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With all due respect to your church I do not rely on what Augustine or any other church leader has written but rather the Word of GOD for truth. Mans Doctrines and theology in ALL churches are subject to corruption and the heart of the author. I even disagree with Southern Baptist on some things and Pentecostals as well. But I will not try to convert a RC to Protestant nor vice versa. Be in the church where GOD called you to be till the HOLY SPIRIT convicts or leads to go elsewhere :>}

I received Christ at an early age. Around 12 years old. I have fallen away many times especially in my youth and early adult life. Was I ever headed for hell? No! When The person answers their call of salvation they are called out at that point. Despite all the wrong I did GOD had a plan. He let me go here and there and He let me come back. Then He dealt with me in a way that changed how I looked at Him and my entire life in general.

GOD still talks to man literally & GOD still works one on one in mans life. Some churches can not except this likely Baptist included. I went through something 21 years ago that has stayed with me.

It was a low point in my life full of a lot of questions and a lot of fear and hurt. I was a widower of about three months at the ripe old age of 26. I had after that met someone a divorcee who had been through a very abusive marriage and had developed a loving relationship with. I met her after my wife died.

One day we were on a date of sorts a trip with her and her kids to a movie. We met at a mall and when she got there she was out of sorts. We went inside to a food court and sat down. Within a very few minutes before my eyes she became a quadriplegic. I rushed her to the hospital while on the way she was describing to me her going into the presence of eternity. She was am CNA at a nursing home and had sat with many dieing patients. We got to the hospital she made it. A week passed no movement. Two preachers came in to Lay on Hands for healing for her. Four persons present. Me, her, and the two preachers.

What happened next changed me. We all felt the presence of The Holy Spirit. But one person in the room heard what was to be said. "It's going to be OK." and a peace a very overwhelming peace I have never known since. I heard the voice and only I heard it. It had me quite perplexed as to the meaning and why.

Things didn't get better they got worse. I went through a period of a couple of days where I became a very numb person void of any feeling and emotion. Then a Nun saw me and took me into her office at the hospital and said what's wrong. I explained how I felt and she said You must rest. You have been here every night your body is wore out. She was right. A day off and I was OK. But what about what I heard? Hey things are gonna be great she's going to be OK. OK GOD do your healing. It didn't happen. She did get back her arms and hands though a miracle in itself.

Next step. What to do? I loved her. Walk away? Can't. Marriage? People saying are you nuts? What to do? I prayed a bit and followed my heart. I knew my love for her. and two months later we were married in the hospital Chapel. The nuns, a Priest, and our preacher were present :>} We still have the cross the Nun gave us as a wedding present. They protected her for three months from her ex-husband a man who wished to watch her die.

OK GOD now I understand. Opps here comes the other shoe to fall. Next day her parents disowned her the ones who were taking care of her kids while she was in the hospital. Now I had to go trick her parents into letting them go with me and I took them to my parents for their safety. They were in danger is all I can say on the matter. Yes LORD things are really looking up. Now what was it you said? It's going to be OK?

Time went on she was transferred to rehab for another 3 months in the hospital then she came home. A 26 year old became step father to girls 12 & 14 and a care giver to his wife.

With some hindsight I began to understand what GOD was telling me. He was there. He was not going to take it all away and make it all better. He was there to walk with us through it. Another thing many churches do not teach. Sometimes bad things happen to show the full power of GOD's mercy and to make the person as Paul described it GOD dependent in their existence. He didn't take Paul's thorn in the flesh away nor has my wife whom I am happily married to now 21 years walk. Oh we heard it all especially from Charismatics. If you only have faith you will walk. WRONG! If you have faith GOD will help you move the wheel chair and provide for your needs in the mean time adversity is his tempering fire he uses on those He loves to temper them them and to mold and forge them into his will and purpose.

Hey I'm a sinner. I still fall. I will till I die and my walk as much as I would like and desire it to be so is not a daily one. GOD is there to pick me up. When a person excepts Christ he is in the Shepherds Fold and the Good Shepherd does not let his flock perish.

If what some in here are saying once I backslid in my youth I was beyond GOD's help. A back sliding sinner condemned to hell. No I do not believe that. GOD as the father of the Prodigal Son will allow you to wonder but He will be there to welcome you home. No not even Peter the one of whom Christ said "Upon this rock" was free from the truths of life and his sins while on this earth. These men were not likely the most docile men of their time but rather were hardened men of their day due to their occupations and lives. They were human just as we are. We have as much privileges in our relationship with the LORD as they did and still do. They are our Brothers.