For saving me from Eternal seperation from God
Saturday, September 18th, 1999, was just like any other weekend afternoon. I was thinking back on Friday night, when I went to a Fifth Quarter with an old friend from High School. I was 18 years old, and it was a couple weeks after College had gotten back into session, and I was feeling really good about myself. After all, I had just went to a "Christian Thing" last night, and met a lot of people who seemed really cool, but they were just really not my type. I was just another drinking, socializing, partying, bad mouthing, run of the mill good ol' boy. I could down a 12 pack of Nat Lite and not even throw up. Yeah, this was the life. Sure I was a Christian, I went to Church didn't I? My dad carried me to Church every Sunday, and I was even a representative on the youth group leadership committee. Well, me and some of my friends had gotten together that night for the Florida / Tennessee football game, and I was ready to get drunk and have a great time. After the game was over and I was plastered, I closed one eye and took my time to get back home in one piece, I prayed to God that He would get me back safely. Now that I was back home and in the bed, I looked at my clock and cursed that it was well past 2:00am and I had to get up early tomorrow for Church.
Sunday, September 19th, 1999, I woke up with a hangover. Wow, this really hurt, but it was ok,
I could handle the pain. Then, it happened. I got the biggest blow by the Holy Spirit I have
ever received. I just started thinking back on my life, and how I had accomplished nothing of
significance for
myself, and even worse, I had done nothing for God. Nothing for Jesus, who took over 40
lashings on his backside (a typical Roman Flogging), which incidentally exposed His innards,
and then was hung up on on a wooden cross and forced to press His feet against the nails that
were driven in the middle of them so that He could receive air for the few horrifying hours that
He hung up there, all the while scraping His exposed back against the wooden cross and choking
on His blood. He did this for me, and what am I doing for Him? I deserved to go to Hell, and
knew that I would if I didn't ask Him to transform me. Well, I did ask Him, and He did answer.
Ask anyone who knew me then and knows me now, and they will tell you that God changed me. How
do I like my life now? It is awesome. Will I ever go back to who I used to be? Never. Why?
Because Jesus loves me and He has bigger plans in store for me. He has them in store for you too.
Love in Christ,
Hey guys! I just got back from a mission trip to Cincinnati. God used me to minister to many lost souls and it was really awesome. I made friends with many people on the trip, and my relationship with God was strengthened 100%. I just want to live for Christ everyday, and I am willing to do anything God calls me to do. I went with my youth group at First United Methodist Church, and we stayed with and worked under City Cure, a mission group, the entire week. City Cure got us involved with street and housing ministry group, Common Ground Ministries, for part of the week. We also teamed up with a youth group from Indiana/Michigan and preached the Gospel to people in the city's Fountain Square, in front of hundreds of people. I almost lost my voice that day reading scripture, but it was definately worth it, and God gave me the strength to do that. This trip required so much of me, and now that It is over, I feel moved to do more for Christ. It is the foundation on which I am made of. I no longer crave the world. Thank you Jesus, for one more breath. I want to take the nails that I placed upon you away.
