Faith of the Heart

One of the most influential things that happened to us during our time at this house was the awakening we had to our own need for a Savior.  We had been in Rockford 4 months when we were invited to a Christmas play Nancy’s kids and grandkids were going to be involved in called the “Fumbly Bumbly Angels”.  We agreed to go, because we didn’t think it would be a “church thing”.

The play was funny, and we enjoyed it very much.  When it was over we figured we were done.  The pastor had other plans however.  He started a normal church service following the play.  We actually enjoyed it, and started to attend on a fairly regular basis.

After the play and the service, the church had a little lunch.  The food was real good, but what I remember most was a comment by Jill.  The church was a Pentecostal church, and some during the service were talking in tongues, and being possessed by the Holy Spirit.  This was a new experience for Jill and really me too, I had heard of it, and even witnessed it once or twice before but not to this extent.

During the lunch following the church service they served Kool-Aid.  Jill refused the offered cup, and opted for a soda from a vending machine instead.  Jill made the comment during the service that Nancy had gotten us involved in a cult.  What makes this even funnier is the fact that a year later during another after service lunch Jill was drinking Kool-Aid provided by the church.  And we had just finished decorating tennis shoes for a contest.

We quickly came to the realization of a lack of something in our lives.  This something was always pulling us to this point in our lives and it was time for us to make a decision.  This decision would affect the rest of our lives.  We all chose to follow the pull.  We became members or the Army of Christ.

Don’t worry I won’t preach to you, I don’t claim to be perfect, and I don’t “Bible thump”. In fact I have some personal beliefs that would make most churches excommunicate me if they knew.  But hey it’s all between me and God so I don’t really care about what the church thinks.  So if you want to know more about my personal beliefs on controversial subjects like abortion, sex before marriage, homosexuality, and more, you’re in the wrong place.  This is not a political commentary website.

On Easter Sunday of 2004 my Mom and Jill were baptized.  I was dunked a week later.  This was our emergence into a new cleansed life.  The symbolism of the baptism is an event that cannot be described to a non believer.  I personally felt free, happy, and warm.  Feelings that have stayed with me even till this very day.  While we may not attend Solid Rock Community Church anymore, the Pastor is still someone I consider a dear friend.  His guidance and inspiration are assets that I hold dear to my heart.

1. A Small History Lesson	2. Congratulations It’s A Freak
3. The First Five Years	4. It All Goes Up In Flames
5. School Daze	6. Say What?
7. A New Hope	8. Becoming A Sophisticated Redneck
9. A New Beginning – Literally	10. Back Into the Fray
11. They Like Me, They Really Like Me	12. 10011001
13. Let the Music Heal Your Soul	14. Taking My Sister to the Prom
15. My First Love, My First Broken Heart	16. From Zero to Hero
17. Livin’ On a Prayer	18. Moving On
19. Going Full Circle	20. The Rockford Files
21. Faith of the Heart	22. Partner, Friend, Lover, Wife
23. Turns Out She Was Right	24. A One-Legged Bear
25. Another Victim of the Game	26. Payin’ Bills with my Skills
27. A New Revell-ation	28. A New Page, A New Day
29. R We There Yet?