Many counsellors...

[MaricoG]

I have a very dear friend...someone I love very much...whom I have not seen for 20 years...who just called me to talk for the first time in many years...though we have emailed jokes and two sentence greetings for at least 11 years.

He is not saved.  I told him I wanted him saved because otherwise we will not be forever friends...and he will not be in a happy place for eternity.  As we were talking carefully, I asked him if I could send him a book or two.  He said yes, but not the Bible as he could not understand it...  wow...was that correct or what? 

So...my question is this.  What book would you send him to let him know this is about God, not a religion or a social setting, to show him he needs salvation and why. 

This whole thing is open for discussion, and all imput will be considered. 

Also, I ask for prayer for John.  His wife just went through breast cancer...3 years so far, and is arriving home from Zurich this evening...one of the reasons was to receive light therapy via her veins...for wellness.  Anyone heard of such a thing?

[Christine]

I have a very dear friend...someone I love very much...whom I have not seen for 20 years...who just called me to talk for the first time in many years...though we have emailed jokes and two sentence greetings for at least 11 years.

He is not saved.  I told him I wanted him saved because otherwise we will not be forever friends...and he will not be in a happy place for eternity.  As we were talking carefully, I asked him if I could send him a book or two.  He said yes, but not the Bible as he could not understand it...  wow...was that correct or what? 

So...my question is this.  What book would you send him to let him know this is about God, not a religion or a social setting, to show him he needs salvation and why. 

This whole thing is open for discussion, and all imput will be considered. 

Also, I ask for prayer for John.  His wife just went through breast cancer...3 years so far, and is arriving home from Zurich this evening...one of the reasons was to receive light therapy via her veins...for wellness.  Anyone heard of such a thing?

Hi Mari,

I don't know of many books that deal only with the issue of salvation, Mari. I would recommend sending him a letter in your own words, telling him about the good news being that God has done everything necessary to clear our sin debt so that He can give to us the righteousness we need to enter his sinless heaven, and that all the work was accomplished on the CROSS. BELIEVING that God actually DID what He said He did with all of our sins (which by the way is what was separating us from Him to begin with) by putting them OUT OF HIS SIGHT FOREVER as being  all that is required to be reconciled to God.

He is honest that he doesn't understand the Bible...so go to him as you would a child and explain why we need what God has to offer and how we cannot get it on our own. Tell him that God will do a supernatural work when he believes and will make him a part of a living organism that he wasn't part of before, along with giving him the peace OF God in His heart and mind.

We all must begin somewhere...and tell him that the Bible IS understandable, however, first we must become acquainted with its AUTHOR. Once the author moves INTO our lives, he gives us LIGHT on what we find revealed in His Word.

Once he becomes saved...THEN comes the instruction in righteousness and learning who we ARE in Christ...but this first step is critical.

I find that it almost always has to be done ONE ON ONE. What a great opportunity for you to trust that God will give you the words you need to say that are consistent with the scriptures on what WILL save him.

If you need help, I am certainly willing to help you, and others here can give you advice as well, I'm sure.

[MaricoG]

That was GREAT Christine, and I may just use what you wrote...scrambled a bit to fit me saying it.   

How about sending the book The Mystery along with the letter?  Or something else?  I am still thinking of sending a Bible too...actually will get him a nice Scofield, leather with his name on it...which might surprise him...you know?  What do you think?

Just a little background.  This man kidnapped me years ago from Scottsdale, AZ, and took me to Europe for quite sometime...  While he did it for love rather than for money, it radically changed my life and the direction of my life, as you might understand.  At any rate, I want him for the Lord.  Also...I have been a little bit rattlled since he called me today!

[Christine]

That was GREAT Christine, and I may just use what you wrote...scrambled a bit to fit me saying it.   

How about sending the book The Mystery along with the letter?  Or something else?  I am still thinking of sending a Bible too...actually will get him a nice Scofield, leather with his name on it...which might surprise him...you know?  What do you think?

Just a little background.  This man kidnapped me years ago from Scottsdale, AZ, and took me to Europe for quite sometime...  While he did it for love rather than for money, it radically changed my life and the direction of my life, as you might understand.  At any rate, I want him for the Lord.  Also...I have been a little bit rattlled since he called me today!

Oh my....was he ever prosecuted for kidnapping you? Mari, you never cease to amaze me....what else don't I know about you??? wink wink  I am presently picking up my jawbone from the floor!!!!!!

The Mystery would be a good book to send. If you send him your copy, I can send you another. A nice Bible would be a kind and generous thing to do (but I would expect no less from a person as sensitive to others needs as you are!) Be sure not to give him too much information about where you ARE...in case he is planning a repeat performance....wow....my life is dull in comparison, Mari, but I think I am glad... LOL

Keep us posted on what you do and how God uses you, sweetie.

[NewDawn]

My goodness Mari!!   
To even be talking to him is such a testimony of what God has done in your life.  That's so awesome!!

Did you used to live in Scottsdale?  I live in Glendale, AZ.

[MaricoG]

No, I live in a remote area in Montana now, Diana....but I lived in and owned property in Glendale too, for a time. :-)

Oh dear...I can't really tell the whole story on line, it has too MANY twists and turns.

I am overwhelmed with even trying to think of where to begin, or how to tell what happened, really, in another life, another time.  Christine, I thought maybe we had talked all about this on one of our many, long phone calls?  LOL 

It is way too much of a soap for here....but suffice it to say, that I fell in love with him one day in Austria.  I even remember the way the sun cast the light that day, but things happened later that increasingly confused me, and I fled from him when we returned to the States...  We never stopped loving each other, but we don't belong to each other.  I did not know how to trust him.  So it is rare that we talk...and out of the blue he called today...and I asked him if he has come to know the Lord, and he said no. 

There are no coincidences....I believe the Lord is at work here! 

[NewDawn]

Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you to talk about it.  But I could tell that it was bad, and for you to do what you are doing shows how God has worked in your life. 

<<Hugs>>
Diana

[MaricoG]

Oh no hon...don't you dare apologize!  I would tell you if it would not take me two weeks of typing here!  LOL  Without the whole context, it really is unbelieveable otherwise.  Most likely is anyway, as it does go into the realms of a true soap opera.  That was my life before hearing the Lord call me!

Thanks Diana... I like you, just reading your posts.  ((((hugs)))) back to you! It is fun to meet what I believe are forever friends...those who are members of the Body of Christ! 

[Lu]

You all sound like wonderful people and I'm very happy to be associated with this fine group.......
Another thing that I think might help your friend, Mari, is if you write a little something explaining that Gen thru John is times past, Romans thru Philemon is what pertains to our present time and Hebrews thru Rev is in the future, so he doesn't get mixed up right off the bat.....

Prayers and good wishes,  Lu

[MaricoG]

Thanks LU....I will add that too. 

I am coming down with something today...maybe a cold.  If I feel okay tomorrow I will work on the letter...and have you all tweak it with me, if you all will?   

[Oasis]

Hi Mari,

If I might add to the good suggestions, once you've talked to him in your own words, I would send him Matthew McGee's article here:
http://www.matthewmcgee.org/dispensa.html
In support of Scripture I've found this to be a good starting point in practicle teaching. 

There are many good books.  THINGS THAT DIFFER was an eye opener for me.  There are quizes at the end of each chapter.  You could agree to read a chapter each week, or at whatever pace you desire, and talk about each one as you go.

After asking his permission, you could request that the Berean Society send him their monthly publication, and sign him up for the daily online devotionals. 

You have an unusual opportunity with this witness, Mari.  Simply surround him with God in everyway you can think of, but without pressuring him about it.  Make it a natural part of every conversation so that it won't just be a special event in his life, but it will become what he looks forward to daily in life.  While you surround him with God, we will surround the both of you in prayer.

Lastly, and I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, be sensative to his wife.  I don't know how much she knows about your past with him, but if she knows she might well feel intimidated by you, especially with current health issues.  Take your time and be sensitive to God's calling to either press or back off as this unfolds.

ybiC,
Kab

 

[MaricoG]

Thanks Kab...great addition!  I will print that out...

Yes, I met his wife long ago.  She is quite beautiful and sweet, but is not a Christian either...so everything has to be done with her in mind as well!  I did find out yesterday in conversation that her mother is Catholic, and that helps me some in understanding her not wanting to be a part of a religion.  The RCC is a religion, not a relationship with the Lord.   I will work on the letter later today I hope.

[NewDawn]

Hi Mari,
I've been talking to my parents about right division.  My dad is getting it, but still has his foot in the catholic church.  My mom, not sure if she does. . she kind of keeps things to herself.  They still go to a catholic church, but as long as the Lord has me sharing with them what I've learned then, they'll always be hearing the gospel.

They are so protective of the catholic church, it's strange. 

[MaricoG]

Diana,

I too was raised Catholic...to the marrow of my bones.  Talk about miracles.  Anytime someone comes out of a cult relligion like the RCC or CoC etc., it is truly a miracle of God! It chokes me up just to write about this....as I can never, ever get over what God has done for me!

Most of my family is still Catholic too...my two older brothers and my parents.  I witness as I can, and pray hard for them.  This relligion is so evil because it snares them on so many levels, and we can only pray for the Lord to break the bonds, and open their eyes and ears to the truth.

While it often appears hopeless to me, I must remember, that God called me out!  And I was as Catholic as Catholic gets...lol  I was raised by Holy Names and Fransican Nuns at private and boarding schools for girls.  Again, the stories to tell!! I wanted to be a Carmelite Nun until I was 17.... 

Keep praying, keep witnessing, by your life and whatever means they will allow.  That is what we can do.  Hugs to you!

[NewDawn]

Thanks Mari,
I do pray for them all the time, and I'm believeing that they will come out of there. 

LOL, what you said made me think too.  I wanted to be a nun when I was in my teens. . .I also wanted to have a child!  Good thing none of those ever came to fruition! Aye yi yi!!!

My parents sent me to cathecism, can we say boring!!  Why weren't the nuns happy and joyful, I would think to myself? Well now I know.

But I know what you mean, I wasn't heavy into RCC, but I always knew there something more and that God wasn't frowning at me.  Do you remember that??