Part 2: Unraveling the Curse of Death:

As far back as Lake could remember, his mind had always been buzzing with ideas, always thinking and wondering - especially about Science.

He has focused a lot of his formal education and studies on chemistry and electricity; he had even gained somewhat of a reputation as a pioneer in those fields. But by the age 21, Lake had redirected his studies and become a Methodist minister. With that, he began aiming his tireless curiosity at the supernatural power at the supernatural power of God - and how it connected to the natural realm.

So, for Lake's curious and scientific mind, it wasn't enough to just to know that God healed, he had to know how.

The answer to "How?" started coming when God began uncovering all the sickness and death that had bound Lake's family for 32 years...

In February 1981, Lake married Jennie Stevens of Newsberry, Michigan. They adored each other and eventually had seven children. But less than five years into their marriage, several well-known physicians diagnosed Jennie with tuberculosis and an incurable heart disease. Soon after that, she became an invalid. Sorrow was back - and it didn't let up.

At the doctor's recommendation, Lake moved his young family back to Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, where he had grown up as a teenager. The northern climate was supposed to ease his wife's condition. But for Lake, it seemed that nothing could ease the rising grief, which had nearly reached flood stage.

Again, Lake was surrounded by death and disease - an invalid brother; a sister dying from breast cancer; another sister slowly bleeding to death and now... his dear Jennie. He stood by helplessly. Where was his strong man's gospel? And was it strong enough to hold back this tide of oppression?

More desperate than before, Lake fell back on what had worked for him in the past - Dowie's Healing Home in Chicago.

Lake and his family decided their brother would be the first. He had been an invalid for 22 years, so they carefully loaded him up and took him to Chicago. In a matter of just moments after healing ministers laid their hands on him, he was healed - he got up and walked out!

Next, the Lakes took their 34-year-old sister who was dying from breast cancer. She had been operated on five times and had to be carried on a stretcher. She too was healed!

Then there was the sister who was bleeding to death. Her case was perhaps more trying for Lake because, being only about a year apart in age, they had grown up especially close to each other.

One night, Lake's phone rang - it was his mother. She was calling to let him know that his sister was nearly dead, and that if he wanted to see her alive, he'd have to hurry. When he arrived, she was unconscious and had no pulse. Now what could he do? Lake wrestled deep within his soul.

And then it came to him!

He rushed a telegram to Dowie in Chicago. The message read: "My sister has apparently died, but my spirit will not let her go. I believe if you will pray, God will heal her."

Dowie's reply came: "Hold on to God. I am praying. She will live." And she did! Within the hour, the whole family rejoiced - another Lake had been snatched from death!

That left only Jennie.

As I read this story of his life, I'm just amazed at the amazing power of God, healing diseases without any difficulty at all. A question rose in my heart as I read this though - why were Dowie's healing ministers able to be a channel of God's power so easily. Although the story did not elaborate on their background, I'm sure they must have invested much time in prayer and intercession before such miracles could occur so easily. In our context and lives, what will it take for us to experience God's power like that? Think about it...