The Free Fall

There is a story of a man that my father once used in a sermon. As the story goes, a man decided to climb a great mountain, but wanted glory only for himself, so he went alone.

         Night began to fall, and the man was not too far from the top when he lost his footing and began to quickly descend into the cold dark night. As he was free falling, his life flashed behind his eyes--good parts and bad—when suddenly he was stopped in mid-air by the rope tied to his waist.

         At that moment, he did the only thing he could think of, he cried out to God for help. God answered saying “What would you like me to do?”

         “Save me, God!” the man replied.

         “Do you really think I can save you?”

         “Of course I believe you can.”

         “Then cut the rope tied to your waist.”

         There was a moment of silence, and then the man decided he would rather cling to his rope than to trust in God to save him. The next morning, the man was found dead and frozen to death, his body hanging from his rope, hands held tightly to it.

         He was only 10 feet from the ground.

         What rope are you clinging to? What is it that you are hanging on to so tightly that inhibits you from what God has to offer? Trusting God means giving something up that we think is the best thing for us—because we release it in the faith that He has something even greater for us. Are you prepared to cut your safety rope?

-Philos,
Lacey 

Even If He Slays Me

Most of us are intimately aware of the story of Faithful Job. He lost EVERYTHING: all of his family, all of his friends, and every single one of his worldly possessions.  Even his “loving wife” told him to just, ”Curse God” and get it over with. And his “friends” told him to repent for whatever heinous sin he had committed but refused to acknowledge or even tell anyone.

         While not all of us have lost everything as Job did, we have all felt like Job.  When things get bad--and I mean really bad--what will, or what have, you done?

         Did you assume God had abandoned you and turned away from him in anger and hurt? Hardening your heart with bitterness?

         Or did you take a page out of Job’s book (literally) and say, “Even if He slays me, yet will I trust Him”. (Job 13:15, KJV) once again I will be brutally transparent with you guys, I have not always kept that attitude when things began unraveling like a cheap shirt.

         Though there have been times in my life when I have turned my back on God, HE has never turned away from ME. He is always there, waiting for you to turn back to Him.  He never leaves nor forsakes us; yet, you leave and forsake Him. I can’t speak for you, but to me—that sounds like a change of perspective.

Philos,
Lacey Slifkoff

Two Different Worlds

          Another busy day for a mother: after working a ten-hour shift, it is time to guide my daughter toward a brighter future for herself. (Translation: Drive her to the local community college.) We drive through afternoon traffic at almost a snail’s pace; the heat rises from the street creating a somewhat bare feeling to the city. The street is lined with structures that are easily discounted of any interest to me. Out of the corner of my eye, a white flag waves EPIC. I asked my daughter “Did that say Bible College?” her response was, “Yes, and you should go there.” On the return trip, we just knew we had to stop. The excitement just overwhelmed my heart; then as we pulled to the school parking lot, I thought to myself, “I have not been to school in 20 years.”  I reached for the door and was greeted by a bright and cheery, “Hello. Good afternoon how can I help you?” I was in such a swivet, I could hardly form words to express my interest in the school. Patiently, the receptionist waited and responded by calling for an advisor to give me a tour.  I walked out with the feeling of encouragement, knowing I can do this, and with a quick stop at the receptionist’s desk, appointments were made for enrollment.

            I marvel at that the fact that every time I enter the campus there is a PEACE. I walk the halls and can hear others standing in the halls praying. OH! What a place! After a long day of working with the public, it is a fabulous end to the day.  First class of the evening starts with an opening prayer lead by our professor then the students are asked to the introduce themselves. In awe, we complete the task at hand. By time the class is over, we all have a feeling of family with the Love of God to guide us in these newfound relationships.  We head to chapel; we sing and give honor to God together--in school! Then we begin to pray for one another, expressing any difficulties or love ones we want help praying for. After this prayer time was over, I felt an even closer bond to these new surroundings.

            Years later, I found myself on a totally different campus, where I sat in a cold place, with constant stares, making me feel that I am out of place. Not one smiling face or warm embrace. I walked down those dreary halls of higher education not knowing for sure if that was where I should be. Oh how I longed to be at EPIC Bible College.  Finding myself in class where no one cares to even know your name, let alone be your neighbor at a table.  At the end of the day, the feeling of needing an “Epic Shower” is overpowering. Cleansing one from the unwelcoming spirit. I return to EPIC. Where people are not so caught up with themselves that they have no time to express the common pleasure of being a human in this big, beautiful world He created just for us. Thank God for EPIC where, unlike the world, we do take time for each other.

 

 

Chosen

 

Christine Fowler

More Like Him

          Working in customer service has is perks. For example, just the other day I was having a conversation with a lady about today’s church, and how different it is from the original idea Christ had for the church.

            She told me a story of a man that once went to a very well known and very wealthy televised church. He was homeless and wore the only clothes he owned- dirty, raggedy jeans with holes, a stained button up shirt missing some buttons, and holey shoes. As you can imagine, he probably did not smell too pleasant.

            After several people in the church purposefully moved to be farther away from him, the pastor came up to him and asked him to go home and pray about what he should maybe wear to church next week. The next week came, and again the gentleman wore the same clothes as the week before. Again, the pastor approached him and asked him if he had gone home and asked God for guidance on what to wear to his church. The man replied, ‘why, yes, I did. But he told me he didn’t know what I should wear because he’d never been here himself.”

            Many who know me know where I stand on this particular subject. My father, a pastor and preacher, had a heart for the homeless. So I grew up in a home with more compassion and understanding for homeless folks than most. While my own heart has been burdened for the youth of today, part of my father’s legacy of love for the homeless lives on in my heart.

            I cannot tell you how many churches I have been to and witnessed this same situation as that poor gentleman dealt with. My father taught me to always sit near them- or right next to them if it didn’t make them uncomfortable. But sadly, many didn’t have the advantage of being raised the way that I was.  They pull away and turn from the different, the new, the smelly, and the dirty. I’ve heard it said, by my own pastor, that if Jesus himself walked into some churches these days he’d be asked to leave because he didn’t fit the “dress-code.”

            How can we be Christ’s hands and feet if we are too busy fluffing our dresses, and smoothing our shirts to lend a hand to someone in need; or resting our feet after a “hard week” in our brand new, fancy work shoes, to go out to where those without proper shoes are?

            How can we be his arms that envelop us all in unending, and undeserving love when we are too busy crossing our arms in disgust as Mr. john doe shuffles into church looking for acceptance and love, but not looking (or smelling) the right way?

            The bible tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22: 39 AMP), yet how can we do that when we are so focused on our own problems and ourselves? It is proven fact that going out into the world and helping those that Christ also loves just as much as us, but don’t have the things and possessions we have (such as a roof over their head, more than one set of clothes, or simple toiletries for women.) will not only change your perspective, but open your eyes to how to be more like Christ. And in the end, isn’t that what we are all striving for? 

Philos, 

Lacey