"Christians In Touch" -- Geoff's Jottings Archive

Geoff's Testimony

April 2003

Unbeknown to me my neighbours were Christians and they had been praying for me for some time. Then a work friend came round one day, I did not know he was a Christian and he asked if I would go to look at a job with him, he said it was a posh house and I would have to put some decent clothes on. Duly dressed for the occasion I went to look at this job. It turned out to be a full blown church service, I felt right out of place, I felt like a plumber in with a load of electricians. I had to stay, we had gone in his car, I had no choice. At the end of the service the pastor gave me a booklet on how to become a Christian, I think I filed it in the bin when I got home.

Then I had a phone call from a church asking me to do a really small job for them. For some reason when it came to payment I asked for a Bible instead of the usual cash. Anyway, several months later it was Christmas 1990. I got up on Boxing Day and about mid morning I decided I would go down to my carpenter's workshop right at the bottom of a very long garden. I was working on something for a local home that looked after children with learning difficulties. I had been down the workshop for about an hour when I felt the awesome presence of God.

I felt this power surge through me the like of which I had never experienced before. I knew in my heart that this was God and God in His wonderful mercy showed me the state of my life and showed me the way He wanted me to go and I knew I had to go Gods way. I do not know how long this lasted; time seemed to have stood still. I did not fully realise it but I had become a new creation, I was born again. for some reason I felt several stone lighter and as I made my way up the long garden path towards the house I gazed in wonder at the flowers and the trees and looked at the birds singing and it was as if I was seeing them for the first time, it was an amazing moment and one I shall never forget.

I praise the wonderful name of Jesus for dying for me on the cross. As it was Christmas time I was unable to obtain a proper Bible. The one the church had given me turned out to be a catholic Bible and I could not get to grips with it. I joined the local church and I asked the pastor what sort of Bible I should buy. He said the NIV, so off I went to the local Christian book shop. I told the chap what I wanted and then he asked if I wanted a Thompson's chain reference. I said, "No, I want an NIV". I did not understand what he meant at the time. I bought a cheap one but ordered a posh leather bound one with the words of Christ in red, the chap said he would have to order it and it would take about a week to come through.

I pestered that bookshop everyday, then one day the chap said it would be in the next day, I said, "great, how much will it cost."; '£39-95'; he replied, my mouth dropped; there was no way I could afford that much. I did not say anything and said I would be back the next day. I thought it might have cost £10 at the most. Anyway. I got up the next morning and there was mail on the front door mat. I opened one letter and it was a cheque for £1000, an unexpected tax rebate. I bought that Bible and it was a cracker.

CHURCH NOTICE BOARD HUMOUR

Today the pastor will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing break forth into joy.

Miss Charlene Mason sang I will not pass this way again giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Ladies, dont forget the jumble sale, it is a good chance to get rid of all those things not worth keeping around the house, dont forget your husbands.

The theme for this evenings service will be what is hell. Come early and listen to the choir practice.

Please remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.

Ladies, when you have emptied the teapot please stand upside down in the sink.

Due to the pastors illness, Wednesdays healing service will be cancelled until further notice.

The concert held in the church hall was a huge success. Special thanks go to the pastors daughter who laboured the whole evening at the piano, which as usual fell upon her.

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