Interesting Testimony......from ATC

THE UNUSUAL SUSPECT
by Stephen Baldwin
People constantly ask me for details of the experience that made me give my life to Jesus Christ. Most assume I hit bottom and had nowhere else to turn. They’re wrong. My life was pretty awesome. I had it made, at least according to the world. Being a celebrity opened doors for me that were far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The Hollywood life is a place that gives you license to do anything you want, a no-limits pass to the physical world. But even as I let myself be swept along on this ride, something deep down inside me kept telling me none of this really made me feel a true sense of peace.

ThePurpose
Even though I never took the ride too seriously, I knew something was missing. The question of what was happening to me had to be answered. Yes, I was happy, but I didn’t understand my purpose behind it all.

Everyone has to wrestle with this same question, and most people don’t even realize it. We work. We get married. We have children. We do this whole life thing and most of us have no idea why. To me that’s scary.

I have to tell you, that sense of spiritual discontent was a gift, because without it I would have been just like the other fried lives in Hollywood that think the MTV Awards and Miami Beach and making money and having sex and giving a little to charity are enough.

I couldn’t accept that.

All my life I’ve played different roles in various productions. But when I separate my life on screen from my real life, I see how my life is like a movie. From the time I was born, I’ve played different roles: child, student, musician, athlete, actor, husband, father. It is as though my life is a production, written, produced, and directed by the hand of God. All the roles He’s had me play and all the paths He’s taken me down all have worked together to prepare me to receive my greatest role and fulfill His purpose for creating me in the first place.

TheRide
Yes, I’ve lived an amazing life. I had experiences that go beyond most people’s wildest dreams. Today, I can honestly look you in the eye and say that the experience I am now having with Jesus Christ blows away everything I did before. Once I gave my life to Jesus, all of the things that happened in my past made sense. For the first time in my life, all the pieces fit. I know why Stephen Baldwin was born and why God took me on this wild ride.

I prayed what is called “The Sinner’s Prayer.” That’s a prayer that acknowledges all the crap you’ve done and asks God to forgive you and take control of your life. When this happened, He ignited a curiosity inside of me. I wanted to find out more about Him and more about Jesus.

Did I know what God was up to while these things were taking place? Not at all.

I can only see it now. But as I look back, I can see each act playing out just as God wanted. He created me to know Him and love Him and sing His praises with my life.

He sent His Son to earth to save us. God called me, even before I was born, to take the message of Jesus Christ to the part of the youth culture in America that most people overlook.

You couldn’t write this script. Only God could. Only God could pull off this production that is my life. Now here’s that part that blows my mind: He does the same thing for everyone who will just open their eyes to see Him at work. But it takes a step of faith. The Bible defines this as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see” Sounds crazy, right?

It did to me too until I tried it, not my way but God’s way!

Prayer of Faith in Jesus Christ
Father God...I know that I have sinned against You...and I need to know the truth. Please, come into my life...and change me...with Your love, peace, and joy, which I understand I can only experience by believing that You are real and by giving my life to You and accepting Your Son, Jesus, as my Lord and Savior. Father God…I need Your love. I receive Your will. Please forgive me for my sins and help me to forgive myself and others. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose again defeating death, as only He could, to give me new life by the power of the Holy Spirit, conquering the spirit of this world.

Thank You, God, for offering me this truth, setting me free, and blessing me with the knowledge and understanding of my true purpose that You had for me before I was born. I will love You and serve You the best that I can from this moment on and when I am with You in Heaven. Thank You Father...in the name of Your Son...Jesus. Amen.

Check Out These Scriptures: Amos 9:9-15; Titus 2:11-15; Matthew 10:34-39; Romans 12:1-2;

Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Jeremiah 29:11-14; Psalm 27; Philippians 4:4-8; 2:5-12.