My Christian Experience

[dave555]

My mother’s mother was a devout Catholic and my father’s mother was a devout member of the Church of Christ.

I was baptized in a Southern Baptist Church in East Texas when I was about 8 years old. I attended church on a hit or miss basis, mostly miss, during my younger years. We moved a lot and my parents were not particularly religious. I was sometimes “sent” to the nearest church, while my parents stayed home. I learned to resent that and viewed religion as a “duty” and not something to be enjoyed.

I got married while in college and my wife and I did attend church regularly for about 8 years. But then we moved to southern California and never found a suitable church home.

I started smoking, drinking, and partying. Eventually, we divorced. Mostly my fault.

Over time, I gave up that lifestyle, but still avoided anything religious.

I continued to avoid religion until January of 2009.

In January, I found myself completely overwhelmed by circumstances and found myself praying. Praying that I would die.

When I realized that I had turned to Someone I had long spurned and turned my back on, I knew it was time to recommit to the Lord and did so on the spot.

The problems I had did not disappear, but there is a peace that I have not known since childhood.
I now see each day as a blessing and know that while I had ignored God, he had held me close.