I was born and raised in Houston, Texas during the time when front doors were left unlocked and windows were open and attic fans enticed a cool breeze through the entire house.  Kids played all around the neighborhood and we often sat around on the porch playing "jacks" during the hot afternoons.  I grew up as a catholic boy and became an altar boy and all those sorts of things. I remember an event when I was in second grade (or maybe it was first grade) at St.Peters Elementary school that may have changed a lot of things for me. 

I always seemed to have a lot of questions and one day while learning our "catechism" I raised my hand. "What's your question?", the nun asked.  "Sister", I said, "how can I really know if God made me?"  In a quick recoil sister answered by pointing her finger at me and saying, "Don't you ever ask another question like that again."  From that time on, I still asked a lot of questions but never out loud.

When I was a teenager, I completely abandoned my church upbringing and became a rebel against anything religious.  I developed a strong philosophy about who God was.  I believed He was cruel, unfair, and most likely not real.  He certainly was not personal.  From that time on I built my life upon these beliefs for many years to follow.

Dorothy and I were married in 1974 and we found ourselves being introduced to religious people. Most of the time I rejected any approach by them and usually made it quite clear that I was not interested.  But in 1977 God grabbed my attention and awakened my soul (somehow) and I placed my trust in the saving life of Jesus Christ. A few months later Dorothy placed her trust in our Savior Jesus.  From that time on our lives have never been the same.

In 1986, after 15 years in business for myself I entered seminary in pursuit of the answer to one question, "How does true change occur in the Christian life?"  Obviously, there is a reason for such a question.  I had been growing in the church for over 8 years.  I had been through numerous discipleship courses.  I had memorized a fair share of bible verses.  I had learned how to evangelize "lost folk."  I had done visitations.  I had been a deacon and then an elder in the church.  I had taught Sunday School and self-taught myself how to study the bible and how to use the original languages to some degree. I had counseled many individuals.  And now, I had a strong desire to enter "full time" ministry.

Yet, I still struggled with any sense that God was pleased with me.  I had little encouragement that other people approved the things that I worked so hard to accomplish. I had almost no sense of importance.  The burden of trying to do more was heavy.  And still, I felt like there had been very little change in my life a a follower of Christ.

What I discovered while at seminary is that change occurs from the inside/out. 

It is God’s work! 

I discovered that personal and spiritual problems are not resolved by self-help models or by ‘trying harder’ through systems of religious discipline. Renewal and restoration are achieved by the effective grace of God where He initiates His Life into ours through the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who produces the Life of Jesus in and through us to praise and glory of God. Our part is to respond to His grace in our life.

This is how true change occurs in the follower of Jesus Christ!