God from a crazy point of view (2006-05-10)

Nine months ago, we met B, a 60-year-old professional criminal in Federal Detention Center. He told us that he had a marketing plan that could change the fate of America. He was mad that the US government did not adopt his plan. Many subsequent encounters with him told us that there was something wrong with his brain chemistry. From what I can tell, he is suffering from delusional disorder grandiose type. In layman term, we say he is crazy.

"News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them (Matthew 4:24). Jesus, can you really heal mental illness?

B started to come to our weekly Bible study. It was hard to study with him. His thoughts jumped all over the place. It was hard to keep the Bible study under control. Wait! Who was trying to control? I guess I was trying to take control, but Jesus really should be the control center. Within God's turf, B kept coming back. I remember many times we felt that the study was kind of randomized, and yet B would come to us at the end and told us how much he gained from the study.

As time went on, B did not just come on his own. He would round up fellow inmates to come. He would not use flowery words. He would not use many words. He would simply say in flat tones, "Come here God's words."

Hearing God's words B certainly did. Sometimes in the middle of a study, he would interrupt us and start reading a Bible passage that seemed to us to be out of context. I remember one week, we were talking about inner truth and wisdom as referenced in Psalm 51:6. I was having a great old time following my discussion outline. Suddenly, B said, "Yes, I know what you mean and here is what God says." With his deep voice, he read: "Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:9).

B has a pure and simple way he approaches 'god. When we got into a "deep" theological discussion, he would say, "I don't know what you are talking about, but I know God takes care of business." In another occasion, he said, "God connects."

And here is one of the ways he connects with me. I would try to shake hands with him. He would brush off my hand and said, "I'm going to give you a hug." He is about 6 feet tall and has a big belly. He hug feels like a big bear hug, very comfy.

B would like to thank Pastor Li and others who have been able to make the words of God become "3 dimensional" to him.

Tomorrow 5/11/06, B will be leaving FDC. I can testify that he is a different person than we first saw him. His grandiose scheme is replaced by a simple love of the Lord. His anxiety and paranoia have been replaced by a sense of inner peace. Last week, Pastor Li asked him what peace mean to him. His answer is "I am". Later in the study, he shared these Words from Jesus: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going" (John 14:1-4).

Lord, thanks for taking care of business for B. Thanks for preparing a room in the half way house and in heaven for B. Thanks for loving those who are mentally ill. I pray that news like this about you can be spread all over the world and many will be brought to you and be healed. Lord, like B, I'm crazy about you!

Peter