I am trusting the Holy Spirit to use what I learned in my inmost being from this next true story of faith to make me more ready to go the extra mile for God's Kingdom expansion like this family did.

This is another testimony coming from "Situation Psalms" by Ray Harrison.  Ray tells about a family in Yugoslavia who were filled with the passion of Jesus to get the good news of Jesus to their community and nation.  They turned their whole home/house into a Chrsitian bookstore so that it could be used to print and distribute Christian literature and they themselves moved upstairs to live in the attic, with their baby and small child!  Thank you Lord for this witness to devotion to you who died for us.

Mr. Harrison goes on to tell us that the lady of the house had a stroke later in life and it caused many to ask why?  He says we do not know why, but God does know why.  Do you know what?  As I thought about this briefly a possible insight from God may have flitted across my grey matter!  The idea came through that just like we humans are very fearful or disturbed by lightning striking and starting forest fires which endanger lives or by hurricanes blowing through and destroying homes- this stroke also stirs up our fears- even though God has his wise purposes.  The parallel when further to point out as an earlier blog article detailed- those hurricanes help to balance out the global weather and longevity of the people and planet.  Those hurricanes lift up those aerosols to the cloud cover to keep things on earth from getting to hot (the oceans) and bring more rain to needy areas.  So this dear womans stroke may have lifted up praises or testimony to God's goodness into the spiritual atmosphere within hearts or for angels to see and learn from as she bore with her suffering.    Hmmmm.  What do  you think?

We can keep our faith-life fresher by reading stories of others and how God answered their prayers.  I think it gives us a truer picture of God's higher and mysterious ways in answering prayers so that we do not stay in a stale place on the subject or allow ourselves to keep God in a box on how we want Him to answer prayers.  May we all grow and mature in our understanding in God's goodness and holiness and let Him out of our boxes as we read about this prayer adventure in India, from the book, "Situation Psalms" by Ray Harrison, amen.

Psalm 138:3- "When I called you answered me."  Ray and his family were spending their first Christmas in India.  He and his wife Lorna were thinking of their friends and relatives back in New Zealand.  "We asked the Lord specially to help us give our family a good Christmas celebration.  We even asked Him for a certain amount of money, to buy a few goodies and presents for them.  Day after day we watched the mail, expecting that money to come, and just a few days before Christmas it arrived.  Even while we were thanking Him, another letter came from a man in South India, whom I had led to the Lord in a Crusade just a short time before.  He had a large family, and he was asking me to help him provide for his children over Christmas.  The money he was asking for was exactly the amount that I was asking God for-but for us!   I really struggled with that, but I knew I must give it to him, and that after all, he was only a new Christian and I had been a Christian for years, and knew I could trust God.  So, I yielded, sent him the money and waited! 
We continued to pray, but nothing came.  On Christmas Day we sat together in the front room, without any presents, or special foods and decorations.
Later in the morning, the parcel postman arrived on his bike, to say that there were some parcels for us at the Post Office.  I took a taxi to the Post Office, and found there were fifteen large parcels for us, piled in the middle of the floor.  They had been sent long ago, but somehow had been delayed in the mail.
 We could not afford to pay the duty on them, but the postmaster said that as Christmas was the birthday of our Jesus, we could have them without duty.  So we took them home, and our children had one of the most wonderful Christmases they had ever had.  There were even some Christmas presents in the parcels.
You answered when I called."

This is such a wonderful faith stretching story in more ways than one. Think about how the Lord allowed another brother in Jesus to have a similar or same need at the same time- in order to encourage a more self-sacrificial choice to be made- by giving the happy gift to another instead of keeping it! 
Think about how the Lord, then allowed what seemed like the death of their prayer request when they had no gifts (visible gifts that is, we must remember that not all gifts in life are visible) as they sat in the living room on Christmas morning.
Think about the presentation of the packages at the post office.  The pile on the floor actually makes me visualize the Lord's dump truck unloading a large quantity of his blessings!
Think about the timing of those parcels.  We frequently get upset, angry or perturbed by late things or mistakes.  But here it seems entirely possible that the Lord used people's mistakes and his divine planning to hold up the deliveries until the perfect time to meet the needs of this family- to make their celebration special, enjoyable and to help their faith in Him in the invisible realm grow! 

Many times I have heard how God can break into tribal groups or people groups who are very poor and admit they have a sin condition in their heart which needs to be remedied.  So when I heard years back about the Dalits of India having large numbers of people admitting their need for a Savior I noticed that once again God was reaching the poorest and most rejected people. 

But now lately I have been impressed and awestruck by the fact that God has shown more of the depth and magnitude of his power when He has been making large in-roads into the hearts of high caste Brahmins who are the upper eschalon of Hindu society.  These people to me represent a group of humans who are caught up in the sin of pride in its various forms.  To see God penetrating pride at this level teaches me, as I mentioned earlier, how all-knowing and able He is to tackle any sin or thickness or depth of sin.  Praise Him for being able to reach those of us (humans) who think we are already in nervana.  He can find a way for his love to enter into a heart that believes they no longer need to be reborn to get closer to God or to be more like God or to be perfect- God meets us and humbles us and saves!  This picture in the Indian levels of society- God reaching the outcasts at the bottom of the social ladder and also reaching the Brahmins at the top rung of the ladder - shows the full range of His marvelous power and inclusiveness!  Jesus is victorious in reaching any seeker at any level of the social status among humans! Hallelujah!

When some people try to argue  they will try to trap you by making you think there are only 2 choices by purposely leaving out another valid option.  This is called a "Faulty Dilemma" as we see it explained in the Ronald Brooks and Norman Geisler book on logic, "Come Let Us Reason". 

The argument is usually set up with the words "Either" and "Or" so that you cannot give another answer even if it is logical.   

One example of this faulty logic is found in use by the Pharisees as they try to trap Jesus . 
"Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?"  The Pharisees only offer two choices - the man sinned or the parents sinned.  Neither option is true.  There is a third option.  Jesus points out the third alternative which deals with God's holy purposes.  
"Neither this man nor his parents, but it was in order, that the works of God might be displayed in him." 

The illogical argument is:  "Everything happens either by determinism or by free will. If all is derermined, we are wrong to talk about free choices (to sin, to accept Jesus...). If there is free will, we are wrong to say that God is in control of all things.  Therefore, either we are wrong about free will or we are wrong about God's control." 

These two (determinism and free will) are not necessarily contradictory; it is possible that both are true.  This argument is set up to make you believe that you can only have one or the other be true.  But...
God determined that choices will be freely made.  God uses free will as a means to do what has been determined.  God is able and will to do this. This does not inhibit man's freedom either experientially or really (no coercion or force).  There is no opposition between the two.  God has made it so that we have both free will and determinism. 

Keep pondering this so that... the next time your mind recalls this false thinking you can replace it with logic and say, "God is so powerful and wise that he made it possible for people to have free will and he is able to use free will to accomplish his determined purposes.  Praise Him!  Human freedoms are not inhibited by our good God and He is so powerful as to use free will as a means to do what he has determined!  Wow! I can remember this and tell others that there is no oppostition between free will and determinism! God has made it possible that both are true and logica togetherl, they do not oppose each other!"

Sometimes people use examples from the Bible to try to persuade you to believe something is true which is not.  They use an unusual case to support the conclusion with which they want you to agree.  But we are warned not to believe that just because something is logical in one situation it will also be logical in all situations or under all circumstances.  Norman Geisler and Ronald Brooks explain in "Come Let us Reason" that this is called a "Hasty Generalization".  The example they use is an argument about drinking wine in general.  The person tries to persuade you with something Paul did in the Bible.  "If Paul recommended wine for Timothy, then it is good for Christians today." 
This example of a recommendation was for medicinal use for Timothy.  The person cannot logically use a medicinal recommendation for wine drinking as a valid argument to recommend social drinking and other contexts for all other types of situations.   Do you see the difference?  One recommendation has a specific context and use which is not the same as the widespread, common and general type.
The authors even point out that the wine that Paul was recommending was not the same as today's alcohol level (it was watered down back then) so the logic falls apart even in the context of the type of wine being spoken of in the unusual case of this recommendation of wine to Timothy.
The point is that in using logic to persuade someone to agree, a person must use the same terms that do not contradict each other.  Here there are contradictions in the type of recommendation (medical does not equal nonmedical) and in the use of the word wine (watered down wine does not equal pure wine).

We live in the middle of many dark and illogical philosophies and ways of thinking which are dressed up in "good-looking" forms but are actually illogical.  There is also a parallel in the unseen world- the enemy dresses up himself and his following fallen angels (demons) in "good-looking" or "good-appearing" robes of light so as to lure us nearer and draw us away from truth and Christ.  Wat

This is a big question and I really appreciated the answers given in "Come Let Us Reason" by Norman Geisler and Ronald Brooks.  They really are champions of using our minds/reasoning and logic.
Remember an earlier blog article about the 4 laws of logic which we all know within ourselves to be true becasue they cannot be refuted or argued against?  One was the law of noncontradiction- a dog is not a sand dollar and no one can prove that it is, because it is contradictory and illogical.  Another law was the law of identity, a samurai sword is a samurai sword, 5=5, the letter B is the letter B.  Now we will apply these laws of logic to some Christian doctrines. 

Some people have asked, "Don't some doctrines like the Trinity, the Incarnation ... involve contradictions?" 

The Trinity, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and Predestination are mysteries and go beyond human reason.  We cannot grasp them fully, but they are not contradictions that go against reason.  Here is why.
The Trinity is God in 3 persons, but only one being.  There is no contradiction between persons and beings.  There would be contradiction if the Trinity was God in 3 persons and only one person.  Based on what we humans know a person to be- it is not possible to be one person and 3 people at the same time or in the same space.  But we do not understand  what all is involved with a being.  He knows and His reason is greater than ours.  The point being that it is possible for a being to be 3 persons at the same time, because there is no contradtiction in reasoning between the definition and understanding of what a person is and what a being is.  They are different, A and B.  There is no contradiction in saying A is A (persons are persons) and B is B (beings are beings).  You may not know the rest of the definition of what a being is, but just because we don't know much about beings, does not prove that beings cannot have 3 persons within them, nor does it prove that the statement about the Trinity is illogical or against reason. 

The Incarnation would be self-contradictory and against logic if it said Jesus had 2 natures: one human and one divine which were united in one nature.  This would be self-contradictory in that 2 natures cannot equal one nature.  1 does not equal 2.  One cannot be the other, it must be itself. This would be illogical.   But the Incarnation is not self-contradictory as we know it in the Bible.  The Incarnation is explained logically as Jesus, the person, having 2 natures, human and divine.  Again this may be mysterious, but it is not illogical. From what we understand of persons and natures this statement is possible and not contradicting itself.  So it is logical.  We may not be able to understand all of what this means because we have human reason and not God's perfect reason, but being mysterious is not the same as being illogical.

Excerpts from the book "Slices of Life" which are personal enounters of missionaries in Papau New Guinea and how Jesus' truth and love penetrated the Awa culture.
People like Matiro in the Awa culture were caught up in God's love when they discovered God was a God who gave them things rather than expecting them to give Him things.  They valued the fact that God gave them His only son.  Matiro and other Awa men and boys deeply and personally know what it means to sacrifice a son, because their culture lives daily with the fear and threat of revenge killings of sons to pay for the sins of the fathers.  Matiro also understands this concept deeply because he is a son, targeted to be sacrificed and murdered at any time by his father's enemies.  But Matiro sees the difference between his own death and the death of Jesus.  Jesus' death would bring life, peace and joy to people, Matiro's death would not bring anyone life or joy or peace.  Matiro's death would bring more death in the endless cycle of death and hatred and revenge that had been going on so long in his culture.  
When a group of men surprised him and surrounded him in his sweet potato garden he knew that they had come to kill him for his father's sins.  He did not want to die, but now that He had met Jesus the special son his situation was vastly different.  We have a relationship with Jesus and express our communication with him as being in our heart, Matiro expresses the same relationship by saying that he hears Jesus' voice speaking clearly to "his liver".  This must be the organ representing the innermost being of man to the Awa culture! He had also asked Jesus to live in his liver.  So now that Matiro knew Jesus as Savior and new Jesus was with him even when a group of men were there to kill him, he was ready to go to heaven with Jesus if it was what Jesus wanted. He knew that God was more powerful than the evil spirits he had been taught to fear as a child.  At this point he dropped to his knees to speak to God in preparation for his death at the hands of these men.  "At least I can meet Jesus in this (kneeling, head bowed in prayer) position.  Because Jesus had bowed his head on the cross for me." 
"O Big One, in your Book you say you are able to protect me or to let these men kill me.  I would like to hear my baby laugh again.  I want to walk the path holding my son's hand again.  I want to eat sweet potato dinner with my wife again.  I want to teach my people about you. (He was helping the misisonaries to interpret the scriptures into Awa) so these pay-back killings won't keep happening." He continued praying to the Lord and then when he finished he opened his eyes and discovered that the men who had come to kill him had gone away.  He felt like he had experienced a resurrection- because in his culture death was certain, it was just a matter of timing when the men might come.  And here he was alive and his enemies all gone!  Jesus had saved the first son in his culture! 
Matiro is a good humble reminder for me in his prayer style. 

Here are some quick nuggets of forgotten wisdom that might brighten your day. They come from "Under His Wings" by O. Hallesby.

1. Many are they whom the LORD has delivered from the pitfalls of love of money by never having permitted their finacial plans to materialize. 
(Downcast because you had hopes of greater income, promotion, winning the lottery?  You may not have considered that keeping you at the financial level you are at now or removing some of your finances might actually be a blessing and a protection.)

2. Many are they whom He has saved from the snares of vanity by having withheld from them both beauty and charm.
(Remember how Lucifer was beautiful as an angel and how far he fell with pride?  Just a thought.  Imagine that when we get to Heaven and discover that our inner beauty and holy charm are beyond our abilities handle humbly while on earth in a fallen sin state.  We get too easily pumped up with pride.)

3. And many are they whom the LORD has kept from the lust of power and from the toil of partisanship by never having allowed them to acquire the influence they sought.  They were kept down all the time.  By doing this they were prevented from growing away from the LORD.

4. If you see bitter experiences in your life and difficulties...these are actually blessings.  These are ways God is dealing with you kindly, keeping you away from prides and closer to Himself.

5. Pray that in your suffering not only that you may hold out thru it, but you may see God in them.

Any comments?  Very interesting faith thoughts arent't they?

Charles Finney, in his book, "Revival of Religions" addresses the subject of what he believes "prevailing prayer" to be. 
It is not offering up benevolent desires to God.  These are acceptable but do not include the exercise of faith in regard to actual reception of these blessings. 
Faith that ensures the blessing asked for. 
In the prayer of faith (prevailing prayer) we know He is (exists) and is rewarder of diligent seekers.  Some people may believe He exists, but do not believe He rewards those who seek him through prayer.
We believe He gives what we ask, not a stone instead of bread, this is not in line with his loving and logical/reasonable character.
When are we (Christians) bound to make this "Prayer of Faith"?  WHEN WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF RECEIVING WHAT WE PRAY FOR. 
FAITH MUST ALWAYS HAVE EVIDENCE.  A man cannot believe a thing unless he sees something which he supposes to be evidence.
1.Where God especially promised a thing in the Bible.  
  - God says He is more ready to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than parents are ready to give brad to theri children.  Here we are bound to beleve that we shall receive it when we pray it.  There is evidence that God will give it if it is asked for.  It is a reasonable and logical conclusion, because it is clearly spelled out by God Himself.  We have no right to add on "If it is your will" in the prayer because He has already told us it is in His will, it is a "for sure". We can bank on it. Do not add doubt to such a request, do not insult God by not believing His promise, His word to you. Do not treat him as if he were a human being able to lie and able to waver on his promises.
2. Where there is a general promise in the scripture that is reasonable to apply to the particular case before you.  If its real meaning includes the particular thing for which you pray or if you can reasonably apply the principle of the promise to your case, there you have evidence.

What do you think about that- God and the Realm of Faith having spiritual evidence based on spiritual truths for asking and expecting answers by using reason.  God has not left the brain outside of faith, we are too use our brains in the life

Thanks again to DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs for this testimony from the Philippines taken from their book "Jesus Freaks". 
During a riot among inmates in a Philippino Prison Jackie Hamill of Australia and another girl were taken hostage and raped.  Jackie remained calm and "radiantly focused on Jesus", singing hymns and presenting the gospel.  One of the inmates who was rioting threw down his gun and committed his life to Jesus then.  She was later shot in a shouut out between the prisoners and the soldiers, but she died singing and praying.

Lord, thank you for testimonies such as these which stir our hearts and spirits and build our kingdom understanding.  We pray that you might be continuing the work you started through Jackie and through this inmate.  May  your word be spreading through his cellmates, guards, enemies, friends, family and any children he has. Amen.