I'll probably do more looking than posting here.
I grew up near Philadelphia PA. The church my family attended was pretty much a liberal-oriented congregation -- keep the ten commandments & the golden rule; don't kill anybody or rob a bank. If you do all of this you might make it to heaven (if there is such a place). Jesus was a good teacher and humanitarian, but certainly not THE ONLY way to heaven. The OT stories were good character builders, but not much else.
If I ever thought about eternity (which was very seldom), I had some sort of vague idea of what it might involve.
Through a series of events and meeting various people, I eventually began to have a little clearer idea of what might face me in the next life. BUT it wasn't until April, 1966, that I was clearly shown that THE ONLY WAY I had any chance of securing an eternity in heaven was to, by grace through faith, ask Jesus Christ to redeem me and receive Him as my own personal Savior.
This I did & immediately I sensed my burdens of sin (which before that I didn't even know I had) was lifted.
I'd love to say that ever since that Saturday evening in April, 1966, I've continually & consistently followed the Holy Spirit's leadership in my life; but, alas, that would be an utter and complete falsehood. But I thank God that, during the many times I went astray, the LORD ALWAYS remained faithful to me.
I suppose that's why my "life passage" has been that of Lamentations 3:21-25 -- "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."
I grew up near Philadelphia PA. The church my family attended was pretty much a liberal-oriented congregation -- keep the ten commandments & the golden rule; don't kill anybody or rob a bank. If you do all of this you might make it to heaven (if there is such a place). Jesus was a good teacher and humanitarian, but certainly not THE ONLY way to heaven. The OT stories were good character builders, but not much else.
If I ever thought about eternity (which was very seldom), I had some sort of vague idea of what it might involve.
Through a series of events and meeting various people, I eventually began to have a little clearer idea of what might face me in the next life. BUT it wasn't until April, 1966, that I was clearly shown that THE ONLY WAY I had any chance of securing an eternity in heaven was to, by grace through faith, ask Jesus Christ to redeem me and receive Him as my own personal Savior.
This I did & immediately I sensed my burdens of sin (which before that I didn't even know I had) was lifted.
I'd love to say that ever since that Saturday evening in April, 1966, I've continually & consistently followed the Holy Spirit's leadership in my life; but, alas, that would be an utter and complete falsehood. But I thank God that, during the many times I went astray, the LORD ALWAYS remained faithful to me.
I suppose that's why my "life passage" has been that of Lamentations 3:21-25 -- "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."