Transformed: A Spiritual Journey
Excerpt from “Chapter Seventeen: Questioning Authority”
During the altar call at the end of the sermon, a couple responded by going up front where people laid hands on them and prayed. I took that opportunity to retreat inside myself, say a few silent prayers to God, grab hold of all the faith I could muster, and bring it to the surface. After the huddle around the penitent couple, the band started up again, along with the din of the audience. I raised my hands with everyone else. I swayed back and forth. I beckoned the Spirit with all of my being to take hold of me.
Nothing.
Why was God disappointing me so much? No, that is the wrong thing to think! What was wrong with me? Why didn’t I have enough faith? I was sure that not a single fiber of my body was being left out of that moment. Where was the Spirit? How much more faith did I need?
My concentration broke when I felt Mick’s hands on my shoulders. Here we go again, I thought. I felt some more hands, which rattled me even more. This doesn’t seem like God to me. I’d always understood God to be one who receives all who offer themselves to him. Why did I have to keep trying and trying before the Spirit moved inside of me? It didn’t make sense. Why did I have to be a faithful giant before even being convinced I was saved?
I’ve had enough, I thought. I twisted free of the hands all over me and ducked out of the huddle. I had to get some air and think without all that racket around me.
A few seconds later, I was in the parking lot, feeling the humid summer air. Katie and Andrea soon caught up. They must have seen the whole thing.
“What’s going on?” Andrea asked.
“I’m disappointed, confused, and frustrated. How do I show more faith to God? If I’m lacking it, how do I get more?” I asked, not really to Andrea, as she certainly would not have been prepared to answer the questions. It was a chance to simply voice my mind out loud.
“You’ve just got to keep trying, Lance,” Katie said in an encouraging voice. “I haven’t gotten the Spirit yet, but I’m going to keep trying.”
“I have a question for you, Katie,” I said, turning to look at her seriously. “Why do you want to get the Spirit like they have it?” I pointed to the building, which was filled with people that my dad would have called “Holy Rollers.”
“Because I want to be convinced of my salvation. You know that!”
“Of course,” I said. “And it all makes sense, right? We have to prove ourselves to God so he can prove himself to us? Here’s another question, Katie.”
“Go on,” she said, seeming a bit less defensive.
“How do you know that that’s how you know?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I mean this,” I began, “I know that these people are sincere, and they are our friends. That’s why we trust them. But how do you know what they’re saying is the truth? They told us we need to get baptized in order to get the Holy Spirit. Then we need to speak in tongues before we know that God kept his promise to save us. How do you know? Have they ever shown us that in the Bible?” There was silence for a moment.
“I see your point,” Katie said quietly. “No, they haven’t, but why shouldn’t we trust them?”
Andrea leaned against a car, silently observing our interaction. She was like that, wise beyond her years. She knew when to speak and when to stay silent.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t trust them. Again, they’re our friends. The other day, my friend Devin and I started talking about a Bible subject. He did something for me that no one had ever done before. He allowed the Bible to answer the questions. Instead of telling me what to believe, he turned pages and had me read it for myself. I tried to remember when any of our friends have done that for us.”
“So, you’re saying we shouldn’t believe Bob, Mick, and Kemp?”
“That’s not what I’m saying!” I said with a raised voice. I paused. That was harsh, I thought. “I just want to read it for myself, and I was hoping you would too,” I said more calmly.
I saw a couple of figures approaching from behind Katie. Mick and Kemp.
“What’s up, guys?” Mick asked.
I sighed. These guys already thought I didn’t have enough faith. How would it look to them if I started asking questions and asking for proof though? There was nothing I could do at that point. It was unavoidable.
Nothing.
Why was God disappointing me so much? No, that is the wrong thing to think! What was wrong with me? Why didn’t I have enough faith? I was sure that not a single fiber of my body was being left out of that moment. Where was the Spirit? How much more faith did I need?
My concentration broke when I felt Mick’s hands on my shoulders. Here we go again, I thought. I felt some more hands, which rattled me even more. This doesn’t seem like God to me. I’d always understood God to be one who receives all who offer themselves to him. Why did I have to keep trying and trying before the Spirit moved inside of me? It didn’t make sense. Why did I have to be a faithful giant before even being convinced I was saved?
I’ve had enough, I thought. I twisted free of the hands all over me and ducked out of the huddle. I had to get some air and think without all that racket around me.
A few seconds later, I was in the parking lot, feeling the humid summer air. Katie and Andrea soon caught up. They must have seen the whole thing.
“What’s going on?” Andrea asked.
“I’m disappointed, confused, and frustrated. How do I show more faith to God? If I’m lacking it, how do I get more?” I asked, not really to Andrea, as she certainly would not have been prepared to answer the questions. It was a chance to simply voice my mind out loud.
“You’ve just got to keep trying, Lance,” Katie said in an encouraging voice. “I haven’t gotten the Spirit yet, but I’m going to keep trying.”
“I have a question for you, Katie,” I said, turning to look at her seriously. “Why do you want to get the Spirit like they have it?” I pointed to the building, which was filled with people that my dad would have called “Holy Rollers.”
“Because I want to be convinced of my salvation. You know that!”
“Of course,” I said. “And it all makes sense, right? We have to prove ourselves to God so he can prove himself to us? Here’s another question, Katie.”
“Go on,” she said, seeming a bit less defensive.
“How do you know that that’s how you know?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I mean this,” I began, “I know that these people are sincere, and they are our friends. That’s why we trust them. But how do you know what they’re saying is the truth? They told us we need to get baptized in order to get the Holy Spirit. Then we need to speak in tongues before we know that God kept his promise to save us. How do you know? Have they ever shown us that in the Bible?” There was silence for a moment.
“I see your point,” Katie said quietly. “No, they haven’t, but why shouldn’t we trust them?”
Andrea leaned against a car, silently observing our interaction. She was like that, wise beyond her years. She knew when to speak and when to stay silent.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t trust them. Again, they’re our friends. The other day, my friend Devin and I started talking about a Bible subject. He did something for me that no one had ever done before. He allowed the Bible to answer the questions. Instead of telling me what to believe, he turned pages and had me read it for myself. I tried to remember when any of our friends have done that for us.”
“So, you’re saying we shouldn’t believe Bob, Mick, and Kemp?”
“That’s not what I’m saying!” I said with a raised voice. I paused. That was harsh, I thought. “I just want to read it for myself, and I was hoping you would too,” I said more calmly.
I saw a couple of figures approaching from behind Katie. Mick and Kemp.
“What’s up, guys?” Mick asked.
I sighed. These guys already thought I didn’t have enough faith. How would it look to them if I started asking questions and asking for proof though? There was nothing I could do at that point. It was unavoidable.
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I sat down intending to spend just a few minutes reading a chapter or two. Before I realized it, I had read the entire book! Lance writes in a very clear, simple, and personal style. In a very straightforward manner, Lance tells the story of his journey of faith, as he seeks to find spiritual truth and salvation in a world filled with religious confusion.
J. H. P.
Amazon Review
Amazon Review
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I have always been a reader usually finishing at least a book a month, most by best selling, professional writers. Transformed: A Spiritual Journey by Lance Mosher is the most compelling book I have read in at least ten years. Its sincerity and riveting account of a young man's journey to the Lord was so mesmerizing, I put pressing personal tasks on the back burner in order to read more. It is a compelling, first class page-turner.
Weldon Langfield
Amazon Review
Amazon Review
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This made me stop and question my beliefs enough to “look it up” and either confirm or question. Lots of room for discussion, questioning and study. The author was not the only one “transformed.”
Amazon Review
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I have so much to say about how this book moved me. I loved seeing a glimpse of his life as a follower of men. Once the seed was planted, there was no turning back for Lance. Seeing him transform into a follower of God was amazing. The passages he uses throughout are right on. And so simple to understand.
Olivia
Facebook Review
Facebook Review
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This book was inspiring, scriptually sound and very enlightening. A very honest journey towards God is shared right here. Have shared it with many and definitely recommend!
Abbekah
Facebook Review
Facebook Review
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Lance tells his story in a humble, transparent manner that will leave you in awe of God's grace, salvation, and Truth. What a blessing it is to have a God who provides us the opportunity to be redeemed by His Son's blood! This book helps one navigate through the confusion gripping our religious world by simply pointing out God's will for mankind through His word.
Cassidy
Facebook Review
Facebook Review
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This book is an honest explanation of one man's search for truth and satisfaction in his spiritual walk with God. His search is very relatable to questions many of us have asked as we tried to find the right path. His openness about his past struggles in life, and the help he found along the way from good people to overcome them, will motivate the reader to help those who may be in similar circumstances. I have recommended the book to many people, and I recommend it to you!
Mark Reynolds
Amazon Review
Amazon Review
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This book helped me realise that I too can be saved, even though I never thought I deserved it. I couldn't put it down, had to read until the end. Each chapter guided me to the next. Fantastic book.
Miranda
Facebook Review
Facebook Review
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I very much enjoyed this book about Lance Mosher's journey to truth. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I have ordered multiple copies, more than once, to share with friends, team members, and customers. One of my customers told me how much she loved the book and that she had shared it with a friend as well.
Sandra
Facebook Review
Facebook Review
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Transformed is a gem... This book is so encouraging to all who read it. Once I started reading it I did not want to put it down. He writes in such a way to show how much God truly loves us. I keep a copy close by, and give a copy to others that are looking to be transformed by the power of God. It is a must read!
Mark
Facebook Review
Facebook Review
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Lance Mosher in the book Transformed tells of his experience as a young musician who came face to face with the life and teaching of Jesus. In this book he tells of the difficulties he faced and the choices he had to make in becoming a follower of Jesus. His story may challenge your thinking about your relationship with Jesus and may motivate you to change your life to be your better self with hope for an eternal life.
Owen D. Olbricht
author of Travelers for Eternity and other books
author of Travelers for Eternity and other books
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