Like Paul, my encounter with Jesus left me “blind.” No  longer could I see the things the way I had. I talked about a paradigm shift. It is the kind of shift that you can not ever see the way you did previously.

Last night our fellowship prayed for people to have encounters. That God would show up to people like Presidents Assad and Obama. That He would appear to Putin and the Muslim clerics and imams. My kind of encounter!

What do we believe for? That is really the question. In a dream last night a friend and I were across enemy lines in a country that I was sure was in the Middle East. I could sense the prayers on both sides of the coin. Believers crying out for encounters. The faithful to Allah crying out for the purification of a land, free from infidels.

I believe God wants to encounter people of all race, kind and color. He encountered Paul. Paul was a terrorist, breathing out death (Acts 9:1) and killing people. My friend and I were sharing Jesus and people were getting saved, baptized and carrying the words to others. (Huh? That only happened in the Bible or something!) I awoke from the dream. My hands still wet from the person I baptized.

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Is that important? I desperately think so.

I received my real estate license in 1978. It was a time in rural Vermont where funny real estate stories abounded. I am pretty sure many were truth. I was reminded of one this morning.

The story is told of the farmer who was so discouraged with his farm that he decided to sell out and move somewhere else. He engaged a real estate agent  to look the farm over and prepare a sales ad.

The agent came and met with the farmer. He looked at the farm, agreed to list it and place an ad for the sale of the property. But before putting it in the paper, the agent called and read the proposed ad to him, saying, “See if this meets with your approval.”

The ad spoke of a good location, a well maintained house, sturdy barns, lush pasture lands, a beautiful pond, fertile soil, and a great view.

The farmer listened carefully, and then said, “Read that to me again, slowly.” So the agent read it to him again. Finally, the farmer said, “No, don’t print that ad. I’ve changed my mind. I’ve always wanted a place like that. I’m not going to sell.

What we think, what we meditate on can be powerful. An encounter with God can change the worst. What are you believing for? Believing in?  One of my friends carries his passport with him for the time of translation.

I am pretty sure no one saw Paul’s conversion coming. (Or this growing list.) No one thought a witch going for coffee would get saved.

Simply believe. Cry out. Call out. And watch the world change. Get a taste of heaven. Like the farmer once you see it you will want it.

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