"Jim, what is the matter with us?  We say we are Christians,  but our lives are no different than someone who doesn't claim to be one."

I grew up in a religious home.  However, God was not real in my daily life.  I was troubled by doubts.  Religion for me was more of a tradition and following a list of dos and don'ts.  God seemed far off.

During university, I was tempted to reject God but I couldn't honestly do so because of the exemplary life of my father.  He was a biochemistry professor and also a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Though not perfect, his walk matched his talk.  He faithfully loved my mother, my sisters and me.  I never heard him tell a lie or speak negatively about anyone.  As a PhD in bio-chemistry he believed the Bible and what Jesus said.  He consistently trusted in Jesus Christ.  Jesus was obviously real to him.

But for me, the harder I tried to please God, the worse I seemed to do.  So I began to pray, God if you are real, make yourself real to me.  I played soccer in college.  The night before an away game at Michigan State University; a teammate asked me a very disturbing question: "Jim, what is the matter with us?  We say we are Christians and do everything we are supposed to do, but our lives are no different than someone who doesn't claim to be one."  I said, "You're right".

That night we asked God to show us the secret of knowing and experiencing Him.  We didn't want to go through life "tipping our hat to God" on Sunday and living the rest of the week like God was no where around. 

The next night, five minutes after arriving home from our trip to Michigan, my boss from a summer job phoned me to set up a meeting with Bill Bright, the founder of a vibrant university student Christian movement. 

I was astounded.  Just the night before, I had asked God for answers and now my friend asks me to meet this man.  I had heard him speak and was impressed with his life.  It was obvious that he knew God and walked with Him closely.  His life was full of joy, love, and service to others.  He told amazing stories about specific answers to prayer and about people who's lives had been positively changed through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

My talk with him resulted in some great changes in my own life.  I began learning from the Bible how to know God and live a life of meaning and purpose. God has become real to me and I experience His presence.  As I live in dependence on His Spirit,  He gives me the power to love and serve others as well as forgiveness, peace, joy, patience and self control.

I am so glad that I made the great discovery that Jesus is truly worthy of my trust!

Religion wasn't enough!