My life before I had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ reflected that of a young boy growing up on a family farm in northern Minnesota. I distinctly recall, when at the age of 11, my father brought me to a Billy Graham crusade in Fargo, North Dakota. That night, my life changed. I remember the prompting of the Holy Spirit in my heart and my thoughts, “Go forward and accept Jesus.” As I went forward and prayed to receive Christ, it was as though I had been washed clean all over the inside of my life.
There is a story behind my story, however.
A few years earlier, I recall my father accepting Jesus Christ while he was plowing the fields. Something had grabbed his attention, he stopped the tractor, and while kneeling next to the plow, asked God to change his heart and come into his life. As I look back, that moment was a transformation for our family.
God drew my father and eventually my entire family to Him and He continues to do so. Eventually, I went to Bible College where I met my future wife, Imogene. We were married in October, 1976 and two years later we became the proud parents of our first son.
Living for Christ is not an easy life. I faced a number of crisis over the past 59 years as well as numerous confrontations between my Christian beliefs and the pressure to conform to an ungodly lifestyle. Throughout these trials and life tests, God has remained faithful. I can see His protection and care in the midst of circumstances for which I had no answers. During these storms of life, God has reassured me that He is sufficient and the trials are meant to refine me and help me live for Him.
I am a member of Fellowship West Baptist Church in Bonner Springs, Kansas. This body of believers in Jesus Christ has been a tremendous blessing to me and my family. The Church is an encouragement. When times get tough, I can seek the support of Christian men who truly care about my well being . . . and I care about theirs. We encourage one another to hold fast in our faith and share the love of Christ with those around us.
Today, if you have not accepted Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life, I encourage you to do so. Consider the wonderful love of God, that He sent His only, perfect, Son to this world on a mission. That mission was to die on a cross and in doing so, take my sins upon His shoulders. Jesus removed my sins and, instead of darkness, gave my life light. As Jesus said, “I am the light of the world!” Everywhere else there is only darkness and anguish, but not with Jesus. He brings life, hope, and peace that does not waver even in the midst of life’s turbulence and heartache.
If you do not know Jesus, ask him to come into your life. Acknowledge that you have sinned against God and that Jesus Christ is the only way for the forgiveness of those sins through the shedding of His blood upon the cross. Ask Him to save you – He will!
May God bless you!