We bow down
So JD when did you get saved?
or was it only Water baptized (97) seems to be the focal point.
Caroline Wong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Caroline Wong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Wow, JD. That is incredible. I will pray for you and I praise God for you.Love,Caroline----- Original Message -----From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 11:14 PMSubject: Re: [TruthTalk] Saved - SalvationIn a message dated 4/18/2005 10:19:08 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
It is a long story. Perhaps I'll send you an attachment off list. I did not accomplish it. (Your choice of words is telling, BTW.) God accomplished it. I have been very unclear if it seems I am trying to rule out Scripture! (I think I said not less than Scripture, but more than Scripture.) I have been exposed to Scripture since birth, and I believe the Holy Spirit has worked on me from birth. I was very familiar with Scripture before I really experienced and apprehended my relationship with Christ, after which the character of Scripture changed for me. Ultimately, I would say God brought me; he himself made me know, in my heart.
I remember coming back to the Lord -- which was not a coming back at all; just a continuation of the journey that is my life. But I was raised in the church -- was always involved; never experienced the Lord. I knew about Him, like so many. I wanted to know Him in a different way -- but did not know how to accomplish this -- often praying on my office floor, prostrate on the ground, never really knowing what my prostate had to do with anything (sorry ----------- I couldn't resist).
And then the divorce. I was willing to overlook her wrong if it kept the family and us together. But it happened and I was out on my ear as far as preaching was concerned. New career time -- and new church time. It is not easy to move from the church you are raised in to another. Not easy at all. I remember the first time I worshipped while musical instruments were playing. I remember the first time I took communion on a day other than Sunday. Change is a rather involved distraction.
I knew my bible. I had memorized whole books of the bible. I was very familiar with its pages. But no experience. In the years between '87 and '97 -- I left off the study of the written word and lived my life as best I could.
And in '97, 40 years after my water baptism, I experienced the Lord in a dynamic way, prayed for, years and years earlier. The difference, for me, is this "immersion" thing. I immersed myself in Him -- all I read was of faith; the music was praise; my fellowship with others was with believers -- no Rush; Chrsitian tapes and CD's. No news. After 10 years of being away from the Book, I found this second trip a real trip. And I was on this "high" for well over 2 years. My addictions were gone. And I was growing away from the character flaws that distinguish me for who I am.
Anyway -- in the interm, since that time, the high was lost and my addiction became more of a pronounced battle. Beginning the end of last year (Nov '04), I decided to involve myself in this process of immersion into Christ. And it is having precisely the same effect. It has taken several months, the effects are the same.
I want to point to out something in regard to the progression - my progression - as a result of this immersion. I was increasingly aware of the changes within -- growing and more pronounced each day. It has only been the last three or four days that these changes really became obvious --- outward and in the open.
This is exactly why, IMO, the law has been our tutor -- introducing us to the Spirit.
JD
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