The Ramsey Discussions pt. 2 “The Heart of the Matter”
Of all the concepts I have learned in the course of my life, few have made an impression of the an impression like that of supernatural healing. Even more than that of supernatural healing. Even more than that, the Creator’s desire to heal His creation, often times using His creation, is exciting as it is humbling. This concept and realization are two things about the life of Jesus that bring a fresh vantage point when reading the Gospels. I must say that I am grieved and truly saddened that some who follow Jesus, as I do, relegate diving healing to something that happened just in the bible, and isn’t “for us” for some reason. I can’t escape the notion that: A. because I disagree with these individuals and agree with the bible (Jame 5:14-15, Exodus 15:26, Isaiah 53:4-5, Matt. 8:17, 1 peter 2:24) that they label me somewhat of a fanatic, lunatic, and lets not forget my personal favorite, a heretic, and B. that some of these individuals are closest to me, in the denomination that I used to so closely affiliate myself with, even as close as the pew in front of me on Sunday June 15th. I am not afraid, depressed, distraught, or disillusioned by their false misgivings due to my biblical beliefs, simply because they called Jesus these same such things. I bless those individuals and speak no ill or hate towards them as this journey of Christianity is a progression and as we continue to make steps, our eyes are opened a little more and we are warmed and see a little more clearly by the Son’s light of revelation.
Anyway, speaking of Jesus, I am continually amazed by all the healings, but I am equally amazed when I read of the compassion He exhibited in these cases, especially when dealing with the multitudes. I have found that certain times I experience that same feeling of compassion. However at other times I pass by someone in a wheelchair, or know of someone who is sick and I am completely devoid of that compassion, not thinking twice about their condition or how God can heal them. This dichotomy has been shifting in the balance of “more compassion, more of the time” (largely due, in part, to the two tours of the ‘great Florida outpouring’ healing revival in Lakeland Fl.), but the dichotomy still exists. Pondering the perplexity, I turned to Ramsey and posed an inquiry to the nature of this frustrating dichotomy. He paused for one brief instant and in the next simply spoke, “that’s the difference between stepping into God’s heart, and living there.” He went on to further elaborate that we are filled with compassion for some when we step into God’s heart, and we have compassion for all when we learn to live there.
please keep your eyes peeled for the next writing, which describes how i gave away my most prized possesion for an item they sell at mcdonalds…
Filed under Gospel | Comments (2)when im forty im going to be kicken!!!
so i hear people all the time say “I’m to old for this” or “I’m to old” or ”I’m past my prime” well I’m telling you when I’m forty I’m going to be kicken. why do we put a time limit on God we almost tell him “God if you going to do something you better do it soon” as if God is even remotely interested in our time line for ourselves. the bible says that a day to the lord is like a thousand years to us. so…….. basically God has a totally messed up clock and calender and the only way he is on time is because he is not in time. kinda crazy that God is omnipresent in other words is not affected by time or space so if he is not limited by time or space in my life he can do what ever he wants and what is going on can be completely apart from time. like Caleb in the bible i want to be storming mountains and taking on the giants in the land. Joshua was over forty when he led the people into the promise land. so what is your destiny? what is your dream? because time is no longer an excuse.
Filed under Jesse | Comments (5)Reflections of the Gospel “The Ramsey Discussions pt. 1: ‘How much Does it Cost?’”
The following 2 blogs recount particularly meaningful insights from Craig’s brother-in-law Ramsey Bell in response to significant questions I had during our latest visit to Lakeland Florida. Ramsey’s insights were simple conceptionally and plain in their delivery, but upon further excavation they would prove to be fundamentally shaking, the vibrations traveling to the epicenter of where my beliefs mend with the person that I am. These vibrations have had a considerable impact upon that epicenter and even to this day they have produced a remarkable alteration that will last for the remainder of my existence…
I have experienced inexplicable growth and learned many things from Craig and the ministry of Awake International during my 5 month stay here in Moravian Falls. Of the many things I have learned, a key realization that Craig has demonstrated repeatedly over the duration of my stay is that”the price has been paid” for us through the atonement of our sins by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is something i have always believed, but in this environment I have seen it with a new aspect of profoundness, as it has taken a different meaning all together. Healing, provision, the anointing, favor, wisdom, and various other spiritual gifts are “freely” given, that is to say they are readily accessible as a part of a Christian’s relationship with Jesus Christ (made possible by only through His death in our place for the remission of our sins). In many meetings with Todd Bentley in Florida however, he often speaks of “paying the price” for the anointing. I never was certain what that “payment” entailed, but tried my best to understand it as spending significant time in prayer, and having a hunger for God and His glorious presence, as this made the most sense to me. I saw the validity in each and agreed with each vantage point, but was baffled at the thought of the two of them co-existing. I brought this introspective inquiry before Ramsey casually one day as we were sitting in a baseball dugout. He simply told me “…The price has been paid, but Christ still asks for everything.”
Filed under Gospel | Comment (1)Miracles in OMAHA!!!!
Man we were back in omaha for a week and it was awsome! We saw God do some amazing things tuesday night the first night we got back in town we saw God heal Tim parker!! he as had cronic pain for several months and even years and that night he was smiling because he was feeling great, no pain. through out the week we saw many people with back pain healed on the spot, a lady could not turn her neck without pain and is now doing it pain free… On Sunday night at the wedding reception a young lady Alysha Plumber has had problems with her eyes, she had cataracts removed at 19 and is still dealing with problems stemming from the cataracts and could not see very well, she had floaters and black line in her vision and that night we prayed for her in the parking lot and she was healed!!! that was probably the highlight of the night. so we saw God do amazing things and i just want to encourage you all to keep on pressing to see God do that stuff through you… and send me any testimonies of what God has done to you and through you……
Filed under Tyler | Comment (1)the attack of the ear eating bugs!!!!!!!
okay… so there i was in my room laying on my bed talking to my dad when suddenly i hear a voice calling my name with some what of a urgent yet quiet tone but surprisingly loud for the person who i new it belonged to. i immediately new that it was Alyssa and that something was up. now as a bit of a side note Alyssa is a soft spoken person of very few words………. that you can hear, that is to say when she says something we all go “what!” so i rush to the stairs and she says “i have a bug on my ear and i cant get it off!” so i try and remove the little guy but i couldn’t, i realized at first glance it was i tick and there really is only one way to get a tick off and that is a liter, luckily i had one handy. some singed hair and a few seconds later no more tick and still some what freaking out Alyssa. it was quite the experience and has probably the potential of becoming a memory that will cause some laughs later.
Filed under Jesse | Comments (5)