Joshua’s Testimony

I wanted to publish a testimony, formally.  It’s been some time since my eyes were opened to the truth of life, and my hope is that you will find some way to relate to my walk and encouragement from my experiences.

To begin, you might want a bit of background, so here goes:

I was born and raised in the Bay Area of California, right in the heart of the silicon valley.  I was raised a roman catholic – (don’t close the window, it get’s better!),  but nearing the age of 12 I was beginning to digress from my belief in any god.

My focus, then, was what I could do for me – how I can get ahead, and forget the others – even when it meant stepping on them to get ahead.  In my latter years of high school, I became a social, sports playing smoker with a desire for girls and absolutely no desire for the school curriculum.

By the year 2000, I had run several business ventures, held several jobs, failed miserably at least 5 times and become a veteran of the US Army.  I had experimented with a wide variety of what I now refer to as “worldy” things, been exposed to some of the worst financial, health and social situations possible and come out the other side.

This is precisely when my eyes were opened.  I “saw the light” as it were.

The funny thing was the messenger…

A talented singer/songwritter turned me on to a video tape of this old guy reading the KJV bible and explaining some passages in Hebrew, Greek and even Aramaic.  As I continued to  ingest this new information, some of the things that turned me off about my religious upbringing came into perspective.

Not long after, I was reading the bible for myself on a regular basis – seeking, searching, and hoping to find more and more answers.  This process didn’t let me down in the least.  I began to see where my old ways were faulty and just how simple it was to make better, more informed decisions with this new found knowledge and wisdom.  This new perspective led me to forsaking all the traditions of man I had been raised with, and casting off my desire for “self” only.

Shortly thereafter, in the summer of 2002, I took a trip by faith from California to Georgia, where I later met my wife and we’ve been blessed with two beautiful children and a business that not only provides for my family, but helps others as well.

My point in this testimony is not to tell you what you think or believe is wrong.  There’s plenty of folks out there doing just that.  My hope is that you related to some part of my story, and you have faith – even the smallest – that God, our heavenly Father, loves your soul.  He’s been waiting, since the moment you were conceived, to talk with you.

If you can simply take the traditions of man from the word of God and read it for yourself, asking in prayer for wisdom, He will grant it to you liberally.

In Christ and in love,

Joshua Jones