The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

My name is Ron. I am a disciple of Christ, a husband of one, father of three, and guardian of another. I am a lay leader of Men's Ministry at my local church and sit as the Board Chairperson of a pregnancy resource center. I am the Director of I.T. Development at a multi-channel retailer for income. I ride a hog and I would do that all day, every day if given the choice.

I do not have any answers, I have many questions; I study, seeking knowledge, but do not profess to know it all (or much of anything). I desire to impact the lives of men for Christ and have found that this requires hard work and relationships. This takes time and consistent energy, something men are exceptionally bad at (and men of this generation are worse yet at).

I did not always walk with the Lord. I as baptized at age 10, believing that I was saved (as an SDA)... raised by adoptive parents that were well-meaning, very legalistic, and very rigid. I left home at a young age, made my own way, came back to the church at age 18... led youth and collegiate groups, taught in SDA schools, etc and then got divorced (age 21) and left altogether. I lived my life, working hard (and drinking harder), kicking the drinking at age 24 and remarrying at age 26. I treated my wife worse and worse over the years while we had three children... but I gave her more and more 'things'. We traveled the world and 'had it all'. We moved back into the country (in Wisconsin) in 2004 and my attitude had become almost untenable. Carnal man has one lasting emotion, and that is anger. Fleeting frustration becomes anger, hurt becomes anger... and so on. My anger had my kids scared, my wife broken, and me becoming a worse tyrant day after day. One evening I came home to find my wife and kids gone.

That evening I hit my knees and wrestled with the Lord. I knew what I had been doing (very 'manly', strong and successful in the world's eyes) hadn't worked... that is, there was nothing 'lasting' about what I had done. I told the Lord that I would do it His way, regardless what happened with my wife and kids. He saw fit to return them after a time and to reward us with a healthy relationship that grows day after day... after a time of hurt and healing.

That road has helped me see what men face, what lies we believe, what we fall into, and what hope there is for each of us. You don't know me, but those that did - and still do - will tell you that if the Lord can work a miracle with me, He will have no problem doing it with you.

Now I am on fire for men and their participation in Kingdom-building. We can be the men God has called us to be. We don't have to be milque-toast versions of our former selves. We can be strong and lion-hearted in the Lord, keeping our deep strength bridled and useful to the Lord in His work on our earth; every step moving us to the time when He will return and make us new. PTL!

R

Welcome to the forum, Ron! And thank you for sharing some of what God has done in your life.

Cale

_________________
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

Forum Code of Conduct
The Bible NETWork Doctrinal Statement
The NET Bible Study Environment
Pastors Pro-Life Resource Center
Biblical Eldership

Welcome WoM! Your testimony is powerful. I'm sure the Lord can/will use it to help others. He, the Lord, is fascinating in His work in our lives, isn't He? Personally, I know, he took a total "Jerk" like me and made me anew. That, to me, was tantamount to creating the universe. If I wouldn't have seen and experienced it, I'd never have believed it could be done.
Again, welcome, and Thank you for sharing that testimony.