Q Catherine, thank you for taking time to share your ministry. I know you are in the process of meeting another writing deadline. I am thrilled and honored that you have taken me under your wing. Let's chat.

We met at a writer’s conference where I was drawn to you by your zeal and zest to proclaim the Word of God through your book. Tell me how the book has been a blessing for you.

A. Many blessings come to mind. My personal relationship with Christ grew while I wrote So, You’re a Christian! Now What? The spiritual growth I experienced “living” the book for eighteen months writing it was a tremendous bonus.

I accepted Christ at 19 during college; yet, years later, I still felt like a new Christian. After maturing in my faith, I wrote So, You’re a Christian! Now What? to help others new to the faith avoid the pain of doubt I experienced concerning my relationship to God, even while married to a minister!
Someone asked, “Why didn’t your pastor husband give you answers?” I replied, “I didn’t know the questions.”

In churches we served, I juggled so many religious “duties” that everyone, including my minister husband Jack, assumed that I was spiritually mature. Every year my “juggling” improved. When “church work” became a burden, I thought, “This isn’t working, so I must not be working hard enough. I’ll try harder.” Looking back, I realize that much of my church work was accomplished in the power of the flesh—as if the Holy Spirit were not involved at all. I was a perfect example of the “fleshly Christian” Paul described in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.

Since my book was released, I’ve led two groups of believers through So, You’re a Christian! Now What? and discovered that my experience is not unique; that even many long-time Christians who failed to master the basics of Christianity, remain stalled in spiritual infancy.

Q You have a tender and giving heart. You’ve mentored me through the last couple of years without really knowing me. What inspires you to take others “under your wing” and guide them?

A Two things perhaps:

*The nurturing inclination that most women, especially mothers, possess; and

*The gift of teaching given to me by the Holy Spirit on my spiritual birthday.

The Spirit especially inspired my writing So, You’re a Christian! Now What?

God networks through us, transferring our gifts to others He wants to bless. This was true throughout Christian history. Think about it: What would King David have been without a friend like Jonathan, or Moses without Pharaoh’s daughter, or Paul without Barnabas who believed in Paul when others mistrusted him? And what would young Timothy have accomplished without Paul’s shoulder to lean on?

Q I know you’ve recently ended a long battle with cancer in which you came out the winner. Can you tell us how God has used that experience to strengthen you?

A So, You’re a Christian! Now What? was released January, 2006. In March I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I suffered a year of treatment that delayed my promoting the book to the fullest. However, in spite of chemo and radiation, I held 26 book signings last year. My cancer is now in “persistent remission.” My oncologist explained, “Persistent remission” means “it’s not coming back!” I don’t know how he can be so sure, but I love believing him!

You asked how cancer strengthened me and what I learned from it.

• I learned how fragile life really is. One day I was presumed well; the next day I was knocked down and blown off course by a wind I didn’t see coming. Cancer is humbling. So sick from chemo, I often walked, holding on to walls, furniture, or my husband Jack’s hand.

• I gained a new outlook on life. With a possible death sentence staring me in the face, I decided to view “life’s glass half full.” Totally at God’s mercy, I held on to His love and the prayers so many friends (and strangers contacted by my friends) offered on my behalf. They stormed the gates of heaven in my behalf and their prayers carried me through the most difficult year of my life. Praise God, it’s over.

• My prayer life changed. Whereas I once prayed “Dear God” prayers, cancer taught me to pray “Oh, Lord!” prayers, crying out to God. The great prayers in the Bible are “Oh, Lord!” prayers. I read God’s Word aloud, cherishing Scriptures that praying friends suggested. Now I no longer “enter God’s presence;” instead I remain there. I recall desperate times when I mentally crawled into God’s spiritual lap, and let Him hold me while I cried. I learned that regardless of one’s faith, enduring and overcoming cancer is a lonely and scary journey.

• Scripture took on new meaning. I relied on Scripture such as Psalm 118:17:  “I shall not die, but live, and proclaim the Word of the Lord.” I especially claimed Paul’s testimony: “Whether I live or whether I die, I am the Lord’s.” Christians can’t lose; we’re in a win-win situation. I began to read Scripture, asking, “Lord, what do You want to teach me today?

Q Has God used you to minister to others through this experience?

A Yes, I’m ministering now to two friends undergoing chemotherapy. We email back and forth several times a week. I express encouragement and love, knowing they’ll get through it as I did and value life and salvation more than ever. Because I’ve come face to face with death, I share my faith more openly than before, calling others’ attention to life after death and questioning and then discussing where they plan to spend eternity. I’ve been amazed at the number of people who tell me: “I never gave life after death a thought.”

Q Were there times when you felt you couldn’t get through?

A Yes. I didn’t doubt I would conquer cancer, but I sometimes feared I would not survive the treatment. I came through surgery without a single pain, and with the help of others’ praying for me (including you, Cindy), I survived the chemo. Let me just say that all the horror stories you may have heard about chemotherapy true, because they cannot be exaggerated. Radiation was the worst part; my heart went out of rhythm following every treatment until it finally raced 217 beats a minute causing a stroke. I saw double for three days and couldn’t walk for five days, and my speech was slurred. I’ve completely recovered and feel like I’m a double miracle!
Through it all, I learned that nothing comes to the Christian except by God’s permission. The Bible declares, “our steps are ordered by God.” That means we do not walk alone or by chance. I see God’s timing in things more clearly now.
Consider this: Had I learned I had cancer two years ago (when my doctor told me it should have been discovered), I probably would not have written So, You’re a Christian! Now What? Sick and involved with treatments, I would have, at best, postponed the writing, and, at worst, I may have given in to the fatigue and not have written it at all. God has a purpose for us, and controls even the smallest details of our lives, including dates on our calendars. What a mighty God we serve!

CINDY: Catherine, you’re an amazing woman. Thank you so much for sharing with the readers of Mountain Breeze. You are a charm and you've set the bar high. Do you suppose I can jump far enough? Congratulations on your current Bible Study. Let me encourage readers to check out the Hensley Publishing web site: www.hensleypublishing.com. SELECT “OUR PRODUCTS” and scroll alphabetically to “So, You’re a Christian! Now What?” and follow the prompts to review Catherine's Bible study. Our own Sunday school class went through this study and revived some of the emotions we'd lost. It's a great study. Great wishes to you as you continue your writing.

Visit my web site as well to read a new devotion every day, and enjoy others in the “Heart of a Servant” series.

tsproles@chartertn.net • http://www.mountainbreezewriter.blogspot.com