When I was 4 years old. The church I went to which was an evangelical Lutheran (charismatic) church that had a Bible study for the young minds. On Sunday morning, they showed Jesus being crucified and his story on the cross. So I asked who the guy was hanging there and was informed (for a 4 year old) of what in a simple way, he was doing.
So I went to Bible studies at peoples houses also outside of this church. They were connected to my Cub Scouts leaders. Along with the church classes I learned the "Textus Receptus" work of the Bible. There was a Bible study that I went thru called, "Dial-a-Story" which you would call and listen to Old Testament Bible stories on the phone and then you were to take a Bible test that you sent away for. And that is how I learned Christ. But the funny part is that my Father was a Christian Scientist and my Mother was a seperated sister of the Catholic faith. Therefore she became a Lutheran and learned the Catholic faith in Europe during WWII.
So my Mother and Father tried their best to teach me the word. But because of the deception of the world and T.V. I didn't continue in it until much later in my Teens. My Father died when I was 13 years old and he was 69 years old. He didn't teach me but the necessities of life and -> I <- had to figure things out myself. At 13 you would think my Father was there but the truth is that I really needed direction for my life and that was seriously lacking at that age. This was back in the 1970s and it was not until the age of 19 did I really get back into the Bible. I was in the world and confused by all the branches of the root of Christ. Your fingers cannot number the branches off the tree, and trying to go through all of them and plus the other religions, really left me confused and lost until I could figure out that my teachings were the truth, (from the Bible studies).
I had a very sinful youth. I'm not proud of that but I must say my adventurous youth had almost gotten me killed by my activities. I can only look back that the Lord was merciful to me because in truth like a tree I straightened my life out. Now a tree which is given a stick or guidepost then it does grows up straight. Eventually I realized that the world is caught by "fables" and doesn't know the real God.
So I prayed to God that he should lead me in the truth and it took a year later but I was given a tract from a Pentacostal church. And then went there to church for awhile. I eventually became Born Again, sitting in the pew and during a sermon, I had heard demonic voices and then was delivered there. So I know the truth and am still a believer this day and remind the demonic spirits that all the lies now fail on me because of that day. For the truth set me free and since then I have been an influence upon the world of unbeliever's so much so I've been shot at and beaten. Not that I am boasting but only saying this that I know that I know I've been an influence upon people that I can give the GLORY to God and his presence in my life.
Since I was saved, I had been baptized in Lake Delavan, WI. and I have been sanctified and am in his word to this day. Though I have had dry periods, my heart and personal life is in the Lord Jesus Christ. I've been healed, protected, chastened, lead and have been given visions of the End Times. Even when I quit smoking the Lord came one day and I had felt such a pressure on my whole body, like someone took a filter in the spirit and took only the nicotine (a poisenous substance) out of my body that I wasn't hooked anymore. And in one day I quit smoking! It was all gone!
I can truly say that I've influenced President's and Hollywood actors and actresses, and even bums from the street. For the Lord has used me so much that all I can do is give him the glory for it today. I have so many enemies that I cannot number them, (laughing), but even if they find my body in a ditch somewhere, the Lord will raise me up and I will only thank him and praise him for his love in me and for you for dieing, taking the penalty away from us. That thru faith I can be saved, that grace is made perfect in weakness and that the Lord shall pull me through all situations of danger and struggles and death. That the ways of death I can leave now with the old man and soon be changed into a eternal being after his image. For his blood is what saved me and nothing I had given or done is sure. But I must build my life upon the foundation stone (Jesus) for all other foundations are black and are of the ways of death.
Thank you Jesus. 
