I remember when I wasn't "saved." I thought differently. Mostly I thought I was always right. Then at the age of 22 I was exposed to people who read the bible, believed the bible, and tried to apply it's teachings to their lives. It took about 7 years for me to reach the point of "surrendering" to Christ. I basically went through these stages: not believing, wondering if it could be true, believing it was true but not for me because I could choose, believing it was true but not for me because I was too bad for God to love, then believing it was true and God could love me. When I reached that final stage, which came after two major sins in my life, when I knew I could blame no one else but me (and the devil), and when I realized there was no way to change how I hurt people, I surrendered.

God forgave me and the weights rolled off. I wasn't perfect and in fact I guess in some ways I'm worse because I know the Truth and I know there is an escape from every temptation, but I was better off. My desires changed, I knew I wasn't always right anymore, and I knew there was something/someone more important than me. I learned to say no more gently.

I believe the Bible holds the answers for all our problems. I believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I believe no one gets to heaven without His say-so. I believe the world would be a better place if everyone was a Christian. I know this will never happen because the Bible tells me so. I try not to "press" my beliefs on people but I do try to give testimony when I can. As a rule, I would rather be around Christians than non-believers.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

My life B.C. was like this from the book of Joel 1 (NKJV):

What the chewing locust[a] left, the swarming locust has eaten;
What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten;
And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.


My life A.D. is like this from the book of Joel 2(NKJV):

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.