Quote from Forum Archives on July 26, 1998, 6:30 pm

Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>

July 26, 1998

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder in the Trenches,
Encouraging One Another as we "Fight the Good Fight"

TITLE: "Walking With Roberto!"

Dear Fellow Servant:

What a week it has been. Hot! Hot! Hot! ---- Rain! Rain! Rain!
---- PTL! PTL! PTL!

Shootings at our capitol building in Washington, droughts in the
Southwest, lawsuits in Hollywood, tidal waves in Papua New Guinea,
earthquakes and floods in China . . .

What a week. What a day in which we live!

Praise the Lord for assuring us that "by Him, all things consist" (Col
1:17). In fact, I like that passage in its entirety, so here it is to
bless you:

"For He . . .

"delivered us from the domain of darkness, . . .

"and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

"And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all
creation.

"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities ----

"all things have been created BY Him and FOR Him, . . .

"and He is before all things, and . . .

"IN Him all things hold together." (Col 1:13-17)

HALLELUJAH, LORD!

FIRST SOME UPDATE ITEMS:

1. My fingernail finally came off eight days ago ---- U-G-L-Y-!!! It
took from June 2nd to July 17th for the destroyed nail to finally let go,
and then it had to have a tiny bit of encouragement. Now a new challenge
---- trying to catch up with lots of work while protecting the top until
the new fingernail grows back. I keep forgetting. I would anticipate a
couple more months before it is fully grown back.

2. My desktop is up and running again ---- new hard disk, new modem, new
sound card. Now I reinstall software, try to locate all e-mail
addresses, transfer files from laptop to desktop, add some new hardware
(zip drive which I've had for ten months), all the while reassuring a
wife who thinks I left her and married the computer.

3. My invitation last week to go to Croatia in September was serious.
Dates for that would be around September 26 to October 11 for
construction crews and September 26 for as long as possible up to October
25 for preachers. Those are actual departure and return dates from U.S.
For details, see last week's letter.

4. This has been a great "Grandma and Grandpa" Summer. We have eight
grand children. Including seeing our first Grandson, Christopher, in
Bogota Colombia last April, we have seen all but three ---- and get to
see those three this week! Daughter Cheri and her husband, Bob, brought
our three Russian "imports", Misha, Katia, and Serioza, from St. Paul, MN
a couple weeks ago. Deanna and her pastor husband, Jim, brought "Mighty
Michael" (9 months old) from LaGrange, MO. Former son-in-law (still is
in our hearts) Jeff brings Abby, Sarah, and Rachel up later this week.
It's been a great summer, indeed!

5. Words of encouragement continue to come each week. Thanks! I am
blessed by those of you who take your precious time to drop me a note of
encouragement. I got a letter by "snail mail" yesterday from the
Philippines ---- from Pastor Jolly Ampong, a church planter in Butong,
Manjuyod, Negros Oriental. I don't know quite how, but he got it from
one of my Timothy's who succeeded me in an Iowa pastorate. Thanks, Ron,
for passing it on.

Now to what's on my heart.

MEET ROBERTO:

It seems that just about the time I get ready to send you something I've
already been writing about for several weeks or months, something new
happens. Such is the case today.

Maybe you saw him . . . Roberto.

Happy ---- handsome ---- neat ---- clean ---- goal driven ---- personable
---- loved people ---- inquisitive ---- polite ---- on and on I could go
with adjectives describing what I saw last Friday evening on ABC's 20/20
Program.

He only had one problem the human eye could detect.

Barbara Walters told us all that what we were going to see and hear would
probably be unlike anything we had seen or heard before.

She was right ---- Very right.

A young man in his late teens, Roberto lives in the Dominican Republic.

Watching him made me want to meet him and spend time with him. He
looked and conducted himself like a young man I would have wanted one of
my daughters to have fallen in love with (years ago, of course). He was
very impressive ---- especially if you studied his face, particularly his
eyes and his smile, when he listened and when he talked.

Watching also was repulsive ---- almost nauseating. In fact, just as
Barbara Walters had said, I couldn't believe what I saw.

Roberto walked on all fours.

Not hands and knees like you and I do when we crawl ---- no, . . . it was
hands and feet! Like a dog! Not like you and I would do with our rumps
stuck high above our heads ---- he couldn't have done that.

No, ---- it was like a dog.

In fact, many of the people in his village called him the "Dog Boy" ----
not in ridicule, but simply as a matter of identifying him ---- like, you
know, the guy with the red beard, or the bald-headed guy in the Ferrari
---- that kind of thing.

Perhaps you also saw the "dog boy" story ---- and were affected, too.

To be quite honest, when I saw the first glimpse of Roberto, I actually
thought it Was a large dog ---- or perhaps a small burrow ---- that
someone had dressed up in a man's shirt.

ROBERTO'S STORY:

What happened to Roberto?

The story is simple. When he was quite young ---- just an infant or
crawler ---- Roberto apparently became ill. The disease affected the
muscles and ligaments in his legs, and ---- believe it or not ---- caused
his knees to bend the opposite direction from normal by slowly forcing
the bones to bend backward and draw up as if pulled by some irresistible
and ever-so-strong bow string.

Over the years his legs were drawn into a ninety degree position. Now
with femurs bent forward at right angles just above the knee joint, and
with only negligible knee caps, he could not walk normally. If he were
to sit on the floor with legs stretched straight forward, the lower half
of his legs would stick straight up like poles with shoes on top, soles
skyward.

Imagine it on yourself ---- standing on your knees, but realizing you're
actually on the BACK of your knees, and the lower part of your legs, and
your feet, are sticking out in front of you on the ground. You can't
bend them back where they belong, and you cannot stand up on your feet.
You must either sit, stand on the backs of your knees, ---- OR ---- OR
---- learn to stretch yourself out and walk like a horse ---- or a dog.

That's what I was seeing ---- what millions of people were seeing Friday
night.

HOPELESSNESS:

Coming from a very poor family in a small village of the Dominican
Republic, there was little or no hope for Roberto. No medicine would
rectify the condition. No superstitious voodoo would turn those legs
around. His parents were poor and uneducated, without resources.

Because he walked on all fours, as if he had four legs, his hands
displayed cuts, bruises, and heavy thick callouses. The underside of his
knees were also heavily calloused. It was a heart wrenching sight.

As I watched the story unfold, I was first struck by the similarities of
Roberto's condition to that of the human spirit ---- crippled by
grotesque useless "limbs". You can imagine all the symbolism yourself.

However, I saw another picture in my mind ---- the picture of a pastor,
an evangelist, a youth worker, a missionary ---- a follower of Jesus
Christ, to be sure ---- a servant of the Lord, but also a "Dog Boy" ----
walking in an unorthodox, uncomfortable, and distasteful way ---- not
because he wanted to, but because something horrible had happened
earlier, and now he had to. He had no apparent choices.

There was a malfunction in his life that haunted him and constantly
attacked his inner man so that he always felt he was inadequate ----
unworthy. What had happened he saw as a failure ---- his, someone else's
---- or God's.

That "something" had also crippled him so that, in spite of his
passionate desire to serve the Lord, he could not walk "upright". Maybe
it was a moral failure, a failed marriage, a church split, a forced
termination, an abusive upbringing, an experience in war, or a thousand
other things ---- but there was something that kept him on "all fours"
---- something that restricted him from developing into the stature of a
godly man of compassion and integrity ---- of rising to the "occasion"
that required more of him than he had to give.

The greatest tragedy, though, was that he had probably given up any hope
of things changing. He could but hope that people wouldn't notice, or
that he would just settle for "life's unfairnesses", or perchance a
miracle? Or maybe even an early death.

Know anyone like that? ---- someone in ministry who is so emotionally,
morally, or spiritually crippled that he is not able to "walk in a manner
worthy of the calling with which he or she was called"? (Eph 4:1) Do you
think of him or her very often? Perhaps you may even know that person
well ---- maybe even see him in the mirror every day.

Nothing is so disheartening and discouraging than to feel you are trapped
with a circumstance in your life that you feel you will never get over
---- something that you feel has at least hindered you and perhaps even
disqualified you from effectively serving your Lord Jesus Christ ----
forever a prisoner of your own wounds.

Unless something happens, Roberto, too, will remain ever the same and
will never reach the full potential to which God created him.

Unless something happens, that minister, too, will remain ever the same
as well, and will never reach the heights of effectiveness he could have
had. What a heartbreaking sight, Roberto.

But, oh ----What a tragic sight, that minister!

THE MISSIONARY:

If you saw the report, you know that the story didn't end there.

There was a missionary ---- a woman who made a simple visit a number of
years ago and was so moved by the gentleness, simplicity, and needs of
the people she encountered that she left the comforts of her home in
Florida and returned to that same village as a missionary.

She began to get to know the people, to understand them, to love them, to
serve them. Her heart went out especially to Roberto and his family.
She spent time with them ---- prayed for them ---- encouraged them.

For the crippled servant of the Lord a missionary has also been sent.
He is there to know, understand, love, and serve ---- to give hope (if
not in this life, at least in that which is to come).

The Bible tells us He prays in our behalf. He is there to come along
side and encourage when we are so overwhelmed not only by the fact that
we cannot walk properly, but even the way we do walk is so dissatisfying,
so ineffective, so unfulfilling ---- so beyond hope.

But that isn't the primary benefit of the missionary.

She knew a doctor! ---- a doctor who might be able to help.

THE DOCTOR:

With all the kind and compassionate things the missionary did for Roberto
and his family, the most important thing she ever did for him was to tell
a doctor in Orlando about him ---- an orthopedic surgeon. The doctor
traveled to visit him and see Roberto's condition for himself. By his
own admission he had never seen a case like this. And yet, he knew ----
deep down inside he knew ---- he knew this was what he was trained for
---- to make crippled people walk again. He knew more ---- he knew he
was trained for Roberto.

Even though he was trained to do many different things in the medical
field, he openly acknowledged that this case ---- Roberto and his
deformed legs ---- was "THE" reason for his calling. In watching him,
you could tell that his life's calling from God was to minister to people
like Roberto.

Our Great Physician also is beckoned by the missionary, the Holy Spirit
("no one comes to me but by the Holy Spirit"), who already knows and
immediately sees the cripple in his need.

Sometimes we forget that ---- we don't think He cares ---- or maybe even
knows. (Strange how our guilt or despair can cloud our minds to what we
really know deep inside is true ---- He Does Know! He Does Care!)

After a thorough examination, the man of compassion made an immediate
diagnosis ---- and recommended treatment. He knew there was something he
could do. And he was willing to do it ---- at no apparent cost to
Roberto and his family. It was going to be a "freeby".

The neighbors were suspicious and wanted to be certain that there were no
strings attached. The doctor and the missionary assured them ---- "no
strings attached. It's all because of love and compassion."

Our Great Physician also knows there is something He can do, and He is
willing to do it ---- "no strings attached." Our "neighbors", of course,
will also include some skeptics ---- they will have to wait and see ----
IF we go ahead and accept the offer.

It is His calling ---- to preach the gospel to the poor ---- to set
captives free ---- to recover sight to the blind ---- to set free the
bruised and tramped on ---- to declare "Jubilee!" to those who lost it
all ---- to Make Lame People Walk!

Make the lame walk!! Friend!!! If you are crippled, he wants to make
you walk again!

If you are a Capernaum cripple on a stretcher (Mt 9:1-8), you have four
friends to take you to Jesus ---- Faith, who leads the way; Surrender,
the proper attitude; Risk, the one to take the first step, and Ask, the
one who takes the initiative..

If you are a Bethesda dweller (John 5:1-47) waiting for the waters to
move, hopelessly lying on your mat of misery by the sheep gate, my
friend, the sacrifice lamb has entered the gate ---- and He showed up as
a healer! He beckons to you and declares, "Rise up and walk!"

If you are the beggar at the Beautiful, hopelessly crippled even from
your birth, let me assure you the missionaries words are true ---- there
is strength for you ankles and feet! "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth
---- rise up and walk!"

THE DIAGNOSIS:

As the doctor examined Roberto, one thing became certain. It would be
impossible to try to restore the old legs ---- they were too malformed
and atrophied. Basically, the boy had two options ---- remain the way he
was ---- the "Dog Boy" ---- or have his legs amputated! ---- and get New
legs!

So! ---- there Was a cost after all! It was going to cost him his legs.

If this were happening to you, how would you respond? The thought of
being cut on. The idea of losing your legs ---- that's an irreversible
thing! I mean, ---- if it doesn't work, you can't go back.

Roberto's response was astounding ---- "manana! Let's do it! ----
tomorrow!" No waiting for Roberto! In spite of great risks, he knew it
would be better to have no legs than to have deformed legs and live as
"dog boy".

I was, frankly, amazed at his immediate response. But, then, I began to
consider why he made it so quickly.

According to the report, Roberto had two dreams in life. One was to
learn to read, and the other was to walk upright like everybody else. He
had lived the "dog boy" life so long that he was sick of it. He was
ashamed of it. He knew it couldn't be any worse, and could possibly be
much better. The risk was no risk to Roberto.

Our Doctor also tells us we have two options ---- stay the way we are,
living like a spiritual dog, always with our faces to the ground, seldom
seeing the heavenlies, hands occupied with surviving rather than serving,
always feeling like we're a cut below the rest of the crowd, ---- OR . .
. . . .

But ---- the "crippled legs" (be what they may) have to go! They are of
no use whatsoever. They are total liabilities. They keep us earth
bound. They do nothing but hinder us in our effectiveness.

My friend! Whatever it is that is crippling you ---- has to go! It is
absolutely worthless! Even if you have become so accustomed to it that
you now protect it ---- it is worthless! ---- Worthless! ---- WORTHLESS!

IT IS TIME TO AMPUTATE!

THE AMPUTATION:

Roberto was flown to Florida on wings of compassion, accompanied by both
the doctor and the missionary. When we are deformed, God Always flies us
on Wings of Compassion, accompanied by the Lord Jesus through the Holy
Spirit. The journey may be frightening, but we never travel it alone
---- NEVER.

After the hours-long amputation you could detect some apprehension on
Roberto's face. But, knowing there was no turning back and no
possibility of reversal, he concentrated on rehabilitation. The doctor
himself indicated that Roberto's attitude ---- a never give up attitude
---- was crucial to his rapid recovery.

His capacity to endure the phantom pain in legs no longer there, his
resilience in recovering from unplanned tumbles, his patience in being
fitted with new prostheses ---- all these could be faced courageously
because of the professional confidence of the doctor, the emotional
encouragement of the missionary, and Roberto's trust in them both ----
just like it is when we go through the spiritual and emotional amputation
of dead limbs that don't walk.

RECOVERY:

There is a difference between healing and health. Healing comes in
different ways ---- prevention, nutrition, exercise, medication, surgery,
amputation. All ways hopefully lead beyond healing ---- to health. In
Roberto's case his "healing", both emotional and physical, came through
amputation ---- the most radical but absolutely necessary of all.

But it will take some time for the healing to become health. That's the
way it is in our spiritual walk as well. We are often the most
uncomfortable and sensitive, and can be the most obnoxious and
uncooperative following the surgery or the amputation. That's when we
tend to drive away all but our closest of friends and family. Our
attitude about it all, however, can muffle and soften those reactions to
some degree.

Roberto's attitude of confidence and hope not only is bringing healing,
but also, I believe, ultimate health. I anxiously look forward to a
follow-up report.

His ultimate health depends on several things. He apparently has already
conquered the attitude thing, if there ever was any battle in the first
place.

However, he still must face the tenderness created by the surgery; he
must deal with the irritations of the scarring process (God always leaves
us a reminder of our need, our failure, and His faithfulness); he must be
disciplined to find balance and equilibrium he never knew before; he must
adjust to a new view of life (a standing-up view!); he must develop new
strength in muscles never used this way before; ---- and ---- he must get
used to ---- New Legs!

Quite a future, Roberto! Have a ball!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

My friend, if you let God give you new legs, you must be prepared for the
same process as well.

But ---- just imagine ---- the glorious results!

Standing upright!

Walking!

Running!

Leaping!

Praising God!

I tell you , my friend, the celebration at the Gate Beautiful outside the
temple will hold no candle to your celebration!

Just imagine ---- the old legs are gone! The new legs are in place! ----
and working!

One of my father's favorite word studies was on the subject of the
"Walks" of Ephesians. Look at this:

Eph 2:2 ---- Walk NOT according to the course of this world and the
prince of the power of the air ---- i.e. the lusts of the flesh and the
mind (2:2-3).

Eph 2:10 ---- Walk in good works.

Eph 4:1 ---- Walk worthy of the vocation to which you have been called.

Eph 4:17 ---- Walk NOT as pagans.

Eph 5:2 ---- Walk in love.

Eph 5:8 ---- Walk as children of light.

Eph 5:15 ---- Walk circumspectly -- wisely.

On top of that, consider . . .

Gal 5:16-17 ---- Walk in the Spirit!

II Cor 5:7 ---- Walk by Faith and not by sight!

Eph 6:11 ---- Stand firm against the schemes of the devil!

And ---- know that, when you jettison those old deformed grotesque legs
for new ones, you'll . . . .

Mount up on Wings like eagles! (In times of Ecstasy).

Run and not get weary! Not get weary! NOT get weary! (In times of
Emergency).

Walk and not faint! (In times of Drudgery).

Dear friend ---- do you need new legs for the deformed ones of your past?
Or new hands for the calloused ones of life's hardships? Or even
withered ones? Or maybe new eyes for the ones that no longer see His
majesty and glory? Or the hurting, the wandering, and the dying?

If Roberto can put his faith and trust in a missionary and a doctor for
new legs ---- and a new life, don't you think you can trust your Great
Physician to deliver you from the "old legs" of past hurts and failures,
and give you new ones that will enable you to once again . . . .

"Dance" before the Lord,

Run with the urgent message of hope,

Walk in the highways, byways and hedges,

Stand in the power and authority of Jesus Christ,

And Kneel at the throne of grace?

Don't you think you can?

Don't you?

FINALLY:

Before you write this letter off as one that may apply to others but not
to yourself, let me ask you to do two things:

First, read it again ---- with the eyes of your heart rather than the
eyes of your mind.

Second, simply ask God to take you back through the gallery of your
memory and see if there is anything hanging there that has brought some
degree of debilitation or limitation on your effectiveness as a minister
---- a spouse ---- a parent.

If you do indeed discover something, let me propose that you may need new
legs ---- as badly as Roberto did ---- perhaps even more so.

Then let the Physician begin the process.

In Christ's Bond,

Bob Tolliver ---- Rom 1:11-12
Copyright July, 1998. All rights reserved.

__
/ |
(_/____)
/ ^ ^
{ (O) (O) }
------oOOOo--------U-------oOOOo------

Hang in there!

-------.oooo0--------------- Ooooo--------
( ) /
| | /
(_) (_)

Life Unlimited Ministries
E-mail: [email protected]
Ph: 417-275-4854
Fax: 417-275-4855

ADDENDUM:

i got this message passed on to me by my friend Dale Mitchell. Sounds
like a great idea to me. Let's vote, and pass it on to still more.

PERSON OF THE CENTURY:

>>Cast your vote for Jesus Christ as the person of the century in Time
>> magazine's poll for 1999. You must type in "Jesus Christ" exactly
like
>> that. Just typing in "Jesus" or "JESUS CHRIST" will count as a new
>> person, and the votes won't all be together. Please, show people that
>> Jesus Christ is the king.
>>
>> go to: www.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html
>>
>> Thank You
>>
>> Please pass this message to as many friends as possible.