The Seven Steps of Ezekiel's Temple.

30 Jun 2013

Dear Phyllis,

This past week has been a somewhat uneventful one. Last week I had two subjects on my mind. Friday night the Holstens were so much on my mind I thought their testimony really needed to be shared. But that morning I was speaking at our Thai church. I decided to put off sharing that message until today.

For several years Ezekiel's Temple in Ezek. 40- 48 has been a great mystery to me. In chapters 41 and 42 “he measured” is the key word. That expression is written 29 times in two chapters plus many other times it is alluded to. As an engineer and construction man, I am very interested in things like this, and determined that I was going to get a grip on what the scriptures is trying to tell us by so much detail about construction. I got out a piece of paper and began to write down some of these measurements. But I hadn't gone far before I realized that was impossible. From the beginning, I noticed that in verses 5 through 8 everything was exactly the same measurement – one reed. That is impossible. The length of a reed was 6 cubits and the number six is the number of man. I decided that the measuring reed mentioned in Ezekiel must be the humanity of the man Christ Jesus. He is the only reed by which we can measure anything. The more I got into Ezekiel's Temple, I came to the conclusion that this must be a spiritual temple. And this can only be the one mentioned in Eph. 2:20-22.

Watchman Nee had an intersting little book titled Spiritual Reality or Obsession. In it he asserted that only that which is spiritual is real. The best proof of this is the Blood of Christ. There is no question but what the Blood of Christ is very real. There are few things in scripture more prominent than that. We all know the tremendous effect the Blood of Christ has had for us – and in us – in cleansing our sin, and purifying our conscience (Rev. 1:5; 7:14; Heb. 9:14). Watchman Nee suggested that someone could have stood at the foot of the Cross with a basin collecting the Blood of Christ; and then sprinkle it on themselves. That would have done nothing for them. There was the physical Blood of Christ that was shed, but it is only the spiritual Blood of Christ that has its reality in producing any real results. There are many such illustrations. I believe he is correct in suggesting that only that which is spiritual is real. This being true, then Moses' Tabernacle and Solomons Temple were only shadows, or blue prints, of the real Temple. The real Temple is the one mentioned in Ezekiel, and this is the one that we are part of.

As I studied Ezekiel's Temple I noticed that there were stairs (Ez. 40:6). Obviously it is only by stairs that you can go up. Then I noticed that there were seven steps(Ez. 40:22, 26). I asked the Lord what those seven steps were, and I believe He showed me some important spiritual truths. Jesus told us that the Kingdom of God was within us and any spiritual progress that is made must be internal. Anything done on the outside has no bearing at all if the heart is not changed. And the primary thing that changes the heart is the Word. The devil knows this and he uses the same principle. He tell people lies. They believe the lies and act accordingly. That way he moves their conduct the way he want to.

In John 17 I noticed that Jesus speaks much about the Word. I saw that there were four verbs associated with the Word, and decided that these must be some of the steps in Ezekiel stairway. Ezekiel said that there were seven steps, but I only saw four in John 17. Therefor I had to come up with three more of my own. But I believe the seven steps the Lord has shown me are close to being the ones mentioned in Ezek. 40. My message last Sunday was on The Seven Steps of Ezekiel's Temple.

1. The first step is that the Word must be heard. The problem is that there are a number of people that simply do not hear. Jesus said on several occasions, “He that hath ears let him hear”. I mentioned the time I was speaking to 30 girls in the girls reform school here in Chiang Mai. There were two lesbian girls there making love together and never heard a word I said. And I warned that there were some there in that church that never hear a thing. The first thing that is necessary if there is to be any spiritual progress is that the word must be heard.

2.The second thing is what Jesus said in Jn. 17: 8 is that the Word must be received. There are some people who hear what you are saying but they are so full of arguments that there is no reception. In their mind they keep saying “No. No. No.”

3. The third step is that the Word must be kept (Jn. 17:6) In the parable of the Sower Jesus told about the seed that was sown in the way side. The seed was sown, but soon the devil comes and takes it out of the heart (Mk. 4: 15). I wonder how much this happens. Of the millions of words that are spoken from the pulpits on this earth each Sunday, I seriously question how much retention there is. Granted, there is a large percentage of that that is just mans homiletics with very little of the Holy Spirit in it. But real messages preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, I fear there is much of this that is soon lost, as the devil takes that life-giving word out of the heart.

4. The fourth step is to know. In the four verbs that Jesus used in describing the relationship of the Word with the disciples is that “they have known” (Jn. 17:7).Whenever I give instructions to someone how to get to my house I always have them give it back to me. Frequently they will say, “You go north on Mae Jo road and make a U turn at the 2^nd light.” I correct them and say, “No, it is at the 1^st light.” People think they have it straight but unless they can give it back accurately they really don't have it. In dealing with souls about salvation, it is not enough just to tell them what to do. They must have it adequately digested so that it can honestly be said, “they know”.

5. The fifth step is to believe. This is the fourth of the verbs that Jesus mentioned (Jn. 17:8). Obliviously, the Word has no power if it is not believed. Andrew Murray points out that there are multitudes of Christians who are so blinded by their defeated experience and false teaching that they cannot believe that the wonderful promises that are made in the scriptures actually applies to to them. I was much impressed with what I read the other day, “The wonderful promise is leveled down to ordinary experience of the ordinary Christian life. No wonder that the crowning promise of the New Covenant of knowing the Lord with the direct teaching of the Holy Spirit and its direct fellowship with God through the Spirit, is neither valued nor claimed; and the entrance through the rent Veil into the Holiest of All, and the presence of God, is postponed to another world.” I am finding things in the scripture that I have known for years are just becoming true as I see this actually applies to me now.

6. The six step is to obey. Jesus only mentioned four which meant I had to supply three more. This is one that I feel is essential. There is a connection with believing and obeying, but I fear there are some things people believe are true and yet for some reason don't take the further step of actually obeying. Everything up to now is intellectual. The five steps this far all have their residence in the mind. But now it must be translated into action. The Word this far is of no value if it is not actuated into obedience.

7. The seventh step is one that goes beyond simple a function of the Word, but I feel is the bottom line of the Christian life. It is to follow Jesus. This is what it is all about. Following Jesus includes abiding in Christ. Of course it involves an obedient life. But it also means staying in close fellowship with Jesus on a day by day, step by step basis. To illustrated that point I enacted an event that happened on our honey moon on Phi Phi Island. One night we went out for supper and were walking along a street with many shops. Quite naturally Pammy was very interested in hats and stopped to look at some and try them on. I had something else on my mind and just kept walking. Some time later Pammy came looking for me and found me sitting by myself in a restaurant. She asked, “What happened? I replied, “Nothing happened. You stopped and I just kept going. You weren't following me.” This is a major problem with the Lord. We must allow Him to lead. We can't be always preoccupied with our own interest. We must be in harmony with Him in His objectives and make sure that He is setting the pace.

I know realistically this may be easier said than done. Here we are talking about guidance. It is an enormous problem to encounter things along the way that look good to us. Surely this is of the Lord. Sometimes it may be, and sometimes it may not be. If this is just a shop that falls in line with our interest, and the Lord has not actually directed us to get involved, then we will find ourselves paddling our own canoe. Spiritual progress will stop at that point.

I don't know. Maybe I was wrong. But it seemed to me that these were seven major steps that we must take if we are to make any advancement and go up in our Christian walk. I believe these are the seven steps in Ezekiel's Temple.

The Lord did attend His Word with considerable interest. There seemed to be less looking around and talking than sometimes we experience while speaking. I told the folks that they were someplace in this message. Unfortunately there were some that never heard a thing. There will always be those that we speak to that simply do not have ears. It is impossible for them to hear. There will be some that have a settled resistance in their heart and will guard against any word that is hostile to their protected position. There will be some that have such little interest that the devil has no difficulty is taking the seed that has been sown out of their hearts. There will be some that think they know but actually they really don't. And there will be some that say they believe and yet their faith is more of an intellectual acknowledgment rather than the genuine article of Holy Spirit given faith. Then comes the issue of obedience, and the final point of consistency of staying in step with Jesus, where He goes, when He stops, and where He just keeps going.

On a less spiritual note, Monday morning at 6:00 AM an obaa chan (grand mother) from down the street was banging on our door. I went down to see what the problem was, and she dragged me down the street to her house. Our precious dog, Black Canyon, was lying on the ground within minutes of death. She looked like she had been poisoned. She couldn't move and her tongue was hanging sideways out of her mouth. I picked her up in my arms and brought her up to the balcony where I meet with the Lord, and she always sat with me when she was young. Needless to say I prayed for her. I was pleasantly surprised that she was still alive by noon, and later that afternoon she gratefully drank quite a bit of water. She was still nursing seven small puppies. We had to bring the puppies back to our car port and start them drinking cows milk. The bottom line is, that six days later all seems to be well. Black Canyon is a long ways from being 100%, but she is vastly improved from where she was at 6:00 Monday morning. And all the pups are doing fine.

Jesus told us that God even watches out for sparrows, and we are more valuable than many sparrows. Isn't that wonderful?

Gratefully,

bill

Choose the Right Side

23 Jun 2013

Dear Phyllis,

There is a testimony that has been on my heart for many years that I would like to share. You will never hear about Bob and Jay Holsten or read their testimony in any book, but I feel they are the finest Christian family in America.

There are two kingdoms of God. There is the visible one of public Christianity. This is man's religion. It is man's production and it operates entirely within the realm of natural law. This is the popular one. This is the TV production. This is the one that promotes health, wealth, and prosperity. There are two ways of doing things. There is the natural way and there is the spiritual way. Both systems work. The natural way is by operating by the laws of public relations. Get your product out and promote it.

The other kingdom is the real Kingdom of God. This is the hidden one. This is what I describe as The Inverted Kingdom. This is the one where the laws are reversed from the natural laws of this world. In the visible Kingdom of God, when you make a decision for Jesus, life becomes rosy. Your business prospers, your family problem decrease. You are isolated from problems. God smiles upon you. In the hidden Kingdom life is much different. You make a decision for Jesus, and immediately you encounter persecution, and the roof falls in. In the visible Kingdom the verse in Phil. 1:29 is deleted. “For unto it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” In the hidden Kingdom heart-ache and major problems are very real. The Bob Holstens have had more bad things happen to them than any family I have ever heard of. I know of no one who has tried harder, is more worthy; and yet have had more things go sideways for them. Not surprisingly, they stand on the podium as the finest family I have ever met.

I first met Bob and Fay in 1972. We were on our way south in America and stopped in Greenville see Joe Carroll. Joe was out of town that weekend, and Bob and Fay came up from Savannah to say the Lord had directed them to join the work there as staff members of the newly organized Evangelical Institute. Monday morning, I drove Mable Carroll out to the Greenville-Spartanburg airport to pick up Joe. On the way home, Mable said to Joe, “The Holstens from Savannah came up Saturday to say the Lord has given them the green light for the Institute.” Joe responded, “Who are the Holstens?” He had forgotten that he had previously spoken with Bob about the possibility of them coming on staff. I knew from that moment that Bob was in for a hard time.

Bob is as genuine a follower of Jesus as ever walked on this planet, and is a good Bible teacher, but he is very quiet spoken. In the visible Kingdom the dynamic, flashy speakers are the ones that move forward. They are the ones with high support. The system at the Institute was that every member must live by faith. That meant no salary. Everyone must trust the Lord for support apart from any visible income. Joe did divvy up the money and occasionally give gifts to the workers there, but not on a regular basis. Bob was very low-keyed, and there was little incentive for others to support them. They never discussed finances or made appeals for funds – and very little came in. One time some friends stopped to see them when no one was home. The door was unlocked and Louise took the liberty to look in their refrigerator. She was shocked to see it was totally bare. There was absolutely no food in the house. Three hours later when the Holstens came home they were stunned to see that Louise had gathered together some friends and had bought several hundred dollars of food to replenish exhausted supplies. From that time on, the folks who sit in the middle rows in the church would occasionally check to see is they had anything to eat. Joe insisted that all staff members attend all meeting at the Institutes, and he was unhappy that sometimes Bob was absent. Years later Bob told me the reason he didn't go was because he had no gas for his car. Joe didn't realize that.

Bob got relegated to the closet at the Institute. Others were promoted and Bob was put to one side. He told me that his years at the Institute were the most stressful of his life. He told me that the main thing that saved him was the hours of devotions he had quietly in his office. But I was surprised to hear years later what an impact he had on students suffering from depression who found great comfort and consolation in talking with the man who himself was struggling for air in deep water.

As a young man Bob had dedicated himself to full-time Christian service. He had gone to Bible school and planned on being a pastor. But after being on staff at a couple of churches with disastrous results, and his highly unsuccessful time at the Institute, he decided to give up on his plans for full-time ministry and return to Colorado to his first love of ranching.

Bob was born in Colorado and from a young man had a vision of becoming a professional rodeo cowboy. He was an excellent horseman and a good cattle man. His mothers brother, Uncle Herbert, owned a huge cattle ranch and needed a ranch foreman. Uncle Herbert lived in town and had very little involvement in the 30,000 acre ranch except to occasionally check the 13 wells with his airplane, and accept the check for the profit from the cattle. Everything else was in Bob's hands.

In 1980 we returned to the states for a furlough and I was going through the most challenging time of my life (up to that point) in Greenville. Bob called and asked if I would come out to make a kitchen for them as they were fixing up an old house for their residence. Oh my goodness, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! JD was the only other cowhand working with us and I spent more time chasing cows for three months than I did with a hammer. It was the time of my life. But at that time I saw what unusual sorrow Bob had gone through. In addition to the hard time Bob had had at churches in Georgia and the Institute, Bob had a vision for raising registered Appaloosa horses. He had used virtually all his savings to buy an expensive mare. One day there was a severe thunderstorm. He was in the barn and heard a tremendous clap of thunder with a lighting strike near by. He looked out in the barnyard to see his mare dead. He said, “There were 50 cows and one horse and that lightening killed my horse.”

Later he had another expensive mare and paid top dollar to have her bred by a registered stallion. He kept his prize mare out at the north place which was unoccupied at the time. The mare had a lovely colt which was Bob's hopes for the future, but there was a bad snow storm and it was a few day before he could get out there to check on his mare. He was sick to discover that the coyotes had killed and eaten his colt.

The year before I was with him, they had an unusual fall blizzard that threatened 3,000 cows in the open range. Of necessity, Bob had to execute an emergency cattle drive to get those cattle off that range to their wintering facilities. For a cattle drive of that magnitude it would require at least five to ten cowboys. But Bob could get no one out to help him. In desperation he attempted to do the drive alone with only the help of his children on ponies. Along the way some cattle got in some neighbors corn field, broke down a fence, and got mixed in with neighbors cows. It was a horrible mess. Bob nearly died freezing to death on that drive, but he did save the cattle. Ten months later, while I was there, the sheriff came one day to arrest Bob for cattle rustling. The sheriff was apologetic and extremely polite, but the neighbors had accused him of stealing their cows. The sheriff apologetically said, “Bob, I know we have ridden your heard three times with the brand inspectors, and never could find one cow that wasn't yours, but Strange has accused you of stealing their cows.” Bob said, “Sir, I don't want any problems with our neighbors. I will pay for the cows.” Fay had been saving money for years to buy a piano and Bob had to spend Fay's piano money to pay for the lost cows. Uncle Herbert said, “Bob, you are the only man in Colorado that would pay for those cows.” But he never offered to cover the expense.

The litany of disasters that has fallen in on the Holstens is endless. I know of no one who has had such a bewildering record of everything he has touched, or attempted to do, in life, go south. He left Uncle Herbert to help Blanch Preston who was a widow desperately trying to keep a run down ranch going. He spent a tremendous amount of time and money pulling that ranch back from becoming sand dunes. That fell through. He took the pastor of the Roggen Bible Church, but the devil got in so badly, that to save Fay' from a nervous break down, he lad to leave Colorado to return back to Savannah. Over the years Bob has put his hand to many projects. He has always done well, and yet all have fallen through.

That is the negative side. What has all this produced? If in heavens sight character counts, Bob Holsten is a gold medalist. He has suffered trials that would have closed down any other man, and each time has come out brilliant. His spirit is impeccable. He is a man free from any rancor or ill will towards anyone. In character he is faultless. There are many who have gone past him ascending up the ladder of success, as he has been by-passed or put down, but none can match him in Christ-like spirit. There is no question but what, in heaven, Bob Holsten will be at the front of the line.

If it is true that the test of a mans life and ministry is expressed in his family, there he is a champion. They have four children, all of whom are explanatory. The Holstens oldest son Danny, is the finest young man I have ever seen. When he was 16 he had already established a life practice of Bible reading. Using the system of reading three chapters a day to cover the Bible in a year, when Danny was 16, he had already finished the entire Bible four times. I know of no lad who started that at 12 and has been so consistent.

Dan was such a serious minded young man he never had time to show interest in girls. He had finished college and had never had a serious girl friend. But he had established himself with an outstanding reputation in Christian circles in a wide radius where he lived. He had a friend who knew a fine Christian girl in Brush, Co., 60 miles away. His friend asked the girl if she would be interested in having a blind date with a Christian boy. Indignantly, she turned down that offer. They had never met, but she said the only boy she would be interested in meeting was Dan Holsten. They are a beautiful couple.

Dan was never an outstanding athlete but he did play football and had an ambition to be a Christian coach. The Lord rewarded him by giving him the job as coach in Orchard, where he had gone to school. Being a committed Christian, he insisted on high standards for all his players. He had a winning year going, but before a key game he learned that two of his star players were smoking and drinking. It was disastrous, but he refused to compromise his convictions and benched both players. Miraculously, the Lord rewarded his stand by allowing his team to win without their best payers. But the parents were furious. They were influential people in town and started a campaign to have him fired. At the awards ceremony at the end of the year the parents planned to make a public display of their disgust for him. At the time in the program, when Dan was to receive an award, the parents and friends stood up and walked out. The principal of the high school had learned of their protest and had changed the schedule. He said, “Now I would like to give the award to the outstanding athletes of the year, but I don't see them.” They had just walked out. Then he went on, “And the award for the coach of the year goes to Dan Holsten”. The auditorium burst out in a standing ovation.

I think that is the way it is going to come out in heaven. There are two Kingdoms representing God in this world. The visible one is mans operation and mans rewards. But when the real medals are passed out, I believe Bob and Fay Holsten are going to be up front.

May God help us all to choose the right side.

bill

Serious Challenge with Pammy

16 Jun 2013

Dear Phyllis,

This will probably be a very controversial letter. Love covers sin and it is generally not a Christian virtue to openly discuss the failures of others. Partners in marriage should be especially careful not to discuss martial problems. But Jesus said there is nothing done in secrete that would not be exposed openly (Mt. 10:26). We all know the antics of John Wesley's wife and Mary Lincoln. The private conversations of Richard Nixon and the Bill Clinton's sperm on Monica Lewinsky's dress have all been seen on TV. At times of revival it is always shocking to see the amazing sin that the Holy Spirit causes sinners to openly confess. And God has not been careful to discuss the failures of His wife Israel. Books have been written about that. Nathan said to David, “Because you have done this secretly I will do it before all Israel and before the sun.” (2 Sam. 12:12). In 1981 I was speaking at a Wednesday night prayer meeting at the Greenville Christian Fellowship and said, “People have asked me, 'How can we best pray for you?'. Our greatest need is in our marriage.” After the service, Ken Joner rebuked me by saying, “You should never have said that. You shouldn't talk about marriage problems in open.” The next time I saw Ken I was divorced.

My marriage to Pammy has been a challenge. This was something I never sought, I didn't want, and refused it four times. But it was something that just kept getting placed in front of me until I came to the conviction that she was someone the Lord had placed in front of me, and it was my call to accept or reject. As I felt the Lord had done this, it was easier to say yes than to refuse what He had offered. Several friends have said, “Please don't say God led you to marry that girl. God isn't that stupid.” But I did it in what I felt was obedience to the Lord.

This marriage has been like riding a wild Mustang at a 4^th of July parade. From day one I have had to hang on with both hands. Our relationship has been an unending series of crises and brinkmanship. We have been at the brink so much it feels like home here. A month ago Pammy said to me, “Let's go to Sansai tomorrow to sign the papers and get this over.” That sounded like a very good idea. I would have joyously done it except the Word came to my heart, “Do nothing through strife” and that was a time of strife. A few day later all was clear, and neither one of us wanted to call it quits. For months it has been a day by day salvation, and every day I thanked the Lord for being saved (our marriage) one more day. Sunday night I was on my knees and said, “Thank You, Lord, for one more day of salvation.” I was wrong. Pammy never came home that night. Sunday was the last I saw her for six days.

Everything was fine when she cheerfully got on her bike saying she was going to town to see a friend, and would be home by 6:00. When she wasn't home at 6:00 I wasn't too concerned. If she comes within an hour or two of being on time that is a cause for joyous celebration. But by 9:30 I was beginning to wonder what happened. I fell asleep, and woke up around midnight. I was very surprised that she wasn't home. I locked the door – not because I was mad – but I wanted to make sure she woke me up when she did come home. At 3:30 I was seriously concerned, and by 9:00 o'clock the next morning I was absolutely sure she had had an accident and was either dead or unconscious. There was nothing on her body that would give police an idea of who I am or where she lived. At 10:00 o'clock I decided to call the police to see if there had been an accident, but thought I should first try her cell phone to see if anyone would answer. Our phone had been dead for two weeks as we haven't been able to pay the phone bill. I went to a friend's house to borrow his cell phone, and was amazed when Pammy answered. “Where are you?” “I am at the water company paying our water bill.” “Do you plan to come home today?” “Yes, I will be home in a few hours.” That was the last I saw or heard from her for the next five days.

By supper time Monday night it was obvious that she was up to something unprecedented, and when I woke up Tuesday morning, and she had been out for two nights, it was unquestionably clear she had made a statement about what she thought of our marriage and where she was headed now. Ironically I was filled with joy. Oh my goodness, I had a good time with the Lord. I said, “Thank You, Lord! You have done this in the best possible way. I don't have to do anything. She has done it all and now I am free.”

When Wednesday came with no word, I was planning on going to Sansai to sign the papers to get things started to legalize our divorce. I thought she can go anytime later to sign her name, and it will be final. But then I was told that that was impossible. For an uncontested divorce in Thailand, both partners have to appear and sign the papers together. Pastor Kichikun is in the states at the moment, but Wednesday evening I went to his house to speak to his wife, Ying. I explained the situation, and asked her to contact Pammy telling her to meet me at Sansai Friday to sign the papers to terminate the marriage. Thursday evening I called Ying to confirm that she had set everything up. She told me that she had indeed spoken with Pammy on the phone. She told her that she had just gotten back from the mountains where she had been praying with a couple Thai pastors. She would be coming home to be with me that night, and she would be at Sansai to sign the papers on Friday.

A couple things didn't make sense. First of all, the story about praying in the mountains was so stupid that it was insulting. She hadn't said anything about a prayer retreat when she left Sunday afternoon and promised to be home by 6:00. She said she would be home in a few hours when I spoke to her by phone Monday morning at 10:00. She didn't have a change of clothes and her Bible was in the house. Secondly, if she was coming home Thursday night, the promise to meet me at Sansai at noon the next day was ridiculous. No, she didn't come home that night.

Ying asked me, “What are you going to do if she repents and doesn't want a divorce?” I said, “That is a tough question. I don't know. But maybe if she is repents, that doesn't give me much room.”

I was a little surprised when she showed up right on time at Sansai Friday. I was pretty cool and said, “You will sign the papers won't you?” “No, I don't want a divorce.” “You said a month ago, 'Let's do it'. What happened?” “That was then, but now I don't want a divorce.” Oh my goodness! Worst case scenario! Now what in the world do I do? Ying had said, “If you want to talk, I am available after 1:30 Friday afternoon. In desperation, and exasperation, I said, “Let's go over to Kichikun's and talk with Ying.” Unbelievable! The next three hours was something off the chart.

Pammy very clearly did not want a divorce. She somewhat apologized for being way for six days, but was anything but repentant. The whole thing seemed to be my fault. The whole discussion was in Thai and I only got occasional brief summarizes of what was going on. One explanation was that she was concerned that I would be angry when she came home and she was afraid of me. The other was that she was hoping that I would show my love for her by calling and reaching out to her. My failing to call was an expression that I really didn't love her. Ying seemed to be handling the ball quite well, and an intense argument broke out. It was a real cat fight with both women shouting at each other. Ironically when the fight broke out and I watched Pammy red faced banging her clenched fist on the table, the only emotion that ran through me was sorrow. I thought, “If this girl goes out on the street, she will have a terrible time in life”. I had a strange feeling of compassion and a desire to help her. As the fight cooled down, Ying began to push more for reconciliation. She pleaded with me to consider, and believe, people can change. She shared her own testimony how she had been terrible in her younger years. Kichikun had previously told me that they were within a hairs breadth of divorce at one point. Ying said she was the youngest in her family and was horribly spoiled. But she gradually learned submission. Of course, Pammy promised to reform and would never be a problem again. (Lots of luck.) That is like an alcoholic promising never to drink again.

As the long afternoon began to wear down, the general atmosphere was that things had been settled and life would go on. Ying asked me, “Will you forgive her and take Pammy back?” That was not what I really wanted or expected. But with God, mercy triumphs over justice. If that rule was to apply I had little choice. It was a different supper that night. Pammy was home. That was the last thing I expected and I was a little disappointed. And yet here we were with one more day of salvation. If Jesus can pull something like this out of the fire, perhaps He can work in both of our hearts, and ultimately bring us together. Pammy had promised Ying that from now on she was going to obey Jesus, and that meant submit herself to me. When she said that, I threw my arms in the air and stood up shouting, “Amen!” That is what I have been praying for from day one. I don't want her to obey me. I want her to obey Jesus. And that means obeying me. No woman can obediently follow the Lord and defy her husband. The expression of a woman's obedience to the Lord is expressed in her obedience to her husband. And the expression of my love to the Lord is measured by how much I love my wife.

Where we go from here is an open question. May the Lord forgive me, but I feel it basically depends upon the Lord. If the Lord works in both our hearts, bringing us into to conformity of Christ, we will make it. I have been pleading with the Lord for months that He would fill her with His Spirit. If she is filled with the Spirit of Christ she will be a beautiful person. If she is filled with herself, she will continue to be a severe challenge. If she is filled with Christ she will be a joyous, submissive, helpful wife. If she is filled with herself she will continue to go her own way, do her own thing, and be a disgrace to the Name of the Lord.

Pammy has a couple of things working against her. She was raised a spoiled child and never learned discipline. She handles authority very poorly. Her father was a doctor and she has never been responsible or learned to handle money. To be under authority and be careful with money is something that is foreign to her; and she does very poorly. Our relationship has been extremely plutonic. This has got to be difficult for her. I have found it nearly impossible to believe that she doesn't have a boy friend somewhere. There have been an enormous number of questions that defy explanation. Paul was a private investigator for many years. He has handled numerous cases of marital infidelity, and he says our situation is so blatant that he wouldn't even take the case. The truth is so obvious that he says it isn't even a case. Some time ago she over to their house and Paul hit her about her boy friend. She adamant maintained her innocence and said she was staying with a lady. While they were talking, Pammy's cell phone rang. Pammy said, “It is the lady that I was staying with. Here you take the phone and talk with her.” Paul came to see me and apologized saying, “I was wrong. She is innocent.” I don't know. Against all evidence to the contrary I tend to agree that she does not have a male friend.

I like to believe Pammy is a diamond in the rough. She needs to be in the hands of the Jeweler to make her beautiful. The chisel must come down repeatedly to form that beautiful cut diamond. And I am that chisel. The diamond gets cut but the chisel takes the hammering. Man howdy these are hard blows. But the Jeweler happens to be my Father and His Son is my good friend. This makes it all worth while. We are still saved.

Gratefully,

bill

Angels: Participants of the Spiritual World

9 Jun 2013

Dear Phyllis,

Paul was over the other day with a testimony that was so powerful that he was in tears trying to share it with me. I don't understand it, but, through the Internet (Face book), Paul has an enormous span of contacts. He says he has more people writing him from Africa than from America. There is one fine Christian sister in Nigeria that wrote him asking if he could send her a Bible. Paul looked into it and replied he would be glad to send her one, but the cost to ship it was beyond his resources at the time. Paul learned that it would cost 1,000 baht ($30) to send a Bible to Nigeria. We have a friend who is dealing with thousands of free Bibles and Christian book that have been donated and sent to Thailand. Ed told Paul that the had many large print Bible for free, and Paul went over there to pick one up. On the way home Paul noticed a piece of paper sticking out of the Bible, and discovered a 1,000 note placed in it. Just what he needed to send it Nigeria. No, it did not come from Ed or anyone else that knew about that need. When Paul told me this story I replied, “Okay, so what else is new? I see no problem. I have seen this before.” Paul was stunned at my flippant response, and I explained to him what happened.

There is such a thing as angelic assistance or involvement in our daily lives. We are told that one of the functions of angels is to “minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation” (Heb. 1:14). I have experienced angels at certain points in my life – as I am sure we all have – and this is just an unusual manifestation of an angel getting involved.

One of the greatest men of God I ever met was Louie Issh. Brother Issh was a retired CMA pastor who walked with God like few men ever do. He had an amazing gift and ministry in healing. For forty years he had found the Jesus to be his wonderful doctor and healer. In his younger years a corrupt Jewish doctor confessed to him that he had physically taken out his wife's ovaries and there was no way she could ever have a child. Two years later his wife conceived and uneventfully had a son. The Jewish doctor told him, “I can believe in the virgin birth of Christ before I can believe that your wife had a baby. I know that I cut all that out of her and there was no way this was possible.” All together she had three sons. But in her failing years, Bother Issh had to put his wife in a hospital. He was terrified. He hadn't been in a hospital in over forty years. As he sat there beside his wife's bed the Lord said to him, “Look at that Bible”. There was a Gideon Bible on a table beside his wife's bed. He pick it up and opened it at random. There was only one mark in the Bible and his eyes fell on the words underlined with green ink, “For He hath said, 'I will never leave thee or forsake thee.' So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me'.” (Heb. 13:5,6). I suspect this had been marked by an angel.

Roland Buck is (was?) the pastor of the 1^st Assembly of God church in Boise, Idaho. I don't know him personally, but I have been in his church. Many years ago he had an unusual period in his life when he was experiencing a great deal of angelic visitations. In one of those times an angel told him that he was going to have a visit by a couple that day. He told his secretary that Mr. and Mrs. Bowman would be calling that day. No call. When the secretary went home at 5:00 she asked if he wasn't going home. He replied, no, he was still waiting for that phone call. At a quarter to 6:00 the phone rang, and he answered, “Hello Mrs. Bowman.” She was a little surprised. A couple had come from California to Boise and had just checked in a motel. They were having a martial dispute and decided to call a pastor for counseling. There was a phone book on the table beside the bed with one church phone number underlined. They had no idea who he was but called Pastor Buck at random. Certainly, he would be glad to talk to them. “Please come to my office immediately”. They had never met. When they got there, they had brief conversation, and then the wife added, “We had a good conversation in the motel before we came and it looks like we got our problems settled. Thank you very much, but that is all.” Pastor Buck replied, “Before you leave, you better give me that pistol you have in your purse that you bought to kill your husband.” She collapsed, and the husband nearly killed her. But before they left Pastor Buck had a 32 caliber pistol in his desk and they both had their names recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life in heaven. Roland Buck said there was no question but what an angel had placed and marked that phone book for them in the motel.

I have had two distinct encounters with what I intensely believe were angels, and many others that probably were angels protecting me. I'm sure I have shared this one with you before but underscore Paul and others encounter I will narrate it again.

When I was flying with the Fightin' Fortieth Fighter Squadron, I was checking out in the F-102 fighter aircraft. Nearly all F-102s are single seaters but we had one two seater for training purposes. It had an unusually wide cockpit where the seats were side by side. The mission that night was a night formation flying training mission. The lead ship blasted off and went up to about 25,000 feet. Fifteen minutes we took off and climbed up to join him. We really had nothing to do except to fly around for an hour to practice night formation flying. We had only been airborne for about 15 minutes when a bright red emergency light came on in the cockpit. That was unusual. Under that emergency light were about ten smaller yellow lights to show specifically what was wrong. As we checked the warning lights, we saw that the indication was that our fuel transfer pumps had failed.

There are five fuel tanks on the F-102 with two in each wing and one main tank in the fuselage, that fed into the engine. If the transfer pumps were not working that meant all the usable fuel we had on board was in the fuselage tank. To simplify the instrument panel, the aircraft makers had only put one fuel gauge in that bird and a selector switch on the back of the left side of the left seat. When the warning lights came on, the first thing we did was to hit the kill switch on these lights so they wouldn't be a distraction. And as soon as the emergency light came on we immediately called our lead ship telling him what was going on. We started playing around with the selector switch to see if we could isolate exactly what was malfunctioned; and after a while we got an indication showing that the fuselage tank was filling, which meant that – whatever the problem was – it had rectified itself, and every thing was normal. This was a period of four or five minutes.

When we were satisfied that all systems were fine, suddenly there was a voice over the radio saying, “Hot dog (our call sign) you are cleared for an emergency landing into Yokota.” We were very surprised, as we were talking over a frequency used only by our squadron for our aircraft to discuss private matters. No one else was supposed to be listening to our frequency. But, obviously, some guy at aircraft approach control had been listening to our conversation; and – without speaking to us – had hit the emergency button at approach control, clearing all other aircraft out of the area, giving us number one clearance for landing. When he told us we were cleared for an emergency landing, we replied, “That is negative. There is no emergency. We will be flying a normal mission, and contact you in about an hour when we want to land.” In a strange almost melancholic voice, the controller on the ground said. “It's kind of lonely down here tonight. We are supposed to get so many practices a month. If you fellows don't have anything else to do would you follow my instruction to give me a practice emergency landing?” “No problem. We'd be glad to help you out.” “Alright, take up heading of 1-8-0 and descend to 4,000 feet.” We were quite close to the field. I pulled the throttle back to idle, and made a high speed let down to approach altitude. From there the controller talked us down to make a normal GCA (ground controlled approach) landing.

We were right over the field boundary at about 15 feet in the air when Stew said to me, “What do you want to do?” “I'm easy. I don't care.” “I'm kind of tired. Let's knock this one off tonight and do it again tomorrow night. Let's get some coffee.” I called lead ship saying we were going to full stop this one; and he said he wanted to fly some more. He slammed the throttle forward and went around, and I pull our throttle back to idle to make a full stop landing. As we taxied in, and were shutting down, Stew said, “Let's check that fuel again and see what we have left”. It wasn't until then that we discovered that we had inadvertently gotten the selector switch set on the dead tanks and switched it over to read the main fuselage tank. We were stunned to discover that we had 30 seconds of fuel left on board. It had been a bone-a- fide emergency all along. Had we attempted to go around we would have flamed out at the end of the of runway, too low to eject. Stew had been flying for 15 years. His knees buckled. That was as close to death as he ever came.

In retrospect I am totally convinced that the controller who brought us down that night did not have a mother or a father. That was no man. There is no reason why anybody should have been on our frequency, and in 5 years of flying I never heard of a practice emergency landing. That just never happened. There is no question but what that was an angel that saved us that night.

Another time was when I was over in Laos. I had been in Laos about three times but had zero contacts in that country. I didn't know a soul. I was up in Luang Brabang having supper by myself in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant one night. A back-packer came in and asked if he could join me. As we were eating, I was sharing with him how I got saved. I had met a lot of back-packers, but had never met a Christian. He was extremely quiet and never gave any indication where he stood other than he seemed to know too much as I questioned whether or not he had ever heard the Gospel. At length I turned to him and said, “Okay, it's your turn. When did you get saved?” He was a secrete missionary. I asked, “Do you know this country?” “Yes.” “Let's get out of here where we can talk?”

As we walked the blacked out streets of Luang Brabang that night I said, “Please tell me where the Christians are.” He was the one who checked me out in Laos and told me where to go. It was getting towards 9:30 at night and we had been talking for over two hours. As we parted, I stuck my hand out to shake hands and said, “My name is Bill Cook. And yours?” He replied, “Names are not important.”, and walked away. I went where he told me, and that was how I got established in Laos. But as I asked around and got to know the country better I came to the conclusion that he also did not have a mother or father. I am sure there was no such missionary in Laos.

It is a rare occasion that we see an angel but I am sure that there is far more involvement with angelic protection and assistance than we realize. I wish more angels would drop by and put 1,000 baht notes in books, but that is only when we need them. For Paul he has had a lot of unusual experiences with the Holy Spirit directing him, and doing unusual things, but for something that physical, that was a new event for him

We don't worship angels or pray to them. Twice John tried to worship one, and he was rebuked both times saying they were only our servants and to worship God (Rev. 19:10; 22:8). Our fellowship is with Jesus. But we are members of the spirit world and these are some of the participants.

What a privilege we have to know the Lord!

                                                                                  bill

Those Eyes

2 Jun 2013

Dear Phyllis,

I have three things to discuss today, and I have no idea how in the world I will be able to get them in one letter.

First of all, at 6:00 AM this morning I was raving, “This has got to be the greatest moment of my life!” It was! Unquestionably, that was the greatest moment of my life. Andrew Murray points out that the three parameters of the OT Tabernacle are three levels of spiritual experience. There is the Outer court, the Inner sanctuary, and the Holiest of All – behind the Veil. In the Outer court we find the brass altar for the forgiveness of sin – which is salvation. In the Inner sanctuary we find the candle stick, the golden altar, and the table of show bread – which is service. But behind the Veil is the ark of the covenant covered by the mercy seat – which is the presence of the Lord. For 56 years that Veil has always been a problem for me. Ever since I have been saved I have read books, heard messages, and listened to testimonies longingly, feeling like there was something more for me. This morning I arrived. I am within the Veil.

No nothing new happened. It was just that the Lord opened my eyes to see things better. One night we were coming home from Bangkok on a night bus, and I was sound asleep. Pammy woke me up saying, “We are home. This is Chiang Mai.” Nothing new happened, it was just that I woke up and discovered that I was already there. I have been here for some time, but there was a new awareness of what Christ has done for me and where I am.

Andrew Murray explains that there are four points that the writer of Hebrews is trying to impress upon his readers – the Sanctuary, the Blood, the Living Way, and the Priest. He says, “The best of all is the Priest”. AMEN! What I discovered within the Veil is the Priest. Jesus is here who has done all for me. He is the one who brought me here. And He is the one who keeps me here.

No this is not a life-transforming experience. I don't feel like I just got the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I haven't had a Hudson Taylor exchanged-life experience. I am not a new man in Christ. I just had a real good time of devotions this morning. But there is a new awareness of the reality of what Jesus has done for me and where He has placed me. The road of how I got here is a long story. It lasts 56 years, and I won't go into that today. But at 6:00 AM I was raving, “This has got to be the greatest moment of my life.”

The second item I would like to share with you is what the Lord has done for us financially. For the past six months we have been in a financial furnace like I have never faced in my life. Pammy has a problem that is common to some women in being weak in handling money. This has been a huge issue ever since we have been married. All of our regular support comes from Japan. In November she had overspent so much that for four months we were unable to draw anything from our bank account in Japan. How we made it not being able to draw funds from our bank account is a story that I still haven't figured out. One miracle was, that shortly after we got in that desert there was an unusually large gift that came in from America. We have a US ATM card, but there is virtually nothing in that account. Support from the states is about once a year. At critical times, quite miraculously, the Lord did provide something from here in Thailand. I was relieved when April finally came and we were able to use our Japan ATM card. But then I couldn't find it. I had to write my friend in Japan and ask him to get us a new ATM card. Having just gone through a desert, we finally came to an oasis, but there was no bucket to draw the water. It has taken almost two more months to get a bucket. A month ago Neil wrote me that Hirota had gotten us a new card, and about three weeks ago Hirota sent me an e-mail saying the card was in the mail. But no card arrived. Day after day I pleaded with the Lord that that card would get here today. No soap. Last week we were bone dry. The refrigerator was bare. We had no bread, butter, eggs, vegetables, or fruit. I love fruit juice, but I have been drinking a lot of ice water imagining that it is fruit juice. When we were slam out, for the first time in months the directors of Annie's kindergarten showed up to thank me for making some wooden clocks for them three months ago, and asking me to come back to teach. They gave us an envelope with 2,000 baht ($60). Praise God! Friday I was at a meeting to discuss making some dendo material for Japan, and they had a time of special prayer at the end. Vaughan asked, “Bill, what can we pray for you?” I said, “We desperately need our Japan ATM card.” Saturday was another long day of disappointment. Then at 6:00 last evening the postman showed up with a letter from Japan. I kissed his hand. He must have thought I was nuts. But it is here and we can breath again. Praise God!

The third subject today is todays message. I mentioned in passing last week that I would be speaking today. I did. It was a message that has been heavily on my heart for some time. As I have shared, I am going through a 12 message series on the loveliness of Jesus from Song of Sol. 5:10-16. Today was the 5^thmessage. The topic was “The eyes of Jesus”. This subject takes us more into the soul of our Lord than anything I know. It has been said that the eyes are the window of the soul. This being true, it is by His eyes that we look deeply into the core of Jesus.

The eyes clearly tell us a great deal about what is inside a person. It is perfectly obvious when someone is raging mad, sad, or in love. A person doesn't have to say a word. The look in their eyes tells it all. There is something in the nature of an animal that tell us about who they are. The eyers of carnivorous animals and herbivorous animals are completely different. The eyes of a fox, lion, or wolf are radically different than a cow, lamb, or deer. The eyes of a hawk or eagle are different than a dove. My friend Miriam Reid one time had a visit from the devil. The devil physically appeared to her in the kitchen one day, and talked with her. I asked her, “What did he look like?” She said, he was beautiful. One of the most handsome creatures she had ever seen.' Then she added, “But his eyes. They were cats eyes like a tiger.” When she told me that, I replied, “Sister, you have seen the devil.”

To be honest I had to point out that there are two radically different views of the eyes of Jesus presented to us in scripture. In S. of S. 5:12 we see that, “His eyes are as the eyes of doves”. But in Rev. 1:14, “His eyes were as a flame of fire”. It is necessary that we accept a two-sided view if our Lord. Liberals and Joel Olsteen don't like to see both sides of God. But the same God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son is also the God that said, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Ps. 9:17). It is in fear of this lovely Lord Jesus that we are told someday everyone on earth will cry to the rocks and the mountains to fall on them to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:15-17).

The obvious explanation for the contrasting eyes of our Lord is that it matters who He is speaking to. To a criminal listening to an enraged judge pronouncing his death sentence, his eyes would appear as a flame of fire. But the same judge could go home and lovingly pick up his son or grandson. To the child his eyes would look like doves eyes.

The testimony that His eyes are as doves eyes comes from the Bride of Christ. It is not surprising that the Bride of Christ would say this of Jesus. There is something wrong with any relationship between two people deeply in love with each other that wouldn't say that about their lover. For any true believer this should be their testimony of Jesus.

I told the folks this morning that there are three Jesus. There is the man who walked on this earth 2,000 years ago. No doubt there were many who would say He had the eyes of a dove. Of all the creatures in the world a dove probably has the most innocent, harmless eyes of any. There is no glare in them. To the woman caught in the act of adultery in John 8; when the Pharisees caught her in the act and dragged her to the Lord demanding what should be done with her; He quietly replied, “Let him that is without sin cast the first stone”. They all took off. She was left alone with Jesus, and He told her, “Neither do I condemn you.” Oh my goodness, can you imagine the emotion that must have swept over that woman? Ten minutes later someone could have asked her, “What did He look like?”; and she might have replied, “He had the eyes of a dove.” To Mary, who sat at His feet and washed them with her tears, he must have looked like He had doves eyes. For those who knew Him, when they saw the benignness, the tenderness, and the lovingness in the eyes of Jesus no doubt the consensus would have been, “He has the eyes of a dove.”

That Jesus is no longer with us. He has gone home to be with His Father. But it is the same Jesus who presides over the church by His Spirit today. The Holy Spirit is nothing other than the very Spirit of Christ Himself. And when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the river it is highly significant that the Bible tell us that He came as a dove (Mt. 3:16; Mk. 1:10: Lk. 3:22; Jn. 1:32). Just as the Lamb is the universal symbol of Jesus, the Dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. In speaking of Jesus today, how is it possible that the Christian could say anything other than He has the eyes of a dove? This is the very essence of the Holy Spirit. The Jesus that we deal with today still has those same dove's eyes that He had when He was here in the flesh.

But there is a third Jesus who has eyes like a flame of fire. I told the folks this morning that one thing I could promise them with no fear of contradiction; some day they will be called to stand before this Christ and look Him in the eyes. Rom. 14:10 warns that “we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.” I said, “Some day you will have to look Jesus in the eyes and hear His judgment”.

When Dave was 12, some guests were staying with us and used his bedroom. One day the brother showed me a Playboy joke book he found under Dave's mattress. I told him to put it back and I would deal with that later. A couple weeks later I took Dave with me to my shop and talked to him about mercy. For an hour I spoke very tenderly about the necessity of being honest, and we could have mercy. I asked, “Dave, is there anything you need to confess to me? If you are honest there will be no problem.” He thought for a while, and replied he couldn't think of anything. After I had exhausted all resources of getting him to confess, suddenly I changed to be extremely hostile. I grabbed him by the collar and demanded, “Get in the truck! We are going home.” When he saw my changed behavior, suddenly he piped up and remarked, “Oh dad, there is one thing.” I roared, “Too late! Mercy has passed and judgment has come!” We went home and I pulled the Playboy magazine out from under his mattress and shouted, “What do you call this?” Oh my goodness he got a hard hiding.

I pleaded with the girls, “Today is the day of mercy. Later will be the day of judgment. Give your heart to Jesus now before it is too late.” I had everyone close their eyes and imagine they were standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Then I asked, “What do His eyes look like? The eyes you saw is how He will deal with you.” I told them that they could give their hearts to Jesus right there, right now. Or if anyone wanted to come to Christ, but didn't know how, I would still be at church at 1:00 and would be glad to talk to them. No one came, but it seemed that the Lord was talking to one girl who had tears in her eyes and she left early. To those who are His own people, Jesus has the eyes of doves, but to the lost they are a flame of fire.

Oh the amazing goodness of God. Thank You Jesus,                   

bill