In a surprisingly candid interview with Focus on the Family, U2 lead singer Bono spoke of the importance of family, how he’s stayed married to his wife for 30 years and that being bold in faith is important for Christians.
Bono spoke about his faith in Christ in strong terms. Continue reading
We have just experienced an awful couple of days here in Missouri and most of the “heartland” of the nation with storms and deadly tornados. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones.
Sometimes when things like this happen, we will try to make sense of it all. But, as Christians, we must submit our quest to understand the ‘whys,’ to our FAITH which always comforts and consoles us, whether we understand or not.
Faith is rooted in the deepest and simplest belief that our God is good, and His love endures forever. This truth is found throughout the Bible but mostly in the Psalms, which most scholars believe were predominantly written by King David – whom God says was “a man after my own heart.” Continue reading
Early 1991 –
Christmas was over now, the new year was about to begin, and I was a year older. I was studying the words of Jesus and asking the Lord to answer many of the tough questions with which I had always grappled but had never taken the time to truly seek answers for. Now I had the time. Of course, one of the questions that still occupied my thoughts frequently was, “How long, oh Lord? How long will I have to stay in prison?”
With my appeal now in the hands of the judges, Tammy Faye was hoping and praying for a speedy release. I was not quite so optimistic. One of us was about to be proved right.
January 1991 was the beginning of one of my worst downhill slides into one of the worst periods of depression I had known since coming to prison. Although I had encouraged my family to stay away at Christmas, I missed them horribly. Despite being surrounded by hundreds of fellow prisoners, I felt alone and abandoned. It was not my family’s fault that I spent Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and my birthday alone. Yet it was the first Christmas of my life that I had not celebrated with my family. It was the first time I had not been with my family on my birthday. My emotions took a nosedive.
Adding to my depression was the news from Charleston, South Carolina, that I had lost another legal battle and I learned that I would not be receiving “good time” for the work I did in prison on a smoking cessation class. This was huge to me because “good time” could help you get out of prison sooner.
I did not want to do anything. I did not want to eat, drink, shave, or bathe. I began to allow myself to become more and more disheveled and unkempt, making little to no effort to clean up. I began to grow a beard, not because I thought it would enhance my appearance, but because I no longer cared about my appearance. Always known as a fastidious dresser – even in prison I wore sharply pressed clothes, with crisp creases in my shirts and pants – my clothes now went unpressed and often unwashed. With my hair uncombed, my body unwashed, and stubble covering my face, I looked like a homeless person. Friends and foes alike who were accustomed to seeing me on the set of PTL well dressed with every hair in place would have had difficulty recognizing me.
I was in the pits.
Surprisingly, at a time when I was at a low point in my prison experience, having lost all hope of ever getting out soon, I received one letter after another exhorting me to keep trusting God and to keep believing that He would bring me out of prison much earlier than I anticipated. As always, their words were a tremendous encouragement to me, and their rich spiritual insights were extremely helpful. Nevertheless, I could not overcome the desire to simply give up and die.
In a letter I received from Tammy Faye near the end of January, she included a list on which members of our congregation in Florida routinely wrote down their prayer requests, asking for the other members of the church to pray for them. On the last Sunday morning of January, there among all the other requests on the list, in his own handwriting, was the name “Jay Bakker.” Beside his name in the prayer request column, Jamie had printed only two words: My Dad.
When I saw the unadorned prayer request of my boy, I burst into tears.
Looking back, I can see where God always had something to keep me going when all hope was seemingly gone. This time was no different.
Hansel’s words (and the Spirit of God through them) were insistent.
We cannot overcome loneliness by trying to escape it. We must lean into it, and thereby transform it into solitude.* We must not just keep trying to avoid the loneliness by constant distraction. He is here. He is here. He is here. We must push through the loneliness to joy.
Tim Hansel taught me how to turn my loneliness into solitude with God. What a difference! “Loneliness,” says Tim, “parches our lips for the living God, makes us hungry for His presence. I learned that:
Loneliness is feeling alone. Solitude is being alone. Loneliness feels frantic. Solitude is still and focused. Loneliness focuses on external circumstances. Solitude focuses on the inner adventure. Loneliness relies on what others think and say about you. Solitude relies on what God says about you and to you.**
At this point in my life Through the Wilderness of Loneliness impacted me second only to the Bible. No other book has been more useful to me. The transformation did not come quickly or easily for me. I still felt as though I had not heard from God in several years.
In early 1980, I had sinned seriously, but when I repented and sought God’s forgiveness, I knew He was there. I knew He forgave me, whether other people chose to believe that or not, or whether they chose to forgive me or not. God continued to use my life and seemed to bless everything I set out to do in His name. The ministry kept getting bigger and bigger. Then, after the disclosure of my sin and my subsequent departure from PTL, nothing I tried to do in God’s name bore any fruit. Nothing worked. I tried to start another television program in Charlotte. It didn’t work. I tried to begin again in Florida; that also soon fell apart. Everything I tried turned to dung.
What do you do when God doesn’t hear you? Where does a person go who feels that God doesn’t want him anymore?
Even though God had blessed me so much in the past, I began to think, Is there no hope for me? Were my detractors correct? I relived the words of my accusers almost every day.*** I thought, Well, maybe my sins were too awful. Maybe I hurt other people and the kingdom of God so badly that my sins were beyond God’s willingness to forgive me.
The words Tammy and I had said so many times at the close of our television programs, “God loves you; He really does!” now haunted me.
Finally, as I read Hansel’s book, I felt like there might be hope. I renewed my cries to God. “God, please talk to me! Show me something, anything, just please let me know that You care, and that You haven’t given up on me.”
*Do you avoid being alone? Are you comfortable spending the day with just you (and Jesus)?
** What has Jesus said to you in your times of solitude with Him?
*** What is the spiritual principle behind Matthew 12:37 “by your words you are justified, and by your words you are condemned?”
Tangible Loneliness – A Call to Examine Your Theology?
Tim told of a time when he had been speaking to a large crowd. They had clapped their hands and cheered him as a great and entertaining speaker. But when the auditorium was empty, Tim walked out alone and drove back to his hotel room, where he had intentionally left the lights on so the room would not seem so dark and lonely when he returned.
The light didn’t help.
The pain he had been able to put out of his mind for a short time while he was speaking to the group came back with a vengeance. He tried to sleep but could not because of the pain, yet he was too tired and emotionally drained to do much else. Exhausted, Tim closed his eyes and hoped and prayed morning would come quickly. It didn’t. Tim tried to write.
Just then, at one of his weakest moments, Tim Hansel wrote in his journal words that God used to begin prying open the ever-thickening shell I was building around my heart. Tim wrote, “The loneliness was so bad tonight that it sucked all the oxygen out of the room. It was so intense it felt like it could peel the paint off the walls.”
Whoooom! Tim’s words exactly described what I had been feeling since coming to prison. I was amazed that another person had put into words my exact emotions.
Tim continued, “Lately I have experienced a loneliness so deep that I feel as though I need a second heart to contain all the pain.”
Yes! I wanted to shout. That’s how I have been feeling. My heart had been so badly bruised over the past three years, I had pulled into myself and I did not want to be hurt anymore.
I read Tim’s book. And reread it. I underlined things that spoke to my heart and mind. And then I read it again. Tim wrote:
Loneliness does not always come from emptiness. Sometimes it is because we are too full …full of ourselves. Full of activity. Full of distractions. Paradoxically, if I want to heal the loneliness in my life, I’ve got to get away …to be alone with God.
Tim suggested that part of the reason God allows us to walk through the valleys in ourlives is so we will learn to depend on Him in new ways.
But I can’t even hear God’s voice anymore! I talked back to the pages. I feel like God has abandoned me.
No, Tim wrote, “Loneliness is not a time of abandonment …it just feels that way. It’s actually a time of encounter at new levels with the only One who can fill that empty place in our hearts.”
I had been reading Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s books about the same time as I had received Tim’s. I had even written in the front of my Bible one of the statements the brilliant Russian writer had penned while in prison: “When you have robbed a man of everything, he is no longer in your power. He is free again.” I felt like I had lost everything, but I in no way felt free …yet.
Through the combined impact of Hansel’s and Solzhenitsyn’s books, I caught the first dim glimpse of what God might be doing in my life. Tim drove home the message:
Perhaps one of the main reasons we fall into loneliness and despair is that we are so preoccupied with ourselves, so invested in our own egos. We’re so concerned with how we are doing that we can’t seem to get a clear focus on what God is doing in us and around us.
Could it be? I wondered. Could it possibly be true that I was in prison by the very design of God? Was there really a larger purpose behind my imprisonment, as some of my friends had implied?
I didn’t know where God was, but I was not about to attribute my loneliness to God’s plan for my life. That thought did not fit into my theology very well, so I tossed it aside.*
*Question for further reflection: If your life presented circumstances that flowed contrary to your theology (how you understand God), could you or would you seek a deeper understanding of God’s ways? God does not change, but our understanding of Him should as we mature in the faith.
Where Faith Begins –
Tim Hansel was the founder of Summit Expedition, a wilderness survival school and ministry. Often in his work, Tim led groups of mountain climbers and hikers, youth and adults, on exciting trips and retreats throughout the western ranges of the U.S. Continue reading
Lonely for God –
Despite the many cards, letters and visits I received during those early days (Rochester Prison 1990), a gnawing loneliness continued to eat at my soul. It wasn’t a loneliness for people; it was a loneliness for God. I simply did not know where He was. Worse yet, I felt that He had forgotten my address. I attempted to keep busy by pouring myself into various clubs I had joined and by preparing and teaching the motivational material I used in the smoking cessation course. I needed the activity and the interaction with people that the clubs provided, and I needed to absorb the motivational principles I was teaching. But all the positive principles I was espousing could not satisfy the deepest needs of my soul. Continue reading
Faith – it’s a word we have used and overused in our country, our churches, and our own personal lives. People have faith in many things; faith in people, systems, governments, sociologies, economies, and the big one for our somewhat humanistic generation: relationships. Social relationships are taught, sought and sometimes bought in our politically charged and socially driven generation of ambition seekers…. and this includes some in the general church population. Continue reading
You only have to look around you to see that things are coming apart in today’s world, quickly! Every day we read and hear things that are pointing to dire days ahead. Sometimes I don’t even recognize this country in which we live. One news article I read today said that the ‘new’ American dream was renting a home. Remember when the American dream was actually owning a home?
But that issue is minor compared to what’s happening in our world at large. Governments are being overturned. Israel is fighting for her life. People are calling good things evil, and calling evil things good. In the midst of all that, we are see another thing happening which, unfortunately, we sometimes become complacent about. We’re seeing a rise in natural disasters, freaky weather, terrorist attacks – any of these things could put us in a life-threatening situation in a matter of minutes.
You may say, “well Jim, hasn’t it always been that way?” The answer of course, is “yes.” But keep in mind that these things are increasing in frequency and intensity, just like the Bible says in Matthew 24. When you see the increase… that’s the time to act. When you see the ‘birth pains’ getting closer and closer, you can be sure that the baby is coming. You better get to the hospital!
Keep in mind that the people who were watching Noah build the Ark were scoffers. Why did they scoff? Why didn’t they act on the warning? They were busy with life as usual… building, marrying, partying. It’s a sad thing when people hear the warning sound, but decide to ignore it. It’s sadder still, when Christians disregard the Bible’s warnings.
Yet, these same people will be calling out to God for help when Times of Trouble come. Bill Whaley, a recent show guest that specializes in self-sufficiency and survival techniques using everyday ‘junk’ , said that the people who snub survival warnings are the same people who scream “God save me!” when things come apart.
Perhaps He will.
But God sent His Word ahead of these things so that those who are wise will prepare. I’m not the only one crying out with the warning. Many others are warning people as well. Even secular sources are warning people – so much so that the suppliers of emergency food and survival equipment can’t even begin to keep up with the demand.
Will you be one who prepares ahead of time when you see disaster coming? Or will you be the one praying “God save me!” If you’re prepared, you can help others. If you’re not prepared, you’re the one needing help. Don’t be a victim.
Love,
Wars, global unrest, nuclear threats, looming economic disaster, earthquakes, solar storms, political upheavals, out-of-control inflation, famines, weird diseases… on and on it goes.
Who wouldn’t be afraid in today’s world?
Now I know that we should all walk by faith in these Last Days, and we should all know how to answer our fears with scriptures in the Bible. There’s a lot of teaching on this topic, but I want to speak to the human side of this before I tell you how to be strong in the ways of spiritual warfare.
In our humanity, we all need comfort and reassurance that God is not cold or indifferent to us when the Times of Trouble come. I think most of us know that, but it helps to recall that fact as the writer of Hebrews did in Chapter 11, the great ‘faith’ chapter. Go read this chapter again for your own encouragement.
Sometimes, it is good to recall all the times of your life when God has done amazing things for you. Recall the moment you were born again and how the love of God flooded your heart and soul. There is no greater miracle than that! One old-time spiritual song says, “makes me love everybody!” Now there’s a message in that for sure! But, be sure to recall all the other times you have felt God’s presence and remember His tenderness and His loving care.
For me, there are too many special times to count that God has spoken to me or answered a prayer breathed in earnest. But, I remember incomparable times like when He encouraged me when I was in a prison cell with an inspired song. Or, when He told me the prayers of the saints were flooding my cell with love and hope.
Remember, God will never, never, never leave us or forsake us!
World events may cause us to have a healthy fear of what is happening to our world, but we should never forget that all of it means that JESUS IS COMING SOON! When Jesus steps out on that cloud and we see His shining face, all of the troubles of this world will be over, and we will be with Him forever!
But, until then, we are told to “occupy” so we must live with a supernatural knowledge that we are indeed a chosen generation… one that will usher in the coming of Jesus. While this can be a time of great fear, it shouldn’t be for those who are working, watching, and waiting for His return.
There is a healthy fear and an unhealthy fear. A healthy fear reads the whole Bible, including the Revelation, and heeds its warnings. A healthy fear helps you to know that God’s Word is true, all of it, and we will have some Times of Trouble in the Last Days. And make no mistake, we are in the Last Days.
A healthy fear prepares both the spirit and the body to meet each and every situation we are faced with – with the maximum amount of faith. I am reminded of the three Hebrew children: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We can recall how they refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s demands to worship him, and were thrown into the fiery furnace as a result.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story is an example of great faith because they told Nebuchadnezzar that their God was not only able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but that He would deliver them!
How many of us have enough faith to say “God, I know you can deliver us out of our troubles and I know that you will!”
In the natural, we are all afraid to some extent. But in the supernatural, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to give us strength and courage.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7, KJV)
With everything that’s happening in our world right now, it sometimes challenges our level of courage to live through it all without fear. But, that is exactly what Jesus said that we should do. In fact, He says it very clearly right in the middle of the scriptures that tell of these frightful events.
“When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened.” (Luke 21:9)
And just a few verses later, He repeats the admonition to be careful not to fear.
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.” (Luke 21:34)
Many say they are just not that strong – and they wonder how they can have faith in the face of fearful events. The answer is humility and a heart that reaches out to God in spite of a weakness.
Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
Have you ever heard the scripture “Lord, I believe. Help me now my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) Perhaps we should understand this as “Lord, I have faith. Help me now with my fear.” A humble heart is something the Lord will not refuse. (Psalm 51:17)
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah” (Ps 46:1-3)
No matter what catastrophes may come on the earth in Times of Trouble, we should not fear!
Why is fear so hazardous to our spiritual life, especially in the Last Days? Why does the Lord caution us about fear? Fear is not just a distressing emotion; it is the spiritual force of Satan’s kingdom. Faith is the force of God’s kingdom. We are saved by faith, we are healed by faith, and we move mountains by faith. Fear is the opposite of faith. “And whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). It’s impossible to please God without faith. So, fear is a sin.
According to Revelation 21:8, the fearful will be cast into the lake of fire! Fear is that serious! Fear is called a spirit, and the Spirit of God within us should overcome the spirit of fear.
Whenever you notice fear in your life, you can overcome it by answering it with the Word of God.
Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
“I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
So in the Times of Trouble ahead of us, do what you can to be ready. Do all that you know to prepare for any calamity. Then, cast the rest of your care upon the Lord and watch how he delivers His own people.
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Love,
