The Veil Has Been Lifted

Here is the other testimony that I promised you all. I trust this will be a blessing to you as well. This is by a young lady named Alison who has lived at Rose Creek Village for a few months now. I wish you could see the change of this girl compared to when she first arrived. God is awesome!

My Testimony

by Allison Musick

I have a ceramic piece of pottery in my room that says HOPES & DREAMS on it. It’s been through a lot. I picked it up today and memories came flooding back to me. This jar is very special to me. Having come from a horrible background, I bought it when I was about 22 years old at a point where I felt like I was finally starting to get my life together, finally starting to actually want to be alive, and finally looking forward to whatever the future might bring. Hope was a big deal for me. I planned to fill my jar with notes and thoughts about whatever hopes and dreams God saw fit to put in my heart. The jar became something symbolic to represent the changes God was bringing about inside my heart, after years of darkness and struggle and isolation. I thought I was finally healed. I thought I was finally awakening to the life God wanted me to have.

Little did I know.

I got a well-paying job in Nashville, acquired a decent car, and bought my first house at age 23. These seemed like accomplishments to me. Having been raised to be a typical American (read: consumed with myself), with the additional stigma of being told ever since I was young that I’d probably never become a functional adult, I didn’t know any better. I found a church, got involved in ministry, and thought I was fulfilling the plans God had for me, one little tiny dream at a time. I thought that was the extent of God’s vision for me: living alone, attending church a few times a week, working full-time at a job my heart wasn’t invested in, reaching out to “Christians” who seemed non-committal, at best.

Little did I know.

I’ve never seen God do anything in my life the way I imagine He will. I lived in my new house for 3 months, painting, decorating, mowing the grass in my 2 new yards, cleaning and improving my property as much as possible…and then…I got sick. It was extreme: somehow I contracted mono, bronchitis, and sinus infections (all overlapping) for the next 10 months. I was put on round after round of antibiotics. It seemed like everything in my body went haywire. At one point I was sent to a cardiologist for evaluation and had to wear a heart monitor for 4 weeks; after that I was sent to a pulmonologist (lung specialist); after that, another specialist. I could not get well, and consequently, I could not work. Medical bills piled up right next to the regular bills. Being able to meet my financial obligations had been contingent upon working full-time. I was trying to make it all alone, and I couldn’t do it; there was no help—not even from my church, although several people on the staff there knew what was going on when I appealed to them for assistance. My house went into foreclosure.

I was devastated. I felt like a failure, not just as a financially responsible citizen, but as a person. I’d wanted to prove all “those people” wrong, who said I’d never make it, who said I was too messed up to live an independent life, who said I’d never be able to accomplish anything significant. I was a mess.

And I was furious with God. I didn’t understand how He could call Himself our provider when He wouldn’t go to the trouble of helping me buy groceries or make my mortgage payments. Although I refused to give up on Him, my misunderstanding had made our relationship rocky. I felt like He had utterly abandoned me.

Little did I know.

One day while I was packing up my living room, I picked up my HOPES & DREAMS jar. I ran my fingers over it and felt fresh heartache. Careful with this, I thought, and sat it gingerly on my kitchen table while I went to rummage for some more bubble wrap. With the packing materials in my hands, I walked back toward the table just in time to see one of my dogs, caught up in boisterous play, rear up and whack the table.

I’m sure you can guess what happened next: my HOPES & DREAMS jar went rolling. I couldn’t catch it in time. It hit the wooden floor and burst into countless pieces. Everything froze for a split second…and then tears streamed down my face.

I remember saying to God, out loud, “Well, that’s very fitting, isn’t it.”

I thought, It’s happening in the spiritual realm, I guess it might as well happen in the natural.

Little did I know.

I picked up all the pieces and the contents of the jar and put them in a shoe box. Then I spent the remainder of the day neglecting the half-packed boxes strewn about, buying super glue, and laboring for hours under a hot lamp to repair what I had come to see as an external representation of my heart. Once I was finished, I bubble-wrapped it until it was about the size of a soccer ball (the actual jar is only a little bigger than a softball). And it rode on the front passenger seat when I left my house for the last time.

That was May of 2007: 2 months before I ever heard of Rose Creek Village, and just 3 months before I came to live here.

Today it hit me with special force, that if God had just done what I wanted Him to do at the time—if He had healed me instantly, gave me a meal, paid my mortgages—I would still be in Nashville, living an empty life. I would still be struggling to make it from paycheck to paycheck…but even worse than that, I would still be doubting God’s love, looking for Christ’s disciples on the earth, wondering if there were any people left who knew how to be real friends and who wanted to live life together no matter what happens. Instead, I wake up every day to life and joy and beauty in abundance. God’s love. Christ’s disciples on the earth. People who know how to be real friends and who want to live life together no matter what happens.

I am reminded that God’s love is relentless: He’ll do whatever it takes to bring us to Himself—even if it means taking our small, unruly hearts and breaking them open so they can begin to understand that He has something even bigger in mind for us than we could ever ask or imagine.

When my HOPES & DREAMS jar fell from the table, it was relatively empty…and so was my heart. Today, despite its imperfect state after having been demolished and glued back together piece by piece, that jar is full.

But I can assure you, it’s not nearly as full as my heart.

I wake up to that reality every single day, and I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am that God, in His mercy, was willing to destroy me in order to save me.

Hello friends, I know I am a little late on getting this week’s blog out; however, I do have something special for you. You have been hearing a great deal from me and what I have to say. I would like to mix it up a little this week if I can. I would like to share a testimony from a wonderful friend of mine Stephanie Powers. Stephanie is a missionary from Africa who stayed here in the village for a number of weeks. I would also like to share another testimony from another young lady who now lives in the village some time latter in the week, so please be sure to check back about mid-week for that. Here now is Stephanie’s testimony.

Seeking Togetherness

By Stephanie Powers

Jesus said that He had “fervently desired” to eat that last supper with His disciples before He suffered (Luke 22:15). He also eagerly awaited to leave them, both to return to His Father, and to allow Himself to return in Spirit to be with us each and together forever. He passionately loves us, and that is one and the same with His desire to be WITH US—Emmanuel, “God with us”.

Thus, we eagerly look at each other to see Him constantly. We look at each other and say, “I know you. You are a living stone! A living stone! Gather you to me and me to you, that we might fit together, having been cleanly cut in the quarry of His Love so that we fit together without even a scratching scraping sound, and commune with each other and Him.” (I King 6:7)

I have found a people who are in hot pursuit of this togetherness. They have taken it all seriously, this command that we love one another, share together, that all have (even more than) enough. It would seem that God has found a people He can trust to take something to the rest of the world, placing a sudden and fire-full burden in their hearts for the rest of this nation, and for nations across the oceans. He will carry them there on wings of Love, above the storm.

When they must go through the storm, the One Who makes it still in our hearts will be among them to carry them through, giving them enough Love and Grace to pave the way. They will count it an honor and privilege to share in His sufferings, to be persecuted for His namesake. They will rejoice, dance, and sing, as Paul and Silas did in prison, together.

If you claim to love God, whom you cannot see, and do not love your brother, whom you can see, then you deceive yourself.” (I John 4:20)

How did He love?—He came and lived among us, sharing his whole life with us. He was with us, healed us, raised the dead, fed the hungry, comforted the grieving, and lifted up the poor. How can we live and breathe this when living in isolation, self-reliance, and protection? How can we challenge ourselves to open up to others’ input in our lives on a daily basis so that we might be fully prepared for the Day of the Lord, together? He will come for a pure and spotless Bride. She will not be crippled, missing and eye or a hand or having a shriveled leg. No, she will be perfect—perfect in love for her Lord and perfect in Love for His Body, His Temple.

Emmanuel, God with us. God with US. “Do not fear, for we have come with tidings of GREAT JOY which will be for all people.”

Over and over again we see more writings about community, the dangers (both physical and emotional) of being alone, of the need for social network, the need for belonging… More writers and speakers are heralding the joy and life in covenantal relationship. The Lord has so much more for us as we walk in His ways with His people: a belonging that heals, an accountability and directness that cleanse a dedication that costs a lot but brings SO MUCH MORE in return-an endless loop of blessing. If we will only seek it and keep seeking it, we shall find it and keep finding it, and we will never leave or forsake one another because we carry a name now that must breed who we are.

“We did not make it; no, it is making us,” as Rich Mullins sang. We are a people, a City, a Temple. We bear in us the Lover of the Ages. He has married us. He has made us fruitful in the land of our suffering, and hopeful in a place with no hope because of who He is. He sustains and feeds His sheep with all we need, and so we do the same.

“Peter, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord, you know that I love You.”
“Feed my sheep.”

God keeps directing His people to the truth that our love for each other is the same, an out-flowing of our love for Him—it is the same thing; it cannot be divorced one from the other.

Why is there so much suffering in the world? At least in large part, it would seem it’s because of us. We have handcuffed Him—He’s there with all the passion of His very Spirit, ready to multiply the tiny loaves and fishes we pry our hands away from, and yet has limited Himself to His Body—His hands and feet. We must feed one another, pry our greedy fearful hands away from all our stuff (because they’re HIS hands, and it’s HIS stuff), and become vessels instead of closed circuits. Indeed, it is our food to do His will. That is more real than the food we have on our table every day.

Is the life hard? Oh yes, in many ways. It means giving up everything, and repenting of all sin, letting go of all that divides. But what a return—life more abundant, free, full of joy, a never-ending cycle of love and communion. (“I say these things to you that your joy may be full!” John 15:9-13)

We give up privacy, independence, stubbornness, willfulness, and agree to live as an open book before many eyes and hearts, many parents, brothers and sisters. And what love! Might we take a step of courage and open our hearts to others who bear Christ? He speaks to us through the smallest child and through the most unexpected brother or sister if we will listen and receive it. What better boot camp in preparation for Eternity? I want to be prepared for that day when the fire of the Lord shines upon me, burning hay and stubble and leaving only that which is eternal.

Oh God, protect us from hoarding and holding that which will burn and rot at the cost of what could have been eternal treasure that shines forever. I want to glory and rejoice in that fire and not look back and turn to salt. What shall I do but lay myself open to as many who will hold me and walk with me, challenge me, and not retreat in the face of my selfishness and pettiness, my greed and self-protection, my grumbling and unthankful spirit?

In heaven, we will be in each other’s rooms, won’t we? Even God has a room—it is His temple, and amazing love: He has chosen to make HIS room, HIS tabernacle, made of living stones—US!? We are HIS room! How can it be? He is already Them, a three-some, and has been since Eternity, yet has chosen to enclose Himself in…. Us. And Us…in Them. Yes, in me, too, but we fit together to make a tent for Him.

I in Him, Him in me, Him in you, and thus, me in you, you in me. He always wants to be with us, and us with Him—shouldn’t we wonder at our puny pea-sized hearts when we don’t want to be with the Him that is in you and you and you? For surely He does and has made a way to never leave you and you and you, to live in your very heart forever and forever. “What wondrous love is this, oh my soul?!”

But what if I don’t like you? Ahhh, there’s the rub. It is only my puny pea-sized heart that would read Psalm 139 for myself in my lowest moments and not for you! For you are fearfully and wonderfully made by His hand, formed in your mother’s womb and called out as His own. I’d best agree with Him or find myself very, very wrong at the end of the day. I will chase after you and find those pearls in you, a diamond that reflects His Glory and the desires of His heart when He formed you.

“She is so beautiful.” I’m sure the angels say it with breath-taken awe and wonder as they gaze on the Body of Christ, a redeemed people crowned with Glory. I say it, too, as I gaze at her loveliness; it is perfect only by grace and the granted righteousness that She is clothed with. She retreats not from conflict and hurt, but steps into it in Love, and in dependence on the One who She knows can make it Right. She hesitates not to give of all She has, in return for something much greater indeed – a love that saves Her, is greater than all Her sin, covers a multitude of sin, and sustains and bears Her up on wings. It is a love that walks with Jesus to Calvary with cross on His back, for a Glory ahead.

Thank you, RCV, for taking me in as your own, for inspiring me with your little and big acts of love, for always “getting two people,” and for dancing and playing your way through life with such God-sized Drama. Up to the Highlands we go, together, forever. There will always be enough. What a joy. What a delight. What a wonderful Mystery.

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Good day friends, I would like to thank you for taking time to read my blog. I would like to encourage you to make comments in the comments section at the end of each blog. I appreciate those of you who have commented so far. I hope that I have answered your questions well enough. If not, please let me know.

 I had a gentleman ask me a few questions in regards to the changes that I have embraced along this journey that God has led me through, so today I would like to elaborate just a little.  If you have not yet read my blog entries entitled What a Journey, I would encourage you to do so. There I share what God has taught me concerning what is known as westernized Christianity, and where I stood concerning my faith.

 I would like to start by saying that, on the surface, I have not changed much at all. I still have my faults and weaknesses. The biggest difference is that I have learned that there is not one thing I can do to change those things about myself. The fact is all those faults and failures are who I am. I am a son of Adam. I was born into a life of sin and a sinner is what I am. There is not one part of Frank that is righteous, not one ounce of righteousness. “There is none righteous, no not one”. The only good thing about me is that somewhere deep inside of me there lives a righteous and holy God, and if there is one ounce of hope for me it is there. If you see anything in me that is holy and righteous, it will be Him that you will see not me.  The only thing that makes me different from who I was a few years ago, is that I grew weary and tired enough of my counterfeit Christian existence, that God was finally able to reach me. All I did was lifted my hands in complete surrender to Him. The reality is I wanted Truth more than I wanted my religion, doctrines, and ministry. We can never see truth if we already think we know it. When you read or hear words like you read in my blog, you will automatically judge it upon what you know to be the truth. The question one must ask their selves is this, is the truth that I cleave to my truth, or is it God’s Truth? Is what I believe to be the truth been passed down to me by man, or has it been given by God? Where does our anchor really hold? Perhaps what you believe is truth, perhaps not. The fact is we will never know until we lay it all down before Him and approach Him as a little child knowing nothing.

 I am reminded of a song that has excerpts of a preacher delivering a message, and he was telling of the day he came to God. He said that he told God that if he went to hell, he would go there believing in the blood of Jesus Christ. I do not know about all of that, but what I do know is that this is the kind of determination we must have in the pursuit of Truth. We must say to God…God, I may leave this world never really living in the fullness of your Truth, but I will leave this world with nothing less than my every effort of its quest. It is this heart that God can speak to and none other- a heart that can be satisfied with nothing less than His fullness, Truth, and righteousness. It is His promise that such should be filled. It is the day that one believes that they have it all figured out that his or her quest has ended. Friends, please hear me when I say that the Truth is not words one can read, or a message that one can hear. The Truth is the person Jesus the Christ. It is He that we must pursue. It is only when we begin to lay our wisdom down and pursue Him that we enter the first fruits of our forever changing lives. Therefore, the only thing that has changed in me is that I am no longer pursuing a what, but I am pursuing Him, and when we put everything in the light of Him, it is clear rather it is of Him. I was able to see the church system for what it is because I put it in the light of who Jesus is, and it failed to look like Him.

 One reader of my blog asked me what made Rose Creek Village any different. It is because it looks more like Christ than anything that I have ever seen. That is what makes it the body of Christ because, when put in His light, it looks like Him. The same reader stated that not everyone can move to Rose Creek Village, so what can they do. All I can say is, when God opened my eyes to see the Truth, I felt alone, I no longer fit in to organized religion, and I had no direction. I was a complete mess dear reader. However, God did not leave me in such a place of despair. In the midst of my desperation, He introduced me to Rose Creek. God will not leave you wandering around my dear friends. Zion is calling out to all who have been chosen by God. It is your and my duty to heed the call. If that is to leave everything behind and move to Rose Creek Village, then that is what we must do. However, this one thing I do know, it will cost you everything to follow Him. The sad truth to this is there are very few that are willing to pay that price “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”. This is the complete contrast of our so-called Christian nation, where the majority claims to be Christian.

The best advice that I can give would be to learn Christ. Do not spend your time going after knowledge of anything else. Learn who Christ is so you can recognize him in others, and when you see Him in others, join yourself to them. Trust me; this is not an easy task. Some of the people here at Rose Creek sought many years for a true body of Christ before they found it. True Disciples of Christ will always look like Him. They will act like Him, walk like Him, talk like Him, and love like Him. Dear reader, settle for nothing less. Until next time, may God lead you into the path of righteousness

Hello friends, I hope that the “My Journey Till Now” blog entrees have challenged you to look at where you are in regards to your walk with Christ, and I trust that they were a blessing. My heart in sharing my testimony with you is that you could see that God is much more than what we have made him, God has so much more for us than we have embraced, and God has a much greater plan for our lives than we could imagine. There is a life that we were created to live, and that life can only be found “IN HIM”. We can have experiences with Christ anywhere He chooses to show up. I was in a Missionary Baptist Church at age 13 when I first met our glorious savior. I have seen, felt, and experienced Him in Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, and non-denominational churches. He has been with me while driving down the road, at concerts, in living rooms, on street corners, in the hospital, and many other places. Just because we have a heavenly experience with God in a certain denominational structure, does not make that structure God’s chosen constitution for His Church. All church organizations claim to be the way to God. Every one of them believes that their way is the right way, and that their doctrine is true doctrine. However, Jesus says that He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. His name is not Baptist, Methodist, or Pentecostal. His name is Jesus (Yahshua).

Jesus in deed has a body in the earth, but it does not carry a banner of some denominational name either. It can, however, be recognized easy enough; It will look just like Christ. Do not look to some organized church system to find out what Christ is like. Read about Him in scriptures. You will find someone who had left His home, came to earth, spent his time with the scum of the earth, healing the sick, and He became a servant to everyone around Him. Jesus had no place to lay his head, He did not own anything of earthly value, and everything he did was for the salvation of us all. To prove that to all of us, He stretched out His hands and he died on a cross. All the things that Jesus taught to us were not just words; they were who he is. He tells us things like love our neighbor, do good to those who do wrong to us, love our enemy, give your shirt to the one who will take from you your coat, lay down your life for those around you, pick up your cross and follow him. Everything that you hear him teach is wrapped up in one word…Love…The love of Christ. Love is the fruit of a true child of God. Love is what we produce when we abide in Him. That is how we know if someone is a true disciple. True disciples are not known by their many words, their great interpretation of scripture, or their great doctrines. They are known by their LOVE. Inside of this four-letter word, you will find all that Jesus taught. I would like to challenge all of you once again to do an extensive study on Christ and his teachings.

What if I told you that I have found a people that fits Jesus’ prerequisite of being true followers of Christ. What if I was to say that there are a people who lay their lives down every day for one another. A people who have left and forsaken all that they once regarded as life to follow Christ. A people who are not out to gain their American dream of houses, cars, and fat bank accounts. What if I told you that there are a people who have truly become living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. Let me confirm to you that I have. The things that God showed to me that was missing in the church system, I have found living and breathing in about 300 people down in Selmer TN.They are not a flawless people who never make mistakes. They are not people who are exempt from the temptations of the enemy. They are not Super Saints walking around thinking they are better than anyone. They are, however, a people who love and fear God. They are a people who are crazy enough to, actually, believe that they are supposed to live out the life Jesus told us to. There are no halfhearted Christians here. Believe me, you cannot live in the kingdom of God and be halfhearted. They love God, and therefore they love one another.

Let me give you one small example of the love of Christ that can found among these people. About three years ago, the doctors found a cyst on my pancreas. It is not cancer, but it can be life threatening. The problem I had was that this ailment required a great deal of medical attention, and I could not afford to pay for it. I did the best I could, but I had no health insurance and so I could not get the care that I needed. I was living with a great deal of pain back then, and there was nothing I could do about it. The church that I was attending at the time was a good size ministry, with churches all around the world. Everyone was aware of my condition and my lack to take care of it. I was never offered any help to make sure I was taken care of. All that was offered to me was their prayers. Now do not get me wrong, prayer is a good thing. The problem is faith without works is nothing but dead faith. The people here at Rose creek village acted in complete contrast to former. As soon as they knew about my condition, they have not failed to make sure I was completely taken care of. They give me time off work to go to the doctor, they help pay the dr. bills, and they even put me in a job position that would not aggravate the cyst. This is just a small example of the love of Christ here. They are a people who care more about me than what I can do for them. In fact, they do not expect anything in return for the love they give. It sounds a little like Jesus does it not.

The men here at Rose Creek go to work every day to help provide the needs of the widows, single mothers, the poor, and orphans every day. The love they have for each other means more than any disagreement they may have. Out there in the church world, that I came from, when someone would have a disagreement we could just agree to disagree and move on, but not here. Here, preserving the unity of the faith has the upmost importance. We work through all problems that may arise until we find God’s truth in the matter. This is a beautiful thing to see.The best thing I could tell you here is to just “COME AND SEE” for yourself. Words cannot describe the beauty that is found in such unity. We have heard much teaching on the body of Christ, and we thought we had an understanding of what it is, but when you really see it for the first time, it is breathtaking. Do I think that the people here at Rose Creek Village are the only people of God in the world…Absolutely not? They are, however, the first demonstration of the true body of Christ I have seen. I have seen true Christians out there, I know there are many people who love God, and they are intertwined in several different ministries. I have seen missionaries who have laid their lives down for the sake of the gospel. There are people every day pouring their lives into the lives of others, and are demonstrating the true love of Christ, but this is the first time I have ever seen a whole body of people with the same heart, mind, and spirit. I know there are others out there, and I am always looking for them. We have found some in Rhode Island, South Dakota, and possibly some other states that we are aware of. It is exciting to see what God is doing.

I am forever grateful for what God has opened my eyes to see. I may have lost friends, and possibly some family in the process of following the path God has laid; however, He is worth it all. I love every single friend and family member I have, and it kills me to think that they’re hurting in any way, but I must follow God. He is my way, my truth, and my life. Where ells could I possibly go.

Do I think that I will always be at Rose Creek Village…I do not think so? I will, however, always be attached to the body of Christ. All I know at this point is I am where God wants me, and my prayer is that God would let this life spread into every town, city, state, country, and nation.

Oh God, let your Kingdom come.

 Hello friends, I want to wrap up my journey-to-now entries today if I can. For the past several weeks I have been sharing my heart and experiences that I have endured over the past several years. (Please go back and read all of the “What a Journey” blog entries before going further.)  I understand that much of what I have said sounds way out there, or a little rocky. I will say again; I do not claim to KNOW anything. All I have done here is shared what God has done in me.

  I am sure you can tell by my writing that I am not this big educated bible scholar. I do not have a PHD or some fancy title in the front, or at the end, of my name. I am just a messily old, good for nothing, sinner boy that without God would be a lying, cheating, murdering rapist. Jeremiah says it this way “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” That is what we all are without God…deceitful and desperately wicked. I do not know why God would choose me; however, this will be one of the first things I will ask him when I see him. I have done nothing in my life that can possibly warrant God’s attention; those of you who know me can amen that. All I can say is He has chosen me. He did not leave me in my hypocrisy. That is what I was dear reader… a hypocrite. 

Sure, I loved souls, and I wanted nothing more than to see them come to Christ. I cared about people, and the things I did in the ministry where not for the money I assure you. On the other hand, I would preach that people should live holy and virtuous lives before God, yet I did not understand what I was preaching. I would preach things such as we need to love one another, walk as Christ walked, go to church, win souls, and –God forgive me- church doctrine. I am sure I was telling people some truth; however, it was coming from a lack of understanding. I had knowledge; that is all I had. I had knowledge that I had obtained from my many different teachers over the years, and from bible study, which relied on those same teachings. I had knowledge, but I lacked understanding. Knowledge is not difficult to get. All you need to do is listen and retain what is taught; however, to get understanding you must physically experience something. If I told you not to put your hand in the fire because you would burn it, you would have that knowledge; moreover, if you put your hand in the fire and received a burn, you would then have understanding. I was preaching to people warning them not to put their hands in the fire when I myself, had never been burnt. It is not enough to know how Jesus walked, talked, and responded to diverse situations. If all we have is knowledge of all that Jesus taught, we have fallen short. We must experience Christ.

We must leave our old lives behind, put our own selves aside, walk in a world that we do not belong, become a servant to all of humankind, pick up our cross, and carry that cross to the place that we must die. It is not until then that we come to understand what Paul was saying to the Galatians when he said… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” It is here when we find not our understanding at all, but that we share in the one who understands all things.

I believe if we where to really look at the life of Christ, and truly LEARN HIM, or should I say UNDERSTAND HIM, we would have a real hard time finding him in our church, and most importantly, in ourselves. The truth is most of us have not so learned Christ.  Eph 4:20-24 says “But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”.  The Greek word “learned” in this verse is manthano meaning, you guessed it, understand. That is what God showed me. When I would stand in the pulpit to deliver “God’s message”, they did not see Christ, they saw Frank Lee, and believe me he is not much to look at. -God may have used something I said to drive something into someone’s spirit a time or two, but remember what He used to speak to Balaam- (Num 22:28).

No one can come to Christ without first seeing Him. No one can see Him unless he is on us (the new man) and we are in Him. We cannot be in Him if we do not have an understanding of Him, and if all we have is knowledge of him with no understanding, where does that leave this lost world? These are just a few of the things that God was revealing to me during this time.

Look, I know that there are good people in the church system. There are people who may even have the Love of Christ. There are preachers who stand every week and plead to their congregants to live a life pleasing to Christ, and they do the best that they know how. There are men and women who are on their faces before God weeping for the souls of this world. I have worked alongside of some of them; I was one of them. My prayer is that God would give to them a Damascus experience, then send to them their Ananias, and have the scales fall from their eyes.

 All the things that you have read in my blog have been my Damascus experience. Up to that point, I thought that I was on the right path as Paul did. I believed I was doing the right thing and serving in the right capacity. My Ananias, however, would not be found in these experiences. My Ananias was found in a little town in southwest Tennessee called Selmer where I now reside. It is a people, a people of God, and when the scales fell from my eyes I seen the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It was the body of Christ.

In my next blog entry, I will share a more about this place in which I now LIVE, and I will tell what makes it the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Until then, may we all come to understand Christ.