So, here it is.
I am a Christian, and though it seems as if only everyone else's shortcomings are noticable to me, it is quite the contrary.
In my Christian walk, I notice painfully obvious transgressions and mindsets that I am not only not proud of, but am seeking to abolish from my life.
I, like everyone else, take my life's experiences and package them all into a neat little box...and call it "Me".
Except there are a lot of things that I would rather NOT have affecting "me"...
One of the things I would like to have affecting "me" MORE is God.
I will never be the Christian I want to be, since being perfect in Christ's manner is unachievable totally, but I am going to get as close to it as I possibly can, so that I can best serve Him with my life.
So, I started asking myself about 6 months ago what I could do to accomplish that.
I prayed...and I prayed...and I prayed...and I prayed.
I cried, and I wailed, and I begged, and I fell prostrate to the ground in humility of my God...that He would change me to be a vessel for Him.
Anyway, it is so amazing, looking back, at the series of events that has brought me to the place spiritually that I am at today.
In the faith of Christianity, it is believed that we all have "gifts". I don't mean personality traits that make us more or less desirable by our human counterparts, but rather spiritual gifts that God will be able to use to minister to other people.
Mine, long before I became a Christian, was the gift of discernment.
I know when something is wrong...not just with my faith, but with people.
For instance, a man walked passed me one day while I was waiting for the bus. He didn't look at me, or even acknowledge my presence, but when he passed me, I got a shiver...and that wasn't all. I am not going to explain the rest, but suffice it to say that my every molecule reared back in horror of this man.
While that sounds crazy and bizarre, I have to tell you how awed and shocked I was to see his face plastered all over the news two months later...he had kidnapped, raped, and killed a little girl. She was only 7.
So, that is just an example of the "discernment" I have. It helped me greatly in my quest to become a medium, prior to my conversion to Christianity.
Ok, to the point.
This discernment has led me in the direction of ministry...going out into the field (the world), and taking what I know of God to people who would not have otherwise heard it.
But I had to accept the fact that I don't know as much about God, and the Bible, as I ought to.
The Decision: My husband and I are moving to Portland, Oregon, to attend Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary.
I have been so pulled and prodded by the Spirit to do this, that I can hardly contain myself.
In a Christian's life-walk (so to speak), they experience Valley's and Mountains. During the Valley times, we feel downtrodden and abandoned by our God. It is a time of learning, and great healing.
But the times that we are on our spiritual "Mountain", we hear the voice of God within us, and we can do nothing but heed the call.
I spent the past 7 years of my life in a spiritual Valley, folks. It was all self-induced, and did nothing to wane my faith, but I must tell you that it was a long time to be out of fellowship with my God.
I am now on a spiritual Mountain, and for once in my life I feel as though I am truly open for God to use me. It is an awesome feeling.
But, to my point (and my debate opener)...
I will be going to a school for Christianity. Yes, I will obtain a regular degree in Fine Arts (I am going to study music), but I am also going to be learning Greek, Hebrew, the Bible, and various other aspects of my faith.
Is there something comparable, in your opinion, to YOUR beliefs ?
I know there are Mormon and Catholic colleges, but...what about Buddhism ? Agnosticism, Atheism ?
If there are, or if they were available to you, would you consider going, just to achieve a better understanding of your beliefs ?
If not, why not ?
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