My time at 85th Street was crucial in my experience of the Gospel. At this place I found people who loved me and poured themselves out so that I could flourish. In the youth group I received my first non-King James bible, heard biblical teaching and experienced Christian community. I wish I could say that I was a spiritual virtuoso, grasping deep truths and seeing the Gospel with clarity, but...my Gospel grasp was weak at best. I remember as I struggled with sin, that Jesus said something about being forgiven 70 times 7. The way I figured it, I had 490 times to ask for forgiveness! Guilt was my constant companion.

A half-Gospel is really not good news. My teen years and early twenties were spent with a half-Gospel. I knew that Jesus died on the cross for sinners and that I was a sinner. I had walked the aisle and asked Him into my heart. I feared God. He was my judged and was constantly disappointed with me. Sin was what others could see. My life was without power, joy, purpose. I was still relating to God as a slave, trying to keep the law so that He would be happy with me.

I took this Gospel through college, to Moody and into my marriage to Laura.

Thankfully, God was still working...calling.....pursuing me.....................