Q: My first recollection of being in church was…

A: I would say that it seems though it was many moons ago and at times, it seems like in another life time. I was young, and as a child, we (being my brother and I) went to a church with our grandmother when she went and where she went.

Q: The closest I have felt to God in my life was…

A: I have many instances in my life with Him. I can say that I feel close to my Jesus and as well to my Holy Spirit every day. Which is completely true on all of it. But, the best one that I hold dearest to me. Is the time that I saw Him, My Jesus, face to face. And the words that He said to me, the way He looked, the feeling I felt, the complete Love and Peace that was there, and I go back to that time and place many times. Not to have my heart or my spirit brought up by any means. But it is also one of my testimonials for others to know how He changed me. That I can say is the closet that I hold dear to my heart. The thing that will now shock you. I did not know Jesus as my personal friend or even my savior at the time. Yet, He loved me enough to keep me alive.

Q: The time I have felt the greatest doubt or distance from God was…

A: I would have to say the time that I was tested to see if I would doubt Him and His Word. For I have been tested many upon many times in my walk with Him. And to see if I would stop and to smell the flowers without Him? The one who could let me know and have a memory with that smell or even the color. This time that I am referring to is this. There was a time when Melissa got pregnant. The doctors of course said it was a tubular. Which I did not completely understand at the time. But you oh God, not only were you checking my heart, but you were checking to see how much and to what end I would hold fast to Him, through it all. Long story short, I fell in Love with my Jesus again. I did not blame Him, nor did I hate God. I went into His Word and found Him waiting for me. Then we begun to talk, heart to heart, then I began hear His voice and see Him and what He wanted me to see. It really is a beautiful story about it and HIm.

Q: If I could thank God for just one incident in my life it would be ______ and why?

A: Just one? There is so many times that He had saved me for just this moment in time, not for such a time as this, but His moment in our time. I must say, It is not when I first gave my life over to Him, not the time He saved me from being shot at with a 9mm hollow point (almost point blank), or the many bars fights, nor the time my car was upside down, no not any of them. I would thank God for each moment that He brings someone new or someone that I already know into my life. For each one of them is an incident that has caused a impact on me and as well to the other person or people. Yes it is amazing for the things that He does, but so is the people that He puts into your life. One by one, each person has an amazing part to do in your life as well as you into theirs. You get to experience what God has put in them or done with them and then the same as it goes back to them. You get to help build a bigger family and you get to help build His kingdom for others to be part of. To learn how to love the unlovable ones and to help out the ones who are in desperate need of Him. You do not have to have a huge or even a big ministry for that. You just have to be yourself, and give Him out just as freely as you have received Him.

Q: If I could thank God for just one person in my faith journey it would be _______ and why?

A: I would say Jesus or even Holy Spirit. He never leaves my side. He is always there. But I am guessing that what you mean is like a spouse or a person like that. I can say that I have known many people in my faith walk, but I would diffently have to say my wife, Melissa Faris. Not because she would do any harm to me or anything like that. But because she has always had me to check the Word and things and to ask Holy Spirit and see what He would say. I mean on everything major or even the small things. Even to the point it would get on a persons nerves, but it would be out of love. She stands behind me in many to all the things I do. Even the strangest ideas that come up. She insists that I take it to God first, and then go fromthere.

Q: If I could name a turning point in my life for my relationship with God it would be ________ and why?

A: My turning point with God is everyday. I say this because when I wake up in the mornings, it is a choice to make. Either do it all day my way, or do it HIs way regardless of what the outcome will be. I have to choose correctly every day. Not just cause He allowed me to wake up and to stomp a hole again and again into the enemy’s plan. But because I know where I came from and the places that He has saved me from. Not to the fact that we are not promised tomorrow, but to the fact that He loves me so so much. And I choose every day to turn to Him in all that I do. Not saying that it is always easy, for we do get tested and tried in things. Sometimes He just wants to make sure that we will choose HIm and not take the easy way out of everything. That is sometimes not always easy, but worth it at the end of the day.

Q: If I had to tell someone why I am a Christian I would have to say…

A: I used to say one thing, and it was usually all I knew. That was cause He first loved me and that He died for me. I would say to a person now, depending on where I am at, how much time do you have? Sometimes it is on the phone, or an place to eat, getting gas, on vacation or something like that. For I have learned over time, that a person can say many great things why they think that they are an Christian and even be right. But for them to say it and walk it out as the way Jesus would want them to, that many times it will be different. Some people when they ask you that, they want to know why your not like other Christians doing this or that, or why do you talk still with a foul mouth when you are to be changed for Him, or why do you think that this church is better than that one. The list can go on and on. So when a person does ask that question, I ask my question so that I know which one they are actually referring to, and they will sometimes even tell you which one they are really wanting to know about. Sometimes the best answer to the question is this, I want to see you make it to heaven and if you not sure if you are, would you like to know Jesus or even to accept Him. Sometimes that is all a person wants to know, if they can ask Him back into their lives for whatever reason. You would be surprised I think, to it. Yes, the reason I am a Christian is because I try my best to be like what He said I would be and to do Everything that He said that I could in His Word. But my favorite to tell someone, when they ask, is that I am a child of God. Not that I am a Christian by the world standards, but by HIS.