Life Is but a Dream

By Tracy C. Lutz

Within the pages of this book, you will find some of the most inspiring information available in an easy, readable format. This book will take you on a scientific and spiritual journey at the same time. Today is the yesterday you prayed for tomorrow. In life, we say there are no do-overs. Who knows that to be entirely true? Open your mind and soften your heart for an adventure that will shake the very core of your foundational beliefs. Since birth, I have known God on some level. In the midst of everything I have observed on this planet not just the reality of a supreme being but also the reality of God himself, I cannot recall a moment during this incarnation that I was not aware of him. The soul of a man is absolute. It cannot die. In some form, it will live on. So buckle up and prepare to experience another dimension of life!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781532040252

Tracy C. Lutz

A former Ordained minister who fully understands the eternalness of a man. Tracy, who now Goes by Gavriel Israel, has had many supernatural experiences. He hears the voice of God, has seen spirits, good and not so good. Gavriel has a keen sense of spiritual discernment. He has felt the presence of the deceased and has an acute love of The Most High God. The lessons learned from the direct teaching of Yah, have given him the ability to supernaturally believe when there is nothing natural to hang onto.

Book preview

LIFE IS BUT A DREAM

E LEVEN A.M. SUNDAY MORNING. CHURCH HAS a moderate attendance. Praise and worship ministry in full effect.

Love that song, because of Who You are. They are nailing it. That soloist is feeling it. You can tell she isn't faking it, what she feels is real to her.

Church announcements: Donations for missions is, donations for building fund is, donations for special projects is. Sister Melba still needs prayer, brother Ray passed and funeral is on Tuesday.

Wednesday night Bible study is seven p.m. Choir rehearsal one hour prior. Govern yourselves accordingly.

Introduction of Pastor or speaker of the hour. Today's, sermon: Fake it til you make it

Final remarks/benediction/close.

I have witnessed this scene play out in American churches week in and week out.

Seemingly the appropriate way to satisfy a need to acknowledge a supreme being.

Matters not your religious background. Catholic, Baptists, Buddhist, Hindu,Muslim,Christian,Taoism, Polytheism, Jehovahs's Witnesses, Mormons to paganism. They all appear to have some ritualistic process to follow in worship and acknowledgement in a belief of a specific deity.

As I grow older, I am coming to question the repetitive, unfulfilling nature of the process.

I was taught to want to love God enough to desire and embrace the process.

There is something inherently pushing back. Some would call it unbelief, laziness or evil perhaps.

Why are people of consciousness frowned upon for asking questions where matters of faith are involved? Are we so indoctrinated with the process and ritual that we have forgotten why we have come together in the first place?

That's why i picked up my pen and began this project. I want to delve deeper into Who God is.

This book isn't supposed to be so deep that it can not be understood. The intention is to keep it simple enough for the reader to open up his or her mind and will to enable you to ask, DO WE EVEN KNOW WHO HE IS?

KJV version: Proverbs 4:7 in all thy getting, get understanding.

Understanding comes by asking questions for clarity.

Lets' go! When we were young and under our parents or guardians care, we were taught, especially in the black church, never to question God. With that same sentiment, we were taught God is our friend.

I speak specifically to religions that I have some basic knowledge and experience with, however, religion in general.

Im just a regular person of faith asking questions. I have no degrees behind my name. I Pastor no one yet minister to all who will listen. There is a voice inside everyone that cries out to know more.

NIV version: Ecclesiastes 3:11 says He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end

I feel that I have summed up this entire project with that truth. It makes the case for what I want to discuss here.

The reason for the process. The reason for the ritual. The awakening or stirring in humankind.

It is God Who set eternity in our hearts. That frankly tells us, without the need for a theology major, that the desire to know Him was placed in us by design.

Have you ever questioned why it is that most people manage to suppress that desire for a great majority of their lives? How can a man murder, knowing that eternity is set in his heart from creation?

To quote DC comics Spider-Man with great wisdom comes great responsibility

Could it be that we live in a time of chosen ignorance? To quote Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King: living in a world of guided missiles and misguided men.

KJV version from Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge

What are we missing out on because we have chosen not to ask?

Major religions began out of an individuals quest to know more.

Let's take Charles T Russell, the Founder of The Jehovah's Witnesses, for example. Whether you agree with his views or not, it remains clear that his desire to understand and study scripture led him to a place of reconciliation.

The Jehovah Witness church of more than ten million strong, was birthed because Charles T Russell could not reconcile in his questioning heart, an eternal hell to a merciful God.

Let's keep moving.

Think about this for a brief moment: Sunday after Sunday after Sunday after Sunday.

Same songs, new songs, same prayers, new prayers, same meetings, same teaching, little revelation.

How is it possible to move up and wake up if we cannot be free to explore who God is.

Is the fear of question so great that we have unknowingly paralyzed each other to the point of reprobation?

Keep the party going. Next up is Joesph Smith, founder of The Latter Day Saint movement. Also Called Mormons.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with over 74 thousand missionaries and an astounding membership roll of over 15 million. According to the National Council of Churches, boasts ranking as the 4th largest Christian denomination in the United States.

The purpose of mentioning different religions is not to prejudice the reader toward any, however its simply to educate and encourage understanding as to how they began for the purpose of the bigger question, DO WE KNOW WHO GOD IS?

The Mormon Church began because Joseph Smith reportedly had a vision that ultimately established what is known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It's further important to note here that Mr. Smith only lived for 38 years. The eternity set in his heart was acknowledged to the point of establishing one of the country's largest religions. Again, agree or not to agree with his ideology, this truth remains, he was not afraid to ask. He was not afraid to put himself out there with like minded individuals who also attempted to investigate the knowing of eternity.

Lets slow it down some.

I would like for you, the reader, at this moment, to think about death. One thing we all can agree on is that we shall each and everyone, experience the death event for ourselves. Answer for yourselves, to yourselves. Aloud if possible.

What are your views on what will happen to you beyond your final breath of physical life? Is there fear?

What about joy? What are your thoughts? If you feel more comfortable writing it down on paper, please do so. Writing it down will make it real in your consciousness. When a person starts to age, the reality of the end of the physical life becomes less of a remote idea and more of an, it's almost my turn mentality.

Humans begin to ask questions and seek answers to questions they really don't want answers to.

We will die, then what? What do you believe about it? What do you feel about it? Do you know Who God is?

We will begin to throw some questions to the atmosphere regarding that question later in the discussion.

A personal experience comes to mind regarding prayer request. I was about 23 years old. I asked God for something specific and almost instantaneous. I was about to make a financial decision and I asked God to hurry.

I was driving down a major highway. I was contemplating purchasing a new car. I was on the fence about moving forward or just forgetting the whole thing. As I was driving along, I asked God this question: If this is meant for me, allow me to pass a cop. Not only a cop, but let it be a state cop. Not only a state cop, but let the writing on his patrol car read state trooper and not highway patrol. Instantly in a matter of moments, there he was. I did an immediate U-turn and went back to purchase my first manual transmission vehicle that I didn't even know how to drive.

Another instance, I was driving alone in a snowstorm at night. I lost control of the same car and drove right through a mile marker sign. I hit it head on. No damage to the car at all. I stopped on the highway, as it was deserted.

I looked behind me and the sign was untouched. Without any shock, I said, thank you and continued on my way.

A third experience is when I was working in a customer service position and an elderly lady came in just before closing.

She was driving a silver 1976 Olds Cutlass Sierra. She was dressed very nice, however a little rude. She was on her way to see her sister. She came in and demanded that we call AAA for her. We called and asked if she needed anything else.

She rudely said no, go help somebody else. I said, ma'am, we are about to close, you must wait in your vehicle.

She stormed away. On her way out, I spoke these words: she will break her door key off in the lock while trying to unlock her door for being so mean.

Within two minutes, she was back inside showing me her broken key and to tell me that she now had more trouble than just starting the car. Everyone who had heard me, looked at me in total disbelief. We closed and allowed her to stay Inside and wait for AAA with her. She was still a little gruff when they arrived, but managed a thank you.

I cannot explain how I knew this would happen. Everyone joked that I was a witch. I will tell you what I'm convinced of: KJV - Isaiah 54:17

I shared those experiences to forge the idea along: Can we really know God like that? Is it possible for humans in consciousness, to speak things into existence as God does?

What about this example coming from KJV ACTS 5:1-11. To paraphrase the text, a certain man named Ananias, along with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property and lied about how much they got for it. Alone, before Peter, he was asked how much he sold the land for, and he lied and fell dead. About the space of three hours along came the wife.

Again Peter asked, How much did you sell the property for? She lied to peter. Peter told her, the men who buried your husband are at the door to carry you out. At that, she fell down dead.

For the purpose of discussion, it's worth mentioning ACTS 5:1-11 because the question is, who told Peter to speak