My Testimony
For those who may be interested, my name is Charles, and I was born in
Harlingen, Texas in 1941. I am presently retired from Federal Service and
reside back in my hometown.
The greatest event of my life was when I placed my faith in Jesus Christ for
eternal salvation (John 3:16; Acts 16:30, 31; Ephesians 2:8, 9) during my
senior year in high school (1959). My life immediately took a dramatic
about-face; and, soon thereafter my salvation experience I submitted to a
call to serve Christ full-time. My subsequent schooling, up through
seminary, was designed all to that end. I even served as pastor of a church
in Pirmasens, Germany between my junior and senior years of college.
Unfortunately, due to my weakness of character, my inflated self-image
(pride), and my inability to live properly by faith in the same manner that
I had received Christ Jesus (Colossians 2:6); I drifted away from God. Upon
realizing my condition and having previously promised God that I would never
be a hypocrite in my service to Him, I left the ministry. This falling away
was the gravest error of my life and this “wilderness lapse” lasted many
years.
Since then I served over 12 years as a commissioned officer in the United
States Army, where I had the opportunity to be assigned four separate
commands in two of its major disciplines (Adjutant General’s Corps and Field
Artillery). After this and a short stint in the secular sales arena, I
became the Diving Director (Divemaster) at Chub Cay of the Berry Islands in
the Bahamas and served in this capacity for approximately three years. Upon
returning to Texas, I spent a few years as a realtor. While in that
occupation I also became a reserve deputy sheriff, soon realizing that the
field of law enforcement was more akin to my need to serve others.
I next entered the U.S. Customs Service, rising from the entry position of
GS-5 Inspector to the Port Director position at Presidio, Texas. After a
few years there I took another promotion to GS-13 at the Customs Management
Center in Laredo, Texas.
From there I took a downgrade back to GS-12 (Supervisory Customs Inspector)
in order to relocate back to my home area and take care of ill family
members. I retired from the U.S. Customs Service on December 30, 2001.
All during this time, subsequent to when I turned my back on Christ in my
early years as a Christian and upon returning to the States from the Bahamas, I
had experienced a protracted period of divine discipline. To make a long
story short, while on my death (suicide) bed, God eventually brought me to
the realization that all my depression and difficulties were the direct
result of my turning away from Him. Upon this insight, I started another
extended and progressive period of coming back to God through His Word.
The most significant spiritual enlightenment I experienced during this time
was when I began to understand God’s entire redemptive plan for mankind; the
distinct difference between spirit, soul, and body salvation; and the true
significance of the “word of the kingdom,” which Christ spoke of in
Matthew chapter thirteen. The spiritual growth that has resulted from this
illumination has been phenomenal. Not only do I now understand the
comprehensive unity of God’s entire Word, which has abolished the seeming
contradictions of various passages within it, but I now have great hope
towards the coming kingdom soon to be established by Christ upon earth.
The important thing is that God, in His mercy and by His grace, has brought
me back into a close relationship with Him; although, I still have a long
ways to go. I certainly would appreciate any prayers any viewers to this
site would care to share on my behalf with our Father.
I pray that God will protect me from myself. Also, I pray that for however
long our God will permit me to take breath on earth, He will use me to point
others to His Son, Jesus Christ — to spirit-salvation for the lost and to
soul-salvation for the saved.
May God bless you.
Charles
P.S. If anyone should care to write me,
please use the 'email' link.
