My conversion to Christanity
O.K.., fellow forumites, here goes. (says a little prayer, ducks for cover)
I was raised by a Catholic Mom and a Baptist Dad who never pushed me into his faith, I considered myself Catholic from childhood. I loved the Churches, all the stained glass, the saints, the virgin mother, the quiet dignity of it all. But I didn't go all the time at any age. I had the Crucifix on the wall of my bedroom, prayed to God when I was scared, and thanked Him for rescues.
I went through the usual phases in Jr. High and High school, interests in the "Black Arts", Voodoo, Paganism, Witchcraft the whole spectrum of the "anti' religions", things most loner types get interested in (and yes, I know, some things that are entailed in the aforementioned beliefs work very well). but once I got older, I quit dabbling in anything but a little Paganism and Hedonism (which kind of went with it for me). I got baptized for a friend because she wanted me to be the Godmother of her daughter (didn't take it as seriously as my Mom did, that's for sure). Still didn't really think too much about it. I have always had a serious connection with nature and all it entails, and always knew God made it all. Then, the love of my life (baaad choice for me) got into a type of detox program that included a whole lot of Bible study and the theory that we, as humans, are no good at running our own lives, and the only way to get and Stay clean was to give your cares, worries, problems, decisions, to God. (This was a Christian Organization). And when you talk to God, you have to go through Jesus. The easiest way to explain is that Jesus is kind of like your attorney, and God is the Judge. that all the sins being committed by all us sinners are so offensive to God, that Jesus pleads for us, which he can, because he is the only one who is without sin. And the only way to be forgiven for your sins is to believe that Jesus is your savior, and ask forgiveness.
The Church method worked for quite awhile for this man of my heart, enough that I was ready to marry him. But I ended up with a few reservations about 14 months into the engagement, and I (being hardheaded and stubborn) asked God to show me what to do, just "hit me on the head" with the answer.
And that is what happened. (Thanks for that.)
I became a born again Christian while man of my heart was still doing so well.
I have seen things that I can't explain, and am amazed by. Situations I have had to go through that I KNOW had divine intervention.
And I am not one of the masses who needs an opiate.
I am reasonably intelligent, very well educated, intellectual, liberal all my life, quite the Wild Child for many, many, MANY, years, and never regretted a single Bondage Ball, Boingo show, after show party over the Whiskey in L.A., (didn't EVERyone get some Tommy Lee in the 80's?) , did the groupie thing, had a blast.
Now I see something I didn't see then. And I would not have believed anyone if they would have told me this change would happen to me. If I knew then what I know NOW, I would have made very different choices, not because of the sin issue.
I am Christian by choice. I don't judge anyone. I may hate the sin, but I still love the sinner. I am not perfect, I don't ever expect to be. I do my best to help any living being in need every day I can, I won't enable an addiction, but if you are hungry, I sure will share my food with you. If you are cold, and I have the resources, you are gettin a coat. Whatever I can do.
But I have always been that way. Blame my Boy Scout Leader Dad for that.
Yeah, more than my 2 cents. I'll use the change to feed the stray cats outside my door.....
.P.S. from what I understand
1) Lucifer and Satan are the same being.
2) God and "the devil" communicate. Devil is running (ruining) Earth, and running out of time. Works though humans, Angels who followed his attempt to overtake heaven are his demons. They can get in your head. They can run your life. They hate you, just as Satan does, and want nothing more than to mess up your life.
3) Venus, Aphrodite, Diana, Isis, same person. Was a human. Never a divine entity. Why pray to a human?
4) Cupid, Apollo, Pluto, same guy. Was human. Son of the chick listed above. Never a god either.
5) God doesn't send you to hell. Free will . You choose how to live your life.
6) When you get tired hearing "there is a reason for everything", just know it is true.
7) God loves you no matter what you believe. But He is a jealous one. Doesn't like to share.
8) God really appreciates when you thank Him for things He does
9) God is the heavenly Father. He doesn't like to spank you,. but he will.
10) I know exactly how Job felt.
11) Satan makes promises he won't keep. God doesn't do that. Ever.
I was raised by a Catholic Mom and a Baptist Dad who never pushed me into his faith, I considered myself Catholic from childhood. I loved the Churches, all the stained glass, the saints, the virgin mother, the quiet dignity of it all. But I didn't go all the time at any age. I had the Crucifix on the wall of my bedroom, prayed to God when I was scared, and thanked Him for rescues.
I went through the usual phases in Jr. High and High school, interests in the "Black Arts", Voodoo, Paganism, Witchcraft the whole spectrum of the "anti' religions", things most loner types get interested in (and yes, I know, some things that are entailed in the aforementioned beliefs work very well). but once I got older, I quit dabbling in anything but a little Paganism and Hedonism (which kind of went with it for me). I got baptized for a friend because she wanted me to be the Godmother of her daughter (didn't take it as seriously as my Mom did, that's for sure). Still didn't really think too much about it. I have always had a serious connection with nature and all it entails, and always knew God made it all. Then, the love of my life (baaad choice for me) got into a type of detox program that included a whole lot of Bible study and the theory that we, as humans, are no good at running our own lives, and the only way to get and Stay clean was to give your cares, worries, problems, decisions, to God. (This was a Christian Organization). And when you talk to God, you have to go through Jesus. The easiest way to explain is that Jesus is kind of like your attorney, and God is the Judge. that all the sins being committed by all us sinners are so offensive to God, that Jesus pleads for us, which he can, because he is the only one who is without sin. And the only way to be forgiven for your sins is to believe that Jesus is your savior, and ask forgiveness.
The Church method worked for quite awhile for this man of my heart, enough that I was ready to marry him. But I ended up with a few reservations about 14 months into the engagement, and I (being hardheaded and stubborn) asked God to show me what to do, just "hit me on the head" with the answer.
And that is what happened. (Thanks for that.)
I became a born again Christian while man of my heart was still doing so well.
I have seen things that I can't explain, and am amazed by. Situations I have had to go through that I KNOW had divine intervention.
And I am not one of the masses who needs an opiate.
I am reasonably intelligent, very well educated, intellectual, liberal all my life, quite the Wild Child for many, many, MANY, years, and never regretted a single Bondage Ball, Boingo show, after show party over the Whiskey in L.A., (didn't EVERyone get some Tommy Lee in the 80's?) , did the groupie thing, had a blast.
Now I see something I didn't see then. And I would not have believed anyone if they would have told me this change would happen to me. If I knew then what I know NOW, I would have made very different choices, not because of the sin issue.
I am Christian by choice. I don't judge anyone. I may hate the sin, but I still love the sinner. I am not perfect, I don't ever expect to be. I do my best to help any living being in need every day I can, I won't enable an addiction, but if you are hungry, I sure will share my food with you. If you are cold, and I have the resources, you are gettin a coat. Whatever I can do.
But I have always been that way. Blame my Boy Scout Leader Dad for that.
Yeah, more than my 2 cents. I'll use the change to feed the stray cats outside my door.....
.P.S. from what I understand
1) Lucifer and Satan are the same being.
2) God and "the devil" communicate. Devil is running (ruining) Earth, and running out of time. Works though humans, Angels who followed his attempt to overtake heaven are his demons. They can get in your head. They can run your life. They hate you, just as Satan does, and want nothing more than to mess up your life.
3) Venus, Aphrodite, Diana, Isis, same person. Was a human. Never a divine entity. Why pray to a human?
4) Cupid, Apollo, Pluto, same guy. Was human. Son of the chick listed above. Never a god either.
5) God doesn't send you to hell. Free will . You choose how to live your life.
6) When you get tired hearing "there is a reason for everything", just know it is true.
7) God loves you no matter what you believe. But He is a jealous one. Doesn't like to share.
8) God really appreciates when you thank Him for things He does
9) God is the heavenly Father. He doesn't like to spank you,. but he will.
10) I know exactly how Job felt.
11) Satan makes promises he won't keep. God doesn't do that. Ever.