http://ichthys.com/ 
Mutual Encouragement in Christ XXIII

Question #1:  
[omitted]
Response #1:  
From what I can see, with the terrific way you are passing these difficult tests and maintaining such a good attitude while continuing to grow and produce you are ready to "hit the beach"! 

So you encourage me to "double down" on my relationship with the Lord as well, my friend. We're going to need to be as close possible to Him once the Tribulation starts. So all this is very good practice. A set of "live fire exercises" in preparation for the real thing.
"For who is the one who has devoted his heart to come close to Me?", says the Lord.
Jeremiah 30:21b

Come closer to God, and He will come closer to you.
James 4:8
It will be a pleasure to continue to fight this fight with you in prayer, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #2:  
Thanks Bob,

It is a real pleasure to have you as a friend in Christ too. You are a very capable and encouraging army buddy to be enlisted in this spiritual war beside me! You build me up and cheer me on. I hope in some small ways I can do the same for you, by and by.

I have to confess that I have being going off course with my walk and last night and today I had to really think about it and confess all to the Lord. I know where I have gone wrong as the Lord has graciously shown me in detail all the wrong steps I took which were leading me off the narrow path.

[omitted]

We do have to take it one day at a time and cling tightly to the Lord and seek Him in all that we do. We can't do anything that glorifies Him without Him. 
As it says in these two verses

2 Cor 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

1 Cor 10:12
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Also it is always good to be aware of 

1 Pet 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I have confessed all this to the Lord. I look back at the joy I had in the Lord before and I have been in danger of losing that joy and seeing it all as a burden because I was flagging in my faith and tempted by lies.

Now I am recovering by taking it one day at a time again meekly. Returning to my first love and recovering that childlike faith the Lord told us we must have to enter the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 18:3
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

In Jesus,
Response #2:  
None of us is perfect. We all back-track. But it IS very important not to get complacent about confession of sin – if by complacency we mean "not doing it". The Lord's prayer includes a prayer of confession, of course, so at the very least we should be confessing once a day – and more is better (clearly). We should not make the mistake of assuming that if we are not emotional about it, it doesn't "count", however. God forgives us on the basis of the blood of Christ, not on the basis of how we feel. So on the one hand, we don't want to confess as a mere ritual or confess with no intention of addressing the problem (whatever the problem is); but on the other hand we cannot afford to make the mistake of assuming that the effectiveness or legitimacy of our confession has anything whatsoever to do with us or what we do or how we feel.

On testing versus discipline, this is a common concern, but it need not be. God's plan is perfect. He knows and always knew everything. So if we receive discipline and turn around (repent and confess), at that point the discipline is for blessing not cursing, to train us as a perfect Father trains the children He loves . . . and is essentially indistinguishable from a test. Now the REASON for the discipline/test in the first place is different, so there is that. But if it is a situation where we are not sure whether we are receiving a serious test irrespective of our behavior, then obviously the likelihood of this being severe discipline is low. We KNOW when we have really fouled up. If we have not done something truly egregious, then "bad things" are much more likely tests than not – and in my view that is how we should approach them. 

There is little worse or more detrimental to our spiritual momentum than allowing the evil one to manipulate us with feelings of guilt for things about which heavy guilt is highly inappropriate. It's a mistake to cast back into the distant past to look for "a reason" were being "punished". We would never wait three years to spank our children for something they did. God's discipline is quick and clear – and sometimes even explained (as in David's case). So if we are having a hard time telling the difference, then it is almost certainly a test we are receiving. And even if it is discipline, on confession it has been converted into a test – largely a difference without a distinction in practical terms of how we cope with it then. 
You have not suffered any testing beyond normal human [experience]. And God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tested beyond your capacity, but, along with the test, He will grant you the way out, so that you can bear up under it.
1st Corinthians 10:13

(7) So take your punishment in this spirit – God is behaving towards you as to sons. For what son has never been punished by his father? (8) And if it should be that you are not receiving punishment (in which all [true sons] share), then you are illegitimate and not sons at all. (9) Now we all had human fathers who punished us and we respected them for it. How much the more then shall we not submit ourselves to the Father of our spirits and live? (10) For while our human fathers meted out our punishment for a relatively short time according as they saw best, when He punishes us it is definitely for our own good – that we might partake of His holiness. (11) Now no punishment is a cause of rejoicing as it is being experienced, but rather of regret – only later does it bear fruit for those who have been trained through it – the fruit of [personal] righteousness that makes one whole and complete. 
Hebrews 12:7-11

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #3:   
Thank you Doc, 

Do you think God would punish a believer with something horrible like __ or the death of a loved one? I truly hope not...
Response #3:  
The Father disciplines us as only a truly perfect and loving father could do (please read Hebrews chapter 12). He doesn't discipline us to destroy us or to take vengeance upon us or to spitefully punish us but to correct our behavior for our own good, just the same way we would spank a beloved child of ours who was doing self-destructive things. 
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent."
Revelation 3:19 NKJV
For more on this, please see in BB 3B: "The Fact and Purpose of Divine Discipline " (at the link).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #4:   
Thank you Doc...I'm sorry I get angry at God. I always realize later it was a foolish thing to do. We just have to repent and confess and we'll be forgiven right? I feel like some people don't want others to be forgivable, because what they've done in the past is so awful. I'm talking about murderers, criminals, people like that. Why do so many people think they're irredeemable? Sure they reject Jesus, but still He died for everyone.
Response #4:  
Jesus died for all, and all are forgiven everything when they put their faith in Him. Serious crime, however, is often an indication of hardness so complete that there is no likelihood of the person ever turning around (e.g., 1Jn.3:15). But I would never underestimate the grace of God.

We believers have already been forgiven (1Cor.6:11), and are forgiven whatever sins we confess after being saved as soon as we confess them (1Jn.1:9; cf. Ps.32:5; see the link).
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
Psalm 103:8-13 NIV
As to getting angry with God, that is indeed foolish, silly, really, since God only ever wants what is right and good for us:
The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:9 NIV
It is also dangerous. Many times in scripture we are told that wisdom consists in the fear of the Lord, reverence for the One who made us and who controls all things. So we really do need to learn how to walk with Him in humility and gratitude – and learn how to repress our anger (and all other fleshly impulses) through the power of the Holy Spirit (e.g., Gal.5:16-25). 

As to being irredeemable, Jesus did indeed die for everyone and God wants everyone to be saved. It is also certainly true, however, that there is no profit in worrying about those who are demonstrating by their words and deeds that responding to God is the furthest thing from their minds. And it is doubly dangerous to even open a dialogue with such individuals. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. The thief on the cross who repented is in heaven. But we are also given the Spirit that we may be "wise as serpents" even as we endeavor to be "innocent as doves". So we leave it to those who seem by all their actions bound for hell to prove to us they are not before we are willing to get anywhere close.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #5:   
Thanks Bob,

I think what started to happen is that before I would carve out a lot of time alone with the Lord both with study and prayer. 

[omitted]
Response #5:  
What you say here makes a good deal of sense. Being a good person, you naturally are drawn to try to help others. That is not a bad thing, in principle, but we who belong to Jesus Christ always need to keep the focus on Him. If the person needing the help is a believer and if he/she is not involved in some terrible discipline of which they have refused to repent, then well and good. But we still need to take care.
(22) Have compassion on those who are struggling [with their consciences] (i.e., wavering in their faith in regard to sinful behavior). (23) Rescue those you can by snatching them from the fire [of temptation and its consequences]; but exercise [such] compassion in [godly] fear, hating even the smallest part of sin's contamination (i.e., stay clear of, lit., "even the garment tainted by the flesh").
Jude 1:22-23
When it comes to believers who are headed rapidly and willfully in the wrong direction, even prayer support becomes questionable:
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.
1st John 5:16 NKJV
Over time, we do get better, as we mature, at figuring out losing situations and abandoning them quickly – or even better staying away from them in the first place. If the Lord is wanting us to intervene, He is perfectly capable through His Spirit of making that plain to us. So in the end it is all about "divine guidance" . . . which in turn is mostly about believers learning to listen to the Spirit and discern things based upon a deep knowledge of the truth and a willingness to go with the truth in spite of what they see or hear or particularly what they feel. 

Here's a couple of links on that: in BB 6A, "Spiritual Discernment"; and in Hebrews 5: "Discerning between Good and Evil".

Keeping you in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #6:  
[omitted]
Response #6:  
Very interesting.

Personally, I agree with you entirely that this is much overdone. Yes, there are some people out there who have chemical imbalances which produce mood swings that are debilitating. But I don't remember this being a chronic issue for huge numbers of people in the ancient world (of which I am a student). And, like you, I don't remember this being anything but an exceptional occurrence when I was younger. It's only in the last twenty or thirty years that mental health has received such a high profile. It's hard to believe that a century ago a third of the people in this country really needed therapy and drugs. I do sincerely believe that children are over-diagnosed and WAY over-medicated for these types of things. And even in cases where there are "problems", I'm not convinced that therapy, let alone medication, is the best solution for most people – and especially not for Christians. 

The truth is the best therapy for everything. As you note in your critique, coming to know the Savior's love and getting to the point of forgiving as we are forgiven (and are commanded to do) is a complete "game changer". The more we grow, the more we come to rely on the Lord; and He is able to provide for all of our needs. Now I do realize that for physical ailments we do often need to take advantage of the secular help He provides. If I have a serious toothache, I will surely pray . . . AND get to the dentist (e.g.). But since so much of the fight we're called to fight as believers has to do with what goes on in our hearts, it's really hard for me to accept that for the vast majority of believers, doubling down on spiritual growth is not the answer (instead of therapists and drugs). As I have often said when having this conversation, I'm not willing to "throw the baby out with the bath water", merely wanting to point out that in my (not so) humble opinion on this issue there is a great amount of bath water and not so many babies.

Thanks for the help! Got a lot of painting and repairs done this weekend. Actually looking forward to the week ahead . . . to get some rest!

Keeping you and your family in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #7:   
[omitted]
Response #7:  
If the Spirit is guiding you to engage on these issues with your family, then by all means that is what you should do. Given your history – and given the history of your family – I was only being concerned for your welfare. Far be it from me to stand in the Lord's way. These are decisions you have to make, and it sound to me as if you are very solid in your thinking about them at this point. This is my experience of what the Christian life should be. We learn. We grow. We are tested. We are tried and refined. We start helping others. And when it comes to decision making on issues of this sort, we put the matter in the Lord's hands with prayer . . . then when He gives us confidence about what is the right thing to do we jump in with both feet, no looking back and no regrets. 

I'll be praying for your success.

Keeping you and your family in my prayers, my friend, and many thanks for your prayer support as well.

In Jesus,
Question #8:   
[omitted]
Response #8:  
I'm confident that you can navigate all this without sailing onto the rocks and shoals. 

Excellent point about spiritual growth, one that I have noticed often, but one which is easy to forget. We have relationships with people over many years. We are continually growing, being pruned and refined by the Lord, drawing ever closer to Him, not perfectly, not in a perfectly straight line, but increasing in knowledge of the truth and in our application of it day by day. People we've known, family members too, fellow Christians too, mostly have not been doing this. So we sort of just assume subconsciously that "they are more or less where we are", but in fact often times they've slipped way behind – or we've run far ahead. And they don't "get it" the way we do. How could they? I mean, once you really do believe that God is GOD, everything changes. And the bigger He becomes to us, the smaller everything else gets. That is a fundamental difference in perspective that makes explaining spiritual things to others who are still spiritually immature an often dicey affair. So good for you that you are seeing this problem as you begin to engage in ministry!

Praying for you and your family daily. Thanks for your prayer support as always too!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #9:  
Hello Prof, how are you? It's been a long time. I am very sorry I've not written to you for quite some time.

Prof, I am doing ok and I hope you are too. I have been doing okay because the Lord has been keeping me.

My court cases have been ongoing. In fact one of them that we saw almost to the end, we have to start afresh again in another town due to some general changes in judicial policies thus prolonging everything!. God knows best. All I can do is ask for mercy.

Actually it's not been easy for me generally, but I thank God for everything. My health is reasonable. My children have been progressing. One is working in Britain, the second one is already working here and the third one is finishing her medical degree this year. What can I say except to thank God. Three children trained as doctors by his mercy and Grace. I cant really complain sir

I'm trying to put finishing touches to what I'm writing about the tribulation period and relying heavily on your work before I put it into audio. By his mercy I hope to keep you posted.

I glean some of what's happening to you from your response to letters and try to pray for you.

Our friend has been of immense help to me and I thank God for him and family and also thank you for introducing me to him at that time. You will just help me to say thank you to him.
God bless you sir

Prof in reality, after not writing to you for a very long time I feel a little bit ashamed but I just had to pluck up courage to write you. Better late than never! Thank you very much for the influence that you have had upon my life. It's eternal. 

May you never be put to shame in Jesus name 

God bless you Prof. It would be so nice to hear back from you. I confess I've missed you.

Thanks sir

In Him
Response #9:  
Great to hear from you, my friend! I had just finished praying for you on my list when I read your email. I'm sad to hear that you are still struggling with all of these legal troubles, but very pleased to hear that your efforts to share the Word are progressing.

Great news about your children! Keeping them and your family in my prayers. How is your wife's health?

I'm very happy also to learn that you are staying in touch with our friend. 

No worries about not writing. Sounds like you've been busy!

Keeping up the prayer on this end, my friend – thanks as always for yours as well.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #10:   
Thank you for checking up Dr. I am doing well. I had 2 rounds of Chemo without any significant side effects, thank the Lord. The eye has not gotten worse but stabilized. I am going to start taking target long term Chemo pill next week. This is long term to help keep the cancer at bay and hopefully fix the issue with my eye. They are hoping this will remove the cancer that infiltrated my eye.

All is well and I am blessed. I know the Lord is mine and that nothing happens without his approval so that is reassuring and also like Job, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

That is the spirit that I want to emulate.

You are appreciated and may the Lord bless you and your family tremendously.

Take care and will talk soon
Response #10:  
Thanks for the update, my friend.

I'm happy to hear that the therapy is making progress. I am praying for the removal of the problem entirely (just updated your Ichthys request).

You are giving a very strong witness is staying strong and courageous and trusting the Lord. These tests often demonstrate who is really spiritually mature and fighting the fight for the Lord and who is not.

Keeping up the prayer.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #11:  
Thank you Dr. This test is totally different from the one the last 5 years when I was away. I believed it prepared me for this so I am not shaken by it.

Thanks again for your friendship not only in Christ but as a human as well.
Response #11:  
That fact of refusing to let this difficult pressure get to you is a great testimony in and of itself, my friend.

Praying for this medication to do its job quickly and successfully.

Keep me in the loop.

Your friend in Jesus Christ,

Bob L.
Question #12:  
Great news Bob!

I am back in the saddle now fighting the good fight again! Still feel weakened but being strengthened though faith day by day!

More good news! I have a Wix blog for my ministry! I put the first post up last night but I am already having teething troubles so prayers that it will be successful will be most appreciated.  I was going to design my own site and have my own domain name but it was proving too time consuming and would be costly so I have gone for a quick and affordable set up for now and can always migrate work over if I have the time and money to do so in the future! As it is still in set up mode I will probably need a little bit more time but I am hoping within the next fortnight (at the latest) to have a blog running in tandem with video presentations on YouTube. As soon as it is officially up and running then I will send you the link and would be grateful if you could promote it on your site!

As this ministry largely is dealing with exposing the enemy's system of lies with the truth, I will be constantly referring readers back to yours and Curtis' sites to learn more about the Word. Hope that will be good with you.

I couldn't have got this far without your ministry, encouragement and fellowship so you can take pleasure knowing you are helping me to be fruitful to the glory of the Lord! Amen!

[omitted]

God is good! If only like you say, we would give Him the benefit of the doubt and hold on a little longer, the deliverance is always marvellous!

In Jesus,
Response #12:  
That is great news about the progress you're making with your ministry! It is not so easy to maintain a presence on the internet. There are a lot of ins and outs most people don't have a clue about. What I do in terms of software and the SEO side of things is pretty rudimentary, but that simplicity has been necessary or otherwise I'd have been spending all my time on visual presentation over the years instead of on content (and I also have a full time job et al.). So no apologies for shortcuts that work! 

I'm very happy to hear you doing so much better this week, my friend. I'm keeping you in prayer daily as you know. I don't think you are complacent. Not at all! Only compared to the best possible version of yourself. And in those terms, we can all do better.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #13:   
Hi Dr L,

I don't mean to freak you out, but sometimes I feel like something is wrong with me, or I missed something important related to that. When I was grateful about AC in the office, I don't know, I think there is something wrong in the mind (and there are a few other things), and I don't know how to fix it. It is like being grateful you got a sandwich and are so happy, after a decade of gruel. And today I just feel like how do I even live for God if something is wrong up there? Sometimes I feel like my mind has wounds.

So not to be depressing...I do have some good news: personality development is really helping. It is very action oriented (activity oriented) and I think that helps. So it is different things like acting on impulse wants and being more adaptable and doing something out of character (nothing bad). It is just there is also an element of good and evil that would take a dissertation to unravel (he even calls it selfishness because that is the easiest way to communicate it).

I hope you are not overworking yourself. How are things (only if you feel up to saying)?
Response #13:  
Living in TX, if you WEREN'T grateful for air conditioning, I'd be tempted to think something was wrong with you.

It's OK to be grateful to the Lord for small thing and for big things. In fact, we certainly should be. The day of eternity will come where there will be no deprivation and no trials and no testing. But down here in the devil's world, we all have to learn to take the bad with the good, trusting the Lord to see us through. Being grateful for a cool place or a good meal is entirely appropriate, just as long as we recognize the One who's providing these things and know that He is our security, not anyone or anything in this dark world.

Doing well here. Thanks for asking!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
p.s., I don't think there is anything wrong with your personality.
Question #14:   
Thanks so much for this edifying and rallying reply my friend!

I am at that point now where I have to tell people the truth and not hide it anymore. When people talk about how insane things are getting, I am now saying that we have to turn to Jesus Christ and embrace Him that it is the only way.

__ has started to despair at the state of things and is either angry or depressed but doesn't want to hear that Jesus is the only way. __ wants salvation to come from the world, through people. Most other people around me are either low or struggling or embracing a hard heart or insanity of some kind. There is a lot of denial around me about how bad everything is. We are already being sorted it seems, the wheat from the tares, the sheep from the goats. Already some putative Christians around me are throwing in the towel and embracing the world.

I have been so circumspect about when to share my faith with people but now I am getting tired of that Bob. I feel as though I am hiding my faith and it is awful. I have to give myself completely over to the Lord and my faith now with no compromise. If people reject me for it, then so be it.

[omitted]

In Jesus,
Response #14:  
If it's not one thing, it's another. I'll say a prayer for deliverance. 

On your other email, I think your conclusion, namely, to start leaving things close to home to your witness of the life, is no doubt a good policy. We are instructed not to throw pearls before swine (Matt.7:6), and the reason is so that we might not be trampled along with them by those who want to hear nothing of what we have to say. As believers, we should be eager to share the truth and not hesitant to do so . . . when we bump into someone who is interested in what we have to say. But we can't force the truth down their throats, so to speak. The world is a hard place and some "mission fields" are tougher than others. That has always been particularly true when we are talking about those who think they know us personally inside out (even for our Lord: Matt.13:57). 

There is a correct balance to strike between over-sharing (as you termed it earlier) and unwillingness to share the truth. We have our own personal tendencies, and it is important not to let them run the show, but rather to act upon a correct and godly appreciation of the actual situation.
For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery.
Ecclesiastes 8:6 NIV

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11 NKJV
Ministry, of course, is a different matter, and I'm keeping yours in prayer daily as well.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #15:   
How incredible it is to hear from you. Thank you for your prayers!

Your questions betray how long it has been since we last chatted. My father lost his fight with lung cancer years ago and is now with our Lord. I'm not sure about the sister in question but both are doing well.

My health has been a blessing as I've now completed one year of vigorous training of walking and swimming. (FYI I used to train at Blairwood at Hurstborne KY back when we lived in Looah-vulle.) 

This past July I suffered a surprising heart attack (technically called a STEMI myocardial infarction) following my Monday morning workout. I was about to retreat back to bed and lie down for some rest. I'm __ years old and sometimes I forget I'm not an athlete. I was assuming I had swimmers ear (an ear infection) which was making me dizzy and feeling ill. Thank God, my wife interceded and demanded I go to the emergency room for a check up. As it turns out, I may not have ever gotten out of bed alive if I hadn't listened to her.

I will always remember the young nurse who took my EKG explode off her chair and run for help. What unnecessary chaos she caused, I thought to myself. Fifteen minutes later the Cleveland Clinic Emergency Clinic team was closing the door to the helicopter for my flight to downtown Cleveland to their main campus. Although woozy and sweating, I was not in any pain but was terribly grieved to see my wife standing there watching us as we lifted off. All the way to Cleveland I felt a firm and comforting hand on my shoulder as I stared upward, not afraid, not in pain and totally self-assured that everything would be alright no matter what came next.

Minutes after landing I was in the catheterization lab with a cath team waiting for me. Up my wrist they go and yelling to me "don't move, don't breathe!". This was when they discovered my right coronary artery was 100 percent blocked which was starving my heart for blood following my swim that morning.

My recovery was immediate and the only complaint I had was the skimpy hospital robes they made me wear. Oh, lets not forget the Heart Healthy Foods I now am living through. After two nights I was released to go home and ten days later allowed to go back to all activities including my power walks and mile swims.

I've learned a few important things from this I want to share with you Robert. First, I now know my body is not perfect and I've learned there are some genetic factors working against me. Yes, one of the many curses of original sin. Nevertheless, my training did help me take a hard punch and I need to continue training spite of my body's weaknesses.

Second, I learned all over again how much I love my wife. She is incredibly brave but I can still sense a lingering fear that now haunts her. I can never forget this and want to have her feel the comforting hand I felt during my life flight. I've alerted my children that SHE is the one for them to pray and care for when my next "call" comes.

And last, I know that God was with me the entire time. As I said earlier, I was never in great pain, I was never afraid but looking back, God was right by my side the entire time. I now realize he has always been with me even during those long periods of time in my life when I forgot him. He was always there. I remember those other times in my life when I didn't perceive His presence. Even though I grieved Him and ignored Him, He was still right there with me in the helicopter. He's telling me he's not done with me here in the physical life and my ears are now finely tuned for His instruction. I've finally surrendered.

So my friend, after approximately eight + years, that's how I'm doing. I'm doing pretty darn good and thanks again for asking!

And I can promise you, He is right there next to you, too.

Psalm 16:8

Best wishes,
Response #15:  
Great to hear back from you!

That's quite a testimony. As someone who tries to steer clear of M.D.'s, it's probably good for me personally to hear.

I'm very happy to learn of your deliverance and that this has brought you closer to the Lord! Amen! Some "signals" are harder to miss than others (I know that from personal experience myself).

Saying a prayer for your continued strengthening, my friend!

Do feel free to write any time.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #16:  
[omitted]
Response #16:  
I truly wish that you had at least a few friends or acquaintances in your circle who loved the Lord and who were trying to please Him through growth, progress and production.

So you really do have a rough road. But amen to "Though we need fear not. The Lord has already won this battle!"

I'm also sorry about the whole wedding thing and your present relationship with __. I do pray for __ daily. The Lord knows you love __. Sometimes it takes a minute before people are willing to respond. Your return to the Lord and your spiritual advance thereafter cannot be lost on __. Praying that sooner rather than later __'ll be motivated to respond the right way.
"Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."
1st Samuel 17:47 NKJV
Keeping you and your health in prayer.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #17:   
Thank you for your amazing ministry, Robert! You are appreciated.

I pray that your great work will continue and that it will reach more people than ever.

Blessings to you,
Response #17:  
Thank you so much!

And thanks for getting back to me – greatly appreciated.

Thanks also for the good words and the prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #18:   
Good morning Bob.

I have some head shaking times during my reads. Judges is one of those books that possibly has me doing that more often. Genesis 19 and Judges 19 have a similar story regarding the depth of depravity man can descend to. Judges is, among others, a hard teaching. Should I primarily attribute this to my lack of understanding the culture? The story of Jephthah's daughter (Judges11) and so very many more, New Testament as well. The terrible regard for women, the incredible selfishness of man, all on display. With man, salvation is certainly impossible .

It's a bit of a 'catch all', but like Ecclesiastes, it is the conclusion of the matter- Judges 21v25 'In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit'.
Response #18:  
Re: "The terrible regard for women, the incredible selfishness of man, all on display". Looking around in today's world, if things are different, it's only a matter of degrees – or perhaps only a matter of different areas of abuse. As scripture says:
But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
John 2:24-25 NKJV
What is "in man"? Since the fall, nothing good. That's the theme of Bible Basics 3B: Hamartiology: the biblical study of sin.

Of course believers today are blessed to have the Holy Spirit, and so we ought to be doing much better than many Old Testament saints. Sadly, however, it's often the opposite in this late day of Laodicea. 

Looking forward to our Lord's return and His righteous thousand year rule!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #19:  
Bob, I am so very grateful for your company. An insightful companion for so many years now, I am blessed.

Have a wonderful day. I will now pray thankfully for you.
Response #19:  
Thank you!
Question #20:   
I forgot I had mentioned my friend/coworker previously. I am happy that he seems to be growing spiritually and seems be hot instead of lukewarm, though still gravely concerned about the church he attends. I attempted once to initiate a conversation about churches and churchianity so to speak, but my approach was not the best. It just came out of my mouth differently than how I intended and was not a good attempt. I realized it immediately, so I backed off and will try again when the time is right. 
Response #20:  
I wouldn't beat myself up about this. We do the best we have with the truth we know and the opportunities the Lord gives us. Just as in giving the gospel, the most polished presentation in the world will be of no effect if the person hearing the truth is not interested in it; on the other hand, a halting and fumbling presentation which does indeed speak of salvation through faith in Christ can and often has been used by the Spirit to bring the willing to salvation. 
Of course we want to do a good job, but when it comes to the truth, if we are really presenting the truth, then the Spirit helps us and makes it clear in the hearts of those receiving it – and then it really is in their court.

I'm keeping this in my prayers too, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
http://ichthys.com/