Quote:
Originally Posted by leastofthese
Drake,
The amount of content that you've written on this forum doesn't allow you to hide under the concept of an "entirely different Drake" - you get that right? You can think I'm riding someones coat tails or whatever... As you know, I've invited you to my home, come see my life, family, ministry, church. Just tell me when man - you can hold me accountable for whatever you'd like. Life is short Drake.
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LofT,
First thanks for your private note and your open invitation to visit you and your family in your home. I know you extend such an invitation in all sincerity.
I also recognize that you are disappointed by my rebuffs in this forum but I hope I have not offended you because I mean no such thing. Rather, though your intentions are well meaning I feel it necessary to offer my point of view at the dynamic, or back and forth, between us because I am convinced that a disconnect in our understanding lies there.
I am certain that your ministry, your family life, your home, are a testimony to the Lord and that a visit by me in your home would confirm it. I am also certain that upon leaving I would thank the Lord for His calling you and your faithfulness in responding and fulfilling His calling to you.
Yet, in so doing I could not abandon His calling to me.
Over 4 decades ago, after having grown up in a fundamental Bible believing denomination, off and on being distracted by the sixties, with relatives in the clergy, and after having served myself in highly visible leadership positions in a charismatic denomination, I knew that the Lord desired something more with me. So I began visiting other Christian meetings in both denominations and free groups, and devouring the writings of many authors to gain additional Christian perspectives about the Christian life. Then I came across a fantastic book entitled “Call To Discipleship “ by Juan Carlos Ortiz. From that I realized that the thing lacking in my life was not works, or ministry, or leadership but rather my not following the Lords will in service to Him though being in service to Him.. I was doing something for Him but was I really with Him and He with me in that service? Then, on the cover of that book there was this statement.... “ Many consider Juan Carlos Ortiz, a modern day Watchman Nee”. Then I asked “Who is Watchman Nee?” . A member of a Bible study group I was part of at work said, they had a book by Watchman Nee, had never read it, and brought it to me. I read the first two chapters of that book and the Lord came to me like a bolt of lightning. I was stunned and drawn to Lord in light and vision like I never had experienced even in the most lively and animated moments in Pentecostalism. This was real, genuine, and a life changing moment. The title of that book was “The Glorious Church”. I knew nothing of the Lords recovery, or Witness Lee, or the local churches for quite awhile after that... however, I knew that there was something to this and there was an understanding between me and the Lord and a new and fresh consecration to Him. One thing led to another as I have testified elsewhere and over forty years later He is as fresh and real as that night I read those first two chapters. Yet, you may think.. what about all the problems, the mistakes, the conflicts, etc.? Well, setting aside the outright mischaracterizations and fabrications, I acknowledge problems exist and yet when I present them to the Lord His word to me is “you follow Me” and that is unmistakenly as clear as a bell. So, I have to be faithful to His calling as you are to His.
I share this with you LofT because I know you are sincere in your efforts to help me out of what you believe to be a wrong place. Yet, what you believe to be true about me and the local churches, and the Lord’s recovery and this ministry is often factually incorrect. I attribute this mostly due to the limited time you have been familiar with me and the Lord’s recovery and what you hear in this forum from others. That is not to say you don’t have primary experience but for whatever reason your perceptions are not based in reality.... at least my reality. So, I point those out and that may frustrate you but that is not my intent at all.... and my commitment to you is to present you and others with the facts and then you can express your point of view with those in hand. Or you may disregard them, that is entirely up to you.
Anyway, thanks for your offer and I hope this helps to clarify my viewpoint in our interactions.
Drake