My testimony

My testimony:
I was 8 years old, and we had recently left a church congregation because they alienated us by judging what was on the outside, when God only judges what is on the inside. We still went to church, though it was sporadic and different congregations, we had no church roots and without roots the tree wilts. Despite this analogy, I watched Billy Graham on a tv service and felt the call of Christ weighing on my heart.... I knew what I needed to do.... I prayed the prayer he gave at the end of his service, then ran upstairs to tell my mom. I prayed a prayer, and I thought that was all I needed, but in all honesty I prayed the prayer because I didn't want to be hot for all eternity. I didn't realize that what I needed was a personal, life changing relationship with the one true God of heaven and earth.

It wasn't until I was 16 that a friend "tricked" me into going to church with her by saying a mutual friend would only go if I went with them, and she did the same to him. That was one time I am glad she lied because it changed my life. 

The church was boring, and dry, but had a very active youth group and I wanted to be a part of it so I kept attending regularly. We took frequent outings, to go to Christian concerts, ride go-carts, or camping etc. One night we gathered together to go a "Judgement House" at a local church, and I realized that I needed to accept Christ as my saviour, not out of fear of burning in hell but out of a desire to spend eternity in the presence of God in heaven. 

That night I prayed the prayer, and I knew that I wasn't trying to avoid a punishment that I deserve, but accepting the love being offered to me by the grade of God. I knew that I deserved hell, and that I could only be allowed into Heaven thanks to the blood that was shed on the cross by Jesus Christ. I became a Christian that night, and I know that I'm saved now by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ I was a changed person, my morals soon changed, my beliefs changed, and I had a greater desire to do right.

As I said in the "My story" post, I had attended Johnson Bible college but dropped out and began living a sinful lifestyle. I backslid.... I ran from God, and He let me.... but only to a point. I had gone from living a life in God's will to living a hedenistic lifestyle, in defiance of God. The feeling of closeness I had with Him was gone, for that time. I knew all along I was wrong, but I was confused and scared to release control of my life to Him.
I was 18 when I left the Bible college, and it wasn't until I was 25 that God finally said enough. I went out on Saturday night and got drunk with an old friend. While we were out we saw a guy we went to high school with, and he invited us to a cabin party, so being the wild ones that we were, we hopped in the car and went. Now I'll make the long story short and say that there was more there than alcohol, and we were the strangers.
When people are on the types of drugs that were there, they can easily become violent, and they did. I left with some broken ribs, numerous bruises and cuts. My friend was beaten with a 2x4 pretty bad. A girl that tried to help us was attacked by a drugged up crazy guy that jumped on her car and brokr the window out while driving down the mountain.
After that experience, I decided to turn back to God, and also go back to school to finish my EMS training and become a paramedic, as well as quitting my daily alcohol consumption cold turkey. Once I began working as a paramedic I met my now wife, and from the moment I met her, I knew she was the one, I knew she would be my wife. After what seemed like a short time, we were married, strangely enough on the anniversary of me and my friend being beaten up, though she picked the date and I had never told her when it happened or the significance of that date.
We both needed a home church to "put down roots" with, and we have found a Bible believing church, where God is free to work and people come hungry. He is doing things with this church and amazing things are happening. Lives are being changed, really changed.
God let me run for several years, being drunken and promiscuous, living for today with no thought of tomorrow or eternity. I wish I could have that time back and give it to Him, but I can't and that’s ok because I believe He will use it and is using it to His glory.
On a side note, my friend that was with me too they other road and dove deeper into partying and using drugs. He's still on them and wasting his life..... there is not a day I don't think about how seeing him do that breaks my heart. I had to cut ties with him several years back. We were best friends for 15 years, like brothers.

Now that the introductions are out of the way, I will continue on with my guides to becoming a Manly Christian. Mind you, I am not the perfect Manly Christian but as I learn and study, I will bring it here and pass on what I learn.

yours in Christ,
Bill Higgins
Romans 8:28- "And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose"