This first evening at camp we all had to go to a big
building for some kind of program. So there we were- it
seemed like hundreds of teens and there came this young
evangelist with a message that seemed just for me!
After all these years of church, altar boy service, etc...
how could I have been so amazed at this message this man
brought to us that night???
It was June 18, 1972 and my life would never be the same. I
can recall that night as if it were yesterday . . . the
smell of the auditorium- the fragrance of the cologne the
men were wearing as they gathered around me and prayed at
that altar with me. Of all the things I have forgotten in my
life this night will never lose its luster!
Why tell you this? Because today is a reminder of how good
living a christian life is----- not that I am a model
christian; I certainly have failed much along the way. Just
trying to live this life as best I can has been so good,
such a great challenge and the very best life I could ever
have been given----at no charge, to boot!!!
We can't go back and redo all the things we feel we did
wrong- we can't change those mistakes we have made. Thank
goodness our Lord let His own blood drip down that cross for
people like me so we could experience the feeling of
forgiveness in our lives . . . . .
Forgiveness: I didn't deserve it but it came quickly that
night and it gave me a second chance to make things better
in my own life!
Today is a sweet anniversary for me. One that makes me cry,
shout and feel so good about this life I have had so far.
And unless He calls me home this very day, I have some life
left to do all I can for HIM!!!
That's right. The best decision I ever made was to live my
life FOR HIM!!!
Wish I had seen that many years ago the way I have
experienced that in the past few years.
With 2200 names in my email database it took me a long time
to look at who I would send this to. Some of you I know very
well, a couple of you are my wife and children . . . some of
you I hired and worked with along the way.
Some are childhood friends and old school mates . . . some
folks I go to church with or went to church with . . . a
couple of you I have never met. I just spoke on the phone
with you sometime in my life and kept you in my file of
files . . . a couple of you are my cousins . . . and some I
met on vacation as we started a conversation which led to a
friendship only our Lord can orchestrate . . . this email is
one that lets you know you must be special in my life or I
wouldn't have considered such an anniversary gift to you
this morning!
Thank you Lord for these years and for this time you have
given me.
For those teens and adult counselers who knelt around me at
that altar that night and who went back to my bunk and
stayed up all night to pray with me and speak into my life
at such a time . . . . . . .
for those of you who may not be saved as we call it- who
may not actually know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and
Saviour this is for you . . .
Maybe you have lived a good life but not a Godly life; I
have written this to remind you this place we live right now
is only temporary------- there is so much more for us to
experience. For me, it was June 18th, 1972 but for you it
could be June 18, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
Take this time to reflect on your own life and decide to
live out your life with strength, vitality, love, peace and
forgiveness for those who have hurt you or have disappointed
you.
Let this day be the greatest of all! It certainly was for
me . . . . . . .
Blessings to you all and I love you much!
Chuck