Spiritually speaking, while working in street ministry I learned to be able to distinguish between demonic attacks and occurrences' and the truth the Lord was guiding me in using the Liberation of the Gospel, against this enemy. This transformational power had absolutely nothing to do with self, but was based in total dependency on Christ alone.

These were hard learned lessons, and not pleasant to experience, while learning to be affective for Christ.

I lived in a basement apartment, after returning from overseas with the Coast Guard.

Transient Demonic activity often occurred most strongly at night, when I wanted to sleep.

I lived within a wealthy community apartment complex, surrounded by Christian Science Churches, Masonic Temples, sexual deviants, and across and amidst students from John Hopkins University.

I could actually feel my skin crawl from the spiritual wickedness' found in such high places.

I would have to pray and put on, the full armor of God each and every night before attempting to sleep.

If I did not, I would be attacked in my dreams, and often awakened to perform battles, that could take hours to fight late at night, in consistently pleading the blood of Christ!

Yeah, it is most true that being a soldier is about hardship, struggle, death and the defiance of death in accomplishing of his mission.

It is not about uniforms, ribbons or positions, but it is about struggles, sacrifice, and hardships for a cause.

It is too bad so many ministers have lost sight of this truth, that the Apostle Paul understood !

In 1997-1999, God used a women who is now my wife, to show me my calling as a Pastor.

He spoke to me very clearly and specifically in a very personal fashion within my soul.

When I attempted to share these revaluations with local Clergy in the area, I became quickly rejected by them when seeking advice!

I asked the Lord how it was possible that he made these men Ministers to His Church who had little, if no understanding in being able to hear his voice so clearly..?

The Lord simply told me that, " I use who I can".

In 1999 about a year after our marriage, I actually prayed before the physical union with my wife.

Afterwards, I received a short but extraordinary "Technicolor" vision of a heart beating filled with rich green grass!

I was stunned, and shared this with my wife.

The next morning on a truth for life broadcast while warming up my car for my drive to work.

Pastor Alistair Beg was explaining that the word "Pastor", was actually derived from the word "Pasture", and that it was ONLY God who gives a man a Pastor's Heart!

Not to be linger on this point, but I will tell you that I also could see, a shadowy figure next to me that day from the corner of my eye, but paid little attention to it.

Later during my NDE, that same figure would be pressing up against me, shoulder to shoulder in death.

I am convinced that person is Jesus Christ; always seen on my right.

To me the significance of these stories, is that marriage is always represented between Christ and His Bride the Church.

This is why I believe it is so important for the Man to be the Spiritual head of his household, or many households.

This is not at all politically correct; anymore than homosexual unions are permitted in a Christain marriage.

A true Christain marriage is supposed to be reflective of His Bride, (the true Church) and Himself, with (Christ as our Bridegroom)!

So I also believe, that to give spiritual authority to men (or women), in representing Christ to his Church - that God has not Biblically and Spiritually ordained as Pastor's, is inherently wrong; in that we are charged in representing Christ, to His unblemished Bride.

R/

Rev. Roland T. Dell,

Chaplain Lightship Ministries