GREENE STREET LETTERS: JAMES CHATMAN

Thursday, January 7, 2021

JAMES CHATMAN

Riots in D.C. yesterday as the capital was breached by protesters. The count of the electoral college was suspended for a time until order could be restored. All the major networks turned the cameras and the attention of a nation to this even that was playing out.

At the same time, James Chatman crossed over from this life into the presence of His savior. Oh his death won't make national news, but it consumed my thoughts all through out the day.

James had his struggles and his battles. In fact, I first met James when he came to Rapha for treatment. Spent a lot of time sitting, listening, and sharing with him. Funny how when you get to know someone......when you see the gentleness of the soul and a smile that would light up a room, it's mighty hard to attach such to all the darkness they share about their life's journey.

Earlier this year, I received a message from James that he'd been watching our live stream from the ReCovery Church. He was tickled to death that he'd found me, and that we were able to reconnect. Not long after that, he messaged me that he and his son had come down with Covid and were in the hospital. Asking for prayer, he sent me messages as long as he could, detailing every step that he was going through.

Yesterday, I received a message from Jame's cousin, Peggy, that he'd died. As always, the first thought that comes to my mind when I'm made aware of someones death is that "Now they know the truth of what I only believe." By this, I meant that eternity has now become reality. The presence of Christ is not just through His Holy Spirit, but James is seeing, hearing and experiencing what I believe will happen to all believers when it comes our time.

I spent the day with my memories of James...
Being the cook (at one time) at Rapha, I thought back to the time and effort he spent in prepping meals for everyone. I saw him, in my mind, dishing out meals and cutting up with the guys as they came through the chow line. I saw him as he attended our Bible studies, and services we held there at Rapha. James never missed a one.

So this morning, the pain of loss is there, but it is tempered with the hope and the assurance that family and friends have the option to see James again at some point. Those who have surrendered will and life over to the care of Christ will be reunited with James.

James.......I will see you. I will miss you until that time.

God on you...

mbb

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Thursday, January 7, 2021

JAMES CHATMAN

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD