Helpful Link to “Cursing & Praying on a Ridge” (published 2-15-2009; updated 10-29-2022)

2/15/2009 Original Article

This is my third and final entry today. For those interested in the inspiration for this Appalachian Irishman's second article today, “Cursing & Praying on a Ridge,” please click the "Helpful Link" (here) and in the above title.

In that link, a distinguished and scholarly brother in Christ provides useful resources for several points of religious discussion, especially as related to the Church of Christ tradition.

10/29/2022 Update

Today, Saturday, 10/29/2022, website analytics showed that this third article from 2/15/2009 had at least one view in the past 24 hours. I wondered what I had written over 13 years ago.

Back then, I published this note as a follow-up to my second 2/15/2009 article, “Cursing & Praying on a Ridge.” That article is one of nine listed in the section “Articles of Note - A Select Few.” It garners viewers on an almost daily basis.

The “Helpful Link" was and is to “Forgiving God: A Testimony,” John Mark Hicks, by Dr. John Mark Hicks, 12/11/2008. I suggest that you read Dr. Hicks' article. It is his eloquent and honest public statement of his emotion and spiritual struggles, regarding the untimely passing of his son.

At 6:04 PM on 2/15/2009, I commented on brother Hicks' article as follows:

Can a man, who loves to hike – standing on a bluff, on a ridge, on a clear, crisp day, with a scenic view below, as hawks fly above – both curse freely and then pray calmly, within a span of minutes? Yes, of course.

Does God understand? Yes, of course.

Just after returning from five years of foreign mission work, my relatively young mother was stricken by a yearlong illness, or illnesses, resulting in her death. As she recovered from the first illness, the other took her, suddenly.

Since then, I have not served in a full-time ministry, nor will I. My zeal for ministry poured out of me, from the hole created in my bowels (the old word for seat of compassion) by the experience.

Last year, I finally left the “Church of Christ,” since my mother, a faithful Christian, under the Baptist tradition, did not die and go to hell, for her “doctrinal misunderstanding.” I am still, however, part of Christ’s church, as all, such as my mother, are – who by grace through faith are saved.

I still struggle to find that zeal for ministry, which was lost. Yes, deep down, I am still angry with God, for taking my mother, when we all still needed her so badly. I understand the deep points regarding the problem of evil and how those points apply generally. Still, why my mother at that time?

I still believe, because my mother believed, and because I know Him.

Brother John Mark Hicks replied at 8:27 AM on 2/16/2009 as follows:

Yes, God does understand. I understand that we can pray with Madeleine L’Engle: “God, I hate you. Love, Madeleine.”

Healing comes slowly for some, more quickly for others. It is a journey either way. I pray you will find some healing and perhaps – if you feel the call – a resource for ministry (whether “official” or not).

Blessings, my brother.

John Mark

Dr. John Mark Hicks' website, John Mark Hicks: A Disciple Seeking to Follow Jesus into the World for the Sake of the World to the Glory of God, is still active. It includes audio-video messages, so you can read and hear what he writes and says.