The Road to My Salvation
by Daniel S. Lorrain

I was raised in a catholic household where my family and I attended church on a regular basis. I was also enrolled in a church class one day a week. In line with Catholic custom I was baptized as an infant and was confirmed around the age of 12. You could say I had a pretty normal childhood and was taught about Jesus from the bible. As I look back on those early years of my life I recall believing in the Lord Jesus and I also recall a sense of love for the Lord Jesus. Why then, I wonder, did I drift so far away.

During my teenage years and throughout my 20's I got very caught up in this world and allowed evil desires to control my life. Many of the usual suspects were at hand; alcohol, drugs, theft and gaining material wealth. I traveled away to college and eventually enrolled in graduate classes which helped me drift even further away. I considered myself an atheist and found humor in those who chose to believe in God or in a creator. What a shameful wicked person I had become. I was not deserving of God's mercy.

By God's grace I earned a doctorate degree and moved to the west coast to start a job at a pharmaceutical company. It was there that I met my future wife (Kym). Early in the relationship I learned that she was attending services at a local church called "Pacific Beach Bible Church". For some reason I had a desire to attend with her.

In the first month of attending Sunday services Pastor Wayne Atkins read from the book of Daniel. I was truly captivated. You see, as I mentioned already, I had spent a lot of time in church early in my life and had listened to many messages from the Lords book but never had I actually heard the word from God. For the first time God was speaking to me through the Pastor and through scriptures. It was then that I released how much of a sinner I was and how in need of a savior I was. Finally, at the age of 33, I accepted Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior. I thank God for Pastor Wayne and for the Leaders of the P.B. Bible church. This was such a life changing experience. Prior to salvation my life felt empty regardless of how well things were going.

Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." Haggai 1:5-1:6.

Through accepting the Lord Jesus and accepting his complete and finished work on the cross I feel like a new creation. I have a fullness that I had never felt before.

It was soon after accepting Jesus that God began to draw me to his word. I found myself opening a Bible for the first time since I was a young boy. This time because I wanted to not because I was told to. "Where should I start", I thought to myself. Page one of course. In 2002 I began a journey of a lifetime. By February of 2003 I had completed the Old Testament and was on my way to the Gospel of Mathew. It also marks the date I was married to Kym by Pastor Wayne Atkins. What a blessing. Since then I have received many blessing; moving into our first house, starting an adventure in a new company, being baptized, getting two wonderful (albeit destructive) puppies and ultimately witnessing the birth of my son Asher.

I am now on my 5th journey through the Bible. Each time the Lord opens my eyes to a new verse and speaks to my heart in a new light. He has truly blessed me and blessed my life and I am so thankful. I look forward to my next year to find what the Lord has planned for me and my family.

Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22