ago.

With a "satanist."

Yep, that is what I said. No mis-spelled word here. And this person is my next door neighbour.

So, what occurred you may ask?

Let me tell you.

I had just finished praying with another man in my "apartment." Actually, it is really just a room. But I like to think of it as home during this time of my life.

Anyhow, I had the door open, as I always do, when I am praying, singing, or just relaxing. It allows other men from the building to come in and just relax, talk, or share what is on their minds. If the door is shut, it is common knowledge to not bother me, as those times I am usually studying.

Standing in the doorway, my neighbour asked if he could talk with me.

Certainly! I like to have conversations with many different types of people.

He went on to say that he was getting tired of hearing about all this "Christian" talk in the building, and wanted to know if I would kindly close my door when praying or singing. He did not want to cause me trouble, or put a damper on what I do. He was just tired of hearing about it all.

The Word of God is offensive to those who do not want to hear it.

Of course, my answer was...

Not. No.

What was the question again?

I explained that when you love somebody you want to talk of them. Your wife. Your children. Your Lord and Saviour.

So no I will not shut my door or be quiet.

He then went on to say that he would play his music louder, speak about satan more, make "noise" as he wanted .

Go ahead.

Then the conversation took a turn.

I asked him why he followed this particular philosophy.

His reply shocked me.

Satan had to teach God the right way to run the world cause God wasn't doing what he should. Hence, the reason God got mad and had satan expelled from glory.

Interesting take on passages from Isaiah and Ezekiel.

Found out he attended a Baptist church when he was growing up. Commented that there were too many hypocrites in "Christianity" to follow it.

By the time the conversation was over, we were shaking hands.

He was gone most of the next day. I must say that normally, he plays loud, hard, violent, mad type of music. This day, hearing the music through the walls, I realized something. It was not the hard angry music, I normally would hear. It was more like Kenny Loggins or Dan Fogleberg type of music. More easy listening kind of style.

Today he thanked me as I had told him about getting his ID card.

Thank you Lord!

You certainly are good!

Lord, we will proclaim you from the mountains, in the valleys, in the hallways, and even in a community kitchen. You are worthy to be praised, talked of and shared with all who come into our lives. 

You are Lord!

Words for the year

Been waiting.

Waiting to hear what word God has given me this year.

These are the words.

Communication in relationships.

I am not always the best at communicating. And at times what I say gets misconstrued. Not the best when you are trying to communicate God's love. Or our own to those close to us. Family, co-workers, friends, neighbors...

Most importantly when talking of our own love for Christ.

I have hurt by words. I have been hurt by words.

Yet the hurt from the words I read in God's Word actually brings a healing to my life. It is suppose to. It is there to convict us of our wrong so we can grow. It is also there to bring comfort in times of sorrow.

Words to make us laugh.
To lift up the corners of our mouths into a smile.
Words to share.

Normally I am a pretty peaceful person. A pacifist at heart.

Yet recently, I have felt betrayed by words people have spoken, their meaning of peace couched in ill intent. I want to ask You, Lord, to take away my anger toward them and help me to communicate the love You have for them in the best way I am able. With grace and mercy. With love. With compassion.

Lord, You know these peoples hearts far better and deeper than I ever could.

I simply want to communicate better. I want to grow in communicating, through various means and styles. Writing, songs, pictures. So others can see my heart and life clearly. So they can see You, Lord, through me.

Again. And again.
Over and over until I understand.

Kinda like how You do for us God.

Continuing to joy in the journey.

David

Arm us. Send us.

Just began reading Joshua. Again.

Only in the first chapter. Think I am going to be there for a while.

Was wondering about beginning our Tuesday night fellowship. Starting tomorrow. There are several verses in the beginning of Joshua that caused me to know I am to continue. And a couple in Hebrews as well. But I'll get to those further down.

We all remember the words that Moses spoke to Joshua:

"Be strong and courageous... 

Be careful to obey...

Do not deviate...

Study...

Meditate..."

And the most important:

"This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Pretty fantastic words! What a promise from God!

Then further down, Joshua commands:

"Go... take possession."

"Your strong warriors, fully armed, must lead the other tribes across the Jordan to help them conquer their territory. Stay with them until the Lord gives them rest."

Do you realize, the people answered and told Joshua at the end of saying they would obey, do and go as Moses through God commanded:

"So be strong and courageous."

What a great way for the people to bless Joshua.

The people speak the same words as Moses spoke to Joshua!

As believers we know that "strokes" to our lives and ministries can be beneficial, but they are not necessarily necessary. We are not the leaders of this fellowship. God is. We are simply people God has asked to help in other people's lives. We minister, we help, we encourage to bring glory to God, not to man.

My question is this.

Are we fully armed? Not with the physical means of war, but with the spiritual. Are we leading? Are we helping others to conquer? Are we helping to bring them into rest in the Lord? 

So then I realized there was some verses in Hebrews 4 that I needed to read which went along with these ones from Joshua.

The writer of Hebrews is talking about hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit.

"Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ." 

That is what we are about. 

Let's not rebel against God. 

Let's not harden our hearts. 

All it does is cause us and others around us trouble.

Thanks for showing us Lord how to continue.

Arm us and send us to to conquer for your name.

Continuing to joy in the journey,

David

thinking...

Thinking.

Really trying to figure out what is next. Trying to figure out how to respond to emails, letters and words. Some of them harsh. Some of them pleasant.

Been asked to lead a fellowship once a week where I live during this season of my life. At first I definitely thought it would be a great idea. Do some singing. Have some sharing and prayer time. What a wonderful way to interact with the men who live here. To help input hope and meaning into their lives.

And then I started thinking.

Would it be right to say "yes" to such an opportunity when I am going to be gone so often during this year?

God has opened up a heap of doors for me to spend time with my family and many others in my life. I love getting together one-on-one with anybody. I believe that is where true discipleship and growth occurs.

So I have been thinking.

I am not sure I am ready to take on such a task as has been asked of me. I am stable yes. But I would not be able to lead such a fellowship on a consistent basis. And to me that would not show good integrity.

Been told several times over the last couple years that I have a shepherd/pastor's heart. Not exactly sure what that means. The only thing I do know, is that the Lord has changed my heart from one of bitterness over my situations from the past to one of compassion for any person. He has shown me that all are redeemable, changeable and lovable. And I do mean all.

Over Christmas, my children reminded me of something I used to say often.

The only thing of lasting value is God's Word and people.

So what to do?

I know at this time, I am to remain where I am. Through my prayers and living out my life for Christ, my open door style, and hoping my presence makes a difference, through showing forgiveness and letting all the men I am around know I am human and prone to mistakes, through praying through the hallways of this building, through loving these men as Christ loves me...

That is what I am to be doing.

Until the Lord tells me otherwise.

My son, Michal, who is doing a ministry school through Calvary of Albuquerque told me that one percent of a shepherds ministry is from the pulpit. That is scary. I don't want to be caught up into political correctness or "church" politics. We, as people of God, are the church.

Toward the end of 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2, there are some powerful words which have impacted my life.

We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm. 

At the beginning of chapter two, Paul says this:

For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved.

These next verses are the ones which truly hit me on the head:

Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.

And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ's authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us.  For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

Forgiveness helps us outsmart our enemy, whether in flesh or spirit. That is my response.

So, back to my thinking.

What are your thoughts?

Continuing to joy in the journey,

David

buffet surprise

Been a while since I posted anything on this blog.

But today was just incredible. Spent time with my brother. Did some shopping. Found some music. Some classical and an old Cd of Celine Dion. Then went to a buffet in Franklin Park Mall. It is a new Japanese one.

So anyway, my brother Richard and I were having a real enjoyable time, catching up and just spending some hours with each other. He went up for another plate. I came a few minutes afterwards.

My brother can be pretty outgoing and introduces himself to lots of people when he is waiting in lines. I think that is a pretty cool quality God has given him. So he introduces me to Christina who is heading over to Australia and then to the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea to help with medical missions through YWAM.

I am always completely and totally amazed at who the Lord puts into my path to keep reminding me of PNG. Totally God!

My friend Paula made this comment to me:

Yes indeed!! No such thing as a coincidence, as Danny used to say they are God-cidences!! PNG is close to your heart and amazing how God puts those in your path that are either going there, been there or interested in there.

Blessings to you!!

So I asked Christina if she would mind me sharing with any who might read this, about what the Lord is doing in her life.

Continue to pray the Lord would use her in ways she may not even know of yet! Just the few minutes I was able to talk with her were inspiring. She truly wants to serve God.

If you want to see what she is doing her blog address is listed below.

http://www.christyp20.blogspot.com

Continuing to joy in the journey!

D