Albany was cold yesterday. I didnt realize I was such a so-cal softy until all the locals noticed me shivering and told me to cheer up since it could be a lot worse. But in the midst of the cold and snow there is something special happening in the middle of the city. There is prayer and there is healing, both spiritual and physical.
When I was picked up from the airport I was not taken to the usual hotel room, but instead I was taken to a place called The Capital Region Prayer And Healing Center. Now I must admit I was a little out of my element. New place, new people. But as the hours passed and I began to connect with hearts and hear stories I saw that this place was special. Twenty-Four hours around the clock there are people praying for the region, for their families, for whatever the Lord puts on their heart. And on the top floor there is a doctor named Bob Paeglow who offers his services for free to all the surrounding community. His story has been featured in USA Today, People Magazine, and Newsweek as well as some TV shows such as 60 minutes. I am told he received a humanitarian of the year award as well.
Needless to say the Lord is using this place to share his love with the community. I played at a school a few miles away, and it was an amazing time of worship.
This is me and Bob, the doctor that I was telling you about.
There is an interesting way of thinking I have noticed within a lot of the church, and if I were to put it in one phrase it would go something like this “different things are wrong things”. You may substitute “not the best” for “wrong” if you would like. By things I mean ways, procedures, or even thought processes as they pertain to Christianity.
I’m not about to get into some big, long psychological thing, I just write this to say that I have had the opportunity to witness the body of Christ on a larger scale than I ever thought I would, and I have seen it to be a broken and beautiful thing filled with people who very desperately need the grace and love of the Father. I love to see the Lord encountering different people in different ways. I love to see Him somehow push through the weakness of the human heart and use us to make each other aware of His love. I love that He loves us.
Jesus says in John 15:12 “This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you”.
So here is todays challenge: Love each other. Seriously, go totally out of your way to love people and see what happens. Then come back and tell us the story here on the blog.
I look forward to hearing from you!!
Phil
