Ron
Some of you will judge me before you even read this far. All I ask is that you read all I have to say before you come to your conclusion.
I wasn't always a Christian. In fact Like Howard, I was an on-air personality (sounds so much better than DJ). Also like Howard, I pushed the envelope of what could be said and laughed about. "Lighten up" , I told people. "You've got to be able to laugh at things or you'll spend your life depressed and anal retentive." I was "an artist". In 20 second shots, bringing humor, laughter and thought to those who needed it... and wanted it. After all, there was a dial on the radio, right?
My career was going well. After 4 years of not getting the job I wanted in the U.S. Air Force, I was happy as can be doing something I enjoyed. Okay, so I wasn't that happy. But I knew real happiness was obtainable. I just needed more money. So, I worked harder. For a time, I was working 90 hours a week. Needless to say, there was no happiness in THAT! You're right! I needed to party more. Party equals Hangover does not equal happiness. Girls! I needed to socialize more. Again, you don't need to be Einstein to see that more women in your life is not the key to peace and contentment.
Then one day someone screamed "You're going to Hell!" and I woke up. No, not hardly. There's nothing like someone in your face to convince you that's not what you want. However, I did meet a woman that didn't preach, just lived by a set standard and set of beliefs. Whether you agree with them or not, you can't help but respect people who will stand for what they believe in. I did, and still do actually. Somehow the topic of the Bible and God always comes up in conversation. It was good to have her around to get her very different but firm opinion.
Meanwhile, I continued to be unhappy. I'd stay up late watching dumb TV shows, not taking calls and isolating myself. People depressed me. No, life depressed me.
One morning, I just said, "This sucks. God if you want my life, if you think you can do better, have at it. I can't get any more depressed, I'll try it your way."
You see, I believed in God. (And odds are good, you do as well) But, I did not have a relationship with God. I didn't even know you could have a relationship with God. But, you can. Right now, you can go to his word, the Bible, and read scriptures that still have meaning and apply to what you are going through today. There is a God who is alive and waiting for you to humbly come to Him (through prayer) and seek His perfect will and direction for your life.
I've written more than I intended. But the fact is you can find purpose. You can find happiness and peace. Do you even know what peace feels like? You can. The Bible says we are all sinners (you, me, people at the ADA) and we need Christ to redeem us. That price has been paid by Jesus, all you have to do now is accept the free gift that is being offered to you. A simple, heart-felt prayer can change your life from here on.
Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I believe that Christ died in my place to pay the penalty for my sin and that He rose from the dead. I now invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as my Savior. Thank you for making me your child. Help me learn to please you in every part of my life.
"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) |
If you just now received Christ by calling upon the name of the Lord in prayer, the following took place; your sins were forgiven (Colossians 1:14) ; you became a child of God (John 1:12) ; you were made heir to all of God's blessings (Romans 8:16-17); you now possess everlasting life (I John 5:12-13).
You became a Christian the moment that you received Christ. Don't trust your feelings, they will change; but take God at His Word and believe His promises. Review the above passages whenever doubts arise. You should be able to say with assurance, "I have received Christ. On the authority of God's Word, I have eternal life."
May God grant you "all joy and peace in believing" (Romans 15:13).
If you want to know more about a personal relationship with God, please feel free to contact me .
Ron
As the oldest of nine children, I learned a work ethic that served me very well as I matured and it helped me obtain the "dream" of every American. By the age of 30 I had built two new homes, had several new cars, a boat and my own computer business. I was on top of the world, right?!?
Wrong! I not only was not on top of the world, I was empty and selfish. In fact the more "successful" I became in the eyes of the world, the more I became convinced I was a failure.
Now before you label this as an emotional problem, let me explain that I truly was a failure. My relationships with people, although friendly, were very shallow. My integrity was calculated to serve only me. My marriage was centered around me. In other words I did not care about anyone but myself.
For those of you that have been there, it is a very lonely place! Fortunately for me, God had better plans. Over a period of several years, I went through an involuntary process of losing everything. My childhood home was destroyed by fire, my Dad suffered a quadruple bypass, my Mom suffered a stroke and died after a six year coma, I lost my business, my marriage was destroyed and my second child, a son, was born with a terminal genetic birth defect.
This child was truly a gift from God to strip away moral falsehoods I had accepted. It made me see how empty material possessions will leave you. It slammed me with the true value of a human life. It was the most difficult time of my life and yet the best time.
I now know through this experience, that my life was changed. I learned about real love and I learned how to love. I learned the value of life and I learned the real meaning of joy. But most of all, I learned that "THERE IS A GOD" who really does care about me in every detail. I learned He is always there and everything matters to Him. I also learned that I can spend eternity with Him and the people I love who also believe in Him.
Bill Johnson
President, American Decency Association:
I am a child of the 60's. In fact, I had long hair and was a hippie - though without the drugs and free sex of those days. In my undergraduate years at Michigan State University, I was searching for meaning in life. I was a rebel of sorts. I marched on Washington DC protesting the Vietnam War.
I was proud to be an agnostic. But in my search for meaning, I began to read the Bible and I attended church not because I loved God but because I loved my wife who was a Christian. God made Himself known in my life. He touched me through His Word, life and through His spirit.
He gave me a deeper appreciation for life, decency, children, Heaven and Hell, Himself. I am far from perfect - as a Christian though - Christ sees me as clean - washed by the blood of the Lamb. Once I was lost but now I am found. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in HIM shall not perish but have ever lasting life." John 3:16
For anyone reading this who thinks that the ADA is filled with hate, nothing could be further from the truth. We know that each of us in this place who is a Christian is only a sinner saved by grace. If you too are seeking, please call. We're here to help.
Bill Johnson |
