The Making of a Preacher -Prep

The Order of Life

I. Lazarus Watyudid becomes Matthew Mark's "Friend" That Never Goes Away.
----A. Lazarus introduces himself as the very dark child in the bushes when Matt is three.
----B. Lazarus prompts Matt to steal a nickel off his dad's dresser when Matt is five. Dad catches him. A sermon ensues.
----C. Lazarus prompts Matt to kiss a cute girl on the cheek in the first grade. The teacher didn't see, but the other kids laughed.
----D. Lazarus prompts Matt to another student in the seventh grade. He was rebuffed. It left him feeling ashamed.
----E. Lazarus prompted Matt throughout high school to make overtures to love toward classmates. He was often rebuffed. He was left feeling ugly.
----F. Lazarus prompted Matt to look at lewd pages on the internet throughout college. This seemed safer than having to deal with women face-to-face. Now, he felt not only ugly but shamed and spiritually guilty before The Lord.

II. Matt's Parents Seek Help for Their Adult Son.
----A. As a senior in a Christian college, Matt becomes so frustrated at his life of sin, that he hits a block wall with all of his might shattering the
bones of his hand and breaking his arm in two pieces.
----B. Matt's parents become alarmed to the extreme, regarding Matt's mental state. The seek counseling for him after the doctor visit to repair his arm and hand.
----C. Matt realizes that it is best to "not see" Lazarus when his parents express shock that he can see Lazarus.
----D. Lazarus becomes Andy Attelpate in order to befriend Matt in a way that his parents would find acceptable.

III. Matt Answers the Call to Preach.
----A. The conclusion of Matt's counseling sessions is that he would do well to find a more constructive outlet for his considerable talents of
research and speaking.
----B. Cleaning up his life, refusing to sin anymore, and answering the call to Gospel ministry seems to Matt the best way to return to his parents
good graces.
----C. The initial years of the New Matt are quite good.
----------1. He meets and falls in love with Artista Carpenter.
----------2. He sings famous Carpenters songs to her.
----------3. Ultimately, she is wooed and they are married.

IV. Matt Starts His Career of Ministry on Earth at the Church of His Youth.
----A. Carlos Marks urges the Pulpit Committee to make Matt his Assistant Pastor.
----B. Matt becomes the lead pastor, due to his father's untimely death.
----C. Matt is accused of impropriety in counseling by three women in the church. Too late he realizes that he was set-up by Lazarus & Andy.
----D. Rather than damage the reputation of the church any further, Matt apologizes to the women as best he can. He knows in his heart-of-hearts that his intention was different than their perception. Yet, he says as little as possible, allowing them to retain their dignity, while he willingly
bears the shame in order to help, not harm those he was called to serve.

V. Matt Receives The Lord's Call to a New Planet, a New Life, and Final Transformation.
----A. ZoNed4 needs a pastor for it very first Baptist church. Matt's Mom urges him through tears to take the opportunity for a new start in life.
----B. Matt & Artista board the interstellar airplane for ZoNed4 along with Matt's brother, Straitway, and his friend/mentor, Paul Letras.
----C. With a great deal of time on their hands for Bible study and other enjoyable pursuits, Matt & Artista become the parents of twins enroute to
ZoNed4.
----D. By the time the new little family arrives on its new home planet, it is quite obvious that the twins, Pansie & Aurora, are precocious little girls.
----E. A new planet plus being a new parent, while realizing that his self-inflicted problems were not left on Earth all adds up to mental, spiritual and physical collapse for Matthew Marks.
----F. The Lord walks Matt through his life, during his coma in which he is very much along with The Lord for a time of clarity that changes
everything.

VI. The Making of a Preacher is the Transformation from a Person, Who Lives for Self, into Someone, Who Lives for Others in
Agreement with The One, Who Made Us, The Almighty God.
----A. Love of Self is the path to destruction.
----B. Love of God leads to the greatest love of others, that expresses the best love for Self.
----C. The love for others urges them to prepare their heart, their minds and their lives for Eternity, the Final Place and Ultimate Existence, which
will forever be a place of Blessing or a place of cursing.
----D. Matt is given the final victory over Self, making him to finally express the existence for which he was created by The Lord. The fullest measure of giving returns as the fullest measure of receiving. The gift of Love given without reservation to others changed by Love is the same gift we receive from those, who are changed by Love.