My Walk with Christ, as an Evangelical Christian.

My Wife of 36.5 Years, was struggling with a pain pill addictions when I first met her. I really don't share this, but somebody needs to hear it, so I will tell how my wife Bobbi, got Delivered her from that addiction, by the LORD, and HE gets all the GLORY.

About a 6 months after we got married, my Dad and I went fishing early in the morning, because it was time for the White Bass run in the spring. Later on that morning, by wife took a hand full of pain pills, and then she decided to go to get breakfast at McDonalds Drive In. About half ways home, the overdose of the pain pills kicked in, and she pasted out, and she hit one of those REALLY BIG Sign Posts at about 50 mph. Her heart was bruised, and as one of the ambulance personnel SAID as they wheeled he into the Emergency Room, "This is one, in my opinion, isn't going to make it." The Post did not hardly move but our car was Totaled, with the front bumper was half ways through the motor, and the post had a few scratches on it. The size of that heavy steel post, was bigger than this one:
So she was slammed against the Stirring Wheel so hard, it bruised her heart muscle. She was in the ICU when I got there, when her heart stopped beating, and had to be defibbed. Late the next day they moved her to a private Room.

When she was released from the hospital, her Mother offered to stay with us until she healed, as I had to go to work. I looked every where in and around the house, where I could think of, for hidden pills, and came up with none.

Three days later, as her MOM had a habit of kneeling by the couch in the morning, and Prayed specifically for her daughter, and my wife Bobbi, came out of the Bed Room, and Saw and Heard what her Mom was Praying, and Bobbi broke down and CRYED, fell to her knees Beginning the Lord to FORGIVE HER. In Prayer Bobbi asked the LORD TO TAKE THAT CRAVING AWAY FROM HER.

He did exactly THAT. She never had a single WITHDRAWAL Symptom, that I ever noticed. Only the LORD could do THAT, Praise the Lord!

I went with her to the Doctor on her Follow Up Checkup. Where the Doctor said he wanted her in the REHAB CENTER, own by her Doctor. I tried to tell the Doctor we don't NEED that now, because She was Healed by the LORD, in answer to my Mother Inlaw's Prayer, and did not even have a single withdrawal symptom. Here is the next statement that came out of the Doctor's mouth.

"I can NEVER believe that, because I knew how much she was taking."

I dismissed that statement, and figured the Doctor was an Atheist. So my wife checked into A NON-CHRISTIAN REHAB CENTER, owned by the Doctor that was Prescribing her too many pills.

Three Days Later, they called me and insisted I come in the next day for a Group Session. That evening, My wife called and told me, as she was crying and sobbing, that Both the Counsellors had ganged up on her, and Ridiculed her FAITH that the LORD had HEALED HER. I told her that they had wanted me there the next day, for a Group Session.

The next day in the Session, they started ridiculing our FAITH that JESUS HEALED HER. One of the Counsellors even said "You don't need to trust Jesus, you Need to Trust us". At that moment this loud Voice, that my muscle instantly had to obey, SAID:
"WALK!"
I was like my chair had instantly been electrified, and I was up and ready to obey HIM. I looked at my Wife and SHE was also standing; I looked around the Room and no one else in the Group Session seemed to hear the Voice. And out the door we went.

I did not say a thing to her, at that time, we went to her room and gathered her things, and looking over my shoulder, for one of those counsellors to come running, but no one was behind us.

Instantly I noticed I had a Flat Tire, still remaining silent, as I was putting the spare tire on, and as I was putting on the last lug nut, my wife came up behind me. I then asked Her, did you Hear anything in that ROOM?
She said just one word, "WALK!"

I said, "THAT'S IT, WE ARE OUT OF HERE."

Your last paragraph really happened to me. Sort of. I was baptized by minister of the Worldwide Church of God in 1971 or 1972. Then I was baptized again by another minister in the same church in maybe 1973 or 1974 because he said the first baptism didn't work.

Yes it can happen, if you really did not mourn over you utter sinfulness, sincerely asking for HIS forgiveness; therefore you just go into the Baptistery a dry sinner, and come out a wet sinner. If you were Sincere when you pleaded with HIM to Forgive you, that is being baptized by the Holy Spirit, as HE emersed you into the Spiritual Body of Christ, and THAT HAPPENS IN AN INSTANT. Then and only then you should possibly be ready to take your FIRST STEP IN YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK and Step into to the Baptistery. I absolutely believe the apostle made sure they has already surrender to the LORD, feeling that remorse over their sinfulness, before they walk them into the River.

Some Minister, are in TO much of a hurry for the physical head count on water baptism. That is why I never counted Heads when I baptized inmates in the Prison Ministry. The REAL Baptism is not with water, it is done by the Holy Spirit as HE emerses us into the Spiritual body of Christ, which we cannot see.
Then and only then, are you Ready to follow Christ into the waters for Baptism as you First Step of obedience.

1 Corinthians 12:13 (HCSB)
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—
whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Just what you're saying here is exactly what I didn't experience at all. Those WCG people seem like head count is the goal. I don't remember any thing about repenting of sinfulness. The only thing I remember thinking was that I was real disappointed that a tab of LSD seemed to be more effective. And later on the first minister that baptized me gave me a taste of the white lightning that his father gave him. So now I am almost 100% convinced that WCG was a cult. Also the book of Deut. 18:22 talks about not fearing prophets that are apparently false prophets and Herbert Armstrong was full of prophesies that didn't happen. I think Jim Bakker gets a lot of the same type working with him.

Yes, I to think WCG, Herbert Armstrong, and Jim Bakker, are all not telling you the Truth; and I am glad the Lord has revealed that to you. I will give you my suggestion on how to find a TRULY BIBLICAL CHURCH, at the end of this Post.
But First, I will share another Part of my Testimony, that no one has on this site has heard before.

I was raised LUTHERAN Missouri Synod, and we were Taught that infant Baptism saved us. It was a difficult decision, when I left the Lutheran Church. BUT I FOUND a True BIBLE Teaching Church. I was a LUTHERAN, LUTHERAN, not a Christian Lutheran.

The born again, experience was after my Third Attempt at Suicide. After trying to arrange a fatal motorcycle accident, I was up trying to figure out how something could have gone wrong, while I sobered up. When I crossed the threshold to my bed room, I knew I could never in a thousand Years, ride a dirt bike full throttle, for a whole mile on very loose gavel without LOOSING CONTROL. NOW DON'T you dare Temp the LORD the way I did, learn from ME, and do not ever try that. YES, wave, after wave, after wave, washed over me, giving AN EXTREMELY DEEP SENSE OF GUILT FOR MY WHOLE LIFESTYLE. You cannot conjure up to Kind of Feelings, the LORD HAD TO PUT THAT IN ME. So pray for that part to happen to you, and DO NOT IMITATE THE MOTOR CYCLE PART. Yes I was sobbing like a baby, for at least an hour and a half, Crying out to PLEASE FORGIVE ME. Both on my knees, a later on face Down PRONE. THAT IS ALL TRUE, but their is something that I left out that shook me to my core, before I SAID, "THANK YOU LORD!"

Why do I usually Leave Part of my testimony out, because someone like you, WILL ASK or say something, that triggers, this kind of response from me, AND NOW YOU WILL HEAR THE REST OF THE STORY. This is 100% Truth, I either had the most VIVID Dream came directly FROM HIM, that I ever had, if I fell asleep; OR JESUS gave me a Vision, to this day, I don't know WHICH.

IT WAS AS REAL, and INTENSE, because I was struggling to BELIEVE HE COULD REALLY FORGIVE ME, of all the SINS that I had committed. I literally was on my knees at the foot of the CROSS, looking UP AT JESUS, still Weeping and Crying out LORD, "LORD, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" That was early in morning December, 30, 1977, and no Preacher that I ever knew, said the Nails were in the WRISTS. HE MADE ME LOOK AT THE NAILS, and they were in his WRISTS, and I did not know why the NAILS were important, until I heard a Godly Pastor
explain, 'the JEW consider the WRISTS to be Part of the HAND'; I learned that about 10 years ago myself in a sermon.

I was still Crying and Weeping, with my hands reaching up to HIM, and I saw Blood dripping from those Nails in HIS WRISTS. They fell and splashed on my forearms, AND THE BLOOD FELT WARM. AND I INSTANTLY KNEW I WAS FORGIVEN OF ALL OF MY SINS.

That is where the Dream or Vision ended. And I Thanked Him for giving it to ME.

Now I need to ask you a serious Question, How important is the Charismatic Gift to you, including tongues?

Or, are you at a point in your life, that you REALLY would love to Have a non-charismatic BIBLE TEACHING PASTOR explain the WORD, How it Applies to your Life, FEED you on the WORD of GOD?

I will give you an answers to both, just in case.

If the charismatic gifts are import to you, (know that I do not believe in them, and I will explain in the next Paragraph) I would stick with a genuine Pentecostal Church, and Would make an appointment to Personally Talk to the Pastor first. Make List of questions you would like to ask Him. YES, I do that everytime I Change Churches. The first question on your list should be "Where did you go to Bible College, and Seminary?" Knowing you will look up that Bible College and Seminary, and check out There Statement of Faith. I had a Dear friend, Pastor Jim, and he too was in the Prison Ministry, and is a Pentecostal Pastor. The only thing we don't believe the same, is the Charismatic Gifts. Neither of us considered the Charismatic Gifts a big deal. They do not save, while emersion into Christ body does.

Why do I not believe in the Charismatic gifts? They exceed the original Purpose of them, and INTENT BY GOD for them. Here is why they were originally Given, they were GIVEN to convince the JEWS that the NEW TESTAMENT was as much the WORD OF GOD, as the Old Testament. Here is the PROOF. And everyone of the Unbelieving Jews HEARD the Apostles in their OWN Dialectos, and when the New Testament was complete, it CEASED. Now when Ecstatic Utterances, have been increasing in their Popularity, dispite a different PURPOSE, such as self-edification. If it does not Speak to Unbelieving Jews in a Language they understood from Childhood, I believe it to be a COUNTERFIET, of the Real McCoy.

1 Corinthians 1:22 (ESV)
22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

Mark 16:20 (ESV)
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]

1 Corinthians 13:8 (ESV)
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

As for what I believe as an evangelical, see my second Post of a evangelical Statement of Faith.

CONTINUED.

That would be on that STATEMENT OF FAITH on Page 2 my post #40.

Now I will tell you how find a GOOD BIBLE TEACHING CHURCH.

JESUS SAID:
John 21:15-17 (ESV)
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep."

Now with JESUS telling Peter, FEED MY SHEEP three different times and knowing it means TEACH THEM MY WORDS, that has be the most important part of a worship service. He did not say, three times Sing My Songs, did HE. So I will not go to a Church that does not have a 1 hour Sermon. NO, YOU WILL NOT BE BORED, if you have truly surrendered to HIM as LORD. I could not get enough Bible Teaching, it was like an unsatiable hunger for the WORD, and that one hour sermon still feels like it was 30 or less minutes

In the Phone Book look for a Church that has Community Church or Bible Church in their TITLE. Most of them have a one hour Sermon. Check them out on the Computer, and be sure to Check the Statement of Faith on their website.
Stay away from Churches that appear to be in it for the MONEY. Another good church, IF you have an IFCA (Independent Churches of America), but a lot of IFCA churches are in the Mid-West, and a lot are in Northern California, and Oregan. Make a list of Questions to ask the Senior Pastor, Start with "Where did you go to Bible College, and Seminary?" And don't hesitate to ask any questions, such as "Do you believe in ordaining Women." I believe in it, because it is forbidden by the BIBLE. Let me know were GOD LEADS YOU.

Just so you know our Church has 10 minutes allowed for Announcement and opening Prayer, 30 minutes Music, and another Prayer, and THEN a one Hour Sermon.

thanks for sharing your thoughts and for the time it took God bless

It is what GOD would have me do. I have a Prayer request. I have polyps on my Vocal Cords, and it is extremely difficult to talk above a whisper. Polyps run in the Family, and now it is my turn. I go to out-patient Surgery on the 29th of this month. Here is way they look like, magnified a 100 times:

I guess they just scrape them off.

what’s your first name brother ? I will add you to my prayer list and send a chain with some friends

The O in my handle is Orville, and it stands Volunteer Chaplain Orville.

I will be praying for you. My God guid the hands of the Dr. and you have a quick and compleat recovery

Just read what VOC means God Bless you for your service and for the Chaplin corp. Without them I may have never gotten saved. Chaplin Stubby gave a sermon on being 12 inches from God; people have God of the mouth “yes I am a christian and I believe Jesus died for my sins” That is what comes out of their mouth but the heart and the actions do not match what is said. You stand 12” away from God you have God of the mouth which you thank is all you need but it will only get you sent to hell because you are 12” away from God. You must have him in your heart and did that hit home. That is me and I gave my life to the Lord right then and there.

Let me ask as a Chaplin did you serve anywhere that did not have place to baptize people? I ask because so many people on this site feel that baptism = salvation I do not agree You should get baptized if you are able to. Jesus was and we need to follow His example. John chapter 3 1-18 does not talk about water baptism at all but it does talk about both births one from the womb first and then one from above the Holy Spirit.

I would like your thoughts on that.

Thanks and my God be with you on the 29th and thank you again for your service.

The WatchMan

AMEN! I will tell you why the California Department of Prisons, wanted me to use the Title: Volunteer Chaplain Orville, even though I had never been to BIBLE COLLEGE. They said it was that by using that TITLE, the inmates will KNOW I was part of Staff, and not someone the can con into sneaking something past Officers.

I know I was SAVED in a moment, when I asked HIM to come into my heart and run my life. Knowing that, had to be from the Holy Spirit, because in my Lutheran Church, they did not Teach that Jesus can come into your heart, or that the Holy Spirit moves in there permanently. They considered that Works Righteousness, not sure how they justified that.

I was convicted that I should get Baptized in Water, after leaving the Lutheran Church, and found a HOME, in a non-denominational evangelical Community Church, but NOT TO GET SAVED, which Salvation was complete, when the Holy Spirit came into my Heart the night I surrendered to HIM, but Water Baptism is to Follow in Obedience to Christ's Example. BUT I POSTPONED IT, for about a year and a half, until after I had moved my wife and I to California. We were in a non-denominational BAPTIST CHURCH, and the Pastor said, we will get it done on the next Sunday Evening. On Saturday the hot water heater burned out. Pastor told me as he was using a garden hose, to fill the Baptistry, he said, "Don't worry, it will warm up, before the Evening Service." He was SEVERLY mistaken that it would warm up! I planned to tell my whole Testimony while standing in the waters of Baptism, one step in that icy water, and I knew it would be an abbreviated Testimony.

That is how I KNEW, it is NOT Water Baptism saves you, but the Spiritual Baptism DOES Save you, from the Beginning of Time, HE PREDESTINED me to be saved, and GOD KNOWS the exact moment I WILL Surrender to HIM as LORD.

I love it; It was a Luthearn Chaplin that gave that serman about being 12" from God. It was the same for me it was a while before I got baptised. For me I got cought up in work et and just drifted away untill God took a jackhammer to me and brought me back.

Jeremiah17-14 ~ Jeremiah 5:30-31 ~ Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.

Yes there are lots of Cults or Borderline Cults out their, but their Focus is on Self, and my BIBLE says we are to focus on others, and when we do, GOD will take Care of your needs.

The most DANGEROUS type of CULT there is, the one's that say GOD WANTS YOU RICH. Like Kenneth Copeland and the rest like him.

My Bible says:

1 Timothy 6:8-10 (NIV)
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Precious friend, I will pray for you. Please Be Very RICHLY Encouraged, Edified,
And Comforted!:

GRACE Word for infirmities

GRACE, Peace, And JOY...

Has anybody else, by watching the Nightly News, or Movies on at the Theaters, ever wandered if this it the Time, or maybe the Decade, that GOD was talking about:

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Movies like this:

Wonder Woman
Jurassic World Domination
Thor: Love and Thunder
The Batman
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Avatar
INVASION
Dr. Brain
WereWolves Within
Etc., Etc.

And times when Cults THRIEVE: Jehovah Witnesses, Momonism, Satanist, Snake Cults, etc., ect.

So what Causes them to wander off into Myths.

Some of it is cultural, curiosity of the WIERD, is some, but in my opinion most of it is complete denial or a TOTAL Misunderstanding for what I CAN DO TO IMPRESS GOD, which is impossible. Unwillingness to Surrender to HIM is a LOT of the falling for a CULT. Because, totally depending on JESUS for Salvation, and a deep conviction of our utter Sinfulness, is all to took for me. But now we can see it is GETTING Close to GOING HOME. I pray I will be faithful to witnessing to a Few More, but looking foreword to GOING HOME.

Oh, believe me, it is Encouraging and Comforting. He does not think it is a cancer, but the biopsy will prove it. I will not let is worry me into fretting, nor let my sense of humor diminish. In fact, I will tell the Surgeon, "While you are in there, could you give me the Voice of the Bass Singer for the Oak Ridge Boys?"

ONE MORE!