To me church was about going every Sunday, providing service and memorizing a few scriptures to get my ticket punched for the Pearly Gates.  I grew up believing in God and Jesus but I didn't have a personal relationship with Him.  Today, I praise His name that He was carrying me until I was ready to walk with Him. 

 

We had been in Michigan about three years when my wife and I began looking for a church.  I was feeling the strong pull of God and was eager to get started.  We taught Sunday School, I played in the praise band and was a trustee, building my stairway to heaven and it was going great, except for one thing.  I wasn't building a relationship with God. I had this empty feeling that I was missing something.  The church was in conflict, people were leaving. We were invited to attend Central Church by our friends.  The first service we attended was like God had shined a light on us.  It was as if Pastor Glen was talking directly to us and reaching our hearts.  It was an amazing spiritual experience.  We made the difficult decision to leave our former church and attend Central.  I hated to make our children change the only church they had ever known. 

 

I was asked to play in a band for Celebrate Recovery.  I was ready.  When I attended the first meeting with Pastor Dave for CR, he talked about leadership and 12 steps meetings, but all I was focused on was the band.  I was expected to attend leadership meetings and go through this 12-step 'thingee'.  The first leadership meeting was on Friday night. I found myself sitting in a meeting with six other guys and Pastor Dave.  I was in a meeting where people were sharing innermost thoughts.   I was embarrassed and intimidated but I found myself sharing too.  Pastor Dave started talking about sin and forgiveness and stepping out of denial and establishing a relationship with Jesus.  This is the information I had hungered for the past three years.  I had no idea this is how the Holy Spirit worked.  For the first time in my life, I understood what it meant to be a Christian.  I gave my life to Jesus right there in this meeting.  I had spent the majority of my life with shame, guilt and denial but in the course of 60 minutes, my life was changed forever.   Man this was even better than playing in the band!  
 

My heart has been changed forever because of Central and CR.  Not because of the band or friendships, but because my life has been saved through Jesus' blood.  "I can master all things through Jesus Christ; thru Him all things are possible".  Phil 4:3