Re: [TruthTalk] Why the listen to voices from the past?

[Terry Clifton]

Actually it has been 8 years (summer/winter of 1997). That was the first time I immersed myself into Christ (Gal 3:26,27). Upon the advise of a preacher, I decided (for seven days only) to listen and think and read nothing but that which was divine --- radio sermons, Christian music, Bible study before and after work, private devotions -- nothing secular. I wound up doing this for nearly two years. It turned me around, presented God as real in way that was even shocking to me --- and extremely consistent. I had gotten away from this immersion over the course of the last couple of years. Not "backslidden" as they say but not fully immersed. God has used this group to put me back under -- immersion into the Lord. And in 1998, He gave me an assignment that opened my eyes to all the times He was a part of my life, using me in his work, and me complaining that I was missing something !!! I had no idea this "assignment" was grom God until the very instant the whole affair was over. Read on -- I'll keep it short. It was about a man named Shelby Martin. I and some friends went to a Promise Keepers event in Fresno in l998. Shelby Martin was a visitor in our church, someone I did not know. I had given him a hand shake but it was meaningless. He was a biker-dude with lots of tattoos, a 13 year old daughter who was married to another biker-dude -- he was a genuine tough guy. Anyway, I am at PM. On Sat., they took a two hour break so some of us went to the book tent. I saw a Bible, a leather bound Bible, and I decided to buy it. I didn't have any money, but thank God I still had plenty of checks in my bank book. So I paid $50 for this Bible and went back to the stadium. I laid it down on top of my old NASV, the one that I had for maybe 30 years -- full of notes , falling apart. I deserved this new Bible. But as I sat there, I began to regret the purchase -- I was betraying my friend, that old NASV. By the end of the service, I had decided to take the book back but the tent was closed and everyone was gone. I could not return the book. On the way home, I decided to use it in my private devotional. So Sunday morning, 5 am, there I was trying to study with some good religious music on -- and NOTHING. I was so distracted by the fact that I did not want the Bible (the new one) that I couldn't even use it in these devotionals. So I decided to give it to someone at church -- Chris, a new convert and a member of my bible study group. Yes -- Chris but there was another name that kept coming into my mind: Shelby Martin. I thought "not Shelby" I don't even know the guy and Chris could use this book. No use. Shelby, Shelby kept coming into my mind. So I finally decide to give it to Shelby. I wrote something in the front of the bible and went to church. Shelby always comes late. That day he was one of the first ones in the sanctuary. So I decided to give it to him then. I went up to him (understand that I am 5' 7" and Shelby was probably 6' 2".) "How ya doing" I said. "Fine." And I reached out with the new Bible and said "Here, take this thing. I bought it but can't use so it is yours -- no thanks are necessary, believe me." He said in surprise "What is this?" I said, "This would be a Bible -- just take it , no big deal." And he took the book. After church, he came up to me, with tears in his eyes and told me he wanted me to go outside -- he wanted to talk to me in private. So we did. He told me that on the previous Wednesday, he had gotten "pissed off at God" and had gone into his bedroom and had torn up his Bible. It was still laying in the middle of the floor -- no one in the house would touch it. Linda, at times I have been one of the bigger fakes in religious history and God used me to get to Shelby. The single most important event in my life. My wife runs a close second, however. Anyway, that's the story. I get very emotinal just telling the story. John ========================================================= Great post John! From one end to the other. There is nothing in the world greater than realizing that God has chosen to work through you. It's a high that comes all too infrequently to all of us. I can also identify somewhat with your being immersed into God. When I got saved, the biggest desire of my heart was to know my Lord. My truck radio was tuned to the Christian station and the radio on my lobster boat was tuned to the same station, so I had Christian teaching and music all day every day. When I stopped fishing and went back to gunsmithing, the area was different, and it was now a shop instead of a boat, and a different Christian radio station, but many of the same teachers and preachers and as everywhere, the same Lord. My customers know what they will hear on the radio before they open the door and come in. Surprisingly, many of them listen to the same station. I have been tuned to Christian radio now for twenty-three years. I once was a country music fan. Now it seems so silly to waste ones time listening to suggestive, ungodly songs when the word is available at the touch of a button. Maybe one day the Lord will inspire someone to start a genuine Christian television station instead of all the hucksters we now have making their fortune peddling Jesus. Thanks again for sharing yourself with us. Terry