A Bit of Testimony

Raised Baptist, Saved in my home at age 24.  — that’s strange you say. Long story, but walking the isle at age 9, didn’t do it for me.  Raising my hand for rededication didn’t do it either. Praying the sinners prayer didn’t cut it.  I was empty, struggling with sin in my life; and wondering if I could even be saved.  I struggled with predestination — maybe God had not chosen me.  I sought God — whats wrong with me.  I tried to clean up my own act — didn’t work.  Then it happened one night after a lot of seeking Him through scripture over several months, while at home that night things changed. My two boys were in bed. Ellen was at bible study I think.  Memory of that not to good — been a long time since then.  But this I will never forget.  I was reading a book given me by a good friend —  The Cross and The Switchblade, by David Wilkerson.  while reading I was spoken to in my inner man — “Jerry only I can do for you what you are trying to do for yourself”.  Thats all it took. I melted in the presence of the only Holy God, and wept, “I’m sorry Lord how could I be so stupid and blind, please forgive me. You know I believe in what Jesus has done for me, and I want all that you desire for me”.  Love swept over me.  I wept some more.  I don’t know how long later, but eventually I arose cleansed inside fo the very first time.

So how did I become a writer?  Read Scripture, Read books, went to college, (night school).  Books I read didn’t align with Scripture in many areas.  So I began asking the Lord to help me with the contradictions. I struggled between the teachings I had been brought up with (those I heard in church) that contradicted the Scriptures which were now coming alive to me. These contradiction I could not rationalize in my mind.  But I continued in the Scriptures where I began to see those contradictions eliminated, and more so as I determined to believe those Scriptures over man, and to only believe man as he aligned himself with them.  I was studying Eschatology at Liberty, one of the assigned course texts was never used in class.  it was Contemporary Options in Eschatology, by Millard J. Ericsson. During class we never picked this book up, but I had it.  to me that meant that God wanted me to read it.  I DID.  And more answers came.  I continued to place my questions with God; Pray; and Study.  Conflicts within scriptures were growing fewer. Where one scripture seemed to conflict another –eg. Predestination vs Gods desire that all should come to a knowledge of the truth.  Ask; pray; study. Trust God for an answer.  As answers became clear to me in scripture I began writing.  I don’t write fast.  I Ask, pray, study, and Oh yes contemplate a lot.  I love questions and discussion, so now I’m a blogger.  There you have it in a nut shell.

no, I don’t yet have all the answers, but I’m comfortable with the truths that I do know. God bless you as you study.