Lisa Perna possesses that kind of childlike spirit and deep relationship with Jesus that I am growing toward so help me God. She has that infectious wonder and joy in the person of Jesus. In this interview Lisa shares how she encountered Jesus face to face and even danced with him!
Dancing With Jesus
After hearing about her dancing with Jesus and what Jesus told her I began to pray, “Jesus I want to dance with you.” This became a metaphor for finding that flow in partnering with Jesus and enjoying abundant life in His Presence. But we must let him take the lead in this Divine dance!
“Now repent (change your mind) of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” – Acts 3:19-21 NLT
We were created to enjoy an intimate relationship with our Loving heavenly Papa and our Creator Jesus Christ. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, Holy Spirit informs us that we were created by Jesus and for Jesus. Like the prodigal son of Jesus story we too need to return home and when we do, we will find the Everlasting Father (Jesus himself according to Isaiah 9) running out to meet us and scooping us into his arms and twirling us about.
Growing More Childlike
Isn’t it interesting that growing as a follower of Christ means getting more childlike? I remember hearing Wm Paul Young share this quote by G. K. Chesterson:
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. Could it be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” ― G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy
Enjoy the interview! Be looking for my upcoming book, The Christian Mystic – Encounters With Jesus and His Love. This book will feature many stories of people I have interviewed (including Lisa Perna) who have had amazing life altering encounters with Jesus and His Love!
Lisa conducts Daddy’s Girl conferences near Seaside New Jersey! If you live in the area, connect with her to stay informed: https://www.facebook.com/tbptalkshow
Lisa has many interviews worth watching including one with Wm Paul Young. She is the reason I pursued an interview with him myself. See next Episode!
In this interview with translator Brian Simmons we cover these questions and topics:
Is the Bible’s trustworthy? Brians Testimony and Encounter with Jesus! What does it mean that God is Love? What is the meaning of the Revealing of the Sons of God in Romans 8? End times and Prophecy perspectives? How important is it to marinate our minds in the Word of God?
I am currently working on a book about Encounters With Jesus and His Love and so it is a real treat to hear about Brians Divine visitation. I am delighted that he agreed to allow me to publish his story in my book!
Brian came to trust in Jesus in 1971. Brian then married and he and his wife became career missionaries. He planted churches and worked alongside Wycliffe translators serving the Piacuna people group. God directed them through an audible voice back to the United States just prior to a hostile takeover of the village. Sadly, the men Brian had put in place to lead the church were murdered.
Brian and his wife moved to New England where they pastored a church for eighteen years. When the Lord eventually led them to hand over leadership of the church, Brian then asked the Lord, “What do you want me to do next?”
God answered his request with a Divine visitation. Jesus appeared to Brian and commissioned him for the work of making the Passion Translation. He told him he would help him and share secrets with him (we talk more about this in the interview) and that persecution would come.
Watch the Youtube interview or download the podcast and enjoy this powerful testimony for yourself!
God Is Love!
Brain is passionate about “expressing God’s fiery heart of love to this generation” (from thepassiontranslation.com).
“We have come into an intimate experience with God’s love, and we trust in the love he has for us. God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them.” (1 John 4:16 TPT)
Brian explains how the Scriptures are an on ramp to encountering Jesus and His love for yourself. Love is the Bibles mega theme. God’s mission for each one of us is this:
“Love the person you are with in the moment as you go though life.”
God’s plan to save and change the world is Love. Anyone who doesn’t have love, doesn’t have God. But those who live in love most certainly have God!
OUR MYSTICAL UNION WITH GOD IN CHRIST
Brian and I talk about the importance of a real intimate loving relationship and connection with God. After all, isn’t this what we were created for?
I asked Brian, “What does it mean to be “one with God in Christ?”
“So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you.” John 14:20
Our mystical union with God in Christ is something I’m very passionate about and something God has highlighted for me in one of my encounters with Jesus. I reference this in the interview but unpack it a bit more here:
Brian Simmons Exposed!
In conclusion, it is clear to me that Brian Simmons has been exposed as a lovely man of God who fears and loves God. His heart is centered on opening people’s eyes to the Fathers fiery heart of love for his children in his labor of love, The Passion Translation. Brian is also committed to forgiving his persecutors realizing that they are God’s servants to further refine his character.
What else did we talk about in this interview? Below are some other fine things that on the surface don’t seem as exciting but perhaps necessary to consider for many people:
Is The Bible Trustworthy?
“Every Scripture has been written by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Brian and I began the interview by clearing through the conspiracy theory fog that claims that the Scriptures have been tampered with. Indeed, it would have been impossible to alter the Scriptures given the amount of copies of the texts that were spread throughout the known world.
The New Testament has been better preserved than any other historical document. Scholars have reconstructed reliable original autographs from over 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts. We can trust that the translators are working from documents that reflect with utmost accuracy what the prophets and apostles originally penned by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
In light of the facts and evidence, we can indeed trust the inspired Word of God. But how then do we understand and apply what has been written? The way I see it, we must have the Author, the Holy Spirit, with us to explain it. I thank God that the Holy Spirit is a very willing and available Teacher.
Do Certain Translations Have Weaknesses?
If you think about it, to properly understand the Scriptures, wouldn’t you have to have lived in the culture and be fluent in the original languages in which it was written? We depend on translators who have studied the culture and original languages to bring the nuances and understanding out of the text for modern readers.
All translations have certain weaknesses. For example the manuscripts that the translators of the King James Version worked from had additions of a few extra notes and verses that were inserted by various scribes through the previous centuries. This created confusion as people today have formed a misguided conspiracy about “verses being removed” from modern translations like the New International Version and most others.
Translations are also inevitably swayed by the bias and theologies of the translator(s). Because this is the case, the important question for any translator is this:
Does the translator truly know and love the real Jesus? Are they filled with the Holy Spirit of Truth? Does the translation hold up under the scrutiny of other scholars and theologians?
I think you will find that the Passion Translation has passed the test.
