1) A couple months into attending the mens study group at church, I was sitting at the round table as the men discussed the lesson. The lesson was discussing the motives of our hearts; the desires of our hearts... the content of our hearts etc. As the group discussed these concepts - my heart began to rush! my heart was beating so profoundly hard and fast that I felt as if I was dieing! Immediately I was compelled to interrupt the men and declare "There's something wrong with my heart!"
To my surprise they looked at me as if I had something to confess, or something to share... I then realized that the lesson was about our hearts! I had to explain to them that it was a physical problem! They were struck by concern as they could physically see my heart rate progressive return to normal. My shirt was pounding visibly; the men around me could see my heart beating through my shirt as i sat there in my chair. As the men saw my heart, it returned to normal and all was well from then on that day.
2)At church, months later, I went to the alter to intercede and pray for my friends as well as my faith. While I was down at the altar the pastor prayed aloud and my heart began to beat much like it did in the discussion group. I was near the altar of God so I was completely void of fear. My eyes were twitching and beginning to water. I was experiencing a glimmering light although my eyes were closed. My body was rhythmically rocking to the beat of my heart. It was an intensely energetic event for me, I felt as if the mass of my body was suspended and revolving rapidly but my consciousness was still and focus. I wasn't "dizzy" revolving - but it did feel as if I was enveloped in a swirling, revolving vortex of reassurance.
3)A week or two later while laying on my girlfriend's living room floor after church, I was prophetically talking about how human life was made by God for the sole reason of worship and loving relationship between creator and created. As I preached this, my life BECAME what I was preaching. In that moment with my soft voice proclaiming the glorious plans of God for his creation, which I was and am a part of, my closed eyes began to see the shimmering light, my consciousness felt as if it was suspended and spinning - not a dizzy spinning, but a revolving balance of bliss-like sensations. My heart began to race as I continued to preach about our purpose as simple worshipers. My girlfriend was laying next to me; she put her hand on my chest as my heart-rate began to race and pound. She was startled and asked if she should do something. At the moment she asked if she should do anything - I perceived that moment as the moment I would die, living that small segment of my life purposefully as the creator had suggested to me. "I trust in God, I trust that Christ is God and he has saved my life." After that intense experience of elevated heart rate, a revolving white light, a blissful moment with God and the girl I love... I was left confused. I thought to myself "What now?"
"What now?" is the pursuit of purpose that God has chosen specifically for me and my place in the world. I can still draw on the truth that I experienced back in that moment - stop and find purpose; created to worship.
All of these events draw upon a common thread for me; before I was christian - I was a Taoist. I was a "new-age" spiritualist (prided myself on meditation every day and a fantasy-like interest in separating myself from the physical. Even today, although God has begun a new work in me, I still fervently believe in the essence of the spirit and it's prominence within us.
We are more spirit than we are flesh - this is fact; however - our understanding of this life is through the flesh.
God Bless.
EDIT - I also wanted to add to this praise; The LORD has presented me with The Purpose Driven Life. Through reading that I have decided to pursue a career as a Cardiac Technician. I am certain that this was divinely inspired... a few days later my mother was called to the ER because of an incident at work that unexpectedly caused her to feel drunk. The ER doctor said nothing about her condition made and medical sense... she is now scheduled to visit a cardiologist which I intend to shadow!
To my surprise they looked at me as if I had something to confess, or something to share... I then realized that the lesson was about our hearts! I had to explain to them that it was a physical problem! They were struck by concern as they could physically see my heart rate progressive return to normal. My shirt was pounding visibly; the men around me could see my heart beating through my shirt as i sat there in my chair. As the men saw my heart, it returned to normal and all was well from then on that day.
2)At church, months later, I went to the alter to intercede and pray for my friends as well as my faith. While I was down at the altar the pastor prayed aloud and my heart began to beat much like it did in the discussion group. I was near the altar of God so I was completely void of fear. My eyes were twitching and beginning to water. I was experiencing a glimmering light although my eyes were closed. My body was rhythmically rocking to the beat of my heart. It was an intensely energetic event for me, I felt as if the mass of my body was suspended and revolving rapidly but my consciousness was still and focus. I wasn't "dizzy" revolving - but it did feel as if I was enveloped in a swirling, revolving vortex of reassurance.
3)A week or two later while laying on my girlfriend's living room floor after church, I was prophetically talking about how human life was made by God for the sole reason of worship and loving relationship between creator and created. As I preached this, my life BECAME what I was preaching. In that moment with my soft voice proclaiming the glorious plans of God for his creation, which I was and am a part of, my closed eyes began to see the shimmering light, my consciousness felt as if it was suspended and spinning - not a dizzy spinning, but a revolving balance of bliss-like sensations. My heart began to race as I continued to preach about our purpose as simple worshipers. My girlfriend was laying next to me; she put her hand on my chest as my heart-rate began to race and pound. She was startled and asked if she should do something. At the moment she asked if she should do anything - I perceived that moment as the moment I would die, living that small segment of my life purposefully as the creator had suggested to me. "I trust in God, I trust that Christ is God and he has saved my life." After that intense experience of elevated heart rate, a revolving white light, a blissful moment with God and the girl I love... I was left confused. I thought to myself "What now?"
"What now?" is the pursuit of purpose that God has chosen specifically for me and my place in the world. I can still draw on the truth that I experienced back in that moment - stop and find purpose; created to worship.
All of these events draw upon a common thread for me; before I was christian - I was a Taoist. I was a "new-age" spiritualist (prided myself on meditation every day and a fantasy-like interest in separating myself from the physical. Even today, although God has begun a new work in me, I still fervently believe in the essence of the spirit and it's prominence within us.
We are more spirit than we are flesh - this is fact; however - our understanding of this life is through the flesh.
God Bless.
EDIT - I also wanted to add to this praise; The LORD has presented me with The Purpose Driven Life. Through reading that I have decided to pursue a career as a Cardiac Technician. I am certain that this was divinely inspired... a few days later my mother was called to the ER because of an incident at work that unexpectedly caused her to feel drunk. The ER doctor said nothing about her condition made and medical sense... she is now scheduled to visit a cardiologist which I intend to shadow!
