To the moderators, and fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Protocol normally dictates that then joining a new board, one starts off slowly. However, at a risk of sounding brash, I am going to break with tradition because I feel compelled to give my testimony. I feel it is important not to bottle it up - if God has done something wonderful, shout it from the highest rooftops. As testimonies go, it is nothing special but whatever, it comes from my heart. Here then is an account of how I found true salvation through Our Lord Jesus Christ:
Although neither of my parents were churchgoers on a regular basis, I was brought up in a Christian environment, starting off with "Gentle Jesus..." in my father's presence just before bed, before progressing to more mature prayers learnt at school. In boarding school we were marched to the local Parish church every Sunday, and in my mid teens, I joined a local Christian Youth club, so I guess I got off to a reasonable start. Trouble was, that's where it ended.
Once I started work I became an adult in an adult world, and was expected to behave like one. With pubs, clubs and adult magazines in every bookshop, God was soon forgotten about. I didn't have a girlfriend, and like many lonely people I was drawn to places like Leicester Square and Soho (red light districts in the West End area of London), where I'd blow all my money on beer and soft porn magazines. I'd invariably end up in all night cinemas where you'd watch about five X-rated films before you were thrown out at 7.30 Sunday morning and walk the six miles back home because you'd blown all your money on drink and magazines. After getting my "fix" I'd dump the magazines in a bin on the way home. The trouble was, like drugs (although that was the one thing I never dabbled in) your body then craved for stronger and stronger stuff. Publishers of this type of filth claim they and the women who abuse their bodies are providing a service. They are - they provide an excellent service - for SATAN! Occasionally I used to try to confess my sinful ways to God, but felt I wasn't "Getting through". I thought all I needed was willpower, that I could go it alone. It wasn't willpower I needed. It was salvation I needed. Salvation that could only come through our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes I felt I was "getting through" and would go all religious, but only for three or four weeks or until whatever crisis I was going through passed. Ilike most of the country, I was what I'd term myself as a Christian of convenience.
Fast-forward several years to when I finally found a girlfriend (my wife) and my life began to improve. Eighteen months after we marriedwe had a daughter, and it was in gratitude that so much that could have gone wrong didn't, that made me want to put myself right with God.. I was advised to take confirmation lessons, but before that could occur I had to partake in an adult baptism, as I'd never had one as a baby. However, because the lessons were so laid back, by the time I was confirmed by the the Bishop of London, I felt little. many years passed when financial problems forced me to take on weekend security work both Saturday and Sunday on top of my job, so for a whole year I was working seven days a week!!! Then Just four days before Christmas, my father passed away - through putting money first, I missed the last quality year of his active life. It knocked me sideways. I was appointed joint executor with another family member who decided to take on everything himself, making sure I was joint executor in name only, just required to sign the paperwork. Four years later, at the nadir of my life and just millimeters away from having a nervous breakdown, I happened to listen to a laypreacher down by the Tower of London. Most of them, through lack of training, just mumble unintelligably into their Bibles. This person, though, was different. Not only did he speak with conviction, he actually spoke with authority. I listened to him for the full twenty minutes he was on the dais. He came across to me and asked me if I had given myself to the Lord. I realised then this was no chance encounter. God had guided me that Thursday lunchtime to receive His word. This time I heard Him loud and clear. I walked straight into the nearest church, dropped to my knees and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart as my personal guide and Saviour. I also asked Him the impossible - to cleanse my mind. Something happened that I can only describe as a miracle. Before I stood up, I KNEW that I would never be the same. My mind was cleansed as though it had never been afflicted in the first place. Exactly one week later, when I was quietly acknowledging I would accept whatever answers He put my way, my mobile phone rang - it was this relative wanting to bring to a firm conclusion something that had been dragging on for four years. They wanted to see me that very lunchtime to sort out my late father's estate. I was in another building at the time, but it couldn't wit for lunch - I went straight into their tiolets, shut the door, and quite literally dropped to my knees. I cried until I was physically sick. All the ranting, raving, legal threats et al had no effect, and yet the second I put it into the hands of God, the problen sorted itself out in less than a week. Too much has happened since - there is no such thing as chance or coincidence.
Eleven words changed my life. They didn't come from a Bible, prayer book or anything else. I would like to share those words with you, because if they've changed my life completely, then I pray, WITH EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH I HAVE, THAT THEY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE TOO, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY MADE THE COMMITMENT. They are, quite simply:
"LORD, COME INTO MY HEART, AND STAY WITH ME FOREVER. AMEN.
Please accept my apologies if this testimony is too long. Peace be with all of you. Your Brother in Christ, Fred.
Although neither of my parents were churchgoers on a regular basis, I was brought up in a Christian environment, starting off with "Gentle Jesus..." in my father's presence just before bed, before progressing to more mature prayers learnt at school. In boarding school we were marched to the local Parish church every Sunday, and in my mid teens, I joined a local Christian Youth club, so I guess I got off to a reasonable start. Trouble was, that's where it ended.
Once I started work I became an adult in an adult world, and was expected to behave like one. With pubs, clubs and adult magazines in every bookshop, God was soon forgotten about. I didn't have a girlfriend, and like many lonely people I was drawn to places like Leicester Square and Soho (red light districts in the West End area of London), where I'd blow all my money on beer and soft porn magazines. I'd invariably end up in all night cinemas where you'd watch about five X-rated films before you were thrown out at 7.30 Sunday morning and walk the six miles back home because you'd blown all your money on drink and magazines. After getting my "fix" I'd dump the magazines in a bin on the way home. The trouble was, like drugs (although that was the one thing I never dabbled in) your body then craved for stronger and stronger stuff. Publishers of this type of filth claim they and the women who abuse their bodies are providing a service. They are - they provide an excellent service - for SATAN! Occasionally I used to try to confess my sinful ways to God, but felt I wasn't "Getting through". I thought all I needed was willpower, that I could go it alone. It wasn't willpower I needed. It was salvation I needed. Salvation that could only come through our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes I felt I was "getting through" and would go all religious, but only for three or four weeks or until whatever crisis I was going through passed. Ilike most of the country, I was what I'd term myself as a Christian of convenience.
Fast-forward several years to when I finally found a girlfriend (my wife) and my life began to improve. Eighteen months after we marriedwe had a daughter, and it was in gratitude that so much that could have gone wrong didn't, that made me want to put myself right with God.. I was advised to take confirmation lessons, but before that could occur I had to partake in an adult baptism, as I'd never had one as a baby. However, because the lessons were so laid back, by the time I was confirmed by the the Bishop of London, I felt little. many years passed when financial problems forced me to take on weekend security work both Saturday and Sunday on top of my job, so for a whole year I was working seven days a week!!! Then Just four days before Christmas, my father passed away - through putting money first, I missed the last quality year of his active life. It knocked me sideways. I was appointed joint executor with another family member who decided to take on everything himself, making sure I was joint executor in name only, just required to sign the paperwork. Four years later, at the nadir of my life and just millimeters away from having a nervous breakdown, I happened to listen to a laypreacher down by the Tower of London. Most of them, through lack of training, just mumble unintelligably into their Bibles. This person, though, was different. Not only did he speak with conviction, he actually spoke with authority. I listened to him for the full twenty minutes he was on the dais. He came across to me and asked me if I had given myself to the Lord. I realised then this was no chance encounter. God had guided me that Thursday lunchtime to receive His word. This time I heard Him loud and clear. I walked straight into the nearest church, dropped to my knees and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart as my personal guide and Saviour. I also asked Him the impossible - to cleanse my mind. Something happened that I can only describe as a miracle. Before I stood up, I KNEW that I would never be the same. My mind was cleansed as though it had never been afflicted in the first place. Exactly one week later, when I was quietly acknowledging I would accept whatever answers He put my way, my mobile phone rang - it was this relative wanting to bring to a firm conclusion something that had been dragging on for four years. They wanted to see me that very lunchtime to sort out my late father's estate. I was in another building at the time, but it couldn't wit for lunch - I went straight into their tiolets, shut the door, and quite literally dropped to my knees. I cried until I was physically sick. All the ranting, raving, legal threats et al had no effect, and yet the second I put it into the hands of God, the problen sorted itself out in less than a week. Too much has happened since - there is no such thing as chance or coincidence.
Eleven words changed my life. They didn't come from a Bible, prayer book or anything else. I would like to share those words with you, because if they've changed my life completely, then I pray, WITH EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH I HAVE, THAT THEY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE TOO, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY MADE THE COMMITMENT. They are, quite simply:
"LORD, COME INTO MY HEART, AND STAY WITH ME FOREVER. AMEN.
Please accept my apologies if this testimony is too long. Peace be with all of you. Your Brother in Christ, Fred.
