May 2011 Birthday Party, a set on Flickr.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
National Day of Dialogue
Here is some wikipedia information on what happens on "The National Day of
Dialogue":
"The Day of Dialogue is a student-led event which is organized by Focus on the
Family which takes place April 16. The goal of the event is "encouraging honest
and respectful conversation among students about God's design for sexuality." It
was previously known as the Day of Truth and was founded by the Alliance Defense
Fund in 2005, in opposition to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
(GLSEN)'s Day of Silence which protests the harassment of LGBT students"
"ADF has announced that beginning in 2009, it is passing on its leadership role
in the Day of Truth to an ex-gay organization, Exodus International, who has
prepared the resources for the event. On October 6, 2010, Exodus International
stated they will no longer be supporting or leading the Day of Truth."
"On November 6, 2010, Focus on the Family announced it had acquired the Day of
Truth event and was renaming it to the Day of Dialogue. The goal would remain
unchanged.
Here is some more information on what the "Day of Dialogue" is all about on
Focus on the Family sponsored "Day of Dialogue" web-page:
"The Day of Dialogue–being held this year on April 18, 2011— encourages
student-initiated conversations about the fact that God cares about our lives,
our relationships and our sexuality. The event gives you, as a student, an
opportunity to express the true model presented by Jesus Christ in the Bible—who
didn't back away from speaking truth, but neither held back in pouring out His
incredible, compassionate love for hurting and vulnerable people. His example
calls us to stand up for those being harmed or bullied while offering the light
of what God's word says."
"Participation is voluntary and student-directed—meaning it's completely up to
students, Christian clubs and youth groups to register online and then lead the
activities in their school."
"The Day of Silence is an annual event for public school students organized by
one of the nation's largest homosexual advocacy groups—GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian
and Straight Education Network. This year's Day of Silence will be celebrated in
thousands of public schools on Friday, April 15, 2011. Participating students
take a "vow of silence" and distribute cards proclaiming they are a part of a
"national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies … My deliberate silence
echoes that silence …" Some students even wear duct tape as part of the protest
throughout the school day. GLSEN encourages students celebrating this event to
lobby for legislation supported by homosexual-advocacy groups and to pressure
school officials to implement things such as a "queer friendly" prom."
"During this event, GLSEN also encourages teachers to display homosexual-themed
books and other materials about transgender topics in the classroom and to
"Discuss Day of Silence with your students.""
Dialogue":
"The Day of Dialogue is a student-led event which is organized by Focus on the
Family which takes place April 16. The goal of the event is "encouraging honest
and respectful conversation among students about God's design for sexuality." It
was previously known as the Day of Truth and was founded by the Alliance Defense
Fund in 2005, in opposition to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
(GLSEN)'s Day of Silence which protests the harassment of LGBT students"
"ADF has announced that beginning in 2009, it is passing on its leadership role
in the Day of Truth to an ex-gay organization, Exodus International, who has
prepared the resources for the event. On October 6, 2010, Exodus International
stated they will no longer be supporting or leading the Day of Truth."
"On November 6, 2010, Focus on the Family announced it had acquired the Day of
Truth event and was renaming it to the Day of Dialogue. The goal would remain
unchanged.
Here is some more information on what the "Day of Dialogue" is all about on
Focus on the Family sponsored "Day of Dialogue" web-page:
"The Day of Dialogue–being held this year on April 18, 2011— encourages
student-initiated conversations about the fact that God cares about our lives,
our relationships and our sexuality. The event gives you, as a student, an
opportunity to express the true model presented by Jesus Christ in the Bible—who
didn't back away from speaking truth, but neither held back in pouring out His
incredible, compassionate love for hurting and vulnerable people. His example
calls us to stand up for those being harmed or bullied while offering the light
of what God's word says."
"Participation is voluntary and student-directed—meaning it's completely up to
students, Christian clubs and youth groups to register online and then lead the
activities in their school."
"The Day of Silence is an annual event for public school students organized by
one of the nation's largest homosexual advocacy groups—GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian
and Straight Education Network. This year's Day of Silence will be celebrated in
thousands of public schools on Friday, April 15, 2011. Participating students
take a "vow of silence" and distribute cards proclaiming they are a part of a
"national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies … My deliberate silence
echoes that silence …" Some students even wear duct tape as part of the protest
throughout the school day. GLSEN encourages students celebrating this event to
lobby for legislation supported by homosexual-advocacy groups and to pressure
school officials to implement things such as a "queer friendly" prom."
"During this event, GLSEN also encourages teachers to display homosexual-themed
books and other materials about transgender topics in the classroom and to
"Discuss Day of Silence with your students.""
Monday, May 9, 2011
National Day of Silence
My Sister-in-Law Amy Rosenthal Marx commented on your photo (about the National
Day of Prayer).
Amy wrote, "So, did you participate in the National Day of Silence too?"
Why would I participate with a student led event that happens in some Schools
that is about some supposed bullying against some supposed LGBT students?
I am not a student, and I do not support anyone right to sexually sin in the
eyes of God. So I wonder why Amy asked the question of me when she knows I am
not a student and she knows I follow God and what issues He tells me to share in
love with others.
Here is some wikipedia information on what happens on "The National Day of
Silence":
"The Day of Silence is organized as a grassroots project by the GLSEN. Students
are encouraged to obtain permission from their school before organizing the
event."
"The Day of Silence has been held each year in April since 1996. The 2010 Day of
Silence was held on April 16; in 2011 it was on April 15."
"GLSEN states that hundreds of thousands of students at more than 8,000 schools
participated in the 2008 Day of Silence."
"The event takes place at college, high school, and middle school campuses. In
some cases there are elementary school participants. On the appointed day,
students maintain verbal silence either for the entire day or a portion of the
day, such as during the lunch break.
During their period of silence, participating students may hand out printed
cards explaining the nature of their protest. This may be supplemented by
additional texts or images.
Some school organizers also create or purchase pins or stickers to put on
lockers and t-shirts. Others dress in all black, with rainbow ribbons or gags to
emphasize the cause and their presence. Also if allowed, special announcements
during the day allow the event to be recognized by the school."
Homosexual actions is a sin, so should there be laws to make a sin legal?
If that sin is legalized, then will it be OK to make other sins legal?
As a Christian I realize that I should hate all sins, but love the sinner, and I
mostly do, but when any group of people in the United States tries to make any
sin legal, don't I also have the right to protest and try to make sure sin
doesn't become the law of the land?
Besides these verses of scripture; here is another place that has more
information about homosexuals and scripture: What Does the Bible REALLY Say
About Homosexual Issues
http://www.leaderu.com/stonewall/issues/marco2.html
Genesis 19:4-11
Leviticus 18:22-24
Leviticus 20:13
Deuteronomy 23:17
Judges 19:22
1 Kings 14:24
1 Kings 15:11-12
1 Kings 22:46
2 Kings 23:7
Romans 1:18-32
1 Corinthians 6:8-11
Galatians 5:16-21
Ephesians 5:3-5
1 Timothy 1:8-11
Jude 1:4-8
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed
the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they
called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this
night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the
door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do
not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let
me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your
eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow
of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came
in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee,
than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to
break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house
to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of
the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves
to find the door. (Genesis 19:4-11 KJV)
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither
shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any
woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye
yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled
which I cast out before you: (Leviticus 18:22-24 KJV)
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have
committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall
be upon them. (Leviticus 20:13 KJV)
There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons
of Israel. (Deuteronomy 23:17 KJV)
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain
sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to
the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into
thine house, that we may know him. (Judges 19:22 KJV)
And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the
abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of
Israel. (1 Kings 14:24 KJV)
And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his
father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the
idols that his fathers had made. (1 Kings 15:11-12 KJV)
And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa,
he took out of the land. (1 Kings 22:46 KJV)
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the
LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove. (2 Kings 23:7 KJV)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that
which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an
image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the
lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up
unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that
which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of
the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that
which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error
which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;
whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers,
without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of
God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the
same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:18-32 KJV)
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you:
but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:8-11 KJV)
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the
things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 5:16-21 KJV)
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye
know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians
5:3-5 KJV)
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that
the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient,
for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them
that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured
persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my
trust. (1 Timothy 1:8-11 KJV)
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to
this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will
therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord,
having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that
believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their
own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the
judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them
in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange
flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and
speak evil of dignities. (Jude 1:4-8 KJV)
Don't you know that unrighteous people will have no share in the Kingdom of God?
Don't delude yourselves - people who engage in sex before marriage, who worship
idols, who engage in sex after marriage with someone other than their spouse,
who engage in active or passive homosexuality, 1 Corinthians 6:9 Complete
Jewish Bible Scripture quotations are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible,
copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament
Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp
the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars,
perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 1 Timothy 1:10 The
English Standard Version
Day of Prayer).
Amy wrote, "So, did you participate in the National Day of Silence too?"
Why would I participate with a student led event that happens in some Schools
that is about some supposed bullying against some supposed LGBT students?
I am not a student, and I do not support anyone right to sexually sin in the
eyes of God. So I wonder why Amy asked the question of me when she knows I am
not a student and she knows I follow God and what issues He tells me to share in
love with others.
Here is some wikipedia information on what happens on "The National Day of
Silence":
"The Day of Silence is organized as a grassroots project by the GLSEN. Students
are encouraged to obtain permission from their school before organizing the
event."
"The Day of Silence has been held each year in April since 1996. The 2010 Day of
Silence was held on April 16; in 2011 it was on April 15."
"GLSEN states that hundreds of thousands of students at more than 8,000 schools
participated in the 2008 Day of Silence."
"The event takes place at college, high school, and middle school campuses. In
some cases there are elementary school participants. On the appointed day,
students maintain verbal silence either for the entire day or a portion of the
day, such as during the lunch break.
During their period of silence, participating students may hand out printed
cards explaining the nature of their protest. This may be supplemented by
additional texts or images.
Some school organizers also create or purchase pins or stickers to put on
lockers and t-shirts. Others dress in all black, with rainbow ribbons or gags to
emphasize the cause and their presence. Also if allowed, special announcements
during the day allow the event to be recognized by the school."
Homosexual actions is a sin, so should there be laws to make a sin legal?
If that sin is legalized, then will it be OK to make other sins legal?
As a Christian I realize that I should hate all sins, but love the sinner, and I
mostly do, but when any group of people in the United States tries to make any
sin legal, don't I also have the right to protest and try to make sure sin
doesn't become the law of the land?
Besides these verses of scripture; here is another place that has more
information about homosexuals and scripture: What Does the Bible REALLY Say
About Homosexual Issues
http://www.leaderu.com/stonewall/issues/marco2.html
Genesis 19:4-11
Leviticus 18:22-24
Leviticus 20:13
Deuteronomy 23:17
Judges 19:22
1 Kings 14:24
1 Kings 15:11-12
1 Kings 22:46
2 Kings 23:7
Romans 1:18-32
1 Corinthians 6:8-11
Galatians 5:16-21
Ephesians 5:3-5
1 Timothy 1:8-11
Jude 1:4-8
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed
the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they
called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this
night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the
door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do
not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let
me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your
eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow
of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came
in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee,
than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to
break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house
to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of
the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves
to find the door. (Genesis 19:4-11 KJV)
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither
shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any
woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye
yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled
which I cast out before you: (Leviticus 18:22-24 KJV)
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have
committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall
be upon them. (Leviticus 20:13 KJV)
There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons
of Israel. (Deuteronomy 23:17 KJV)
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain
sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to
the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into
thine house, that we may know him. (Judges 19:22 KJV)
And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the
abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of
Israel. (1 Kings 14:24 KJV)
And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his
father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the
idols that his fathers had made. (1 Kings 15:11-12 KJV)
And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa,
he took out of the land. (1 Kings 22:46 KJV)
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the
LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove. (2 Kings 23:7 KJV)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that
which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an
image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the
lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up
unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that
which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of
the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that
which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error
which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;
whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers,
without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of
God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the
same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:18-32 KJV)
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you:
but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:8-11 KJV)
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the
things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 5:16-21 KJV)
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye
know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians
5:3-5 KJV)
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that
the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient,
for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them
that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured
persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my
trust. (1 Timothy 1:8-11 KJV)
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to
this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will
therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord,
having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that
believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their
own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the
judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them
in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange
flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and
speak evil of dignities. (Jude 1:4-8 KJV)
Don't you know that unrighteous people will have no share in the Kingdom of God?
Don't delude yourselves - people who engage in sex before marriage, who worship
idols, who engage in sex after marriage with someone other than their spouse,
who engage in active or passive homosexuality, 1 Corinthians 6:9 Complete
Jewish Bible Scripture quotations are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible,
copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament
Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp
the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars,
perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 1 Timothy 1:10 The
English Standard Version
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Testimony of Eric
Eric's Testimony or how I became a born-again Christian
Hello my name is Eric Alan Marx and I would like to share how I
became a born-again Christian. I wasn't raised in a Christian home,
as a young child we sometime said prayers at bedtime like "if I die
before I wake the lord my soul to keep, please watch over mommy,
brother, daddy, doggy, etc. amen". The first I knew anything about
Jesus or God was from Christmas records or the record Jesus Christ
Superstar. Then when I lived in Kansas City, Missouri I went to a
Seventh- Day Adventist School when I was six and seven for First
Grade. I learned about the Bible and some of the nice stories in the
old testament, like Jonah and the whale and Jacob's ladder. I
couldn't eat meat at school, but I don't remember doing much else
with the Seventh Day Adventists outside of school. My next year of
second grade we lived in the same place, but I attended a different
school, a public school. The rest of my school years I never learned
anything about God, Jesus, or about the Bible in school.
But God wanted me to learn some more about Him, so when I was around
nine years old in West Baraboo, Wisconsin when I was in Cub Scouts I
got invited to a Christian home then, they invited me to go to church
and I think my Mom, brother and I went a few times, then we moved to
Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Then somehow I got involve in going to Sunday
School at a Baptist Church in Reedsburg and I remembered Bible verses
like the Ten Commandments and won a Ten Commandments bracelet and
remember some verses in Psalms and got a Psalm plate. I liked going
to Sunday School and singing children Bible songs, then we moved
again to Kansas City, Missouri and I didn't attend a new church.
In 1976 (I was around the age of thirteen) while my parents were
having marital problems, a couple of elderly Mormon Missionary's were
allowed to come to our home and tell us about the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints "Mormons", and about Joseph Smith. Some
of us toured the temple in Independence, Missouri near Kansas City.
And they came back a few more times and told us about the Book of
Mormon.
Then during my early teen years my Mom and Dad separated and my
brother and I lived with our Mom in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She had
a hard time handling two teen boys but she handled it OK; but because
she worked and my brother and I were not well behaved as teens she
was pressured from my Dads family into sending us to live with my
Dads brother in Ogden, Utah in January of 1977.
The whole family were Mormon's but my Aunt was raised a Mormon. My
brother and I both became members of the LDS church while there, but
I was super gung-ho from the start even more so than even my Aunt. I
attended church all the time and did their tithe was a member on
their basketball team and went to their Boy Scout events. I did all
the Mormon requirements and told everybody I could, that the LDS
church was the only true church. And I went as high as I could in
the LDS priesthood. I was everything a kid could be in the Aaronic
Priesthood; and when I turned 18 I was made an Elder in the
Melchizedek Priesthood. Their priesthood was different than some
other churches because they have an Aaronic Priesthood of boys under
18 and the Melchizedek Priesthood of men 18 and older who become
Elders. I even did baptisms for the dead in the Temple in Salt Lake
City, Utah. And the religion was different than other churches
because they had other "Holy Books" beside the Bible and the Bible
wasn't completely correct. When the Bible wasn't in line with
Mormonism it had to have new "Mormon translations" changing and
adding to the Bible to make it correct.
I would still be a Mormon today if God didn't have something better
planned. By the time I was 17 we were living in Waunakee,
Wisconsin; and my Mother an Father had finally gotten a divorce. And
for whatever reasons I decided to go with my Father to live with his
brother in Ogden, Utah. Well a gung-ho Mormon like me is usually
expected to be a Missionary for a couple of years after I got out of
High School; but my Uncle was a cook in the Navy Reserves, and the
benefits he got looked good to me. So I looked into the military and
the Army looked good to me; so I took a test and scored very high.
Then my father did something that made me not want to live with him
anymore ( he tried to kill himself with a medication overdose). So I
went to live with my Mom in Wisconsin.
My Mom had a boyfriend from Yuba, Wisconsin (she was raised in and
around that part of Wisconsin). She eventually married him, and we
moved to his dairy farm in Yuba. He like to tell stories about when
he was in the Air Force, so partly because of him I decided to join
the Air Force. My test scored were transferable from the Army to the
Air Force and I still had high scores. I went to Milwaukee,
Wisconsin to take a couple more tests and a physical. Then later I
saw my recruiter in Madison, Wisconsin; and even though I had high
scores and could have almost any good Air Force job. I got talked
into and accepted a job that didn't require high test scores,
Security. While still a Senior at Richland Center High School, I
joined the Air Force for six years under the delayed entry program
(after I finished Basic Training I would skip two grades and be an
Airman First Class and get paid more).
Very soon after I graduated I entered the Air Force. I was a good
Mormon while in Basic Training in Lackland AFB near San Antonio,
Texas. I was the Protestant airman who marched other Protestant
airmen to their churches and to the LDS church on base. I was even a
good Mormon for close to a year where I was stationed in Missouri;
but God was working in me.
I had a friend who was a born-again Christian, Mel Pound, who was
always talking to me about Christianity and I saw him living a
different kind of "christian" life than I did. He kept telling me
that being a Mormon was wrong and it was a cult. That many of the
Mormon "Holy Books" didn't agree with the Holy Bible and sometimes
not even with the Mormon beliefs. And that the only true
Christianity is only based on the Holy Bible. Well I "knew" I was a
good "christian" LDS member, and I was eventually going to one of the
heavens; so I told him to prove it. Over a period time and using
only the Bible he proved to me that Mormonism is a cult and not
Christian. He then told me how he became a Christian, (his
testimony), and how everyone is a sinner and why Jesus died on the
cross and why he was resurrected, and how Jesus could become part of
my life.
Mel Pound, also lived the Christian life and he was a Christian who
just happened to be a member with an independent Baptist kind of
church. Well one afternoon in our dorm barracks on base at Whiteman
AFB, near Knob Knoster, Missouri in November 1983 close to my birth-
date I had another Birthday. I prayed to God telling Him that I was
sorry for being a sinner and would He please forgive my sins, and
told God that I accept Jesus as my Savior, and that Jesus could wash
all my sins away with his blood, and please accept me into Your
family so that I will one day see You in Heaven. I prayed the prayer
in the name of Jesus and said Amen. {Since it has been over 23 years
those might have not been my exact words I prayed but they are
similar}.
Then following Jesus' example in the Bible I was baptised under water
again, because my first baptism in the Mormon church and my baptism
for the dead at the temple didn't count because they were done for
non-Biblical reasons. Then for about eight months I attended a Bible
practicing church whenever I could, and learned about the Father,
Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I also learned during that time that
once you are really saved you can never lose your Salvation, but you
can stumble, or not live the Christian life.
While I was in the Air Force, I got two diseases; Ulcerative Colitis,
and Bronchial Asthma. And since they are non-curable diseases, and
even on medication they were interfering with my Air Force work, and
they didn't want to spend more money retraining me to a different
job; the Air Force medically discharged me and gave me a large
severance payment.
It was July and August of 1984, and for many weeks I just lived off
that money and almost never thought about God, while I did things I
never got to do by myself as a kid. I went to almost every
attraction and Amusement Park in and around Wisconsin Dells,
Wisconsin. Well I was almost out of money so I went to the Veteran's
Administration and decided to get on their Veteran's Hospital
outpatient programs. So after some time after I had more testing
done, I started to getting a monthly amount of money for disability
from the V.A. while I was staying with my Mom and first step-dad.
Then I wanted to live on my own and wanted to buy more things, so I
went looking for work; and for about four months I started and quit
four part-time jobs. Then because I hadn't really lived a Christian
life for a while, God allowed me to sink even lower. I worked in an
adult book store and novelty shop called Mall Books on State Street
in Madison, Wisconsin for about ten months. And during that time I
moved in with my Dad. Well my Dad drank a lot of beer every day; and
every once in a while we argued about things. Then a few times while
he was drunk, I didn't drink, he tried to hit me but I held him off.
Well finally I had enough, one day, out of the blue, I finished my
job and left everything behind and took a flight to Los Angeles,
California and became a homeless person.
Well God was still looking out for me, because I was never harmed and
He led me to places to get food and to get shelter when I wanted it.
And He even brought me closer to him again. I got on a young men's
Christian program at the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles,
California. I had a bed, regular meals, and helped other homeless
people. Had more Christian teaching, and had some computer lessons.
Then for whatever reason I quit April 16, 1986 and started walking
and hitch hiking back towards my Mom's place in Wisconsin.
On the way home I stayed a while at the Salvation Army in Las Vegas,
Nevada; then a Mission in Kansas City, Missouri; then a Men's shelter
in Madison, Wisconsin. Then I called my Mom who lived in Yuba,
Wisconsin; and she came and picked me up. and I lived with her on and
off for a little over a year, and almost didn't ever think about God.
Then I lived with a friend of the family, Cheryl Kivlin, in Wisconsin
Dells, Wisconsin from September 1987 to June of 1988 and babysat her
kid, La Manda, and did house work for room and board. Then I got a
little bit interested in God again while there and would go to a
church once in a while because it was about two blocks away, and they
had neat christian club that had Christian Rock and dancing that I
went to a couple of times.
Well eventually I moved to Richland Center, Wisconsin to be closer to
my Mom. I was in my late 30's and on my own and felt I was missing
something. So I went to First Baptist Church close to me, but for
whatever reasons I didn't like being there. Then somebody came to my
apartment trying to sell me an Air Cleaner and I let him in and he
saw I had Christian messages around and on my door on the inside. He
asked if I was a Christian and if I wanted to go to a Christian
Church and I said yes to both his questions. The church was called
Richland Center Fellowship. Well I liked the pastor's message and
the modern Christian music and the Wednesday fellowship meeting; so I
kept going regularly. But something was still missing for me at that
church, so I quit going except I went once or twice to an Easter
program with my Mom.
Well I was getting older and not making a difference in my life and I
was starting to want a wife. So I put an ad in the local newspapers
that I was searching for a girlfriend to become my wife. Well one of
the answers by letter I got was someone who said she was a
Christian. We would go walking together after she got done work.
She even invited me to dinner and watching videos at her apartment a
couple of times. In my letters to her and when we were together I
would always mention God or verses from the Bible. Well one time she
mentioned she had gone to a church a few times that I might like.
She invited me to go with her one Sunday. She said I should meet her
there. Well one thing that was neat was that it was being held in
the Masonic building one building away from my apartment building.
Well I showed up that Sunday and she didn't, and found out a little
bit later that our friendship was over, and never really got a good
reason from her. But I got over her and found out some place to jump
start my Christian life again. The church was called Bible Baptist
Church and some members believed what I believed in the Bible. I
asked Dave Sanders, the Pastor then, some questions about what the
church believed and I like the answers. Then in the church bulletin
I saw that the Youth Pastor and music leader needed some help. So I
volunteered to help Dale Pierce with what help he needed for music.
I helped him sort out folders of music and helped him organising
things. And we became good friends and he showed me how a Christian
life could be led and then after a while I became a member and helped
with singing at church and even eventually got involved with the
Youth program after Dale and his family moved to Indiana. I later
became good friends with Ron Manning, he was a member of the music
program who played guitar and sang and who eventually became an Elder.
From February of 1997 to November of 2001, I was a member of Grace
Community Church (the name was changed September 5, 1999 because it
was an independent church not affiliated with Baptist or any other
religion); then some of the members decided they wanted to join
Evangelical Free Church of America and I couldn't convince enough of
the membership that what was happening wasn't biblical so I quit my
membership. So since then I haven't been a member of any church and
I don't attend any here in Richland Center, Wisconsin because I don't
believe in going to a church that isn't 100% biblical.
So right now I'm walking my Christian walk with Jesus alone. Thanks
for reading and if you have any questions please ask or pick up a
Bible and ask God to help Him come into your life. So there is my
Christian testimony on April 12, 2007.
Update on May 7, 2011
I am still not a member of any local church, but a do attend
two different ones in walking distance 4 times a week.
Hello my name is Eric Alan Marx and I would like to share how I
became a born-again Christian. I wasn't raised in a Christian home,
as a young child we sometime said prayers at bedtime like "if I die
before I wake the lord my soul to keep, please watch over mommy,
brother, daddy, doggy, etc. amen". The first I knew anything about
Jesus or God was from Christmas records or the record Jesus Christ
Superstar. Then when I lived in Kansas City, Missouri I went to a
Seventh- Day Adventist School when I was six and seven for First
Grade. I learned about the Bible and some of the nice stories in the
old testament, like Jonah and the whale and Jacob's ladder. I
couldn't eat meat at school, but I don't remember doing much else
with the Seventh Day Adventists outside of school. My next year of
second grade we lived in the same place, but I attended a different
school, a public school. The rest of my school years I never learned
anything about God, Jesus, or about the Bible in school.
But God wanted me to learn some more about Him, so when I was around
nine years old in West Baraboo, Wisconsin when I was in Cub Scouts I
got invited to a Christian home then, they invited me to go to church
and I think my Mom, brother and I went a few times, then we moved to
Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Then somehow I got involve in going to Sunday
School at a Baptist Church in Reedsburg and I remembered Bible verses
like the Ten Commandments and won a Ten Commandments bracelet and
remember some verses in Psalms and got a Psalm plate. I liked going
to Sunday School and singing children Bible songs, then we moved
again to Kansas City, Missouri and I didn't attend a new church.
In 1976 (I was around the age of thirteen) while my parents were
having marital problems, a couple of elderly Mormon Missionary's were
allowed to come to our home and tell us about the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints "Mormons", and about Joseph Smith. Some
of us toured the temple in Independence, Missouri near Kansas City.
And they came back a few more times and told us about the Book of
Mormon.
Then during my early teen years my Mom and Dad separated and my
brother and I lived with our Mom in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She had
a hard time handling two teen boys but she handled it OK; but because
she worked and my brother and I were not well behaved as teens she
was pressured from my Dads family into sending us to live with my
Dads brother in Ogden, Utah in January of 1977.
The whole family were Mormon's but my Aunt was raised a Mormon. My
brother and I both became members of the LDS church while there, but
I was super gung-ho from the start even more so than even my Aunt. I
attended church all the time and did their tithe was a member on
their basketball team and went to their Boy Scout events. I did all
the Mormon requirements and told everybody I could, that the LDS
church was the only true church. And I went as high as I could in
the LDS priesthood. I was everything a kid could be in the Aaronic
Priesthood; and when I turned 18 I was made an Elder in the
Melchizedek Priesthood. Their priesthood was different than some
other churches because they have an Aaronic Priesthood of boys under
18 and the Melchizedek Priesthood of men 18 and older who become
Elders. I even did baptisms for the dead in the Temple in Salt Lake
City, Utah. And the religion was different than other churches
because they had other "Holy Books" beside the Bible and the Bible
wasn't completely correct. When the Bible wasn't in line with
Mormonism it had to have new "Mormon translations" changing and
adding to the Bible to make it correct.
I would still be a Mormon today if God didn't have something better
planned. By the time I was 17 we were living in Waunakee,
Wisconsin; and my Mother an Father had finally gotten a divorce. And
for whatever reasons I decided to go with my Father to live with his
brother in Ogden, Utah. Well a gung-ho Mormon like me is usually
expected to be a Missionary for a couple of years after I got out of
High School; but my Uncle was a cook in the Navy Reserves, and the
benefits he got looked good to me. So I looked into the military and
the Army looked good to me; so I took a test and scored very high.
Then my father did something that made me not want to live with him
anymore ( he tried to kill himself with a medication overdose). So I
went to live with my Mom in Wisconsin.
My Mom had a boyfriend from Yuba, Wisconsin (she was raised in and
around that part of Wisconsin). She eventually married him, and we
moved to his dairy farm in Yuba. He like to tell stories about when
he was in the Air Force, so partly because of him I decided to join
the Air Force. My test scored were transferable from the Army to the
Air Force and I still had high scores. I went to Milwaukee,
Wisconsin to take a couple more tests and a physical. Then later I
saw my recruiter in Madison, Wisconsin; and even though I had high
scores and could have almost any good Air Force job. I got talked
into and accepted a job that didn't require high test scores,
Security. While still a Senior at Richland Center High School, I
joined the Air Force for six years under the delayed entry program
(after I finished Basic Training I would skip two grades and be an
Airman First Class and get paid more).
Very soon after I graduated I entered the Air Force. I was a good
Mormon while in Basic Training in Lackland AFB near San Antonio,
Texas. I was the Protestant airman who marched other Protestant
airmen to their churches and to the LDS church on base. I was even a
good Mormon for close to a year where I was stationed in Missouri;
but God was working in me.
I had a friend who was a born-again Christian, Mel Pound, who was
always talking to me about Christianity and I saw him living a
different kind of "christian" life than I did. He kept telling me
that being a Mormon was wrong and it was a cult. That many of the
Mormon "Holy Books" didn't agree with the Holy Bible and sometimes
not even with the Mormon beliefs. And that the only true
Christianity is only based on the Holy Bible. Well I "knew" I was a
good "christian" LDS member, and I was eventually going to one of the
heavens; so I told him to prove it. Over a period time and using
only the Bible he proved to me that Mormonism is a cult and not
Christian. He then told me how he became a Christian, (his
testimony), and how everyone is a sinner and why Jesus died on the
cross and why he was resurrected, and how Jesus could become part of
my life.
Mel Pound, also lived the Christian life and he was a Christian who
just happened to be a member with an independent Baptist kind of
church. Well one afternoon in our dorm barracks on base at Whiteman
AFB, near Knob Knoster, Missouri in November 1983 close to my birth-
date I had another Birthday. I prayed to God telling Him that I was
sorry for being a sinner and would He please forgive my sins, and
told God that I accept Jesus as my Savior, and that Jesus could wash
all my sins away with his blood, and please accept me into Your
family so that I will one day see You in Heaven. I prayed the prayer
in the name of Jesus and said Amen. {Since it has been over 23 years
those might have not been my exact words I prayed but they are
similar}.
Then following Jesus' example in the Bible I was baptised under water
again, because my first baptism in the Mormon church and my baptism
for the dead at the temple didn't count because they were done for
non-Biblical reasons. Then for about eight months I attended a Bible
practicing church whenever I could, and learned about the Father,
Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I also learned during that time that
once you are really saved you can never lose your Salvation, but you
can stumble, or not live the Christian life.
While I was in the Air Force, I got two diseases; Ulcerative Colitis,
and Bronchial Asthma. And since they are non-curable diseases, and
even on medication they were interfering with my Air Force work, and
they didn't want to spend more money retraining me to a different
job; the Air Force medically discharged me and gave me a large
severance payment.
It was July and August of 1984, and for many weeks I just lived off
that money and almost never thought about God, while I did things I
never got to do by myself as a kid. I went to almost every
attraction and Amusement Park in and around Wisconsin Dells,
Wisconsin. Well I was almost out of money so I went to the Veteran's
Administration and decided to get on their Veteran's Hospital
outpatient programs. So after some time after I had more testing
done, I started to getting a monthly amount of money for disability
from the V.A. while I was staying with my Mom and first step-dad.
Then I wanted to live on my own and wanted to buy more things, so I
went looking for work; and for about four months I started and quit
four part-time jobs. Then because I hadn't really lived a Christian
life for a while, God allowed me to sink even lower. I worked in an
adult book store and novelty shop called Mall Books on State Street
in Madison, Wisconsin for about ten months. And during that time I
moved in with my Dad. Well my Dad drank a lot of beer every day; and
every once in a while we argued about things. Then a few times while
he was drunk, I didn't drink, he tried to hit me but I held him off.
Well finally I had enough, one day, out of the blue, I finished my
job and left everything behind and took a flight to Los Angeles,
California and became a homeless person.
Well God was still looking out for me, because I was never harmed and
He led me to places to get food and to get shelter when I wanted it.
And He even brought me closer to him again. I got on a young men's
Christian program at the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles,
California. I had a bed, regular meals, and helped other homeless
people. Had more Christian teaching, and had some computer lessons.
Then for whatever reason I quit April 16, 1986 and started walking
and hitch hiking back towards my Mom's place in Wisconsin.
On the way home I stayed a while at the Salvation Army in Las Vegas,
Nevada; then a Mission in Kansas City, Missouri; then a Men's shelter
in Madison, Wisconsin. Then I called my Mom who lived in Yuba,
Wisconsin; and she came and picked me up. and I lived with her on and
off for a little over a year, and almost didn't ever think about God.
Then I lived with a friend of the family, Cheryl Kivlin, in Wisconsin
Dells, Wisconsin from September 1987 to June of 1988 and babysat her
kid, La Manda, and did house work for room and board. Then I got a
little bit interested in God again while there and would go to a
church once in a while because it was about two blocks away, and they
had neat christian club that had Christian Rock and dancing that I
went to a couple of times.
Well eventually I moved to Richland Center, Wisconsin to be closer to
my Mom. I was in my late 30's and on my own and felt I was missing
something. So I went to First Baptist Church close to me, but for
whatever reasons I didn't like being there. Then somebody came to my
apartment trying to sell me an Air Cleaner and I let him in and he
saw I had Christian messages around and on my door on the inside. He
asked if I was a Christian and if I wanted to go to a Christian
Church and I said yes to both his questions. The church was called
Richland Center Fellowship. Well I liked the pastor's message and
the modern Christian music and the Wednesday fellowship meeting; so I
kept going regularly. But something was still missing for me at that
church, so I quit going except I went once or twice to an Easter
program with my Mom.
Well I was getting older and not making a difference in my life and I
was starting to want a wife. So I put an ad in the local newspapers
that I was searching for a girlfriend to become my wife. Well one of
the answers by letter I got was someone who said she was a
Christian. We would go walking together after she got done work.
She even invited me to dinner and watching videos at her apartment a
couple of times. In my letters to her and when we were together I
would always mention God or verses from the Bible. Well one time she
mentioned she had gone to a church a few times that I might like.
She invited me to go with her one Sunday. She said I should meet her
there. Well one thing that was neat was that it was being held in
the Masonic building one building away from my apartment building.
Well I showed up that Sunday and she didn't, and found out a little
bit later that our friendship was over, and never really got a good
reason from her. But I got over her and found out some place to jump
start my Christian life again. The church was called Bible Baptist
Church and some members believed what I believed in the Bible. I
asked Dave Sanders, the Pastor then, some questions about what the
church believed and I like the answers. Then in the church bulletin
I saw that the Youth Pastor and music leader needed some help. So I
volunteered to help Dale Pierce with what help he needed for music.
I helped him sort out folders of music and helped him organising
things. And we became good friends and he showed me how a Christian
life could be led and then after a while I became a member and helped
with singing at church and even eventually got involved with the
Youth program after Dale and his family moved to Indiana. I later
became good friends with Ron Manning, he was a member of the music
program who played guitar and sang and who eventually became an Elder.
From February of 1997 to November of 2001, I was a member of Grace
Community Church (the name was changed September 5, 1999 because it
was an independent church not affiliated with Baptist or any other
religion); then some of the members decided they wanted to join
Evangelical Free Church of America and I couldn't convince enough of
the membership that what was happening wasn't biblical so I quit my
membership. So since then I haven't been a member of any church and
I don't attend any here in Richland Center, Wisconsin because I don't
believe in going to a church that isn't 100% biblical.
So right now I'm walking my Christian walk with Jesus alone. Thanks
for reading and if you have any questions please ask or pick up a
Bible and ask God to help Him come into your life. So there is my
Christian testimony on April 12, 2007.
Update on May 7, 2011
I am still not a member of any local church, but a do attend
two different ones in walking distance 4 times a week.
description of Eric
Whom I am looking for: Born-again Christian woman who wants friendship that will turn to love with help from Christ, that will result in marriage. She has a close to average BMI, who loves Christ and will learn to love me.
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