My name is Shane and this is my story;
I grew up in a loving but non-religious home, however my mother did see to it that I was exposed to moral religious teaching by sending me off to Sabbath school from time to time. So although I didn’t know who Jesus was I do remember having a healthy fear of the Lord, or maybe that was a health fear of going to hell. I remember regally saying the Lords pray as a boy before going to bed like it was a get out jail free card in case I never woke up.
As teenager in high school I was one of those kids that didn’t quite fit with a group. You know how High School is there were the Basketballers, the footy guys, Library crew, a mix of different ethnic or social groups and then the smokes behind the toilet block, well I didn’t really belong anywhere, so I hung with a few misfits who saw me as the runt of there litter so I coped the butt of most of their jokes. This lead me to a relative depressed place, at one point I gained permission to leave the school grounds at lunch because socially I was outcasted, and I found it hard to be in a place where I was a nobody
Things changed for me in my senior years and like all great stories, it all began, with a girl. So socially not fitting in, I had a attractive & older girl asked me if I would like to go to church with her on Sunday, I was quick to say yes because firstly a girl was talking to me, and secondly in my mind hanging out with her on a weekend well that was kinda like a date? so I went along.
The service was youthful energetic and a kinda rough around the edges bald dude gave a simple gospel message, when the opportunity was given I responded. Looking back, my initial response was not because I felt convicted of my sin, but because of the acceptance I experienced, but for whatever reason I give, it was defiantly the moment God got a hold of me and started changing my life.
In Romans 5 is says; 8 …God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In the years that followed and through the help of a few other teenage Christians at my school the Gospel became clearer to me and I grew in my confidence in Jesus. I became to see my heart for what it was, selfish and sinful. This made me rely more and more on Gods Grace through Jesus’ death and resurrection that had purchased my forgiveness.
Even tho the Christian title didn’t initially gain me any respect at school, I didn’t need it, I was accepted in Jesus and that was enough for me. By Gods grace I soon found myself involved in a sport with whom my teammates were a mix of all the different groups within school and from being outcasted I soon was accepted in most groups. From downtrodden I was lifted up. Opportunities arose to share the gospel with others and some came along to church and respond to the alter calls. So God was even beginning to use me.
But like most stories there were a few twists and for a while there was a gap where the acceptance of people began to trump the acceptance I had in Jesus and I found myself partying, drinking and doing few other silly things. You know the funny thing is even through this time saw myself as being Christian, even tho I was totally unrepentant, in fact I would look for out of context bible passages that would vaguely say it was ok to act like I was.
You see what was lacking in me was acknowledgment of my sin, even tho I knew that that I could came to the cross, and find forgiveness. Deep down I didn’t want to give up the acceptance I had gained in other people. But again by God grace and over time God revealed these things in me broke me and helped me to deal with them. And He made it clear to me that a big part of my slipping away from Him was because I hadn’t invested in His word, the Bible. I dabbled but never studied it; I quoted from it but never had it as the authority in my life. I am so grateful and humbled by the lessons God has thought me, and the patience He has had with me.
And now stand here in 2010 striving to be Godly husband, father and friend. Not perfect by any means but loving Jesus, His word, and loving others with all God has given me. I look forward to a future that no doubtablely will include a more focused roll in ministry however that might play out.
This has been my story.
