Loving Life Fellowship
Saturday night after 2 year old Louis was in bed, Steve and Sandy stayed up to watch the "GOD WANTS TO BLESS YOU!!" show on TBN hosted by their (sort of) pastor, Dr. Phil Abrams, Apostle.
They had not been to service for six months, even though they had received a few calls from some of their friends at LLF. They had been very frightened by the (to them), unexpected closure of nearly every church in the country on what was now remembered as "3/3/12" (which also had a gematria of 666. 3+3=6. 6+6=12). But as hard as they tried to forget God, especially Steve, who had a short stint with alcohol for a few weeks that only left him more miserable and empty inside, there was simply no getting away from the shocking "change" that had been set in motion since the election of 2008.
But Dr. Abrams program Saturday night seemed to hold great promise. He was interviewing Evangelist Hugo Reismann, a Christian Mystic, who was immensly popular in Europe, and who was conducting "special services" at Loving Life for three weeks. "Brother" Hugo, as he preferred to be called, rattled off his miracle healings, and more financial miracles as a result of his "giftings'. He showed before and after pictures of people in wheelchairs, people with cancer, hearing loss, and a blind man who was led up to the platform and received his sight, then threw his dark glasses away and ran off the stage shouting.
Financial miracles included people getting large job raises, a $2,000,000.00 lottery winner, job promotions, people receiving gold tooth fillings, and a free Hawaian vacation after they gave into his the ministry. Dr. Abrams even appeared to be moved by his words and he got up to give Brother Hugo a hug and say "I LOVE YOU!" and Loving Life loves you too!"
"He makes it sound so easy" Sandy said, but Steve was skeptical. However, they both enjoyed the singing and "worship" portions of the program and the music was probably the deciding factor in the decision to go back to church at Loving Life the next morning.
Smiling Dr. Abrams reminded everyone that "God really wants to bless you!" and he gave a short reminder that you must give in order to receive. He went on to make the case that "we all need each other and everyone needs love and encouragement."
- "MORE than ever!" Sandy quietly agreed, and she hoped Steve caught the double-meaning of her comment.
Once more the cameras zoomed over to the singing group from LLF as they sang and rocked to the thump---thump---thump of another worship tune called "My Good God Life", which had Steve and Sandy both smiling and tapping their feet in time to the lively beat. In the backround behind the singers, gold glitter fluttered down as the song came to a close. Dr. Abrams stood up from the hosts seat, smiled and looked directly into the camera and said "SEE YOU IN CHURCH!"
As the program ended, service times and contact info for Loving Life Fellowship appeared, along with their toll free 888 counseling and donation line. (E-Fund Cards, Paypal, gladly accepted).
Sunday morning:
Steve and Sandy were both up early in anticipation of going to church at LLF. Steve even went out to his backyard storage building where he had hidden his Bible under the floor six months ago when the big church crackdown happened. They were so anticipating some kind of blessing, they even arranged for a neighbor's 14 year old daughter to babysit little Louis so he would not be a distraction to them "connecting to their spirituality" as Dr. Abrams put it.
When they pulled into LLF's two-acre parking lot through the open iron gate, they did notice the 3'x5' sign:
"A DRA approved ministry!" and thought "COOL, we won't have to worry about government agents spoiling the service". Apparently many others felt the same and Dr. Abram's TV program had probably been responsible for over 400 new members as they referred to LLF as "The Church of Our City". There was more than just a boast in that statement because there were only five churches still open out of more than 200 that were operating before "3/3/12" and LLF was the largest. All the open churches were DRA (Dept. of Religious authority) approved, 501c3, government licensed institutions of worship.
Promptly at 9:00 am, sevice began as the house lights flickered and dimmed. The chatter quickly died down as the dimly lighted sanctuary's stage spot light came to illuminate a beautiful lady in a long white flowing gown with a backround choir softly singing. Ethereal and almost angelic in appearance, she began her song in a low, Brittney Spears style, sensual moan, with her voice picking up slowly in volume and power as she began to sing "The Day My Life Changed", a song about finding her True Love (which everyone thought meant Jesus although his name was never mentioned).
The effect of the lighting, the music, and the powerfuly suggestive song sent chills up the spines of Steve and Sandy. Steve whispered in Sandys' ear "I can't believe how much they changed, this is AWESOME!"
Sandy was likewise moved, and the next three songs just built up an electrifying anticipation that rippled through the large auditorium.
After the music, Dr. Abrams quickly got up from his throne-like chair on the left side of the raised platform, took the mic and said "Brothers and Sisiters, Folks, and Visitors, We are having an awesome move of Gods spirit here, and I hate to interrupt for such a small matter. But because we LOVE you here at Loving Life and because "God really wants to bless you", we must give you the opportunity to participate in the blessings of God!
"Did you like Sister Chastity'and the choir?" "Wasn't that a beautiful song set and the lighting heavenly?"
"AMEN, AMEN!" responded over eighteen hundred voices from the auditorium.
"Thank you, thank you, now that we are just getting started with the blessings, remember that YOU are what this is all about, and YOU make it happen! Listen, we have the finest church presentation in the the WHOLE State of California because God is blessing us. Do you want to be BLESSED?" he shouted.
"AMEN!" came the unified voice from the assembly as the ushers moved throughout the richly carpeted, 58,000 square foot building. "Then GIVE us your best, give us your tithes, give us your offerings, give us your sacrifices, so God can open the floodgates of prosperity to you and rebuke the devourer".
"If you don't know it yet, God wants to bless you!".
"ONE HUNDRE FOLD, ONE HUNDRED FOLD" he chanted like a mantra. Many people echoed "ONE HUNDRED FOLD" as they prepared to "contribute".
Wireless bill and credit card scanners in hand, the ushers moved quickly, quietly, and efficiently through the crowd who were almost in a frenzy to use their E-Fund Account Cards, some older people still wrote checks out, and only a few used cash which was processed through the wireless bill-scanners. (The service netted well over $50,000, the second service brought even more). With the wireless scanners and card readers, a donation could be processed faster than a check could be written, with an E-receipt posted to their E-Fund Account, with an automatic tax deduction recorded.
Steve and Sandy had done their part too, some out of guilt over the last 6 months of non-attendance and giving, but mostly out of the excitement of the moment as they were swept up by the words of Dr. Abrams, the music and lights. Steve had stretched their E-Fund account to the limit with a $1,000 tithe-gift, but Steve thought, "In your face devil, and DRA! -as he thought of a 100-fold return on money they really needed to make the car and credit-card payments with.
With the collection out of the way, another song was introduced by LLF's Chorale. It was one from their fourth CD titled, what else... "God Wants to Bless You!" which was their best seller by far and had even been picked up by secular (non-religious) radio stations. Steve and Sandy couldn't wait to purchase a copy from the Music sales stand in the lobby, right next to the Starbucks kiosk.
With scarcely a pause as the music softened, Dr. Abram's brought Brother Hugo to the stage, announcing to the assembly "As an ordained Apostle in the Kingdom, I would like to introduce our dear brother Hugo who will minister to many of you. Let your faith arise and may God bless each of you! -Brother Hugo!"
Brother Hugo gave thanks to the assembly (thinking to himself, "especially for the $25,000 I will take in for this"), and to Dr. Abram's "for giving me this opportunity to be a blessing". Brother Hugo was indeed the recipient of many blessing himself. Thanks to LLF his personal jet plane was fueled $5,000, he was staying, along with his entourage at the Airport Regency Hyatt Hotel with his meals and room service tab all picked up by LLR. There was a $455.00 bar and lounge service tab included, which was scoffed at as a "mistake" from the food bill when a secretary from LLF noticed it in the receipts. Dr. Abram's himself told her to go ahead and pay it as it didn't matter and "we are not to judge".
Brother Hugo proceeded to read a couple of paragraphs from his new book which could also be purchased in the lobby. For 25 minutes he told stories of miracle after miracle which he had done (all "documented" in his book). As he spoke, he walked through the large auditorium in his white Brioni suit and all of his blonde hair in perfect place, a perfectly trimmed goatee gave him the look of distinguished authority.
Sometimes he would stop, look someone in the eye, and say something to them while reaching to touch their forehead. He used short, powerful phrases to both men and women: "you man of steel!", "100 FOLD!", "POWER ON YOU", "FIRE FIRE FIRE!", "The ANOINTING BE UPON YOU!", and many others. The effect was most always immediate; the one he touched would slump over in their seat, or if they were standing, they would crumple like a rag doll only to be caught by one or two "catchers" that assisted Brother Hugo.
The crowd was awestruck, many having traveled hundreds of miles or more to attend. Some were a bit frightened, but generally most of the crowd hoped to receive a "touch" and "a word". Sandy was almost breathless as Brother Hugo approached her and Steve, "Oh Lord, let him see us" she prayed. Sandy's prayer was answered because, sure enough, Hugo looked in their direction and then made eye contact with Sandy. He walked striaght over to her saying "the FIRE OF GOD!", and as he touched her head, just as she passed out, she FELT something go through her head to her toes.
After 30 minutes of "ministring" Brother Hugo went back to the platform and said "Many of you will never be the same after today. Some of you are already blessed and if you look in your wallet or purse you will find out why". When Steve looked in his wallet, to his shock and amazement, there was a new, crisp, $100.00 bill in it that was not there before. Others screamed when they made the same discovery.
Hugo went on, "some you are healed now, someone with a hurt back, a lady with arthitis, a man with bone cancer, someone with limited vision can see", and he named some other infirmities. "Will you stand if that is you?", -and around 50 people stood, some of them weeping. Hugo was still speaking, "if you will now look around you, many will see gold dust", and sure enough, Steve saw it! He picked some off the thickly padded seat and rubbed it between his fingers in disbelief. Sandy was awake again and Steve smiled at her and hugged her, but when he looked into her eyes, he thought he saw something that he had never seen before. Reasoning that it was just the effect of being "slain in the spirit", he gave it no further thought.
Dr. Abrams had returned to the mic and was now bringing the service to a close. "Can everyone say "God loves you" to your neighbor, and "we love you too. Loving Life loves you and thank you for worshipping with us, remember God wants to bless you! and if you have a need, call our 24 hour counseling line 1-888-666-8888. You may also purchase our CD's and Brother Hugo's book "How to Keep Your Blessing" out in the lobby. Please come back soon and bring someone with you, amen."
Feeling a little wobbly, Sandy got up with Steve and went into the lobby to buy the book and CD Dr. Abrams had reminded everyone about. Steve spent half of the $100 that he had found unexpectedly in his wallet and Sandy just smiled in a dazed kind of way. Steve thought to himself "if I didn't know better, I would think she had been drinking! -but he laughed it off as he was kind of high himself on the whole experience.
After making their purchases and walking outside to a BEAUTIFUL Sunday morning, they saw Dr. Abrams drive past in his beautiful white Jaguar with a dark-suited man in very dark glasses in the passenger seat. Steve thought he better hurry because the second morning service would begin in 30 minutes.
Sandy giggled,as together they walked outside and soon they were driving to the Red Lobster. It was sure easier getting a seat in a nice restaurant without all those "church people" and "fundamentalist Christians" around, but after what they had just been to, maybe it was better for those "dead churches" to be shut down anyway, along with the patriotic, "God and Country' troublemakers. Now THIS is what church ought to be" Steve thought, as he recalled brother (snicker) Ralph's invitation long ago to a "home gathering of believers".
As they ordered their meal, both Sandy and Steve decided to "celebrate" the 100-fold blessing, Steve with a glass of wine and Sandy with a martini (shaken not stirred). Steve thought that was a bit odd because Sandy had not drunk hard liquor anything since professing faith in Christ back in 2005. But you could not argue with what they had just experienced, and LLF had a "judge-NOT" philosophy which Dr. Abrams had written a best-selling book about, and that had become a foundational pillar of Loving Life Fellowship.
After Sandy finished her second martini, they returned home, Sandy for a nap, and Steve to their bookkeeping and bank statements after leaving his Bible in the back seat of their white 4Runner. Steve popped in the LLF Cd "God Wants to Bless You!" and with new confidence and hope, went to work on their bills.
