I became a Christian when I was very young, something like seven years old. As I mentioned previously, despite my loving home and Christian upbringing I soon developed deep, dark sin patterns that would haunt me for years upon years. I struggled under the weight of sin, knowing that JESUS had freedom for me, but not quite knowing how to grasp it (the reality is, He grasped me).

When I was still in high school, circa 1993 or 1994, I decided to visit my brother David at Baylor. I had heard about this wacky church he was involved with (Highland Baptist) and I was curious. Back in the day David was chummy with Jeff Bianchi and he was able to get us into a morning worship time at Master's Commission. I had never experienced anything like that before: People on their faces before God, praying fervently, repenting, giving words of encouragement, and submitting fully to the Spirit of JESUS. My spirit was drawn to the fire, but my flesh was repulsed. I remember Jeff shared something with the group to this effect: "The Spirit of God is upon everyone in this room." I thought, Does that mean me? I had gotten so used to doubting my salvation, that I thought there was no way the Spirit of God was upon me in any way whatsoever.

Fast-forward to the fall of 1995. I'm finally living in Waco as a sophomore transfer to Baylor. I'm at Highland's then-famous Back to School Retreat, still trying to figure out my place with the Lord among a sea of believers who are further along in the Book than I am, and obviously more in love with JESUS than me. During a morning worship session at the retreat, I was sitting down, weeping, asking God to reveal Himself to me. I was feeling lost, confused, and once again doubting my position as a child of God -- my soul felt dark. Suddenly a man put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Can I pray for you?" I said, "Sure." The man came up from behind me, so I wasn't sure who it was until he started to pray: It was Jeff Bianchi. I don't even think I officially met him back in 1994 (or whenever it was) when I visited Master's Commission. So I'm certain he had no idea who I was, and I'm sure he didn't know about what I was struggling with at the time. I remember, though, he prayed softly and simply said, "God wants you to know that His Spirit is upon you." WHAT!? I couldn't believe it. Those words were exactly what I was longing to hear, and they echoed the same sentiment from that morning at Master's Commission a year or so earlier. What's more, the words came from the same source -- Jeff Bianchi.

In many ways, that morning in the fall of 1995 was the catalyst for incredible spiritual growth over the next several years. Yes, I was still torn apart inside. I still struggled with hidden sins and I still, in many ways, lived a life of selfishness and rebellion. But I believe God marked me as His own, and He wasn't going to let me go. I didn't have a choice in the matter. As Ephesians 1:4 says, He chose me in Him "before the foundation of the world." So the decision was made long ago, that I would be conformed to the image of His Son . . .

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. - Romans 8:29 & 30