The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail
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- THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL - ii FOREWORD In 1983 Peter and Rebekah Laue self-published a book titled: The Wood Blossom – A Search for Sanity in an Insensitive World. At that time 1,500 copies were printed and distributed over the next few years until the supply was exhausted. Their friend Mary Scott read one of the ten manuscripts that were circulated in hopes of finding a publisher who would risk publishing a book by an unknown author. No publisher came forward at that time. Mary Scott offered to sell her stocks so that the book could be published as soon as possible. Peter and Rebekah gratefully accepted the offer. Mary loves to give books she considers valuable as Christmas presents and chose to give one hundred copies to friends and family beginning with Christmas of 1983. FRONT & BACK COVERS OF THE FIRST EDITION The above title and cover is certainly a far cry from the new title but very appropriate as seen from the vantage point of 25 years later. The fact that the writer is now living in a beautiful log cabin on Lake Pagosa with his handmaiden Rebekah and is not incarcerated in a prison or mental institution is only by God’s grace. The fact that he did not succumb to voices and iii suggestions that were from the pit of hell, is a matter of God’s grace. The fact that he is not subdued by medication to corral the extremes in his personality is a matter of God’s grace. The fact that the mortgage on Peter and Rebekah’s home was paid off seventeen years ahead of schedule is a matter of God’s grace. The fact that the book can be presented with a new cover and with additional insights is a matter of God’s grace. The fact that it will be available through the internet anywhere in the world at no cost to the reader is a matter of God’s grace. The prompting to publish the book in its new format came from Yvette Bandel in Israel. Others have urged the writer to publish a new edition, but it was Yvette’s prompting that tipped the scale. Yvette’s passion and compassion reaches into the mental institutions in Israel and many other places through voluminous correspondence and agonizing prayers. Her ministry is world- wide. She accepts prayer requests from everywhere and places them into “The Wailing Wall” in Jerusalem. We have formed a partnership with Yvette and others who have a burden for the mentally ill. James Stacey is another partner. He lives in England with his wife Tina. He has a burden both for those wrestling with schizophrenia and also for their caregivers. Then there is also Dan Logan, who counseled for many years in state mental institutions and is now preparing a younger generation of counselors to take his place. There are many more crusaders – far too many to mention here by name. James has chronicled his personal battle titled, “Schizophrenia Defeated.” He has a story to tell that needs a far broader audience. More can be learned about this man of God who persevered in the presence of overwhelming odds. Go to his web site and become acquainted with James Stacey at: www.schizophreniadefeated.com. It is the high calling of this scribe and storyteller to stir the social conscience of lawmakers, educators, counselors, doctors, and priests. I desire to make them aware of the plight of people in prison – whether these prisons are built of stone and steel or are the figment of someone’s imagination gone astray. Peter’s crusading spirit parallels that of other crusaders like John Newton and John Wilberforce, who championed freedom for slaves by helping to put a stop to the hideout slave trade, and Dr. Martin Luther King, who forfeited his own life for the rights of African Americans and other disenfranchised groups, carrying the torch of freedom and dignity to a new level. Still, the greatest slavery exists when we are enslaved by our own selfish, self- centered, and self-serving nature, but are not aware of it. The painting used on the new cover is by the Lord’s artist and Peter’s handmaiden Rebekah. It is titled: “THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL.” It was painted in 1996 and has found its way into many kinds of prisons. One chaplain made this remark: “When I come into a prison with Rebekah’s picture, I am surrounded by outstretched hands. It’s like feeding a school of hungry piranhas.” The effect the painting has is supernatural. God has chosen to anoint the hands of the artist and in turn, the painting. It has ripped the gates of hell off of their hinges for many, allowing them to experience the power of Jesus’ words spoken to the apostle Peter: iv And I say also unto thee, ‘Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ (Matthew 16:18-20) The keys Jesus has given to the apostle Peter have been passed down from generation to generation. They are offered to us through agonizing prayers of intercession, art, dance, music, poetry, and many books of fiction and non-fiction. Rebekah and I now offer them to you via this book and Rebekah’s painting. Whenever chains are broken, it is not because of fancy words written by another author, but because the anointing of the Holy Spirit has broken the yoke of bondage. Freedom arrives in many ways and different doses, both large and small. So, don’t be discouraged if you don’t have one of those radical conversion experiences like Paul on the Road to Damascus or this scribe. Those who have been radically converted like Paul have paid a huge price. Don’t envy those who have. It is only by the grace of God that they are alive to tell their story. With the advent of computers, desktop publishing and the internet, it is now possible for this book to reach into many more lives. The cost of publishing the book is negligible and the purchase price is zero when downloaded from the internet. The book is copyright free. It is not published for profit, but to profit those who have become aware of the hell in which they are living and are desperate to be set free. What is so amazing to this writer is that he was quite unaware of the hell and deception that he was living in until the age of 37. And that phenomenon is not unusual. We have been tricked to believe that black is white, right is wrong, true is false, sick is healthy, healthy is sick, up is down, and that heaven and hell are only figments of a distorted imagination and religious system. We have been tricked into believing that our little bird cages and the few years of our human existence are the best the Creator has to offer. We have experimented with all kinds of remedies that have cost a lot but did not do a lot. Only when we can say and mean it, “Enough is Enough,” will heaven reveal the reality of hell. Only when we can say, “Enough is Enough” will we listen to the beat of another “drummer.” This writer has said, “Enough is Enough.” Transformation was imperceptibly slow to start with. But the moment “the old Peter” turned about-face, the ways of the world and the lust of his carnal desires had to release their grip. He now knows and can proclaim with certainty that the orientation of his heart determines the destination of his soul. The Old Peter – “The Wimp” A wimp is a self-pleaser and a man-pleaser. A wimp is a professional phony. A wimp is lukewarm, in other words, he is always politically correct. He may be a nice guy, but he has no backbone. The fickle opinions of the crowd are his opinions. He does not have the strength of character to say “NO” to v another beer or another “dear.” He lies and makes excuses rather than admitting that he was wrong. He procrastinates and often breaks his commitments. He talks a lot but does little. The only party he ever attends is his own pity party. He complains about everything and everyone, including God. He is afraid to confront himself or others. He thinks of himself more highly than he ought to. He is just like the apostle Peter who denied that he knew Jesus. Yes, the apostle Peter used to be a first-class wimp. He was ruled by the fear of man. But Jesus saw Peter as a rock; and Peter became that rock after Jesus prayed for him. (See the book of Luke, chapter 22). I hope this definition will shame and challenge every wimp to become a warrior. It’s never too early or too late to become a warrior! The New Peter – “The Warrior” A warrior is a Father-pleaser. He has acknowledged his sins and has made restitution wherever possible. He has bridled his passionate, unruly human nature. A warrior has submitted to and obeys Jesus Christ as his Supreme Commander. A warrior knows his place and purpose in God’s army.