A Disturbing Dream--revisited

I had 2 friends ask me today, at different times, if I had been given any more insight into disturbing dream about the mammoth tree that looked vibrant, yet fell over DEAD.

This came on the heels of my husband telling me some very HEART BREAKING news for me about the church denomination in which I was saved. My heart just sank when I heard the news.

Read the AP article here to understand the rest of my post:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/community/15787248.htm

After reading this, my heart just ACHED. I felt almost sick inside.
I've been thinking about this all day...almost grieving, in a way.
It was like finding out that a close relative has been seriously injured and they are in critical condition.

It wasn't until I got home and there was an email from another friend asking about my tree dream that I went back and looked at the date I had the dream. I had the dream on OCT 17 and posted in my blog about the dream on OCT 18th.

Now I am NOT saying this is a "thus sayeth the Lord" kind of thing...but I did find it striking that this decision that was handed down by the Baptist Seminary hit the news in the Ft Worth Star Telegram on October 18...the very day AFTER the dream I had the night before.

So what does it mean?? I don't know! I don't even like the implications of what it could mean!
I owe a debt of gratitude to the Baptist church!! That is where I was born again at the age of 18. I never regret my baptist heritage!! But I shutter to think of what is going on in the heartbeat of the general convention.

I know very well the differences in denominations...but it was **IN** the baptist church that I was taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and received the baptism with evidence of speaking in tongues...so even this was a part of my baptist heritage!

I have been very disturbed in my spirit all day about this. I drank lots of coffee tonight because I do not look forward to sleeping tonight and possibly dreaming about what has been so heavy on my heart today!

I truly feel like part of my FAMILY in Christ is in severe danger!

This seminary president has fired faculty members who have received and practice this spiritual gift. The baptist international mission board is threatening to withdraw funding to their missionaries overseas who operate in this gifting. Letters have been written to churches basically telling them to "cease and desist" if their staff or members have a private prayer language.

I am still a bit shocked and stunned after hearing this today. I have NUMEROUS friends in leadership positions in the baptist church that are spirit filled with the evidence of speaking in tongues and I wonder what will happen to them. I know if faced with an ultimatum, there would be no decision to be made at all...they would never deny the gift of God and the power of the Holy Spirit moving in their personal life or their church.

I find it terribly disturbing that a denominational leader would dare threaten their members with excommunication from the church for practicing a biblical gift that operates in their prayer life...not just publically...BUT PRIVATELY!

I am no expert in the area of the judgment of God...but I truly fear for my Baptist FAMILY members. I cant even begin to imagine how one would explain to God that kind of HARSH treatment of the Children of God.

What is that old saying...Absolute power corrupts absolutely?

Does one man really have that much influence over an entire denomination and a general convention??

Is this really an issue worth devestating an entire church and denomination over? Paul said that it is the least of the gifts...but a legitimate gift...and even went so far as to warn the church to NEVER FORBID the speaking in tongues.

My heart is SICK with concern for the state of my "spiritual family of origin".

Scripture says the Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Is this what happens when the fear of the LORD is lost and the institution of man/denomination is exalted?

My heart is just SICK...sick...sick...with concern. I don't even know what to pray! I certainly DO NOT wish to see the judgment of God fall on the entire Baptist church!! They are part of my spiritual family!

I guess the irony of all is that scripture also says that when we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit will intercede through us with groanings to deep for words...I have found in those times, that is when I most earnestly pray in the spirit with my prayer language. So I will pray in the spirit for my Baptist brothers and sisters ...and pray God, in His great mercy will cover this situation with His divine intervention. I will also pray that God not destroy or bring judgment on an entire denomination for bad leadership decisions. I will pray in God's mercy that the leadership be removed...not the lampstand of the entire church!!

The Baptist Church surely is MAMMOTH in size, influence and power...and its roots go deep and to the core!
I shudder at the thought that my dream about the tree has anything to do with this situation...but if it causes me to PRAY in earnest for this situation--that can't be a bad thing, right?

I feel the need to stop by Cornerstone Baptist Church (but will probably write a letter instead), here in Arlington, and just give Pastor McKissic a huge HUG and thank him for standing on his conviction and the WORD of GOD...He is the lone voice on the board of trustees at the Seminary. He is not relinquishing his position either. He is much like Daniel in the lions den...he will need the Sovreign hand of God to navigate his terrain.

I guess I should quit dwelling on this and start PRAYING!

Taking my heartsick self to go pray now...

Love, Dawn