THE EMMAUS WALK PRESENTS:
"BURNING QUESTIONS AND CANDID ANSWERS,"
by Pastor Joseph Rangen (Retired) and Nephew Ronald Ginther
Dear Ron:
Greetings, I am happy to respond to your questions you submitted a short time ago. So here goes for what it’s worth.
Question--Have you ever been in a pit? Where, when, and how did you get out?
Perhaps Question 2 should be addressed first, but I’ll answer in your order. I’m not sure I know what you mean by “pit.” However, in my late teens I did experience a pit--facing a life as an adult, so many uncertain unknowns--vocation, life mate, spiritually uncertain about assurance. At the time I was still at home, a year or two out of high school, and I was taken out of my quandary by an unexpected visit from Norm Backstrom. He was in Colorado at college preparing for a life in Forestry. In mid-year he felt called by the Holy Spirit to enroll in Bible School and he came by to invite me to go with him. And my response, “I’ll go,” took me to Minneapolis and L.B.I. There Norm was used again by God as he introduced me to Estelle. So out of the pit, by a Miracle of God, I found direction vocationally, spiritually, and a life mate who has helped me for 56 years to stay out of the pit!
Question--When did you first see the light of Jesus personally?
In a conscious experience, on Mother’s knee, as she was teaching us the Word of God one Sunday afternoon. We did not have Sunday School at our country church at that time; however, we were homeschooled “in the Word.” Mother was teaching “the special day” when on her knee I became aware that I was a sinner. My age was possibly 6-8 years. I wept and Mother assured me Jesus had paid for my sin and I was then assured he has and will forgive me my sin. I was both liberated and assured.
Question--If you had to choose a scripture as your scripture, what would it be?
This is a difficult question. However, at this time in my earthly journey, II Corinthians 9:8 would seem right! “And God is able to make ALL Grace abound to you, so that in ALL things, at ALL times, having ALL you need, you will abound in every good work.
Question--Is America going to survive as a free country with so much going wrong with her today? What is a way to turn things around. Has it all gone too far? Is God unable or unwilling to save this country?
The Bible contains a great deal of history. Daniel had a vision, which represented the four kingdoms of this world--Babylon, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman. It seems every one experienced that they corrupted themselves and were destroyed. Romans 1:21-31 has a refrain, “God gave them over to their sinful desires.” We are reaping what we have sown. The answer to your question may be, perhaps, “Repent or perish, America!” II Chronicles 7:14.
Look at Luke 1:37: “For nothing is impossible with God.” I surely believe God is able! The question remains with us, “Are we as a nation willing to let God have His way with us?” Leadership in a country seemed to make a difference in the History of Nations. When Israel had a God-fearing king it seems that the people responded. If we continue to murder the unborn with Government approval, continue living as described in II Timothy 3: 2-4, we will destroy ourselves and our generation, not because God is not willing or able to save us but because we would not turn to him and change our ways. Matt. 23:37, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Also, Jesus spoke to the people at Jerusalem, “How often I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”-- Sincerely, Joseph Rangen
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