I am not from a churched background. the extent of my religious education came once every easter when Charlton Heston gave us God's Ten Commandments. I never considered myself a bad person, I was as good as everyone else, maybe a little better.
my christian journey started in High School when boy meets very hot brunette. I went to an after school club for the noble purpose of spending time with said brunette. I raised my hand to get my ticket into heaven and thought I was alright. I am glad it didn't end there. over the next 3 years I played the part of being a born again believer very well. I even convinced myself that I was "called" to go to Liberty University to be a preacher. then I backslid as far as I could go, my end was worse than my beginning.
4 years later, I had slept with 3 women, none of whom I was married to, I was up to half a pack a day, I had drank every night for 6 months, and I was loving life.
then in 2009 I lost my girlfriend, my job, and all that was left was an empty house, no food in the fridge, no money, I was never more hopeless. and at the age of 28 I was hit with the prospect of moving back home again for the third time. now I was all ears for God.
through the ministry of Newspring Church (www.newspring.cc) and the online teachings of pastor Perry Noble, God began to work in my heart. one message in particular really got to me, he had said "people can't meet Jesus and stay the same." I had to underline that because its important. I knew all the salvation scriptures (John 3:16, Romans 3:23, 5:8,,6:23, 10:9-10,13) but I didn't have any positive christ related change in my life. my life was different from when I was 16, but who's isn't!
I got down on my knees on my matress altar, and prayed long and hard. I gave my life to christ that day, and I know I did, not because I felt better, or got a call for a job, but because I started to feel bad about stuff that two days ago, I didn't have a problem with. I actually picked a church to go to, based on some wrong thoughts I had regarding skin color, yes I had a bias due to my experiences in the restaurant business.
I still had to move home, two weeks after that, I got a job, not a great job, but a job.
its funny how when you stop going to church, you drift from God's will. some of the darkest times in my life are when I was out of fellowship, whether it be by my own choices, work schedule.
Jesus makes life make sense. its not just about salvation, thats only a starting point, but its also about waking you up to what is going on and the power you have access to through Jesus to change your life. you'll still have problems, Jesus promises we'll have problems, but even if the world comes crashing down today around us, those of us who are in christ will end up alright in the end, in fact, we will be even more prosperous afterwards.
I just wanted to share my story and hope you'll share yours. God bless you and GO REDSKINS!!!
