Lee’s Cellmate
by adustyframe ~ December 18th, 2007Lee gets new cell mates often. I don’t know if it’s on purpose or it’s just happening that way for Lee.
This cell mate grew up in a church, but as far as Lee can tell, he doesn’t believe much of anything. He seems to be an atheist.
Lee has been very discouraged lately. He tells me that he doesn’t know what he believes anymore. Sometimes he says he just wants to give up on God because it seem that nothing is happening.
Please do pray for him. He is tired and lonely and Christmas hurts.
So, he tells me that he thinks he doesn’t want to believe in God anymore. Then he proceeds to say,
“Don’t you think this is really curious? Everytime I tell God I’m not sure if I believe anymore, someone says something really stupid and I find myself defending God or the Bible!”
I told him that I believe that’s because he’s just discouraged–not that he doesn’t believe.
Lately, his discussions with the “cellie” are based on evolution.
Lee said that his cellie said, “Don’t tell me you’re one of those that believes every word of the Bible! You take it literal?!?”
Lee said, “Yes I do.”
They’ve had a lot of evolution/creation discussions. Lee knows how to hold his own in these debates.
One of their discussions was about oil. Lee said the explanation for oil is God not evolution. Later on, the cellie said, “And I guess you don’t believe in cavemen either! Do you?”
Lee said, “I’m sure people lived in caves. There is evidence of that. I just don’t believe they were an evolving life form.”
For some strange reason hieroglyphics became part of the discussion. His cellie said sarcastically, “Never mind! I’m sure God put them there just like he put oil in the earth.”
Lee gets a kick out of this discussion. He and I spent quite a bit of our visit yesterday talking about creation/evolution.
I’m glad to hear about him sharing his faith. The faith he said he wasn’t sure he had.
God is good to put him in situations where he’s forced to think about God and his amazing power. God knows what Lee needs and I think that a rousing debate may be just the thing he needs to keep him on his toes and in his Bible.
I am thinking of sending him an apologetics type of book on creation. Any suggestions?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I’m not knowledgeable in apologetics … you might check out http://www.mikeduran.com … even email him … tell him I sent you … he is VERY knowledgeable and well versed and has been exposed to a lot … he’s an avid reader and author.
Thank you for the recommendation!
December 19th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Answers In Genesis has a lot of good material. If he can receive magazines, theirs is excellent.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
AH! The magazine! I forgot about that! Thanks for mentioning it.
December 19th, 2007 at 7:45 am
Ken Ham has some excellent books on creation vs. evolution. I’ve got one called The Answers Book that is very good. He also has a website that you can check out. http://www.answersingenesis.org/
I hope this helps.
Thank you! I will see how The Answers Book looks!
December 19th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Hi Lizzie, I just found your blog today thanks to Biblical Womanhood. What a blessing. My husband is not a believer and we’ve been married 14 years and hearing your story really encourages me. As far as apologetics material, I love the stuff at Answers in Genesis. I think the website is http://www.answersingenesis.org.
The Lord bless you!
~Sheila
Thank you, Sheila. I will see what they have available. Thank you too for your kind words.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel is the best I’ve read. It takes more of an intelligent design approach than a Biblical Creation approach, but I think that’s often where atheists need to start. They’ll never give Creation a moment’s thought unless they first acknowledge that the world contains evidence of a Supreme Being of some sort.
I was directed to your blog by Biblical Womanhood yesterday and was so encouraged by it! You truly have strength and courage that comes from the Lord. I’ll be praying for you, your husband, and James.
Thank you, Lisa. Thank you too for your prayers.
I had forgotten this book. I’ll see if I can find it for Lee.
December 19th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
That’s the thing about faith… you have to believe without seeing. There are lots of times when we feel like God isn’t doing anything for us or in our lives, and that’s when faith becomes action.
I’ll say a prayer for Lee. And for you. I imagine it’s hard knowing he’s struggling so.
Chel, thank you! Yes, believing when we don’t see is where the faith kicks in.