Background

When I woke up on August 21, 2005 little did I know that my life was about to change eternally. For a few weeks in advance of this day my brother had been constantly inviting me to church. Each time I had a new excuse (lie) for the reason I could not make it. Little did I know then that all my lies and reasons would be coming to an end. My brother had invited me to a crusade that was being held that week by a group of local churches. I worked 3rd shift the night before and had already made my excuse up before I went to bed. I was going to tell whomever wanted to know that I had overslept and did not have time to get ready and make it. That day was one of the worst days I ever had sleeping. I could not sleep at all! Around 4:00 I went ahead and got up still telling myself I was not going.
I did not want to spend my time around a bunch of church people. I had better things to do. You see I really did not want anything to do with God. I figured I had made it the first 24 years of my life without God, and I was happy. In fact I was very happy with my life. I think we sometimes think that all lost people caught up in sin are miserable and hate their lives. Take it from me that is not always the case. So I could not figure out what the big deal was. Later that evening I would come to find out that it was by God's grace and mercy alone that I had even lived to be 24.
At this point of my day I got ready to go. Thinking to myself that I would make an appearance and maybe it would make people happy. Little did I know at that same time God was in the process of reconciling me to Him. That night I can remember one statement that the preacher said. "Many of you would split the gates of hell wide open if you died tonight." I don't remember that because it scared me. I remember that statement because it was then that God saved me. I knew at that time that Jesus had taken my place on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. I did not walk the aisle (we were in the middle of a cow pasture) or say a magic prayer. I repented of the sins of my life and God had mercy on my soul and saved me.
I did not go that night for any reason of my own. God and God alone had 100% control in me being in that place that night. It might sound weird, but I find it pretty cool that Jesus brought one of His sheep into the fold in a pasture that night. You see that day I did not want to go, but God brought me. I did not want to leave my sin filled life, but God saved me. At that time I could have cared less about predestination. Today however I know that if God had not chosen me before the foundations of the earth. I would not have chosen Him at that crusade. I wanted nothing to do with Him, but He wanted me. That is the most humbling thought I ever have had.
In my 3 short years as a Christian I have seen "church members" destroy a church. Openly running off a pastor to replace him with a "feel good about me" concept of church. In which God has placed me in a church that sets out to glorifying God in all things. I am currently attending Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and seeking my degree in pastoral studies. As Paul says in Galatians 6:14 "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." I pray that this blog will do one thing and one thing only. That it will boast only in the cross of Christ. In closing I ask that anyone who reads this to never stop praying for a lost soul and never give up on anyone. Where would we be if God had given up on us?