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I do not challenge the heart of someone who says they Believe in the LORD Jesus Christ. THAT is WAY above my paygrade. THAT is for the LORD to determine. Our job is just to SHARE the Gospel of Grace (found at 1st Corinthians 15: verses 1-4). We just tell them. The Holy Spirit convicts their hearts. No, I will not question a person's heart. BUT, you can come to an opinion IF that person has truly made the conversion. I believe you do that by the person's life before and after they say they believe. You cannot truly believe and REMAIN THE SAME PERSON (not yelling just emphasis). You truly have to have a Life Style Change. If you were a drinker, chased the guys or gals, used drugs, cursed to the lower tiers of hell, cheated, hung out at the bars, etc. type activities, then if you do not stop that stuff and clean up your life, then I would in my own mind question that person's true beliefs. I can guarantee you this, IF you truly believe, you WILL change.

I first walked the aisle of my church when I was 15 or so. I never missed church. I went with my Grandmother, solid Bible thumping Southern Baptist. She died at 99 1/2 years old. She never missed church. Sick, hurt, whatever the weather, that Lady was there. My family was unchurched as we call those families who do not go to church at all, do not believe. But, my Grandmother told my Mom, that boy is going with me, have him ready Sunday morning. So, from about age 6 or 7, I went with her EVERY Sunday. I once had a 9 year in a row record of not missing a Sunday morning or evening with her, my aunt, and three cousins. But, when I went into the Army for all those years, I fell away from church. Military chapel IS NOT church. I once, for 16 months or so, in Germany had a Jewish Rabbi doing our Sunday morning services. Kind of hard having a guy who does not believe Jesus is who He said He was, trying to tell us about coming to a saving grace of Jesus Christ!!! And, I believe there are far, far more Catholic priests in the Army Chaplain's Corps. They teach a far different belief system than Baptists, Methodists, etc. So I slipped further and further away. Then when I retired from the Army, I settled in Bremerton, WA. I lived in Kitsap County. Kitsap has a population of around 250-300,000 people. They had five churches that I could find. One was the Catholic church, four were so-called undenominational churches. Not with an affiliation. It was not until my wife retired and we came back home to Alabama, did we finally start back to church. My wife was saved, left being a Catholic and into the Southern Baptist faith. I rededicated my life to Christ, we found a solid church, and it has been wonderful ever since. We actually have about half the money we had when we were working, but it goes further, we have only our house and car to pay, we have money left over to give to needy people, places, food banks, the Children's Hospital in Memphis, give our tithe, and we have a wonderful life.

So, those who say it makes no difference in their lives if they believe or not, I beg, seriously and vigorously, that oh yes it does. Life in Christ is Eternal Life in Him. I believe that with ever fiber of my heart and soul. So, sorry for the long rant. It just all spilled out. Have a great New Year's. Stay sober. Time with your fam. Enjoy the ball games today, I'm watching Premier League Soccer right now, and enjoy the games tomorrow (if you watch that stuff, I only watch soccer now. Had my fill of US pro leagues, except a little baseball when I am bored). Retired Army