I gave my life to Jesus Christ on November 7, 1976 in a fundamental, independent Baptist Church. The pastor was a humble and intelligent man named Reverend Donald G. Humbert. He was a godly man who believed in the Bible word for word. I grew up Catholic, meaning I grew up in a tradition and religion rather than a genuine faith and friendship with our Creator. That is, to say, that I was not connected to God's word, His truth, nor did I have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. My sister started attending this church and eventually got my mom and I to start attending this church. After several months, I remember one Sunday evening (11/7/1976) that I was so convicted by the Holy Spirit that I stood up during the "alter call" and gave my life to the Lord.I cannot tell you that I always followed the road to biblical discipleship (read more: Here), but the Lord never gave up on me even at my most darkest of times. During my late adaloscent years and even into my early teens I was on fire for the Lord. I was President of my youth group and CEO of our high school ministry. I loved the Lord with every part of my being. And then I met high school football and the like and turned away from God and toward earthly idols. My youth Pastor, and my friend, noticed a dramatic change and wrote me a letter about this (I still have this today) and called me out (or tried to) in being raw and honest with his walk. I really always love and respect that man for his truth in love. As a result, I walked away from my relationship with God for over a decade (again see the post above). It was not until I went to a friend's wedding and met his wife's best friend did my life begin to change.
This woman, who would later be called my wife, introduced me to another Bible Church in her hometown. She even had me waking up at 6am in the morning to drive out to her church in the western suburbs of Chicago to help her lead a 2 and 3 year old class. At the time that we officially started dating, we were on a double date downtown for her birthday and I found out from my dad that that early morning my mother had a massive heart attack. She was given 6 months to live and my dad had just lost his brother. Needless to say, I got a second opinion and my mom lived 10 years past the original 6 month diagnosis. After my mom had her open heart surgery, she woke up and asked me to make her a promise (i said of course) and she asked me to go to church again and to start reading my bible again.
That begin a long road to recovery (sin nature stuff takes some time to work through the carnage and scars), but my wife said to me during this process of early marriage, "do something about it" (she was referring to my walk and what I needed). This began to formulate my walk with other brothers and to truly grasp what Galatians 6:1-2 says (click here). So I started walking with other brothers and started to repent of all the justifications (that were sin) in my life and confess to a Holy God that which I did and was repenting of.
What do I believe (in) today:
- I am a work in progress.
- I am going to finish well.
- I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and my friend.
- I believe that God is the authority over my entire life.
- I believe that God calls us in to community and to walk with each other.
- I believe that He has given me a story, my story, to tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What I am asking you to do today:
- Take a hard look at your life and ask yourself if there is any sin nature stuff in your life that needs to be repented of
- Pray continually
- Ask God to lead you
- Examine yourself daily (in and through the word of God)
- Let God be the authority of your entire life
- Walk with other brothers (if you are a man) and other sisters (if you are a woman) - confess your sins to one another!
- Finally, I ask you to tell your Gospel story of your life to others in your circles of life.
To God be the Glory,D