Conference yukon::christian_v7

    Nancy Morales
    WRO1-2/C5
    Santa Clara, California
    DTN 521-4418
    Divorced, Children-Matthew (10), Clayton (6) 
    
    I am a secretary to SCCAG Sales Account Organization.  I have been with
    Digital for 7+ years.  I love the Lord, and the opportunity to
    participate in Christian fellowship here at work.
    
    I attend North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, we are Independent
    and Fundamental Baptists.  I teach Sunday School to bus kids that come 
    from neighboring cities, East San Jose, and East Palo Alto.  Most of my
    girls (grades 4-6) come from rather dysfunctional and heartbreaking
    environments.  Many of them have alcoholic/drug abusive parents.  Many
    of them just suffer from being poor and unable to get out of those
    high crime neighborhoods.
    
    I offer a unique background to my kids, as I was one of them once.  God
    miraculously changed my life and gave me a heart to remember from where
    He brought me.  If and when you pray, I ask that you remember my girls,
    though you don't know their names, God does.
    
    I believe the Bible to be the inerrant word of God and hold the
    position of using only a KJV.  I was fortunate that even though I lived
    in a foster home for 3 years in the state of Florida, that God blessed
    me with Christian Foster Parents, who introduced Christ to me.  I
    attended a Fundamental Baptist School grades 9-11.  I learned to love
    the Bible then and the KJV olde english.
    
    So with that my beloved brethren (and sistern), I shall depart with
    this word from God:
    
            "When my mother and father shall forsake me, then the 
             Lord will take me up!"                                        
    					Psalms 27:10
    
    In Him,
    Nancy
    
    
    

    Fran Wesley
    ALF2-3/K1
    Alpharetta, GA
    DTN 385-2212
    Married, Husband - Kenny, Son - Grayson (12), Step daughter - Katherine
    (8)
    
    I am a recently re-dedicated Christian, getting stronger in my faith
    through reading God's word and praying.  I attend a non-denominational
    church and believe in miracles and all the other wonderful and sometimes
    extraordinary gifts of the trinity that a full gospel, charismatic
    church teaches.  
    
    I am secretary to Southern States Region Education and Training and am
    blessed to have a Christian manager.  I am also blessed to be
    surrounded by Christian friends at work.  I just celebrated my five
    year anniversary with Digital.  
    
    I enjoy singing, playing the piano, reading, cooking, eating and
    sleeping.  I also enjoy telling and listening to a good joke.  I laugh
    hardest at my own.
    
    I pray that others will be as blessed in this conference as I was in
    the last.  I've met some wonderful people through the last one and
    hope to meet even more in this one.
    
    Fran

    Sasha Bailey
    AlF2/3C6
    Alpharetta, GA
    DTN 385-2766
    Married (27 years old), Husband - Philip, Son - Brad (3)  
    
    The reason why I particpate in this conference is that I love the Lord
    with all my heart and soul and feel this conference is a gift from him
    to enable us to get to know some of our brothers and sisters around the
    world and to know him better.  I have grown  so much since my intro in
    the last confernece I was very timid and shy, but as I have grown in
    the Lord he has given me spirit of Power, Love, and Sound Mind.  I have
    been read only since I accepted Christ (3) years ago (I am one of the
    lucky 15% Mark 8-) !!!!!)  I have just recently become more active in
    the conference.  I feel like all of you are old friends in here and
    hope that you will get to know me better in this version. 
    
    I live in Suwanee, Ga which is about 18 miles from the Alpharetta
    facility.  I attend a Southern Baptist Church in Suwanee where I am now
    training to lead small groups in our church in which I hope to form a
    group for ladies whos husbands are not saved or do not attend church
    regularly (I have written about this in the previous conference) I have
    also taught three year old Sunday School, and absolutley love working
    in the nusurey (newborn to 2 yrs).   
    
    I am looking forward to this version and pray God blesses each of you
    through it.
    
    Love,
    
    Sasha
    
    Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own
    understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your
    paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    world

    I will not introduce myself in this conference since I won't be able to
    participate for very long...  If you want to know anything about me,
    just go to V5 and V6 of this conference...  I'll be scattered about in
    them.
    
    Actually, I wanted just to use this note to encourage new noters to
    participate in this fellowship.  This fellowship, at times, may seem
    to be a free-for-all and at times may seem to be nothing but fights
    and arguements over doctrine...  Just remember that we are all at
    different stages of growth in the Lord and from different theological
    backgrounds.  We *do* hold Jesus in common and hold in common all those
    things which are essential for our salvation and continued growth in
    Him.
    
    True fellowship is much more than trading words, or exchanging hugs.
    It is a sharing of all that we have to benefit the other.  It is a
    sacrificing heart that would rather bind up wounds than inflict them.
    I have found true fellowship with those who participate here.  I have
    met many beautiful brothers and sisters in the Lord not only by note
    but also in person though my travels.  And they all truly hold that
    one essential thing in common...  An abiding love of our Lord.  May
    you who are just beginning here remember that and feel free to share
    what He has given you to those you will meet... and come to love...
    in this forum.
    
    SOC Bill

	Andrew Yuille
	REO2-F/K2	[ DECpark, Reading, UK ]
	DTN 830-6111

I work in the MAILbus support area.

The LORD and His Word are very precious to me, and the fellowship of the
saints always makes work a delight.  To be able to reach out to brothers 
and sisters in the LORD as I work refreshes my soul.    I've deeply 
appreciated participation over several versions of CHRISTIAN now, and, God
willing, plan to continue with you all here.  I'd also like to second what
SOC Bill said in his 'farewell intro', .6.  This is a place for fellowship,
and it's what we make it, under the LORD through the Blood of Jesus, which
unites us beyond doctrine or denomination.  In the past, it's been
wonderful.  I'm looking forward to seeing what the LORD has for us anew. 

"...As for the saints who are in the land, they are all my delight..."
								Psalm 16:3

I've been in DEC for 13 years, living in Reading with my wife, Ros, and 
sons Dermot (22), Fergus (20), Jeremy (19) and Nicolas (18).  The 3 oldest 
are away at college now (Dermot in postgraduate work), and Nicolas has 
only a few months of school left...  The house alternates between very 
full, and rather empty...   We rejoice that they are all the LORD's.

And in spite of SOC Bill, or perhaps in deference to him, I'm not going to 
introduce Irving Schmendrick.  ;-)

We are all members of Carey Baptist church, which is an independent baptist
church of about 300+ members.  We have been - and are - involved in various
activities there... 

D, F, J, & N have also been on summer beach missions, where fun and games
for the holiday makers are blended with the gospel.  I'm thinking of 
trying to get that young too...

	The LORD your God is with you,
	   He is mighty to save.
	     He will take great delight in you,
	He will quiet you with His love,
	    He will rejoice over over you with singing.

						Zephaniah 3:17

							Andrew
					Also known as &[rew], 'rew, etc.

	Name:		James Cameron                  [not the movie director!]
    
	Location:	SNA-2
    			CSS Sydney Engineering
    			Mowbray Rd, Lane Cove, Sydney, NSW, Australia
    
	Address:	Unit 11 of 721 Blaxland Rd       [rented, may change]
    			P.O. Box 339                     [less likely to change]
			Epping  NSW  2121
			Australia

	Telephone:	+61-2-868-4189 (home)
			+61-2-561-6403 (work)
    
			[Feel free to call me at anytime at home, we
    			haven't got an answering machine and the telephone
    			volume is set low such that we can't be woken by it.]
    
    Short Life History
    
    Born 12th August 1964.  Became a Christian sometime between then and
    now; my memory is hazy.  Married the girl across the road, Petria, on
    16th July 1988.  No children or plans for children yet.  Joined Digital
    on 4th October 1988.  Met Hazza.
    
    Current Activities
    
    Secretary for Christians At Work, a Digital Australia based fellowship
    of Christians.  Member of a group of six Christian vocalists; Adomen
    (N.T. Greek for "We Sing").  We take bookings.
    
    This year's schedule;
    
    	Sunday		Evenings at Epping Church of Christ
    	Monday		Free
    	Tuesday		Bible study with church youth group
    	Wednesday	Adomen practice
    	Thursday	Theological college classes
    	Friday		Learning new testament greek
    	Saturday	Shopping or resting
    
    Hobbies
    
    Model Railroading; Petria does the houses and models, James does the
    electronics, programming and trackwork.  James plays with electronics a
    fair bit; the home is somewhat computerised.  Petria reads about
    gardening a lot; we live in a block of "flats".
    
    Notes/Mail Personal Name "and God sent him FORTH (Genesis 3:23)"
    
    I pinched it from someone else, and I'll probably choose a variant some
    day.  FORTH is a computer language that I am a fan of.  I believe that
    if God built tools to construct the universe with, FORTH would have
    been one of them.  It's also a way to get scripture into every mail
    message I send out without actually appearing to do it.  If people ask
    what the meaning(s) is (are), they get a short lecture, which includes
    the origin; God chucked Adam out of the garden because of what he
    did...

	
	Name:	Rob Marshall
	Loc:	DRE (Dresden, Federal Republic of Germany)

	Address (current):
		Fichtenweg 13
		O-8300 Pirna-Jessen, 
		Fed. Republic of Germany
	Phone:	[049]3501-525 686

I've been a christian since January 28, 1978 (actually, that's the date on
my Certificate of Baptism, I'd actually received the Lord a few days
earlier :-).  I've been involved in CHRISTIAN since before it was a VAXnotes
conference.  I believe my earliest contribution was in February 1984, so I've
been around CHRISTIAN for 9 years.  At one time I had the pleasure (my plea-
sure, their pain :-) of moderating the conference together with Rob Mireider,
Andrew Yuille, Andy Krawiecki, Gil Bernier and Irena Pulkstenis.  It was an 
interesting time, but I decided that I didn't have the time to do a good job
at it, so I left the work to others.

I'm not real sure what my involvement will be in this version of the confer-
ence.  I have been mostly absent from the conference for some time.  Currently
I do have a bit more time on my hands, and have been finding a bit more time
for CHRISTIAN.  I also have a system at home which allows me to do some things
off-line much easier, so, who knows...at least you've all been warned :-)

I have had the privilege of meeting several of the participants, most of them
now considered the "oldies", and some who have left, or had to leave, the
company.

As you can see by my location, I am in Germany, in what used to be East Germ-
any.  I'm an american by birth, but came to Germany with the whole family
(that's Dana my wife, and Greg, Alec and Daniel our three boys) in September
1986.  We came with the vision to build a church here, and have gone through
several different phases (learning phases).  We are currently looking at 
starting a church in the area around Dresden, and hope to be able to have a
facility that will also house guests, ie teams that might come for short-term
missions in eastern Germany, or eastern Europe, but also anyone that desires
to see what God is doing in the ex-communist countries.  Our long-term vision
is to be involved in the building of churches in east Germany, Russia and in
Poland, Lord willing.

I got saved in a solid, conservative, charismatic church in Colorado Springs
Colorado, the Holland Park Christian Center (still one of the best churches 
that I have ever been associated with).  Whereas my "upbringing" is char-
ismatic, I don't adhere to all of the teachings that one might consider to
be "charismatic".  I would still describe myself, though, as a charismatic.
I enjoy teaching the Word of God, and am concentrating on learning more about
biblical counseling and the general work of a Pastor.  I've got a lot to learn,
but God has always been faithful, and He is teaching me a lot.

I have always found this conference to be a help in learning more about doc-
trine.  I find that an electronic medium has problems when it comes to trying
to show real emotions and love, so it's a bit more difficult to give, or even
receive, counseling (it's too impersonal).  But, it can be a real blessing if
you're willing to ride out the waves :-)

As far as work goes, I am in the Regional Support Group for northern Germany.
I have been working full-time with Ultrix since Oct. '85.  So, whereas I can
spell TMS...er...VNS...er...VMX...ah there :-)...I'm still one of those odd
persons who works with a trademark of another company that we won't mention 
in here :-)  Just remember: you can't teach a new dog, Ul-trix :-)

Well, that's me (sorta).

Rob

    Mark Lovik
    ACI (Elk Grove Village, Illinois -- a suburb NW of Chicago)
    474-5415
    Connie (15th anniversary coming up this year), Deborah (12), Joanna (9),
           Nathan (4), Timothy (2), t.b.d. (late April)
    
    I've been with DEC for 3 years, working with the Production Systems
    Resource Center.  I enjoy the opportunity to share with others in this
    file.  I usually don't get into the longer, in-depth discussions, but I
    enjoy adding my thoughts as I am able.  In addition to being able to
    share with others in many places, I've also enjoyed getting to meet the
    faces behind the notes on occasions.
    
    I've been a child of God for many years now, the result of believing as
    a young child (I'm 41 now).  I fellowship with a gathering of
    Christians that seeks to maintain the New Testament pattern for the
    church.  It has been a place of great blessing and growth.
    
    I enjoy laughing, but I'll try to keep that in the chit-chat topic. 
    There, I usually sign off as "Markel" (the mneumonic for Mark L), a
    moniker bestowed on me by Nancy Morales to help distinguish me from
    Mark Metcalfe, who will sometimes be referred to as Markem.  In places
    that are more serious, you'll usually see me as "Mark L".
    
    Mark L.

    Jack Martin
    Alpha Vax Systems/Servers Group
    BXB1-1/F4
    DTN: 293-5146
    
    Hi All:
    
    I am currently a Marketing Specialist with Digital and am involved in
    the Marketing Development Program.  At present, I am involved in
    producing collateral for Reference Exchange, taking part in training
    and trade shows, etc.
    
    I've found the conference to be enlightening and very useful when
    trying to get information on various topics.  
    
    Let us press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
    in Christ Jesus.
    
    God Speed,
    
    Jack

	


	Glen Silva
	Electro/mech Engineering Tech
	HL02-1/C12
	DTN: 225-6306

	I am currently working on a slew of products, both new and old, most
dealing with the Alpha chip. I also do training and programing on an as need
basis (more programming than training). I usually do work for several different
groups. Sometimes more for them than my own. :-)

	Many have asked me why I write in this conference seeing my views
differ so much from those in here. Many have answered this for me, but I
thought you might like to know the real reason. There is a LOT that I do
agree with in this conference. A lot of the exchanges seem to go quite well
and are very edifying. But there are times that I see many things go on that 
to *me*, don't seem very Christian. Some in here agree at times this can
happen. I guess what I need to do is not just speak up at the things that 
bother me, but also speak up to those things I agree with. I tend to do the
former and not the latter. Time is a big part of it, but I will try and see
if I can't speak up a little more. 
    
	I do feel I am close to God (although some have said differently) and
know there is always room for improvement. It's the improvement part that I am
working on. :-) I think by now most know I won't always agree with everything
that's said, and will question things to the hilt. I still may not agree with
the answers, but do like getting information as to why so and so believes or
does this or that.

	Anyway, gotta run but thought I'd throw in an introduction.


Glen

        Name:  Philip D. Morano (PDM)
       	Location:
          MKO2-1/1H2
          DTN: 264-1358
          Merrimack N.H. (5.3 miles from home in Merrimack)
          Group:
        	Aerospace Defense Electronics and Government (no...really!)
        	I do software development, customer support and ...

        Reason for participating in CHRISTIAN:
          I was a read only member on and off for about 3 years,
          maybe more. I eventually got fired up enough one day to say
          something and from then on I stayed somewhat talkative.


       	Anything else that would help us get to know you:

          I have known Christ from birth. Christ was always taught in
          my home. Mom would spend many days with my brother and me
          learning the Bible. We participated in an Episcopalian Church.
          I rebelled against God most of my life. I used the excuse, "later."
          I joined the Army in 1979 almost after completing college, ;^).
          While in the service, even though I knew Christ, I REALLy put
          God on the shelf. Until...well,...I was in Special Operations and
          had TOO many brushes with death, (a story for another time). While
          lying in a hospital bed one night, I was awoken to learn,
          Christ saved my life! He was the only possible solution for me
          not being dead. So, I decided it was time to give the Creator
          God the praise and life He requests. There may not be a "later",
          was all I could think of.

          The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, Holy and complete. I
          thank God each day I am here, since to me it is all borrowed
          time, and I look to the time when I will go home, (I hope I get
          a window seat on the ride home,...somehow I think we ALL get
          a window seat though.?! ;^) )

          I am now a professing Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran. This synod
          believes as I do in the inerrancy of the Word. The doctrine is
          sound, but,...there is no perfect church. I am looking for more
          Christian fellowship than my church offers.

          I am married to Danielle and currently have no children. Danielle
          also works for DEC. Although I am not musically inclined, I
          have the privilege of listening to my wife play either the Flute
          piano or guitar, its wonderful.

        Activities:
            I used to buy sell and trade muscle cars...Boy do I have
            stories.
            I enjoy cross country skiing, soccer, chess, auto mechanics,
            church activities, travel, volley ball, and of course skydiving.

        I look forward to reading, learning and fellowshipping with others
        in this conference.

        In closing: May the Creator God, our Father; The Saviour God, Jesus
        the Christ; And the Mentor God, Holy Spirit, live and abide with us
        all, though His Grace and Faith he has put into our hearts.
          May the peace of God which passes all understanding guard your
          hearts and minds in the Love of Christ Jesus.

          God loves us all,                                   
            PDM

    

	Karen Jennison
	Home: Shrewsbury, MA, USA
	Work: Hudson, MA (HLO1)

	Vital Stats: One husband (Jamie, CIMBAD::JENNISON, goes by Jim
		     at work), one daughter (Emily Rose, 9 months)

	I'm 29 years old (no, really, I am!).  I've worked at Digital
	for 7+ years in the Product Engineering group.  I've been
	saved for about 3.5 years, married just a bit less.  This'll be
	the third version of Christian that I've participated in.
	God literally brought me through the fire eight years ago - I'll put
	in a testimony one of these days (nothing like the tortilla story,
	though!)  It didn't change much for me at the time, but as I look
	back, it's quite edifying and awesome.

 	We attend a non-denominational church with a charasmatic slant,
	Seeds of Faith in Littleton,MA.  I believe God is the same yesterday,
	today, and tomorrow, and that all of his promises are true.  I
	believe in miracles!

	Recently, I'm studying the role of the Christian wife and
	seeking the Lord for his guidance for improvement in this area.
	So far, blessings abound!

	As for hobbies, likes, etc.  I'm a certified aerobics instructor,
	unemployed as of today due to the sudden closing of my health club.
	I read almost anything I find related to fitness.  I love to cook,
	too.  Hobbies include skiing, golf, playing with my daughter.  I've
	got several more kids on backorder, but none expected to arrive
	anytime soon!

	Karen

    Name: Jim Richard
    Location Shrewsbury, Mass
    Home :   Winchedon, Mass.

    Married 19 years to a wonderful wife named Gail who is also a Christian. 
    I have two children, a daughter 18 years old and a son 12 years old.

    I was a cradle Catholic, but left the church in my teens due to not 
    having any faith. I became an agnostic mostly. I found Christ back in 
    1975 and returned to the Catholic Church and my life has been rich ever
    since. I worship at St. Denis in Ashburnham, Mass and I've taught 
    Confirmation classes to high school students for about 12 years.

    I've been part of the Christian Conference since about 1985.
    
     Jim

	Name:		Michele Burt
    
	Location:	SNO2-3/F3
 			CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTRE    
 			410 concord Road, Rhodes NSW 2138

	Telephone:	+61-2-888-9795 (home)
			+61-2-561-5693 (work)
    
    Short Life History
    DOB 16th November, 1960    
    Finished High School, entered "Control Data Institute" - Met Greg
    Started work at customer site in operations, got married (to Greg) in '82
    Worked in a few different places in ops. then sysmgt roles
    Started at DEC in '88 not longer after I became Christian-ish
    (Greg became a Christian a couple of years before - we'd both been prayed 
     for)
    Found Christian Notes conferences.....
    2 weeks after starting at TSC found I was pregnant....
    Had David Isaac 29 June, 1989
    Started back at work in Mar 1991
    
    Current Activities
    
    Work stuff, parent & family stuff & church when I can get my act together
    Trying to grow in my faith

    Hobbies
    
    Science fiction, gardening, watching my son grow...

    
    
    	Dan Yackel
     
    	Customer Service Engineer (MVCS)
    	currently reside in GSF soon to move
    	to ZKO and then to somewhere unknown.
    
    	Wife of ten years, Bonnie
    	Daughter, 6.10yrs     Steffanie
    	Son 	  4.5yrs     Ryan
    
	I grew up in the Nazarene Church, but am familiar with many other
        denominations.  We are currently attending Calvary Bible Church
        in Derry NH.
    
    
    
    Dan  

		Name:       Neil Foiles
		Position:   Field Service Engineer
		Location:   Central Illinois (Decatur)
		Site Code:  SRO
		Work Phone: 309-694-4231
		Email:      POBOX::FOILES

I have been with Digital for 6.5 years as a Field Service Engineer.  Since I
work out of a remote office, my involvment with the Christian notesfile is 
rather sporadic.  I have found the Christian notesfile very edifying.  The 
spirited discussions, the friendly banter, and the support from fellow 
believers have been a personal blessing.

I live in Hammond Illinois which is a small hamlet about 20 miles east of 
Decatur.  Today is my 35th birthday.  I have been blessed with a tremendous 
wife (Cindy) and 2 children (Jonathan, 7 and  Christina, 3).  My wife and I 
both graduated from a Pentecostal Bible College in 1983.  I love to teach 
from the Bible.  At the present time, I do not have a church (though I wish 
I did) that I can really call my church home.  

I have been a Christian for 14 years.  The Lord got my attention through a 
scuba diving incident in 1978.  Shortly thereafter, I yielded my life to Him 
while in Denmark for NATO war games.  I cannot say that the last 14 years have 
been a bed of roses (1992 was more like the time I fell into a bed of cactus)
but Jesus has always been there. I love Him and my hearts' desire is to 
faithfully respond to His call; to lead my family in a faith that is Biblically 
sound and pleasing unto Him. 

Love in Christ,
Neil

    Charles Mok
    For now: PAG (529 Bryant St. Palo Alto, CA 94301)
    Phone for now: 415-617-3565 (DTN: 543-3565)
    
    Those are all for a short "now" as I will explain in another note
    elsewhere. 
    
    This notesfile is a unique sharing and support environment.  I will
    miss it when I don't have it anymore.
    
    This introduction is really part of a hello-goodbye thing :)
    
    Take care, my brothers and sisters!
    
    Charles
    

    Daryl A. McClusky
    Senior Consultant
    Los Angeles Production Systems Resource Center
    mail - @ LAO or Sieras::McClusky
    
    Been with Digital for 3+ years, all in sales support.  Have about 178
    years experience in OLTP, which is the reason I was hired.
    Frequently on the road, so my participation in this Notes file is "lumpy".
    
    I have been a Christian since the late 'fifties.  I am a Deacon and an
    Elder in the Presbyterian Church.  My best friend is a Presbyterian
    Pastor, who went to Northwest Nazarene, but found that to support
    himself he needed to become a Youth Program Coordinator at a
    Presbyterian Church.  He learned that the intellectuals in the
    Presbyterian church could rationalize any behaviour and thought that
    was a good contrast to the single rule in the Nazarene Church (NO!). 
    So you can see that we each brought something different.
    
    I have three children, ages 37, 34 and 12.  My  first wife died at 39
    and I remarried in an unfortunate situation.  I was divorced and have
    been married for almost seven ... whoops, it's now eight years.
    
    I am a baseball nut, having coached American Legion Baseball for 27
    years and coached Little League, Senior League and Big League during
    that same time.  I umpire in Hermosa Beach Little League now and have
    three grandchildren - one of which I want very much to coach some day.
    
    I am in here because the road is rocky... I need the insight that I
    have found and the encouragement that comes from so many of you.  Some
    times I am just taken by the beauty that I  see in this file.
    
    In His Love,
    
    Daryl

    Name:		Graham Crosbie
    Location:		Munich, Germany
    Nationality:        British
    Age:		28 (born 22 March 1964)


    I'm a senior software engineer working on the systems level test
    and qualification of single board computers (SBCs) at Digital-PCS
    Systemtechnik GmbH (a new subsidary created by merging the Munich
    EIC (formerly CSS) with PCS GmbH) in Munich, Germany.   I joined
    Digital in July 1986 after graduating from college, I spent 4
    years working in software support at the UK Customer Support
    Centre in Basingstoke, England, before moving over to Germany in
    August 1990.

    I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour in December 1990.
    I'm a member of the Munich International Baptist Church, and am
    actively involved in the leadership of my Churches Singles'
    ministry.

    I'm mainly "read-only" in this conference. Hopefully I'll be able
    to take a more active part this year if time permits.

    Your Brother in Christ,

    Graham
                                 
    

        
        		            Name : Lisa Lombardo (aka #24)
        	                Location : SHR1-3/L5
   Reason for participating in CHRISTIAN : Enjoy the international
    					   networking of the family of
    					   Christ.
   		Anything else that would 
    		help us get to know you  : I am one of the current 
    					   moderators of this conference.
    					   And I like the #24, sports of
    					   various flavors, and rainbows.
    
    I became a Christian in college in 1985.  My roommate was Amy Grant and
    she was there very first born-again Christian that I ever met.  She had
    something that I didn't that was very appealing.  BTW: It wasn't Amy
    Grant the singer.  When she invited me to go to a Christian campus 
    meeting I went and then off to some Bible studies.  It was during a
    Bible study on 1 Cor 13 that the Lord changed me.
    
    I graduated from college in 11/87 (two weeks after stock market crash)
    and started with DEC in 5/88.  I am a software engineer working in
    the Storage area developing software for Novell Netware network based
    Client/Server tape backup of PC's.                                   
    

    My name is Eric Bohn and I'm not a permanent employee of DEC, however
    I'm working here indefinately for a period of time and can be reached
    at 568-2700.  I'm a born-again christian and believe in everything
    written and said about Jesus.  He is the real truth to life down here.
    

My name is Collis Jackson and I have been around these parts
for around 3 years now.  I'm a software engineer working on
the COBOL compiler in ZKO living in Nashua.  My wife, Robyn,
my daughter, Laura (whose turned five 37 minutes ago!) and
I attend Community Chapel in Nashua, NH which is a Nazarene
Church.

I accepted Jesus as my Savior in college at the age of 18
although I have always been active in church.  God began to
really work in my heart in my mid-twenties and I attended
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary from 1985-1989 graduating
with a Master of Arts of Theological Studies (New Testament
major), a 2 year (20 course) degree.

I desire to know truth.  I am convinced that the Bible is
contains and is truth as every word was given to the prophets
by the Holy Spirit (which does not mean that the human
authors did not have leeway in how they expressed themselves
as they did).

Recently I have become involved with the local Crisis
Pregnancy Center, a Christian pro-life outreach ministry to
women who may be pregnant or need recovery from previous
pregnancies/abortions.  This is a ministry of love which
meets women where there are at, accepting them through the
strength of God, sharing the Gospel when appropriate and
refusing to judge.  I am convinced that the only way that we
will win the world to accept the worth of life is by loving one
person at a time as this ministry does.  Let's do it!

Collis

    
    Hi, My name is Tim Kingsley.  I work in the US Logistics IM&T group
    now here at MK02.  Currently I help keep the Digital invoices flowing
    to the customers.  I'm a Divorced Single parent with 3 great children
    Michele (11) Jenny (08) Bobby (07).  Been raising then as Christians
    myself for 5.5 years.  We attend the Infant Jesus Catholic Church
    in Nashua.
    
    I 1st remember accpting Jesus at about age 10 - 35 now.  I backslid
    and came back a number of times...been solid with the Lord for a
    good 5 years now.  I'm very active in my church...Teach Old Testament
    to the 6th grade on Sunday's also in the rotation for the childrens
    lectionary at the 10:30 mass.  Now I'm helping to get a bible study
    off the ground in the parish.  The Lord has done a great deal for
    me over the years so I try to spread His word the best I can.  Try
    to make a difference in my corner.
    
    I've been mostly read only for a number of years.  Job keeps me
    busy so it's hard to get in here.  The discussions are usually cold
    by the time I come along.  I like to jump in when I can catch it
    current.
    
    Favorite hobby is primitive camping.  This is using only tools and
    techniques pre 1840 in nature.  We do this in all 4 seasons. 
    ie: sleeping in a wool blanket roll under an open leanto in 15 degrees.
    I like this for many reasons, but the tops is that it puts my hectic
    life on the shelf for a while.  When you get out into the woods sit
    on a log enjoying a view of the White Mountains in Snow prayer comes
    easy.  It helps give perspective on what's really important in life.
    
    Still trusting in Him,
    
    Tim

    Hi! I'm Rebecca Sinatra, a secretary in the Alpharetta, GA facility. My
    husband's name is Vincent and I have two cats, Shadow and Sammi.  I'm
    participating in this conference for fellowship, sharing and learning -
    the older I get, the more I realize just how important that fellowship
    is. 
    
    I was raised in the Presbyterian Church and accepted Christ as a small
    child - He's always been there.  I was also blessed with Christian
    parents and grandparents, who provided strong and varied witnesses and
    examples of life in Christ.  Another blessing, I grew up on 52 acres 
    in Asheville, N.C. with animals to love, space to run about and quiet 
    and peace in which to know God.  It was a healing place.  I'm trained 
    as a painter - with a particular love for landscape and hope to bring 
    some of the peace and beauty I knew (and continue to know) to others
    through my art.
    
    Vincent (a transplanted New Yorker) and I now live in Alpharetta and
    attend the Alpharetta United Methodist Church, a wonderful, loving,
    growing church.  I'm active in the music program - choir, a
    contemporary christian ensemble we've recently formed, and some solo
    Singing soothes my spirit.
    
    That's it for me!
    
    Rebecca
    

Hello again all,

	Lew Gulick
	Pathworks CSC in Alpharetta
	DTN 343-2353

Very non-denominational - at least as regards denominations believing the
Bible to be the inspired word of God.  Currently a member of Alpharetta
Presbyterian (PCUSA), a conservative church in a split denomination.  I
have some difficulty over the denomination's contribution to the World
Council of Churches, but I no longer expect or hope to find a church that
sees everything exactly my way.

I seldom have time to write here, but always benefit from the fellowship.
I wound up reading the Bible as an adult without benefit of anyone's
commentary except God's, and this has led to some interesting differences.
I should warn that I totally believe what the Bible says, assuming that
God needs no extra help from us.  I also assume that he did not inspire the
Bible to be understood by the educated alone.  Now to that, I add the 
important note that I find the readings and commentaries of others helpful,
and that my personal reading has never led me to a position that puts me
seriously out from the mainstream of fundamentalists.

I am a long time supporter of Charles Colson's Prison Fellowship, Wycliffe,
and World Vision as well as the local church.

Love to all of you,

Lew

   Name : Erich White
   Location : VLSI, AYO (Ayr, Scotland)

   Reason for participating in CHRISTIAN :
	As a reader more than a writer in this conference I think
	there is alot of good food for thought. Always like to hear
	thoughts from Christians in other denominations so that I
	don't become narrow minded from my own church teachings.

   Anything else that would help us get to know you :
    	I am a Product Engineer in the VLSI manufactering area of the
	Ayr plant in Scotland. Been with digital approx 7.6 years. 
	I'm 28, born and bred in Glasgow, married 18 months to Cindy.
	No kids, just a dog (Sasha, who's a 13 week old Lhasa Apso).    
	Been a Christian for 21 years, but little spiritual growth 
	to show for that time.

	We attend Riverside Evangelical Church in Ayr which has approx
	200-300 members. Our main work is running a "7-11 Club" each
	Tuesday evening for kids who live near the church and don't
	know much about Jesus. This year we've started a club for
	those of 12+ which is slowly taking off.

	I spend alot of my spare time writing/recording my own music.
	Would like to use it as a ministry but have a major confidence
	hurdle to cross before that can become a reality. Would value
	any lyrics from any budding songwriters.

    

Jim Henderson
42 years old 

Work at DAS in Andover Mass where I am Priorty Operations Manager in the 
US Digital Services organization. 

live in Derry NH

Divorced with 3 sons (21,16 and 10) who live with their mother.


I accepted Christ in 1979 and drifted away somewhere around 1987-88.  I found
myself having a lot of "fun" til one day I woke up (with the help of people
sent by God I'm convinced) and realized that my life was going in the wrong
direction.  I recommitted my life to Him just before Christmas 1992. There have
been some struggles and trials, but I know my life is in His hands and day by
day I'm surrendering more of my life to Him

I've been searching for a church home since my recommitting and after visiting
several, found one this past Sunday evening that I believe is where I should be,
Victory Baptist Church in Londonderry NH.  I believe I will get the teaching
I need and the encouragement/conviction to surrender more/all of myself to Him.
And, they sing all the old hymns I love so much :-).  So, I'm in prayer about 
that.


I am mostly read only in here as work makes it difficult to write much, but I
see a lot of wisdom in what I read and learn much from it.



Jim

    This is my very FIRST time replying in NOTES! Here goes:
    
    I'm Karen Mossey, a legal secretary here in the Law Department at
    MSO2 (Powdermill Road, Maynard).
    
    - 24 years old, married to Steve, no children (yet).
    
    I've been a read-only member of CHRISTIAN since the last
    version (6?).
    
    I grew up in a Christian home, but like many people, backslid
    during my teenage years.  I re-dedicated myself to the Lord
    last April (as did my husband) and we have been attending
    Heritage Christian Center (Assembly of God) in Lunenburg, MA 
    since last September.  As both Steve and I were raised in the 
    Catholic Church (Steve moreso than myself) and married there, 
    this is looked at as rather "radical" by his family's standards!
    My parents attend a Baptist church, so we are truly an ecumenical
    family!
    
    This conference has really been a blessing to me - I have learned
    much from your (and God's) words of wisdom.
    
    I look forward to the continued fellowship and knowledge contained
    here, and who knows, I might even add another note or two myself!
    

    Hi All,
    
    I'm Ken Carbaugh.  I am a software engineer in Networks and
    Communications (NaC) working at NIO in the Network Systems Test Group
    (NSTG).
    
    I'm married (10 years this May) with three children - Kendra (6),
    Lindsey (4), and Joshua (7 mos).
    
    My wife, Christine, is Catholic and has attended Catholic Church all
    her life.  I was babtised in a Lutheran Church, but attended Babtist
    and Inter-denominational (community) Churches as a child.  I have fond
    memories of Sunday School, with all the touching stories about Jesus.
    I always liked the Bible-based aspects of the churches that I attended - 
    lots of emphasis on reading the Bible and discussing the meanings of the 
    various scriptures.
    
    I have been away from the Church for many years.  I could never really
    come to terms with many aspects of the Catholic Church, so my wife
    attended either alone or with the children.
    
    With recent chaos in the household (not surprising with 3 children) and 
    other of life's pressures, my wife and I have been going through a lot of
    reflection and self-examination.  We both agreed that our family needs
    the Lord's guidance in our lives.
    
    This week, my wife and I attended Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church in
    Salem, NH.  We feel that the Lutheran Church is a happy median between
    my wifes historically Catholic faith, and my Babtist/Non-denominational
    upbringing.  We were both very pleased with the Triumphant Cross
    Lutheran Church and have enrolled our children (and ourselves) in
    Sunday School there.  We were very happy with the Church's service,
    Sunday School, sermon, congregation, and Pastor.  We were really
    overwhelmed.  The Church has a small congregation (about 100 families)
    and serves many communities.  I look forward to getting to meet and
    know the entire congregation.
    
    I have been monitoring this notes conference for some time and have
    used this notes conference and related notes conferences primarily for
    information related to comparitive religeon, so far.
    
    Thank You ALL for the knowledge and guidance.  I'll be listening....
    
    Ken 
    
     

    GREAT TO MEET YOU JIM.  I AM A CATHOLIC ALSO (ROMAN CATHOLIC) AND, AS
    YOU KNOW, I AM ALSO A CHRISTIAN!
    
    PEACH OF THE LORD TO YOU!
    
    

    My name is Cynthia Martin.  I have a 12 year old son, Brian.
    
    I am forever grateful to my higher power for the 12-step program,
    which made me search deeper for a better understanding of God.  I
    was sent to a catholic school for 8 years and very much lost and
    miserable for much of my 32 years on this earth.  I thank the Lord
    for all my life's trials and tribulations, for now I am found,
    my spirit kindled and I now have peace in my life.  I look forward
    to the day I am called home, but also dream of telling my grand-
    children what I know of the Lord and his infinite/awesome power and
    creation of nature.  
    
    I can tie the spiritualism of my Native American heritage, my art,
    the raising of my child, my love for brothers/sisters,  music,....
    together because of the crystal clear message of the WORD.
    
    Today is a good day!
    
    All the Higher Power to you!
    
    
    
    

    re .0
    
>Name
    Mark Sornson
    
>Location (so that people can visit you :-)
    ZK2
    
>Reason for participating in CHRISTIAN
    Unabashed masochism, I suppose ... :-)
    
>Anything else that would help us get to know you
    As many 'old timers' here know, I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses.  I'm
    usually read-only, but I drop in a reply once in a while if something
    (I think is) Witness-related comes up.  For the most part, I consider
    myself to have permanant 'visitor' status (meaning I don't have a
    problem with being the 'odd man out,' or in the minority, in a given
    discussion).
    
    I am, of course, looking forward to someone starting the obligatory JW
    note (there's been one in every version of CHRISTIAN, I think); but
    in lieu (or in spite of) such a note, anyone can feel free to send me
    e-mail.

    Eric Bohn
    LAS
    Los Angeles, CA
    DTN 568-2700
    Single no kids
    
    I have been reading many of the topics and I have now finally entered
    my name.  I been a christian for a good ten years on and off.  I feel
    from time and time again my relationship with the lord strengthning and
    weakening through trials and tribulations and the such.  The lord has
    always been there right by my side through everything.  I'm a contract
    worker at the front desk with access to two lines, one for incoming
    calls and my own personal line (2700).  So if ever I could be of any
    assistance in this conference, please let me know.
    
    My hobbies and the such are music, basketball, computer programming and
    entertainment.  I enjoy working at Digital because of course computers
    are my vocation and it's nice to have people to talk to about concepts
    with computers.  Unfortunately not too many people to talk about the
    Lord with!!  Los Angeles is a spiritual pit of despair, but nothing to
    become overwhelmed with, the victory has already been won!!  Praise the
    Lord!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Eric Bohn (E. Bontonovinchi)

    Donald Boyd		Shrewbury, Mass.   Heads Business  live in Boston
    Member of Missionary Christian Allience Church Jamaica Plain, Mass.
    
    	Having accepted God and Jesus into my heart a year and a half ago,
    my life has changed so much for the better. I hope that by posting this
    here, I will hear from some of my Chritian friends from the old Bedford
    facility that I have lost touch with.
    	I have two daughters (Michelle 17, and Rachel 15), Ana my wife, as
    well as the rest of her family that live with me have been praying for
    me for years. When I finally accepted, there was much joy in my
    household (as well as in Heaven of course). I get the chance to always
    have someone close at hand who knows alot about the Bible to held me in
    my understanding and questions. As I grow to be a better Christian, I
    will be forever grateful for what I have done. Also to enforce the fact
    that I have made the right choice, there have been many obvious
    temtations and attacks on me by the "enemy". I pray to be stronger, to
    put on my "armour of the lord". Thanks for reading this and I thank God
    that there is a place in Digital that helps allow me my expression of
    my Christian feelings.

    Hello, my name is Erwin, a Christian of many dry years since 1958 when
    I responded at a Billy Graham crusade in Sydney, Australia. Although my 
    origins were Lutheran by "Christening" (a Baptist slur I caught) and
    confirmation, I was baptised at a Baptist church (in the proper
    manner!) and there met my wife Pam. We had two children, Triscia and
    Roger both of whom are now married. Both families are Christian
    although Roger by affectionate persasion of recent date just prior to
    his marriage. Triscia has given us two grandchildren, Nerida and Megan.
    About 12 years ago we were with a Baptist church full of high powered
    people so we left for a small Uniting Church of Australia (notice the
    present tense; UCA is a local union of several other denominations) of
    a dozen people which grew to about 150 with only a little help from us.
    We then relocated to a small country town where we continued to attend
    the UCA and I became a volunteer visitor bus driver at the local prison
    when Prison Fellowship were looking for assistance. We have now relocated
    some 4,500 KM to the other side of the country where we find ourselves
    in a UCA church full of high powered Christians, which is great because
    the Lord is forcefully kicking me into Prison Fellowship work, a work
    which is truly Christian and outward looking, rather than the inward
    looking frustration of much church activity.
    And that is why I have verbosely introduced myself to this conference
    as I intend to start a note about PF, but not to "sell" the
    organisation but to hear of prison ministry experiences and blessings
    which will be of great help to me.
    Yours for the Lord,
    Erwin 

I am 35 and married as of 10/15/89.  My wife's name is BonnieJean, and we have
two children as of this writing, one whose name is Devan, born 9/7/91, and one
who we are expecting in early 10/93.  I have been working for DEC since June of
1979 as a hardware engineer, after graduating from Northwestern University
(Evanston, Illinois) with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.  I was raised for
most of my childhood life in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

I currently attend New Life Community Church in Concord, Massachusetts (no
denominational affiliation), a Sept. 1986 start-up which originated from a
bible-study group that met in Concord previously.  It is a "portable church"
and has met weekly at various auditoriums in the Concord area.  

I was a regular contributer to the Christian and (now-defunct) Bible 
notesfiles from 1985 through 1987.  Due to constraints on my time, I had
to drop out of the notesfiles completely in Sept. of 1987.  In July of 1991, 
I once again resumed participation.  My hot buttons are in the area of
christian apologetics, creation vs. evolution, pseudo-christian cults, and
deviant doctrines/teachings. 

I accept the Bible as authoritative, and my attitude about it is summed up
nicely as follows:

	"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, 
	correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may
	be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  (2 Tim 3:16-17)

As for Jesus, He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, He has risen from
the dead, and He is Lord!

My personal testimony is in Christian_V6, note 38.15

Name:       Rick Kennell
Location:   MRO1-2/M14 Marlborough, MA
Vocation:   ASIC/CAD Software engineer
E-mail:     kennell@unx14.mro1.dec.com
DTN:        297-8218
Age:        23
With DEC:   5 years

Origin:     I'm from Indiana.  Please speak slowly.

Status:     No wives, no kids, no friends.  I don't even have a cat.
            (Ok, maybe I have a few friends, but I'd still like to have a cat.)

Known for:  Avoiding VMS whenever possible.  Working Austrailian's hours.

Background: Mennonite.  (No, I'm not Amish.)  I grew up on a farm where there
            were lots of cats and plenty of corn and attended a big church
            where they really knew how to sing.  I narrowly escaped a fate of
            eternal farm labor by excelling in electrical engineering.

Purpose     - To labor in prayer for you if you desire.
for being   - To admonish you with (inerrant 8^) scripture when I can.
here:       - To solicit your help when I need it.
            - To grow in Christ in any of the above.

Invitation: You have my pole number. And you know how to use it. So you really
            have no choice.  Consider yourself *predestined* to visit me.

Incentive:  You can say hello to my plant, find out how I managed to land an
            engineering job at DEC when I was 18, participate in an engaging
            conversation about the advantages of object-oriented programming,
            see my expression of shock to find that there actually are other
            Christians in this building.

Rick

    Most of the time I am a read only participant here but as of late I
    have been entering more and more so I figured I'd better introduce
    myself.
    
    
    Name:	Ron Thellen
    Site:	Colorado Springs, CO (CXO)
    Title:	Software Engineer
    Group:	Applied Mechanics
    Function:	Support CAD tools in use at CXO

    Married (Cathey) with one daughter (Andrea) aged 11.

    I'm a New Englander originally (Lowell, MA), which is how I knew about
    Kimball's.  I have worked for DEC 23 years as of last Wednesday (the
    7th of April)!!!

    I play guitar and sing (Bass when in a choir) and enjoy the following
    christian artists:

	Dallas Holm
	Holm, Sheppard, Johnson (as in Dallas, Tim, and Phil)
	Tim Sheppard
	Michael Card
	Wayne Watson
	Glad
	Phil Keaggy
	Steve Green
	Keith Green
	Brown Bannister
	Chris Christian
	B.J. Thomas

	and others I can't remember right now

    Became a christian shortly after meeting my wife (1979) and have
    attended mostly Baptist churches (Independent, American).

    I enjoy this conference and much of the discussion that goes on.  I'm
    very impressed with the depth of understanding that many of you have of
    the Scriptures.  It is also very interesting to hear the different
    views and understandings on some of the topics.

    I am overwhelmed sometimes by some of the prayer requests and rejoice
    at many of the praises.  Some day, when I have some time, I will share
    with you about one particular experience in my families life about how
    God answered our prayers.

    Ron

    P.S.  It is great to have a major league baseball team again.
          Go Rockies!

I don't know why I've put off introducing myself.

I would really love sometime to go back through all the prior versions of 
CHRISTIAN.NOTE and see the changes I've gone through.  I've poked my nose in
here on and off for years, but I've changed a lot over those years.

5 or 6 years ago, I was one of the ones claiming "I just know that God told me,"
arguing incessantly in every topic I could bring it up about the innerancy of 
Scripture, proclaiming pure relativism: "who are you to tell me that I'm wrong,"
and appalled at the judgementalism of people in this file.

My, how things have changed. :-)

I've come to see over the years that Scripture is the combined Keel and Rudder
of the church, as the Holy Spirit is the wind.  With no keel, and no way to
steer, we'll go somewhere, but probably not where we wanted to go.

Some time I'll give a more full testimony of how the Holy Spirit has gotten hold
of me over the past few years, but I've probably grown more in the Lord in the
past year and a half than I did in the prior 10 years.  It's been wonderful.

I'm currently attending Windham Presbyterian Church, in Windham, NH, and loving
it.  I've never experienced as loving a body of believers, all seeking to make
Christ more real in their lives.  I've never encountered a body that does as
good a job combining a firm adherence to God's word with a love for all who 
walk through the door, regardless of their position.

I've been married nearly 12 years to the woman God chose for me, and have three
wonderful (though *highly* energetic) kids.  I've worked here at DEC for 10 
years.

In the past, I've always gotten frustrated at what I perceived to be the 
bickering and arguing and judgementalism in this file and left.  Left in a huff,
the first couple of times.  But somehow I suspect that's not going to be the
case this time.

Paul

Hi, my name is Steve Huston.  I'm a contractor in Acton, MA USA.  AKO1-3/D7.
Allegedly moving to AKO2 in May...

I stumbled into this conference browsing though EasyNotes and saw CHRISTIAN
version 6 (!?!?), so I had to come find out what was taking up 6 volumes ;-)
It's very interesting to hear from so many different viewpoints on the various topics.

I've been a Christian for about 10 years, been married for almost 12 years - yes,
those first 2 married years had quite alot to do with my being led to Christ.  Now
enjoying the joys and challenges of both being married and glorifying God :-)

-Steve

    Gary Pinkerton @CTH
    Product Manager for MCS
    CTH 1/2 Hull, Quebec, Canada
    DTN 640-7110
    VAXmail KAOOA::PINKERTON
    
    Been saved for 10+ years, married to a wonderful wife, Donna, 1 child,
    a miracle from God, Sarah Rae, age 8.
    
    Been at DEC for 17 years, CSS, Product repair centre,Field service
    engineer, in our Nation's capital - Ottawa, DECdirect Technical Sales
    Rep, Multivendor Customer Services HPS product manager.
    
    My wife, is a part timer at a local bank, and is my household manager!
    
    All the Glory to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
    
    Proverbs 3:5-6 is my scripture to hang onto.
    
    
    
    GP 
      

         Name:		Paul Elford
         Position:	Buyer
         		as a "Digitemp" (with a years contract 'til
         				 December 93)
         Location:	REO F3/8 - DECpark, Reading UK
         Tel:		7830-4856
         E Mail:	PAUL ELFORD @REO
         Family:	Wendy (Wife!)
         		Simon  6
         		Joseph 3
         
         I try to maintain contact with the conference in a mainly 
         read-only mode, as the system here runs rather slowly, 
         although I have input a couple of times.
         
         I have only been with Digital since August 92, but have been 
         greatly blessed and encouraged by many of the entries in this 
         conference. The ability to communicate interactively on a 
         world-wide basis never ceases to amaze me, having come from a 
         small engineering company that only had 2 stand-alone PC's!
         
         	I have been a Christian since the age of 4 (...yes, really) 
                but after reading many of the comments and discussions 
                here, realise just how little I really know, and even after 
                all these years (and you don't know how many they are as I 
                haven't divulged my age yet, but let's just say I saw my 
                40th a few back and I can honestly say there is life after 
                40!) I can identify with Jim Dabler in feeling a little 
                daunted.
         
         I play Double Bass and fretless electric bass.
         
         I am a member of Tilehurst Free Church - a Baptist 
         church of approx. 250 members, and play with various 
         combinations of worship musicians.
         
         I try to meet with Andrew Yuille (and others) at the DCF 
         most Thursday lunchtimes, and as I write the numbers 
         seem to creeping up from 2 or 3, to 7 last week!
         
         Wendy's sister lives in Colorado Springs, worshipping at 
         Immanuel Lutheran Church. 
         
         We thoroughly enjoyed an all too brief 3 week visit to 
         her family 4 years ago, taking in Pikes Peak, Garden of 
         the Gods (+ a quick peek at Navigators HQ), Air Force 
         Academy, Cheyanne Mountain Zoo (Can anyone explain what 
         the "Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun" is all about?), 
         Royal Gorge, and the best Pizza place I've been to - 
         Fargoes Pizza Restaurant, plus some great shopping areas 
         like the Citadel Mall to name but just one.
         
         Anyway, enough for now - I'll "pop" in fro  time to time 
         as work/time permits. As only a contract person, I don't 
         have the luxury of a terminal at home, even though I 
         splashed out on a ...note Digital 325SLC notebook 
         recently!
         
         God bless
         
         Paul

    Name: Steve Leech
    Location: CYO (Cincinnati, OH)
    Tel: (dtn) 432-7320
    
    
    I've been with Digital for over five years now, and am greatly enjoying
    the greatly appreciating vacation time that comes with the 5-year
    anniversary.  8^)
    
    Though I've been active in other conferences, I just recently found out
    about this one, so here I am.
    
    To keep things brief, I am 26 years old (and rapidly closing in on 27),
    am single, and attend a non-denominational Christain church, The
    Vineyard Christian Fellowship.  I have recently  rededicated myself to
    God's word (though I must admit, God sort of 'prodded' me back to a
    proper Christian life...I'll skip the details so this note won't end up
    reading as a book).
    
    I believe that the Bible is God's word to us, an instruction manual to
    life, so to speak.  It has stood the test of time, showing us that it
    is indeed God's truth.  I belive that it was given to us, not only as a
    means to accept eternal life in Christ, but as a guide that can help
    all of us to live happier (and healthier) lives.  The longer I live
    (and the more I watch the news and read the paper), the more convicting
    the evidence becomes.
    
    I enjoy an active life, I run, lift weights, and take Taekwondo.  I
    also have a special interest in Biblical prophesy, of which I've been
    reading several books on recently.  
    
    -steve

                          Leslie Ann Johnson
                          MKO02-1B9
                          KAHALA::JOHNSON_L

Hi All,

I've been a fairly active participent in the past, but have been swamped
by both work and my personal life during the past year and am just beginning
to get little bits of time to connect into this conference.  Many of the
people I know, who used to be active here have either gotten swamped like me,
and no longer note, or have left the company, though there a few familiar
names still in here.  Since many of you are new to me, and I to you, I 
thought an introduction was in order since I may participate from time to
time again as time allows.  This intro has really turned out to be more of
a mini-bio, and I hope, a testimony to God's limitless caring, attention,
love, and grace.  I hope not to boring ....

I am thirty something :-), and God has watched over me and guarded me like
a little chick, a lamb that belongs to His fold all these years.  I grew up
in a Christian home, although my parents were probably not as verbal or
demonstrative of their faith as they should have been for their children,
they made sure that we knew about God and His goodness and greatness.
I in turn, wonder if I am a good witness of my faith and relationship
with God to my step-children.  

We moved around a lot during my early years, and so I was exposed to many 
parts of the country and had to make new friends every year or two for awhile.
This had its good effects and bad ... I didn't develop any prejudices about
one part of the country and its people versus another part, and learned that
people are people the world over.  Doesn't sound too profound when I write
it down like that, but I think in fact that it is pretty profound to understand
the unity and diversity of God's creation including humans.  On the other 
hand, as I grew older, it was sometimes difficult to break into established
groups of kids at school (junior high/high school cliques), and had a bit
of a negative effect on my self-confidence.  But that was perhaps a good thing
too, as I'll come to later in my introduction.

My mother had grown up in the Lutheran church, my Dad in the Methodist.  When
they married, it was the Lutheran church they identified with.  I think the
Lutheran church provided me with a good doctrinal foundation, but God added
to that another dimension through some of our moves.  When we moved to 
Richardson, Texas there was only one Lutheran church local to us so that is
the church to which we went.  The pastor, a grim-faced German fellow, was
sincere and serious.  Very serious, all the time.  He saw the law-side of
God, but not the grace, mercy, and joyous side so much.  He spoke to arouse 
guilt in his congregation, and my parents were dis-satisfied.  It was the 
impetus to change, because when we moved again to Massachusetts, they decided
to try every church in the area, not restricting themselves by denomination.
So it was, that at the age of 15, I learned that God does not have an
"authorized" denomination, that churches and congregations and communities of
believers are as varied as the rest of God's creation.  Not one group of
his followers understand completely, but that He loves them all and died for 
all.  We ended up a conservative Congregational church about a 1/2 mile down
the street on which we lived.  The pastor there, is above all else, a wonderful
teacher opening up the Bible so that it came alive ... and I dove into it and
found it incredibly deep and rich.

Nonetheless, when I went off to college at the University of Connecticut,
and had my first taste of freedom from the straight and narrow (my parents
had been very strict and protective of me, their first-born), I tried life
without God for awhile .... slept late on Sunday mornings instead of going
to church, prayed only in those little emergency, crisis situations - ie.
"Please God, don't let me fail this test (that I didn't study enough for)".
I went to parties that I would find disgusting now.  But God did keep me safe,
and led me back to Him.  

I found that the world, instead of being more exciting without any boundries, 
limits, and foundation was disappointing and shallow.  During my sophmore 
year, I began to go to church again once in awhile.  Somehow though, all of 
the on-campus churches I tried seemed stale and flat.  I didn't know what was 
missing (I think I know now), but I knew I needed something else.  One day, 
towards the end of my sophmore year, at some meal where we were discussing 
roomates for the following year, one of the women at the table said, "Connie 
and I get along really well, and I could see us being roomates, but well, 
she's a little too religious and I don't know if that would work out."  The 
next time I had opportunity to talk to Connie alone, I asked her if she went
to church somewhere nearby.  She invited me to come a Campus Crusade for Christ
meeting with her, and so I did.  

Though I didn't really feel I fit in completely with the organization, through
them I met people who would become good friends, and have an impact in my life.
I learned new ways of singing praises to God and worshipping Him.  I found out
about a wonderful off-campus non-denominational church that had been started 
by some professors and their families who were dis-satisfied with the 
on-campus churches also.  I saw the difference between churches that are
alive in the Spirit, and dead in their traditions done for the sake of 
tradition and not for God's sake.  I learned about the other Christian
organizations on campus.  I began to think about God again, to read His Word
and pray.  I heard, for the first time, about setting aside "quiet times".
I found out that a woman that I'd met at freshman orientation and had taken
an instant liking to, had become a Christian while I was off floundering those
first couple of years.  We became roomates our senior year, and I learned 
much from her.

I was unprepared for getting out of college.  All my focus so far in my life
was how to be a good student.  I still think that student is one of my favorite
occupations :-) !  My degree was in fine arts - painting, with a minor in
interior design -- not real practical !  I was shy, and didn't have a great 
deal of self-confidence.  The economy was down, experienced engineers were 
getting laid off from places like G.E. and Raytheon.  I didn't succeed in 
getting a job lined up before I graduated, and returned to my parent's home, 
their first child to graduate college, and here I was, totally dependent on 
them.  It was one of the most tramatic and depressing times of my life.  

.... to be continued

Part II

My parents had come from an impoverished background in rural Wisconsin.
My Mom especially, had a hard childhood.  Her family, the people
she saw when she was growing up, were for the most part dependent on
welfare or low-paying, low-skill jobs.  They were farmers who didn't know
how to farm and spent much of their time in the field drinking and
accomplishing little.  My grandmother was a single parent with a third
grade education who earned her living frying eggs and making pies at 
the local greasy spoon in town, all the while feeling that life had 
cheated her and was not fair because she had to work.  My Dad's family 
was a little more educated, a little better off, but still had a relatively 
hard time.  My parents didn't want to see their children go back to that 
type of life.  I was their first, and I was not self-supporting, and they 
were ... well panicked.  

As I looked for a job that summer, my Dad tried to help me by pointing out 
all the things I did wrong in how I interacted with people and why I wasn't
good at interviewing, and why I didn't get a job.  My Mom piled me with jobs
to do around the house so that I would be "earning" my keep, and not just
living the life of a slob.  Whatever shreds of self confidence that I had,
whatever feelings of purpose, of value, of meaning that I could assign to my
life, were evaporated away by the summer sun and continued joblessness, eroded
away by the wind of constant criticism.  

I was frightened of being nothing, of being incapable, and worthless.  On days
when I didn't have interviews lined up, after everyone left the house, and I 
was there alone, before starting in on my chores, or after starting them 
sometimes, I would flee to the darkness of the basement, and on my knees would
cry out to God, or just plain cry.  I pounded my fists on the hard floor, I 
shook them in the air at God.  I asked, "Why God, why ?" and "Who am I, why 
was I born ?".  And I cried.  And I wondered why God wasn't answering.

There was one bright spot, a life-line of hope.  God had not left me completely
in the basement.  There was a very small group of people in their early twenties
at my church, struggling with the transition from dependent to independent,
from "child" to adult.  The assistant pastor, a seminary student at Gordan-
Conwell, doing his internship at our church began to lead a weekly Bible-study
for those of us in this catagory.  We met at his small home in Ipswich, MA.
His wife Sharon was a generous, sweet woman who reached out and befriended me 
at a time of great need in my life.  For the study, we would start with prayer
and maybe some singing, study the Word, end with coffee and tea, and sharing, 
and more prayer and maybe more singing.  My parents let me borrow their car 
this one night each week.  Without that small group, I'm not sure I would have 
made it through the summer without committing some desperate act against myself
or slipping into total despair.

One thing that kept happening that summer was that I kept hearing about this
place called L'Abri.  Sharon had been there for a fair length of time.  Peter,
her husband, had visited.  The pastor of the church was going to make a stop
there during a summer sabbatical the church was giving him.  If the study
group had visitors, they were either on their way to, or coming from L'Abri.
Other people in the group talked about it.  What was this L'Abri place I
kept hearing about ?  Some sort of Christian community in Switzerland where
you go to study about God, life, and everything.  Something about some guy 
named Francis Schaeffer who wrote some theology books.  Unbeknownst to me, 
God made sure my parents kept hearing about this place too.

August went by, September started.  I was still jobless and despairing.
One day as I was preparing to go off to some interview that I wasn't thrilled
about, my Mom was especially upset with me for something that had to do with 
my jobless state, and started in with some angry words against me.  I felt 
myself totally caving in, everthing felt totally black, dark, worthless and
hopeless.  I felt unloved and unworthy of love.  I started to breathe fast 
and shallow, the kitchen started to spin, my legs were starting to shake.  
My Mom was caught up short, realized what her words were doing, caught me up, 
sat me done on a chair, and cried with me, saying "This isn't right, we're
doing this all wrong !"  She suggested I cancel the interview, and instead
make an appointment with our pastor.  That we start over on our attitudes 
to this job thing.

So I did.  It was a pleasant afternoon, sunny, clear, and a little breezy 
when I found myself sitting on the pastor's back porch.  I started to tell 
him about my situation and how I felt, and found that no words came.  I just 
cried which really embarrassed me, but he'd probably seen plenty of tears 
before.  What I didn't realize fully then, but do now, and what you're probably
able to tell from the words I've already written, is: it was not so much a 
financial crisis for me, but an identity crisis.  Our conversation didn't 
really resolve anything, I don't remember getting any profound insights into 
my problem, but I left feeling calmer, and with a little book, whose author 
and title I've since forgotten.  It was about praising God and trusting Him 
in all situations.  Not for all situations, but IN all situations.  

I read it that night before going to bed.  At the end, it had an exercise to 
do.  Fold a piece of paper in half, on one side, write down everything you 
are truly glad about, that you praise God for without any reservations.  On 
the other side, write down all the things that are bothering you, that you 
are concerned about, troubles, problems, anxieties, etc.  Things that are 
hard to be glad about.  Then pray through both columns, praising and thanking
God that is with you and providing for you in all the situations.  I did this,
then I climbed into bed, and turned out the light, and heard knocking at my
door.  It was my parents.

"Leslie", they said, "while you were out today, Peter and Sharon came by to 
drop something off, and we got to talking about L'Abri.  We had set some money
by to get you a graduation gift, we were thinking it would be down payment on
a car after you got a job, but now we'd like to use it to give you a trip to
L'Abri if you'd like to go."  Would I like to go !  It was perfect.  God had
created a desperate need for a place like L'Abri, which means "The shelter" in
French, and now He was filling that need.  Within a short space of time, I
had made plans to go just after Christmas for three months.  And in that time
I found two part-time, short-term jobs which would help provide some additional
money for my trip to Switzerland and L'Abri.

(to be continued)

    Hi everybody, I'm Eli Gutierrez (from Mexico) I've been reading yours
    notes, and I'm enjoying it. I met God on Aug. 2th 1986 (thanks to my
    girlfriend) she told me about a Savior and I believed him that day. My
    life changed since that moment, and today I'm a singer for him.
    
    Sorry mi English, I've been learning it 6 months ago, I know, I need to 
    learn a lot. I acept corrections. God bless you. 
    
    Translation:
    Hola a todos, mi nombre es Eli Gutierrez (de Mexico), he estado leyendo
    sus notas, y estoy disfrutandolo. Conoci a Dios el 2 de Agosto de 1986
    (gracias a mi novia) ella me hablo acerca de un Salvador y yo crei en
    el ese dia. Mi vida cambio desde ese momento, y ahora canto para el.
    
    Perdon por mi Ingles, he estado aaprendiendolo desde hace 6 meses, yo
    se, necesito aprender mas, acepto correciones. Dios les bendice.  
                                                                    

    Hello,
    
    I'm Kathy Aragon from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm married to Mike and
    we have two lovely children, Michelle age 8 and Andrew age 4. 
    I'm a Senior (so-to-be Principal) Software Specialist.
    
    I've been a Christian for 20 years, and for the past 12-13
    years have not been actively participating in a Christian life or
    church.  I've spent the last two months wondering if I could have the
    peace and love that I shared with Christ Jesus again; and I now know
    that I can.  I rededicated my life to Christ, and I can tell you that I
    know what the prodical son went through before he made his decision to
    go home, and how he felt when he embraced his long-waiting father. 
    I've come back home!  Rejoice with me in God's undying love!
    

    Finally!
    
    	I've been looking for this notes file for awhile now. Glad to be
    here!  I'm Marjie Gorey, I live in Leominster, MA. I'm a single mom of
    one terrific 10 year old boy. I became a Christian in 1988 and did a
    lot of backsliding since then. I recently rededicated my life back to
    Jesus at the prompting of *my son!!!* who became a Christian last year!
    It was a very emotional experience as I had been in the midst of a
    strong spiritual warfare but just like before, the Lord was there to
    take me in. 
    
    	I now work in ZKO building 3-2. Currently I'm inbetween churches
    and looking to find a place to call home. We were going to the
    N.Leominster Assembly of God.
    
    	I'm looking forward to learning a lot from this file and being able
    to share with other Christians. 
    
    	 

     I am pondering at this moment why I am hesitating about something 
    that I really want to do. There's a real struggle going at the moment,
    however, I'm determined to go through with this.
     
    July 30th. I noticed this note for the first time and got excited by
    it. I've been a reader for a long time and truly enjoyed the topics
    and conversations. I'm beginning to know in a small way the person behind
    the note. Its time for me to offically join this family of christians.
    
     My name is Stephen Downey, I work at the Kanata Mfg. facility in 
    Ontario, Canada. Kanata is just outside of Ottawa the Nations Capital.
    
     I am Roman Catholic by faith and schooling. I LOVE JESUS CHRIST and
    believe that until you are born again you can not walk with the Holy
    Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit there is no life.
     
     During September sometime I hope to with one other person begin a 
    Christian Bible/Prayer group at the Kanata facility. I know I will need
    (our prayer group will need) your help and wisdom and prayers in the future.
    Please pray that our Father in heaven will touch the hearts of the
    folks in Digital giving them a heart of flesh. For all those people thinking
    about going to a prayer group within Digital, lead these people to a
    personal relationship with your son Jesus so that you Father may be 
    glorified in the Son. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus.
    
     When visiting the Nations Capital City - Ottawa or Kanata on business
    please feel free to look me up by phone or in person. (dtn 621-4278)
    
     Your servant in Christ, Steve Downey.
    
     By the way I'm 37 years old  and love playing Basketball and Fastball
    and of course talking about our Lord and Redeemer. I'm married to a 
    wonderful prayer partner Sutherland (her 1st. name). God willing we
    will start a family soon. We have two friendly Rottweiler's Buck and
    Pearl. I was born again Dec. 13, 1992. That was the day I opened the door
    and let Jesus enter. Alleluia! 
     
      
    

    Greetings in the name of the Lord!
    
    I'm Bill Taylor, and I'm checking in at the recommendation of Jim 
    Henderson, whom I met through another notesfile.
    
    I've been with the company nearly 9 years in the power supply group.
    Last month I joined the engineering organization in the disk drive
    business where I'll be designing small drives.  (I thank God for 
    this wonderful opportunity.)
    
    I dedicated my life to the Lord in 1972 through the witness of 
    an (formerly) equally reprobate classmate at college.  I've been
    married for  18 years, and I'm now looking down the barrel of my
    fortieth  birthday.  My kids are 12, 10, 5 (Joanna, Stephanie, Nathan),
    all  with birthdays this Fall.  We live in Bolton, Ma.
    
    I'm at SHR3-1, pole A6, DTN 237-6161.  Time will tell how much
    time I'll have available to read/contribute.
    
    Bill
    
    

    Hello 
    
    My name is Colin Houston . I am an MVCS Engineer and been in Digital
    for 6 3/4 years now . I work in the Belfast office , which is in
    Northern Ireland. I am 33 years old.
    
    I am divorced and re-married. My wife Adrienne and I have been married
    now for over a year . We have no family yet. I have two children from
    my first marriage ,Laura age seven and Philip age six . They live with
    my ex-wife.
    
    I became a follower of Christ at the end of April this year and firmly
    believe in the bible as the Word and the will of God ,in its entirety
    and without being watered down . My initial joy at recieving God's
    grace has now just been added to, as my wife has also rededicated
    herself to Christ, as of about four weeks ago. So we are both infant
    Christians trying to find our way at present.
    
    We are both members of a small Presbyterian church in the centre of
    Belfast . It has a dwindling congregation  of mostly old people so
    they need an injection of youth . To that end I intend to give spare
    time to help to run a boys youth movement called the Boy's Brigade ( a
    bit like the Boy Scouts with camps etc... )
    
    I will be mostly a read only member at the start as I catch up on
    things ! I want to further my knowledge of the Word and communicate
    with other Christians , sharing in thier problems and outlook on life.
    I also think that we noters from arround the world have a great medium
    to communicate through and I hope that the Holy Spirit blesses all who
    read or write here !
    
    God bless all !
    
    Colin Houston
     

    I've been *reading* this conference so long, I thot you all knew me!
    MORALES_NA (Nancy Morales) pointed out that I should introduce myself...
    
    Digital:
    	Software Engineer, Shrewsbury, Mass.  Working on my ninth year,
    	fifteen manager! (Is that a record?)
    
    Church:
    	Church of the Nazarene, Fitchburg, Mass. - Third generation "Nazzie"
    	I was born-again at the age of 9, that makes me only 31, right? :-)
    	My dad's a retired preacher.  We've lived in California, Arizona,
    	Maine, Rhode Island, New York, and Ohio.  I attended Eastern
        Nazarene College in Wollaston, Mass and have been "stuck" in
        Taxachussets (did I spell that right?!) ever since. 
    
    Family:
    	Married for 19 years, three kids: 16, 14 and 8.  We're building a
    	house and living in it at the same time! (Groan!) We got our
    	rough wiring inspection last night, so now we can insulate and
    	finish the wallboard!
    
    Happy noting!
    
    Don/ 

    >Name:	Bob Grover

    Location:	Colorado Springs, Colorado (CXO3)

    Born/raised:	Hyde Park Mass. (a suburb of Boston)
    			into an Episcopal church family

         Church:	Academy Christian Church
    			(non-denominational)
    
    	Family.: Great wife (Peggy) and three special children.. Daughter
    Christine - soon to be 17, son Robert Jr. - 14, son Billy - 12.

    >Reason for participating in CHRISTIAN:

    	Happened across this conference, while looking for another in
    	NOTES_INDEX... Thought I'd check it out. I honestly believe this
    	is a next step in my walk with the lord... As I found Christ I 
    	find this conference.

    >Anything else that would help us get to know you:

    	I returned to Christ on Scout Sunday, February 1993. It was the
    	work of my youngest son... I've been involved with the Boy Scout
    	program for about 19 years... Billy is a Scout, and learning that a
    	scout is "reverent"! So, one day, he asks me.... "Dad, if scouts
    	are suppose to be reverent (pointing to his scout book), why don't 
    	you go to church with us.." So, not being able to answer him, I
    	just kept thinking of his question... When Scout Sunday came up, I 
    	found myself wanting to go to church, but not... The family left,
    	then I finally got off my butt, put my Scout uniform on and went 
    	to church (liked to have caused my wife to have a heart attack.)

    	In June 1993, I was immersed in baptism..

    	I am now involved in many areas of the church. I am working with
    	the church, finalizing plans for sponsoring a Scout Troop at the 
    	church. 
    
    	I feel like a new man. It's a struggle in these times, to be 
    	Christian, but the struggle, I think, is drawing me evene closer 
    	to Christ.. I feel fortunate to find this conference so early in
    	my new life with Christ.
    
    	Your in Christ..!
    
    	Bob G.
    

    Name:	Julie O'Donnell
    Address:	20, Shirley Avenue, 
    		Whitley, 
    		Reading, 
    		Berkshire, RG2 8TD
    		England
    
    Hello, 
    
    I attend Tyndale Baptist Church, in Reading. My special job there is to
    arrange the flowers for the Sunday services (also for special
    occasions at the Church). This was very much an appointment from God. I
    had absolutely no idea that I could do it - I wasn't at all artistic -
    but God decided He needed a flower arranger and He picked me. I started
    attending Tyndale when I was six, became a member (and was baptised) at
    14 and have been the flower-arranger for four years (I'm 26 now).
    
    I am the only Christian member of my family, which is sometimes rather
    difficult. Indeed, my father is an athiest. However my younger sister
    has recently moved away from home and in with me, so I'm hoping I can get 
    her back to Church - she hasn't been for a few years. She's 16. The
    other members of my household are two cats, Jimmy and Rosie, who are
    very much loved and spoiled by my sister and I.
    
    I work at REO in Reading as a Computer Operator. I WAS an employee for
    5 years, but since the beginning of the year, I have been a contractor
    (Digital's decision, not mine!).
    
    I am usually a read-only noter, but I do very occasionally write as
    well.

    Hi,
    
Name:  John Rhoton
Location:  AUI  (Vienna, Austria)
Reason for participating:  Saw it referenced in some other conferences
  and some of the discussions looked interesting... 

My parents work with an inter-denominational evangelical mission called
Operation Mobilization so I have been exposed to Christianity and the
Bible all of my life.  I also attended a Christian college (Taylor
University, Indiana).  

I don't think this is the place for me to expound on my current beliefs
but suffice it to say that I do not attend any church and would not
consider myself part of the mainstream of Bible-believing Christianity.
I do believe, however, in the saving grace of Jesus and in the 
importance of a relationship with God.

I have worked at Digital for 8 1/2 years: 3 years - St. Louis, Missouri,
2 - Paris, France, 3 - Turin, Italy, and now in Vienna.  My job has been
a mix of software specialist and and software engineer over that time focusing
mainly in the office area (ALL-IN-1, TeamRoute, TeamLinks, Notes...).

John    

Hi brothers and sisters,

This is Mickwid Lam from Hong Kong. I'm not a real 'new' comer in this notes.
Two years ago I wrote my last my last note and left this company from my and
back to college for final year. Now I'm back to this family.

I'm back here because I want to share with all you brothers and sisters on our
believings. I'm a Catholic, and I hope that I can learn more from you all.

Blessing from our Father,
Mickwid.

            Hello,

    My name is Glenn Sparks, I go by Sparky much of the time.

    I live in Houston, Texas and have been a Christian since age of 17

    I am now 37, married for the 2nd time (9 years this time) a wonderful
    Christian wife (makes all the difference) 2 step children I have
    custody of (girl 13, boy 11), and an 19 month old son.

    I joined a small Southern Baptist church when 17, and have been in many
    since then.  I left 2nd Baptist of Houston after 8 years about a year
    ago feeling a real push by the Lord to get involved in a smaller
    church.

    I sing in the choir, and listen for the AWANA club.  I am involved in
    the promise keepers ministry and a program our church is going through
    called Fresh Encounter.

    My reason for finally making myself known, is with this study some
    serious questions have come up that will effect our church, I will add
    a note concerning this and my convictions.
    

    Hello,
    
    I thought I'd introduced myself, but a dir 4.* proved me wrong...
    
    I'm Philip Sherwood (usually sign things "p", but people call me
    "Phil")
    
    Being fresh out of college (Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh),I'm a new
    employee here at Digital in Hudson as of July.  I'm in the verification
    group, MTV and fortunately, they don't make us watch it. :-)
    
    Anyway, I've been a Christian since I was 7 or 8, tho I didn't
    completely realize quite what I was getting into, :-)  but I do not
    regret it.  I've been growing in what it means to be a Christian ever
    since then (about 14 or 15 years).
    God has been the sole source of getting me through some tough times,
    either directly, or providing a friend for me, and for that I am
    forever grateful.  
    
    I'm a new member at Grace Baptist Church in Marlborough (meets in the
    Marlborough Middle School) and am a part of the College and Career
    group there.
    
    I'm from Houston and know exactly where the College Park Baptist Church
    is in Houston than Glenn attends (I even visited there once - a long
    time ago tho)
    
    well,
    that's all the rambling I can think of for now
    (does this help Nancy?)
    
    peace
    p

    Hi -
    	My name is Steve Magee.  I work at MKO2 for US Sales Finance-
    Decision Support.  I am a recent graduate of Gordon-Conwell and am
    preparing to be a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America.  I am
    currently an elder at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashua, NH, and am
    part of a commission that is overseeing the planting of a mission
    church in the Worcester, MA area.  I have enjoyed my 6 1/2 years at
    Digital to date, but am looking forward to the beginning of a new phase
    of ministry.
    
    In Him, Steve

    Bob Shallow
    WRO, Santa Clara
    WRO1-1/A1
    DTN 521-4209
    Divorced (2) 2 daughters Christina, and Kerri. 
    
    God has recently brought me back from an 11 year backslide. I have
    known the Lord all my life (received Christ as my Saviour 24 years ago,
    and as Lord, earlier this month)
    
    In giving up all I am, or think I am to God, I find the peace that is
    promised in His word. He has set before me challenges, which I choose
    not to undertake in my own strength, as it would be futile to do such.
    As I know from my previous experience that efforts in my own strength
    only lead to frustration. My faith is in God, and in God alone.
    
    I have tried to have faith in "my" faith, and ended up devastated, many
    a time. It's a sneaky trick of the adversary, and he beat me too many a
    time in the past. My trust is in the Living God, and in His love,
    strength, and faithfulness. 
    
    In bringing me back to Him, God has also set me free from 25 years of
    drug use/abuse, and alcohol use/abuse. I finally received the wisdom
    from above that it isn't the answer. For years, I thought it was. More
    deceit from he who will soon be tossed into the bottomless pit. I have
    been such a fool, in believing lies, instead of the truth. I thank God
    for His Holy Spirit who leads us all into all truth.
    
    I pray for the perfect will of God to be done in all of His body, which
    I have done nothing to be considered a part of. I thank God I'm saved
    by His grace, through faith in the redemptive power of the cross, and
    the blood of Christ, which He shed for us all.
    
    In His Love,
    By His Grace,
    
    Bob

    Name: Mike Holland
    Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado (CXO3)
    Born: Elkins, West Va. (June 29, 1949) but raised in/around Macon, Ga.
    Family: Wonderful wife (Cheryl) and daughter (Rachel) age 13 
    Church: Springs Community Church (Reformed Chruch in America)
    
    I was raised in a Southern Baptist Church, my father is a lay Baptist
    minister (not seminary training) called by God to preach. I accepted
    Christ and was baptist in June 1958. Although I've turned away from 
    God in the past, he's always draw me back.
    
    During my walk with Christ I've had numerous crisis in my life but God
    is always faithful and just. One of the high points in my life has been
    my marriage to Cheryl. She is Bob Grover's sister (note 4.60) and we
    first met in Germany. Cheryl, like Bob, was raised in a Episcopal
    church family in Boston. Bob is not only my brother-in-law but my
    brother in Christ.
    
    Christ is now the center point in my life, my walk with him has been
    the most rewarding experience I could have imagined. I love the Lord
    with all my heart and wish to see his Gospel spread around the world.
    This is why I fully support missionaries and pray each and everyday for
    Christ's missionaries around the world. I would ask that all of you
    pray for our missionaries around the world daily and in anyway you
    can, please support them. 
    
    Your brother in Jesus Christ,
    
    Mike
    

    Greetings,
    
    Since I have already entered a good portion of my testimony in 366 I'll 
    try and fill in some of the gaps.  
    
    Sarah and I have been married for 13 years now and have three children, 
    Justin (11), Nathan (8) and Arianna (2).  I have been with DEC since 1984 
    but came to Alpharetta, GA in 1991 (Allin1 mail to Kent Cason @ALF).
    
    While in Korea, the Lord used a military chaplain, Sam Park, and some 
    missionaries from the US to begin to speak to my spirit and allure me 
    back to Him (Hosea 2:14-20).  After returning to the Lord in 1979, the 
    Lord called me into evangelistic ministry.  It has taken many years, 
    and more than a few sidetracks (read: very long story) but this year I 
    received credentials with the Assemblies of God.  My preaching 
    schedule, for now, is roughly two Sundays a month, mostly in Georgia.  
    I have ministered as an unaffiliated evangelist in South Carolina, 
    Ohio, W. Virginia and Virginia.  I am the Evangelism Explosion director 
    for my local church and am preparing to be a part of the upcoming Billy 
    Graham crusade in Atlanta.
    
    I have already received great encouragement from reading the notes in 
    this conference.  I hope that I can do the same for you.
    
    In His Love and Service,
    
    Kent
                                                                        

    
    Dave Dawson
    Lubbock Texas
    
    			Several years ago I stopped in this file to look
    around.  I guess it just wasn't the right time for me because I must of
    read all the "wrong" notes.  I left and decided I wouldn't stop back in
    here because of what I thought a "I'm better than you" attitude. 
    Recently I made a friend who is one of your own and though I couldn't
    exactly agree on everything she said I knew it came from a loving
    heart.  She has encouraged me to take a second look so honoring her,
    I looked again.  So.....here I am.
    
    			Some of you might know me from CP as I am a
    moderator there and if that doesn't put you off altogether,  I am also
    a "lay preacher" in the Southern Baptist Church.  I was saved in 1972
    during the Isrealie/Arab war.  I was in the Navy and my ship had a
    Revival during that time.  I was struck by the helplessness of my
    situation and gave myself over to Jesus.  Best move I ever made 'cause
    I now have life insurance by "Jesus Christ Mutual Life".   I've been a
    Deacon and teacher in my Church for over 15 years.  
    
    			Over the last year or so I have kind of drifted
    away from organized religion.  I became fed up with the politics and
    traditional values associated with most Churches and while that feeling
    hasn't gone away altogether I am resuming my search for the right
    Church for me.  I also have to give much credit to a special friend
    that accepted me as I was but still encouraged me to keep looking and
    not slide all the way down.  I doubt she truly knows the impact she has
    made on my life personally but I feel I just have to say "Thank You
    Nancy". :-)
    
    
    Dave Dawson  

        This is a supplement to 4.64.  May help to explain me some
                            
    I moved from the town I grew up to another small town in Kansas when I
    was 15.  I met another new comer at school and instantly liked him.  I
    went over to his house after school.  He had 3 sisters, one in my
    class, 2 younger, his father was a Southern Baptist preacher.  Anyway
    we made great friends, especially the sister that was 3 years younger
    than me.  We were both bookworms, and enjoyed discussing books.

    I finally submitted my life to the Lord when I was 17, I can't believe
    I took so long being witnessed to the amount I was.  I really grew in
    this period, and did quite a bit of witnessing in school.  Anyway a new
    preacher who was going to school took over the church when I was 18,
    and he had a cute daughter.  I didn't realize at the time she was a
    source of trouble in their lives, and started dating her.  

    The preacher graduated from school, got a job offer as the director of
    missions for the State of Missouri.  He took the job, but as I found
    out later, didn't want to take the daughter (who was adopted at 9) and
    had been sexually active since 13 causing him to loose more than 1
    church.

    Well anyway he played me well, and convinced me to marry his daughter. 
    The marriage lasted 7 years, and all but the 1st 6 months were painful. 
    She had the first affair when we had been married less than a year, and
    many after that.  The reason later came out that she was abused and
    molested before she had been adopted.  I had two children with her (the
    only time she was faithful was when we were trying to have kids).

    Finally she left me and took the kids, filed for divorce.  She
    re-married shortly after that, and I discovered being single again.

    I had gone to church off and on during that period, but really didn't
    do much more than attend.  After the divorce I attended regularly and
    started working with the youth group in the church.

    I grew a lot spiritual in that time, and really thank God for the
    people he put in my life, my job was good, over 10 years seniority and
    being offered the DP managers position, when God laid a burden on my
    heart to get in touch with the Pastor I knew when I was a teenager.

    After calling around and getting the number I called and we spoke for
    hours, he told me the daughter 3 years younger than myself, Lisa was
    still single living in Houston, Tx.  I got her phone number and called
    her a week or two later with this pickup  line:  So, I hear your still
    single.  Well anyone who knows a lady 25 years old single should know
    this is the worst thing in the world to ask, but she forgave me anyway.

    I spent from Feb thru May sending letters daily, lots of cards (humor)
    and flowers a time or two and was personally responsible for ATT's 2nd
    quarter profits.  I can't say that I was really courting her, but I was
    just thrilled to have contact with a wonderful friend from the past. 
    Anyway on my birthday May 3rd, she asked me to marry her. I was
    floored, I don't know why it hadn't entered my mind, but I immediately
    said, let me pray about it, 'short pause' and Yes. We both had been
    praying, whatever happens Lord with this relationship just let me know.
    I had a great job, but I really felt being led to Houston.  I left my
    job, made arrangements to get the kids for the summers rather than some
    weekends, packed a couple of suitcases, gave away my furniture, cars. 
    Lisa had flown up in June, and said she still wanted to get married but
    I had no taste (Ford Pinto, Dodge Challenger, and early American
    furniture with waterbed).
    We got married July 5 1985, and have really had a wonderful marriage. 
    It is wonderful when the marriage is based on friendship and
    communication and Godly principles rather than physical attraction.  We
    decided to get married after not seeing each other for 10 years.

    Two years later Lisa and I prayed with our Shepherd group (home care
    group) that we should probably look for a house.  We got lost the next
    day, found a wonderful house that we didn't think we could afford, and
    the Lord worked out everything.  The note was low interest with almost
    no equity, the owner was a pastor who had a deacon who would do the
    closing, everything fell into place.  We really were blessed, and found
    out why 3 months later.  My ex-wife had attempted suicide, and I was
    given custody of the kids.  No life hasn't been perfect, but it has
    been rewarding.  My Ex is filing for custody again.  She tried once
    before, but had an extremely wise judge.  I stated that I was concerned
    the kids didn't attend church.  She stated that she believed it was up
    to kids.  The judge keyed in on this and said it was the parents
    responsibility to train the kids in religion, being it Christianity,
    Atheism, or Budism.  This was the main reason he gave for the custody
    remaining with me. 

    This time she waited until that judge retired and will try again.  The
    kids of course say what they think each parent wants to hear, I am
    really heart broken that they are being told by my ex that if they love
    her they will come and live with her, the guilt is tremendous.

    Since moving to Houston until a year ago I attended Second Baptist
    church with Dr. Ed Young, who was a tremendous teacher.  After he was
    elected the president of the convention though we felt he was letting
    the church go, and really felt a push to move.  The events from then
    are in another note, but I must say I do like being more involved,
    teaching Single Parents, Choir and AWANAS and Promise Keepers
    
    I go by Sparky because everyplace there has been someone else named
    Glenn that I didn't want to be confused with.  Ham radio gave me the
    nick name of Sparky when I was 15.
    
    Glenn Sparks (Sparky) It's even in the Digital Phone book as Sparky 

    
    Tanks mucho for posting that "Sparky"... it is amazing that love's
    commitment has more power then physical attraction.  I believe that
    there are qualities in a person that is much more powerful then
    physical beauty.
    
    There is nothing wrong with finding someone physically attractive, so
    please don't read that into my note... but I found this paragraph
    revealing of the character that so many of us wish we had:
    
    >We got married July 5 1985, and have really had a wonderful
    >marriage.
    
    >It is wonderful when the marriage is based on friendship and
    >communication and Godly principles rather than physical attraction. 
    >We decided to get married after not seeing each other for 10 years.
    
    :-)
    
    Nancy
    
    
    

    Having suddenly shown up and asked for prayers for my extended family,
    I thought I should introduce myself.  I have found myself coming to God
    in a slow steady way since last Mother's Day when I went back to the
    church of my youth, The United Methodist.  Since then I have been
    feeling the strength of Christ in my life in unexpected places and
    ways.  I've been read-only here since I'm really rather shy, but I do
    like being here with you.  Thank you for the prayers for Paul and his
    wife.  God bless.
    
    Dondi

    
    I guess since I've been reading this conference and even entered
    a note here and there I should introduce myself:
    
    Name: 	Pam So
    Live in: 	Colorado Springs
    Family: 	Husband: J. Son: Nathan (7)
    Work: 	CXO3  Temp..again worked at SHR3 for a year and a half
    		took 2 years off and have been back for 3 weeks
    Church:	Unfortunately...as of this week we're searching
    
    
    I grew up in Hudson MA and attended a Methodist Church sporatically.
    Usually it was I who forced the rest of the family to go.  Never
    accepted Christ...thought going to church was enough..boy was I
    fooled!  I graduated from Westfield State College in Dec. 1986
    and had my son, Nathan 3 months later.  Was a stay at home Mom for 3 years.
    Got divorced.  Went to work as a temp for DEC.  Met J. over the phone 
    while at work and fell madly in love and moved to Colorado 9 months 
    later.  Was saved on Easter of April 1992 due to my son's urging.
    "Mom, Jesus loves you and wants you to go to church so you
    can learn more about him and how he wants you to live."  This from 
    a 5 year old.  Nathan was saved 2 months later, his relationship
    with Christ amazes me...I learn from his faith every day.
    Last October J. recommitted his life to Christ and now we
    are truly a family growing together in Him.  It is an exciting
    journey.
    
    I am noting in this conference in order to learn more about
    Christ, how to grow closer to Him and to fellowship with other
    believers.
    
    Hope this wasn't too long,
    Pam
                                                           

    Not sure if I ever did this before - and can't think of a better
    time...
    
    I'm John Stock, former DECcie (systems manager of the MEIS cluster in
    Manufacturing Engineering Information Systems at TWO), was offered
    SERP, declined the offer at the request of my cost center manager (who
    begged me to stay) - and, within one month, the whole group had gone
    "poof".  Now working a contract on-site at Merck pharmaceutical at
    their Rahway, N.J. site, due to expire sometime in June.  
    
    Been on "top side o' this earth" (as Vernon McGhee used to say) since
    1936, and been a Christian since???  I accepted Christ in a pastor's
    office (my wife and I had been sent to him for marriage counseling)
    about 20 years ago, and was baptized later that month.  
    
    I had grown up in a dysfunctional family - or, more accurately, never
    grew up at all.  I married a girl I had met in college when I got her
    pregnant, but was cheating on her even before we were married - and
    almost constantly since.  I was addicted to the rush that comes from a
    new love affair, and went from one to the next.  
    
    When I accepted Christ, I expected to be filled with the Holy Spirit,
    to have Him take charge of my life, and make me into the kind of person
    I could respect.  It didn't happen, and I became real bitter.  
    
    There is a verse in the Revelation that says "Behold, I stand at the
    door and knock.  If any man hears my voice and answers, I will come in
    and sup with him" (from memory - forgive me if it's only close).  I
    felt as though I had heard the knock and went to the door, opened it
    with all the excitement of a kid looking for the postman on his
    birthday - and there was no one there.  Some kind of a cruel joke, like
    kids pull on haloween.  My disappointment was enormous...
    
    The affairs continued much as before, until about 8-9 years ago, when
    there was a significant change - instead of occasional "lost weekends",
    this time I actually moved out, and moved in with another woman. 
    
    That relationship lasted just a year, during which I joined DEC (1986). 
    A friend from work rented me a room in his house for a couple of
    months, and I moved in with another woman, who almost immediately got
    pregnant.  
    
    Something changed within me - I'm not sure what, but the affairs
    stopped (during the time I was with my wife, there was once that I hadd
    three going on simultaneously; there were often two).  That little boy
    meant so much to me that somehow I thought God had given me one last
    chance to "get it right".  
    
    I died just before my son was born.  I developed a terrible stomach
    ache late in the week, which got so bad I went to the doctor on
    Saturday, thinking I had food poisoning.  He told me I had stomach flu
    and gave me some medicine.  By Sunday I couldn't make it to the car,
    and was taken to the hospital by ambulance, somewhere around 3:00PM.  I
    lay in the emergency room for hours, with a new doctor coming in every
    few hours to look at me.  Finally, a surgeon showed up around 9:00PM
    and told me I was in crisis - and took me to the operating suite.  My
    appendix had ruptured, and for some number of minutes, I was without
    vital signs.  
    
    It is time for me to leave - to be continued...
    

    I'm really sorry about that - not planned that way at all.  Merck
    security regulations require that contractors not be in secured areas
    unless under the supervision of a Merck employee - and at 5:00 the last
    one of them wanted to leave *NOW* - so I had no choice but to bail out.  
    
    Now back to our regularly scheduled program.  You will recall that I
    had just died on the operating table...
    
    Something happened while I was "out of it".  I asked my surgeon later
    if I could have had an out-of-body experience, or if I had had a drug
    induced halucination.  He told me it could have been either, that he
    kept working on me when he thought he had lost me - when my monitors
    were flat-lined, and that I was indeed heavily drugged.  
    
    My experience was that of being in a huge Quonset hut shaped something,
    almost like the old train sheds at large terminals.  It was completely
    empty except for me, and there was great light and warmth at the end,
    way ahead of me.  As I walked toward the light, instead of becoming
    closer, it became more distant, and I became aware that now was not the
    time.  I slowed, then stopped and turned and started back the way I
    had come, when my son, (9 at the time) whom I had left when I left my
    wife, came running into my arms and we embraced and cried together.  
    
    I developed an infection while recovering from surgery, that the
    doctors could not find, and was in the hospital for a month (recovery
    from that surgery is normally just a few days), during which my last
    son was born, just a floor below me.  I was wheeled downstairs and got
    to hold him when he was a day old - one of the most intensely emotional
    memories of my life.  
    
    During my recovery in the hospital, I could not sleep and heard a call
    for the paramedics to go out on a run, then shortly thereafter heard my
    doctor being paged.  I knew that there had been an accident, and that
    someone had been taken to surgery.  For some reason that became very
    important to me, and I prayed for that unknown accident victim as I had
    never prayed before, and somehow felt confident my prayer had been
    heard and answered.  The next day, when I asked my doctor about it, he
    just turned away from me with a look of intense pain on his face - it
    obviously had not gone as I had thought, and once again my feelings of
    rejection by the God I sought came flooding over me.  
    
    That was six years ago, and in those years I felt unwelcome in a
    conservative church, and uncomfortable in a liberal church - so I
    stayed away from the Lord's house altogether.  Then this second family,
    that meant so very much to me, came apart.  
    
    Anita Coburn is the widow of the former pastor of the Methodist Church
    in Leominster, and she runs a ministry (although she doesn't call it
    that) for the unemployed.  It was she who told me I needed to restore
    my relationship with the Lord, and sent me to see Phil Goff at the
    Federated Church in Ayer.  I have been attending FCA since August, and
    have been taking the kids to Sunday school each week.  
    
    When my family started to come unglued again a month ago, I prayed
    "Lord, you know there is nothing I want more than for this to work, but
    I realize this might not be your will.  If it isn't, Lord, this woudl
    be a real good time to show me."  And show me, he did!  
    
    The next week, in our adult Bible study class, I made a public
    confession of my years of adulterous living, and asked God to forgive
    me.  The outpouring of love I got in that Bible study was wonderful! 
    Unfortunately, I haven't been back since.  
    
    The following week I visited my eldest son, near Philadelphia, and
    attended church with his family.  And then, there was another of those
    "coincidences".  
    
    Ben Patterson's Vision Ministry (on the radio here in New York) speaks
    to me, and I listen whenever I can.  One day, Ben had one of his board
    members on at the close of the program - Tony clark, from Westfield. 
    Westfield is the town I am staying in here, and when I heard Tony lived
    here, too, I called him.  He invited me to church with him the next
    weekend, and I have been attending New Providence Presbyterian Church
    since.  
    
    I cannot tell you precisely waht happened, nor exactly when - but since
    I have confessed my adultry, there is a change in my life.  
    
    Has the Holy Spirit indwelled me for the last 20 years, but been kept
    dormant by my sin?  Or has He only just arrived?  I don't know the
    answer to that.  All I do know is that for which I have been seeking
    for so long, I have found.  
    
    In three months I will be unemployed and homeless - and I am a white
    male rapidly approaching 60.  I should be terrified, but somehow I'm
    not.  I don't know what the Lord is going to do with me, where He will
    lead - I know only that I will obey, and follow.  I don't know what He
    is going to do about the people I care so much about - those in both
    families.  I pray daily for the unsaved ones, and lift the children up
    before Him - but I know he will work all that out, too.  
    
    I thank God, and praise Him, for leading me back to church, and to this
    notes conference.  God bless you all.  
    
    /John

    Hi,
    
    My name is Ben Price and I live, work (and was born) in Basingstoke,
    England. I was brought up in a fairly conservative Christian household,
    got caught up in all the yukky things of the world in my mid teens but
    Jesus became my Saviour when I was 23 (6 years ago). For various crazy
    reasons I backslid for two years but then, four years ago Jesus became
    my Lord. 
    
    I belong to a small pentecostal fellowship which I love dearly, they
    have been a wonderful family to me (as well as teachers, counsellors,
    friends etc.). I mainly play guitar for the church (but I cover piano if
    there's a need).
    
    I firmly believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, all truth
    and a sound foundation for living (and dying !). I also believe in
    getting totally, and regularly, filled with the Holy Spirit and walking
    as close to Jesus as possible.
    
    I've been at Digital for 2 years as a secretary for a Consulting Group,
    quite a fun job and, at the moment, fairly secure.
    
    I've been well blessed reading through this conference so far, I hope
    I'll be able to throw a few back in.
    
    One day you'll all see me, I'll be shiny and bright and probably face
    down before the throne. In the meantime, if you're ever in the area look
    out for a guy whose only shiny bit is his rapidly advancing forehead !
    
    Bless you
    
    Ben	 
                                                      

Why not...

I'm Tanya Wikoff, working in Marlboro, MA for a customer consulting group
(the one that has been the AI group).

A few years ago, my then-future-husband John (whom I also work with)
and I went looking for a church where we could grow closer to the Lord.
I had attended Catholic services for over two years (with my former SO),
but had been feeling excluded.  I was also going thru a wanting-to-learn-
more-about-the-Bible stage, which had come and gone through high school 
and college. 

After briefly attending a couple "dead" churches (few young families,
little talk of Jesus, even one that avoided male pronouns, if you can 
believe it), and then visiting a bunch of others (John having a better 
feel for what we were looking for, me just getting an appreciation for 
the variety of worship styles), we wound up visiting Trinity Congregational 
(an independent church grown from a bible study) in Bolton, MA... on 
John Crighton's farewell Sunday, no less.  (Glad we got to hear him in 
person once, he had grown the church but was moving on...)

Here we found adult sunday school and bible studies, and started visiting 
Freedom Farm in Bolton for bible studies.  Finally when John and I decided 
it was time to visit with the Pastor, after years of a "head" knowledge of 
Jesus, I made a confirmation of him in my heart, and accepted him to lead my 
life.  That was the summer of '91.

January of '92 John and I were married (the best wedding I've ever been to!),
and we now have a 17 month girl, Rachel Joy, and are expecting another baby 
in the middle of June. (Seems God hasn't waited very long to bless this family!)
I have a growing love of reading the Bible (still working on reading it 
all the way through, but getting there!), Christian books, tapes, radio shows,
and discussions.  So glad for this opportunity to discover other Christians 
here at DEC!

Wishing all of us God's Peace,
Tanya

Hi,

My name is Ben Robillard and I'm working as a system manager in Kanata, Ontario.
I'm originally from Montreal but I'm now living in Kanata. I've been a read only 
participant off and on for some time. I'm married and my wife Annette and I have 
a 4 year old boy named Zackary. (Cutest little guy you've ever seen in your 
life. :^))   

I guess what really sparked my interest in christianity was that I read some
books on Bible prophecies and for the first time in my life I 'felt' like I was
REALLY reading the TRUTH. However, I think you could say I'm probably the worst 
example of a christian you've ever seen and because of that I'm still 'in the 
closet'. 

I find it very difficult to go about my business day to day when all around me
I see signs of the 'end times'. It's all very exciting and it brings us closer
to the second coming of Christ but at the same time I find it so very 
frightening and sad.

3 to 4 years ago my wife and I started to attend a 'Free Methodist' church in
the area. (BTW, I was born Catholic and my wife Lutheran.) We began going to
bible studies and joining more and more church functions but somewhere along 
the line (not sure where) we both panicked and stopped going. It was like too
much was happening too fast. We have not returned to that church and we have 
not looked for another since. 

I suppose I could go into some more detail but for now that's it for me.

Ben

    My name is Dave Breeden and I'm a software technical writer working out
    of Littleton and Merrimack. I'm married and Diane and I have two
    children, Rebecca Kealoha 10 years old and Dana Matthew 7 years old.
    
    My background is cradle Catholic but until 2 years ago had been a
    Congregationalist for 7 years. I came back to the Catholic Church after
    going through an annulment procedure and being accepted back into the
    Church. In high school, I studied to be a priest but after 4 years of
    studies decided not to continue on. I continued with my Catholic faith
    until I divorced and felt that I could not participate in the services
    fully. This was my misunderstanding at the time. When I remarried, my
    wife and I attended Congregational churches in Vermont, Maine and New
    Hampshire. I acted as a deacon in the church in Derry and my wife is
    presently the chairman of the diaconate at that church now. I feel that
    I have an understanding of both faiths and our children are going to
    both C.C.D. and Sunday school. Many times we will attend both services
    on a Sunday. We call it getting double-churched. :^)
    
    There are faith-filled people in both churches that we attend and our
    prayer group is becoming more and more inter-denominational. Anyone who
    is interested in attended one of our prayer group/bible study. Just let
    me know and it can be arranged. Since we don't have a building yet for
    our church, we hold services in the school in town and our prayer group
    meets at the Congregational church in town.
    
    The spirit is moving in our community and we are praying for unity and
    understanding for everyone. We have a saying right now in our community
    that we have Church (with a capital C) without having a church.
    
    
    Pax vobiscum
    Dave

    My name is Paul Gavin and I'm not a permanent employee of DEC however
    I did work at DEC for ten years as a perm.  At this point I don't know
    how long I'll be here, but then that's the life of a contractor.
    
    I'm a born-again christian and believe in everything written and said
    about the Lord Jesus.  Jesus is alive!
    
    A few years ago, the readers of this conference offered prayer at my
    request for a family matter.  My prayers and yours were answered so
    swiftly that we could hardly believe it.  It was truely an uplifting
    experience and one that made a profound difference in my walk.
    
    While I will be mostly a reader whilst here, I might write when
    time allows.

    Greetings:
    
    I am new here,and I just want to say hello. My co-employees have just
    showed me how to use this computer. I'm sure to all of you using one
    is easy, however,having spent most of my life in the building industry,
    it is foreign to me. So please bear with me as I learn the ropes. I AM
     really glad that I can "hook" up with other Christians and fellowship
    about anything, mainly Jesus. I'm not familiar with computer proticol
    so please feel free to correct and instruct me.
    
                                      IN HIS SERVICE:
    
                                         Sylvain
      s end
    
    
                                   

Mark Metcalfe
ZKO, Nashua, NH
ZKO3-2/Y01
381-1398
Joy (wife), Miranda, Jessica, Emily, and Andrew

I would like to take the opportunity to reintroduce myself in a quiet 
conference before the activity begins anew for the seventh version of
the Christian Notes Conference.  Some of you know me, some of you won't
if you are brand new to the conference.

First and foremost, I love the Lord and it is my passion to know God
as well as I can.  I am a follower of Christ, yet not only his beatitudes
but the Word made flesh.  I believe that the Bible is given to us by
God himself and that any change made to it constitutes heresy.  I believe
the Bible stands the test of time and challenge to discover Truth with
a capital T.  I believe Truth is defined by and in the Bible.

I am a member of the Church of the Nazarene and find its doctrines to
be sound.  I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is not limited to
my church, but instead is made up of all those who follow the Christ 
of the Bible and believe on Him for their eternal salvation.  The Church 
of the Nazarene is a Protestant denomination.  However, individuals
in it (and outside of it) make up the Body of Christ, and individuals
inside and out will also be lost.

I believe that NOT all those who profess the name Christian are actually
Christian and that good people who have called Christ the Lord will go 
to hell because of their unbelief.  "Not ever who says 'Lord, Lord,'"
shall enter heaven.  I also believe that people who struggle and
yet persevere in knowing God will be saved.  (See Hebrews 11:6; and
"Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.")

God is Sovereign, not only of my life but of yours also.  He is the
Absolute Authority and defines Absolute Morality.  And "He is good;
and His mercies endure forever."  
-----------------------------------------------------------

I went back and re-read my other introduction and liked it so much I'll
reproduce it here:

================================================================================
Note 3.3                   Introducing the Moderators                    3 of 16
TOKNOW::METCALFE "Eschew Obfuscatory Monikers"       40 lines  26-FEB-1992 14:05
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Mark Metcalfe
          Technical writer @ Digital ZKO, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
                                 DTN 381-1398
                      Home address supplied upon request

Religious slant: Christian (follower of Christ and adherent to His teachings),
  Bible-fed, Protestant, Church of the Nazarene,  Wesleyan persuasion, not a
  hanky waver but to each his own (glad that you may be a hanky waver)...
  "Still waters run deep."

Noting style: I tend to be verbose in my replies (often); I do have a funny
  bone and like to play with words, but they (words) often beat me at the
  game.  I am opinionated, but entertain any concept to determine its
  validity against the Scriptures contained in the Bible.  If I disagree
  with you, I will tell you so, but it does not mean that I do not love
  you; it simply means I disagree with your conclusion or concept, nothing
  more.

Personal Information:  I am 34 years old (12/14/59) and getting older.

  I have a wonderful and beautiful wife in Joy, and the four children we had
  together are Miranda, Jessica, Emily, and Andrew.

  I direct Children's Ministries in my church.  I have taught Sunday School
  classes in every age group.  I have led the congregational singing, and
  participate in the music ministries in the choir, as a soloist, member
  of a duet and men's quartet, or playing my trombone. I am a church board
  member.  I have driven elderly to church. And I have emptied the wastebaskets 
  as church janitor once upon a lifetime ago.

  I sing and have performed in church dramas.  I have performed in adult
  canatas, but I find more joy in performing in the Children's Musicals these
  last four years as Psalty the Singing Songbook.

  Eighty-five percent of those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their savior
  before the age of eighteen, NEVER will!  This is why I am in Children's
  ministries because "...of such is the kingdom of heaven."

  There is only one title that means ANYTHING in all of this, and that is 
  "His Servant."  To be faithful to Him is my goal in everything I say and 
  think and do in service to glorify God.

    OK, I've been participating for a several weeks.  I guess I've put off
    my introduction long enough.
    
    My name is Bing Hunt.  My full name is actually William Floyd Hunt, but
    I go by Bing.  People always ask how I got "Bing" out of William F. 
    Actually it's a nickname given to me at birth.  My parents used to play
    Bingo all the time back then, and the folks they played with wanted
    them to name me "Bingo".  Fortunately my Grandmother spoke up and said,
    "Why don't you just name him "Bing" after "Bing Crosby".  I do sing,
    although not like BC, and play guitar.  From time to time I do solos,
    but I enjoy leading praise singing more than performing.
    
    I was born 1/2/58 and born again on 11/17/76.  My growing up years
    included both happy and sad times.  I loved sports when I was a kid
    (still do) and actively participated in them.  I got a great deal of my
    self esteem from these activities.  I knew both of my parents loved me,
    and never felt either physically or emotionally abused.  My parents
    took my sister and I to church fairly often, although they never went
    themselves.  My family life did include struggles, however, as I guess most
    families' lives do.  My dad was a traveling salesman and would often go out
    of town for 2-3 weeks at a time.  My mom was an alcholic.  I have one older
    sister, who is a Christian.  She got married and moved out when I was 13, 
    so I was often left alone to deal with my mother.   When I was 15, my
    dad went out of town and didn't come back (no word as to what might
    have happened to him).  We had moved about that same time and I made a
    vow that whatever it took to make new friends, I was going to do.  This
    started three years of heavy drug involvement on my part.  I started
    skipping school very often, and eventually dropped out altogether. 
    During these 3 years, every goal I had ever set for myself slipped
    away and the emptiness in my life became more and more apparent. 
    Toward the end of this time, I was contemplating suicide.  I decided to
    take a couple of weeks without drugs to evaluate where I was headed. 
    My sister and a youth minister friend of her's had shared the gospel with
    me (that God loved me but I was separated from Him by sin; that God had
    dealt with that sin by allowing His Son to die on the cross for me in
    order to reconcile me to Himself, and that all I had to do was received
    Christ into my life) several times, but I pushed them away.  At the end
    of this two week time, I called my sister and asked if I could talk
    with her, she asked "about what?".  Being somewhat embarassed, I said,
    "about church".  She told me that she could talk to me all night long
    about church, but it wouldn't do me any good, but to come on over and
    she would talk with me.  When I went over my sister & brother-in-law
    shared that it was a personal relationship with Christ that I needed,
    that if I invited Him into my life He would make me a new creature. 
    They also shared the verse in revelation, where it says, "be either hot
    or cold, but don't be lukewarm..."(Rev. 3:15,16).  At this point I knew
    I was out of options, I decided to give my life to Christ.
    
    In the 17 years, I've been a Christian, Christ has totally transformed
    my life.  He immediately took away my desire for drugs and created a
    desire to spend time in His word.  I discovered that I could read the
    bible, and it was like God was personally talking to me!  He gave me a
    sense of purpose and joy.  I was able to get a G.E.D. and to get a
    college degree.  He gave me a beautiful wife, Sheila, and 3 wonderful
    sons- B.J., Jeremy, and Timothy (ages 9,6, and 2).  With my wife's
    encouragement and support, I was able to get an MBA in 1991.  During
    good curcumstances and bad, the Lord has been with me, conforming me to
    the image of His Son.
    
    Something happened very gradually over the time since I became a Christian. 
    I began losing my joy and 1st love for the Lord, so slowly that I
    didn't even notice.  As recently as 6 months ago, I was regularly
    experiencing a defeated Christian walk.  I "felt" like I was in bondage
    to sin.  I felt like I could never measure up to the Lord's
    expectations.  Back in February I went on a Tres Dias weekend (similar
    to Cursillo, if you've ever heard of either).  During this weekend, God
    opened eyes of my heart to understand His grace in a way that I had
    never understood it before.  I was able to experience a deliverance
    from the bondage that I was under, as I understood what the Lord had
    done for me.  I have written many of the truths that I have been
    learning, in several other notes, so I'll try not to go into too much
    detail, but essentially I was able to see that I had shackled myself
    back up to the law, from with Christ had already freed me.  I've been
    learning that Christ loves me and accepts me, not on the basis of my
    performance, but on the basis of what Christ has already done for me. 
    During the weekend, I had a good funeral, as I realized that I had
    already died with Christ.  I received that fact that Christ was already
    living in me.  I have found that by focusing on maintaining an intimate
    relationship with the Christ that lives in me, rather that on my
    peformance, I have been able to live in freedom and victory.  Romans
    8:1,2 has become my favorite verse, "There is therefore now, no
    condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the
    spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and
    of death".  The word has again become alive for me as I read and study
    it to get to know Christ better, rather than doing it to try and become
    more acceptable in His sight.
    
    I didn't mean to go into this much detail, but I just wanted to give a
    little bit of background on where I am coming from.  Other relevant
    facts:  I am a member of a large Southern Baptist church in Marietta,
    Ga. (near Atlanta).  I consider myself a Christian, and not a Southern
    Baptist (In fact if I didn't go to the church I go to, I would want to
    go to Mount Paran Church of God).  I tend to evaluate churchs
    individually, rather that on what denomination they are a part of. 
    There are good and bad churchs in all denominations, I suppose.  We all 
    had dead spirits apart from Christ and when we become Christians, we not 
    only receive forgiveness, but we also receive LIFE!  A good church will
    provide evidence of Christ's life within its members, IMHO.
    
    I work in Alpharetta, Ga. and have worked for Digital for approx. 6
    yrs.
    
    My spiritual gift is encouragement and I hope to be able to encourage
    other brothers and sisters through my involvement in this conference.
    
    Sorry to go on and on and on....
    
    Love in Him,
    
    Bing

    Hi,
    
    I have finally got around to writing a brief intro on myself.....
    
    My name is Stuart Gillespie, I have been married since 3rd Oct 1992 to
    Gillian.I will be 26 on 23rd Oct 1994.
    
    I joined DEC, South Queensferry, Scotland as Materials Co-ordinator in
    Oct 93.
    
    I have been brought up in a Christian Family and was born again while
    still very young. As a teenager I left the church and while at university
    I sank fast. At the age of 20 I recommitted my life to God and got 
    baptised, and have been rejoicing ever since.
    
    Presently I am looking for a new church (finding it difficult) as I am
    moving house in September. Present fellowship has excellent worship 
    and home bible study groups and an open friendly group of people, and
    am trying to find one that is similar.
    
    I am into all types of christian music (anything that gives glory to
    God), and assist in the PA for some choirs and groups.
    
    I am starting a Degree course in Theology by distance learning, not to
    become a minister but to understand and develop my own faith more fully.
    
    I will be reading more than writing, but I will keep you up to date on
    my search for a new church and my Degree (I will be looking for assistance).
                                                   
    Stuart G.

	Hello all!  It's time for me to give up trying to be an incognito,
read-mostly, reply-and-run noter in here.  I'm Robert J. Sampson
(CUJO::SAMPSON), not to be confused with Robert A. ("Sam") Sampson
(SOLVIT::RSAMPSON), who is, after all, another person entirely,
although we are likely to be distant relations.

	Laurie and I married on September 18, 1988.  We have a son, Jimmy
(4), and Laurie's daughters from her first marriage, Robin (12) and Holly (10).

	I've been with Digital since November 1983.  I do software
consulting as a resident at a customer site, living and working in the
Denver area.

	Family life has been very good, helping me to grow out of a lot of
apathy and self-absorption, into a much richer (and busier) life in Christ.

	The kids will soon be spending a large part of their days away at
school.  Robin enjoys going to the "Public" (US) Middle School, and it does
still seem to be valuable for learning.  Holly has been home-schooled by
Laurie for a year, and will be going to a good Christian school this year.
Jimmy has been at the neighborhood Lutheran pre-school, two days a week for
two years.  He will be in Pre-Kindergarten there, three mornings a week
this year.

	Laurie and I are considering eventually going back to school
ourselves.  She wants to finish getting her teaching credential, although
she's not always entirely sure about that career choice, especially after
a summer at home with our kids, one day-care girl, and lots of friends and
neighbor kids.  We're both considering a beginning Greek course at Derby
School of Theology this fall.

	Laurie is the humor writer for Home School Times, a new magazine
from Napa, CA, where my parents also live.  Like many people, we both hope
to stumble upon some great innovation in the near future, that will generate
a terrific income, without requiring too much additional effort on our part.
That way we will be able to send the kids to college, replace the decrepit
major appliances, hire housecleaners, etc.  We've been getting by mainly on
my income, although the girls also receive child support, which helps a lot.
Laurie's day care income provides enough pin money to keep the little girl
entertained.

    Hi:
    Ive been in this conference for 3 months now and have never "really"
    introduced myself(sorry).
    My name is Sylvain Gele' and I am 30 years old. I am not a DEC
    employee, but rather am employed by an outside agency providing
    security for DEC.
       I have 2 wonderful boys(ages 10 & 8 ) who love the Lord. I am
    recently divorced (2 years, and not by my choice at all).
    I reside in NH, and have my entire life. I have a degree in Criminal
    Justice and anticipate being a police officer within 2 months in a
    nearby town.(I will remain employed here also).
      I have been saved for 9 years and am more on fire for the Lord now
    than ever before. I got saved in January of 1986. I was always into the 
    "wild" life of partying,fighting,heavy metal...  Well one night I
    listened to a casette on subliminal messages in music causing me to
    realize there is more to life than meets the eye. While sleeping that
    night I was awaken at exactly 3 am by a fear that I had never
    experienced in my life before. I KNEW there was something in my room,no
    longer had the thought crossed my mind, SOMETHING (invisible) was
    choking me.I couldn't move or breathe. All of a sudden my entire room
    was filled with the most brilliant WHITE light I have ever seen, and
    whatever was holding me let go.  From that moment on I have been
    serving the Lord. 
       My ex. wife and I helped start a church in NH and were also Sunday
    school teachers,but somewhere down the line her "fire" went out.
       Anyway, thats a whole other story. If I could sum up my testimony of
    what Christ has done to me, it would be "he that is forgiven much,loves 
    much" I do love him very much.
      Sorry about being longwinded, but once I start talking about Him I
    get really excited. Anyway thanks for listening and God bless you.
    
                                   In His service:
    
                                      Sylvain
    

    	Does my entry in the "divorce" topic suffice as an intro note?
    
    	Besides marriage ministries, my wife, Linda, and I are devoted to
    	homeschooling.
    
    	We've been married 14 years, have 4 kids (Tom, 12, Cathy, 10,
    	Susie, 8, Peter -- born by homebirth, 6.)
    
    	Joe Oppelt

My turn, I suppose

	I'm Gary Greer, currently a drilling reservist at NARCEN (Naval Air
Reserve Center) Denver, Colorado.  I spent a little over 12 years on active
duty in the U.S. Navy, and enjoyed most of it.  I got out as an AT1 (Aviation
Electronics Technician, E6) and probably will retire in a year or so as an
AT1.  (Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about the Chief's initiation!)

	I'm a contractor debug electronics tech here at CX02, for a couple more
days, in Colorado Springs, putting some of my navy training and experience to good use here
working on disk drives for Storage, soon to be Quantum.  I recently accepted a 
civil service position with Naval Air Systems Command.

	The main reason I mentioned the Navy was because I became a christian
through a navigator military ministry early in my Navy career. (Aug 1975)  Our
church here is Fellowship Bible Church, a non-denominational church.  My lovely
wife is named Monique, and Tiffany is our daughter.
 
	Many of the enclosed notes have been interesting, and I've added
my $0.02 worth on occasion.  Thanks for the on-line fellowship!

	"The Lord bless you and keep you, and make His face to shine you,
	 and give you peace." Numbers 6

~Gary C. Greer, A fellow pilgrim

Hello everyone. This is my introductory note. The second note I've posted to
this conference (except for the occassional snarf attempt). I'm a reasonably new
christian, living in Sydney, Australia. 

Should I talk about me...just the latest bits...
 o I get married tomorrow
 o I just became a permanent at Digital last week after 17months of contracting
 o August has been a really great month so far!

Well, that'll do it...read 6.808 for more...

Cheers.

Pete.

    
    
    Hi everyone
    
    
             My name is Steve Mongeau and I'm new to this conference,
    thanks to Gele.
    I have been saved for seven yrs, and I go to church in Manchester N.H.
    I'm a contract worker doing security at mko in merrimack on third shift
    and I'm a student at the vocational technical school in Manchester 
    studing electric engineering and software programming.
    God is great, and I'm just passing through hoping to do my part for the 
    advancment of the kingdom.

Well, I guess it's about time I got around to signing in, having been gently 
nudged in that direction by Nancy.

My name is Richard Day
I'm working as a contractor in Components and Peripherals Sales and Product 
Support.

You may find me at MKO1-2/E33 (Office at pole F34)
		   DTN 264-4304 ext. 7818
		   TELSEL::DAY_C

I've been mostly read-only in this conference, appreciating and enjoying the 
discussions and the praise reports and other inspirational entries, and 
responding quietly to prayer requests.  Occasionally I jump in with a brief 
entry and disappear again.

My family and I live in Nashua, where we are currently attending Trinity 
Baptist Church.

Our interests include, among other things, Marriage and Family ministries,
having worked with the Family Life Marriage Conference and Homebuilders.  We
all like being outdoors, whether it's working around the house or hiking,
biking, camping or whatever; and we find great joy in the beauty of God's 
creation and His Glory revealed therein.

We are also involved with the Institute for Christian Renewal, a Christian
Healing and Renewal Ministry headed by Mark Pearson and presently based in
Plaistow, New Hampshire.  In connection with this ministry I have become 
involved in a new movement of the Spirit within the Church, called by some
the Convergence Movement, leading toward a truely "Full Gospel" expression
of our Faith, which is sound, orthodox and conservative, fully evangelical,
charismatic or pentecostal (but firmly rooted in Biblical doctrine and the
timeless teachings and practices of the Christian Church), and liturgical and
sacramental.

This movement seems to have taken several forms, including the Evangelical 
Orthodox Church, but seems to have recently centered on the Charismatic 
Episcopal Church (CEC).  This is not a part of the Episcopal Church with
which many are familiar, nor was the CEC founded primarily by or for 
disaffected Episcopalians.  It is truely a coming together of Evangelicals, 
Pentecostals, Wesleyans, Anglicans (Episcopalians) and others looking for
what they see as a SOUND and FULLER expression of their faith.  One
prominent individual associated with the Convergence Movement and the CEC is
the teacher and evangelist, Malcolm Smith. 

Locally (New England), there is church planting going on.  I know of two
that are starting at this moment in Plaistow, NH, and in Bedford, MA. 
Others are already in place.  More are hoped and being prayed for. 

For someone who's read-only, I guess I've said a lot.  

You're a great bunch of people.  God Bless You!

Rich

    My name is Kimball Sean Scott
    I work for the facilities dept as a contractor employee at BXO. 
    (Security/Reception)  Dtn 224-1523
    
    My reason for participating in Christian notes:
    
    I thought it would be nice to converse with my fellow christian.
     
    Personal Stuff:
    
    I married the most "Beautiful woman in the world."  I consider myself
    very fortunate, because I have truly obtained God's favor in my life.
     
    Hobbies:
    Professional Vocalist/lyricist, Martial artist, artist, I love to read,
    I like to eat, and my favorite breathing. :-) :-)
    
    Profession: Licensed Electrician
    
    
    
    A fine Hello to Jim, Nancy, and Steve.
    
    Mostly reading for now, 
    Peace.
    
    
    

    Hello,
    My name is Bruce Malcolm have just notices both Christian and Christian
    Perspective notes! I am thankful for these notes files because during
    the day you can read and get filled!!
    I am a Seventh-Day Adventist, my wife, daughter and I live in Randolph,
    Maine and go to the Farmingdale Church.
    Before I met Jesus as Lord, Saviour, and Redeemer I was a drug dealer
    Jesus has change my life completely. How can one say there is no God??
    I have been actively in the church for 15 years teaching Adult Sabbath
    School and lectures on Daniel and Revelation. I am now studing the
    history of the Great Reformation and the men who took part: Luther
    Hus, Wycliffe, Knox, Calvin and the Waldenses.
    I believe in the Bible as the Word of God and that the Bible is it's
    own interpreter. In Jesus as the Son Of God, and Saviour to anyone
    who call upon His name! We are saves by His grace through faith not by
    works!
    I am enjoying the discussions here in both Notes and hope to
    participate! My favorite vs. is Psalms 51:10 "Create in me a clean
    heart, O God; and renew a right Spirit whithin me". 

    Hell Sisters & Brothers
    
    I have enjoyed reading Christian notes over the years.  I have been a
    read only, but I think it's about time that I introduce myself and
    start participating in some of the most inspiring topics that have been
    presented in this conference.
    
    My name is Annette Kilcrease, I am a Pentacostal, the Church that I
    belong to is the United House Of Prayer For All People.  I have been
    inspired by all of you with understanding and knowledge of what serving
    God means to us in this evil world that we live in.
    
    I hope to be a participant in this conference as much as possible.
    
    When I'm feeling down I can always find comfort in your words.
    
    
    Thanks..
    
    Annette

    
    Jill Kinsella
    CXO - Colorado Springs, CO
    CXO3-2/Q3
    DTN-592-5615
    
    Hello everyone,
    
    I've been a read-only noter in this file for a while and decided to
    sign in since I have been so tempted to reply to several topics.  I
    know several of you from C-P before getting too frustrated to note with
    almost every perspective but the Christian one being regaled.
    
    I work in Colorado Springs with fellow noter and team member Bob
    Grover. My job is in Customer Service although I deal with DECCIEs more
    than I do customers.  I've been on a professional pilgrimage of sorts
    for 2 years trying to discern where and how God wants me to use my
    talents and skills. Sometimes I feel I have a long road ahead before I
    find the answer.
    
    I grew up in the Evangelical Free Church in Staten Island, NY and
    remained in the same denomination upon moving to Colorado.  My parents
    were life-long church goers and even taught Sunday School but did not
    accept Christ as their Savior till I was around 6 yrs. old.  I watched
    my parents change before my eyes and it had powerful impact on my life. 
    When I was 8 yrs. old I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord and have
    trusted in Him ever since. A split in my church after I was out of high
    school made me run away from church through most of my 20's.  Then I
    briefly attended a huge Presbyterian church and while it was solid
    preaching, nobody said hello to me.  Then I found a wonderful Southern
    Baptist church that I knew God had lead me to, but I had some anxiety
    about joining after the hurts of my old church, but the Lord gave me
    the encouragement I needed to join.  I have been truly blessed through
    our ministry.  I am an active member of my singles group (32, never
    married), an AWANA leader (with 5th-6th grade girls), and do some
    nursery work throughout the year.  My spiritual gift is that of
    encouragement but it always seems that God gives me more than I could
    possibly ever give to others.  I'm in a small group bible study and I
    count these women among my best friends.  It seems my closest
    friendship involve people whom I not only socialize with  but whom I
    pray with and for.  Isn't God's family a great family to be in?
    
    Lastly I guess I'm writing because I just need to keep busy.  My dad
    died Dec 11th and while I know he's with his beloved Savior, it hurts
    deeper than any hurt I've ever known.  I'm trying to figure out how to
    get through this. I ask God for strength every day, I lean on friends
    and try to share with a few that I feel safe with what my innermost
    feelings are and it isn't easy. I share mostly with people who have
    been there and recognize and relate to those feelings.  So many have
    been such a comfort to me (A special thanks to Jim. H. for being a
    friend during this difficult time despite being miles away and despite
    the fact that we've never met in person or even talked on the phone). 
    I think until you've been there yourself you can't possibly understand
    it fully.  I've been amazed with how many people have lost a loved one
    and how much hurting there is.  At times I feel like I need to be the
    comforter rather than the comfortee.  I'm planning on going to go to a
    "Growing through Grief" support group at the large Presbyterian church
    I mentioned earlier.  They offer some wonderful programs to the
    community. Anyway, God has richly blessed me with support and I am
    trusting that He will get me through this time of loss.
    
    In Christ's love, 
    Jill
               

    
    Congrats Bob!  Too bad Mark.  Nice pictures though.
    
    Jill

    
    Welcome back, Hazza!  It's greeeeaaaaattt to hear from you.  I look
    forward to your participation.
    
    jeff

    What an incredible gift!!! Thank you Lord.  
    
    Wonderful to have you here Hazza!

GREAT to see you here again Hazza!  I trust you will find more time to dip
in than you anticipated ;-)

Leslie - ok if we move 4.101 to 587 (I think it is) - news of former noters?

							Andrew

No problem Andrew.  Leslie

            <<< Note 4.102 by ICTHUS::YUILLE "Thou God seest me" >>>

GREAT to see you here again Hazza!  I trust you will find more time to dip
in than you anticipated ;-)

Leslie - ok if we move 4.101 to 587 (I think it is) - news of former noters?

							Andrew

        
       	Name		Ram Rao
       	Location	INI (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA)
       	Reason for participating in CHRISTIAN
			Being built up by and building up those in the
			Body of Christ at Digital
       	Anything else that would help us get to know you
			Born in India, raised as a Hindu
			Saved in 1973
			DECie since 1984 (MKO2, ZKO3 and now INI)
    			Married 14 years to Asha (another Hindu convert)
			Father of Nirmala (10), Anjali (8), Nikhil (3),
				and Vineeta (0.6)
			Homeschooling Nirmala and Anjali

    Hi,

	I was actually looking at some of the earlier entries here -
	catching up on old faces (and new ones too). And suddenly realised
	- I haven't put an entry here!

	I could give a pointer to somewhere in V4 or V5 - but - eh, it's
	not my disk space ;')

	My name is Harry Woodward-Clarke (sometimes known as 'hazza' - but
	that is getting less and less recently).

	I first joined Digital mid-1989 as a definite non-Christian. I
	entered the Version 3 of this conference with a *huge* chip on my
	shoulder - I was gonna show 'them' Christians a thing or two!

	A few months later - I had course to read the topic on Abortion
	(225) (for personal reasons) and through entry there, and other
	places - I became the 'token non-Christian' in this place ;')

	Irena and Steve, unlike everyone else - who wanted to rip my head
	from my shoulders (over generalised, I know) - talked with me. And
        they *listened* to me.

	They debated with me, they shared with me - in short, they
	ministered and cared for me. God only knows why (literally!).

	Late one evening in January 1990 - while I was staying back - after
	working late - I was typing mail to Irena and Steve - when I
	"heard" a voice say to me "It's time to stop running Harry." Well,
	it was so real, that I stood up and looked over the shoulder height
	cubicle walls - I'm no fool! Huh? No-one there.

	I sat back down... "It's time to stop running Harry". "Huh? God?"
	"It's time to stop running from Me."

	I knew at that moment it was time to stop running from God. There,
	in the glow of the VAXstation monitor - I accepted Jesus Christ as
	my Lord and my Saviour. No hype. No choir singing 'Just as I am'.
	No preacher exhorting me to 'Come to the front'.

	Just me and God.

	Life went ballistic after that! To the extent that the 'token
	non-Christian' became a Moderator of this place! Can you *believe*
	that?!

	In June 1992 one of the hardest things to ever happen to me
	happened - the 'T' word - and I left Digital a very much different
	man to the one that joined three years earlier.

	The intervening 2 1/2 years were mostly with Johnson and Johnson
	Pacific. I kept in touch with some of the people in here - Irena
	left too - Steve's now gone. But we all keep in touch via the net -
	and snail ;')

	Those 2 1/2 years were dry. J&J had no where near the number of
	people that Digital has - and even fewer Christians. Nil
	fellowship. No Notes. nothing.

	I became disgruntled with J&J for various reasons - and the
	opportunity arose to come back here - did I have to think twice?
	Ha!

	The last 8 weeks have been 'interesting' (insert wry smile here).

	The job I am doing is *exactly* the same as it was when I left in
	'92 - within 2 weeks I was fully productive! Which has left me time
	to explore other areas of interaction with my Brothers and Sisters.

	I have a warm place in my heart for this conference. I was re-born
	in one version - I helped set up another. I worked on the
	guidelines in 2.* - I love this place. I love these people.

	My aspirations for this place? That God use me to His Glory in the
	lives of His Servants here.

	Thank you all for the warm welcome you have given me. I am humbled
	at your welcome, I am touched by your love.

	In Him who has predestined us for Glory in Christ Jesus, who's Name
	is above every Name, the only Name by which Mankind can be saved,
	to Him be all Glory and Power and Homour for ever and ever,

	Harry Woodward-Clarke

	SNO2/2-E4
	dtn 730-5445
	+61-2-561-5445

	PO Box 31
	Umina Beach
	NSW  2257
	Australia

	15 Birdwood Avenue
	Umina
	NSW  2257
	Australia

	+61-43-43-4410 (vox)
	+61-43-43-5881 (data & fax [soon])

	snofs1::woodwardc or
	woodwardc@snofs1.enet.dec.com or
	woodward@decus.org.au

Well it is about time that I introduced myself, with all the people leaving
Digital I thought that I could not allow the Christian presence here dwindle any
further.

So who am I?

My name is Gary Sims, I work for the Mail Interchange Group in Reading, England.

I have been a Christian a little over a year now. I have been in read only mode
for most of that time.

The rest of my potted life, my relationship with my Lord Jesus and my testimony
I am sure will come out over time, but no promises! :-)

I can be mailed at one of the following places:

FORTY2::SIMS			: VAXmail
SIMS@AM@FORTY2			: DEC MAILworks
Gary Sims@REO			: MTS from DEC MAILworks/ALL-IN-1
gary.sims@reo.mts.dec.com	: Unix mail via MTS
sims@bugati.reo.dec.com		: Unix mail to my workstation.

I have forwards set all over the place, so it is sure to get to me!

My WWW home page is http://bugati.reo.dec.com/gary.html

All my love in Jesus

Gary.

    Welcome Gary, It's nice to welcome you in the family.
    
    God Bless you 
    
    Peter

    Bryan Rosenberg
    HLO (Hudson,MA,USA)
    HLO1-1/P-11
    568-7371
    Divorced with children: Bryan(8) Cherise(5)
    
          I've been here at DEC now for 6 months, having previously spent
    17+ years in the Navy before retiring early.  I'm hoping to gain some
    fellowship as well as increase in the knowledge of God's Word and
    people through this conference.
          My background is quite varied, having been raise through the
    Congregational Church(UCC), coming to the Lord through the Navigators
    group while in the Navy, followed by the Nazarene church and recently
    SDA.  In between I had attended several Pentacostal churches while
    searching for God's direction.  Fortunately here at DEC I've met a
    couple of men who love God and provide fellowship.  Being a single
    parent my social life is limited to work and my kids so any fellowship
    is a blessing to me.  Recently, I've been very disappointed  by the
    lack of fellowship or understanding of my situation by my own church
    that I am currently attending.  I guess it's hard for most people to
    realize the hardships of trying to be a single parent in my position
    with no help from my Ex-wife with the children. 
          I'm a single father with custody of both my children, something I
    consider a blessing form God though a real test at times.  This last
    year has been a time of devastation, healing, trusting and heavily
    leaning on God. As I saw my wife of 8 years, that I met through the
    Church, transform into a total stranger with no warning.  I thought it
    could never happen to us but in July of 93 she began having affairs. 
    Since that time I've gone from devastation to anger to confusion to
    sorrow to a prayerful attitude toward the situation.  The Lord has been
    there and taught me to rely on Him as never before.  At times I still
    feel overwhelmed by the recent chain of events and single parenthood yet,
    cannot praise Him enough for the blessings He provides through my children.
    Please keep us in your prayers, I've learned the power of intercessory
    prayer when God's people are righteous and focused. 
        I hope to add to this conference and continue to be blessed by it. 
    I end by stating one of my favorite verses Phil. 3:12-14 "Not that I
    have already obtained this or am alreay perfect; but I press on to make
    it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brethren, I do not
    consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what
    lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward
    the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in christ Jesus." (RSV)  

    
    Bryan, A big welcome. It is through our sufferings that we grow in the
    Lord.I'll be praying for you.
    
    God Bless you 
    
    Peter 

    Hello folks. I thought that I would put an intro in this file as I'm
    reading it and I thoroughly dislike watching without the folks being
    aware that I do so. (That's just me. Others doing so doesn't bother me)
    
    Anyway, I'm Phil Connell. (Nom du NOTE is PJ) I work in DAS in Andover,
    Mass. First, I don't consider myself a Christian. I was brought up
    going to the Community Church in Hudson, NH. I believe they were a
    Methodist faith (UCC), but I'm not sure. When I turned 13, I went for
    classes to join the Church. I was the only person to show up and the
    minister (gone from there for years now. Not sure if he's even alive)
    told me that because I was the only one, he really couldn't be bothered
    with just one. We'd try later if we could get more. Needless to say, I
    was shocked, but somewhat relieved. I was questioning my faith and this
    religion at the time. (I still am, but we'll get into that down page a
    bit.) Anyway, I wasn't very nice to him and never went back. That's
    probably the main reason that I am not a Christian. There are others,
    but that takes some time. Mostly right now, I consider myself a student
    and perhaps a seeker.
    
    Some of you may recognize me from womannotes. I have done most of my
    NOTING there over the years. Now, I'm not here to start any
    controversies or trouble. In fact, you will hardly be aware of my
    existence. I have talked to Nancy Morales a few times in MAIL and on
    the phone and we seem to get along, so I told here that I need to put
    an intro in here for mainly the reason I described above. Anonymous
    voyeurism (or any other kind mostly :-) ) is not my thing. Just quiet
    learning with questions on occasion. I am a bit of a hermit. Plus with
    work and time factors, my NOTING has greatly reduced to a lot of
    reading.
    
    Anyway, that's kinda me and I'll be here learning. Thank you.
    
    BTW, I use the sign off of Bright Blessings and I was told that it felt
    Christian to some and nonChristian to some. Take it as you will. Also,
    I don't consciously Snarf, so you folks can keep enjoying that. I like
    to watch you folks chase them. Brings a smile to my face and makes the
    day lighter.
    
    Bright Blessings,
    
    PJ

>I was brought up going to the Community Church in Hudson, NH. I believe they
> were a Methodist faith (UCC), but I'm not sure.

Hudson Community Church is Congregational, United Church of Christ.  This is
the denomination resulting from the Puritan immigrants, and is not Methodist.

These days UCC generally represents New England liberalism, and while many
UCC parishes are focused on Christ, many are not, and want to do such things
as remove all references to the cross, which they misunderstand as a symbol
of torture rather than the tree of salvation.

/john

Hi,

I received Jesus just about 14 years ago. Today I'm a lost sheep.

In the beginning I found many blessing from GOD. I married a woman that was
willing to except me and my three children and together we provided a home for
them. Jimmy was 6, Dawn was 5 and Chris was 1. As time went on I started to 
loose touch with GOD, this was the start of my life going down hill. My wife
left me after 7 years.

To make this long story short, today I going through my 3erd divorce and
work, well lets just say I'm still working. My life crumbled and I'm finding
myself reaching out to GOD.

I think GOD is working in my life, in a matter of a couple weeks I found a
Christian roommate, I've been getting much support friends and started to
enjoy church once again. I find that God has given the strength to go on but 
I'm scared and just plain worn out. I am trying to keep focus on GOD, my son 
and to find myself again.

Gee, what a way to introduce myself after being just a reader of the Christian
notes for 10+ years... 

Don
    

    Welcome PJ !. Slow to talk and quick to listen, that's a good quality
    you have. I hope you continue to be inspired as I am by this notes
    file.
    
    God bless you
    
    Peter

    Thank you John. As I said, it's been many years since I was there.
    Decades, in fact. Something about my dad and a conversation led me to
    feel that it was Methodist. There are two churches in the building now.
    Not sure what the other one was. Thank you again for the info.
    
    Bright Blessings,
    
    PJ

    Don, It would be wrong to say that I know how you feel because every
    case is different. However, I can say that during my problems
    (including the break up of my family) I had a great hunger for God. I
    continued to do all the wrong things and didn't talk to Him but God
    knew my heart. In His mercy He waited until the time was right for me
    to accept Him. It took thirty years before I returned to the flock. I
    praise God that He is so understandable and patient. You too have made a
    start on your journey back. God will come to meet you on this road
    just as the father of the prodigal son came to meet his son when he saw
    him from afar off on his homeward journey.
    
    I will be thinking of you in my prayers tonight.
    
    God bless you
    
    Peter

    
    "Some things are stored in brine and some things in sugar.  God gives
    trials to the strong and cordials to the weak."
    
    Thomas Watson, 1667

This is an updated version of  WhoAmI

Name: Kym Schwarz

Address: 4/1A Doomben Ave 
	  Eastwood 2122
	  NSW
	  Australia

	  +61 2 874 8396

Work:  Software support specialist ( OSF and Ultrix )
	MSC
	
	DTN: 730 6010
	mail stop : SNO2-3/F3


Other vital information :-)


I've been at digital for almost 16 months. I am part of the graduate intake for 
last year. Im originally from South Australia (adelaide) and have been in
Sydney since the beginning of Feb at year. I'm attending Petersham Baptist 
church. I love music and play Bass guitar, clarinet and keyboard. For me music
is a very powerful tool and should be done as best as possible within worship. 

At the moment Im single but I'm (still) working on it :-)

I enjoy playing sport especially athletics (400m) and tennis have have recently
taken up playing Basketball and bushwalking. I am really enjoying bushwalking
as there are so many places where you can go in and around sydney. 

It is very encouraging to find out there are active christians within digital. 

I pray we will all be given opportunities to spread the gospel throughout 
digital 
and the world.

In Gods Awesome LOVE

Kym

    Greetings, my Brothers and Sisters,

    just a quick update (only to the infernal snail address - but I'll post
    the lot anyway)

	Harry Woodward-Clarke

    Infernal Snail:		SNO1-3/C3
    dtn:			730-5445
    direct indial:		+61-2-561-5445

    Postal Address:		PO Box 31
				Umina Beach
				NSW  2257
				Australia

    Home Address:		15 Birdwood Avenue
				Umina
				NSW  2257
				Australia

    Home Phone:			+61-43-43-4410 (vox)
				+61-43-43-5881 (data & fax)

    E-Mail:			snofs1::woodwardc or
				woodwardc@snofs1.enet.dec.com or
				woodward@decus.org.au

				no WWW page [yet] :')

    Mary Jo Hoepner
    CX03, Colorado Springs
    CX03-2/Q7
    592-7197
    
    I had worked for DEC for 7 years, left to do consulting for Oracle.
    And now the Lord has me back as a Digital employee doing Windows NT work.
    
    I am mostly read-only in this file.  But I like to keep in contact
    with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  
    
    I currently attend a non-denominational full gospel church in a
    building which we share with a Messianic Jewish group (after
    having attended a local Church of Christ church, and an Evangelical
    Free church prior to that).
                                             

    hi.......
       
          my name is thomas teahan, i've been working at digital since
    january,95 as a technician in the new fab6 in hudson, ma. my node is
    fabsix::t_teahan. im 31 years old, single, never married and i love
    the lord. i've been born again about 6 years, baptised back then at
    tabernacle baptist church in hudson, new hampshire. the last 3 years
    i have attended riverside assembly of god in methuen, ma. i live 10
    minutes from boston, in a suburb called malden....i travel 1 hour
    to work daily................
        i'm not caught up in church ritual and i dont consider myself
    a church company man, meaning church is very important but i dont
    like being called a assemblies of god man, its where god has place me,
    i am his, he owns me, not the church, to clarify i do yield to
    authority at church but i am careful of man's controlling will as
    oppossed to the leading of the holy spirit.....
          i'm gifted musically, and have been told many times i sound like
    stevie wonder, i do not boast but am greatful to god for my gifts that
    i use in ministry. i value so greatly the personal relationship i have
    with christ jesus..........i love you all and pray for you....
    
                  with love in christ,  thomas

    Jill Diewald
    MK03, Maynard Ma
    MK03-2/B12
    223-2977
    
    I have been enjoying this conference.  It is nice to know
    that there are others out there.  
    
    I have been a Christian for almost two years now, in ways it 
    seems like forever.  I attend the Christian Center Assembly of
    God Church in Burlington Ma.
    

Ok, Nancy, here I am...


Steven Vore
vore@alf.dec.com (or decatl::vore for the smtp-impaired)
CSC Atlanta (really Alpharetta), GA, USA
dtn 343-1174

Read-only for the most part, though I might pop my head up 
every now & then.  Raised Catholic and a member of the local
Catholic parish, though I've attended other denominations' 
services many times throughout the years and enjoyed them all.  

Name:  Brian Dias  

Location:-
Digital Equipment India Ltd
BOMBAY - INDIA
          
Group :-
Multivendor Customer Services - Desk Top Division
(PC and allied systems) Technical and Hardware Support 
activity.

Reason for participating in CHRISTIAN:-
Though I have been a "read only" member  for about 2 months now or
maybe more. I thought I might as well put in an introduction 
of myself. I do hope to contribute sooner or later though I'd be read
only for some time I guess.

Anything else that would help us get to know you:-
I have known Christ since 1987 in A Larry Huggins Crusade held in
our city that year.Though in between from then till now I had 
backslided and had got into alcohol, the Lord graciously took a hold
of me and lifted me out of the pit that I was in and put me back into 
a place of fellowship with Him. Today I attend a Non-denominational 
Church in Bombay that believes in the whole counsel of the Word.
Though I must admit that I do experience Ups and Downs at times,the Lord has
been faithful to me and has Time and again done mighty wonders im my life.
       
I am married to Nellu and currently have a daughter Nathanya (6 months) who 
is a real blessing . Nellu also works for a secular organisation in Bombay.
I like  music and I do play the piano and guitar.

I look forward to reading, learning and fellowshipping with others
in this conference. Do keep India in Prayer that the Light of the gospel may
shine and dispel the darkness due to idolatry that is rampant here. 
Do remember us in prayer too that we  may be effective in setting free them 
that are captive and bringing the Love of Jesus to this Country.
 
If you have the time, do send in a mail.I'd be really glad to hear from you.
( Mail Address :- Brian @xfmv01.enet.dec.com)
 
Sincerely,

Brian.
    

    I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself.  My Name is 
    Thomas Dawson I work at cxo3 2k14 is my location.  Im from way down
    south as people would say. Im from Sao Paulo,Brasil.  My parents have
    been missionaries there for years.  I think  this is  a great
    adventure to meet all the christian brothers and sisters within
    Digital.  I have a wife named (Darla) and my 4 year old boy
    (Kristopher).

    Hello Everyone,
    
    Time for me to sign in.   
    
    My Name is Guido DiPietro.   I work in the performance expertise center
    at Taylor ST, Littleton.
    
    I've been read only in this conference for about the last year and a half 
    or so (since I've been at Digital).   I figured that it's about time I
    checked in.   
    
    I'm married to a wonderful wife, Kathleen. Our first child, Guido III
    was just born on May 19th of this year.  (I guess that makes me a
    junior, but I don't admit it to too many people :-) ).
    
    I was raised in a Christian home and accepted the Lord in 1973 when I was 
    11 years old.  I completely agree with the words in Stephen Curtis 
    Chapman's song that say "There's no better place on Earth, than the road 
    that leads to Heaven".
    
    This is one very interesting notesfile!
            
  

    Hi.  I'm entering this because Harry will harrass me on IRC if I don't. 
    (And because I want to).
    My name is Renee Jamieson.  I work in HLO2, Hudson. Massachusetts, but
    live in Worcester, Ma.  I've only been at Digital since April of this
    year; before that I lived and worked in California.
    I have known God and Jesus for as long as I can remember, but turned
    away for a long time.  I was baptized at 12, but nothing more happened
    in my religious life for maybe 20 years.  My faith and Walk kept
    getting stronger and stronger, and finally in January of 1994 I made a
    vow and on February 2, 1994 the Holy Spirit hit me right between the
    eyes!  I had never experienced anything like that, and my life has
    never been the same. (Thank God!) I kept waiting for things to go back
    to the way they were, but it seems it's for keeps!  I no longer live by
    the law, but by God's Grace.  And at last I'm FREE!!
    I started reading this conference because I knew I would learn a lot,
    and I have.  Every day God teaches me something new, somehow, and a lot
    of it is from all of you in this conference.  Thank you all for being
    there. 
    			Agape,
    			  Renee

I have been a RON for some months now, so I thought I'd better step out into the
light as it were and let you know I'm here.

My name, as the title of this reply states with uncanny accuracy, is Matthew
Steed. I've been a Christian for about 7 months now, prior to which I...wasn't. 
As you will notice I'm yet another FORTY2er, which means that I'm sitting in
dear old REO in Reading and that I have Messrs Sims and Yuille within shouting
distance at all times. Pray for me! :-)

At the moment I'm learning a lot about, and from, the Lord every day and the
longer I walk with Him the more I want to continue. It occurs to me that it
would be a great blessing for me to be able to say the same the every day of my
life.

I shall probably remain a read only kind of guy, but I thought it only polite to
introduce myself just in case I decide to cause trouble. :-)

I can be mailed at FORTY2::STEED.

All my love in Christ,

Matt

    My name is Rick Nickles
    r_nickles@csc32.enet.dec.com
    odixie::nicklesf
    
    2206 Dering Circle 
    Atlanta,GA 30345
    
    I work in the Alpharetta facility on the sysmgt-a team. 
    My wife's name is Valerie.  We are from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. 
    I am thankful for a Christian conference
    
    

Hi my name is Peter McCutcheon and this is my introduction for Christian.

I not a permanent DEC employee, my contract runs out in July (maybe?).
I work at MRO2 in Massachusetts. my DTN is 297-5089 and my VAXmail
address is USDEV::PMCCUTCHEON feel free to contact me with either of
these ways. I live in Smithfield Rhode Island with my wife Holly and 
our 16 month old daughter Mary-Katherine. I presently attend a
non-denominational church called Cranston Christian Fellowship. I am
not presently a member, my wife is. I have been envited to become a
member. I am considering it and will be attending their membership
classes.

I have been a Christian as long as I can remember. I was raised in the
Roman Catholic Church. My mother is a strong Christian, her background
is Episcopalian (SP?) then RC. She was a big influence in my life as
a Christian. I have two wonderful parents who both tried to raise me
and my seven brothers and sisters up as Christians of the Roman Catholic
persuasion. From my mother I was taught about a relationship with the
Lord. Both my parents tried to teach me (us) to live as Christians.
I can't say enough about my parents and family, I thank God for them
often!

Anyway, like many Christians who have come or are from a Catholic background
I can not tell you exactly when I came to know the Lord, would it be
that I could. However I can tell you that I know that Jesus is Lord,
that he suffered, died on the cross, and rose again for ME. I believe
that he is what he says he is in the Word of God, that is the Son of God.

I am participating in this conference to learn and grow as well as for
fellowship with other Christians.

Thank You

Peter

    Re: .132
    
    Oopppss I spelled invited wrong (envited), boy am I a bad speller, but
    I'm told most programmers are.
    
    Peter

  Hello,

  My names Tony Falette. I've been a read only for quite a while now (some
  where around v3). I thought I introduce myself and join a few of the 
  topics.

  I'm work in engineering services in Colorado Springs (CXO, i.e God's country) 
  and have been at Digital for almost 15 years.

  I've been a Christian for 15 years (no DEC had nothing to do with it :).
  I'm married, with two kid's (a boy and a girl), a dog and two cat's.

  I have a passion for theology and have been studying world view 
  apologetics for about five years now. I would describe myself as a 
  conservative Calvinist (which I know how well that goes over in here :-)
  and generally follow reformed theology.
  I really enjoy the various views in here and hope that I can contribute
  to some of the topics in the future.

			Yours in Christ
			Tony Falette
			Genral::Falette
			
    

Praise God!!!

My name I Jim Morton. 

I attend New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. The Lord has been powerful
in the Colorado Springs area for several years now - The Christian influence
has grown tremendously.

I've been with Digital for over 16-years. I've been in Customer Services since
the early 80's. I started out supporting RSTS/E and today support DEC TCP/IP
Services for OpenVMS and have recently started supporting our suite of Internet
products. 

I started with Digital as a contract assembler in manufacturing. Thank God for
men like Ken Olsen whose philosophies allowed folks like me to work up through
the ranks based upon enthusiasm, potential and aptitude! I just finished my
BSBA in December 1994 - "Thank you, Digital!" 

I have a wonderful wife, three children (ages 14,17 and 20) and a 4 year old
granddaughter.

I vaguely recall accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior as a child.
I renewed this with my wife and two younger children several years ago
at church. However, it has only been within the last year or so that I
began to truly realize the meaning, and joy, of giving my life to Christ.

God bless you all!

/jimm

    I don't seem to have an introduction in this conference so I thought
    I'd put one in. My name is Robin Russo. I am one of Jehovah's
    Witnesses. I was baptized on July 7, 1990. I'm located in the
    Salem,N.H. facility. I don't get into the conference very often
    but when I do; I do a quick scan on new notes. I may make a reply 
    or two here or there as time allows but mostly I'll be a "read only"
    participant.