Happy Birthday to ME!

I'm legal. Today, I turned 21 years old in the Lord! I'm so thankful for Truth and the Lords patience with lost, stubborn and hungry souls!

In 1981, I repented of my sins and accepted Christ as my personal savior . It was a powerful experience, as I was coming out of a lifestyle steeped in the occult, drugs and all kinds of crud. However, I thank GOD ALMIGHTY that it didn't work for me!

I looked around at these other Christian-type people, and thought, "What is wrong with them? How do they live this way?" I was saved, and I could still smoke weed! Right ON!

In 1983, Laura and Mary Ingalls showed up at my doorstep. These two women were decked in the 80's hair and Gunney Sack dresses. I almost laughed. Anyhoo, they were at my place to see my roommate. Of course, they had to sit in my living room and testify of the goodness of God.

They asked me if I was saved. I said, "Um, yeah."
Then, they said, "Have you recieved the Holy Ghost?"
Blank look. "Sure. Yeah. When I accepted Christ."

I don't remember the rest of the visit. I was fuming. These women were part of some cult. Worse than Jehovah Witnesses. UGH.

Later in that year, my future first husband DRUG me to this church he started going to. Not only did I have to go with him, but, he made me sit in the second row. Right in front of the preacher.

"Did everone bring their Bibles?" (followed by "amens")
"You better bring your Bible to Church! Or, you're just foolish!" (he had my attention)
"Don't believe me! You gotta READ it for yourself! If you don't bring your Bible and read it for yourself, I could tell you anything!"

I was impressed until he started talking about men, women and relationships. I couldn't believe the archaeic audacity of this preacher! Male cheuvenist pig! But, the Word is the Word.

Regardless of the crazy people.I read the book of Acts about 5 times. Oh, boy. I got madder and madder with each reading, but, I couldn't escape the words in black and white.

"...baptized...Jesus' name..."

In May of 1984, I was baptized in Jesus name-as a declaration of my faith in Christ-NOT because I thought I HAD TO! (riiiiggghhhht...) When I came up out of the water, I was as light as a feather! It was amazing!

It didn't last long, though. My now husband wanted me to change into the women at the church. But, I couldn't wrap my brain around them. I didn't "get" the whole Holy Ghost concept, and, to be honest-I didn't think I wanted to get it.

Abuse, beatings, leaving. I ended up back in Ohio.

In 1987, I was bartending in a local bar. Great fun, great money, free alcohol and a drug budget. What more could a girl want?

I'm glad you ask...

One night, the end of May, I worked a double shift at the bar. I came home 2-3 sheets to the wind, but, wound up from work. I went to bed and decided to read for a while. That always helped me unwind.

I kept a pile of books next to my bed, all in various stages of readage. I reached down, rummaged, pulled one up and thunked it on my pillow in front of me.

Holy Bible.

I didn't think anything of it. I mean, afterall, I was saved. At least that's what I believed before I opened it. When I opened the Bible, it morphed into this verbal, living thing. It told me who I was, everything I'd ever done, all that I was doing now and that I needed the Holy Ghost.

I remembered those women, the church, the preaching and the committment of the people. Whatever they had, I wanted. Even if it was lunacy, it was something they considered worth living for: more than I had at the time.

At the end of my reading, I was stone cold sober, sobbing and repenting. I knew I needed the Holy Ghost and wanted it more than anything. But, how? Where?

The following week, I recieved a phone call from some woman who was from an Apostolic Church. She asked if there was anything she could do for me. Weird.

I asked if she believed in the Holy Ghost. "Yes."
One God, not the Trinity? "Yes."
"Ok. I need the Holy Ghost."

That was Wednesday, June 3, 1987.

On Friday, June 5, 1987, I closed my shift at the bar. Gathered my stuff and walked out.

Forever.

I went to a small church and met with the pastor and the lady that called me. We discussed my life. I repented and told them I wanted the Holy Ghost. NOW.

Ten minutes later, at 10:10PM, I was on the floor, speaking in tongues-FILLED with the precious Spirit of God!

No one can take that away from me!
Apostolic is NOT a denomination.
It is NOT a Non-denomination.
It is an EXPERIENCE!

Hallelujah!!