January 13th, 1980 just before 11am 

Mt Lemmon, AZ

 

The exact moment in time I became Born Again and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.


John 3:3 Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.



 

Earlier in the fall of 1979 I met Wealtha Koningsfeld while attending a party in a cabin behind my Mt Lemmon Cabin Rentals.  She was easy to talk with and I remember the conversation turning to having faith in Christ.  I told her I knew there was a God but as a non-practicing Catholic I kind of left the whole God thing alone.

 

Before the party ended, I invited her down to see the cabin I was building a short walk away from the party.




She was very complementary about my work and showed a real interest in what I was doing.  I shared my plans of finishing the new cabin and then split another 3 bedroom cabin I purchased in half for two more units, all for short term rentals.  At that time on Mt Lemmon only the Lodge had rooms to rent.



 

During those early months of getting to know Wealtha and her older lady friend Chris Sheldon, who was also a Christian we had many conversations about God and the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  I was taking in all the information but didn't feel ready to ask Jesus into my heart.

 

My big change of heart came after Wealtha and I read Hal Lindsey's book called "The Late Great Planet Earth".  




On page 43 I read; It is in this context that Jesus predicts an extremely important time clue.  He says: "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door" (Matthew 24:32-33 NASB).

 

Perfect Parable

When the signs just given begin to multiply and increase in scope it's similar to the certainty of leaves coming on the fig tree.  But the most important sign in Matthew has to be the restoration of the Jews to the land in the rebirth of Israel.  Even the figure of speech "fig tree" has been a historic symbol of national Israel.  When the Jewish people, after nearly 2,000 years of exile, under relentless persecution, became a nation again on 14 May 1948 the "fig tree" put forth its first leaves.

Jesus said that this would indicate that He was "at the door," ready to return.  Then He said, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place" (Matthew 24:34 NASB)

 

I knew the Bible had plenty of do's and don'ts but I never felt the need to read it for myself.  Now I discover that a prophecy from Jesus Christ had been fulfilled within nine years after my birth.  That really opened the door to my heart that Jesus was knocking on.

 

It was Sunday morning January 13th 1980 and I was watching Rex Humbard's TV program, when he finish his message he gave an altar call and I got on my knees in front of the TV ...




and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I was 40 years old.  Now in my eighties I thank the Lord for His gracious invitation to be with Him for the rest of eternity.

 

Have you accepted Jesus' invitation to join Him in Heaven when your life here on earth comes to an end?


Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is not something you kind of remember doing some time way back in your childhood past.


Your birth day here on earth was issued a government certificate.  Jesus loves you and wants to call you His own for all eternity.  If you have read this far in my story, there is no doubt Jesus guided your steps.  What is today's date?  Let this day be your Born Again birth date and make your decision to accept Jesus Christ. 


You are invited, right now, to pray this simple A,B,C prayer:

 

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On Mt Lemmon, a few months after asking Jesus into my heart in 1980, an old Tucson neighbor friend Joe Moats showed up. The last time I saw him was at our 20th Catalina High School Reunion in 1977.  We were old neighborhood friends and rode our bikes to Jr. High and then Motor Scooters when we attended High School.  I remembered telling him at the reunion I was back in Tucson and living up in Summerhaven.

It was a bit of a surprise to see him on his big motorcycle in my Mt Lemmon Cabin Rentals driveway, You would never guess he was a Pastor.


God's timing is always perfect. HE knew I needed to find the best church to grow in and knew Joe could do that job.  The Temple of Praise and Worship was my church home for the next eight years.


On May 14, 1980 We had a TPW Baptism celebration.

You're Invited
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