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Shakan'Dar · 06-20-2007, 10:49 PM

I've been a Christian since Good Friday of this year. Up until that point, I'd been an evolution advocate and an atheist.

My "transformation" if you will came about as a result of my best friend and God himself.

My best friend was the one who got me to actually think about my beliefs and question them. This came about through a 5 hour evolution vs. creation discussion. It was very interesting, and he raised several points that made me begin to question myself.

The day after the discussion, I was in turmoil. I kept thinking about everything we'd discussed. I experienced a very disturbing "pain" (for lack of a better word) in my chest. It throbbed, and seemed to grow in intensity everytime I thought about what he'd said. And I thought about it almost constantly for a week.

He then suggested that I come to his youth group, as I'd lived on one side of the fence for 16 years, and it'd be good to see the other side first hand and make up my own mind. I thought it was a good idea.

The day that I went happened to be Good Friday. It was good. Friendly people, worship and praise songs in punk music style, a good environment, as you'd expect from a church group. I had fun, but it didn't seem enough for me. Everyone stood and took communion, and so did I, but I still wasn't convinced.

Then, the pastor asked us just to open ourselves up. To open our minds. I stood there eyes shut, just listening to the guy. I thought to myself, "if God isn't real, what do I have to lose?" so I started thinking about God and Jesus as if they were real. It was then that the youth pastor asked anyone new if they were ready to let Christ into their lives, and to raise their hand if they were.

I didn't, but just stood there "keeping my mind open" for lack of a better word. The throbbing "pain" was there, but then it changed. It no longer felt bad. It felt good. I felt my knees starting to shake, and grabbed onto the chair in front of me, because I was worried I'd fall over. There seemed to be this immense surging in me of what I can only describe as "goodness". That experience was enough.

I raised my hand then, and I've never looked back since.

06-20-2007, 10:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Shakan'Dar Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 18 Posts: 254 Rep Power: 4	I've been a Christian since Good Friday of this year. Up until that point, I'd been an evolution advocate and an atheist. My "transformation" if you will came about as a result of my best friend and God himself. My best friend was the one who got me to actually think about my beliefs and question them. This came about through a 5 hour evolution vs. creation discussion. It was very interesting, and he raised several points that made me begin to question myself. The day after the discussion, I was in turmoil. I kept thinking about everything we'd discussed. I experienced a very disturbing "pain" (for lack of a better word) in my chest. It throbbed, and seemed to grow in intensity everytime I thought about what he'd said. And I thought about it almost constantly for a week. He then suggested that I come to his youth group, as I'd lived on one side of the fence for 16 years, and it'd be good to see the other side first hand and make up my own mind. I thought it was a good idea. The day that I went happened to be Good Friday. It was good. Friendly people, worship and praise songs in punk music style, a good environment, as you'd expect from a church group. I had fun, but it didn't seem enough for me. Everyone stood and took communion, and so did I, but I still wasn't convinced. Then, the pastor asked us just to open ourselves up. To open our minds. I stood there eyes shut, just listening to the guy. I thought to myself, "if God isn't real, what do I have to lose?" so I started thinking about God and Jesus as if they were real. It was then that the youth pastor asked anyone new if they were ready to let Christ into their lives, and to raise their hand if they were. I didn't, but just stood there "keeping my mind open" for lack of a better word. The throbbing "pain" was there, but then it changed. It no longer felt bad. It felt good. I felt my knees starting to shake, and grabbed onto the chair in front of me, because I was worried I'd fall over. There seemed to be this immense surging in me of what I can only describe as "goodness". That experience was enough. I raised my hand then, and I've never looked back since.