Beyond Common Sense

Step # 1 in Operation: Becoming an Author–get organized!!! I have blog drafts dating back to 2015!! This is an example. As I read it, I was reminded of two things: 1. How much I have learned about writing! I didn’t have Grammarly to help back in 2015 either. And two, how fast our times are changing! As I read the title of the post, the term “soul-winner” brought a barrage of thoughts. Can we even use that term anymore? If you are wondering why I ask that question, read on. The following is a news clip from The Worldview in 5 minutes“

Late last month, the Michigan House of Representatives passed HB 4474, a bill that if signed into law, will criminalize as hate speech any criticism against transgender ideology that makes a person ostensibly feel “frightened,” reports LifeSiteNews.com.

Adam McManus

How long until the Gospel will be labeled as hate speech because it “makes a person ostensibly feel ‘frightened?'” Does that mean we cannot tell people about Jesus? Absolutely not! However, we may need to become creative as well as cautious in our approach, like giving a book to someone you are burdened for which clearly contains the Gospel message–a book like, “Twelve Smooth Stones” or any of my other books!

Written on July 24, 2012: This blog is dedicated to all those who call themselves soul-winners.  They carry the Gospel in their hearts and gladly share it with others.  Gladys Porter, from Twelve Smooth Stones, is such a person.  Below is a rather long excerpt, but hopefully, you will enjoy it!

       (Esther is on her way to the United States after she survived the Holocaust, was rescued by Oskar Schindler and became part of his workforce, and moved to Israel to witness its birth.)

 Esther returned to the room she shared with five other women. It was sufficient and clean but offered little in the way of comfort.  Thinking back on the many modes of transportation that she had taken, it was more than adequate. Each of the girls had her own bunk and one of the lockers stacked behind the door.  A sink stood in one corner below a small mirror next to a porthole; a shower room was just down the hall.

          At first, the girls had all stayed to themselves, but the long passage had forced them to become acquainted with each other.  Esther made it a habit to read her Bible often, so she shouldn’t have been surprised when one of the other girls asked her if she was a Christian.

          “No!”  Esther replied quickly, taken aback by the question.

          “Oh!”  The girl was equally as surprised.  Gladys Porter was a rather tall girl with the curliest hair Esther had ever seen.  Her light brown hair was cropped rather short and circled her face like a halo. Bright blue eyes peered questioningly behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses.  “I guess I just assumed you were when I saw you reading the Bible.”

          “Oh, I…”  Esther hesitated.  Did she really want to tell this stranger her whole story?  There was something about this tall, slim young woman that put a longing into Esther’s heart.  Her casual stance, arms relaxed, head tilted slightly to one side, made Esther want to share the heavy burden that pressed down on her heart.  She answered, “A friend gave this to me and I’m just curious.”

          “Oh,” Gladys said, seeming to want to say more.

          “Are you a Christian?” Esther asked before she thought.

          Gladys smiled as though a door had just been opened to her.  “Yes, I am.  But I haven’t always been.”

          Esther looked at her questioningly.

          Gladys continued, “I was not raised in a Christian home.  My family never went to church.”

          “Were you Jewish?” Esther asked, not understanding.

          “Oh no, we weren’t anything.”  Gladys saw the startled look on Esther’s face.  She went on hesitantly, “Are you Jewish?”

          Esther looked chagrined.  “How did you know?”

          Gladys chuckled.  “Well, for one thing, I noticed that you only read the Old Testament.  Then, for someone to be startled that a person would have no religion and then to ask if I was Jewish, along with your accent…”  Gladys shrugged.  “I guess I just put it all together.”

          That had been the beginning of a wonderful friendship that Esther knew would last a lifetime…

       On the final day of their voyage, Esther made certain she woke early.  She knew they were scheduled to sail past the Statue of Liberty, and she didn’t want to miss it.  Little David had been such a joy to all the girls, and they had gladly watched out for him if Esther happened to leave the room.  She did so now, tip-toeing to the door and heading for the stairway just down the narrow hall.  It had become a favorite spot for her to read, especially during these early morning hours.  Most of the ship was still slumbering to the rhythmic motion of the sea.  I could sail on forever, Esther thought as she settled onto the metal step. Maybe I’ll become a sailor!  She laughed outright at the thought, then quickly looked about to see if anyone had heard her.  What nonsense!   She looked down at the Bible resting in her lap.  By now, she had made her way through the first three books of the New Testament and wondered at their familiarity.  They all seemed to say the same thing!  It puzzled her until one day when Gladys mentioned that the first four books were called the Gospels.  What a strange word!

          She had so many questions but didn’t have the nerve to ask for answers.  Somehow, this adventure seemed to belong to her and Kurt.  At times, she felt as though he were sitting beside her, leading her across each page.

          She was so fascinated by the story of Nicodemus and the woman at the well!  This Jesus seemed to always have just the right answers for whoever He was talking to!  She was riveted to every word in chapter eight as Jesus conversed with her people when verse thirty-two seemed to jump right off the page: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  She looked up past the metallic white ceiling above her.

          Oh, Father.  I need the truth.  Please help me to know the truth about Your Son!  She returned to the words of Jesus, devouring them like a starved animal.  As the Jews argued with Jesus, she tried to see their side.  “They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?”  Well, that was certainly not true!  How many times had her people been taken into captivity because of their unfaithfulness to God?

          “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you.”  Because my word hath no place in you…  What if He truly was the Son of God?  “My word hath no place in you.”  The thought overwhelmed Esther.  Oh, Father!  I want Your word to have a place in my heart.  Is this Your word?  She continued to read as the Jews debated with Jesus, trying to hold on to her heritage and yet finding peace with each word of the supposed Messiah.  As she read on, verse forty-four made her gasp: “Ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do.”  She read the words again and slammed the Book shut.  How dare He!  Her thoughts whirled within her mind.  My people are not Satan’s people!  The thought made her face burn.  He must be an impostor – a liar!  And with those thoughts, the Evil One snatched away several of the seeds that had been planted in her heart.  She vowed that she would NEVER look past Malachi again!  Of all the wicked things to say!  And yet as she climbed the stairs and angrily pushed open the door to the deck – the wind hitting her face, her steps were heavy.  She walked across the deck to the railing and waited for the sun to make its appearance.  The sky was bursting forth with color – splashes of red, orangs, and pink raced across the sky.  She loved to stare at the eastern horizon, waiting for the sun’s arrival.  Each time, she was not disappointed as the brilliant orb popped up, starting as just a tiny slice of brilliance.  With each passing second, it seemed to majestically take over the whole of creation, as if to cry, “Here I am – ruler of all land, sea, and sky!”  For the moment, she had forgotten her struggle with the Word of God, but as she stood there, enveloped in the rays of the dawning day, one seed remained out of the grasp of the Enemy: “…because my word hath no place in you.”  The phrase would continue to haunt her even as the ship slid past Lady Liberty.

          Everywhere she looked, the words that she had read seemed to appear from nowhere and taunt her.  Later that day, as Gladys quoted the words immortalized by the statue, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” Esther’s mind flew to the words of Jesus:  “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  Would she ever be free?  The heaviness in her heart made her doubt that it could ever be possible for her.  Questions continued to swirl in her mind like the little eddies that teased the ship’s hull.  She tried to keep her voice light and her steps quick, but Gladys saw the struggle and knew God was answering her prayers.  Time, Gladys, the Lord seemed to whisper to her as she fervently prayed. Give her time – be her friend, and let my Spirit do the rest.