I’m Not Kidding.

April 13, 2025

Seriously. I’m not kidding…

I’m not trying to fool you. I’m not stupid. I’m not gullible. I’m not deceived in any way., nor am I trying to deceive you in any way. I’m not making money off of telling you about God, Jesus, and the Bible. Nothing of the sort!

I am convinced, however, that it is essential — eternally essential — for me to share with any and all readers that God — of Biblical fame — is real. God is true. God is faithful. God is upstanding… and I would be dead and long gone if that were not true…

Again, I am not kidding…

I am alive and prospering nicely for one overarching reason and for that one reason only..

.God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him …

For your review and for your consideration:

• I had it made, but during High School I was so depressed that I thought I hated myself and tried to commit suicide.
• I turned to illicit drugs, to ease my pain and escape depression.
• When falling into a deep pit of drug-induced darkness, I called on God, and He instantly… instantly made it like I had never dropped that LSD.
• Mysteriously, I ended my hitchhiking days at a Christian Youth Hostel/Rescue Mission where I found Jesus as my Forgiver, Internal Healer, and Rescuer from the sorry state of affairs which my life had become.
• He led me back to my home where He provided food, shelter, and time for rehabilitation, Learning to work with my hands, working at jobs that are normally done in the teenage years, reading the Bible, meeting others who had experienced Jesus’ saving power, and slowly moving into the adult world of employment.
• in a day, my 12 year nicotine (cigarette) addiction was completely gone
• Suddenly, just as I was getting my life together, suffering an attack of Acute Hemorrhaging Pancreatitis, and given a 10% chance of survival, the youth group came to the Hospital as my small church assembly was praying for me, the Surgeons opened me up for a second time, found the exact source of my hemorrhaging problem, but then… that 10% chance was still there.
• During the months in ICU, I went from around 200 lbs, to a skin and bones 120 lbs. — In fact, the first time I was able to stand, looking into a full length mirror , I startled myself, because I looked like one of the prisoners of the Holocaust.
• God had opened up vocational opportunities, bringing me along slowly as I was about a decade behind learning how to be employed: first to Temps, then to seasonal full time, next to year round full time, overtime, Union Steward, Cornell Labor Relations Extension, Local Union President…
• Marriage to a Born Again partner(Now she is overseeing my writings as my Editor-in-chief.)
• Children
• Buying a house with a big yard for the kids and near their Grandparents, and other kids in the neighborhood to play with.
• More children
• Grandchildren.

Now, I have the privilege of writing such essays as this — for you — that, hopefully, you might begin to believe and to consider like the Apostle Peter. stepping off your fishing boat and into the Sea of Galilee, grabbing the outstretched hand of Jesus who will gladly save you from the stormy seas, your own selves, and the less than ideal and complete lives… I’m not kidding.

Please think about what I’ve written here and consider for yourself and for your own benefit… Did you know

The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life — life in all its fullness. — John 10:10, Good News Translation (GNT).

Now, I just thought of something else important to say. I have always been extremely slow on the uptake. Now, after 50 years of knowing Jesus, talking with Him, reading the Bible and seeking His presence in all aspects of my life… Finally, I am beginning to understand and experience the joy that the Bible talks about. Here are several bible verses I hope will give you an idea about what the Bible means by “joy.”

I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent. — Luke 15:7, GNT.

So, that joy can be for just one person!

Can you even begin to imagine the celebration at the gathering of thousands described in this next verse?!?

After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd — no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. — Revelation 7:9, GNT.

CeCe Winans — I’ve Got Joy (Official Lyric Video)

Joy Song | Motion Worship | Official Music Video

“Send the Light” written by Charles H. Gabriel in 1890.

So, there’s that.

By turning from your self-centered ways, and f you want, that joy can be yours, simply by making the decision to turn (and I know we can make that deciding way harder and more complicated than it really is, but still, consider the bottom line…).

Pretend life is like a highway, and you have to slow down and make a sharp turn to avoid calamity…