In a divergence from the normal podcast format, there’s no guest this month, it’s just me. I caught the ‘Rona earlier in the month, and it has flared up my fatigue issues, making it more difficult to schedule a guest. In the interest of doing a show, and not doing a replay, it seemed like a good time to share my testimony. I talk about growing up in “cultural Christianity,” going to a Liberal church, and how the Lord saved me while I was in college.

Outline of the Episode

• Growing Up
  • Grew up ELCA
    • Sunday School
    • First Communion
    • Confirmation
  • Seeing the pull of the Gospel
    • Deuteronomy 31:8 (Good News Bible)
      • The Lord himself will lead you and be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you, so do not lose courage or be afraid.
      • The context was Moses giving his farewell speech to the Israelites and commissioning Joshua as the leader who would succeed him and bring the people into the promised land.
    • Car near-miss on I-94 while returning to college
• College
  • Saved my third year. I don’t know the exact date for sure, but my best guess is May 22, 1999.
    • It was the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend, probably Saturday.
  • I was in my apartment, in Fargo, North Dakota.
    • My friend Tom lived downstairs. He was a believer who was praying for me.
    • Tom got a Chuck Missler tape set about the New World Order from his friend (also Tom) and asked me to listen to it.
  • Suddenly the things I had learned growing up made sense.
  • When I told my dad, I think he thought I joined a cult.
  • Devoured the Bible
  • Loved verse-by-verse Bible studies
    • Chuck Missler was an early favorite, particularly his verse-by-verse stuff.
  • Went through a very typical zealous stage.
  • As a baby Christian, I had a lot to learn.
  • Attended E-Free Churches my first few years.
  • Was confused by Calvinism vs. Arminianism.
    • I listened to Greg Koukl (Calvinist) and Dave Hunt (Arminian, and very anti-Calvinist)
  • Remained Pre-Millennial, but changed from Pre-Trib to Pre-Wrath.
  • Found our current church by way of Chuck Missler -> Jan Markell -> Bob DeWaay.

What fuels me today?

• 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
  • Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
• Revelation 2:1-7
  • “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Scriptures Referenced

• Deuteronomy 31:8
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
• Revelation 2:1-7

Related Episodes

• Ryan Habbena: Pre-Wrath Rapture – Part 1 – Part 2
• Phil Johnson: The Doctrines of Grace
• Ryan Habbena: Sanctification
• Phil Johnson: Sola Fide
• Eric Douma: A Primer in Logic
• Dan Phillips: The World-Tilting Gospel
• Allen Nelson: How Salvation Works