It has never been my intention to make of this book a religious or spiritual study. But in order to portray my life as it really was, and is, much of my faith and spiritual life has to be revealed throughout or it would not be my life.
Further, God says in His Word the Bible that we who claim to be Christians must speak out or He will cause the stones to do it in His behalf[1]; a clear cut command by our Maker. So I, too, must speak out in these matters as they apply to my life. I'm not trying to give the impression I'm wearing wings; I'm not!
Before God created the earth and heavens, and all that is in them, there was no need for time as we know it today. God is without beginning or end. But when He spoke the world into being and created man in His own image (forming man from clay and breathing into him the breath of life), time was at least mentioned in the Creation Story in the Book of Genesis: "...and the evening and the morning were the first day."[2]
As man and his created partner lived in the Garden of Eden in a sinless state, there still would have been days and nights as I understand it, but I'm still not certain that time in a recorded sense existed.
However, after man's fall into sin, and the toils of a sinful life began, it could be then that time designations had a purpose for Adam and Eve. Hours, days, weeks, months and years then had reason for being calculated. Not that this is any big thing to consider.
But some Scientists today have differing views as to how this world came into being, employing evolutionist theories, the "Big Bang" theory, and others. To these people I must state "It takes more faith to believe the preposterous things you employ as the world's origin than that listed in the Bible." I realize all of you aren't saying "There is no God." But your theories lead toward that direction, and God said "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God!' "[3]
If you want to believe man gradually took on positive steps of growth from a cell or cells and progressed to being monkeys (or apes), and from there proceeded to gain human form and intelligence, that's your prerogative. But I must say, I think what God says is for you, "You are fools," though very educated ones at that!
I've often thought I may look like a monkey, but I'll leave that theory of the origin of mankind to you!
If you happen to be one who is described in the above, maybe you can—as others have who sought to disprove God—come to a saving knowledge of Him as your Lord and Savior by reading and studying His Word, the Bible.
My life's experiences may be inconsequential in comparison with yours, but since I have been asked by so many to undertake this task of revealing mine, I'm going to do the very best I can. This will be my attempt to list those experiences for your enjoyment, for contrasting your life with mine, or just for plain critiquing what I've written.
When I thought of writing about my life, I knew full well it had to include the lives of many others. And to a degree it bothered me that I couldn't pick the thoughts of those others in order to get more accurate data about events or dates or names involved. At first I thought of writing, phoning or talking to some of those who are still around and who are a big part of my life; but as I weighed the possibility I also realized opinions, views, data gathered—these would all then take on the form of a certain amount of subjectivity of those others, and my life's story would then be their views of that life.
So, I'm going to apologize to all who could have been contacted for not doing it, and I ask their forgiveness for any and all mistakes listed. I trust they will see why I chose to do it this way, too.
Please come and take part in Reviewing a Lifetime with me, trying perhaps to put your life in review as we journey through mine together.
 Dedication |
 TOC |
 Chapter 1 |
Footnotes
1[Return to Text] An allusion to Luke 19:37-40 where Jesus' disciples called Him "King" and were praising God. Though not a command to "speak out" here, a command to do so is found in Matthew 28:19f.
2[Return to Text] Genesis 1:5 (KJV); also: vv. 8 (2nd day), 13 (3rd day), 19 (4th day), 23 (5th day) and verse 32 for the 6th day. For a summary of the creation events during each of these days, see our Introduction to Genesis.
3[Return to Text] Psalm 14:1 and 53:1 (almost the same words).