CrossBreed Krazy Karma!

[arkiedan]

I decided to post the testimony I gave to my brothers and sisters at Weems Creek Baptist Church back in 2004, when I became a follower of our Lord, Jesus Christ, at the ripe old age of 63:

MY TESTIMONY

I grew up in a family that was without Jesus Christ, without religion, and in fact I can’t remember a Bible ever being in our house. Neither my parents nor my siblings attended Church and I never gave the Lord any thought, one way or the other.


I went into my teens and became what was called, in those days anyway, a juvenile delinquent, getting into all sorts of scrapes, sometimes with the law and always with my parents. I’d have to say that I was very lucky that I didn’t end my life before I was twenty. I have to say that I’m very lucky my father didn’t kill me before I was twenty.


But I did reach adulthood and began to sort out my life and plan for my future, although my future was by no means certain. While I put delinquency behind me I remained the most selfish and self-centered person on earth. Although I knew many of the things I did were wrong and I wanted to become a better person it never occurred to me that Jesus Christ was the answer. I didn’t know or care about Christ and, in fact, I didn’t care about anyone.


In 1959 I met one of the two people I really loved back then, my wife, Shirley. Our marriage has been plenty rocky at times but, the truth is, I love her more today than I did 45 years ago, and for that I thank the Lord. A year later the second person I loved was born. My son, Daniel, who has grown into a fine man who I love today more than ever and who has probably taught me more than I’ve taught him.


My career with General Motors began later and I become completely engrossed in my job, in the pursuit of power and in acquiring “Stuff!”. You know, like nicer cars, a nicer home, nicer clothes and, most of all, nicer toys. The guys I knew back then had a saying, a saying that we all truly believed: “The guy who dies with the most toys wins!”. Can you believe that? We believed it and we lived by it. We were the most selfish, greedy, self-absorbed people you’d ever meet. No one can serve two masters and we sure didn’t. We served the wrong master.


Shirley went to several churches over the years and, to her credit, she always tried to get me to go with her. I did go with her on a few occasions but I was never moved by anything I heard. My attitude was “Why do something I don’t believe in”. I refused to waste Sundays going to church and give up one of my hard-earned days off. If I could say anything positive about those years it would be that I began to believe in a God, but a God I couldn't understand or care about.


Several years ago my son began going to his own church and he soon accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. I and Shirley went to witness his testimony and, later, his baptism. While I loved him a great deal and was very proud of him I remained unmoved by the Lord.


Shirley came to me one day, just two years ago, and said she had a need to return to church. She said she was going to Weem’s Creek Baptist Church and didn’t even ask if I’d go with her. The oddest thing happened; I was actually mad because she didn’t invite me to go with her. And, we didn’t speak to each other for several days. I obviously forgot all the years she’d asked me to go and I’d simply said “No!” I was mad because she didn’t invite me again. Well, I insisted I was coming with her and there was nothing shecould do about it!


I’m absolutely certain that the Lord’s hand was in that decision. We came together that day and continued to come together. Week after week Pastor Orr’s sermons moved me like none that I’d ever heard before and I thrived on Jim Dillon’s Bible study class. In fact, I really looked forward to coming back each week. That was something I’d certainly never done before.

The members of Weem’s Creek Baptist were like none that I’d met at other churches we’d attended in the past. The warmth, the friendliness and the encouragement I received during those visits made me feel welcome and, for the first time in my life, made me appreciate friends and loved ones.


They say that timing is everything and it sure was in this case, although I’m certain that the Lord was in on my coming to Christ, just as He’s involved when anyone makes that decision. Rick Warren’s 40 Days of Purpose came at a time when I was just about ready to admit what a fool I’d been all of my life - to admit that Christ was my Savior. 40 Days of Purpose solidified my feelings.


I guess I will always remember reading “It’s not about you”, “It all starts with God” and “Created to become like Christ”. I studied harder, reading the Bible more and more and read anything else I could find about Christ. I began praying in earnest, quietly and alone, and I was actually having conversations with the Lord and the He was answering me! No, He wasn’t actually talking to me but after I had spent time with Him I knew the right thing to do. The Lord gave me the answers!


One Sunday I was walking out of church and I told Pastor Orr that I felt Jesus in my heart for the first time and I wanted to come forward the next week. I loved our Savior and I wanted to tell the world.


Well, the next several days were complete torment for me! I awoke the next morning with my emotions running the gamut from anger to complete anxiety. I knew that something was moving in me to force me back to my old doubts and fears and, for a day or two, I thought it would win. I did little more during that time, other than read the Bible, re-read the 40 Days of Purpose and to pray.


I thank the Lord that I came away from that torment with no more doubts or fears. I knew that Jesus Christ was my Savior and I felt better than I’d felt in my entire life! I believe that the Evil One was working hard and taking his best shot at turning me away from Christ. Shirley would tell you that I was a nervous, irritable and intolerable wreck. Believe me, she suffered the brunt of my emotions. I now know that the Lord would not give up on me. He “left his flock and He came and found me, because I was lost”.


The day I went forward and stood before the congregation, knowing that Jesus was my Savior was the most joyful day of my life and that feeling made me sure that nothing could ever make me doubt Jesus Christ again! The day I was baptized was tearful and joyful, for me and for my family, and I truly believe there was “joy in the presence of God’s angels”.


I have to say that the last 15 months since I found Christ have been truly life-changing for me and I’m sure for my family too. The self-centered, short-tempered mercenary that I was for all of those years is gone … well, almost gone. The Lord has given me a peace that I’ve never, ever known before. I can now handle the little mini-crises that we all face each day without losing my temper. I can accept that I should only worry about today - tomorrow will take care of tomorrow. I can sit down and have a conversation with the Lord, knowing that I’ll come away with the right answers, as long as I listen.

I have to mention this: last Easter I was blessed and privileged to be in our Easter play, The Borrowed Tomb, something I would never have considered doing in the past. I would have told Pastor Mark Young “No!” just 6 months earlier. But I bucked up and did it, thank the Lord, and I can tell you how rewarding the experience was. I have to say that I believe that the Lord arranged for me to play the part of Nicodemus, a guy who, like so many guys today, was afraid to believe in Jesus. He put Nicodemus in my heart and it was a real awakening.


My buddy, John Church, or I should say Joseph of Aramethia, and all of the wonderful participants in that marvelous production, will agree that the experience was extraordinary and I hope the audience felt it too. The beautiful music, sung by those wonderful voices, was enough to put tears in your eyes and we were honored to be playing a part in the Passion of Christ. I was overwhelmed with an emotion that I’ll never forget and it made me even more aware of just what Jesus went through for us all.


Finally, I want to say that the Lord has blessed me with many new friends - so many people that I truly love. In all my life, when I was a part of the world, I refused to allow anyone to be close to me - to touch me - not even my parents. If someone tried to hug me I’d recoil, as though they were trying to hit me and I could see the hurt in their eyes. Then, I didn’t care. Now, I’ve asked them to forgive me. Now, two years later, I can stand here and tell you that I consider you all my brothers and my sisters and I love you.


The Lord has blessed me in so many ways and, in me, He’s shown that it’s never too late to find Him and it’s never too late to say, “Jesus, I know you died so that my sins could be forgiven. I love you and want walk with you”.


If you haven’t done that yet, don’t wait - do it now.


Again, I thank you, I love you, and God bless you.

I am now a devout Christian. I pray daily for those who aren't but I defend their right to their beliefs. Not too long ago I was one of them.

arkiedan

[mgeoffriau]

Very generous contest. Everyone knows how good Crossbreed holsters are, but their belts are even better I think. I bought a Crossbreed belt as my "gunbelt", and now it's just my regular daily belt, regardless of whether I'm carrying or not.

My story, and background.

I was raised in a Christian family. Attended church all my life. I pretended pretty convincingly until I left home for college, and within 9 months discovered that I was letting my life spiral out of control. I tucked tail, went home, and went back to church. I believe that until that point I had not actually given up trying to control my own life and trusted in God's mercy and grace.

I am a sinner, saved by God's grace made possible by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. My daily needs are met by Him, and when I stand before the judgment throne, my only defense will be that Christ stands in my place, having taken the punishment I deserve, and offered to me the rewards of His perfect obedience.

I am Reformed Baptist. I am currently a member at Reedemer PCA church in Jackson, MS. It is a strongly Reformed, Calvinist Presbyterian church committed to working in the inner-city and struggling neighborhoods in Jackson.

[tigertonytigger]

I was raised Lutheran but growing up we never went to church. I can't tell you the difference between Lutheran or Baptist or any other. I have read the bible many times but look at it other than a history book with a lot of made up stuff. I don't believe in a God or a supreme being. To me religion is something that controls the masses. It is needed to control the people on a political and power level. I love history and love learning about different things and know more about religion then most of my friends who are religious and go to church all the time. I find most people who preach the church are in many ways hypercritical with the ways they live there lives. They say one thing but do another. In the end you are the one who is going to have to face your own demise. To me if having faith helps you, make you feel better, improves your life, then that is great and that is important. I have told many of my friends who I know very well that they need to go to church or pray. They look at me like but you dont beleave in it, I tell then that is right, but you do. It doesn't bother me, I will sit and talk about it all day long with a inteligent person. I will not sit and be blasted on how I am going to hell and all that but I will have real conversation about creation and the Bible. For me it is more how you live your life. I have done bad things in my life, and I look at it like a learning experiance and move on. My mission is to live my life the best I can, and raise my daughter the best I can. My daughter has been going to church with her mother and cousins since she was little and I dont have a problem with that at all. I did have a problem with her being baptised. Not because I dont want her to be but I asked that if they can wait until she is 16 then she can decide if that is what she wants. I am raising my daughter to be her own person, if faith and religion is what she wants in her life then I am all for it. I dont push people to beleave in what I do as I dont want people to push what they believe in.

[bfc]

I was baptised catholic as an infant though the folks didn't go to church too often after that. We were probably what you would call a holiday catholic, going on Christmas and Easter. I have never been to confession although if I did go I would probably be in the confessional for at least a few weeks. I havent (in my mind) ever comitted any horribe sins but Ive commited a myriad of what I would hope to think are minor sins and unfortunately continue to do so. I've never liked the idea of confessing my sins to someone other than God. I have always had a relationship with God as I have prayed, talked, and thanked him nightly and will always continue to do so. I like the catholic church for the fact that you're in and you're out and noone seems to bother you. I dislike the catholic church because it seems to me they are out for the mighty dollar and the fact of all the molestations by the priests and they swept that crap under the table. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind giving as I am a very giving person, but don't send me a years worth of preaddressed envelopes to your bank and put the old catholic guilt trip on me that I am going to hell if I don't send them all in. Anyway, I am comfortable with my relationship with God. Hopefully He is comfortable with me and will invite me into His kingdom when my time has come.

[LTSRAPCON]

Im a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Became converted as a teenager and still fighting everyday for my personal salvation. Life can be tough sometimes but my belief in God and Jesus Christ give me hope and strength.

[jshu0949]

I was raised in a Christian family, we went to church pretty frequently. After a while I grew tired of the aptmosphere in a few churches, feeling the "I am better than you attitude" was running rampant. I have been at a point now for about 8 years that I feel a connection to God, beleive in Him, and pray daily. While I do not go to church, I am fully comfortable with my personal relationship with Him. I try and live my life by doing the right thing, and being a good person first and foremost. I am very tolerant of others, and welcome people to beleive in what suits each person individualy.

[bcjames]

Good karma idea! It's cool to have a karma where there's lots of interesting reading.

As for myself, I am Episcopalian. When I was young, we attended church regularly. After a couple of problems with our particular church arose, we stopped attending as regularly and never really found another place that felt right, and eventually just kind of stopped going as a family. Went to relatives baptisms and the like, but that was pretty much it. I had developed beliefs by that point that fell in line with Episcopal teachings, but didn't particularly care for the church.

For the last year and a half or so, I've been going to a Catholic church with my girlfriend, and while I'm still working out my feelings on organized religions as a whole, I feel much better spiritually than I have in a long while. I've always thought of myself as very open-minded about religion. I have a strong faith in God, but have not entirely reconciled my beliefs on who exactly God is.

[btiremank]

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was born and raised in the church. In my teens, I strayed from it to have what would be considered my "fun" time. While haveing my "fun" I tinkered with my own ideas about God. When I hit rock bottom, I found the love of my Heavenly Father and my Saviour Jesus Christ. I gained a strong testimony of them and their plan for us. I served a 2 year mission for The Church to 4 states, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas. They are fantastic places, I loved the people and cultures there, and there is a lot of natural beauty there. The doctrine of my church makes perfect sense to me. It is hard to see till you see the big picture. I do question some policies, well one anyway, they do not want handguns or concealed carry in our churches. But I deal with it, because I know the teachings are true, I have a testimony of them. I am deeply grateful to my Saviour, without him, we would not be able to overcome sin and return to live with him and our Heavenly Father again.

Thanks for this Karma oppurtunity.
BK

[Samf]

Don't include me, as I can't carry in California anyway, but I'd like to say that I'm a toss-up between a Mormon and a non-believer. Shortly after my father died when I was 13, I decided to turn to God to keep my sanity. The church and a new-found love of music were what sped me through the grieving process. Now that I'm older I find it much harder to believe in a supreme being. I'm very scientifically minded, and I have a 145 I.Q., but I just can't wrap my head around the big bang or creationism. "Faith" that either event happened just isn't enough for me. There just isn't enough proof. I'm sure one day I'll find my way.

[bigpov]

I'm an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. aka: Mormon or LDS.

I grew up as a member of the church, but rarely went when I was a kid. When I turned 20 I had an experience that changed my life. About 6 months later, I left on a 2 year mission to St. Louis Missouri. When I returned home after the 2 years was up, I decided that being active in the church had made me happier than I had ever been without it. A few years later I married my wife. Now we've got 2 kids that I'm trying to be the best example I can for them. I don't want them to have to go through most of their young life not knowing about our Heavenly Father, or Jesus Christ like I did when I was young.