Get this puppy rolling

[knipwa]

Thought we could get this puppy rolling with a few testimonies, here's mine.

I grew up in a Christian home, went to a Christian school and somehow got out of it not knowing what a Christian was. I believed in evolution, as kind of a default position. I was never taught creation, so I just picked up tidbits from cartoons , movies, national geographic, and news. I really thought we were looking for a missing link. I also had no real concept of the cross. I had memorized verses in school like Romans 3: 23 and Ephesians2: 8 - 9 all have sinned... for by grace you have been saved... Whatever all that means! So with all that going for me, I set out in the world to be a rock star. I did the Hollywood thing hanging out on the Sunset strip, thought I was living but just ended up an alcoholic and no star . But God used a drunken phone call one Night... To make a long story short that phone call landed me in the small town in Oregon a population of 425. Guess He just wanted the dIstractions out of my life ,then a few years later the Lord picked me up by my ponytail and turned me around 180°. Something was happening to me, I couldn't explain, it, but there was no turning back(I think I experienced irresistible grace). My first day working in Oregon was with a Calvary Chapel pastors son. So, that being my only link to God I ended up going to Calvary Chapel,the pastor was just starting the book of Revelation and was a hyper dispensationalist, man I was eating that stuff up. Looking back, this guy was like possessed by Tim Lahaye or something. Skip ahead a couple of years was my first encounter with preterism and it was with a full preterist who told me he believed the book of Revelation was already fulfilled and I thought man, what's this guy been smoking. Skip ahead a few more years. Now, I believe the book of Revelation is been fulfilled ;D.. It's been a painful process. I was really in to the last days as weird as that seems now. I had calculations up the wazoo of when the pre-trib of rapture was going to happen, all my Christian brothers would sit and listen in approval. I could almost draw crowd. Yeah , now I'm the town heretic . So Allyn I have really appreciated the articles on the end times madness website.
You and Steve Gregg have been a lot help in this painful transition. So that's it in a nutshell, praise the Lord Jesus I'm His!!

Randy

[Allyn]

Thanks for sharing your testimony, Randy.

[Sower]

Hi Randy,

Thanks for sharing your wonderful and inspiring testimony! It demonstrates the longsuffering and goodness of the Lord toward us all. I was raised knowing about the goodness of the Lord and the punishment for sin, but went out into the world like the prodigal son looking for fun and pleasure. However, at my darkness point I called out to the Lord and he heard my plea and the rest is history. I was scared straight by a book titled "Raptured" by Rev. Ernest Angley and began attending Grace Cathedral in Akron, Ohio. Year later we returned to Atlanta Ga. where we became members of Mount Paran Church of God.
It was in my private study that I was truck by the fact Jesus promised his disciples he was coming back "after" the tribulation, needless to say that shook me to the core. I dismissed it as my obvious misunderstanding of dividing the scripture. To make a long story short, I kept seeing other verses that showed the coming of the Lord was during the generation of the apostles and decided either the Lord told the truth or I had some serious problems about knowing what to believe. I decided to believe Jesus and the rest is history whether it's considered heresy by some or not.

I know in whom I believe, and count it all joy to be counted worthy to be called a heretic with all others that defend the scripture and credibility of Jesus.

Blessings,

Lady Sower~

[mellontes]

Me saved in a Bible camp in my early teens. No discipleship. Went the way of the world until mid 30's. Attended Bible colloege 2 years. Left church for a while. Came back and left again. Tried new church and left it. Tried another and left as well. Now unchurched heretic with wierd views of things - likely the lack of church has caused my insanity...

This is really who I am supposed to be:

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 - But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 [glow=red,2,300]By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;[/glow]
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

[Sower]

Aug 29, 2008 7:47:33 GMT -5 @mellontes said:

Me saved in a Bible camp in my early teens. No discipleship. Went the way of the world until mid 30's. Attended Bible colloege 2 years. Left church for a while. Came back and left again. Tried new church and left it. Tried another and left as well. Now unchurched heretic with wierd views of things - likely the lack of church has caused my insanity...

This is really who I am supposed to be:

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 - But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 [glow=red,2,300]By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;[/glow]
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Hi Mellotes,

Thanks for sharing your testimony! You seem like a seeker of truth to me, and that is not insanity. The Lord said his sheep will hear his voice and a stranger they will not follow, but will flee that voice (John 10). Perhaps the voices (teachings) you heard were not the truth.

Prayerfully seek truth from the scripture, and compare all teaching with scripture.

Blessings,

Lady Sower~