I was 35 years old and I didn’t know God, rather, I knew many gods. I worshipped the gods of success, security, and self-indulgence; entertainment, pleasure, and sex; family, friends, and status. None of these so-called gods could answer or fulfill the deepest longings of my soul. I appeared to be full of life, but I was dead. I was without hope and without God in the world.
April 15th, 2011, I received my first Bible as a very strange and unexpected gift. About that time, many other peculiar individuals had entered my life, and the common factor was how openly they talked about Jesus. I had absolutely no interest in this Jesus stuff, “church,” or religion, but having 2 young kids and a wife I adored, I couldn’t help but ask, “What if all my life, I’d been basing my beliefs off wrong information; deceived by my own ideals?” I began reading the gifted Bible, and my wife and I began attending a Sunday school class.
I was soon convinced that the God of the Bible was the one true God, worthy of all honor and praise. He made me and every human being in His image, to reflect His beauty, His goodness, His justice, His mercy, yet I had willfully rebelled against, rejected, and dishonored Him. Since He is holy, just, and good, I deserved nothing more than His righteous judgement; an eternity separated from His presence and all that is good. But I was also convinced of His great mercy and love; a love so determined to do undeserved good to me, that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross, to pay the penalty for my sin, that I may be forgiven. And God has testified that this payment is all sufficient and acceptable, by raising Jesus from the dead. I fell on my knees and asked God for His forgiveness; that Jesus be the Lord of my life, and with His help, I would follow Him.
Since, God has filled me with a hunger to know Him and His Son who loves me so much. He freed me from so many passions that once enslaved me. And He filled my life with purpose. I still wrestle with a plethora of personal struggles and burdens daily, but I find my rest in God’s new mercies every morning.
I’ve been so blessed by all God is doing in my life and through this small company. My prayer is that if you do not know Jesus personally, you would; and if you do know Him, you would know Him even more, for “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
May grace, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Josh Lauder, Owner
Isaiah 40
April 15th, 2011, I received my first Bible as a very strange and unexpected gift. About that time, many other peculiar individuals had entered my life, and the common factor was how openly they talked about Jesus. I had absolutely no interest in this Jesus stuff, “church,” or religion, but having 2 young kids and a wife I adored, I couldn’t help but ask, “What if all my life, I’d been basing my beliefs off wrong information; deceived by my own ideals?” I began reading the gifted Bible, and my wife and I began attending a Sunday school class.
I was soon convinced that the God of the Bible was the one true God, worthy of all honor and praise. He made me and every human being in His image, to reflect His beauty, His goodness, His justice, His mercy, yet I had willfully rebelled against, rejected, and dishonored Him. Since He is holy, just, and good, I deserved nothing more than His righteous judgement; an eternity separated from His presence and all that is good. But I was also convinced of His great mercy and love; a love so determined to do undeserved good to me, that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross, to pay the penalty for my sin, that I may be forgiven. And God has testified that this payment is all sufficient and acceptable, by raising Jesus from the dead. I fell on my knees and asked God for His forgiveness; that Jesus be the Lord of my life, and with His help, I would follow Him.
Since, God has filled me with a hunger to know Him and His Son who loves me so much. He freed me from so many passions that once enslaved me. And He filled my life with purpose. I still wrestle with a plethora of personal struggles and burdens daily, but I find my rest in God’s new mercies every morning.
I’ve been so blessed by all God is doing in my life and through this small company. My prayer is that if you do not know Jesus personally, you would; and if you do know Him, you would know Him even more, for “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
May grace, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Josh Lauder, Owner
Isaiah 40
