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Print This has been an exhausting week—at least for me! Thanks for your contributions, but please remember to keep your letters brief and to the point. Not sure if you’ve checked out our blogs recently, but all three have been “Must Reads.” Whatever your interests, be they Christians acting badly, the international growth of Pentecostalism, or the NFL playoffs, you can’t afford to miss them each day. God bless all of you wonderful, and faithful readers!
Re: “From Pentecostal Pacifists to Dogs of War” Absolutely fantastic article! Thanks for taking up some of the neglected issues relevant for a relevant church. R.A. Fisher, California
Re: Wendy, I got the Holy Ghost when I was 13 and served God in a house where nobody else lived the truth all my life. It was never easy trying to live as an Apostolic when my parents were very critical of my decisions to dress right, act right, and be at church all the time. But the joy I felt the night at the altar when my best friend got in my ear and said ‘Man, I don’t wanna interrupt you here but your mom just got the Holy Ghost!’ is something I’ll never forget. It was short lived, though. My mom, who has been married three times, backslid about three years ago and is now living life with another woman. Yeah, she’s a practicing homosexual. You know, it’s complete anguish knowing that someone you love so much has strayed so far away and is going to be lost. It’s even worse when you can no longer convince them that they are in the wrong. But the worst part about it all? It’s when one of my brothers or sisters in church (or even a pastor) says cruel and heartless things about gay people. Because they don’t even know that they’re talking about my mom. Homosexuality is no longer something that other people deal with. The church needs to realize that there are people just like me in their pews every Sunday, praying and interceding for loved ones who are living this life, hoping against all odds that they’ll repent and be saved. The last thing we want to hear is a cruel remark made about the twinkies, faggots, and reprobates. That’s my mommy they are degrading and she might go to hell! So, I’ve made a decision that I’ll intercede for my mom and all those others out there in homosexuality who are going to be lost. Even if I have to pray and hear the church making fun in the background, I can’t stop praying and I can’t stop loving her. We sure can’t rely on the church to reach out to our loved ones who are caught in sin like this they’re too busy name calling! Name Withheld by Request, Tennessee
Dear Gabby, Another avenue of support for this person to go the right way is located at www.beaconministries.com; this is a ministry for the homosexual, it is UPCI-supported, and the founder is a very good friend of mine—a great resource for those who are dealing with are have a loved one who is dealing with the “gay” lifestyle. Re: “From Pentecostal Pacifists to Dogs of War” Even though this is an old article, it’s good to see these words from Marcus. I remember the days when I met him on a mission trip to China. In fact, that was where he met his wife. I say ‘Go Marcus!’ In this day and age, now more then ever we as Pentecostals, or just humans who love Christ, need to not get caught up in the emotion and hype of it all…take off the blinders and see what is really going on. I voted for Bush—and to be honest—am not sure if I made the wisest choice. Looking back I think I may have been so caught up in the ‘religion’ hype presented at the ‘04 General Conference that I failed to see what others were seeing and being hushed for. Both candidates had some major flaws; who knows, the one we have now may just take us quickly to the coming of our Lord. He used the right words and we, the UPCI, took the bait and it seems that instead of getting better, things have gotten worse...come Lord Jesus! I truly believe we are in the last days; nature is making some dramatic changes. It’s almost as if as we become more corrupt in our lifestyles that nature becomes worse. We say we need God in America, but instead of making Him the center we are in fact pushing Him further away. The church is caught up in standards and what so-and-so is doing that’s ‘taking them straight to the pits of hell’ while those on the outside are looking in and saying to themselves, ‘my life is already messed up, why make it worse and join them.’ We are to be a light in a dark world instead we are putting out our light by fighting among ourselves. My question is: why can’t we forgive our brother/sister and stop looking on the outside difference in dress and focus on what we have that’s the same on the inside—the Spirit of the Almighty God. We are bound together in the Spirit, yet we cut our ties just because of little things that in the end are rules set by man and not God. Re: “As My Worlds Turn” Once again I find myself applauding a writer. The dilemma that so many of us ‘liberals’ face is the fact that our hell fears for some things come from man-made laws or rules. Now please don’t me wrong. I follow the ‘holiness’ dress code (to a point) as in I make sure I am not being immodest in my sleeve length or skirt length—man-made limits I might add—in reference to my hair, I have never cut it and never will, not because someone told me not to, but because I found a personal conviction that’s another story in it’s self, back to my point. This young lady has made some poor choices, yet she knows that she loves the Lord. The issue is what exactly is she doing that is so wrong the truth of the matter is if she’s breaking a commandment then it’s time to get on the knees and repent but if she’s breaking a man-set rule then the issue of repentance comes into play on what was her attitude in the breaking of the rule—was she in a state of rebellion or I don’t feel convicted, Lord help me understand. So many times a commandment is broken and only a slap on the wrist is given, yet when a rule is broken one is sent to hell. Why are we so out of focus? Instead of understanding of why we are given the rules we are just told do it and don’t ask why. The answer to this young lady is found in the key words balance and relationship. Building a daily walk with the Lord will guide you to a balanced life and walk. Things that should not be done will be revealed as you read His word and talk with Him on a daily basis. Yes, we need our shepherd (pastor) yes, we need some guidelines and yes, we need accountability. Yes, I believe in obedience and holiness and standards (to a point meaning—wearing red is not going to send me to hell). It all comes down to this. If it’s not a heaven or hell issue and it’s one of those personal conviction things when you are around someone that your doings could be a downfall for them, keep your mouth shut and don’t share it with them. One does not have to reveal all to be a ‘real’ person in their life and walk with God. The truth of the matter is on judgment day it will not be your pastor or peers that determine heaven or hell it will be God Almighty sitting on the throne and He will have the final say on where you go. One can do all the ‘right’ things and follow all the rules and still not know their God, creator, Heavenly Father who wants to be their best friend and lover of their soul. I want Him to light up when He sees me and say ‘My child, welcome home...it’s so good to be with you again.’ I want Him to know me and I want to know Him. So, I may not go exactly by all the ‘rules’ given and at times I may break a commandment (Lord forgive me), but I do love Him, do serve Him and He truly is my best friend and lover of my soul. I will always love Him more. So my dear, as your world turns, fall in love with Jesus all over again on a daily basis, as the song goes it will be the best thing you had ever done. Julia Adams, California
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