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Well, after listening to Karen and Judy, what a boring life I've led. Wow. Well, my story starts back in 1943. And that's when you're supposed to say you don't look that old. But I was brought to Union Chapel when I was a few weeks old. My parents brought me here to be dedicated back in 1943. I had the tremendous privilege of being brought up in a Christian family. And what a privilege that is. We're celebrating 200 years this year. And I can trace my family history back over 150 years of connection with Union Chapel. So it almost runs in my blood. And I've heard many eminent speakers from this platform over that long period of time. People like Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, some of you will remember. Dr. Shields, who was the principal of Toronto Baptist Cemetery, he spoke here. People like Howell Griffiths, that Doug is shaking his head at. He'll probably tell you why afterwards. But you know, it goes back over a long period of time. And I've been very privileged. But you know, all of that doesn't really mean anything. My parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents, that's what they did. They came to this chapel. I was brought here, but that really doesn't mean anything. I had to do something for myself. And this is a story that Pat knows very well. In 1957, Pat's husband, Brian, and my good old schoolmate, Brian, Brian was riding his bicycle up Manver Street, where the police station in Bath is now, and a gentleman stepped off the pavement in front of his bike. Now they obviously got talking and arranged something. This was on the Saturday. The following Monday, for some reason or other, I think we had a day off school. I think it was practice for the school concert which was being held in the pavilion. And I used to play in the school brass band and we had to do some practice. No, I don't play it now, Dom. And I'm walking down Wells Road. I've been sent to get a haircut. Nothing's changed, Matt, has it? She sends me now because I don't like getting my hair cut. But I'm walking down Wells Road and I did something that any parent would be absolutely horrified if their children did what I did. John said this morning that he would do anything to protect his family. So I'm sure that John and Heather have said this to Samuel and Hannah, and I guess Lynette and Russell have said the same to Callum. But I got into a car with two men that I didn't know. Oh, yeah. I'm walking down the road and these two men were sat in the car and they were looking at me. I sensed that they were looking at me all the time I was approaching this car. And as I got alongside it, they got out and they said, excuse me, you're wearing a Scripture Union badge. I said, yes. Well, we had a Christian teacher in our school, and he had just set up a Scripture Union group, and some of us joined. Obviously, because of my connection with Union Chapel, I joined the Scripture Union group. Anyway, these two gentlemen, they got out of the car, and they said, I was wearing this badge. They said, do you know Brian Green? I said, yes. your park right opposite his house. He lives over there. He's my school friend. So this gentleman then introduced himself and he said, my name is Major Ian Thomas. I'm going to invite Brian to a teenager's Christian house party. Would you like to come? Wow. Yes. He said, Is your mother at home?" So I said, yes. He said, jump in the car and we'll go and see her. So we jumped in the car with them and it wasn't very far because Brian and I live 500 yards apart from one another. So we went home. I went in with my mum and introduced this gentleman and he said who he was, Major Ian Thomas. He said, I run a Christian conference center up in the Lake District. Some of you will have heard of it, Cape and Ray Missionary Fellowship. And there was, at Easter, there was going to be a house party for young people. And because Brian had nearly knocked him down, I guess he wanted to give him something in return. So it was arranged that a couple of weeks later, over the Easter holiday period, we would go up to Capenry. Our parents put us on the train. We caught the Pines Express, which, if some of you will remember, went out of Green Park Station, which is now where Sainsbury's is. We caught the Pines Express and we went up to the Lake District. And Major Thomas met us at Carnforth Station. Brian wasn't very well, so after about a week, he decided that he was coming home. So I'm up there on my own. But you know, that was a tremendous holiday. And it was at that particular time that a communion service, now we enjoyed communion service here this morning, but it was in the quietness of a communion service that I realized that whatever my parents had done, my grandparents, my great-grandparents, it was up to me. I had to do something. And that's when I, in the quietness, in that communion service, I asked the Lord into my heart. Well, some of you know my life hasn't been all that perhaps I would have liked it to have been. I've made mistakes. You know, there are some terrific words in the Bible And in John chapter 10, in verse 28, it says, I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand. What a tremendous promise that is, isn't it? That if we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whatever happens in our lives, nobody is going to take that away. I've got things wrong. As many of you know, you know, I'm often, Reminded of that song, which you all know, I'm sure, that Frank Sinatra sang, My Way. Regrets, I have a few. Well, perhaps we've all got regrets. I've certainly got some. But why did he say that? Because he did it my way. Why have I got regrets? Because I did it my way and not the Lord's way. And I'd like to leave that thought with you. Are we doing things our way or the Lord's way? We've heard two terrific testimonies here tonight. My life's been very boring. I didn't start smoking at six. I'm not sure what my parents would have said. I did get the cane duty at school, but you know, we have a lot to be thankful for. I don't want to leave that thought with you. The hymn that I've chosen, the chorus says, Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me. Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity. Eternity is a long time. Are you ready for it?
Testimony - Dave Beazer
Series TESTIMONIES
Songs of Praise Testimony Service - Bicentennial Year
Sermon ID | 326201127221364 |
Duration | 09:43 |
Date | |
Category | Sunday Service |
Language | English |
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