Distancing ourselves from both the left and the right, we don’t celebrate homosexual practice, we acknowledge God’s clear revealed word that it is sin; and we don’t hate those who embrace homosexuality, we love them enough to not just collapse under the societal pressure. We speak the truth in love into this confusion, saying, simultaneously, “That’s wrong” and “I love you.” We’re not the left; we say, this is wrong. And we’re not the right; we say, you’re loved. We speak good news, with those sweetest, deepest, most glorious words of the cross — the same words that God spoke us — “You’re wrong, and you’re loved.”
Jonathan Parnell

Jonnie T’s Testimony

Jonnie T’s TestimonyJonnie T’s Testimony

I really felt that I needed to include my experience with God in case you might be thinking about Him, whether He exists or not or what He has in store for you. My experiences with the spiritual world were all around me when I was growing up because my mum was involved in the occult (ouigi boards, psychic fairs, tarot cards etc.) and I sort of dabbled in it to a degree of proficiency. Of course, being a personable teenager I was invited to lots of parties and indulged in the usual mix of drugs and alcohol. Then one of my best friends was killed. Now you might be thinking , “oh yea, here it comes….death of a close buddy leads to religious experience” but actually it didn’t. All that did was lead me further into my life of partying and living life to the “fullest”. Oddly enough, the further I went and harder I tried to “enjoy” life, the emptier it seemed.

One day, at a bar, I met a girl who I just couldn’t stay away from. She had this “glow” about her personality (besides being a drop-dead brunette) that gripped me. We never really talked at the bar but later at a party I saw her again and made sure that we got to talk. She was just up for a visit to her cousin’s place and so I invited her to go to the beach with me the next day. We did and talked some more about all kinds of things. She told me that she had just become a Christian two weeks ago and that’s why she didn’t drink at the bar (in actual fact, she had already decided that night it was going to be the last time she ever went – she had lost interest in it too). I knew more about being a “born-again” Chrisitan because I had made a similar decision earlier in my life when I was 19 but it didn’t stick because of the bitterness I had in my heart (my parents split up when I was eleven and I HATED my dad). This bitterness tainted my life whether I realized it or not and the girl that took me to church back then split up with me and I just couldn’t handle seeing her there so I left the church and God behind.

We started going to church and I knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do. One day while watching a show called “100 Huntley Street” I phoned them and prayed with a counsellor to ask Jesus into my life. At first, there didn’t seem to be any change but I was sincere. Even when pressed about what was new later that day by one of my roomates I didn’t acknowledge what I had done. However, about a week later this girl had since become my girlfriend and we were having a heated discussion about the religious background she grew up with and how it didn’t line up with the Bible. We ended that day of visiting together on a bad note. The next day we didn’t even really talk, we each just read our own books although I couldn’t concentrate on what I was reading because of our “discussion” the day before. Just then, it seemed like everything grew extremely clear and quiet and as plain as anybody’s voice I heard Jesus say to me “Jon, I love you”. That was all but it gripped my heart and solidified my faith in Him. I started to cry and she looked at me strangely and asked what was the matter with me (of course, she heard nothing) and I explained to her what had happened.

Well, that was some time ago. Since that time we have married and have two great boys. I also had a few years together with my Dad (who had since remarried) and LOVED him with all of my heart. I don’t see him anymore now but I still love him very much as well as his new family. In these last years I have also been plagued with some health problems including diabetes and permanent injuries to my hands and arms through work related jobs (a Repetitive Strain Injury). I’m not in the best of health or finances but God never promised me a rose garden. I say that to say this: One day I was showering at the end of the work day and I was having a conversation with God surrounding my thoughts. I questioned what I would tell people about Him now that I have these injuries, diabetes and debt. I couldn’t promise them (or you) health or wealth. As soon as I’d thought it He placed His answer in my thoughts. He said, “I took the bitterness out of your heart and you can love your dad”. That about says it all. He knows each of our needs and will meet them accordingly. Don’t give up on your search for Him. He’s waiting to meet your every need. He loves you that much.