Living the Good Life

I'm in a reflective mood today. Wow, I have time to reflect!! Must be one of those blessed days. I have a few minutes between house cleaning and lesson time with Joche and I chose to spend it in some quiet time. Yeah, I know, as a Christian I am supposed to be doing this every day. I try. But I'm not always successful.

I am 47 years old this year and I realize I am past middle age. :-) Realized it only now. I wonder if I have lived a truly meaningful life. I have made my crucial choices and obviously, those choices have determined the course of my life. Of course there are other factors in my life not entirely dependent on my choices but God had been generous. I have my share of rains and storms in my life but as I said, God had been generous too, in many ways.

I hear many people wondering how they can raise up their children to become better or good persons. I am thankful that as early as 23 years old I came across the Bible and have taken God by His word (the Bible is His word), and after 24 years of walking with God (though not always whole-heartedly nor completely), I can say that I have truly no regrets. I believe the Bible has made me the "better" person that I had hoped to be, and thank God He's still working on me, so, I should only get even better, right? :-)

One of the guidelines in the Bible that is so easy to remember is, "love your neighbor as yourself". That actually translates to the Golden Rule: Do unto others what you want them to do unto you. Attitude-wise that would be, "I will be nice to you and hope that you will be nice to me in return."

Usually, it works. But sometimes it doesn't. Even then, though there are people out there who take advantage of the niceness of others, I thank God that He is there to make sure that that doesn't shortchange me. In the end, He will still make sure it was worth my while being nice, by faith. Meaning, I decided to be nice to others trusting God that if the persons who are recipients of my niceness don't reciprocate, somehow, God will bring other people or circumstances in my life resulting in me receiving niceness as well. And if it doesn't happen in this life God will always make sure I will receive my reward in the next life. Neat, hu?

And God's "law" on generosity goes a long way and penetrates through all the facets of our lives. I love how the Golden Rule is expressed by Jesus in this passage:

Luke 6

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Some people would think Christians are easy suckers if they truly practice these words of Jesus. Ha! ha! There are other passages in the Bible that temper the above message. Passages that teach that we should "love with wisdom" and "be gentle as doves but shrewd like serpents," are two I can think of offhand.

So, how do we live a good life? By acquiring nice things, like the picture-perfect country cottage above? Hmmm, I picture it would be nice to live in a home like that. But we all know, life is more than food and drink and clothes to wear, and cars to drive and homes to live in and holidays to enjoy. When all has been said and done, a good life is a life of peace deep within our hearts, of good relationships, and a life full of meaning, a life well-lived. And to attain such a life I think Jesus' words on generosity above is truly The Guideline I would recommend to anyone. It really works. It goes back to you a thousandfold.

For truly, what use it is if I call Him Lord without following His word? Making Him Lord of my Life is what constitutes a good life. The woes and storms of life may threaten, harass and batter us but when our lives are built on the rock-solid word of God we survive through all the harshness of life, and flourish, too, in the end.

Luke 6

46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Indeed, I agree with King David who prophetically wrote that there is no heritage like God Himself:

Psalm 16

4 The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

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.

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11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Images from:

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/photographs/villages/Gallery3/index.asp

http://blogs.ebay.com/red-magnolia-decor/archive/2007/06

Note: This is a mirror blog. This was originally posted in my myspace blog on 14 May 2008. www.myspace.com/spatialinks

THE TREE OF DEATH

(A Commentary on the Christian Teaching Called "Man's Free Will")

It has often been said that man has free will. The Bible message in a nutshell (Gospel) is never complete unless one points out that man has free will – the choice to follow God or not. It is even emphasized that God loves us so much that He wouldn't violate our free will. He didn't create humankind to be robots, but as free beings that can express love and respect or contempt and disdain towards their Creator.

Yet many a time, as people try to draw near to God and understand His will for man, the perennial question often pops up: Where exactly in the Bible is the free will of man mentioned? We have a reference in the Bible for almost every teaching we believe, except for this one. The three other exceptions I can think of off hand would be: The Trinity (God being in three persons), the Bible as the Word of God (meaning, the Bible as the final authority in matters of faith), and the Second Heaven as the dwelling place of God's Archenemy Satan. (These topics are dealt with some place else but I deal only with man's free will in this post.)

The concept of free will becomes much highlighted when we run into passages that say, "You have been predestined…," or, "God chose you before the beginning of time…," and "… for by grace you have been saved, through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast." Yes, there are many others in the Book, any respectable theologian or Bible teacher can quote for you from the top of their heads. These verses seemingly imply that we believers didn't have a choice in this ball game. We were chosen, and for no reason. The theological belief eschewed towards this end is commonly called "Calvinism."

The other extreme, emphasizing the free will of the individual is commonly called "Arminianism." The extreme doctrine of this school of thought is what we commonly term as "saved by good works." Now this goes clearly contrary against the Ephesians 2:8,9 passage that says we are saved by grace, through faith, and not by works. Thus, I believe that the doctrine or teaching of being "saved by good works" is really wrong. Of course, there's that verse which says, "work out your salvation with fear and trembling," which supports this view. However, I look at that passage more of a working together with God because it is Him who "causes us to will and to act," so we do not fall away and lose our salvation before the day of reckoning comes. Working together with God who inspires or causes you to be good still requires a choice on your part although God very much influenced the choice.

As for illustrations, free will would be seen in the stories of:

1. Orpah and Ruth. Orpah, just like Ruth, was a Moabitess who married into a Jewish family who had a strong belief in God. Just like Ruth, she was widowed – both their husbands died. When the famine in Israel had passed, their only surviving Jewish relative, Naomi, their mother-in-law, decided to go back to Israel. Orpah and Ruth were both encouraged by Naomi to go back to their own people and remarry. Orpah was persuaded. Ruth wasn't. Both Orpah and Ruth must have seen the reality of the presence of God and have tasted His goodness in the home of Naomi and their ex-husbands. But only Ruth was persuaded enough, enough to leave behind her own people and be a foreigner among the people of Israel, the people of Yahweh. Both had free will, both had choices.

2. Lot and Abram. In obedience to God's voice, Abram moved from his own people of Ur of the Chaldees (the Arameans), to the land God called him to go, a foreign land far away. Tehra, his father, was also persuaded, and went with him, so did Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his nephew, son and heir of Haran, his dead brother. Haran also had daughters named Milcah and Iscah. Milcah married her uncle, Abram's other brother, Nahor. Milcah, Nahor (and presumably Iscah), were left behind in Ur of the Chaldees. (Note: By "presumably" I mean it is not mentioned in the Bible account but it can be deduced from the story.) Now we know that later, based on the account of the lives of Jacob, Rachel and Laban, the descendants of Nahor became the people known as the Arameans who spoke Aramaic and they worshipped other gods (idols), not Yahweh, the God of Abram. At this juncture, we see that they all had free will, to believe in what Abram said to be God's voice: "Go to a land you do not know," or not. Abram was the prophet who spoke the word of God to them. They had the free will to believe or not. Terah, Abram's dad was persuaded enough to go. So were Lot, Abram's nephew, and Sarai, Abram's wife. But Nahor, Milcah and Iscah were not. They chose to stay.

3. Eli and Saul. Eli was the high priest in Shiloh when God spoke to him through the young boy Samuel. God told Samuel in an audible voice that He would punish Eli for failing to restrain his sons from desecrating the temple of God by doing fornication while at the same time serving at the altar of God. When Samuel told him about it, at his own insistence, he didn't repent. God actually gave him a chance to repent by using the young boy Samuel as a prophet to speak to him of the coming wrath of God. But he chose to leave things as they were. He didn't get into sackcloth and ashes to fast, pray and humble himself, as David, the man of God would have done if spoken such a strong word by a prophet. His reaction in our language today would be: "So be it."

In the same way, when Saul, the first king of Israel, disobeyed God he was told by the prophet Samuel, then already full of years, that God was going to judge him. In the same way, he was given a choice. But he chose to let things be; he refused to repent. There was no sackcloth and ashes, no praying, no fasting, no humbling. His reaction was, "Pray to your God for me." He didn't even consider Yahweh his own God! In fact, later on, when Samuel was already dead, in desperation, he even went to a witch to "bring up" the spirit of Samuel, to know the outcome of the final battle he was facing. Divination – consulting a witch, and geomancy – communicating with the spirits of the dead, are both clearly against the commandments of God. Both acts are tantamount to rebellion, and both acts Saul actually committed on different occasions. Saul had free will. God revealed Himself to him through the prophet Samuel and through extraordinary events in his life when he tasted the goodness of God. He was made king even though, in his own estimation, he came from the smallest clan of the smallest tribe of Israel. He knew he was most unlikely to be leader but God chose to bless him by making him one. Yet, he still did not choose God to be his God, he did not pray to Him, he always depended on the prophet Samuel to pray in his behalf. He did not cultivate a personal relationship and knowing of God that in the end, it showed him out and he lost everything. He had a choice, a free will. He could have chosen God to be his God but he didn't.

The same thing can be said about Judas or even, debatably, king Solomon.

And how about Adam and Eve then, where it all begun? Did they have free will?

According to the creation account in the first 2 chapters of Genesis, God made everything good, even very good, before He finally created Adam. God even planted a garden for Adam to stay in. In the garden were supposed to be every nice-looking tree that bore delicious fruits for him to eat. And right in the center of the garden, the centerpiece, I suppose, were the two trees - the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Now God told Adam that if he eats from this latter tree, he would surely die. So, basically, that was the tree of death. Just as there was the tree of life, so there was the tree of death. I believe God had hoped Adam would choose to remain in His life. In the latter part of the Bible story, Jesus came and he was described as "life" Himself: e.g. "He who has the son has life, he who does not have the son of God does not have life," "I am the way, the truth and the life…," "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men," etc. For that reason many argue that Jesus Himself was actually there in the garden, as the tree of life. Thus, in the same way that through the Lord's Supper we Christian believers now partake of Jesus' flesh and blood, that we may have life, Adam also partook of Him whenever he ate from the tree of life. So, there, bright as the contrast of night and day, is the free will of Adam. He was free to eat from both trees. He had a choice – life or death. The trouble with the tree of death was that it was deadly poison; one couldn't try it, even just once, without being killed. And curiousity did kill the rat!

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:-) Cheerio!

Tree and sunset image from http://www.bibleexplained.com

The Betrothed, the Prince and the Emissary

Part 2 : The Emissary Arrives

Suddenly the betrothed woke up and realized it had been a dream. The gust of wind through a window, inexplicably left ajar near her bed, made her feel it was so real, as if he just left through the window!

“How strange!” she thought. Was that a dream or was he really here? Suddenly feeling chilly she closed the window. She found its latch was loose, for the window, and in fact, the whole house itself was really old. They have not done any changes to it since her dear parents passed away. Her aunt and uncle and their little children, her adoptive family, have gone through dire times, farming the estate of the cruel feudal Lord Migdol who enjoyed the protection of the king, the Sly One. They are lucky the exacting Lord Migdol has not evicted them when for a few years they couldn’t meet the quota of produce he demanded. Her uncle Kelubai had insisted that the land need to lie fallow for a year after every six years of tilling, so it could recover in vitality, but Lord Migdol and the Sly One said those beliefs are passe, obsolete. They have dismissed the farming traditions, passed from generation to generation, of the betrothed’s clan, and their way of life in general, as “dogmatic” and “farcical.” The Sly One is purported to have hired knowledgeable experts, who know better, on how to make the land and its associated “assets” cough up the highest “returns on investment.” Of course, the use of such foreign terms was calculated at intimidating uncle Kelubai and all his clan. Yet, the farming community of the whole fiefdom knows in their heart of hearts that the Sly One and his puppet underling Lord Migdol are wrong, dead wrong. For the land, the rivers that water it, the animals, the climate and the associated “assets” – the farmers themselves – have always proven, for generations, to respond and function according to the basic principles taught by their ancestors, the founding fathers. In fact, it was for this reason that this major disagreement fomented the revolt among the farmers against the exacting Lords. And sadly, the parents of the betrothed perished in that bloody and unfortunate uprising. And her adoptive parents refuse to talk about it reckoning she is too young to face such painful realities.

The dream consumed the betrothed’s thoughts for the weeks that followed, even till mid-summer. “If he had laid down his life for me and my people, would that mean he’s already dead? But why did he say he is coming for me, very soon!?” she pondered deeply. The more she thought about it the more she went for long walks in the woods, recalling the treasured times they had together, wondering if the words her prince spoke to her in the dream were true. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and gasped, “Oh, yes! The emissary! He should be here, soon,… IF the dream was real! He would be the proof if this dream is true!” For a moment she was elated. And then the better side of her took over: “Or it’s just another meaningless dream… probably a most elegant concoction of imagination by my subconscious…because I miss my prince… my love, my friend… so much.” And once again the very air she breathed, the warm humid air of summer, seemed to be sadness itself.

For some days she left her silk embroidery untouched. Neither did she pick up her easel, brush and paints. She took to berry-picking as it was summer and some berries have ripened. It was also a good excuse to be out of the house for her long walks. Her only comfort was her flute. She would fill the woods with its sad tunes and brooding tones. Even the birds would sometimes hush their singing to listen and the squirrels would sit still, petrified by the seemingly weeping melodies. One day, when she was weary of the flute-blowing, she was sitting on a tree stump lost in reverie over her beloved, when all of a sudden a breeze swept over her. Awakened from the assault of such a wind, she got up to pick up her bonnet swept adrift. Suddenly, a human form seemed to be conjuring itself in front of her. It was transparent, yet had the amazing colours of rainbow, and yet like a precious stone, an emerald. She froze in fright, yet awed by its beauty, too. The breeze that had earlier assaulted her seemed to hang around, playing with her long tresses, her skirt and her ribbons. The air wafted with a smell, like a collection of spices - the sweet pure smell of cinnamon, calamus, spikenard, camphire, frankincense, myrrh, - all together. She felt like passing out but was steadied by the pleasant comforting feel of the warm breeze and the refreshing smells. It was like a dream! But then the “rainbow person” started talking, in a clear quiet voice:

“Do not be frightened, child, I am the emissary. The king himself had sent me, as a gift to you, the future bride of his son, the prince. Here, take this tongue of fire, a token of myself, the deposit guaranteeing your royal destiny as the betrothed of the prince.”

A tongue of pure fumeless fire suddenly appeared in the emissary’s hand but it didn’t burn him. He brought it over her head and it rested there and burned her neither. The sweet smells in the air seemed to intensify but instead of feeling giddy it refreshed her and she kept inhaling it, like taking in all of this wondrous moment.

“All these is too much for you at the moment. I shall come again to renew our acquaintance.”

And just as suddenly as the breeze came, another breeze swept over her and the “rainbow person,” the emissary was gone. The smells lingered for a moment and she saw the branches and the leaves, even the grass, move as being blown by a wind. She felt her cheeks flushed and inside her was a feeling of warmth, of joy, satisfaction and well-being, like she just had a hearty meal. She savored the peace and the blessedness of the moment, knowing her dream had been real, though it still left many questions unanswered. She slumped to the ground as weakness of knees took over and she lied down there for a long time.

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"Juliet" of the painting by Philip Calderon (England, 1887) from http://www.romeo-juliet.newmail.ru
Rainbow image from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia
Emerald image from http://www.worldofrockhounds.com

The Betrothed, the Prince and the Emissary

Part 1

A few nights ago I wanted to catch up on my sleep but I couldn’t sleep. As I prayed for cleansing from the worldly strife of the day and for all the other myriad needs that came to mind, I asked the Lord why I couldn’t sleep and what it is He wants to tell me. The following thoughts came to mind:

There’s this young girl who was betrothed to a prince when she was a baby. As she grew older sometimes the prince would visit her and they would play and spend time together. However, it seems that the prince couldn’t really stay that long or frequently with her as he seems to have some important business to attend to in the house of his father, the king. But because they played and spent quite a lot of time together, when the girl became a damsel she realized she was falling in love with the prince. However, all the while the prince had loved her but was just waiting for her to grow up and be ready to be his bride. It gave him much joy that she was truly falling in love with him because though they were betrothed, he didn’t want their marriage to be just another arranged marriage, but a “love marriage.”

One day while they were wandering around the woods she started playing her flute and he sat down on the grass to listen to her. Then he said, “One day, you will play more music in my kingdom, our kingdom.”

Suddenly curious about his kingdom about which he wasn’t in the habit of talking about with her, she quickly put aside her flute and asked, “Tell me, my dear Prince, what is it like in your kingdom? I know I am just a child, … but… tell me, first of all, how did we get betrothed? My mom and dad … alas, God rest their souls, they didn’t live long enough to tell me.”

“My dad, he just knew, even before the beginning of time, you are the one just right for me. He chose you. Besides, you are only in the hands of caretakers; the ruler of your kingdom, the Sly One, has all rights to your freedom. You may not realize it but you are practically under house arrest; you can’t go further than the territories of this kingdom of the Sly One. One day, when the time is ripe, I have to pay the price for your freedom and you can join me in my kingdom. That is my father’s plan for us.”

“House arrest? Freedom? … and YOU are going to pay for my freedom??”

“Yes, and yes! And that of your people, too, your kindred, your brothers and sisters and your household. It will be wonderful!” the prince enthused. And with sadness in his voice, “But it will cost me everything.”

“I do not understand, my Prince. All I know is you have been so kind to me and my family all this while, but, … oh well, …ah, you’re right. My aunt and uncle, they work so hard for the masters, the men of the Sly One, yet they get paid so little. I pity them.”

‘It’s time for me to go… my father’s servants are calling me now… there is no time to tarry. Hush now my love, I love you with my very life. I will see you another day.”

For a long time the prince didn’t visit anymore and the damsel often thought of him. She blossomed into her late teens. One cold night in mid-autumn, she had a dream. Her prince came to her room, held her hand and said, “Peace to you, my dear sister, my betrothed, my fair one, my dove. I have paid the price of your release from the kingdom of the Sly One. Your freedom is no less costly than my very life and I have laid it down that you may live. For my father had deemed that this is how we should outwit the Sly One. He had deceived your father and your ancestors; thus had he enslaved all of you. Now you know how much I really love you, for I laid down my very life for you. This is the only way to set you free from the clutches of the Sly One, you and your clan. Now I cannot come to meet with you in the woods any longer. My emissary is coming and he shall keep you company. He will prepare and train you so you will be ready in the ripeness of time, to take your rightful place at my side as my bride. My emissary is very much like me and my dad, he will care for you in my absence and will teach you everything. I am coming for you, very soon.”

And just like a real dream, he was gone.

Young girl image from http://www.fln.vcu.edu
Teen image of Olivia Hussey and as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet from http://www.romeo-juliet.newmail.ru

Science and Christianity

I don't think there is any conflict between Science and Christianity. But because some people believe in very definite things - like the 6,000 yr old earth, because of the creation story - this brings a head-on collision with Scientists who believe the earth is at least a few million years old. As far as I know the debate stil goes on... and as far as I am concerned, I don't care. :-)

All I know is that I'm caught in a nasty traffic jam. I may not know what caused it because data on the cause is sparse, but I can see where I'm heading because there's more data on that based on present observations. The "theory "of the Bible on how to avert my disastrous end seems logical based on the plenteous present and sparse past data. So, I apply the "theory" of the Bible to avert my disastrous destiny. That's my simpleton scientific theology in a nutshell. :-)

Escape from Prison with Angelic Assistance – Circa AD 1965 – Alberto Rivera

GUATEMALA 1965

“HOW CAN I PREACH LIFE TO YOU WHEN I AM DEAD, AND THE SYSTEM I SERVE SMELLS OF DEATH FROM THE CONFESSIONALS, TO MARY TO PURGATORY, TO MASS AND TO THE PRIESTHOOD WHICH ALL DENY THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST?”

“HOW CAN I SPEAK OF LIFE, WHEN I’VE LIED TO YOU, INFILTRATED AND DESTROYED YOUR CHURCHES? YOU THINK THIS ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT MEANS LOVE AND UNITY, BUT IN REALITY IT WILL BRING ABOUT YOUR DEATH… BECAUSE I AM NOT YOUR BROTHER!”

“RIVERA MUST BE STOPPED!”

“HOW DO WE SHUT HIM UP?”

AFTER THE MEETING THEY FLEW ME BACK TO PANAMA. FROM THERE I WAS SHIPPED TO SPAIN.

“RIVERA IS ASLEEP!”

“HE’LL PAY FOR WHAT HE DID!”

THIS WAS TO BE THE DARKEST TIME OF MY LIFE. THROUGH SEVERE DISCIPLINE THEY TRIED TO CHANGE MY MIND.

BARCELONA, SPAIN

AFTER MONTHS OF FAILTURE THIS WAS THEIR LAST RESORT.

“WHAT IS THIS PLACE?”

“IT’S A SECRET PLACE FOR PRIESTS WHO HAVE GONE INSANE!”

“O MY GOD!”

THE HOLY OFFICE HAD JUDGED ME GUILTY OF HERESY THROUGH INSANITY.

“RECANT, RIVERA AND MAKE PUBLIC YOUR CONFESSIONS! THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH!... THE HOLY MOTHER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH!

“I HATE THEM ALL! I HATE EVERYTHING!”

I WAS IN A PADDED CELL FOR DAYS WITHOUT WATER OR FOOD. I HAD TO SIGN HUNDREDS OF *DOCUMENTS AND ANSWER PSYCHOLOGICAL QUESTIONS.

(*PAPERS AND FORMS)

AT NIGHT I WAS SO HEAVILY DRUGGED, I COULDN’T SLEEP. I WAS SICK AND TOTALLY WORN OUT.

AFTER 2 WEEKS OF BRUTAL QUESTIONING I LOST HOPE. I SAID TO MY TORMENTORS…

“WHEN ALL THOSE CATHOLICS DIE WHO WE’VE LIED TO… AND THEY GO TO HELL, WHAT DO WE SAY TO THEM? THAT PIECE OF STONE CANNOT SAVE THEM. MARY HERSELF SAID, ‘WHATEVER HE (JESUS) SAYS, DO!’ WHAT WE’VE SAID ABOUT HER IS LIES… THE BIBLE PROVES THAT!

“SHUT UP, RIVERA. YOU’RE TALKING LIKE A PROTESTANT!”

“YOU’RE THE ONLY DEVIL HERE! YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY OUR FAITH IN OUR BLESSED MOTHER, THE VIRGIN MARY! I COULD CUT YOUR @!!” THROAT RIVERA!”

“YOU THINK YOU’RE KILLING FOR GOD… BUT YOU’RE DOING IT FOR THE DEVIL. BECAUSE YOU ARE THE CHILDREN OF SATAN!”

I WAS GIVEN SHOCK TREATMENTS AND HEAVY DRUGS. AFTER TWO MONTHS MY BLADDER WAS INFECTED. ALL MY SENSES WERE GOING.

BY THE THIRD MONTH, MY BREATHING STOPPED. I WAS PLACED IN AN IRON LUNG. I SAW MY MOTHER’S DEATH ALL OVER AGAIN, AND I KNEW I WAS IN THE SAME POSITION. I WAS CONFUSED WITH FEAR. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO HELL.

IN THE BLACKEST HOUR, THE LORD JESUS CAME TO ME, AND WITH THIS SCRIPTURE HE GAVE ME LIFE…

“THEN SAID JESUS TO THE JEWS WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM. IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY DISCIPLES INDEED; AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.” JOHN 8:31,32

I ASKED JESUS TO FORGIVE ME. IMMEDIATELY LIFE FLOODED THROUGH MY BODY. HE SAVED ME AND HEALED ME AT THE SAME INSTANT. I WAS FREE AT LAST!

GOD’S LOVE HIT ME FULL FORCE WHEN I REALIZED THAT JESUS CHRIST IS JEHOVAH, THE *CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE. HE IS GOD ALMIGHTY AND ISRAEL’S MESSIAH.

*JOHN 1:10, HEBREWS 1:1,2

BECAUSE OF HIS OBEDIENCE TO HIS HEAVENLY FATHER HE WENT TO THE CROSS AND SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD TO WASH AWAY OUR SINS… HE PAID A TERRIBLE PRICE.

For God (the Father) so loved the world (that’s you), that He gave His only begotten Son (God the Son, Jesus), that whosoever believeth (clings to or trusts) in Him should not perish (in the lake of fire), but have everlasting life (in heaven). John 3:16

NO ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST COULD EVER CALL JESUS CHRIST FROM HEAVEN TO REPEAT THIS HORRIBLE ACT OF SUFFERING AS THEY CLAIM THROUGH THE MASS.

THE BIBLE CLEARLY TELLS US, “BUT THIS MAN (CHRIST), AFTER HE HAD OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (IN HEAVEN).” HEB. 10:12

WE NO LONGER NEED PRIESTS OR CONFESSIONALS BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS:

14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

The Bible says:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

So we can go straight to Jesus. Thank God!

I CLIMBED OUT OF THE IRON LUNG AND REMOVED THE TUBES FROM MY BODY.

“WHO TOOK YOU OUT OF THE IRON LUNG?”

“JESUS DID! HE’S GIVEN ME NEW LIFE!”

“I’LL GET A STRAIGHT JACKET!”

ONE WEEK LATER I WAS RELEASED. I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. I WAS SENT TO MADRID BY MYSELF.

“FATHER RIVERA?”

“YES!”

WAITING FOR ME WAS A JESUIT PRIEST WHO WAS A WATCHDOG FROM THE VATICAN… THEIR MOST TRUSTED MAN. HE HATED THE GROUND I WALKED ON.

HE WORKED ON ME FOR DAYS USING EVERY JESUIT METHOD HE COULD TO PULL ME BACK TO SERVE THE POPE. I KEPT TELLING HIM HOW I GOT SAVED, AND SHOWED HIM THE TRUTH IN THE BIBLE.

THE WORD OF GOD TOUCHED HIS HEART.

TO MY SHOCK HE GAVE ME MY PASSPORT AND THE PAPERS* I NEEDED TO LEAVE SPAIN.

*(SEE P.27)

“ALBERTO, LEAVE THIS PRISON AT ONCE AND DON’T EVER COME BACK! I BELIEVE CHRIST HAS LIGHTED YOUR PATH. FOLLOW HIM, ALBERTO! PRAY FOR ME… DON’T WRITE. JUST PRAY FOR ME.”

THAT NIGHT I FLEW OUT OF SPAIN WITH ABOUT 40 CENTS IN MY POCKET. I HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE SYSTEM.

THE VATICAN WAS STUNED. THEY COULDN’T BELIEVE THAT I ESCAPED FROM THEM. AND NOW MY LIFE WAS TOTALLY CHANGED TO SERVE THE LORD.

Above excerpt taken from “Alberto (Based on a True Story)” which can be read online at http://www.chick.com/reading/comics/0112/0112_fourpages.asp?PG=29

Toledo, Spain Cathedral image from http://homepages.nyu.edu

Escape from Prison with Angelic Assistance, AD 1997 – Bro. Yun

It was just before eight o’clock in the morning of 5 May 1997. To the natural mind, this time of day was the worst possible time to try to escape! There was normally so much activity throughout the prison, with all the guards at their posts.

I shuffled out of my cell and walked towards the locked iron gate in the hallway. My mind was solely focused on obeying God. I looked straight ahead and prayed beneath my breath with every step I took.

A guard who pushed a button when he wanted the gate to open and close sat at the top of the third-floor stairwell. It was impossible to see to the other side because the gate was made of iron and the small windows were covered with black cloth. At the exact moment I reached the gate, another servant of the Lord, Brother Musheng, was returning to his cell and the gate was opened for him. That morning he had been ordered to sweep the prison courtyard. As Musheng passed me I told him, “Wait! Don’t close the gate.” I walked through without even breaking my stride! The Lord’s timing was perfect!

As we passed, Musheng asked in a whisper, “Are you leaving, Brother Yun? Are you not afraid to die?” Then, with an astonished look on his face, he returned to his cell.

There had been a guard accompanying Musheng back to his cell, but at the exact moment he opened the gate for Musheng, a telephone rang in an office down the hallway and the guard turned and ran to answer it.

I noticed a broom leaning against the wall in the stairwell. I picked it up and continued walking with it down the stairs to the second floor. An armed guard was positioned at his desk facing the second iron gate. That gate was sometimes left open. Because an on-duty guard was assigned to watch the gate day and night, it wasn’t considered a risk to leave it unlocked. At that moment the Holy Spirit poke to me, “Go now! The God of Peter is your God!”

Somehow the Lord seemed to blind that guard. He was staring directly at me, yet his eyes didn’t acknowledge my presence at all. I expected him to say something, but he just looked through me as if I was invisible!

He didn’t say a word.

I continued past him and didn’t look back. I knew I could be shot in the back at any moment. I continued to silently ask the Lord to be ready to receive my spirit, thinking these moments were to be my last in this world.

I continued walking down the stairs, but nobody stopped me and none of the guards said a word to me!

When I arrived at the main iron gate leading out to the courtyard I discovered it was already open! This was strange, as it was usually the most secure gate of all. There were normally two guards stationed at the first-floor gate, one on the inside and one on the outside, but for some reason neither of the guards was present and the gate was open!

I discarded the broom I had carried with me from the third floor and walked out into the courtyard. The bright morning light made me wince. I walked past several guards in the yard but nobody said a word to me. I then strolled through the main gate of the prison, which for some strange reason was also standing ajar!

My heart was pounding! I was now standing on the street out side the Zhengzhou Number One Maximum Security Prison! I was told later nobody had ever escaped from that prison before.

Immediately a small yellow taxi-van pulled up next to me, and the driver – a man in his late 20s – opened the passenger door. He asked, “Where are you heading?”

I got in and replied, “I need to go to my office as quickly as possible, so please drive fast.” I gave the driver the address of a Christian family I knew in Zhengzhou and we drove away from the prison. I told him that if we came to a traffic jam to drive around it, and not to stop for any reason.

All of the events seemed to happen in just a few moments. It was like a daydream. I was unsure if the whole thing had really happened or if I was dreaming. I don’t know how the Lord did it or why all those iron gates, usually so tightly locked, were standing open for me. All I knew was I was sitting in a taxi and we were heading to the home of my friends.

When we arrived I asked the driver to wait while I went to borrow some money to pay the fare.

….

After we prayed together, I was given a bicycle and one of the family members rode on the back, directing me to my hiding place, traveling down small alleyways to avoide the roadblocks being set up on the main streets because of my escape.

The moment I started to pedal the bicycle was the first time I realized the Lord had healed my feet and legs! My mind had been so focused on obeying the Lord and preparing to be shot that I never even noticed that God had healed me. I never felt any healing power. From the time my legs were smashed with a baton until the day I escaped, my legs had remained completely black and unusable. I couldn’t even stand up, let alone walk. The most I could do was crawl a short distance by grabbing hold of the wall

Brother Musheng told me later that when he passed me on the third floor I was walking normally, so it seems the Lord must have healed my legs while I was still in the prison cell. As I rode along on the bicycle I was reminded of God’s Word, “ Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:13.

As soon as we arrived at the hiding place the heavens opened. Torrential rain blanketed the whole of Zhengzhou City and a howling wind rattled windows and blew bicycles over. I was a huge storm. Although it was still morning time, the sky turned black.

I entered the hiding place and was left alone. This dear family treated me like an angel from heaven. They placed a family member outside my door day and night to guard me.

Later, Christian friends told me they had seen a report on the television news on the evening of my escape. The Security Police, the Public Security Bureau and soldiers from the People’s liberation Army had been mobilized to find me. They searched every house in Zhengzhou from door to door. They set up roadblocks at all the major intersections and searched every vehicle. Officers were dispatched to every bus station, train station and to the airport.

I was told trained police sniffer-dogs were used in a bid to pick up my scent, but their efforts were all in vain. I was safe in the secret hiding place of the Lord. The storm had hampered the authorities and washed away all traces of me.

God reminded me how thirteen years earlier, during my 74-day fast in prison, he had given me a powerful vision of a series of iron gates opening, one after another.

Now, all these years later, his promise had come true. I marveled at God’s goodness and faithfulness to me. To this day I consider my escape from prison the most amazing experience of my life.

That night I slept like a content newborn baby in the arms of my Lord.

Excerpt from "The Heavenly Man," (The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun) by Paul Hattaway, OMF Literature Inc., Philippines, 2003. pp.255-260.

Great Wall of China image from http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Recent photo of Bro. Yun from www.churchinperth.com Info on his present ministry BTJ – Back to Jerusalem – is also found there.