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My Story
The Purpose of Life:
Have you ever asked yourself the question "What is the purpose of my life?" I believe that as we grow older and gather life's experiences, most people ask themselves this very question. Maybe as we transition into different stages in life, maybe when we are faced with some adversity, or maybe when we've reached the end of a particular rope. The question seems to always get around to "What's next...", "Why this...", or "Why me...".
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My personal story is simple, ordinary. I’m a middle-aged adult who grew up in your typical middle-class suburban household. I was taught the meaning of hard work, honesty and treating people how you wanted to be treated. I had typical struggles as an adolescent but never found myself in much trouble. I learned quickly from my older sister not to make the same 'mistakes' she did or more appropriately how not to get caught. While I did find myself in some trouble along the way I always had a strong sense between right and wrong.
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As a preteen we would attend church on Christmas, Easter and for special events. Being public school kids we were enrolled in religious education classes at the local church but I always felt looked down upon as one of them 'public school' kids. At the age of 13 this feeling was cemented by the Priest who explained (told, admonished etc.) to me that I was going to hell (along with my entire family) because we did not attend church regularly.
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At that very moment I confirmed that God was the judgmental father or overbearing mother. He became unapproachable and surly wasn’t someone who was working for me! Jesus? He may have been born of a virgin, was crucified, died, and was buried, and on the third day rose again... But He didn’t do those things for me. Life would march on, like it does for all of us, but every chance I got to credit or simply acknowledge God… I refused!
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This wedge would grow as I observed the hypocritical church goer. However, the older I got, the harder it became for me to be confronted with my own failures. Premarital sex, pregnancy, marriage, divorce! Two major sins in a 4 year period, plus my transgressions as 13 year old public school kid, and who knows what else in between. I was destined for hell with no chance for redemption after all this is what the Priest told me so many years ago.
Again, I soldier on. At this time I have a great job, a great kid, and a relationship with my ex-wife we can all be proud of. Yet here comes that question again... "What is the purpose of my life?" These circumstances I find myself in... "Why?" We'll tweak this... We'll adjust that... and We'll keep move on...
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I’m now 40 years old and with no drama, or trauma, or problems to think of, here comes that pesky little question again!! "There has to be a greater importance to life?" This time I’m having a conversation with a close friend. A friend who shared a similar life experience. A friend who listened and doesn't judge. A friend who at the end of my rambling was courageous enough to say something I've never heard of before.
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"WHY DON’T YOU JUST ASK GOD?"
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Who? The judgmental father? The overbearing mother? He didn't want to hear me! Yet instead of just simply moving the conversation along there was a pause and in that pause there was true and genuine peace. Maybe I was tired of asking the same question and getting the same answer but with little conversation and acknowledgement that I didn't know how to 'ask God', I agreed.
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That evening I accepted who I was, I accepted who HE IS, and most importantly what HE had done for ME. In that moment, a lifetime of bottled up contempt was released. In that moment, I was liberated from the shackles this world had placed on my life. And in that moment, a lifetime false teaching was replaced with true knowledge (and acceptance) of God the loving father. In GOD’s perfect timing, he gave me ears to hear.
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In the weeks and months to come God showed me instance after instance, circumstance after circumstance that He had been by my side THROUGHOUT my 40 years. He had revealed Himself to me through every triumph or tragedy despite my rejection (conscious or unconscious). Surly, sin has its consequences and God is deeply grieved by sin but as the Bible tell me He will never leave me or forsake me. Is life magically perfect, or without struggle, absolutely not! But there is a reality to return to, and that is without God nothing is possible.
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So now despite my iniquity the question is…
"GOD, WHATS NEXT FOR MY LIFE?"
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The intent in this website is simply to say God is revealing Himself to us daily. His desire is to forgive us of our sins and for us to be in right relationship with Him. Maybe our circumstances are vastly different or maybe you've snickered all the way to this point. But somehow you ended up here, coincidence? In Christ their are no coincidences.
Regardless of where you are in life God meets us where we are! It takes 60 minutes to consume ALL of the material presented here. I will guarantee it is time well spent. Maybe you have done that already and still have questions, please reach out directly or seek out a true Bible believing church in your area. If you are already a believer in Christ please share this with others.
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In Christ