Last year (October 20, 2010), I responded to a post from a friend grappling with the same issue as today’s blog. I decided to re-post it to see how far I’m come with this.

My dear Brother in Christ,

As I read your note, tears rolled down my face because I know it was the work of the enemy that allowed the fall of a dynamic ministry.

But if the ministry was built on falsehood, it was bound to fail along with all who bought into it.

I’ve said it before; I believed in the “ministry” that was Linwood. The feelings were real, and my life was forever changed. But one of the things I learned was that I could not be lead by people with messy lives. That sprinkled over me like poison. So many people could not break from their “messiness,” why?—because the poison sprinkling over them in prayer, song and ministry, kept them going down a slippery slope. I could feel it like the plague.

Despite it all I still believe. I believe I have been delivered from the bondage I endured over years of “typical” worship. I believe I have the strength to ask someone if they know the Lord, and be willing to pray for them and reach out to them. I believe that worship draws you closer to God. I believe that I drew all that from back then…and I will never be the same.

Ecclesiastes 3 teaches us that there is a “season” for everything. And if you believe the Word like I do, you know without a shadow of a doubt that when our “season” returns…we surely won’t let the enemy destroy it again.

For everything there is a season, and a time for very purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth? 10 I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

11 He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

Blessings to all my friends in the brotherhood who have endured. I love you all.