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 Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:23 pm
I wish I had an awesome story to tell. Maybe I do, and I just don't realize it. I don't know.
[[For the record, out-of-charactor, I'm a guy]]
I, like many of you from what I've read, had grown up in a..."Christian" family. I used quotes because my dad's motives for taking me to church...Anyway, I grew up in church and I easily grew bored, so I wasn't paying attention. I used some of the principles my church taught, but ignored any of them that kept me having a good time.
So it went on like that for years, until my dad and I got thrown out of church and concurrently damned to hell. He had ^finally^ divorced my step-mom, who beat me pretty much daily. The church, however, couldn't see through that and decided divorce was evil and got rid of us, saying there's no hope for either of us. I was 13.
My dad remarried (idiot.) and we started looking for a church. I started to get that familliar longing for something more in life. We went to a lot of churchs, and I liked most of them, but we finally decided on one that all four of us liked: Faith Community.
So time passed on, and I learned and grew, but wasn't quite ready to give it all to the Lord (I'm sorry I'm making this so long.) I went to all the youth camps and meetings and pretty much ignored the actual sermons (they were geared toward marriage and stuff, and that's still several years away.).
Come May, I had the opportunity to date someone I liked VERY much. Time passed on, and we...errr...did stuff. (not to get too graphic, but it wasn't anything TOO horrible) Finally, I had had enough of sin (it was a horrible feeling, the one I had after one particular Wednesday before church) and more time passed. My charactor developed more definitively, but I refused to give up the one thing keeping me from God: my girlfriend.
Finnaly, she gave ME up, and I was free. Our church got a new Youth pastor just days before she left me, and I instantly grew close to him (adopting him, even, as my uncle biggrin ) December 5th, a few weeks after a D-Now weekend we had, I told Jeff (our youth pastor) I was ready to give my life to the Lord and asked him to baptize me.
Since then, I've been slowly cutting out my sins, one by one, starting with cursing and ending with...errr...lust, let's call it. I've got it all gone and the only thing left is my anger management.
w00t for what the Lord can do!
--Watson
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Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 2:46 pm
I went to this realy cool thing called Omega and they did stuff like break ice and bricks and stuff in the name of god and then they did an alter call and I dedicated my life to god.
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:13 pm
ok...
I lived in Russia in an orphanaige (sp?) till i was 22 months old. I was adopted by a Chiristian family. They brought me home and raised me to love God. I was about... 7 or 8 when my dad talked to me and I gave my life to Christ. Now (i'm 13) and I participate in a wonderful loving youth group at my church. I've met great people ,who are noe great friends, and share their love for Jesus. Although parts of my life can be hard I try to act more like a Christian and be closer with God.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 8:39 pm
I've always gone to church, at first at the request of my father's foot, but eventually because I wanted to. It makes me sad that I didn't notice when it clicked. I just realized one day that I wanted Christ to take control and show me what God's will for me was. I've been mostly at peace ever since, and even though I don't remember when it happened, I'll never forget how it felt when I realized it had.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 4:17 pm
i'm like mystrunner except that i'm still trying to surrender to god. if anyone feels like praying would you mind praying for me. my life is becoming confusing. i'm going into high school which doesn't help, and i just don't know what to do. i keep giving myself to god but end up going back into my old habits.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:13 pm
This post will be very long so I ask for forgiveness in advance...
I was raised in a Christian family. All of my family went to church and had "our pew." It was like a ritual. Every Sunday get up and gripe about going to church until it was done... go home and watch tv.
My family was what you would call... A sitcom family. My dad worked, my mom stayed at home, and everyone got along...
Then my dad's job took him to Texas and later forced us to move. My family moved while I stayed in Arkansas... I stopped going to church when my parents left. I just said that I liked having Sundays to myself. I was alone on a farm and all I did was sit, think, and play... I just about stopped going to college, and also started gaining alot of weight.
I soon fell into a depression... I had often been a loner but I was starting to become depressed an irratable. I even got mad at friends over jokes and even took a swing at one of them.
Thankfully my friends noticed the drastic change and started trying to get me back into church. Many attempts failed and I even began to dislike the idea of God and Christianity.
My friends gave up on me... Thankfully a buddy I haden't seen in years heard about my state and came to visit me. He told me that his band was to be performing with an un-named up and coming band at the local church the he preached at. I couldn't turn down the idea of going to a concert he and his buds were going to be in on...
I was there listening to everyword of his songs... Despite the punk rock sound the lyrics were heavily coating in meaning and verses straight from the Bible... I slowly began to remember the warmth of the church and the comfort of having such a large gathering of brothers and sisters. By the time the next band came on stage (they later were called Evanesence) I was lost on deep thought.
The next Sunday my friend preached a sermon about a man lost in the world and found his way back from the sound of music in the distance... He dubbed this man a lone Paladin who had not yet taken up his sword and shield... a warrior without a flag to fly. As the service continued I decided to leave... the glances from the members of that small church drove me mad. I kept my composure and left quietly.
I walked outside and leaned against the window... making sure my friend could see me. I listened to the rest of the sermon from outside. I just wouldn't let the devil drive me away... I had found the flag I wanted to carry... and it was the Lord's.
I was still a raging fire inside but I began to turn my anger into joy. I was still ready to fight but it was for the lord... The next few Sundays I helped my friend prepare his sermons... After a while I decided to try and walk alone... away from the church. The atmosphere in the church was warm yet stiffeling.
I began to witness to friends and co-workers... I slowly became a man that was proud of his love of God and others... I had found my place... I was a lone warrior for God...
I even got in one last fight... but it was to protect a friend. I was protecting a childhood friend from her very own boyfriend.
She had called me and told me to come to town... she gave the place and the time to be there... Her boyfriend was rather violent and often fumed into a rage. I stood around the corner of the area as she told him she didn't want to be his girlfriend anymore...
He was upset but I still didn't see why she had called me. After a few minuites of listening I started to walk away... No one was going to hurt her...
I got almost to my car when I heard her scream my name. I quickly moved back to the corner to see what was up... Maybe she just wanted me to say hi. When I got the the area where I left them I didn't see her... but I could hear something.
I walked around the back of the alley to find her shirtless and crying with her boyfriend pressing her against the wall. He was mumbling something but I took her tears as my que to stop this.
I moved up behind the two and got ready to get between the two... I haden't thought about the fact that her stare would get the attention of her BF. The fight was quick and simple... When he turned around I grabbed his head and knocked him out against the wall. (those who know me know my size and can vouch)
I took my friend home and decided to swear off fighting unless it was to protect someone. I now study the bible and train at fighting with everything. I take pride in my skills and love for God. I hope I will never see another fight but if I do I want to be able to not only protect myself but others and even the attacker.
I guess I kinda went off in a random direction but that is my past and how I got my RL nick name. I thank everyone for reading and I am open for PMs... I also do witness... if you want to talk I can do that and if you need to hear a voice I can do that also... just PM me for my cell.
I appologize again for the length and I thank Japi, Lithanus, and Antioch.Ignis for telling me about Gaia and this guild.
Ended in a tribute to!!! rofl
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:07 pm
i fist went to a church, the pastor told a moving story and i got saved that day (sorry it was a long time ago)that happened when i was 7
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Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:45 pm
Interesting story, to be sure. Four years ago, I was at Camp Edisto (a week-long residential Christian camp)-- I wasn't a true believer, but I fit in nicely, loved the music and everything that came along with it. I thought I was safe, secure, and on top of my own little universe.
Oh, but how wrong I was.
It took a tornado touching down a few miles from the camp campus to bring me to my senses-- I finally realized that I was not the one in charge of my own life, that there was something else out there... and before the night was over, I had figured out what that something was. I came to Christ in the middle of the night, sitting on top of the camp's jungle-gym and watching the stars... don't ask where the storm went, I have no clue, but it was perfectly clear that night.
The very next night, I was baptized into Christ-- and I have lived my life for Him ever since. Given, it has not been a perfect life, but... all the same, I give it to His glory as best I can.
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 7:20 pm
I was first brought into the faith by my friend, in 9th grade.
My family is very divided in religion :: my father's always been strictly buddhist.
I'd had a very rough go at 'dating', and needless to say, I'd been pressured to do and say and act in a way that makes me completely different, and changes the way I was.
Lately, I've been driven by a very close friend of mine, who is very righteous and loving and motivated to follow God.
I'm inspired to follow in his steps ^^.
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 1:40 pm
I was born,baptized,and raised as a Christian. My family taught me all of the values, and faith in God. We may be imperfect, but my mom always tell me to look into the bright side and trust in God.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 10:10 am
Well, I'm not christian, but I'll tell my short little story anyhow (though this is but a mere brush of it)
I was raised in a Catholic household, where both Jesus and Mary were worshipped Equally, (on some days more Mary though); and along with Catholicism in my family, the Rosicrucian was also taught within my family. For those of you who don't know what that is, I suggest you do research, it's not something I'm alloud to explain here.
But I noticed as I grew up that I enjoyed going to mass and learning my rosicrucian, & reciting my rosary. But something was different, I didn't feel a connection to "Jesus" and my version of god was different than the one they inforced during mass.
My study of the Rosicrucian led me to other mystical arts, and thus finding a happy medium as an herbalist/healer under the careful watch of an equal dualist divinity. I use the term "Pagan" to encompass the many traditions from which are taught through my nationalities. Native American Shamanism, Irish-Celtic Druidry, and many traditions comming from Bohemian/Slavic Traditions as we still celebrate today. My father's side of the family still consider themselves catholics, and go to mass, and believe and pray to God, Mary, & Jesus; with deep connection. But the magical arts were never shunned in my family, maybe that's why I see things a little different. Because I had several conflicting yet embracing religious practices within my family xp .
But so many different traditions led me to research where they came from and why they were celebrated, which led me into deeper study of how. And eventually after many years of struggling to find a connection with the divine (god). I found it, it hit me while meditating in my room one night. My religion beleives that everything is connected, "god" flows through everything and is apart of all. My deep connection with the earth and all her mysteries had led me to the pagan path. I am embraced, loved, and watched over by the grace of Mother Earth & Father Sky (a Native American spiritual concept) And eversince I have felt my life has become more complete and a giant emptiness that once was, no longer is.
As I'm sure is the same when some of you found Jesus/God, you became happier, more cheerful, and not so worrysome about life because you know that god is watching over you and protecting you. Tis the same with me, except my god is in a different form. 3nodding See, we are not so different.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 3:53 am
I grew up in Christian family but we are divided in terms of belief my Dad is a catholic and my mom is a born again Christian so there has always been a war in our house. My sibling and I ended up confused. My mom sneeks us up inot her worshiping place which we like better but we weren't baptized in that sect so we just go with the flow. This led us to numerous questions about our faith and our parents cant answer those so we just go in our own ways.
It wasn't until last year when it all cleared up I got into this retreat that my mom send me that I got to know God better.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 3:30 pm
Well, I practically grew up in a church, the Church of Christ religion to be exact. I never really paid attention to the services since I was such a small hyper-active child and my mind was always elsewhere. Well, you probably saw this story before in another post, but eventually, my mom decided to go to a new church that was starting up since she had some good friends there who, when I was born, continually prayed that I would be healed from my seven deadly bodily illnesses I had as a baby. I still don't know what these illnesses were, but by the power of prayer, I was cured of them all and that led my mom to Christ. She told the heads of my church that she was leaving and going off to a new church for her friends, but apparently, that church had a very condemning background because they told her something like, "You are going to Hell if you leave us." But after much struggle, she left anyways, and I was brought to a new church that started out as Church of Christ, but yet, over the years, with all the flaming and arguments among our elders, we gradually started becoming more like a community church, much to the dismay of our Church of Christ members. I remember when I was younger, I always felt the most comfortable about Christianity when I went to the youth retreats and could understand from scriptures that God really is love and not a condemner. It was after one retreat when we were heading home that my youth minister at the time recieved a phone call that our church was splitting up due to the heated arguments. Perhaps the Holy Spirit was in us all, but we became very sad about this (some of us like myself even wept and prayed), but we all worked together and decided that we should pray and find scriptures to prevent this from happening so we could all stay together as a church family. Our youth minister even came up with the idea of interrupting church service so we can give our testimonies of what we learned at the retreat and from all the scriptures we found. The next morning, we all went up and gave our testimonies and read our scriptures (it was the first time I ever talked in front of people at church and that my voice was even heard) and perhaps they're hearts were hardened and too stubborn to listen but...church was dismissed at that very moment. So because of this, the Church of Christ members left to another church, and we got to keep ours. I could never understand how those hearts could be so hardened as they learned about God, but as I continue to grow up in the community church, I'm always continuing to learn about Him, strengthing myself, and getting to know Him even better as He always continues to love and care for us smile . I do believe in community, was baptized as a late teenager, and I do often learn interesting new viewpoints on what God is telling us in church. But yet, as you can probably understand from my religious struggles in the past, I often feel the most comfortable being an ascetic, praying and worshipping alone while having a personal relationship with God everywhere I go. By the way, this is what my church is now all about mrgreen : www.gatewayfamily.net
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:35 pm
My story is kinda confusing, it's more of how I came to truly believe in God than how I became Christian.
I grew up in a Christian household, and have always been Christian. But for the longest time the fact that God was real was just that, a fact I simply believed without reason like the sky is blue & the grass is green. Then I got closer to him in 5th grade during a PEAK drama mission trip just around Oklahoma. Then we moved churches, I was going through a lot and fell away from him. Mainly because I was too deep in suicide thoughts to hear him. A non-believer got me out of those thoughts and showed me the ways of the world. 7th grade I got even deeper into the world and farther from God, even though I went to church and was still technically a Christian. That summer I saw an episode of Loveless and started to question love. God sat on the bed next to me, opened his arms and said "I am love." He showed me his love and I fell deep into his arms. More complex things have happened since then that include a falling away and comming back, yet that was the time when my faith in the fact that God is real had solid proof. So now I know it for myself, not just because I've always been taught that.
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