Posted by RE on 1/6/2002, 11:49 am

Gordy Posted by lanny on 12/4/2001, 12:28 am , in reply to "Dear brother Lanny:" Thanks for the kind words. We have all been through quite a bit. Not to condemn anyone, but some of our suffering is because of our own stupidity. The beauty of this is that Biblically we are in good company. Sin did not keep Israel out of the promise. Nor did the golden calf debacle, complaining, rebelling against Moses, etc. It was in fact, unbelief, and in fact, the Bible calls it "obstinancy (Rhm). "apaitheia" or unpersuadableness. It was not weak faith but a refusal to believe. They simply wouldn't give God anything to work with. They deprived God of the opportunity to be God. God loves to be God. He loves it when we get the revelation that He is God also. That is, allowing Him to give the miracle. He loves to find people that will let Him give the promise (every generation has a promise) and then after we have made a typical pigs breakfast of the whole thing He loves to fulfill it. This reversal is one way He delights in defeating the devil. Haman (Satan) provides the very gallows that destoy him. All of our failings do not in the slightest mean that the promise will not come to pass nor that it is not on time. It is my opinion that everything is on schedule. Consider the plight of the Jews. Consider the promises of future glory and restoration. Yup, it will all come to pass. Why not get in on the promise since all we have to do is LET GOD DO IT? Yes, I know we need to cooperate along the way. My point is that there is nothing we can do to produce an Isaac except walk with God and like Abraham, say yes, Lord, I believe. Moses got in the flesh and tried to help Israel. 40 years later God showed up and Moses was the meekest man on earth. He wasn't that meek as a prince in Egypt. Ah, the mystery of God and time. I honestly have more faith today and can see clearer than when I was back in good ol' Chapel days. God's call and promise to all of us CC'ers is Yea and Amen. Yes, we might have to modify the promise to exclude some vain glory and self exaltation, but what God intended to be brought forth by our lives and by the truths given unto us is right on track. I am kind of excited about it. Consider David. One day tending sheep and the next day Samuel pours a horn of oil on his head and, "the Spirit of God came upon David from that day and forward." I can feel the goosebumps. In a moment of time, everything changed. A few verses later Goliath is dead. Saul knew David did not have a chance. Does it look that way? I know what it looks like to see what Saul sees. But I feel the power of a tidal wave 100 feet tall, a wave of revival that cannot be stopped. God is going to have a church that fulfills His promises because He is YHWH if for no other reason. It is not about us, our good points or bad. It is about HIM. In that day we will say, "It is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes." It is so obvious that the ones who post on this board still CARE about the things of God. God's call still exists in their hearts and minds. His plan is still being fulfilled. "Though the vision tarry, wait for it...." Much love, Lanny ---------- To Lanny: A walk of Faith Posted by Matt Geib on 12/4/2001, 8:21 am , in reply to "Gordy" To Lanny & all, Thanks brother for the words of Faith & encouragement! Many times over the past 15 years I have felt like that beat up "bic pen", it takes a lickin' yet keeps on tickin'......& that has only been thru the power & grace of God that when I seemed to be most devestated that God has come alongside me to lift me up again. I am reminded of Isaac's son Jacob, though he had his problems (his very name meant "deceiver") I believe from the very beginning God had a special love for him because of his faith. Even as he came out of his mothers womb he tried to grab hold of something that in the natural was not his (the 1st borns' blessing) by grabbing onto Esau's heel. Yet even so, in the end he prevailed in a wrestling match with God & his name was changed from deceiver to " one that has power with God". I take great solace from this Biblical account & know that by faith regardless of my problems & shortcomings I can do likewise! Matt ---------- Posted by Keith on 12/4/2001, 10:41 am , in reply to "Gordy" I for one know this to be true. I have been at complete dead ends (places of hopelessness in my life) yet have beyond myself have believed Him for His promises (when I could see to do that). About as low as one could get I came to a place of understanding that if I just hung on I would eventually see the results of His hand on my life, I understood there was nothing I could do. I continued to go about things in my own way yet believing in Him when I could over the years, at this point I have seen tremendous results. Not that we shouldn't strive to do what is right (we should) but I haven't and I still often don't yet He has been transforming my heart so that my will is moving toward His will. I absolutely believe faith (which can be as small as a mustard seed) coupled with continuing acceptance of His forgiveness is key (at least for most of us). If we don't close our hearts to Him (as Lanny alluded to), we have hope in Him. I sometimes wonder if the road is narrow because of our inability to continue to accept His forgiveness. Just a few more of my cents. ---------- Posted by dan on 12/11/2001, 9:26 pm , in reply to "Gordy" lanny Thanks for the many encouraging words. I agree with your comments about having more faith today and seeing more clearly than back in the good ol' days. There's something to be said for spending 40 years on the back side of the desert to teach a man about both meekness and faith. I live several hundred miles from Seattle but there are many ex-CC'ers here who still love God and care that His plan is fulfilled in their lives. ____________________ The "Manchild Company" Posted by JR on 12/14/2001, 8:44 am Since I didn't attend CCBTC, I'm not sure I really understand the Manchild theory of the Chapel. I have a couple of questions, and hope that they will be taken in the spirit of which they are asked. (1) Is the "Manchild Company" something apart from the church? When I use the word church, I do not refer to the religion of Christianity, but I use it in the Biblical sense. (2) If the Manchild Company IS something different from the church, then do you still consider it a member of Christ's body? If so, then how? A.U. had given me a manuscript of his book, but I would like to hear from others who hold to this doctrine. One last little question: I can give many scriptures that refer to the promise of Yahshua's return, but I haven't found any of our leaving. I can also find many scriptures that refer to resurrection, but so far, I haven't found one that mentions a "rapture". Do you guys know where the "rapture" doctrine came from and the time at which is was being first propagated? Just Interested, JR