This year, December 15 is the 46th anniversary of my spiritual birthday. In 1964 I was 35 years old when my good friend and political compatriot, Shirley Spellerberg, tricked my wife and me into going to a Christmas Concert. I heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ loud and clear, how that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me (an imperfect atheist), Even secular history records that Jesus was buried and rose again — thus proving Himself to be God in the Flesh. That very night I trusted Christ as my Savior and passed from death to eternal life, from an atheist to a believer in the Savior of the world, The Son of God, Jesus Christ. That was accomplished by my simple decision to trust Jesus as my Savior. The simplicity of the Gospel was amazing to me (still is) and contrary to the lie I had heard about the “Christian religion” all my life, that “Good people go to heaven and bad people go to Hell.” The Bible says there are no people good enough to go to Heaven on their own. Further we can never make ourselves good enough. It happens ONLY through our faith in Jesus Christ.
I constantly thank the Lord for His Grace and Mercy, that He would die on that cross for such a wretch as me.
I thank the Lord that Pastor Ray Stanford made the Gospel and the invitation to trust Christ so clear at that Christmas Concert that even I could understand the Gospel and believe in (put my faith in) Jesus Christ.
Right now, you too can pass from death to life by trusting Christ as YOUR Savior. He died for the imperfections (sins) that would keep you from Heaven. The Bible says “The wages of sin is death..” but Jesus paid your debt and offers Heaven to you absolutely FREE — no strings attached — and it is God’s eternal contract with you..
John 3:16
For God so loved the world (you), that He gave his only begotten Son (Jesus), that whosoever believeth (you) in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Trust Jesus Now, make this your greatest and most blessed Christmas season ever.
Notes From A Retired Preacher 
Bro. David,
I wish you an early Happy Anniversary of Your Second Birthday.
You said you were “so lost.” You were in the majority. That describes humanity in general who have never trusted Christ as Savior..
Now, as believers, we are in the Heaven Bound minority.. safe and secure for all eternity. We need to tell others.
Will check out your post at:
http://www.hallelujahtisdone.blogspot.com/2010/12/just-had-to-post.html
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
Happy spiritual Birthday bro. Jack! Interestingly enough, I date mine to this week also! December 17, though I really don’t remember the exact moment. The Lord really worked me over during that time. I was so lost, though raised in a fine home. I’ll not go into it all here, just that the Lord showed me I was a wicked sinner & He is a wonderful Savior! Also interestingly enough, just before I saw your post here, I added a post for the first time on my blog in months. May the Lord bless you with Hos joy til you see Him face to Face!
Pearl,
Thanks — and I appreciate your comments at Suze’s blog also. Very clear and scriptural.
BTW, that sneaky Shirley Spellerberg left the S. Florida area and was Mayor of Corinth TX for 12 years. Her husband was called home to Heaven about 2 years ago.. Before that they drove here once or twice a year so we saw them regularly. Since Spell is with the Lord, she will fly down instead of drive.
I appreciate your stopping by.. come again.. I have subscribed to your Blog so I can keep up.
Have a blessed time of celebrating the birth of our Savior.
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
I love reading testimonies such as yours – amazing grace! God bless that sneaky Shirley Spellerberg (try saying that real fast 3 times? 😉 )!
Been enjoying reading your posts here and comments over at Suze Blog. Take care, the both of you.
Pearl
SueLiz, Thanks for dropping in and your comment — any glory belongs to the Lord..
Thanks also for your Blog.. you have managed to touch a nerve with the Yancey Contemplative posts.
It does seem as if some “learned theologians” want to work the details to death and miss the “simplicity that is in Christ”
2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
Romanists, Calvinists, Reformed, Legalists, Contemplatives, etc all seem to ignore (or don’t know) Scripture.
Act 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
And the decision once having been made means eternal life is ETERNAL – no fear of loss – ever. The Lord honors His irreversible, eternal contract.
Ephesians 1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise,”
God’s Amazing Grace.
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
Happy Birthday! What a great story..keep spreading the good news! 🙂
Thanks Bruce,
I mark it as a wonderful, undeserved start for an eternal journey with my Savior. I often wonder if I ever would have trusted Christ had Dr. Stanford not asked me to consider trusting Jesus as my Savior that night. Amazing is God’s Grace!!
I plan on sticking around and doing what I can for the Lord as long as He wants me here.
Happy 46th to you also.
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
Happy Spiritual Birthday my friend! I was saved the same year.
May the Lord grant you many more years to serve him. You are doing a tremendous ministry of reaching souls online. God bless you.
Buttermilk80,
Thanks for your note..
John 3:16 is the only verse I remembered having learned at age 7 – before I rejected the “religion” in which I was raised.
That Christmas Concert night, I finally understood that verse for what it really means– Christ was given to me — and I could receive and believe in Him and have everlasting life.
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
Happy Birth Day is fast approaching! Indeed, God is Great that He should reach to such as we. I am busily planting the “verdict” part of that passage. And I rarely find anyone quoting the 16th verse with power. Thank you for causing me to look up from the dirt of my task.
By His Grace.