Listed below are extracts from the book with statements of faith. But not using words like a preacher would. Here they occur in ordinary conversation, usually between two or more struggling teenagers. Click Read more... to see any additional information. Use the Search box in the sidebar. E.g. Entering forgiveness will bring every post containing this word.
And what about God? He'll help us, I'm sure. We've got to trust. That's what you've said so often... Maybe the idea of us getting married is a little crazy, but we'd never have talked like this without the baby, so it could be the child is part of God's plan... To bring us together. Doesn't he work like this sometimes? What about that Moses chap at the Red Sea? To walk into the water must have looked mad. But it worked.’
The Bible says that what Jesus forgives, so should we.’
‘I don't know what Janet and I would do without you,’ Peter said, wiping each eye, ‘You're an exceptional person.’
‘Not really. On my own, I'd be the same mixed-up kid I've always been. But I'm never alone anymore. God's with me, making me into a better person. Slowly. So, anything good that I've been part of since coming to Cornwall has come from him. I've just tried to be his pair of hands, lips, and eyes. I haven't got it right always, but God understands. He forgives and encourages me to listen and lean on him more. And the more I trust him and not myself, the better it gets.’
‘Perhaps that's my problem. I still don't trust God enough.’
‘None of us does, Peter. We're all too eager to do things our way, in our own strength, and only hear what we want. That's what I've been learning at the Mission. One of a Christian's biggest challenges is listening to what God is saying. So be remembering that tonight, tomorrow and forever. And lean on God. Especially when you are confused or worried. Let him take over. The problems may not disappear, but the fear and uncertainty will.’
‘I came in here to get away from you,’ he snapped.
‘Over to you, Badger,’ Charlene whispered. She let go of the lead, and he jumped up on the pew, trying to lick Peter's face. She sat at the other end as they tussled together. After less than a minute of Badger's affection, Peter covered his face and began to cry. Then, sliding along, she put her arm around him.
‘I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be unkind,’ Peter sobbed. ‘I don't know what's happening anymore. What I'm saying. I'm sorry...’
‘Shh. It's alright now.’ Charlene cuddled Peter and kissed his head. ‘You're safe. That's all Janet, and I care about. And Badger too,’ she said, tickling the dog's chin.
‘I just couldn't take... what Janet said,’ Peter gulped, wiping his eyes, ‘I didn't mean to upset her or get you out in this weather. I just wanted to be alone.’
‘You're never alone, Peter, not now you've given your heart to the Lord. And especially not in a church.’
‘I came in out of the rain. Not for God, I'm finished with all that.’
‘No, you're not. You're in here because that's where God wants you right now. Safe, so he can talk to you.’
‘I can't take any more of him. All my prayers, yours as well. A waste of time.’
‘No, they weren't. God can still heal Janet if he wishes. We must trust. Prayers are never a waste of time, God hears and acts on every one, but we have to be accepting that his plans are sometimes different from ours.’
‘That be enough of all this pushing away, Janet. I'm not going anywhere, and neither is Peter. We're a team. Remember. God brought us together, and we don't keep problems to ourselves. We share.’
‘I've got God. He understands. He'll give me all the support I need.’
‘Maybe that's what he's trying to do right now. But perhaps the Angel Gabriel's taking time off, and you're stuck with us. You don't really want Peter to go, do you? And you wouldn't be leaving him if he got sick.’
Janet remained silent.
‘You've just said God will support you through all this,’ Charlene continued. ‘And he will... but he expects us to accept help from each other.’
Disapproval over something like this is most likely to come from church people, who still don't understand what God says about sin and forgiveness.
‘I just couldn't take... what Janet said,’ Peter gulped, wiping his eyes, ‘I didn't mean to upset her or get you out in this weather. I just wanted to be alone.’
‘You're never alone, Peter, not now you've given your heart to the Lord. And especially not in a church.’
‘I came in out of the rain. Not for God, I'm finished with all that.’
‘No, you're not. You're in here because that's where God wants you right now. Safe, so he can talk to you.’
‘I can't take any more of him. All my prayers, yours as well. A waste of time.’
‘No, they weren't. God can still heal Janet if he wishes. We must trust. Prayers are never a waste of time, God hears and acts on every one, but we have to be accepting that his plans are sometimes different from ours.’
Some belief… I said I’d give God up if you didn't get well again.’
‘Please don't do that. Look… what I wanted to say earlier was that I can accept whatever happens. Honestly. And I can do that because I believe God hasn't forgotten us.’
‘Aren't you angry with God?’
‘No. Because I want to go with his plan, and if my time down here comes to an end sooner than I would have wished, I can trust that this is right. Of course, I'd rather it didn't have to be like this. But I get through my sadness by remembering God's sovereignty means what we are experiencing is under his complete control. It's not some random thing where I've just been unlucky. God is good and wise. We must never forget that. I might not understand why all this is happening, but he doesn't expect that. He just wants me to trust him. And how he's worked in my life means I can because I know he'll look after you, Ricky and Charlene when I’m no longer around. That's what gives me peace.’
... Peter, going to heaven isn't something we should be afraid of. It's a place of unimaginable beauty and peace. And all three of us are going to meet up again there someday. This dying business is only a temporary separation. Like we talked about if you'd gone off to university.’
‘Janet is certain that all three of us will meet up again... in heaven, a place more beautiful than we can imagine. I wanted to believe that too so I asked God to show me if it was. And whether I'd see Mum and Dad. I didn't expect he would, but...’
Peter drew a breath. ‘It was just after two in the morning when I awoke. Janet was my first thought, but she was sound asleep. And then it all came back... clear as if I was there again. We were in the sea, splashing each other and laughing. Janet, you and me... a girl I didn't recognise and three children. One was Ricky. I know that because I called his name. He came over, and I lifted him onto my shoulders. Janet smiled at us. That lovely smile, just as she had before getting sick. So good—like the sea... warmer and bluer than ever, the sun more golden, the breeze—cool and relaxing... and the joy in everyone's faces... I've never felt happiness like that before. And as I looked back at the shore, there was Mum and Dad. Young, like when I was a child. Oh, to see Mum's face again, without bandages... healed. That was so good. They smiled at me and then I noticed the other girl waving at my parents. Holding the hand of a little girl. And I wondered... could this be Mandy, the sister I never knew? With her child? I ran towards her, calling her name. I’d almost reached her when everything disappeared. I suppose that's when I woke up.’
There were tears in Peter's eyes. ‘At first, I felt sad because it was only a dream. And then I remembered my prayer and what Janet had said about heaven. Charlene... it was just like I'd seen... a place where you meet up with people you’ve known, and all the sickness they had on earth is gone. OK, I didn't see any angels, harps and stuff. Or Jesus. But something inside told me I wasn't just imagining things that I hoped for. What I’d seen was real. Like the dream I had in London on the day of my parents' funeral. Then, I knew Mum, and Dad were in heaven. And that I would see Janet again. Just like she had said.’
Peter wiped his eyes. ‘I know it sounds crazy. To believe in two experiences from God... one after the other.’
Charlene smiled, remembering how she'd felt when telling what had happened the night, she wanted to kill herself. That had sounded crazy too. But she knew she had seen something from God who acted when Janet's words weren't quite enough. Just like perhaps he was doing with Peter now. Charlene wasn't sure how to tell if Peter's dream came from God, but looking into his eyes, she knew he had no doubts.
Her favourite verse, John 3:16, makes it clear that those dying in faith go to heaven, a place where the Bible says we will recognise those we have known on earth. And somewhere in the book of Revelation, it states that's where God will wipe away all tears. They'll be no more dying, crying, or pain. Just like Peter saw.
So, did it matter where the dream came from? Or that it was just a dream. Not at all. Because it got Peter to believe something true. A few days ago, he was struggling to trust unless God gave him what he wanted. Now he could do that whatever happened. Surely this was the reward? His own picture of heaven. Just what the God she worshipped would be doing. So yes, this dream definitely came from him.
‘It's not crazy at all,’ Charlene whispered as she reached out and pulled Peter into her arms. ‘God's making up for lost time in his relationship with you. Just like he promises in one of the Prophets... To give you back the years that the locust has eaten.’
‘I think it's more serious than that.’ Tears were forming in Charlene's eyes.
‘She'll get worse? You don't mean... that she might die?’
Charlene wiped her eyes. ‘If they don't operate and she gives birth, then, yes, that's what they be worrying about.’
A beautiful, much-loved, God-believing girl... possibly losing her life at twenty? No, that couldn't happen. ‘Then she's got to have the operation—whatever happens to the child. It's sad, but...’
‘Peter, it's not easy to give up something growing inside you. I remember that when everyone told me to abort Betsy. And Janet really wants this baby.’
‘But she's got to... if it means saving her life. Surely, she sees that?’
‘No, she doesn't. I upset her on the way home by saying something similar. Janet believes it's up to God what happens. She'll live to give birth if that's what he wants, but God must decide who survives. Not her.’
Peter gasped. ‘That's awful. Selfish. What about me... you... her friends?’
‘No, it's not. It's pretty brave and shows how strong her faith is.’
‘But you argued in the taxi?’
‘I didn't argue, Peter, just said what I thought. That you should do all you can to save someone who's about to get married, rather than worry about a tiny thing that nobody's seen. However, I'm now beginning to agree with Janet.’
‘But Charlene, this isn't a child created in a happy marriage by a couple desperate for kids. It was just a silly mistake.’
‘How the child was conceived is not its fault.’
‘I think I'll go and talk to Janet. Perhaps I can persuade her that what she's thinking is wrong.’
‘Hang on, Peter. Don't rush up there and be saying things that will hurt, particularly at the moment. Let her sleep. She's had a hell of a day. And then she'll be needing your kindness and understanding, not a lecture.’
‘But I want her to get well,’ he shrieked. ‘Can't you understand?’
‘Be sure. But Janet is saying we should trust God, not ourselves, and be prepared to go with his plan.’
‘Even if she might die?’
‘Yes. Because we remember what the Bible tells us about God. That he is good, can do anything, knows everything, and is wiser than we will ever begin to be. And that means he's trustworthy... Peter, it isn't trusting if we do it just for unimportant things. But other times, we say, 'Hang on, God, I've got to be having my way on this.' You still believe that don't you?’
‘Yes, I suppose so,’ Peter said bitterly.
‘Then, surely, we can trust as Janet is doing? God can save both her and her child if he wants.’
‘But what if he doesn't?’
‘Then, we have to accept his judgment. Janet and her baby survived in the sea when everyone was sure they wouldn't. Wasn't that God's doing?’
‘So, he saves her from drowning so she can have her baby and then die?’
‘We can't know what's going to happen, and we shouldn't be trying to guess. Her child's survival is very important to Janet, and I believe that's because she's hearing this from God.’