My Story 9

 I grew up and developed an interest in, among other things, what my personal beliefs would be.  I had to decide what I was going to do about having church characters control whatever religious views I could have. To me, faith in God was a very private affair. I was of the opinion, and still am, that you have to discover God for yourself, and this does not require any church pastor to give me a pat on the back, and a kick in the seat. I called that the "Gospel Industry". Don't get me wrong, I am not against that, but it just does not work for me.To me then, and now, ultimate religion is the revelation of Jesus Christ in your own heart and life. You can never know God except by revelation. If your church does not get you there, you have just missed the whole point,

I always had  a sincere desire for God, and for a close walk with Him. The church, the organization you might say, has only the ability to start you off, and help you rise to their own level of ignorance. If that is what you want, fine, I am not Gods messenger of critique! But is there more you could and should have concerning God? The pastor is not always available for you, you have to learn to believe God for yourself, Similarly, I have no objection to first grade (in school), but you don't want to be there all your life.

I hope you don't hold it against me. Some people did, and I guess still do. I can see now I did not communicate my position clearly and I must have caused my parents a certain amount of worry.

As a young teenager, I decided that I would set standards for myself and live by them. Much later president Clinton said it this way: Let your religious beliefs permeate every area of your life. Boy, I wish I had said that. He also said: Never do anything you don't belief in! Ah Clinton, you are my man, at least in what you said. What you did is not my business.

I decided that I would not drink alcohol. And I would not have sex with anyone except my wife when the time comes. No pot, or other drugs. And if you are not able to love everybody, love just one, a person in need, I was sure somebody like that will pop in, and out of my life eventually.

I mention all this because being different in these areas will isolate you often. And I became sort of a loner. After playing a soccer game I never joined the guys for a beer. Later on, when I was drafted into the army this isolation was sometimes hard to take. Out of the 42 privates in the platoon only me and one other Christian guy stayed behind in the barracks, while others went out boozing. So, I missed all that drinking, etc. I have never been drunk in my life, I missed it.. I never needed shots for std, that used to be called vd. Missed that too. I have never been high on drugs, missed that experience as well. And as far as going out with those slutty girls that were hanging around the gate of the barracks, looking for soldiers that would desire some "action", yup, I totally missed that too. I will prepare a more detailed blog on my military experiences later.