Howard Ross

Christian Myspace Layouts - Church MySpace Layouts Christian Myspace Layouts ***************************************************** I live 20 minutes from the hospital in which I was born but I grew up on military bases from coast to coast and attended 13 different schools. Growing up the way I did gave me a chance to travel and meet a lot of people. Those are things I still enjoy. A lot of our family have served in the military. My grandfather served in the Army. My father was in the Navy during WWII then switched to Army and served till his retirement. My step-dad was also Navy during WWII and switched to the Air Force and served 18 years till his death in 67. Both my sons served in the U.S. Marine Corp. The oldest then went full time with the National Guard and is now a SFC. My youngest daughter also served in the Navy. I served in the Navy 3 years on active duty (65-66 VF-121, 66-68 USS Bryce Canyon AD-36) and then 11 more years in the Navy Reserves (Seabee's unit). I worked in the Post Office 29 years in four different states: Long Beach, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Astoria, OR and Marietta, OH. I retired in Jan. 02. I have the most wonderful wife in the world. Together we have a combined six children (my four and Kathy's two) and twenty-two grandchildren and one great-grandson. If life were a Football game, it is really no secret that I totally messed up the first half. Or is that the first three quarters? One thing I do know is that on any given day the Lord allows us to start over. We can begin again with Him. The past can be wiped clean and we can then go forward with Him to the end. He has given me yet another chance and I fully intend to play the last quarter differently. Don't bother reminding me of all the bad plays I made earlier. I know more of them than you do. I have turned my back on the past and have my eyes fixed on the goal line. I press on with my eyes fixed on Jesus! I have more blessings than I deserve and I am very grateful for the lovingkindness God has shown me. His grace really is Amazing! ***************************************************** Believe - Brooks & Dunn

Add to My Profile | More Videos ***************************************************** I became a Christian in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was working as a Letter-Carrier at the Post Office. Utah was a fun place to live because I enjoyed the mountains, hiking, camping, hunting and fishing and riding motorcycles. I worked outdoors and I played outdoors. I hate to say it now but my life was self-focused. Even though I believed in God, I was attempting to please Him by doing "good deeds" and "keeping religious rules", I later found out a lot of those rules were man-made. I was not getting anywhere with that method because I never knew how many "good deeds" was enough. Plus, I've never been able to keep rules very well. Therefore, my spiritual journey was a roller coaster ride. My self-focus led to a lot of problems, in my life and in my relationships. About this time a friend began telling me my problems were not unique. He said the Bible had a lot to say that could help me. I had never read the way the Bible all the way through. I am ashamed to say it but I let other people tell me what the Bible said and what it meant, that is not the way God intended it. My friend challenged me to read the Bible for myself, starting with the New Testament, and then the Old. I accepted the challenge. As I read I found a God who loved me and wanted to have a relationship with me. I found He really put Himself out to come and rescue me. My self-focused life and self-efforts had actually pushed God out. My sin had separated me from God. God began speaking to me through the Bible, (and still does). I can still remember some verses that really jumped out and got my attention. Such as: Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". I finally admitted to God I couldn't save myself and I needed Him to do it for me. I think He was waiting to hear that all along, from me, and well, I guess from everybody. Like that famous verses says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". (John 3:16) I found that Jesus had already taken the punishment for my sins on the cross and now He offered eternal life to me as a gift. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast". (Ephesians 2:8-9) He was willing to save me from my sins and from myself but it was up to me to accept it, He would not force Himself on me. Then I found more verses that helped me. Like Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" I never knew Jesus was just waiting for me to open up the door of my heart and let Him in. Romans 10:9-10 … "if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" John 1:12 "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God". I found we are not all God's children, but God's creation. We come into His family by adoption, when we accept Christ. So on December 17, 1982 I made a commitment to God. I had finally came to the end of trying to do it my way, because my way didn't work. I surrendered my life to Christ. I gave up my self-dependence and became God-dependent. It is quite a leap from singing "I'll Do It My Way" to singing "Have Thy Own Way Lord." My paradigm shift! I abandoned my illusion of control. I now trust Him to save me based on His merits, not mine. I may be a slow learner but I have came to realize I could never save myself. I've started on a journey with Christ that will never end. Anyway, that was a life changing decision for me. Since I became a follower of Jesus, my purpose in life as well as my relationships has totally changed. I have a real reason for living and its no longer as self-centered. I have something to live for and I no longer fear death. I have Christian friends who are there for me, even when my family can't be. Sure, I have problems like everyone else, but I deal with them in a new way. I now have an inward peace and joy I never found anywhere else. I am a long way from being the man I want to be, but I can tell you my life started changing for the better almost 25 years ago. I remember praying, "Father God, thank you for the free gift of eternal life. I know I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I am sorry for my past sins, and I ask You to forgive me. Jesus, I believe You died on the cross for my sins and arose from the dead. I now open the door of my heart and invite You to come into my life. I realize there is nothing I can do to earn my salvation, and I place my complete trust in You alone for eternal life. I choose to follow You as my Lord. Please make me the person YOU want me to be. Amen." Prayers do not save people - God saves people. But talking with Him in prayer is the place to start. Choose to surrender to Christ. ***************************************************** ***************************************************** Videos MercyMe - I Can Only Imagine

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Add to My Profile | More ****************************************************** I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (NASB)**************************************************** Videos Newsboys - He Reigns

Add to My Profile | More **************************************************** Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (NASB) **************************************************** **************************************************** Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NASB) **************************************************** **************************************************** I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me – my banner will be clear.--Author Unknown ******************************************************* If Jesus Christ be God, and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him. - C. T. Studd ******************************************************* The Father has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. For He has rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:12-14) Lord, I thank You for Your blessed and everlasting name and for Your exquisite work that is evident throughout Your creation. I thank You for qualifying me to share an inheritance in the kingdom of Your beloved Son, and I ask that I would learn endurance through my trials and finish my race well. ******************************************************* Michael Ball
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