WELCOME TO “BUTNOW.NET”

Years ago, my friend said to me: “We’ve been friends for a long time, and I know you well. I want you to meet a certain person who may be your wife one day!”

Was this an idea for a blind date? Surely a scary event for so many people. But I agreed because I knew my friend, and I knew that he would never challenge me to such an idea unless he really felt really positive about it. That was over 55 years ago! For an update, the date went great, and my wife and I have now been married over 55 years. All due to a friend who knew me.

And it’s the same between God and us! So many of us are “stuck” in our spiritual life. We are afraid of moving forward spiritually. Perhaps we are blocked and just cannot grow in knowing our heavenly Father, or the Person (Jesus”) who calls us “friends”, or the “Counselor” (Holy Spirit) who teaches, guides and strengthens us. We can be burdened with false understandings and beliefs about ourselves and God.

What is the “But Now” work all about? Why this, why now? Let us share a little about how “But Now” came about. The reason, intent, motivation, etc. We will begin below with information from my wife and her journey, in her words. Afterwards, a few words about my own history.

“When we started dating, we soon realized that we both had a desire to live our lives in a way that included love for each other, and family, in the everyday practical realm, but also in a spiritual realm. Both of us had experienced events in our earlier lives that taught us that believing in God involved more than just a passing Sunday morning. And a Sunday morning that was somewhat mandatory and not too transformative in our everyday life.

We began to ask these questions: “Who are you, Jesus? Do you really love us and care for us? Are you interested in issues, experiences and trauma in our lives that had wounded us?”

In my life, the Lord brought a wise woman who came into our family as a “helper” who cared for me as a newborn, because my mother was ill. She was with our family from the day I came home from the hospital, to just before I was married. She was a simple, beautiful lover of Jesus. She spoke often in playful times, just thanking Jesus for fun and beauty, and she called on His name in dark times in our family, showing me that Jesus cared about us and we could call upon Him to answer our prayer and help us.

One other special blessing … as a young child, I took dancing lessons from a young woman who, over the years, became a friend of the family. She was kind, creative and loving to me personally. One afternoon she came to visit our family.

I was standing in a hallway, but heard her say to my mother, “I just wanted you to know that you could have a personal relationship with Jesus.” Needless to say, I didn’t know what she was talking about, but I knew I wanted to find out. I have been on a journey since that day. I am so thankful to have found that we can know Jesus as Savior, Brother, Friend, Warrior, Helper and Healer and much more. It is the difference between KNOWING ABOUT HIM, AND KNOWING HIM AS FRIEND AND LOVER OF YOUR HEART.”

And Jesus continued sending people in my life, people who were filled with hope and faith, always encouraging and always telling me about growing in knowing Jesus as a friend.

Finally, I am in no way at the finish line but am still on a journey. Join us in this journey!

A little about myself … As for me, my life has been filled with ups and downs, like yours. But I also am on the journey of meeting and getting to know Jesus, which is most exciting journey of all!

Two memorable experiences in my life stand out. In my 30’s I was walking down a hallway at an office building, when all of a sudden I “saw” Jesus walking towards me at the other end of the hallway. Without thinking, I was terrified! Would He be angry at me for sins, etc. I desperately looked for, and found, an exit door. I was about to duck for cover, but I gradually realized this was only a daydream incident, not real. It did show me, though, what a twisted view I had of Jesus (and myself)! Shame, guilt and fears were obvious and powerful in my life.

Then the Lord began to have me meet and know some beautiful spirit-filled people, and gradually I began to see Jesus as a friend. Until multiple cancers began to grow in my body, in different areas. But at the same time, I began “seeing” in my mind Jesus standing next to me at a doctor’s office, or next to me at an uncomfortable test. I have been cancer-free for 20 years now!

Immediately before my first operation, I was at a local restaurant for supper. I had been thinking about what the future held, and listening that day to the same Christian song over and over. Then I saw a school bus park outside the restaurant and 15 or 20 teens get out and entered the building. They lined up and within seconds stated to sing THE VERY SAME SONG I had been listening to all day!!! And I saw Jesus at a far table laughing heartily, slapping His knee and saying to me: “I got you!” with a grin as big as Texas. Then the teens left the restaurant. And my journey began in earnest. Join us in this journey!

It is important for our readers to know that we have personally experienced everything in these pages! We have lived “But Now” and are still facing challenges. We are a work-in-progress! Two steps forward, and one step backwards.

Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble. Then He added that we should cheer up, for He overcame the world! Therefore, we too can experience victory in our journey towards health and growth!

God’s Word (the Bible) is loaded with promises to bless us and care for us, each and every day. Jesus spoke about us having “abundant life”. And what He really desires is a personal relationship with us, so that we can begin to hear Him more clearly and have the ability to talk with Him about our fears and worries and to be consoled and strengthened as we learn more about Him. He wants to be a friend who knows us! And a Friend who wants us to know Him also!

Think of it this way: Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden after the fruit was eaten. The Garden was closed then. But when Jesus came back on Easter morning, by His actions the Garden was reopened for business! And you can go there in your Spirit! His healing touch is your admission ticket!

HERE ARE THE SIMPLE “BUT NOW” GOALS:

1) Knowing Jesus as a real Person, what He is like, how He thinks, how He might speak and respond to us, His view of us, etc. As we get to know Him, we begin to trust Him and understand how He works in our life. As we progress, we enjoy a personal relationship with Him. We become stronger, freer, and more able to discern when it is really the voice of the Holy Spirit, teaching and guiding us. As we remember events in our past, we know that although God is just, it is in His nature to be the essence of love and to make that clear to us.

2) Knowing ourselves better, so we can fully understand our thoughts and feelings. We can understand our past, and our memories of it, to see if and how those memories affect us even today. All of these can block us from a full life. We begin to remember, and see, these memories but now through the eyes of Jesus rather than our own eyes. As we understand better, we can invite Him to re-write these blocks, bringing us real freedom! Remember that Jesus invited the weary to come to Him for rest. Take Him up that offer!

Every human being has “core needs”. In these pages, you will find answers to these “core needs” questions:

Am I safe?

Who do I trust?

Am I loved?

Am I of worth and even deserve to be loved?

Am I capable of asking for, receiving and giving love?

Where do I belong and whom do I belong to?

Am I significant or insignificant?

For life abundantly, these are questions everyone must ask. Do so! But let Jesus help you answer them!

Satan also is interested in your answers, but in stirring up trouble for you. Jesus, on the other hand, is always presenting your future as something filled with hope and even excitement!

We hope that after spending some time in these pages, you'll be able to see and believe that:

“BUT NOW” I have come to believe in what God says about me. “BUT NOW” I can react a different way than before, all because I am knowing more about Jesus and have begun meeting Him as well. Our thinking could and should include realizing where we are at in our life now. And rather than living a life in the shadows, we can say: “I used to believe certain lies, BUT NOW, because of my growing friendship and faith in Jesus, I can handle this and will indeed handle this in a better way! It is the journey so many people are on! Join us!

To recap a goal for us … our whole emphasis is on knowing God personally, and how that will change your life into one of overflowing blessings! Hard to do? Perhaps! Should you start this journey of discovery? Yes, right away! It promises to be a source of multiple blessings!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A little encouragement for you... “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah)

Click HERE to go to "How Are We Organized"