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My brother recently sent me a video clip of Pastor Gregg Laurie interviewing rock legend Alice Cooper. In the May 2022 interview, Cooper, who grew up in a Christian home but lived a hedonistic lifestyle, stated that he returned to Christ because of his fear of God and of hell. After hearing another preacher talk about the love of Christ, that led him to a faith that grew him spiritually.  

That reminded me of a woman in the church where we were members in Ohio. Elsie was a saint; whenever she stood in church to share something, my ears would tune in because she always spoke God’s truth. One time she shared that she had attended the Brunk Brothers Revival Campaign tent meetings in the 1950’s. After a sermon on the raging fires of hell, she practically ran to the altar to give her life to Christ, because “she was scared into heaven” that night. Later in her life’s journey, she heard other sermons that taught about the love of God, which caused her to recommit her life to Jesus as he “loved her into heaven.”

I reflected on those two testimonies; one from the mouth of a petite, prayerful and gentle woman; and one from the mouth of a tall, long-haired man coined as the father of “Shock Rock.” Vast differences in their lives, yet, before God, they were both in need of a Savior.  

“But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.” Romans 3:21-26 MSG  

If you have not yet made a decision to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, read through the following verses (often called the Romans Road) and let the Holy Spirit lovingly lead you into God’s presence, in this life and for eternity: Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:1; Romans 10:9.

Please tell someone of your decision and join a fellowship of believers for worship, discipleship, and service! Welcome to the Kingdom of God!

I’m praying for you,

Pastor Deb