I am a single 49 year old man who lived most of my life putting on a religious front. Oh, I knew the words. I grew up in a conservative Southern Baptist Church. I walked down the isle as a youngster. I went to a supposedly Christian High School. I then went on to get an Electrical Engineering Degree from the University of Florida.

As a senior in college God tugged on me though a near fatal automobile accident, and a few years later through a Bill Gothard Seminar,and each time I realized a little more how sharp God's Word was compared to what I knew.

But, yet I had not really called on Him in my heart to be Lord. I knew enough to talk about salvation: that it was by grace through faith, and that not of myself, and that we should call upon Jesus to be our Lord by faith. But it was all superficial. Oh, it fooled others, and I even fooled myself.

My wife was religious, but even less serious outwardly than me in following the Bible, and she ended up leaving me and taking our two daughters. God was so faithful to keep drawing me. Then finally, several years ago, I saw the difference in the Christians in this local church, and realized I needed God to do a work in my heart. I threw down my religious works (rags) and got real with God and took His gracious gift of true salvation by faith.

I had taught a Bible study in the past, but the Word of God was not really alive to me in my sporadic quiet times. But after God saved me I experienced His power to over come my secret sins of selfishness, and I started seeing His word come to life in my quiet times. Of course it is a battle everyday, but I know He will finish the good work He has started. I love having Christians around me who care enough about me to come along side and help me when they see me stumble in sin. They are a great encouragement to help me realize what great riches I have in Christ and to utilize those riches as I walk with Him.

I get excited now to share with others God's tremendous love for them and how He has His arms open wide wanting to give them all He has in Christ. I so want to encourage others to please get honest with Him now and enjoy what we have in Christ!