@ Davidmil.....I share this site with my wife and this is her response to your comment..... As a soldier myself I know firsthand the life altering affects war has. As a wife of a soldier who has served numerous deployments not only is his life altered so is mine, and that of our family. The man I first met is never the same man that returns home. And how is it not life altering for those that give their lives. So please don't say it only happens in Hollywood because it doesn't. As for nothing spiritual if it wasn't for God he wouldn't have come home at all. You wouldn't have the blessing of knowing if you have never been there.
God isn't a God of chance or coincidence He knows what He is doing and He knows you. He knew what it would take in your life to see how real and awesome Our God truly is. I personally feel that we can't have a real relationship with God if our views don't change because without good change their is no room for growth and without growth comes death.
Mine change, change by strengthening my belifes in Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Thanks for sharing my brother.
I want to speak to you as a pastor for just a moment. The events you described could have easily been orchestrated by God or it could have been that you were just there in that place at that moment. I don't know and we could debate that for months. The real question is, now that He has made Himself known to you; how will you respond? There have been many professing athiest who have had moments of epiphany like yours, where they have come to know that God is. Josh Mcdowell, Lee Strobel and Norman Geisler to name a few; google them if you like and see what they have to say. But here is the deal; He has made Himself known to you..."You"... not someone else... "You". For some reason, maybe you subconsciously had dounts as to your beliefs all along. Maybe in all your time in the woods, you have been witnessing the wonder of His creation and have wondered who made all this. Maybe seeing someone in peril triggered something that was in you all along. You are a good man for responding to a neighbor in need... that's exactly what He did for "You" at Calvary. He saw your need, my need and He loved us all so much that He gave His Son that we may know Him and in our peril find a rescuer. In a sense, you were Jesus to Melvin... He is real and He does love you and He does want you to experience His power in ways you never before imagined...
You were in the right place at the right time but also looking for something more. You found it. Twice.
First you are a true hero. Finding faith can happen in strange ways and most are very individual and private. This is your call don't forget that and let others tell you how to feel or think. I was raised in the church and can't say I've experienced that "calling" but for those that have it can be both comforting and confusing. Religion and faith are intertwined but different if you are looking for answers find a church or pastor that fits your beliefs and more importantly you are comfortable with.
