Editor’s Note
by Editor(s)

Many of the articles in this issue of The Intercessor are personal in nature, springing from the writers’ own experiences. For example, Norman Grubb begins his penetrating discussion of suffering in "Suffering: Its Secret," with the following question and answer: "What is suffering? Suffering is what I don’t like." He has been enormously helped in his understanding by "the great Kierkegaard," whose Christian existentialism teaches that life is inside us-subjective. Norman stresses that our answers to problems must be "inside" answers. Therefore the pain of suffering in this life is designed to push us to find an answer within ourselves-to take that inside leap of faith where we find the inner Person who is our answer.

Jamie Resset’s tape review is a heartfelt and personal look at Paul’s call to intercession as seen through the eyes of Norman Grubb, a man who brings decades of experience to his discussion of 2 Corinthians. Complementing Tape Talk is A Look at a Book by Irene Gilsenan. She reviews the booklet "Roman’s Six to Eight," in which Norman mines the great chapters from the book of Romans for crucial answers to the universal question, "Why doesn’t life work?" "The Key" is a short excerpt from the booklet.

"With Bended Knee and Broken Heart" is the eloquent title of Brett Burrowes’ Bible Study. In this penetrating and incisive discussion of repentance Brett cuts to the bone of what a broken and contrite heart is-and isn’t. He details the excuses so often used to avoid coming face to face with ourselves and demonstrates that it is only rigorous honesty that truly exposes our desperate need for an exchanged life. Ginny Mansoor, in her testimony, "Could I Be Pharaoh?," exemplifies this truth, as she presents an unvarnished account of her departure from the Christian standards she knew and her subsequent conviction of and repentance from her sin. She beautifully describes the terror she felt as she came to grips with the fact that she might at any minute turn into "Pharaoh," hardened and unable to repent, and the pain she felt-indeed, still feels-over what her sin did to others. Please be sure any young readers see this article.

A companion piece is from one of our young adult writers–Elliot Coatney. In his article on mentoring, "Don’t Learn the Hard Way," he cites many biblical references to support the need for counsel from those older and wiser than ourselves. Scott Prewitt is responsible for the other two articles geared to a young adult readership, one describing his own "mentoring" as he grapples with teaching the book of Revelation to younger Christians ("Sunday School"), and the other an excellent presentation of body, soul and spirit as taught to young folks at a fellowship weekend. Must reads for parents and children.

The British and Irish weigh in with two reports on their local get togethers by Breda Sunderland. In "Faith, Fellowship and Fun" and the "British Conference Report" Breda describes what mature Christian fellowship looks like-great fun balanced with in-depth teaching, concern for and involvement in the lives of others, and admonition when necessary. And Christina Duncan gives an update on a serious sin in her life and how she repented of it.

Both Q & A and "To Put it Simply Yet Radically" are examples of Norman’s ability to explain extremely difficult spiritual concepts clearly and concisely. Q & A addresses Christ’s body death on the Cross, and "Simply" is a brief and masterful summary of what Norman calls the total truth.

Finally, don’t miss the story of how Zerubbabel Press has been able to republish several of Norman Grubb’s books, thereby making his great insight into the Scriptures available again. We are so very indebted to him, and to his vision of an army of believers who know their union with Christ and who labor for others to know theirs.