Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh No! PT 1
December 2nd, 2009
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by admin · Filed Under: Happiness · Spiritual · Thank God I
You know I could not resist this one. Lions. Some of you may think because I am from the midwest that I MAY right about the Detroit Lions, very much the BAD NFL team, and a study in futility. WRONG.
It’s the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. Surprised? I am a Christian, not just a suggestion or a once-in-a-while act I put on. I heard the word at the age of 38 or 39 I believe after some varied exposure and after preparing by being involved in very selfish, destructive, and somtimes major sin for years.
I believed the Word, again, after much messing up in my life, I guess God said, this one’s ready to do some work for me. Having owned a Bible for years but developing a layer of dust on it as I packed it up and moved it from place to place, never to open it. I really went after it, and studied the Bible with some of my peers who knew what it meant and lived what it said.
I repented, having done things wrong for so long, I had to make a strong effort to reverse course and move away from the behaviors, thoughts and atitudes that had me in the dark. I was serious and welcomed the assistance of the others who now were geting to know me. They started to hold me accountable.
I understood what I studied, asked questions and certainly answered a lot of them as I made my way through studies. I drove an hour each Sunday and worshipped with other believers. I noticed the diversity of the fellowship, the joy and the zeal to hear the Word and implement it in the disciples’ lives.
On that important night, and following some extra soul-searching and thought and prayer, I confessed “Jesus is Lord!” as I acknowledged that He lived, died and was crucified, and then resurrected on the third day for the forgiveness of all of our sins.
And then I got baptised, fully immersed, and shot up out of the water. My sins were washed away, forgiven and I was added to God’s Kingdom! I received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Wow.
I understand that some of you (is anyone left?) may not believe that all of these steps are necessary. Heck, just say a prayer, or ‘have something emotional happen.’ My Bible says to do what I did and that’s what they did in the first century after the Day of Pentecost, when Jesus’ disciples were still alive.
So, that’s what I did and if you want to take your chances by following a teaching that came about in the 18th Century in England or here in the US…let me know how that works for you.
PS To any who are curious or serious about studying the Bible let me know and I can perhaps arrange for that to happen.
Rick Emmerich

