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As a kid i was not raised in a church. My whole family to this day does not belong to the same church, so there's never really been a deep "religious" background in my family. However, i remember my dad telling me that he was a "spiritual" person rather than religious. I obtained through experiences (meaning they weren't shoved down my throat) a set of morals that i'm grateful for. I learned to respect my parents, to respect girls, and to respect myself enough to not let myself get involved with drugs, alcohol, or smoking.

The exact date that i accepted Jesus into my life is kind of a blur, but i remember the day. My dad, i guess being called as the spiritual leader of the household, told me about Jesus. and what he did for everyone.. and for me. I remember being kind of confused as to how a guy way back then could know about me.. and could die for me, so that i could go to heaven. but i remember praying in my pool that day, under the diving board as my dad swam away.. just kind of afraid of what would happen if i didn't pray the prayer. I remember going into my room after i got out of the pool and praying again.. to make sure that i said everything i needed to say.. I.. truthfully.. didn't feel all that different right that second. I didn't feel the huge rush that i was expecting. But for some reason i was glad i did it.

I eventually started attending Wall Highway Baptist Church in Madison/Harvest and i guess that's when i started to become more aware of Jesus.. my first time actually enjoying worship was when i would dance around with my friends to fun songs rather than standing in a big room with uncomfortable seats while listening to an organ playing. I still had no idea what worship was.

Eventually i felt like God was pulling me to leave Wall Highway.. i still can't really place a definite reason, it just didn't feel right, not that i have anything against the place at all, i had some amazing moments with that church. But anyway, i left Wall Highway and went stagnant for a little while.

A girl that i became good friends with and eventually dated brought me to the church where i currently attend. i surprisingly learned a lot about who i was, and where i was with Jesus from her parents, and i'm very thankful for that. anyway, now i enjoy watching our youth group grow in the true knowledge of Christ and his teachings.. and not so much what some person is wearing, or who's dating who. I don't know where God wants me in the future, but for right now it just seems to be Capshaw Baptist Church.

My priorities were really screwed up and i used to place my relationships before everything else, pouring everything, all my strength and care into them. but once i actually found myself not in a long term relationship, i began to see the awesomeness of God. I had experienced the greatest worship experience of my life and I learned in the summer of 2005 what it really meant to worship.. and i'll never forget.

Once i was not in a relationship,i had a chance to really connect with the people around me, not because the person i was in a relationship with was holding me back, but just because i was so obsessed with us, and the joy that came from us being together. i became friends with my youth pastor, and others in the youth group. and together we've learned things, struggled together, and have each grown in our walks with God. There have been so many times that i've asked myself "how can you prove that you have Jesus in your life?"

I know that i am a child of God, a friend of God, and a christian for a couple of reasons.. God has delivered me from a sinful life.. only because of him, i have a sense of what is right and wrong.. this is totally different than the morals that i developed when i was younger.. this is an awareness of sin in my life. I have become something totally different.. and totally different person than i was just one year ago. that is reason enough for me to believe in Jesus, but other reasons would be that God has watched over me, and protected me. For what reasons.. i do not know, but i feel that i have a lot of work to be done for God in my lifetime, and i can't wait. Also God has 100% responded to certain prayers.. and i mean.. i can't dispute that. Some people may try to convince me that it was all just coincidence, but there have been times when i've felt like i've seen things, and experienced things because God was trying to tell me something... and then days later.. it happens..

UPDATE:4/28/07
God has continued to bless me in so many aspects of my life. He has placed certain people in my life that I don't know what i could do without. As i continue to seek after him, i am discovering Him more and more. His faithfulness has been proven to me through his provisions for my life... I can't really explain how happy God has made me

So in conclusion.. i am Andrew James England.. i'm not a Baptist.. i'm not a creationist.. or an evolutionist.. i'm not a calvinist.. i'm a human being..i sin, i screw up... i don't think i'm a perfect person, i don't think that i'm any better than anyone else.. i'm not fake.. i rise back off and "dust off my sandals".. and i continue on.. trying to living for Jesus.. because i believe that people can change.. and if not, then Jesus' death was pointless. most importantly i..AM.. a Christian.. and nothing else