My Testimony
I just wanted to thank my parents for the values they burned into my brain. Without those values, I really would be a terrible person. Also, I dedicate this page to my Grandmother who helped me understand Christianity even though I never understood why until just a short time ago.
I can actually say I have always believed in God. I can thank my Grandmother again for that. Earlier in my life when I was about 8 and was still living on the East coast, my family had a bad run in with the local church we were going to. I used to go to Sunday School and all. At about that age, I took Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. After that bad run in, my family dropped church from our weekly routine. To this day, my parents have not visited church on a regular basis. I no longer wanted religion as a regular part of my life and I devoted my life to school, work and science.
In April of 1996, I met a very nice person on the Internet Relay Channels (IRC). I had read all the crazy stories in the newspapers and saw them as well on the TV about crazy people on the internet who loved to pretend to be someone else. Meeting and chatting with someone online was new and I was very unsure of what was happening. Well, we traded e-mail addresses and I thought I'd had heard the last of this person. I had no idea how that innocent little chat would change my life.
About a month later, I got an e-mail from that person. At that time, she was home from NAU for the Summer. I found out later that she had been going through some tough times too. Her grandfather had died during finals.  At that point after exchanging e-mails, we moved up to IRC and began chatting. I learned a lot about this young lady known as Kaye. We exchanged who we were and how we grew up. Then the topic of religion was mentioned. She told me she was Pentecostal. These people were the "Holy-Rollers" and visions of narrow minded, short sighted individuals floated through my head. I had a run in with people such as these earlier in my life and we debated why there were stars in the sky. Since I was an amateur astronomer and somewhat of a scientist, I knew I was not considered the Christian type and disliked. They said stars were made by God only for us to look at and God would never let us travel there. Disgusted and upset, I left them standing in the road.
Well, anyway, she was still a friend. I don't care what religion my friends are and I never ask. Friends are friends. Well, our friendship grew. She told me she would be back in Flagstaff to go back to school and she would be up here to check out her apartment with her Mom in early July. Well, we met at a local eating establishment. Things went great. I had agreed to help her move her furniture into her apartment. Soon, we became boyfriend and girlfriend. Well, to get back to what this page is all about, we became GREAT friends and she asked me to go to church with her. One thing that I started to do after meeting her was to start reading my Bible again. Something I hadn't done in a long time. I figured it would be best to understand what Christianity was all about again.
I was nervous about going to church. Church was something I hadn't visited on a regular basis for almost 2 decades. I was raised Lutheran and the standard Sunday was falling asleep in the pew. Well, going to an Assembly of God Church was a eye opening experience. Lots of singing and a band and people saying stuff when the pastor was speaking. The sermon part was really great. I like to hear people explain the Bible. Brings different points of view into my mind. Sometimes you miss things or don't understand what you've read.
Anyway, science and God together started a war inside my brain. Since I am an amateur astronomer and have been interested in science for a LONG time, the balance of religion and science became a point to ponder. The whole Universe is so vast and wonderful and to think by such a random chance we became Masters of this planet is also very narrow minded. Since I believe both science and God, why not do both. I decided to take the plunge and bring religion back into play and ask Jesus into my heart again. I got baptized after talking with our Pastor and it is the cornerstone by which my religious foundation was put on. After all, Albert Einstein said, "Religion without science is blind. Science without religion is lame."
Well, I guess it comes down to all this. My life has changed and I know why. People can say that Darwin was right, Earth was formed and just by a extremely small fraction of chance Man now walks this planet by luck. Yeah, right. The odds for this are slim but possible. I know that God exists. Just by asking Jesus into my heart I have had the most awesome time of my life. My wife and I have had everything go right for us in the past year or so. Luck? I don't think so.
My advice: Here is what you can do. If you are uncertain about your life and don't know where to turn, ask Jesus into your life. I did and I haven't been better. If you are uncertain, I hope I can answer your questions. If I can't, I suggest contacting your local clergy. Also, pick up a Bible and read it. I never realized how selfish and self-centered I was until I started reading and understanding it. Just reading the 10 Commandments could turn our Nation around and make it better than it was before. Remember, the accepted norm by which people live today is really not that great. Just look at families today. Divorce rate is way up, single parent homes are normal and kids aren't behaving like they should.
Being a Christian is not bad. I know that now. It took a very wonderful person to show me that. I understand now and I have to adhere to an even higher standard than society now has. Does that  mean I don't have fun anymore and I go around yelling at people to repent. Nope, it just means I don't  serve myself anymore. I serve God. Look at yourself and ask "Am I really happy?" Bringing Jesus Christ into your life can really help. Does spending an eternity in Hell really sound like fun. I'm sorry to say that being in a constant state of pain and torture without end is not going to be fun. Following the teachings of the Bible and asking Jesus into your heart will save you.
Sorry it took this long to explin it, but I thought it was important. I hope it changes your mind. Jesus has really changed mine. God Bless. Hope to see you in Heaven sometime.
Oh yeah, that young lady named Kaye. Her real name is Rhonda and we were married in August 1997. Just 2 more quick notes. The word divorce is not in our vocabulary anymore. God will join us and only God can break us apart. The family that prays together, stays together because God does answer prayers. I've seen it happen.
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Copyright © 1997 This Home Page was created by WebEdit,Tuesday, February 11, 1997 Most recent revision Tuesday, October 14, 1997