Newsletter June 2009

A Rash for a Reason?

The rash started on my upper lip on Wednesday and by Friday was spreading to my nose, cheeks and chin. I had no idea what was causing this, so that afternoon I went to the Clinic. They gave me a prescription for some hydrocortisone cream and said they would refer me to a dermatologist.

While I was waiting in line at the pharmacy, I talked with a tall guy who was a Vietnam War vet. Conversation turned to spiritual things and he was quite hostile to Christianity. He had been raised in the church but was disillusioned by all the violence he had seen, and became a self-described "Agnostic bordering on Atheist.‟

He then just gushed with questions – Why do people suffer? How can a good God allow evil? . . . and so many more. But he had never gotten any good answers, and came to believe there weren't any. As I began to explain the biblical view of such things, he seemed surprised and started to settle down.

After we picked up our prescriptions, the conversation moved outside to the parking lot. He believed that Jesus had not died on the cross, but only swooned, then was rescued from the tomb by his disciples. I gave him a quick rundown on the historical evidence for Jesus‟ death and resurrection, but when I asked if he would be willing to read a good book that would give him more details, he said he wasn‟t interested in any explanations from Christians.

So I told him about Lee Strobel, the former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, an atheist who wanted to find the true answers, and became a believer. That got his attention. Finally he let me give him a copy of "The Four Spiritual Laws" booklet and he wanted the names of Strobel‟s books The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith.

Two Scriptures came to mind – Esther 4:14 ". . . Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" And 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, „My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.‟ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

So, was this a divine appointment? You be the judge.