Faith

---

I live in the city that houses that great big university called liberty--otherwise known as Liberty University, founded by Jerry Falwell. Now, say what you will about this man who, as his loving wife so tenderly puts it, tends to put his foot into his mouth quite often, I like him. I like all the good things he does, most often at no charge, for this community. I like the way that he, even if it comes out in an unintended manner sometimes, speaks his mind and strives to speak the truth. I don't especially like when my town (I live less than five minutes away) is overrun every May for graduation. But I can't blame him for that--we also have Randolph-Macon (I don't know exactly what to call it after all the fuss but it used to be called Randolph Macon Women's College), Lynchburg College, and others. Last year, all of them scheduled their graduations for the same weekend and you can imagine! After several city council meetings, I think they got it fixed so that doesn't ever happen again. While college students will be college students no matter where you send them, for the most part, they're a good bunch of kids. I've had occasion to meet Reverend Falwell and several of his past students. Nice people. And, needless to say, all those kids in our little town makes for a fairly healthy local economy. They pour tons of funds into this community.

My point in all this is to lead you to this question--have you heard about the website called The Blasphemy Gospel? No? Neither had I until last night. Apparently there is a website where people stand up and deny the Holy Spirit. God. Jesus. And they do this with smiles on their faces. All I want to say is "Who do you think you are? What are you saying? Do you even know what you're doing?"

I haven't, and won't, though I could just click right over there, be anywhere near this site. Why? Because I AM AFRAID! I'm afraid that any visitation might somehow make it seem as if I agree, or at least condone what is being done. I'm afraid it would be seen as some kind of support for this, and I have a very healthy fear of the Lord. I ain't goin' there! And I'm not knowingly putting myself in that position. All I can say is--they're wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! And someone needs to tell them that. If we don't stand up when things like this happen, are we not condoning it in some way? Can anyone here, anyone reading this, ever, even in your worst nightmare, imagine daring to deny our Lord or the Holy Spirit? Have you not felt their touch? I get chills. However, being the realistic person that I am, I know the likelihood of anyone there listening to me is next to nil. And I'd probably just get so mad I couldn't speak anyway. Luckily, someone more important than me stood up.

Back to Liberty. The dean of theology (or director of religious studies?I'm not sure of his title-sorry) heard about this site after some students stumbled onto it and told him about it. Now, my reaction probably would have been rage(actually, that WAS my first reaction), or forbidding the Internet, or something equally useless. His reaction? "Let's open up a dialog with the creators of this site and see what they're all about". Cool. Calm. Collected. And no doubt all fired up about the opportunity to witness to some very vocal deniers. The creators say they also welcome the occasion to speak with the people at Liberty--maybe they'll learn something they didn't know.

I sure hope so, don't you? I am anxiously awaiting the outcome of this meeting. I hope it's public--open forum or something--I want to go. This afternoon, after I picked up my son from his school on top of the mountain (Liberty is at the bottom), he said, "Boy, I bet Dean Kaner will set 'em straight!" Apparently, they had a discussion about this this morning in chapel. See, though there are many churches in my community, and some are decidedly much bigger, when it comes down to business, we know how to support each other. Some of the pastors in the smaller churches often bemoan the fact that Liberty offers so much (as one pastor put it "Since when do people have to use so much entertainment and show stopping tactics to draw people to God? Isn't God Himself enough?)
Of course He is! But if you are able to draw people (unbelievers especially) in and then witness to them, maybe bringing a person to God in the process of the entertainment, then I say, have at it! Whatever it takes as long as they know. Our fine assortment of pastors, ministers, reverends, and brothers will be banded together in this.

I realize that I may be rambling a bit, an offshoot of my present illness, but I felt it important to share this with you. I had no idea there were sites out there like this, and I asked my child if he did. He said he didn't.

It's just another jab at God. They seem to be coming faster and faster. It's only going to get worse. It makes me angry--I can't help it, right or wrong. Stop messing with my Dad and my Brother!

Are you ready? Soon, you might find yourself in that spot where you will live, or die, for what and Who you believe in. We're being overrun with all sorts of naysaying and denials and they're gaining strength. It's time, as our friend Thomas right here on this site says, to get out that dusty bible and crack it open. Make sure your lifeline is open and clear. I know most of us already do that but I think we need to double it up or something!

If you haven't seen Satan roaming around this world, seeking and claiming whomever he can devour, then you have been blind. You can't see! It's that simple. OPEN YOUR EYES AND YOUR EARS!

Our challenge as followers and believers in Christ is to make sure that as Satan roams, we are standing firm and defeating him through the power of our Lord, how ever God chooses for us to do it, in whatever way, large or small, that He directs us to do it in, wherever we are when we are challenged.

They, no matter how hard they try or how much they deny, will never win this battle! We cannot lose--it's impossible!

The question is, how many of our brothers and sisters will fall into their trap first?

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE