MERRY TUESDAY BY PARRIS BAILEY-

“FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH, TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK” ROM.1:16

It was the 70’s-I was the youngest sibling in my family. My brother played in a rock and roll band so I was accustomed to waking up to my room shaking with Jimmy Hendrix or Janis Joplin. I was so lost that as a young child after I saw the movie “Jesus of Nazareth”, I would find my sister’s horseshoe and promise to be “good” and throw it over my shoulder. My mother on some Saturday’s would clean the church that we would visit and alone in that little auditorium kneeling on my knees I would try to listen to something…..anything. Little did I realize that Christ was just a breath away. He was closer that I ever dreamed. But unfortunately my journey took me down deep into drugs rebellion and at last the “Hare Krishnas”.  Eating vegetarian food was hard, and chatting the prayers 100 times on my special beads tiring. Funny every time I left the Krishna temple my weights seemed heavier and my guilt unbearable. During that infamous summer Frank and I went to see “JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR” where the movie shows multiple scenes of the crucifixion. Frank turned to me and said, “remember when Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life and no man comes to the Father except through me?” Later on that night we went to the lakefront and ran smack into some Jesus Freaks worshiping out there. Within a few weeks we found ourselves married and headed off to bible school in California. Immediately I found myself free from drugs, alcohol and found joy to my sorrows. To this day I found redemption to be my answer. When I playback the great tape of my life I can see the hand of God watching over me. Through the thick and the thin it was if I heard this inner voice telling me that my life would get better. All I can say is I never want to go back to that  “old life”! The Fire Bible says salvation means “bringing safety through” or “keeping from harm” among other things. Have you’ve experienced the power of God? God can deliver you from your present condition when you call upon the name of Jesus. Am I ashamed of the gospel? I believe many Christians have not totally understood their salvation and have become ashamed. We haven’t taken the time to realize or haven’t received the revelation of what Christ went through to save us. We will spend eternity understanding the width, height and length of His love.