A Jim Among Men

What is the best way to honor the memory of a friend?

My wife and I were looking for a new congregation in 2011 AD.  We wanted to attend one that met on the actual Sabbath, but the pastor had to be committed to following the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible.  Our search went on for months. 

We thought that we had run out of options when I learned about HalleluYah Messianic Fellowship on the internet.  The webpage said that it was ran by Jim and Connie King.  Their congregation met at one in the afternoon on the Sabbath, which worked out well for us, but we were not sure what to expect.

We arrived at the address, but there was no meeting place, just a house.  We wondered if we had went to the wrong place, but someone informed us that the meeting place was behind the house.

When we arrived in the meeting place, it was like nothing we had ever seen before.

When we stepped in there were about fifty people packed into the small space almost up to the stage.  Most of the men in the congregation were wearing belt loop tzitzits (tassles).  A few of the people were Jewish, but most were not.

(My kids say that I have Jew radar.  I have informed many people that they have Jewish ancestry.  Some admitted it, but others denied it.  The deniers all later found out that it was true when they investigated their genealogy.)

The stage had an American and Israeli flag near the front of the stage on the right hand side. Next to the flags were a few people that formed a small choir.  Some of them had tambourines and other small hand instruments.  Next to them were shofars in a shofar rack.  Next to the shofar rack was a rather large speaker on a speaker stand.

There was an Ark for the Torah Scroll on the left hand wall near the front of the stage.   Next to it was a Torah stand.  Behind the Torah stand was a five foot tall menorah (seven branch candelabra) with an oil wick burning at the top of each branch.  In front of the stage, was a box that held a tallit gadol (a great tallit). Behind that, in the left hand corner of the stage, was a rather large speaker on a speaker stand.  Next to the speaker was a pull down video screen like people use for slide projectors.

In the center, on the left hand side, was a couple of guitar stands.  In the center, on the right hand side, was a stand with several computers and sound boards. However, most striking of all was the man in the center of the stage, just behind the pulpit.

The man was wearing a tallit gadol (large prayer shawl) with an electric guitar strapped around his body and tzitzits were hanging from his belt loops.  On his face, there was a large beard, and an even larger welcoming smile.  He said that he was Jim King, and welcomed everyone to HalleluYah Messianic Fellowship.

On the screen there was a slide show with interesting quotes and questions.

Then the slide show changed to a slide that said, "Call to Worship".

Soon, the shofars sounded to call everyone to worship.  We then proceed to face Jerusalem and recite the Sh'ma that was on a banner on the east wall in highly Okie-ized Hebrew.  (Okie means "belonging to Oklahoma".)

Then Jim King lead everyone in reciting a statement in English about the Torah being a tree of life to everyone who obeys it, that was displayed on the screen.

Then the screen switched to "Torah procession".

Next, the Torah scroll was taken out of the Ark by two men.  It was inside a velvet me'il with decorative embroidery.  (A me'il is a Torah Mantle - a cloth covering with a wooden top that has holes for the Torah staves to stick out.)  The two staves of the Torah scroll had a silver Torah crown on each end.

The first man took the silver Torah breastplate off the me'il. (A shield shape ornament on a chain that hangs over the top of the Torah staves and drapes in front of the me'il.)

The second man then proceeded to parade the Torah scroll, still in the me'il, through the meeting room.  He held it out, so everyone could touch the me'il or the top of the staves of the Torah scroll with either their tzitzits or their Bibles or their fingers.  Some of them then kissed whatever they touched the Torah scroll with.

Once the Torah procession was over, the first man then removed the me'il and the second man carefully unrolled the Torah scroll using the staves and placed it on the Torah stand.

Then Jim King lead everyone in reciting the following from the screen: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

The screen then showed a slide that said, "Praise and worship".

After that, Jim King began laying down some righteous blues riffs, and the small choir on the stage began singing back ground vocals while Jim King lead the congregation in singing praise and worship songs, some in Hebrew and some in English.  The lyrics to each song appeared on the screen, so everyone could sing along.

Some people on stage and some people in the audience took shofars off of the shofar stand and blew them as well during praise and worship.  Others shook their tambourines and other small hand instruments to the beat.  Some of the people moved some chairs to create some space and danced Davidic dances in a circle.  All the while Jim King continued to use his impressive blues skills on the guitar and lead the singing.

After praise and worship ended, the screen changed to show the Sabbath Prayer.

Two men took the tallit gadol out of the box, unfolded it, and held it up as high as they could to form a canopy.  Then everyone under twenty years of age gathered under the canopy formed by the tallit gadol.  Jim King then played his guitar and lead us in singing the Sabbath Prayer over them.  After the Sabbath Prayer was over, the two men folded the tallit gadol and put it back in the box.  The younger children were then dismissed to go to Sabbath school.

After that, a clock appeared on the screen with 15 minutes on it and began counting down. This signaled a fifteen minute break.

During the break, people went to back of the meeting room to get snacks and coffee.  People also used the small restroom during the break.  Mostly, they discussed the Book of Truth (The Bible) and related topics.

After thirteen minutes, a small bell was sounded by Jim King.  Someone explained that this was the two minute warning for everyone to wrap up their conversations and return to their seats.

After the countdown reached zero, the screen changed to show a funny picture with the words "Laughter does good like medicine" below it.

Jim King proceeded to tell a clean joke.  His delivery was perfect and the room roared in laughter.

Then the screen changed to show the lesson for the day.

Jim King began to preach and teach about the subject at hand.  His sermon was very centered on the Book of Truth and he was careful to show each verse on the screen.   The sermon started off with a parashah (portion) from the Torah, a parashah from the Haftorah, and a parashah from the B'rit Chadashah.

He would often take time to explain the context of each verse, including its context in the passage where it appeared, its context in view of the entire Book of Truth, and the historical and cultural context when it was written.  It was obvious that he took the Book of Truth very serious.  It was apparent that he had spent significant time to study and research when he prepared his sermon.

After the sermon was over, the screen changed to show a big yellow button with the words "Life Application" in the center.

Jim King then gave a brief explanation of how to apply the main passage of the sermon to help us live a life that was more pleasing to the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD).

Next, the screen changed to say, "Return the Torah Scroll".

The two men that had taken the Torah out of the Ark, returned to the Torah stand.  One of them rolled the Torah scroll back together and the other placed the me'il over it, and then placed the Torah breastplate back over the Torah staves and draped it in front of the me'il.  They then returned the Torah scroll back to the Ark.

Next, the screen showed the Aaronic Blessing in Hebrew.

Another man went up on the stage and cantored the Aaronic Blessing in Hebrew.  Both of his hands were lifted up and spread out with the two smallest fingers join together, a space between the next two fingers that were joined together, and a space between them and the thumb.

(Holding the hands like this forms a menorah with the human body.  The head is the shamash (servant) in the center and the hands form three branches on the left and right of the head.

This is also where Leonard Nimoy (Spock on Star Trek) got the "Vulcan peace sign" from.  "Live long and prosper" was also from the synagogue service.)

Then the screen changed to show the Aaronic Blessing in English.

Jim King returned to the stage and recited the Aaronic Blessing in English over the congregation while doing the same thing with his hands.

Jim King then dismissed us to participate in Oneg (eating together) and Midrash (discussion).

We had not brought any food since it was our first time, but everyone insisted that we eat with them anyways.  This was not a problem since they knew what is for dinner according to the Book of Truth.  While we ate, my wife and I asked Jim King and his wife some questions about the beliefs of their congregation.

While Jim King had incorporated many elements from the synagogue service, he was very careful to not include anything contrary to the Book of Truth.  For example, he went by the title of Pastor, because the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) said, that we were not to call each other, "Rabbi " (Matthew 23:8).

He also told us that before he was saved, he, his wife, and her sister (also part of the choir) used to perform together in blues clubs.  He would tell jokes during his shows as well.  So, he just decided to use those talents in spread the Good News.

We had to leave before Midrash got started, but we soon started attending every Sabbath.  Our long search was over.

Still, I was leery to become friends with Jim King.  My former friendships with previous pastors had not ended well.

I had been given the left foot of fellowship at our two previous congregations.  I was at both congregations for eleven years, and had even helped start one of them.  The root of the problem both times was that I was simply more committed to changing my life to conform to what I learned from the Book of Truth than the pastors were.

Sometimes, they would agree with things like Christmas was not when the Man of Truth was born according to the Book of Truth.  They would even agree that Christmas customs came from idolatry like the Mensch who killed Christmas warned.  They even knew who changed the Sabbath to Sunday.  Still, they were unwilling to lead their congregation into walking in truth more fully by meeting on the actual Sabbath and abandoning these customs from Babylonian idol worship.

Of course, this same willful disobedience to the Book of Truth eventually spread into other areas of both the congregation and their families.  When someone starts disobeying the Father of Truth in one area, it makes it easier to disobey Him in another area.  Disobedience and justification of that disobedience becomes an ingrained habit.

However, my wife, Julie, thought that Jim King was different and I should give him a chance.  So, I did.

I am so glad that I listened to Julie!  The more that I came to know Jim, the more I liked him.  I finally found a pastor that was as willing to make changes to conform to what he learned from the Book of Truth as I was.  Finding Jim was like finding a rare gem.

Jim King was a gem among men!

Over the next seven years, our friendship only grew stronger.  We went to men's fellowships on Sunday together.  I celebrated the Feasts of Truth and similar holidays with Jim and the rest of the congregation.  (I had been doing this with just my family, or sometimes alone, since Chanukah of 2002 AD.  It was so much better to have other people to celebrate them with.)

Jim, his wife Connie, and her sister Sonya were such a great blessing to us over the years.

Jim talked to my Hindu and Muslim friends about the Man of Truth when they came to see this congregation that I had told them about.  Jim was glad they came, because he understood that we should be a friend of sinners like the Man of Truth.  Jim baptized my friend Narender when he came into the House of Truth.  When my daughter, the Impossible Girl, became really ill, Jim lead our entire congregation in a one day fast for her recovery.   Jim married my other daughter Miranda to my friend Narender.

Jim King was a gem among men!

Friends are like diamonds - the real ones have flaws.  Jim was not perfect, and neither am I.

However, Jim had a gentle way of getting my attention to an area where I could improve.  He would listen to my sometimes long winded explanations, then give me wise counsel, based on the Book of Truth.  I learned to be more gentle in my approach from Jim among other things.

In like manner, Jim would really listen when I saw something that he could improve.  I never felt the need to speak louder to be heard when I was talking to Jim, for it was evident that he was hearing what I was saying and giving it serious thought.  Sometimes, he would ask for some time to think it over, and I was never hesitant to give him the time, because I knew that his request was sincere.  He would eventually get back to me and tell me that he could see what I meant.  Then he would listen to my solution to the problem and implement it.

For example, when I started going to Midrash, I found that it soon devolved into a chaotic melee where multiple people were each trying to shout to get their voice heard over the rest of the noise.  Midrash would end with a lot of people upset with each other and nobody having learned anything.

I suggested a set of rules to Jim for conducting Midrash, so it would be an orderly and effective discussion of the lesson that he had taught and preached in the sermon, followed by discussions of other things in the Book of Truth.  The next week, there was a list of these rules on the slide before Midrash started, and Jim explained to everyone the benefit of these rules.  Jim then began leading each Midrash by these rules.  People quit leaving Midrash upset so much and started learning from each other.

Jim and I would also discuss everything in the light of the Book of Truth.  Jim ceased many Rabbinic customs over the years, after he came to realize that the Rabbis are liars.  He later shaved his beard with a clear conscience when he learned what the Book of Truth said about what is on your head.

So, Jim and I were able to help each other improve in so many ways.  Jim loved me too much to say nothing when I needed correction, and was too humble to not listen when I saw something that he needed to improve upon.

Jim King was a gem among men!

A friend loves at all times and a brother was born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17).  This was certainly the case between Jim and myself.

Jim did all that he could to encourage me during two years of unemployment.  He read most of these posts of this blog and encouraged me to continue, even though I felt like I was drowning in a lukewarm sea.

When Jim was your friend, he was really your friend.  He was your friend in the good times and in the bad times.  He knew when to give me a pat on the back and when to give me a swift kick in the seat of the pants.

Jim King was a gem among men!

At times, various conflicts arose in our small congregation that began splitting it.

In some cases, it was simply a misunderstanding, that people could have resolved.  They just chose to remain offended, instead.  They simply had too much pride, so they left.

In other cases, there were people who just stirred up strife and controversy over unimportant matters.  Jim gently asked them to either stop doing this or leave.  He protected his congregation from such people (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

When they left, things would calm down, and eventually new members would come in to replace them.

Lastly, there were cases where there were genuine disagreements over how to proceed or things like that.

These were mostly peaceful separations that ended up creating new congregations that could reach people in other parts of Oklahoma far away from Jenks.  These new congregations were ran by people who had learned from Jim.  It was all for the better.

(Two people cannot walk together when they do not agree on the destination (Amos 3:3).  Sometimes ministers just have to separate because they cannot come to an agreement (Acts 15:36-39).  This can lead to two groups going to different places to reach more people (Acts 15:39-41).)

Through it all, I stood by Jim.

After all, Jim King was a gem among men!

Jim was a friend to me like I was to him.  The general rule in my life has been the same as that of Paul the Jew (Shaul aka Saul aka The Apostle Paul) - the more I love people, the less that they love me back (2 Corinthians 12:15).  Still, I love them anyways, because love believes all things and never gives up on people (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Jim was different.  It was like we were in a contest to see who could show the most love to the other person.  About two years ago, the strength of that love began to shine.

The turmoil over the years took a toll on our congregation.  It became smaller and smaller.  Then we came to another turning point.

I was celebrating Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) with Jim and Connie. (This holiday is the source of the camp meetings and county fairs.)  We were there only ones there, but we still enjoyed ourselves.  Jim played his acoustic guitar and we sang songs around the camp fire.  It was a time of great fellowship.

Suddenly, I had this sensation that this was the last time that I would celebrate this holiday with my friend.  This had happened to me twice before, first with my grandmother, and then with my father-in-law.  They both died before that holiday came around again.  So, I asked the Father of Truth for a little more time with Jim.

After all, Jim King was a gem among men.

Not long after that, Jim had a stroke.  There was concern that the end was near for Jim.

Jim, Connie, and the members of our congregation stood together and trusted the Father of Truth for a full recovery.  Month after month, Jim got progressively better until he was back to being able to play guitar, sing, and preach.

However, some of our congregation left during this time.  Connie was under a lot of stress and would sometimes say things that she normally would not have said.  She would apologize the next week, but it was not enough for some people.  So, they left.

Also, people came into our congregation during this time, who only seemed to want to bring division and strife.  It seemed as if they were being sent in by the Father of Lies (HaShatan aka Satan Aka The Devil), while Jim was too overwhelmed to defend his congregation.  However, our congregation was not defenseless.

Jim was my friend and it was my turn to help him.  Jim had taught me what to do in these situations, and I did it. 

I met with the individuals alone after our service was over.  I listened to what they had to say.  Then I showed them from the Book of Truth the error of their ways.  They could not refute what I said, so they just left - sometimes mad.

I did my best to be as gentle as Jim would, but I know that I did not always succeed.  I was a little concerned that I had not handled the situation right. 

However, Jim set my mind at ease by thanking me for running off one couple.  They had came before and stirred division then as well.  He said that it seemed like they were sent to our congregation by the Father of Lies for that purpose.

Jim was kind and gentle, but he never let that come in front of protecting his congregation from the doctrine of lies.  He loved people, but he loved the Father of Truth more.

Jim King was a gem among men!

Then in May of last year, Jim was diagnosed with bulbar ALS.

Connie called me as soon as she could.  Immediately the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) reminded me of Wendy Moore.

I had seen Wendy Moore once on the 700 Club seventeen years earlier.  She had been diagnosed with ALS and was on the verge of death, when the Man of Truth healed her of ALS.  I investigated on the internet and found that she was still alive with no symptoms.  I immediately told Jim about her.

Jim and Connie now had hope. 

Jim did some of his own research and told me about Danny Cox.  Danny had also been healed of ALS in the same way as well.

Jim also told me about a medical research doctor, who had studied case after case of people diagnosed with ALS, what they had tried, and the results of their efforts.  These cases covered the gamete of possible cures including medical treatments, stem cells, herbal cures, wonder diets, energy healers, and just about anything else you could think of.   This man had been compiling these cases for over twenty years, because he wanted to find a cure to help save people with ALS.  In those twenty years, the best results that any of these cures had produced was a year and a half reversal of the symptoms, but then the patients returned to their downward spiral to death.

The only cases where anyone had actually been healed of ALS was through the power of the Spirit of Truth in the name of the Man of Truth.  I found ten different people who had been healed of ALS this way, and none of them never had the symptoms come back.  I started calling Jim, "Number eleven".

Our congregation had became very small again.  However, I had been praying for new members to join our congregation, who knew where sickness comes from, and who knew that there is a doctor in the house, who can cure incurable diseases. 

(People being healed by the power of the Spirit of Truth begins with believing the report that they can be healed through faith in the Man of Truth.  However, faith is not the only factor involved, so it is often a matter of removing the roadblocks, which involves renewing the mind as much as anything.  This takes time that Jim did not have.)

Soon, our small congregation consisted only of people with faith for Jim to be healed.  There was hope for more time with Jim!

I was committed to standing with Jim until he was healed or with the Man of Truth in Heaven.  I was going to be with Jim until the end.

After all, Jim King was a gem among men!

When the Feast of Tabernacles came around again, I was so happy that Jim was still with us and able to celebrate it.  This time there was about a dozen of us around the fire pit at his house.  We cooked and ate camping food.  We sang some songs.  We talked about the goodness of the Father of Truth.

Then Jim put on some music.  I felt like I was going to burst with joy.  I just had to get up and dance!

I danced like I had not danced in a long time.  I danced so hard that I fell over.  People thought I was hurt, but I would get back up and dance some more.  Some young kids danced with me, but I was still dancing when they were too tired to dance.

The Father of Truth had answered my prayer and gave me another year with Jim!  It was the best Feast of Tabernacles of my life!

I was blown away by the goodness of the Father of Truth in answering my prayer. 

After all, Jim King was a gem among men!

After that, Jim and Connie continued to do everything that they could keep Jim alive.  There was nothing that Connie was not willing to give up to have some more time with Jim.  They also took serious steps to grow their faith.

It was not just them, but our entire congregation.  Our congregation studied what the Book of Truth had to say about healing and miracles.  Our congregation had prayer sessions for Jim.

Still, it was hard on everyone as Jim continued to deteriorate, especially Connie.  Eventually, the stress got to her and she said things that she regretted.  She apologized, but some of our members left anyways.

Also, some of our members got into strife with each other.  Some of them began to speak badly about the other party to other members.  This strife divided our small congregation.  More members left.

Others began during our Midrash asking questions about what the Book of Truth said about some things that they were going through.  When I told them what it said, they did not like the answer.  They also left.

Still I was determined to stay with Jim until he was healed or with the Man of Truth in Heaven.  I was going to be with Jim until the end.

After all, Jim King was a gem among men!

Shortly after Independence Day, Jim asked me via a letter carried by Connie to run the services for him.  He also asked me to do what I could to keep our congregation going if he was not healed.

I do not really have the disposition to be a pastor.  I am more of the fiery prophet type.  I am more of a teacher than a preacher.  Still, I promised to do everything that I could.

After all, Jim King was a gem among men!

The hospice people and doctors told Connie and Jim that he had a few months to live.  Jim was almost out of time.  He had to be healed soon, if he was going to be healed.  It was show time.

I had read all about ALS and knew that the last few months of life could be terrible.  I did not want Jim to go through that.  So, I asked the Father of Truth to either heal Jim quickly, or for him to soon die peacefully.

Jim had gotten so ill that he could not even come to our service for a few minutes.  I could run the equipment and defend our congregation from the hidden danger that has crept into so many congregations, but I was no Jim King.  We needed his quiet strength and gentle leadership.

Our congregation continued to fall apart.

One Sabbath, there was only me and one other man.  We still sang the songs and watch the sermon that Jim had selected.  We still had a good time at oneg and midrash.  The Man of Truth is wherever two or more gather together in his name (Matthew 18:20).  I thought this had to be the low point, but I was wrong.

It got so bad, that I thought that I would be the only person to show up for service Sabbath before last.  I was resigned to just spending the Sabbath by myself praying for Jim.

However, I did not expect what happened next.

I had forgotten that I asked for one more great service with Jim.  The Father of Truth answered that prayer as well.

Several of our congregants came in.  We had children, so we could sing the Sabbath Prayer.

Then Sonya brought Jim into our meeting place and we all cheered wildly.  Jim clinched his fists together in and shook them like the returning champion that he was.  Jim was led to the lift chair that had been donated, so he enjoy our services.  I gave him the clicker for changing the slides, letting him know that it was still his congregation, despite my help.

Then during the break, I got a call on my phone with another pleasant surprise.  When the door to our meeting place opened later, I paused the sermon that I was playing.  In came in Miranda and Narender to see Jim.  Jim was almost beside himself with happiness.

Even though Jim had to go to the restroom a few times, he was there for the entire service.  It was the happiest I had seen him in months.

We had let Jim King know that he was a gem among men.

I was blown away by the goodness of the Father of Truth in answering my prayer. 

Last Sabbath, I was uncharacteristically running early.  I was half way to the meeting place when my wife Julie called me.  She said that Connie had sent a text cancelling our service, because Jim had a rough night and everyone was worn out.  Not long after I got home, I got a text from Sonya saying that Jim was gone.

Our members were believing for the Father of Truth to raise Jim from the dead, but it did not happen.  It simply was not His will, or else He would have done it when we asked (1 John 5:13-15).

When I talked to Connie at the viewing, she told me about how peaceful Jim left this world.  He was so tired of fighting ALS, but was concerned about Connie.  She told him that it was alright for him to go home.  It was her final act of love for Jim while he was on this Earth.  He died quietly and peacefully about a minute later.

This was only fitting for a gem among men.

Once again, I was blown away by the goodness of the Father of Truth in answering my prayer.

I have felt no real sense of grief for my dear friend Jim, because he left no room for doubt that I will see him again, unlike my mother-in-lay who died shortly before Mother's Day.   I have had nothing but an overwhelming joy every time I think about my mother, because she took the deal offered by the Father of Truth before she died on Resurrection Sunday.

You see there was no fear of death for Jim King because of the death of the Lamb.  He knew that he was better off dead.  The moment he took his last breath was the moment he became alive!

Jim has fought good fight and awaits his crown (2 Timothy 4:7-8)!

So, what is the best way to honor the memory of my friend?

By doing what I can to continue where Jim left off.  It remains to be seen what will become of our congregation.  I might be the entire board at this time, but it is ultimately up to Connie.

No matter what Connie decides, I will continue to do what Jim and I did together.  My comrade-in-arms may have fallen, but I will continue the fight.

I will continue to wage war against the Father of Lies (Ephesians 6:11-13).  I will continue to wage the same war that Jim waged (1 Timothy 1:17-19).

I will continue to bring people into the House of Truth.  I will continue to follow the leading of the Spirit of Truth.  I will continue to tell people about the Man of Truth.  I will continue to obey the Father of Truth.  I will continue to walk in all of His ways for all my days.

If I never find another like minded partner, I will not be fighting alone.  The Father of Truth will never leave me nor forsake me, so that I can continue to carry on the fight until my last breath (Hebrews 13:5-6).

However, I will not be carrying on this work alone, for I am asking for the Father of Truth to send more laborers to help me in the work, as the Man of Truth commanded (Luke 10:2).

Ultimately, the efforts of Jim and I to build anything were useless, unless the Father of Truth was building with us (Psalm 127:1).  One of us may have planted the seeds, and the other one may have taken care of the plants, but the Father of Truth gave us the harvest (1 Corinthians 3:7).

The best thing that you can do to honor the memory of this gem among men, if you are among the Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him), is to do your part in carrying out the Great Commission.  You may have to give that last full measure of devotion, but you nothing to fear, because you only die once!

The best thing that you can do to honor the memory of this gem among men, if you have not came into the House of Truth, is to come into the House of Truth.

You need make the Man of Truth your king, because you believe that the Father of Truth raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Come into the House of Truth!

A Friend Of Sinners

Should Christians be friends with Muslims?

This week I am flying to Atlanta to attend the wedding of a friend.  I had planned to take a road trip with my family, but circumstances made it impossible for them to go.  So I bought a ticket to fly to Atlanta.  This is significant, because I have never paid for myself to fly anywhere before.  However, I had told this friend that I would be at their wedding, so I did, what I have avoided doing until now.

This is most fitting, because everything about our friendship, involves doing what I had avoided doing, until we met.

I had rules about how I interacted with different kinds of people.  Some of the rules, I did not like, but I had trouble not instinctively following them anyways.  Most of them had been developed over the years, either as a reaction to either bad things that happened to me when I let certain types of people get too close, or from bad things I had seen happen to other people when they let certain other types of people, get too close to them.

Mind you, when it comes to things like skin color there has never been a prejudice bone in my body.  For example, my family was the only white family at several otherwise all black churches, when I was in the Air Force.  I went to those churches, because the people there believed what I believed more closely than the white churches I visited.  I often felt closer to those people than my own flesh and blood, because what we had in common was more important than the differences.

Still, I had my prejudices about other things.  I generally did not trust rich people.  I kept women at a distance much as possible, and did not even like to touch them in any way, except my own family members.  I had seen what could happen when married men let women get too close, and I was on my guard at all times.  I had friends who were not Christians, but they were mostly Atheists and the like that are common in America. 

I especially kept my distance from Muslims.  I had been friends with some at various times, but they always managed to hurt me.

The truth is, that almost all my close friends were among the Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him).  The fact is that all of my rules about who I would let into my life, and how far, made it very difficult for me to be a friend of sinners.

Little did I know, that the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) had a plan to teach me how to become a friend of sinners.

I was once a great Android developer. 

I have worked with many technologies.  While good at many of them, the only one that I would ever call myself great at doing was Android development.  One reason was when developing Android applications I had to pretty much do all of the roles, like developer and database administrator.  These roles were usually split between different people and even different teams.

So this streamlined hierarchy of one person performing all role really worked for me.  I was not slowed down by meeting to collaborate with other people, or needing to get permission to do anything.  I would do my own research on problems, find my own solutions, and implement them.  For the first time in my entire career, I was able to just run with my ideas.

I would encounter problems and look online to see how others solved them.  Often I would find that many people on on-line communities had experienced the same problems, but no one had solved them.  So I would solve the problems, and then I would publish my solutions on StackOverflow to help other people.  While I liked not being hindered by trying to explain what I was thinking, and having to convince other to go along with it, I also liked helping other people.

The thing is that I see the world differently than most people, and this whole "I am the Android department" thing allowed me to not need to interact with other people very often, or try to get them to understand what I was doing.  I had never been great at that, and the seven years prior to that, of working from home alone, had made it worse.  I had mad machine skills, but sad people skills.

Since I was so good at creating apps that simply worked, the start up that I worked at grew to have more customers than I could handle.  So one fateful day, I was introduced to Neel, and he was going to help me with Android.  Neel was fresh out of college.  He had a sharp mind, but like many people fresh out of college needed help adjusting to being in a professional environment.  So I had to work closely with Neel.

Well, this turned out great.  Neel was from India, and my sad people skills did not bother him.  He would occasionally suggest that I do things differently with people, and I would give it a try.  Most of the time, Neel was proven right.  I would explain Android things as I saw them, and he would get it, even though I would have to give him some background information that only came from experience.  Soon we branched out and talked about things that were not work related during lunch or after work.

I thought Neel was a Hindu, because the Blackberry department person, who was also from India, was a Hindu.  I had kept my distance with her, because she was not interested in hearing about the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) and she was a woman.  Rule number two was, do not interact with women any more than absolutely necessary to perform work.

Well, I was sort of right about Neel.  Neel had grown up as a Hindu, but was not really one anymore. He had been brainwashed into believing The Greatest Fairy Tail Ever Told in college.  So I started talking to him about math and science.  We spent many hours talking about this, and I showed him why I had realized at 16 years of age that evolution was a mathematical and scientific impossibility.  Eventually, he began to see why no one could believe in both evolution, and math and science, at the same time.  So now, Neel was sure of what he did not believe, but he was not sure of what he should believe.

So I began to talk to him about the Book of Truth (The Bible).  The first thing that surprised me was that, he already knew a lot of the stories in the Book of Truth, like David and Goliath.  It turned out, that all of the best schools in India were private schools, that were either ran by Christian missionaries, or the False Church of Rome.  So Neel had been sent to one of these schools, where they read and discussed stories from the Book of Truth.  So apparently in India, people still do in their private schools, what had once been common, but outlawed in public schools in America.

We soon started doing things outside of work.  We became good friends, even though Neel had not came into the House of Truth.  The Father of Truth had sent Neel into my life to begin to teach me how to be a friend of sinners.

Neel became like family to us.  He spent holidays like Thanksgiving with my family.  Whenever I had a family event, like grilling steaks, Neel was invited.  Neel would also grill delicious Indian food at these events.  We were truly great friends, even though I still longed for Neel to come into the House of Truth.

Then one day Neel asked me out of the blue, if he could go to church with me.  I was thrilled, but curious, so I asked him what brought this on.  He explained, that there was this positive energy that he felt every time he was around me, and he wanted it.  I told him that was the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost).  So we added going to church every Sabbath to our list of activities that we did together.

I worked crazy hours trying to keep the mobile development company going.  I felt like, that if I left the company, then it would fall apart.  The company became so dependent upon me, that it got to the point that it seemed like, if I went on vacation for more than a day or two, then it would not survive. 

Eventually I realized, that no amount of software engineering skills on my behalf, could make up for poor business practices carried out by others.  I was exhausted, and in a lot of pain from my gallbladder issues.  So I reluctantly took a week of vacation.  When I came back from vacation the company no longer existed.

I was obsessed with finding another Android job, but my main concern was Neel.  Neel sent money from every paycheck back to India to help take care of his parents and siblings back there.  Since he was an H1B (foreigner on a temporary work visa), he only had so many days to find another job, or he would be deported.

Neel came across many obstacles that threatened to keep him from staying in American and getting a job.  Several times it looked hopeless, but I would pray with Neel to the Father of Truth in the name of the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ), and each time He made a way for Neel when there had been no way available.  Neel could see that what had been impossible for people to do on their own, had been possible with the Father of Truth.

Eventually, Neel did get a mobile development job doing iOS in Denver.  With tear filled eyes, I prayed with Neel before he drove off from my house to Colorado.  He had still not came into the House of Truth, but we were the best of friends.  I had learned how to be a friend of sinners.

My obsession with getting an another Android job had not waned, although helping Neel get a job had taken top priority.  I did all I could to keep my skills with Android current.  The problem was, that there were absolutely no Android jobs in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

On top of that I have a daughter, who has six medical conditions that are fatal and incurable according to medical science.  The list of places, where the weather, air quality, and medical facilities to meet her needs, is pretty short.  Unlike Neel, I could not just move to any place to find an Android job at a moment's notice.

Still, I almost got an Android job where I could work from home several times.  In each case, something would happen at the last moment.  In one case, the management at Sprint was willing to pay me $167 an hour to solve their Android issues, but only if I would move to Kansas City until the project was over.  I told them, that my daughter had never spent one day in the hospital without me visiting her, and that was never going to change.

If they had offered me $500 an hour, I still would not have went.  Somethings are more important than money. 

I knew, that I was needed at home to fight for her life with the help of the Father of Truth.  I knew that He was doing the impossible on her behalf, as long as I did my part.  I did not blame Him for her condition, because I knew where sickness comes from.  He was the only reason that she was alive, and He is the only one that can heal her.  There was no amount of money that could cause me to not be there when she needed me.

Then a recruiter called me one day to present me to a client in Tulsa doing web application work, similar to what I had done five years earlier.  They were were having performance issues, and were impressed with I had done to solve performance issues in Android, and the web application that I worked on before that.  I interviewed with them and it was certain that I could solve their problems.

During the same time, a large bank headquartered in Tulsa interviewed me for an Android job in Tulsa.  I was the only person with the Android skills that they could find.  They offered more money and security than a temporary contract.  Still, it did not seem like it was where the Father of Truth wanted me to go, even though it was the kind of job that I really wanted.

My pain had grown worse in the two years since I had lost my Android job.  It made it hard for me to be confident, that I was hearing the Spirit of Truth correctly when I prayed.  So I decided to make an offer, and leave the results to the Father of Truth.  So I told the recruiter, that I was willing to take on the job, under the condition that I could take the Android job, if the bank called me.  She talked to the client, and they were agreeable to my terms.

Then things got weird.

First, there was an internal disruption in the bank.  They had a disagreement over how their Information Technology department should be organized.  So they removed the position until they worked out their internal issues.  (Their need for the work did not end.  Two years later, when they finally got their act together, they were even in more need of someone to perform the Android work.)

Second, when I showed up for the first day at the client company to start work on solving their web application performance issues, things were nothing like what I had been told.  Instead of working for the manager that I had interviewed with, I was told that I was going work for another manager.

Third, I was not even going to be working on the problem that I had been hired to solve.  Instead, I was going to work on an entirely different project, largely involving technologies that I had only seen in recruitment adds. 

This other project had been stalled for two years, and they suddenly decided that it was their highest priority.  (Their need for the performance work did not end.  I have been told by people who still work there, that they still need to have those issues fixed, even though it has been three years, since they had originally hired me to fix the issues.)

Fourth, I was not going to be working by myself, but rather be part of a team.  They were going to be using an Agile methodology for managing a project - for the first time ever.  They had seen on my resume that I had been using Scrum, a type of Agile for about seven years, and the project management work that I had done before that.  (Project management is my other passion.)  So they wanted me on the team for those skills as much as my development skills.

Fifth, there was some sort of turf war going on, where different managers claimed different empty cubes on the main IT floor, and none of them were willing to allow our team to use their empty cubes that were near each other, so we could work together.  I asked them about the empty floor that did not have any cubes.  So they decided to put all of us together on that one floor, all sitting around the same table.

Sixth, I soon discovered, that they did not have the laptops that us contractors needed to do our jobs.  The employees who were assigned to work with us did not even have a laptop with a working configuration of the environment and application.  So for most of the day, we just sat at a table with nothing to do.  If a person could literally die from boredom, I think I would have.  It got so bad that I actually started talking to my co-workers about non-work related things, just to relieve the boredom.

At the end of the first week, I went home and a friend of mine, who worked at the bank, asked me how I liked the new job.  So I told him that I was mad about the whole thing.

I was not working on Android, like I wanted.  I was not working for the manager, that I wanted to work for.  I was not solving the problems, that I wanted to solve.  I was being put on a team, instead of working by myself like I wanted.  I was being forced to spend time in close proximate to my team mates - and some of them were women - instead of being able to remain socially isolated, so I could focus on my work like I wanted.  I was bored so badly, that I had actually began to talk to my co-workers, instead of spending most of my time solving technical problems like I wanted.

This friend, who had lead me into the House of Truth, told me that I had a bad attitude, and that I needed to straighten up.  He pointed out that I had told the Father of Truth that I was leaving the results up to Him.  He said, that it was obvious that the Father of Truth had placed me in this position, since I had not even applied for it, and had no experience in many of the technologies.  So I had no right to be whining about getting what I asked for.

I stood there stunned for a moment.  He was completely right.  I had told the Father of Truth, that I wanted His will more than my own, and He acted on my words.  I had no right to be whining about Him doing, what I had asked Him to do.

A good friend knows, when you need a pat on the back, and when you need a swift kick in the seat of the pants.  My friend had just given me the swift kick in the seat of the pants that I needed.  So I took his wise counsel, and decided to change my attitude to one of gratitude.

I went to work the next Monday with a new mindset that I was on a mission from the Father of Truth.  I was determined to d, whatever I could to help the team, in any way that I could.  I did not understand why the Father of Truth had arranged for me to be locked in room with a bunch of other people - without the means to solve any technical problems.  However, it soon became apparent that this was all part of the next lesson, which the Father of Truth was giving me on how to be a friend of sinners.

At the morning scrum meeting, it became apparent that some people in the company were trying to take advantage of the foreign developers, by denying them the ability to work from home when they had a legitimate need, as they had been promised.  It made my blood boil to see people taking advantage of my teammates, just because they were foreigners, so I spoke up about this. 

The manager asked everyone, who had been promised this, to raise their hands.  The hand of every developer went up, both foreign and domestic.  So the manager said, that she would honor the promise that had been made to all of the developers.

Soon after that, we got our laptops, but there were issues in configuring the environment that we needed to do our development work. 

So I helped the top employee fix the configuration issues on his laptop, so we would have a working model to compare our efforts to.  I pointed out that our laptops did not have sufficient memory for our development, so he got some ordered for us.   In the meantime, we started installing the tools that we needed, and configuring our own working environments.  I finished mine in a few hours, except for the parts that required security access, but no one else was able to get their laptop working.  We had all been given the same instructions, but the instructions were incorrect, or incomplete, in several places.  I had figured out what to do to instead, so I worked with the another employee to get her laptop working, but had her modify the instructions as we went along.

Soon everyone was following the new instructions, and was getting their laptop working, except for one of the Indian developers.  (Dot, not feather.)  I wanted to make more progress on improving the development environment further, but he just kept looking at me like a sad puppy.  So I started helping Reddy.

It turned out that something was actually wrong with his laptop.  He would set the configuration correctly, but it would not save the changes for some reason.  The laptop was going have to be fixed or replaced.

The Indians were scared of the manager, but she had already shown me that she treated people fairly.  So I spoke up on his behalf to the manager, and showed her that it was the laptop, and not Reddy, that was at fault.  So she got his laptop fixed.

I would also see them floundering in their work, and reached out to help them.  They had reasonably good IT skills, but needed some mentoring to discover what they were good at, and then develop their strengths.

I found that I could explain things to one of the Indian women, Shamira, in English, and she would often catch on quicker than even the Americans in some cases.  Shamira would then explain things that I was not getting across, to the other Indians in Hindi, or one of the other three Indian languages, that she was proficient in.  So I end up working particularly closely with Shamira.

By now, the Indians had taken a liking to me, and wanted me to go out to eat with them. 

I could not afford the time, the money, or the extra calories, that came with eating out.  Still, one of them, Shamira was persistent, so I promised that I would go out with them, once per week. 

I also started bringing extra food with me at lunch to share with them, because I thought that they were probably from poor families, and had to send home a large part of their paychecks to help take care of their parents, like Neel had.  Well, they started bringing food as well, and wanted me to eat with them.  So soon we were eating together at lunch almost every day.

As time went on, they also began to help me with my people skills. 

When I would make a mistake that might offend people, Shamira would come over to me, put her hand on her hip, look at me like a mother correcting her child, and start explaining what I did wrong, by saying, "Now, Danny ...".  It would make me laugh, but I also took what she said seriously, because she had shown herself as having very good people skills.  Reddy would also help me, usually by starting out with something like, "Funny, funny, Danny". 

So I helped them become better developers, and they helped me to become a better team player.

Of course, I told these two about the Man of Truth, because that is all that really matters.  I told them, about how I had prayed to the Father of Truth in the name of the Man of Truth, and how He had answered my prayers in spectacular ways.  I wanted them to know that the Father of Truth was the only living God, and that the Man of Truth was the only way to know Him.  There was no doubt, that I was not wearing a costume, because I told everyone that worked with about the Man of Truth.  After all, friends do not let friends, go to Hell unwarned.

I had known that they were not followers of the Man of Truth, from the moment that I met them.  However, I was more than a little shocked to learn that Shamira was a Muslim!  She did not eat beef, and everyone else from India, except for Joe Abraham, was a Hindu.  So I thought, that she was also a Hindu.  It turned out, that she just does not like the taste of beef.

I also learned that she was not from a poor family as I had assumed, but that her father was richer than anyone in my family had ever been.  So Shamira was a rich, young, Muslim woman, and being friends with her violated most of my rules about who I would let into my world.  The trouble was that she was just so likable, that I could not help but like her.  So I let go of most of my rules, by deciding to continue to be her friend.  The Father of Truth was using her to teach me, how to be a friend of sinners.

The three of us became almost inseparable, and had acquired a nickname of "The Three Amigos", after a term that was used in the ICE variety of Agile that the company used.  I invited them over for Thanksgiving, and all other family events.  They became like family to my family.

As we continued to spend time together, they began to realize that I was not at all like those who called themselves Christians in India.  The boarding schools that they attended in India, were ran by the False Church of Rome, and I was nothing like those people.

I had explained to them that looking to an idol that someone made with their own hands to rescue them in their time of need, made no more sense than me looking to one of my Android apps to rescue me in my time of need.  They found this to be confusing, because the False Church of Rome had idols in their schools that they had named "Jesus" and "Mary".  They thought that Christians worshiped these idols.  So I explained to them, what is a Christian according to the Book of Truth.

They also were surprised that I went to church and rested on the Sabbath, instead of Sunday.  So I explained to them who changed the Sabbath.  They wanted to know why I did not eat everything, that those who ran their schools ate, so I told them why it mattered what I ate.   They wanted to know why I did not keep all of those rules that they had been taught in school, so I explained the simplicity of the Gospel to them.

Then one Friday at work, Reddy asked me if it would be alright to go to church with me on the Sabbath.  Of course, I was thrilled and we went.  Soon it became a weekly event.

In a short time, Reddy took the Deal and came into the House of Truth.  This would have never happened, if I had not learned how to be a friend of sinners.

After that, I asked Shamira if she would like to come as well.  I promised her that the blues guitar playing, joke telling pastor, at our Torah observant congregation, was nothing like any religious service that she had ever attended.  She said, no on several different occasions, so I gave up asking.

Then one Friday evening, she came over to my house to do some fun things with my family.  Suddenly, and unexpectedly, she asked if she could go to church with me the next morning.  So we went together the next day.  She also went with me several other times, but she did not come into the House of Truth.

Then one day at lunch she asked me very seriously, if I would love her more, if she became a Christian.  I told her I would not love her more if she was a Christian, and I would not love her less if she was a Muslim.  I explained to her that she could no more earn my love, than she could earn the love of the Father of Truth.  I loved Shamira for who she was, and not what she did.  I let her know that I wanted her to join my forever family, so we would always be together in eternity.  I had learned how to be a friend of sinners.

Then suddenly, one of the best times of my life came to an end.  The company had not performed as well as the CEO had promised the stockholders, so he made a decision to lay off all of the contractors, across the entire company, in one day, even though in some areas, contractors made up 85% of the work force.  The CEO had made a desperate move to save one job - his - even though it was going to do a lot of long term damage to the company.

The manager, who I had became fond of by this time was devastated.  She could barely hold back the tears when she told me.  She confirmed what I had suspected all along, that under her hard exterior there was a person of compassion.

Soon after that, Reddy and Shamira, had to move away to get jobs, so they could stay in America.  It looked like the end of the Three Amigos, and I was heart broken.  I had lost my two best friends in the world in a short amount of time.

I had been in ever increasing pain from my deteriorating gallbadder, but every day that I spent with them was worth the pain.  Now I had to face that pain without my friends.  Or so I thought.

Reddy came up to visit me from Dallas almost every weekend, just to go to church with me.  When he saw the sacrifices that my daughter Miranda made to try to take of me, he fell in love with her.  He promised me that if I should die, then he would take care of my family.

My family also managed to go to Dallas to visit Reddy on our vacation.

Shamira, called me almost every day.  Sometimes I would give her advice to help her career, and she would give me advice about improving my people skills.  Mostly though, we just talked about anything and everything.   The Three Amigos may have been separated, but their friendship remained strong.

I knew I needed to have my gallbladder removed, but I was not sure how I could accomplish this.  I had tried several times over the previous ten years, but something always prevented it from happening.  Then one day, I got a letter in the mail from the US government, stating that I had to get insurance, even though I did not have a job, because it was the law.  So with the help of the Father of Truth, I managed to get insurance, pay my deductibles, and finally schedule my surgery.

By the time that the surgery was near, I was in terrible pain, and could only manage to be up for a few hours a day.  I spent most of my strength on writing this blog, because people needed to know the truth, so they could be saved from the Great War that will soon engulf this planet.  More important than that, I was desperate to tell people how to come into the House of Truth, so they would not go to the Chamber of Horrors forever.

I had been warned that while gall bladder surgery was routine, that the condition of my gall bladder was anything but routine.  The bottom line was, without the surgery I would almost certainly die, but there a very good chance that I would die from the surgery.

I was dying and I could feel it.  I had known it for a long time, and I was more than alright with it.  I literally wanted to be with the Man of Truth more than I wanted my next breath.  I had written instructions for Reddy and my family of what I wanted them to do until they could join me.  I was working on what I planned to be my farewell post, where I urged the Children of Truth to always be walking in truth.  In fact, my last act before leaving the house to go to the hospital for the surgery, was to put that post on this blog.

Yet, over the three days right before my surgery, I had several encounters with the Father of Truth, as I fade in and out of consciousness from the pain.  He wanted me to remain on this Earth for a while longer, even though I knew that I was better off dead.  Also, I am very patriotic, and I did not really want to be around to see the death of America.

He was not forcing me to stay, but was asking me to do so, nonetheless.  He told me that my family was going to need me, and that Neel, Reddy and Shamira, needed me to remain on this Earth.  I would have chosen to stay, if the only person that was going to need me had been my wife.  Still, I could not leave my friends, knowing that they would need me.  I also knew that without me in their lives, two of them would probably never come into the House of Truth.  So I delayed, what I have been pursuing ever since I had came into the House of Truth, because I had learned how to be a friend of sinners.

My surgery went text book well.  I was sent home with some pain killers, and instructions to rest as much a possible.  I only took the pain killers at night for the first couple of nights, because the pain from my surgery was so much less than the pain from my gall bladder that I hardly noticed it.  However, I was so weak, that it took about three months before I could stay up long enough at a time to work a regular eight hour day.

The Father of Truth again placed me in a job that was literally created for me, at a place that I had not wanted to work at.  This time, I was determined to be grateful, and do all I could to help the company from the very beginning.  I had learned my lesson.

Even though I was strong enough to work, I still had to sleep for several hours when I got home.  It took a long time before I could manage to stay up all day without needing a nap.

During this time, I also had terrible episodes where it felt like the top of my brain was exploding into my skull, or I would almost pass out, or where my vision would suddenly get very blurring, and then suddenly return to normal. 

My wife, the smart one, figured out that I was having issues in my parietal and occipital lobes, brought on by the anesthesia.  I was apparently experiencing micro-seizures, which were similar to those experienced by epileptics.  Even today, I am operating on a quarter of my pre-surgery brain power, although I have not had any more episodes for a while.

Reddy was then forced to move to Atlanta to keep his job.  Despite the distance, he would sometime make the thirteen hour drive to see my daughter and help me.  Then he would make the same drive back to Atlanta.

Shamira had also had moved to Atlanta, where her fiance Aziz had family to help her, while she looked for a job.  Right after I started my new job, she got a job at the same company where we had worked at before, and moved back to Tulsa to work for the manager who had originally hired me.

When she moved back to Tulsa, she wanted to me to spend time with me in a very public place.  This presented a huge dilemma for me.  I wanted to spend time with her, but I had always done so with a group of other people.  At the very least, Reddy, Shamira, and I, did things together.  Shamira was one of the best friends, that I ever had, but I struggled with keeping her in my life.  Rule number one was, never go anywhere alone with a woman - especially a young, beautiful woman - by myself.

Then I thought of a way out of this dilemma.  So I asked my wife and Miranda to go with me, so I could talk with Shamira at the restaurant.  My daughter refused, and my wife told me, that I was being silly.  So I explained rule number one to her and how it protected me.

My wife said, that she had complete confidence in me, and knew that pleasing the Father of Truth was my greatest desire.  She pointed out, that I had asked Him to bring Reddy and Shamira back into my life, and He had done so.  She said, that I should not avoid one of the best friends that I ever had, that the Father of Truth had brought back into my life, just to keep a rule that I had made up myself.

I was stunned for a few moments.  My wife was right, my rules may have kept me from being hurt by other people, but they also kept me from being friends with other people.  I had to decide which I valued more, Shamira, or my rules.  So my wife talked me into meeting Shamira at the restaurant.

That night brought about the end of my rules.  I knew that I could no longer live by those rules, because the Father of Truth wanted me to be a friend of sinners.

So I kept spending time with Shamira in public places, or with my family.  I would encourage her to get married to her long-time fiance, Aziz, whenever we did anything together.   I promised to go to their wedding, the Father of Truth willing, when they got married.

Eventually, she brought Aziz to my house, and we talked for a long time.  I was impressed with how knowledgeable Aziz was of his business and the industry that his business was in.  He had waited so long to marry Shamira, because he wanted to be sure that he could really take care of her.  It was obvious to me that they were meant for each other.  This only increased my desire for Shamira to go ahead and marry Aziz.

Then Reddy lost his job in Atlanta, and found a new job in Denver.  So Miranda and I went out to Denver to visit Reddy and Neel.  We had a great time out there, where I talked to more Hindus about the Man of Truth.  I was putting to good use what I had learned about being a friend to sinners.

Eventually, Shamira was able to work out of the Atlanta office, so she moved back to Atlanta to be able to spend more time with Aziz.

Then she sent me an announcement of their wedding.  So I bought airline tickets for myself and Reddy, who now lived in Houston, to fly to Atlanta.  The Three Amigos were together for her wedding, where we stayed among, and ate with Muslims.  For those two days, I talked to Muslims and Hindus about the Man of Truth.  This all came about, because the Father of Truth had taught me how to be friend of sinners.

So, what does the Book of Truth say about all of this?  Can a Christian man really have a real friendship with Atheists, Hindus, and Muslims - even Muslim women?  Does the Father of Truth, really want the Children of Truth to be friends of sinners?

The Man of Truth was also a friend of sinners, eating and drinking with them, because it was the wise thing to do (Matthew 11:19).  It was only those, who rejected the counsel of the Father of Truth, who had a problem with him being a friend of sinners (Luke 7:30-34).

The religious people thought, that the Man of Truth should not let a woman, who was a sinner, even touch him (Luke 7:36-39).  He pointed out that the person who had sinned the most, was who would show the most love (Luke 7:40-43).  He pointed out that everyone was sinners, but this woman had touched him to show her great love for him, because she understood that she had sinned more than the religious people, who did not show great love for him (Luke 7:44-47).

The truth is, that everyone has sinned against the Father of Truth - even the most religious people (Romans 3:19-23).  The only people that the Man of Truth could be friends with were sinners!

So would have the Man of Truth been a friend of Muslims?

The truth is, that many Muslims have a moral standard that is very similar to that found in the Book of Truth.  Many Muslims actually strive more to meet that standard than many people who call themselves Christians. 

This similar moral standard has lead to confusion about Muslims and Christians, much like there has been confusion about Samaritans and Jews.  The similarities between Muslims and Christians are like the similarities that existed between Samaritans and Jews. 

Samaritans were often mistaken for Jews by those who did not worship the Father of Truth, because they had so much in common with Jews.  In the same way, those who do not worship the Father of Truth, can see so much that Muslims have in common with Christians that they have proposed that both could worship the Father of Truth together, in a new religion called "Chrislam".  The similarities between Muslims and Christians blind those who propose this from the importance of the differences between Muslims and Christians.  These differences are vital differences that separate Muslims and Christians in a meaningful way.

Samaritans, when the Man of Truth walked the Earth, were like Muslims are today.  Like Samaritans, Muslims count the Man of Truth as a prophet (John 4:19).  Like Samaritans, Muslims worship the Father of Truth in the wrong place, because they do not understand the times (John 4:20-21).  Like Samaritans, Muslims worship the Father of Truth, but in the wrong way, because they do not know what the Book of Truth says (John 4:22).  Like Samaritans, the Father of Truth desires for Muslims to learn how to worship Him in the right way (John 4:23-24).

The Man of Truth did come to destroy Samaritans, who like were like Muslims, but to save them (Luke 9:51-56).  He told of how a Samaritan, who was like a Muslim, who showed mercy to people was better than religious professionals, who knew what the Book of Truth said, but did not show mercy to people (Luke 10:29-37).  He commended the Samaritan, who was like a Muslim, who gave glory to the Father of Truth, over those who knew what the Book of Truth said, but did not take time to give glory to the Father of Truth (Luke 17:12-19).

The Man of Truth engaged a Samaritan woman, who was like a Muslim woman, in conversation while drinking water with her in a very public place, instead of avoiding her, like others who knew what the Book of Truth said (John 4:7-9).  He used this opportunity to talk to her about her need for the Spirit of Truth (John 4:10-15).  Then he talked to her about her personal life (John 4:16-18).  Then He talked to her about the right way to worship the Father of Truth that was based on the Word of Truth (John 4:19-24).  Then he told her about the Messiah of Israel, so she and the other Samaritans, who were like Muslims, could be saved (John 4:25-30).  He was a friend to this Samaritan woman, who was like a Muslim woman, because that was the will of His Father (John 4:31-34).  The Father of Truth wanted to bring Samaritans, who were like Muslims, into the House of Truth (John 4:35-38).  The Man of Truth then stayed with the Samaritans, who were like Muslims, and ate with them for two more days, in order to bring many of them into the House of Truth (John 4:39-43).

The Man of Truth would have been a friend to Muslims - even a Muslim woman - if he was on the Earth today.

The Apostles of Truth also preached the Good News to Samaritans, who were like Muslims, when they were carrying out the Great Commission given to them by the Man of Truth (Acts 8:25).

The Man of Truth and the Apostles of Truth did this with Samaritans, so we could understand what the Father of Truth wants to do with Muslims.

The Father of Truth will turn Muslims, like those in Egypt, to the Man of Truth, because He desires, that they come into the House of Truth (Isaiah 19:19-22).  He loves Muslims as much as He loves the people of Israel, and plans to make their nations into partners with Israel in serving Him (Isaiah 19:23-25).

The Father of Truth does not love people more for coming into the House of Truth, but rather showed His greatest act of love for those who have not yet came in the House of Truth (Romans 5:8).  The Father of Truth still loves the worst of sinners, even those who do horrible things, when they do not understand what He desires (1 Timothy 1:13-16).  The Father of Truth is a friend of sinners.

The Man of Truth laid down his life, because of his love for his friends who were sinners (John 15:13).  The Man of Truth did this, so sinners could have peace with the Father of Truth (Romans 5:1).  The Man of Truth did not wait for sinners to come into the House of Truth, before he showed his love for them (Romans 5:6).  He died that most horrible of deaths, to make it possible for sinners to come into the House of Truth (1 Peter 2:24).  The Man of Truth is a friend of sinners.

A real friend loves their friends at all times - whether or not, they come into the House of Truth (Proverbs 17:17).  The Children of Truth are to be like the Man of Truth in this world (1 John 4:15-17).  They did not come into the House of Truth, so the Father of Truth would love them more, but they came into the House of Truth, because the Father of Truth did not love them less for not being in the House of Truth (1 John 4:18-19).  The Children of Truth are to be a friend of sinners.

Of course, no one is really a friend of sinners, if they do not tell sinners how to come into the House of Truth.

Their sinner friends may be seeking after the Father of Truth to the best of their understanding, and He wants them to find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  So He is drawing their sinner friends to the Man of Truth, so they can find Him (John 6:44-45).  The Children of Truth are to tell their sinner friends about the Man of Truth, so they can find the Father of Truth (Acts 20:21).

So the Children of Truth are to tell their sinner friends, how to come into the House of Truth (Romans 10:8).  They are to tell their sinner friends, that they come into the House of Truth, by making a commitment to obey the Man of Truth, because they believe that His Father raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).  They are not to try to manipulate their sinner friends into making a confession, because no one can make someone else believe the truth in their heart (Romans 10:10).  When their sinner friends make a commitment of obedience, because they believe the truth in their heart, then they will come into the House of Truth, even if they are Atheists, Hindus, or Muslims (Romans 10:11-13).  However, the Children of Truth must tell their sinner friends how to come into the House of Truth, because their sinner friends cannot come into the House of Truth unless someone tells them how to do so (Romans 10:14).

Come into the House of Truth!