testimonial

I’ve been a Christian for most of my life and I’m not ashamed of my God or religion. This is my page dedicated to God and my church. He’s probably wondering why he only has one page–or not because He already knows everything… Oh, you were wondering… hmmm… ask Him.

Life wasn’t always as good as it is now. I had many struggles growing up and it’s taken me a long time to come to where I am in life. Of all the influences that have ever passed through my life, Bread has been the one to impact me the most. It was here that I truly learned what it meant to actually know God.

While I had attended church ever since before I could remember, I wasn’t a Christian until mid High School. It was then that for the first time, I experienced brokenness from God and not from my own selfish desires. There’s something about being emotionally trampled on that opens a guys eyes. In high school, I got this when I realized that I had been going to church for over 15 years, but did not really experience God in my life.

I think that having my own selfishness thrown back in my face is what really opened my eyes to what was important in this life. I was able to see clearly what was eternal and what was not. Those things which I do for the Kingdom and for God and not myself is what is eternal. This webpage? It’s fleeting, but hey, no one’s perfect.

I am not saint and I don’t pretend to be. I’ll never be a saint. In fact anyone that knows me knows I am about as far from perfect as a circle is from a square, but without the support I have gained at Bread, I’d probably be even more screwed up. At any rate, I have no idea if that was encouraging or even the least bit coherent, but at any rate, that’s my speal on Bread.

In high school, throughout college and into my mid-twenties, I attended the Torrance Bread of Life Church. During college I did also explore a number of different fellowships and churches, but ended up back at Bread of Life for whatever reasons. If you’re looking for life answers, I encourage you to seek them in Jesus Christ and God.

Of course a physical church is a good place to help you on your search, but no single church will be prefect or flawless. There’s a need to strike a balance at church between one that can feed you (spiritually, mentally, and socially) and one where you can serve at be committed to serving despite hard times and times that may seem unjust. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes, but ignoring a mistake or error will not make it go away. Similarly, making mountains out of molehills does no one any good. Sometimes people feel neglected at a church and sometimes people are not willing to commit or take a chance to open themselves to others or new experiences. Since after college and going through a couple of jobs, things around me changes as did I. While technically I’m still attending Bread these days (though not as regularly), I do occasionally visit other churches some of my friends have moved on to. It’s hard to stay committed to something you feel isn’t right for you anymore, and it’s something I’m still working out–but I’ve always recognized that leaving a church due to it having “too many” problems is not a good reason. If something has problems, God would want you to help make these trouble-areas get better. If however the conflict is something that cannot be solved and is just a weak area for the church, at least try to remedy the situation before seeking a new church to meet your needs. I guess that’s where I am right now. Trying to find resolution to something that is within me and more or less, irrelevant to those around me.

Until I figure all that out, I do think that people need to remember that while the focus of a church is God, people make up the church and every church is different. While it’s be nice if all churches were doctrinally on the same page, it’s the individuals that give a place personality. Don’t hate God or “the church” for what one church experience has been like. Too many become bitter at God for human wrongs. Move on, forgive (or forget though forgiving is more ideal), and realize there’s someplace better for you.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on
your own understandings, in all of your ways acknowledge Him
and He will make your paths straight.”
~Proverbs 3:5,6
Well, enough of that now. I need to remember to update this page somewhat regularly, but I hope that wasn’t too painful; if you actually read through the whole thing, I’d like to say I’m impressed. So, until we meet in person or in heaven, peace. †In Him,
~ Jacob