Poster | Thread | SimpleLiving Member
Joined: 2008/1/11 Posts: 375 Minnesota, USA
| New guy in MN | | Hi everyone,
My name is Keith and I live in Minnesota. I just found this website as I was searching for true teachings on the Truth. Six days ago I happened upon a video teaching of Brother Paul Washer. In that moment, everything I ever knew was gone and I haven't been able to think about anything else since.
Quick background: I said the "sinner's prayer" 24 years ago. Even though I've always loved the Lord and have endeavored to grow in Him over the years, I kept "backsliding and rededicating." I blindly fell into the Word of Faith movement and even though I knew in my spirit this couldn't be right, I stayed because, "How could I be right and all these thousands of people be wrong?" Finally, after suffering abuse in the church, I walked out and never returned to another church.
That was eight years ago. I never walked out on God, though. I tried to be a Christian on my own and I'm exhausted. In my heart, I knew there had to be more to Christianity than anything I'd experienced. I wasn't changed. I had knowledge but there was no change wrought within me. Now, after 24 years, I'm faced with the fact that I'm not really saved yet.
This is both terrifying and wonderful! Terrifying to think that I could have died at any time, thinking I was saved, and gone to hell! Wonderful because of God's mercy that that didn't happen! Wonderful to know that I'm FINALLY on the right path!
Everything else in my life has been put on hold until I know I'm saved. (Except my job, of course, which is where I am right now.)
I have been devouring more and more of Brother Paul's teaching and have been introduced to many other teachers that I've never known before. Ravenhill, MacArthur, Pink, Leiter, etc.,
Even though I'm seeking God with all my might right now, for my salvation, I've never been more excited in all my life! An employee at Heartcry Missionary Society helped me find a good church in my area, Bethlehem Baptist Church with Pastor John Piper. This Sunday will be my first Sunday back in church in years!
I'm looking forward to talking more with all of you. I do have a passion for Jesus and havent' had anyone around me I can talk to about him. (At least not until I get into that church!)
Thanks for taking the time to read my blabbering. _________________ Keith
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| 2008/1/11 14:29 | Profile | MSeaman Member
Joined: 2005/4/19 Posts: 772 Michigan
| Re: New guy in MN | | Keith, Welcome to SI! I hope you are blessed by what you find here. _________________ Melissa
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| 2008/1/11 15:04 | Profile | sermonindex Moderator
Joined: 2002/12/11 Posts: 39795 Canada
Online! | | 2008/1/11 15:09 | Profile | Tears_of_joy Member
Joined: 2003/10/30 Posts: 1554
| | 2008/1/11 15:16 | Profile | ravenmolehil Member
Joined: 2006/11/10 Posts: 279 North Carolina, US
| Re: New guy in MN | | AMEN Glad to see you here, brother!!! Glad to see your excitement & fire for the Lord!!!
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| 2008/1/11 15:30 | Profile | SimpleLiving Member
Joined: 2008/1/11 Posts: 375 Minnesota, USA
| Re: | | Thank you all for taking the time to welcome me! Being able to talk to family in the Lord is so refreshing after all these years!
I really appreciate all of the teaching recommendations and will certainly watch and listen. Funny, because Ten Shekels and a Shirt first popped-up in my life last night. Since then, I've gone to three different sites online and it's mentioned on all of them! That will be my first teaching tonight!
Something else I learned from Brother Washer is that Jesus is my first stop when I need something. The church world today runs to the pastor and friends and everyone else before they look in the Word or pray for themselves. (And that's if they even get around to doing that at all.)
I'm busting my buttons, even here at work! THIS is the life that I always knew had to be available to Christians! (And I'm not even saved yet, which feels very odd to say, coming from 24 years of American, seeker-friendly, ear-tickling religion. It's going to take awhile for those thought processes and the lingo to wear off of me.)
I quit watching television completely, just over 3 1/2 years ago. I noticed it took about 18 months for the effects of Hollywood, advertising and the media to wear off of me. Now, when I hear about a murder, I feel it in my heart again. I'm not hardened and dead to it. I'm not bombarded with "Make YOUR life easier! YOU deserve the best!" I don't find myself wanting "things" anymore. I really, really enjoy living very simply.
Sorry to gush so much, I'm just pretty excited. (Which is funny because I'm normally a pretty calm guy.) _________________ Keith
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| 2008/1/11 16:18 | Profile | SimpleLiving Member
Joined: 2008/1/11 Posts: 375 Minnesota, USA
| Re: | | Just a thought.
I dropped American Christianity for True Christianity the exact day I switched from Windows to Mac. Both are permanent changes
Coicidence? ;-) _________________ Keith
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| 2008/1/11 16:31 | Profile | ravenmolehil Member
Joined: 2006/11/10 Posts: 279 North Carolina, US
| Re: | | Quote:
SimpleLiving wrote: Just a thought.
I dropped American Christianity for True Christianity the exact day I switched from Windows to Mac. Both are permanent changes
Coicidence? ;-)
AMEN
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| 2008/1/11 16:34 | Profile |
| Re: | | Welcome to SI, Keith! It's exciting to hear about the journey that you are on. Keep pressing forward and seeking God. He is faithful to His Word and promises to be found of those that seek after Him,
[i]"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD..." Jeremiah 29:11-14a[/i]
There have been some really good sermon recommendations that you have already been given. I echoe Tears_of_Joy's list of messages from Keith Daniel, an evangelist from South Africa.
You might add this sermon by Paul Washer to your list: [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=12829&commentView=itemComments]Examine Yourselves[/url]. It is a message that lays out so clearly what it is to be a Christian.
I'll be praying for you.
~Joy
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| 2008/1/11 17:39 | | SimpleLiving Member
Joined: 2008/1/11 Posts: 375 Minnesota, USA
| Re: | | Thank you, Joy, very much.
I've heard many of Paul Washer's teachings already. The first night I was up until 7am listening to them. The next night I was up until 3:30am. Since then, I've been up til midnight. (Not bad for someone who's used to going to bed at 9pm!) _________________ Keith
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| 2008/1/11 17:51 | Profile |
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