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Dec 31, 2003 When you spend 8 years of your existence in the study of the Hebrew/Christian Scriptures you are bound to learn a few things. I became a Christian. I’ll qualify that. I became an Independent, Born again, Bible Believer in 1975. My wife was “saved” a few months prior to our first meeting in July of 1974. All of her Christian friends told her she would be foolish to marry me after only a few months of courtship, but she loved me and we married (eloped) in October 1974 against the wishes of her friends and family. My parents could not have been happier. I was moving out. Little did I realize the dastardly plans my new bride had in store for me. First, she gave me a Bible as a gift. Who refuses a gift from their wife? Then, she began to invite her Christian friends over for coffee or dinner or “just to see our new apartment”. Of course, all these people ever talked about from time of arrival to time of departure was “the Lord Jesus Christ”. After a few months of this “subtlety” my new wife decided it was time to begin inviting me to join her for her Tuesday night Bible Studies sponsored by her church. Now, I was not begrudging my wife her Bible study, but I had personally left the Catholic Church because of reasons best left to me, and I had not been inside another church or chapel (except for the rare wedding or funeral) for at least 8 years to that point. I equated all churches with my Catholic experience. Finally, I did accept one of these invitations. Hey! This wasn’t so bad. I already knew most of the attendees since they had been attending my apartment for coffee and meals. The Bible studies offered me a chance to get back all that food and beverage. There were cakes and pies and cookies and chips and cheese and all kinds of yummy stuff. Of course, we had to study before we could eat. But that was OK because the food was usually pretty good. The interesting thing was the way everyone ignored me. I understood this because I was the skeptic. I was the un-churched one. I was the unbeliever among the faithful. What they did not realize, and what I really wasn’t paying much attention to was that a part of me was really paying attention to what was being read and talked about. I became very curious and began writing some questions down. Oh, no. I would never ask my questions among the group. I was too embarrassed to show my ignorance of the Bible. I would write my questions down, thinking I would ask my wife when we returned within the safe boundaries of our “home”. Now, here’s the cool part. When the Pastor completed his study notes for the evening, he would always call for questions. Every time I had a written question or even thought a question, someone else in the group would ask that same thing I had written or thought to ask. Oh, it might not have been exactly the same question, but it was always a close approximation of my unspoken inquiries. I would listen to the Pastor’s answers and never have to talk to my wife. By the time each study period was done, I had all the answers I’d been looking for. Cool huh? Anyway, I let that go on for a month or so, then in January 1975, on a night I could just not sleep, I met God personally and completely. No, he didn’t appear to me physically, or as a 900- foot apparition. The “voice” only asked me one question: “You got any questions left in that unbelieving, pea-sized brain of yours, sinner?” And, truthfully, I did not. So, I told God: “No, thank you God, you answered every one. I would really like you to save me now because I believe Jesus, your son, is my savior and Lord.” It wasn’t much of a prayer, but God honored it just the same. Since 1975 God and I have been on direct speaking terms. Again, don’t get me wrong. I don’t “talk” with God except the way most every Christian does, using prayer. He doesn’t “talk” directly to me, except by the way he puts his message out to everyone, through his Holy Written Word. Twenty- eight, almost twenty-nine years ago I turned myself over to the Lord. He found a school for me to attend and I never missed a class in 8 years of attendance. I taught for the institute for two years and became trusted enough in what I’d learned to begin speaking from pulpits and teaching Sunday school classes. I had to leave that service when the Army called me out of New Jersey to Oklahoma. I miss it greatly. The lead paragraph here says: “When you spend 8 years of your existence in the study of the Hebrew/Christian scriptures you are bound to learn a few things.” After twenty-eight years of study, I’ve learned a little bit more. I wanted to give you a small bit of my background because I want to post a couple of articles that are stuck in my keyboard. I am not the best Christian in the world. I am a Christian though. That means something, and there is a responsibility that comes with that title. More to come. ------------ About the Author: Independent, Conservative, Christian. Married 29 years with 5 children raised and one grandson being raised. 30 year Army Veteran and published poet with www.poetry.com since Y2K. Email Michael John McCrae: michael.mccrae@us.army.mil Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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