I place my faith in Jesus. I am a follower of Jesus. I was 4 or 5 years old, taking a shower by myself, and I began to cry because I didn't want to go to hell. So I kneeled in the shower and asked Jesus to save me. I had heard many times in church how to get saved, and so I knew what I needed to do.
Several years later, sometimes I doubted my salvation. I decided that it was better to ask God again [to save me] instead of taking a chance. And so I would pray and ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins and save me, and I would tell Jesus that I repent from my sins. —Jacob Barr; share your thoughts about iRapture.com on Google Plus and Facebook.
I am a very spiritual person - grew up Roman Catholic and have a father who is a Roman Catholic Deacon currently. What I have found most encouraging, from a spirituality standpoint, is that as I moved around as an Army Officer, there was a "comfort of home" aspect to going to church services as a family.
Also, and maybe more importantly, I have found that the moral guidance that I have been offered throughout my life from religion has allowed me to identify the "right and wrong" in ethical decisions throughout my leadership experiences. And by being spiritual, I have been able to relate to the ethical principles of all religions. I have even seen my leaders relate better to their troops if they were more spiritual.
I have even seen people in the business world relate to people better with a sense of how to treat people – right and wrong – over time as well. So I think that there is a unique connection between spirituality and good/effective leadership that cannot be undermined. —Keith Tully is director of client relations at Thayer Leader Development Group, in New York City
In American society today, while there are many differ
ent religions and "spiritual" organizations stemming from different schools of thoughts on the rise – some liberal, some conservative and some just completely way out there – there is structure. Though beliefs and methods differ, organized religion is very much alive and still a vital part of the American culture. It is quite influential and effective in bringing about change within the local communities and often for the better.
I am liberal and objective, but spiritual. I am a believer.
I believe in God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and ascribe to the theology of a second chance; an opportunity for one's past to be erased; a rebirth, if you will. I also believe in faith and relationship with God. For me, both are personal.
I don't necessarily believe in "religion," though I do believe in people of like minds coming together to worship one true God. It's my firm belief that faith is devoid of rules; rules about what to wear, when, where and how to pray, and finding back-door ways into heaven.
While so many are on a path to discovering their spirituality, I've known all along who I was destined to become. I am a born-again Christian. I didn't always practice what I knew to be true. However, what was instilled in me was never far from my heart. My grandmother always prayed and my mother taught me that God was a protector. I learned early on that He was a very present help in troubled times. The name of Jesus often shattered the crippling silence of night terrors and awakened me from nightmares.
As a teen I attended church often but when I enlisted in the military, I lived my life experiencing only a form of godliness. Despite my straddling the fence, God still provided protection and deliverance when I reached for Him in moments of desperation. He held no grudges. One morning I decided I would live for Christ. I didn't have a Damascus road experience or flashes of light but a moment of simple surrender. In a single instant, it was time; time to be faithful to the one that has always been faithful to me. —Tamara E. Estick-Gregory, Eddystone, Pa.
ROUND-UP RELIGION TODAY: WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?
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