...Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, he is known by him. - 1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 CSB
If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence. - Colossians 2:20-23 CSB (Emphasis mine)
By the time I got off of active duty, I had been discipled in Fundamentalist circles for the better part of four years. I had a very solid foundation in the Word. I had excellent doctrine. And I knew it. Again, I do not fault those who discipled me because they had what I didn't: A good attitude. It's been said, "Attitude is more important than doctrine." If your attitude is good but your doctrine is off, you can be corrected in an instant. However, a bad attitude can take a lifetime to change, if it ever does. I needed to be deflated. That is why God saw to it that I returned to my beloved home state, California. My plan was to return to Pensacola for my education but my pastor in Virginia felt I would be better served by attending the Master's College in California for the field I was going in.
I got out of the Navy in October of 1987, applied to The Master's College (now University) and was scheduled to start classes for the spring semester of 1988. I just knew I was well equipped for this next phase was going to ace everything I put my hand to. 🤣😂 At first, I did make a good impression with some of the faculty, but that didn't last long. While I had an outward appearance of maturity, inside I was still worldly. When I was back east, I was only imitating those who around me. The culture in California was very different and things that I thought would impress didn't mount to a hill of beans in my new surroundings. My facade quickly fell and not only did others see the real me, I finally did too.
I lasted at The Master's College for one semester. Being Master's is a private college, it is EXPENSIVE. One thing I missed the boat on while in the Navy was the GI Bill. I didn't take advantage of it while it was available. But that's ok... God had His own plan for me. You see, The School of Hard Knocks has very low tuition. It turns out that I spent as much time in The School of Hard Knocks as I would have at Master's.
By God's grace, my time in The School of Hard Knocks was time well spent. I didn't dawdle in the "wilderness". I was actively growing and maturing as a believer. I joined the Naval Reserve and did very well there. I was involved with my church and was discipled by a number of people, some of whom I am still in contact with. Again, God's sovereign hand was there leading me.
Writing my testimony for this blog has been quite the journey. In recounting my experiences and looking for God's hand in all I have been through, I've made several discoveries I hadn't realized before. It's been good to recount and sometimes it was painful to relive events from my past. I pray for you, dear reader, that you've found something in my story you can identify with and in so doing taste a little bit of His grace.
This story leaves off about 30 years ago but I can assure you my testimony is still being written. I will leave you with a passage I have adopted as my life verse(s):
My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:10-14 CSB
Blessings.
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