Thursday, July 12, 2007

My Story

I'm reading this book called "Just walk across the Room"by Bill Hybels. I have learned so much...
He was talking about how we all have our own stories, and that unfortunately a lot of the stories out there that believers use to share the gospel are not the most intriguing. He gives out 4 criticisms that Christians tend to fall in when sharing their personal testimonies. ( this will be short summaries, if you want to read more...check at the book! or buy it! it's worth it)

#1: Long-Windedness
They are way to long and keep the listener bored.

#2: Fuzzines
Long stories that are incoherent. They include supernatural stories; and he also suggests not to include those in your own personal story...they confuse those who do not know christ even more!

#3: Religionese: Talking in a language based on scripture when the person you are talking to is probably confused and not understanding.

#4: Superiority: When people just start sharing their stories without even knowing if the person they are "evangelizing" is even Christian...they are just talking when they do not even know the name of the person.


After these 4 points i realized that i did not even know how to share my own "story". I started asking myself....when did I really meet Jesus? How can i really share my story if i do not even know if i met Jesus when i was 12 or just a year ago? You see...when I was 12 I accepted Christ in my heart.. I sure knew his voice and all, but i was a baby Christian, and did not really grow for five years. It was not until I moved to another church that i began to experience His Grace and love for me...and hence that is when i really started to get to know Him better. So i was struggling with the fact that i really did not know how to tell my story...but after Bill Hybels introdcued the "before and after pattern" i realized that i had my story all along...i just needed to think of what really happened to me when i met Jesus. So here is my short story of why Jesus is so important for me:

I used to be this selfish person, that would only think of herself. I used to think life was unfair and I got to a point in my life where I hated my own dad. I used to keep things from my mom, thinking that she wouldn't understand....but Then I met Jesus. The friendship with my mom was restored, i started thinking about other people and their troubles, i began to see life in a new perspective,and He set me free of a hatred that was keeping me bitter.

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