I listen to your program and tapes and find myself growing in faith. I especially appreciated your last newsletter. I found words there that appeal to my struggle as being a struggle with God. My heart wants to keep believing the lies about God even as I reach out for His saving hand and divine mercy. I continue to discover that even as all of me chooses God, there is the part that resists—and delights in resisting. Thank you for your verbal and written encouragement. It is so good to know others are also on the journey.
M.L.
Your show is a ray of hope, and I listen to you whenever I can. Will you please send me your Faith in Focus newsletter…as well as any available back issues. Thanks and God bless.
B.C.
I always feel like a million bucks after talking to you. Mostly because you not only give me perspective on my own issues: [you also] tell me about yours. I appreciate your wisdom, your listening ear, and more than anything, I appreciate your telling me about you. I don’t know why but when you share with me your struggles, your past, your victories and failures it makes me feel real. It reminds me of the children’s story, The Velveteen Rabbit. There is a portion of that story I want to share—this is the rabbit talking to another toy: “Real isn’t how you are made…it’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become real. It does not happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
“The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. The same rain that drowns the rat grows the hay. The mighty wind that knocks us down if we lean into it will drive our fears away.” —Amy Grant.
A.H.
Thanks for your latest Faith In Focus newsletter. You have written some good articles about “Christ and the Addictive Mind” and how wrestling with God can be compared to battling addictive behavior.
I am very interested in your letters section as well. There are some very honest, open and hungry people out there who are benefiting greatly from what your ministry has to offer. And I must say that I have not heard any other ministry deal with human sexuality in quite the way you have, and I have grave doubts that any ever would. In fact, I was thinking that even if one came along it would be bombarded with so many negative attacks it may not be able to last for the long haul. Which saddened me because my own experience with masturbation, in and of itself, is not evil. In fact, it can be used as an act of worship if the Lord is allowed to lead and guide one into it. Thanks for your help.
P.P.
Enclosed is my monthly contribution. I suspect you may be caught in the clutches of depression as the Romans tapes are slow to arrive for the year 2000. As for me, depression has nearly immobilized this Christian. Nevertheless, it usually hits me hard when the heat threatens to scorch my brains out. Onward through the fog—Christ always rescues me before all hope is gone. My fantasy life is a poor substitute for authentic human contact. Yet being around people stresses me out. There is victory if I ask for it and receive it with faith. Keep the tapes coming. I treasure them. In Christ.
R.S.
I face a world that tries to break me down every day, too. But I praise God that your letter shows a faith that shines through even out of great darkness. Thank you for your witness. With you, “onward through the fog”—I like that.
—Colin
Sorry I’m late with my monthly gift. It seems I’ve spent too much time “fantasizing”. I see I have been trying to meet my need for a mate through masturbation and a once a month trip to the bookstore for some “visual” material.
I figured out I don’t trust God to bring me a new wife! And then I feel guilty for my own mistakes. By your [radio] show I’ve noticed a big change! The fantasies are no longer the great thrill I once had. And I’ve begun to sense God’s love even in the midst of my foolishness.
But, you know, the other day at work I was intimidated by the thought of a possible mistake I’d made in measuring some raw material. But just as the guilt set in I thought, If I’m justified and sanctified, it really don’t matter after all! I had not made a mistake but someone was “whispering” to me as though I had. And I muttered out loud, If God truly loves me, it don’t matter anyway! The guilt left right then! Yes, I think the penny dropped, my friend!
God bless and keep going.
L.H.
Hope you are well. I get your newsletters—sure miss your personal update information. I realize that the teaching tapes are necessary, but sure do miss hearing from you.
S.B.
Let me think a bit about what I can do about that. Both the teaching and the personal are important, I know. Maybe I can do a personal tape per quarter, or a personal “In Touch” tape for those who request it. Suggestions?
—Colin