Intro: Opus49

[opus49]

Hello. I'm an IT specialist working for the Department of Defense in Nebraska. I was raised by non-practising Catholics who rejected the church. I asked Jesus to be my personal savior in 1993 at the age of 17 and considered myself to be a "born again Christian" until my mid 20's when I started to doubt the church and the bible.

Today I consider myself a deist in the Thomas Paine sense. I completely reject the mainstream doctrines of all major world religions. However, I do agree with the tenants of Buddhism which I believe is more of a philosophy than a religion.

I stumbled across this website while debating Christianity with some co-workers. Specifically, the discussion centered around the "free will in heaven" debate. I found myself in complete agreement with one of the posters here and I liked the civil debate, so I've decided to join.

Debating religion is one of my favorite things to do. I am a big fan of using logic and reason to make conscious decisions. I have struggled to find people who can apply logic and reason to religious questions and come up with meaningful answers. Hopefully that will change.

[wrekk]

Welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy your stay.

[OnceConvinced]

Glad to have you with us Opus! My journey was similar to yours.

[otseng]

Welcome to the forum! Thanks for joining.

[Zzyzx]

I have struggled to find people who can apply logic and reason to religious questions and come up with meaningful answers. Hopefully that will change.

Welcome Opus.

I also seek those who can apply logic and reason to religious questions.

[Fallibleone]

Hi Opus. I've been reading a few of your posts and the sense of humour which comes across is refreshing to me.

[whomareyouseeking]

I have struggled to find people who can apply logic and reason to religious questions and come up with meaningful answers. Hopefully that will change.

Welcome Opus.

If you like logic check out Ravi Zacharias. http://www.rzim.org

I can not debate you with logic but I grew up as an atheist, martial artist (currentl I am a 6th degree black belt/ret. cpt) having practiced ZEN meditation from a master from Guam. I meditated and practiced 5 hours per day 7 days per week. Here is what changed my life.

I was an atheist.
In Germany and in the military people would come up to me and start talking to me about God/ Jesus and I would just ask them if He was real, and they would say yes. I would say to them. “If he is real you have 60 seconds to have Him appear and I will believe.” He never came.

In Frankfurt I read Eric Von Daniken's book Chariot of the Gods and thought that to be the right stuff. In 1978 I met a man from Guam who became my martial arts instructor. He is a very highly respected person and has attained a very high level of "enlightenment". He is able to do unbelievable things in the physical realm and spiritual realm, of which I began to follow. In 1992 I was working at the U.S. Army War College.
As an atheist and one acquainted with the spiritual realm (this was in the summer of 1992), I was quite happy with my understanding of the universe, money was something I used to buy stocks with and give away to friends and family etc. I had a car that had a $3,000 stereo in it and I loved music, all kinds. My commute was 35 minutes from Harrisburg PA to the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.

One day I just could not listen to the stereo anymore and I began to read poetry. (Amazing what we do driving.) After several weeks of memorizing 30+ poems (I love imagery), the declaration of independence, Gettysburg Address etc. I picked up a booklet that was in the car and I started memorizing what seemed to me to be a poem, but was a song.

With the radio off while I was driving home, I began to memorize the song and when I read the verse, “...that on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.” I said out loud, “Why would you do that?” and for a split second I thought, why did I just say that and to whom am I speaking?

Then suddenly I heard an audible voice come from the back seat area of my car which amazed me. The voice said, “Because, I love you.”

As I heard the word “because” I felt a spirit that I was never aware of get out of my body.

And in my mind the voice spoke these things to me,

“I Am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I Am, who stretched out the heavens.” And all of the sudden in my mind I saw the stars going out as if someone pulled them open like a blanket filled with stars and space. I was amazed! And then He spoke in my mind again,

“I Am” and then right next to me in my car as if by magic an oval window opened up and I saw from a distance a man hanging on a cross. I knew immediately that this was Jesus the Son of God, that He is God and that He was hanging on that cross for my sins. The holiness which came out of that window is indescribable and my physical being was almost overwhelmed.

At that point the spirit that had gotten out of me earlier and was riding along with me outside the car, decided to depart permanently, I felt it leave and I knew then that there was no place in me for it to return. All this happened in my car traveling 65 miles per hour on I81 from Carlisle to Harrisburg PA. There is of course a lot more that happened here but I am trying to keep this short.

When He said, “Because, I Love You” I knew that this love was unconditional. I have never heard His audible voice again but he continues to speak to me through His written word and in my mind, heart, billboards, license plates, bumper stickers, TV, friends, son and of all places… my wife. There is another voice out there who speaks through all these things as well. When your mother or father or loved one calls you, you know that it is them because you know them, you know there voice, you have spent a lot of time with them. The only way to know the difference between the other voice and the one who is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God Who stretched out the heavens; The God who is Jesus... is to spend a lot of time with Him in His word.
There is a lot more that happened here but I am trying to keep it short.
Daniel 6:26
… "For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth…

As a former atheist/non believer I would personally chuck up a story like this as a lie. I am a Christian, God talks to me a lot. I have seen signs, wonders and miracles. I can't give you or anyone else my experiences, or my relationship with Him. All I can do is share what He as done in my life. I hope it helps you find Him. Bless you.

[opus49]

Welcome Opus.

Thanks! Seeing as how this is your first post, I appreciate that you registered just to tell me your conversion story. I feel special!

“...that on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.” I said out loud, “Why would you do that?”

It's right there in John 3:16 -- "for God so loved the world that he sacrificed Himself to Himself to save mankind from His own wrath" -- or something like that.

The voice said, “Because, I love you.”

Well I personally think that it's brilliant that God would choose to reveal himself to an atheist with no particular interest in knowing God rather than spend that time helping any of the millions of suffering children around the world. Yay God!

I hope it helps you find Him. Bless you.

I'll start studying martial arts right away!

[opus49]

Hi Opus. I've been reading a few of your posts and the sense of humour which comes across is refreshing to me.

Thanks for the kind words. I've returned the favor and looked up a few of your recent posts. I even jumped in on a few and learned a new word From what I've read, you strike me as a humble person which impresses me. Not many people can maintain a sense of humility on an internet message board.

I hope to bump into more of your posts in the future.

[OnceConvinced]

Welcome whomareyouspeaking. Might I suggest you start up your own intro thread with your testomony, it will probably be noticed more by other members.