Do you remember I wrote about a young man I had started witnessing to who was into the homosexual lifestyle? Well he got saved today after receiving Christ into his life.

This thirty-one-year-old man had been ostracized and bullied all his life because of being effeminate. This brought on phobias and anxiety so much so that he takes medication and has a female therapist who tells him he must learn to love himself – just the way he is. She, by the way, worships Buddha, Jesus and some other entity and has a mural on the wall of her office depicting all three entities.

Today the young man came to see me about helping me set up a tent at a local art show where I hope to sell my artwork (I’ve participated in this “hobby” for years). I told him I had a book to give him, and so he came right over. We made small talk about art, and then we moved on to more serious matters. All the time he knew where I was coming from; and because I had already tilled the soil – as it were. Today I thought I would just plant more seed, but God had other plans.

We sat in my makeshift studio; and after making sure he wasn’t pressed for time, I began to explain the Jesus promise book to him. It had been on the shelf for some time now as I had already committed most of it to memory. Benny had tried to read the Bible but couldn’t make heads or tails of it. (That’s why I thought to give him these Bible verses to read on his own for now.) Then I explained to him that in order to understand the Bible, one would need to have received Christ into his life to be able to read and understand the words in it with spiritual eyes through the help of the Holy Spirit.

I could sense his desperation, and he was very open to what I had to say. After probing into his life, I knew that the Gospel was the only answer to his emotional and spiritual well-being. He spoke of his sleepless nights, anxiety and low self-esteem. I told him that God could give him hope and freedom from guilt and forgiveness of sin, and on top of all that – a peace that surpasses all understanding. I could see his eyes beginning to water up with a glimpse of hope.

After explaining the Gospel in a caring way, I asked if he wanted to receive Jesus Christ into his life; and low and behold, just after a moment of careful thought, he said yes. Then I asked him to repeat the words after me in his own way. “God forgive me,… I receive Jesus Christ into my heart and life to change me and give me hope of eternal life…. After that short prayer, I explained how he should be baptized by immersion to show his sincerity toward God; but then I thought – but where can he be baptized since my church is undergoing a tremendous polarizing struggle right now.

Then it happened; a still small voice said to me to ask him if he’d like to be baptized right now (or was that just my imagination?) In any case, I knew it was the right thing to do. (I had baptized my own younger sister a few years ago after leading her to Christ – when she thought she had cancer.) Benny again said yes, then I said, “follow me” and led him to the lanai. “I’ve got an extra pair of swimming trunks hanging on the pegs alongside the pool.” And so, I baptized him in the swimming pool in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. After talking a bit more while in the pool, I left him to be alone with his thoughts and changed into dry clothes; but as I happened to peer out the lanai doors, I saw him sitting on the pool deck gazing heavenward contemplating, praying or meditating. Already he was beginning to feel peace.

Before leaving I showed Benny my old banged, taped up and highlighted Bible explaining the Old Testament and the New Testament and pointing out what the prophets said about Jesus three thousand years before he was even born. I was quoting scripture verbatim particularly from the book of John. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning and there was nothing made that was made without Him. In Him was life and… But as many as believed on Him – to them was given the right to become the sons of God.” He was thirsty for every word; but not wanting to overload him, I bid him farewell and told him to call me anytime he had questions concerning the Christian faith.

Sunday after voting No to the pastor nominee (a “Woke” person with little experience), I went to lunch at a sit-down restaurant; and being famished, I asked the server to please bring the biscuits and gravy right away. This the server did as I asked, and I thanked the frail, hollow-eyed young man profusely while looking at his name tag to thank him by name. The name tag read “Genesis.” Reading it aloud, I asked, “Do you know what Genesis means in the Bible?” He said, “No, I’ve never read the Bible.”

“It means the beginning of everything.”

“Really?… I never knew that.”

Wow, I thought as he walked away. How could a person not know that?

So today I stopped by Hobby Lobby to get material for the upcoming art show; and low and behold – a Christian bookstand! I found what I was looking for – a Bible for Genesis. A red-letter edition with a beautiful purple leather cover.

On my way back home, I stopped at the restaurant and, looking around, I didn’t see him, so I asked a waitress if she knew Genesis. She replied yes but she’s not here today. She’ll be here tomorrow. SHE??…. Genesis was a girl! In any case, I intend to stop by and give her the Bible and show her the name Genesis on the very first page.

Jesus said, “Only those who throw their lives away for my sake…will truly know what it means to live.”

How true Lord – how true.

YBIC

Jim Towers

You can write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo,com or visit my website www.propheticsignsandwonders.com You can also find more of my articles on www.dropzonedelta.org

A while back I told you about my wonderful church falling apart because an egotistical and power-hungry group of men had taken over, after saying an untimely goodbye to our long-time pastor (27 years), practically kicking him out the door.

It took 27 years for our Pastor under God’s supervision to make our church what it was. It was a conservative Bible-based church in which the scriptures were read aloud while standing. Then the pastor would expound on the verses read. Afterward there was an altar call, and baptisms in the warm Gulf waters were frequent. There were no flashing lights, abracadabra, smoke and mirrors or overt shenanigans among this crowd (as in a rock concert.) All were well-read, educated people, with many professionals in the mix.

How sad that this had to happen just because a handful of men plotted to take over. Recently the pastor had bestowed “pastor” titles to them all just to keep them happy, but it seems they wanted more power and prestige than he was able to give.

An Email was sent to over seven hundred members – most of whom weren’t aligned with the usurpers. This group (and I among them) crashed their “business as usual meeting.” But knowing this was going to happen through spies, they arranged for an experienced old-timer to moderate the meeting while the lead usurper went into hiding. While these folks were claiming to be “transparent,” the two huge monitors in the chapel (where the meeting was held) read, “No recording devices or videotaping allowed,” which doesn’t sound very transparent to me.

Afterward, I queried the guys I knew were in cahoots with the Executive Pastor about his whereabouts and was told by the music director, “I’m not supposed to say,” and who seemed offended that I should ask; and he immediately turned to speak to someone else to avoid further questioning. I told the second man that it was quite a coincidence for the leader of the pack to be absent from this important meeting. This man just gulped as his face screwed up in defeat. The third crony said, “I heard he’s in the hospital.” Quite a coincidence indeed. In trying to find out if this was true from the church office through an Email I sent, I received no response, and that was two weeks ago. This same guy tried to assure me that it was all in God’s hands, and I had to agree. Had God laid up this man to a bed of affliction or is this just a ruse? It’s hard to say because all six of them have all shown themselves to be dishonest men.

Whether these wolves in sheep’s clothing thought that they were doing good by trying to slander a man of God is questionable. One error on the part of the pastor is that he hired and promoted what he thought were sound spirit-filled men; and even if the pastor made a few other errors (as we are all prone to do), these usurpers have made a grievous mistake in scattering the flock the way they have.

The director of communications must have been very hurt by the pastor’s suggestion that his son in law be given that role. With the pastor out, this man takes to the podium every chance he gets. (I suppose it makes him feel powerful.) Another thing that irks me is that one of them, while being a good speaker, never refers to God as “Father.” This isn’t in keeping with the prayer Jesus taught, as in “Our Father who art in heaven….,” and that tells me that he doesn’t have a close enough relationship with God to address Him in that way. Also, it irks me that this childish man and the pompous music director tend to emote fake weeping during their public prayers on the podium, like the old-time televangelists used to do – think Tammy Fae Baker and Jan Crouch. (But this is just me – and although I am only a sinner saved by grace, I don’t tolerate phonies. The things of God are a very serious business.)

While there are other lesser followers of this cabal, they aren’t worth bothering with; and like worldly people, they are only vying for position, but you can be sure their sins will find them out – just as the leader of this fiasco. Such are these men. “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” wolves.” (NKJ)

The following passage hits the nail on the head in so many ways: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”….. “By their fruits you shall know them.” – Jesus.

“But if [they] do not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. And if [they] refuse to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer” (Matt. 18:15-17). None of these men are loving and kind but are phony and narcissistic in their behavior.

So, here is where we are now – having to take a stand and revealing these ruthless and divisive men for what they are. Although their family members may be hurt, these ambitious men took it upon themselves to take over the church, hurting countless people; and they must repent – pack their bags –and leave.

Postscript:

In my forty-five years of church attendance, I have been privy to three other such events; and, frankly, I’ve seen enough ruthless men running roughshod over God’s people. If these men think they are capable, then they should venture out and start their own corrupt and loveless church.

Many people in our church have had their faith shaken to the core, so much so that many have already left the church. What a tragedy!

Insofar as the integrity of the cabal that has taken over our church, I can’t think of anything worse for man to do than to shake another person’s faith in Almighty God.

YBIC

Jim Towers

You can write me with your thoughts at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com