I was raised in a home by my parents, who sent me to a private school until the 5th grade. I always knew of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I was the oldest of seven children and maintained a lot of responsibility. As my ability to manage, do well in school and control other matters in my life, my PRIDE grew. After the 5th grade we moved to a public school and religion in our house was reduced to Christmas, Easter and a few Sundays. In the 9th grade my mom made me finish my Lutheran confirmation and I received my certificate. I knew Jesus died for me and I was going to heaven when I died. All I had to do was to get a career, get married, have children, be a grandparent, die and go to heaven.
I went off to college to be a Veternarian (as per my plans) but I was redirected into Dentistry. When I graduated Dental School I met my boss' daughter who was nine years younger than me (I was 28.) We grew close to each other and started to date without anyone knowing. Meanwhile, her father was going to sell his Dental practice to me. We were engaged to get married in one year and about three months before the wedding date, I decided that she wasn't really ready for marriage. At that time, my sister Diane and her husband Dan came by and told me the Gospel Story of Jesus Christ and asked if I was "born again." I told them that I was baptized as a baby, received my confirmation, believed there was a God, I knew what Jesus did and I was a good person. After they explained what the Bible says, I realized I really didn't know God and that night I prayed to receive Christ as my personal Savior. At that time I told Laurie I didn't want to marry her. The next month she was pregnant. I went to my future father-in-law and told him I did not want to buy his dental practice, or marry his daughter and I even contemplated an abortion as well. I felt trapped and felt it would be the best for ME. At that time I went home to my condo and was too prideful to let anyone know of my predicament. I started to read the Bible (II Samuel 12:1-7) and I began to drift off. I started thinking of a man who was a liar, cheat, embezzler, fornicator and an evil person. I told God to "kill that person." At that moment it was like I was looking in a mirror and that person was me. I fell down to my knees and cried like I never did before. (I was convicted of my sinful nature." At the very same moment I sensed a warmth go through my body, felt a hand on my shoulder and heard these words, "I love you anyway." I cried even louder and said "How could you love me?" Then I realized that Jesus was alive and the Bible is TRUE and I had to tell everyone what he has done and what he has done to me. Jesus called this encounter being "born again." I have experienced peace with God and purpose in life ever since that day. I am on a wonderful journey of spiritual growth ever since that day. Now if you would ask me, "If you would die tonight, where would you spend eternity?" I can say with full assurance, "Because of Jesus I would spend eternity in heaven." This is my story.