Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Day 323 - What Counts

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 182
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive these thoughts in an easy manner. 


Most everyone who has known Michael Wells or his writings (especially his trip reports over the years of places and people God took him to) have heard of “the head.”  As Michael mentions in the first sentence of paragraph 2…it has been vexing, or haunting, to all.  But the truths of Michael’s report are what may well be what vexes or haunts us most…


DAY 323

What Counts


The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. --I John 2:17

Travel can be enlightening when encountering a lifestyle so different from the one accustomed to at home, such as having to become consumed with searching for the basics of water, food, shelter, transportation, and someplace to exchange money. 
           
My brother and I had a vexing—no, haunting—experience when traveling in the Amazon region. At one point along the way we both stopped in amazement, as though we were looking at an optical illusion, for there on the sidewalk was a head, a human head with a body smaller than a box of cereal and bereft of arms, legs, stomach, and clothing, but the mouth held a pencil used to draw flowers on a small piece of paper. We left some money in a small bowl placed alongside and walked away wondering. Wondering at how much of what consumed our daily lives would apply to this person. Wondering at how we complain over such comparatively insignificant things; wondering at what this person’s response would be were we to approach and relate how someone had offended us or how our Christmas celebration might be a bit slim this year. The head was disturbing and mysterious; his image would not leave us. This person with nothing had found life tolerable; he expressed a beauty within through simple art. In contrast, many with a multitude of worldly attributes, accomplishments, and possessions cannot stand life. The head was a good example of how life is not found outside man but within. I began to ask myself how much of what is taught in Christendom would apply to this person. I was left with the conclusion that if what we teach cannot be accomplished by this person, it is not simple enough to apply to anyone else. The deep life comes through faith and the activity of the soul and spirit, not the activity of the body. All doing is to be the result of faith.  

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



I have heard people say they cannot believe the story of “the head” to be truth.  I have seen a picture Michael took that proves him.  But what has amazed me even more is the great number of people who have told me they do not believe life is found within man, but outside.  Who constantly complain over comparatively insignificant things.  Who are constantly offended.  Who live lives that are consumed by events that would not apply to “the head.” 

And then I think of how much IS taught in Christendom that would not apply to this person.  And I come to the same conclusion Michael came to: if what we teach cannot be accomplished by “the head,” then it is not simple enough to apply to anyone else.

God said that “without faith it is impossible to please Him.”  That takes me to the activity of my soul and spirit, and not to concern myself with the activity of my body.  Faith will take care of that.  That is deep enough for me.



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                               936-559-5696

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