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My Dear Brothers and Sisters and Friends,
I have an announcement to make. It is important
to me and I must share it with all of you. I
know for the past 69 years that I have not been
the most holy person on earth. I went to the
church that Mom and Dad told me to go to.
There
were times that I went to church because I
thought that it was the right thing to do.
Believe it or not, at one time I was in doubt if
there was a God. There were times that I hated
to get up and go to mass. Many times I was
looking at my watch and not getting anything out
of the services. Many times I left mass early.
Sometimes
I felt worse then before I attended mass.
Just
before Estelle had her surgery, I started going
to church with her at the
First Baptist Church of Sunset. When she had her
operation, many members visited her at the
hospital and at home. They brought us food and
gifts. We did not have to cook for a week. They
came in and joined hands with us and we all
prayed together. The minister and other members
of the church came in at the time we entered the
hospital and stayed until late that day. Many
others kept visiting us at home and at the
hospital. I had never seen so much love and
compassion in a group of people. ( True
Christians ). When Estelle came home,
everyone
came and helped. After she felt better and went
back to church I would go with her. I would go
to the early mass first, or go on Saturday
evenings. I kept going to both churches for a
year. Unlike the Catholic church which I am a
member of, I enjoyed the services at the First
Baptist church of Sunset. I enjoyed the services
and the sermons, and believe it or not, I looked
forward to going.
David and
Yvette and family gave me a Holy Bible for
Christmas two years ago. I had hardly ever read
the bible before. I have now read all of the New
Testament and nearly all of the Old Testament.
Scott and Lucille has just given me a new NIV
Bible. I can not imagine that I ever read trash
magazines or gossip trash when the Bible, the
most beautiful book in the world was at my
finger tips. I have been praying like I never
prayed before. I
pray all the way to and from work, in the middle
of the night, and through out the day. I am not
a religious nut like some might tell it, but I
certainly believe in and love the Lord. And I am
not ashamed to say it. When I pray I have been
asking God for help and advice to which way he
wants me to follow him. Many times while
praying, I would break down crying. This past
Sunday, while in church with my beloved wife
Estelle, at the end of the services, while the
choir was singing and the minister was inviting
any one who wanted to receive Jesus Christ as
their personal Savior, I received a feeling that
I had never felt before. I broke down crying and
went up to the minister with Estelle crying and
her arms around me. I asked Jesus to forgive me
for my sins, and I accepted him as my Lord God
and accepted him as my personal Savior. David
and Yvette and their family are very happy.
Gerry and John has not opposed and wish me well.
I
plan to join the First Baptist Church of Sunset
where I can worship God in peace with my
wonderful wife. For the past year, Estelle and I
have never been so close to each other. We love
each other more than ever. I really believe in
the old saying, "Families that pray
together stay together". I highly
respect any Christian religion and the people
who worship God. I respect and love all of you.
I
respect your beliefs .I ask you to please
respect my beliefs. A
year ago if some one would have asked me where
do I think I would go when I die, I would not
have been able to answer them. Now I know where
I am going.
When
I join the first Baptist Church of Sunset and be
baptized, I would like to invite you to attend.
I can understand if you choose not to come.
There would be no hard feelings.
Please
do not try going over the Lord's head to change
my mind, because the Lord has changed it
already.
I
will join the First Baptist Church and will be
baptized on January 23, 2000, at the 10: A. M.
service. I hope to see you there. |
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