My Rebirth A True and Simple Story

[grandad]

Brothers and sisters I have been a sinner all of my life (65 Years) and a heavy smoker
Last June I was taking a smoke in the back yard when an excruciating pain stabbed me in the gut it was about 3 AM
not wanting to get the wife awake I took myself to the ER
I had blown a hole in my Colon and within minutes of arriving at the ER I was in Surgery
then upstairs to ICU after two days in ICU I coughed and sneezed at the same time and completely blew out my colon!
My heart stopped and I died, no Joke, I died and went to heaven and there was turned around and sent home with these words get right with God Larry ! Your mission on earth isn't over
I reentered my Body and awoke to find my weeping family at my side\the doctors had given up and had pronounced me dead
I went home from the hospital a month later \I feb of this year I again entered the Hospital for surgery to reverse the colonstromy . Remove my gallbladder and a hernia
once again my heart stopped and I died and again wes refused entrance to Heaven (I still wasn't right with God) I wound up at Richland memorial hospital
there the MIRACLE happened
I was laying in my hospital bed paying little attention to the TV
suddenly a sentience penetrated my mind "Get right with God!"
The speaker had a hair cut that resembled a mo hswk tattoos covered his arms and he was dressed all in black T shurt and Jeans
his words really got to me and I started to cry and I mean cry at 4 in the morning i was crying like a baby
the preacher was speaking about making God a best friend
I crawled out of bed and knelt there holding my hands out to the TV and still blubbering said GOD do with me as you will ~~~ Brothers and sisters I felt , I actually felt GOD touch my hands and the most sweetist voice filled my heart "Larry when it is time , you will be with me in herven Joy oh joy filled my body and I am happyer now than I have ever been because I , that night made God My best friend Praise the Lord in all his Goodness he has forgiven me for all of my sins
as a result that meeting with THE LORD I am starting a youth group in my church "Modelers for Christ"
Pray for me and my group of kids
Bro in Christ
Larry

[demonhunterfan]

Hey Larry, Welcome Brother! Cool story-- but then all the stories HE 'writes' are so awesomely cool, eh?

I especially liked your saying

I died and went to heaven and there was turned around

. Aint that just how it happens? We go along in our own direction, on our own path-- but, because HE loves us soooo much, HE stops us in our tracks and offers us that chance to ' turn around ' and then go in HIS direction, walk the path with HIM. And HE doesn't give up on us, if'n we don't follow HIM immediately.

So cool how HE put it in your heart to start the "Modelers for Christ" youth group! I remember being blessed so much when I taught Sunday School to a bunch of high school kids, and I know you will be blessed as you teach your group. Hope we can see some pictures of your, and their, builds.

Keeping you and 'your' kids in me prayers, Bro.
Later and God bless

[Fletch]

Larry, the thing that always amazes me is how God's plan for our Salvation is a personalized plan. It's not one size fits all. His plan for our Salvation has OUR name on it.

It makes no difference your age, your financial situation, etc when this world has you at the point where you just can't take it any more, there you'll find Christ standing with open arms. There is no greater comfort in the world that His Voice welcoming you back home.

My dad was a Pastor in the Southern Baptist Church when I was young. Even being a Pastor's Kid didn't mean I was walking with God. I had been involved in the Baptist Church, the LDS movement (notice I didn't say Church), the Episcopal Church but still didn't know God. My wife and I would do our twice a year thing with her Mom to keep the piece. Until, one Christmas she was attending a new Church. We were drawn in by the Pastor. 2 months later we were at the alter on our knees accepting Jesus as our personal Saviour.

I had to snicker when you said "The speaker had a hair cut that resembled a Mohawk, tattoos covered his arms and he was dressed all in black T shirt and Jeans." Funny how our preconceived notions of what a Pastor should look like can be broken just as our heart needs to be. I know several Pastors who never even considered getting a tattoo or a piercing until they became a Pastor.

At the Church we use to attend, the youth Pastor and I were standing talking one Wednesday night when one of the girls brought a friend up to introduce to us. She introduced the new girl to the youth Pastor then said, "This is Dave, he should be a Pastor but the Church is to stupid to know it." The girl said, "you can't be a Pastor!", So, I ask why, she replied, "you have tattoos and piercings!" Before I could even say anything the girl from Church chimed in and said, "I know isn't that rad that a Pastor can be that cool!" then they were off. I don't think the youth Pastor was to pleased, oh well.

We let appearances determine how we see others when we should be looking at their heart just as Christ would.

I will be praying for you and new group at Church and praying that other Christians will come along side you to make God's work successful.

[grandad]

I really don't think that you my brothers and sisters grasp whaI have been trying to tell you your wife can hold your hand and You know that it is your wife your daughter, son your brother your sister your grandparent,
loved ones

at the time someone touched my hands my family was 43 miles away asleep in their beds at home there was absolutely no one in the room with me
the television was the only thing active at that time in the room it wasn't even time to take my morning meds'yet while I knelt at the foot of my bes=d the IVs still in my wrists and tne heart monotor connected I cried out to GOD and HE answered My Cry I felt two strong firm ands hold mine and a sweet manly voive filled both my ears and my heart When he tod me that all my sins were forgiven and at the time that HE came again to earth he would take me in his armsand carry me HOME t

there was n one in the room with me !!! ~~did the TV hold my hands did satin hold my hands

I tell you NO my hands were held by GOD and GOD spoke to me

BIC
LARRY

[Fletch]

Larry, I think we all do indeed understand what you meant by feeling the grip of Christ hands. That was what I was alluding to with my statement of it's not a "one size fits all" plan for Salvation. The open arms of Christ touch each of us differently. When we're at the point in our lives where we're willing to allow Christ in he is there. Please don't take this as my trying to discount your experience. But, Christ was there in a hospital room at 4 in the morning just as He was at the alter on that Sunday morning. Christ will always be there when one of His flock is ready to return.

His word tells us He will never leave us and never forsake us. Just as He did not forsake you in that hospital room at 4 in the morning. Christ knew that you were ready to return to the flock. You had been told by the Spirit of God twice to, "Get right with God!" . When you heard that for a third time and it truly penetrated you to the core. Christ was there to hold and comfort you like nothing on earth could.

That was what I meant by our Salvation is a very personal experience. Your Salvation experience would not have worked for me any more then mine would have worked for you. Your experience was personalized to where you were in your life and where God got your attention. Your experience required a hospital room at 4am with a less then traditional Minister. God will do whatever is necessary to get His Children's attention.

After all He always has our best interest at heart.

In Christ

Dave