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An Answered Prayer

Following is the video version of my testimony: My Personal Testimony, Russ Tanner

Well, I could post about all the research I've done.

I could tell you all how I was a skeptic about the Bible and was even insulted by Christ the first time I read it. He made some bold statements you know—portraying Himself as the prophesied Son of God. How arrogant.

I could even point out that those who make statements and arguments against the Bible so clearly show us-who-know-it that they clearly don't know the first thing about it.

Instead, I will tell you about one of my personal experiences with God.


Beginning in my teen years - about the time my amalgam fillings were installed - I spent most of my life depressed and introspective. I cried myself to sleep 2-to-4 nights every week during my high school years. Nobody knew this. Growing up in a strict family, I knew how to cover my emotions well.

I moved from home about 3 months after my 18th birthday and eventually moved into the Executive Apartments on Gulf Dr. in New Port Richey, Florida. While living there, working and going to college, I fell into yet another deep depression.

One night, depressed and overwhelmed, laying in bed, I said something to this effect:

If there is a God, then You can hear me, and if You are God, then You should care so please help me by answering my questions.

I then went on to ask a few questions about life and then fell asleep.

I lived in a 1-story apartment building that had 3 units in a row. In the first unit closest to the parking lot, a couple older ladies had just moved in. In the middle unit, a couple guys lived that kept to themselves. I lived in the third unit.

I just found the building that I lived in on Google Earth. I lived in this unit at these coordinates:

28d 14" 22.42' N
82d 42" 59.24 W

Yes, there is more to the building under the trees.

The next day, I went to work and came home as usual. While walking down the covered walk, one of the two ladies that had just moved in said hello and started a conversation with me. She was obviously "religious" (as I called it at the time) and spoke many things about God. Being polite, I listened and then went on my way.

That night, still feeling deeply depressed and desperate, I "prayed" again asking more questions of "God" and simply hoping for an answer.

The next day as I was walking to my unit, the same lady stopped me and again started talking about God. I politely listened and then went on my way.

That night, still depressed, I again asked "God" questions and fell asleep.

The next day, sure enough, walking to my apartment unit, the lady started talking to me about God. This conversation was different though because something sounded familiar.

While this lady was speaking, I realized that she was answering the same questions that I had asked the night before, and as I remembered it, she was answering them in the same order. I let her speak on (I was pretty shy and passive externally) and soon realized that for the past two days, she had also answered the very questions that I had asked the nights before. I was very excited and curious about this and decided to tell her about it. I thought she would also be excited and amazed as well.

After explaining my "prayers" to her and how she had been answering them perfectly today and the previous two days as well, she just said, "Well yea. That's how God works. He works through people."

She was not excited at all and was very casual about the whole thing. I was very disappointed internally because I wanted it to be some kind of "big deal". Nevertheless, she kept on talking, answering my questions from the night before and then I was on my way.

Well, this really gave me something to think about. Being the analyzer that I was (my 6th grade teacher, Ms Schwab, called me "Spock") I had to assume that only two conditions could be true. Either

(1) This lady was monitoring the audio in my room, listening in on my "prayers", or

(2) Something much larger was happening.

I realized that the mathematical probability of this woman answering my questions so perfectly and in order three days in a row was not an option to consider. So I decided to continue "praying" for the next 3 days to see what would happen.

Sure enough, this woman continued for the next 3 days to answer my questions directly that I had asked whispering in my bed the night before. I never again brought up to her the fact that she was answering my questions because I was sure it would only result in the same unexcited dialog about how God works.

This event brought hope into my life and made me consider the idea that perhaps God really did exist. In fact, this whole event was so mind-blowing that it prompted me to ask one last question on the sixth night. I asked where I should go to Church. I figured that would be a good place to learn more.

The next day as I walked by her apartment, the lady stuck her head out her door and said, "Would you like to go to Church with us?"

That moment was like getting hit with a 2x4; like time had suddenly stopped. It was one of those moments when something shocking happens and you remember every detail as if it was in slow motion.

In that 5 seconds before I responded, I recalled the previous week of miraculous answered prayer; how the woman had responded to all of my questions as if she could hear me whispering in my bedroom late at night. I recalled the entire week of depression interlaced with hope and deep curiosity because of the bizarre event that was unfolding.

Finally, before responding to the woman's question, I did what I so often do when making a decision. I objectified the situation by pretending I was giving advice to someone else. I instinctively knew that this was a moment of decision. I would either:

1. Suppress and ignore the mind-boggling events of the previous week, or

2. Humble myself to the reality that something remarkable was happening and have the courage to say "yes".

It's one of those moments when you know that you know that right answer, but you don't know if you have the courage to do the right thing. Being shy and introverted, the idea of going to Church with strangers was stifling and completely against my nature.

The pivotal moment was the realization that I would regret denying this invitation; that I would spend a lifetime wondering what would have happened if I didn't have the courage to say "yes".

Thankfully, at the end of this 5 seconds of contemplation - which seemed like 60 seconds - I was filled with the courage to accept the invitation to go to Church with strangers, and this is when everything began to change.

Growing

I started taking Bible lessons and committed myself to actually reading the Bible all the way through to find out what all the fuss was regarding this Book. What was it about these "Church" people?

Well, now I know.

I need to mention that I don't agree with each and every doctrine taught by the particular denomination that I attended as a result of this event, but I came to understand that it was the perfect starting point for a beginner such as myself to receive solid, foundational information and the encouragement to continue studying, and so I did.

Now, I realize that when someone explores a new large and encompassing concept such as the existence of God, it initially raises many more questions than it answers.

The reason for all of these initial questions is related to the fact that we have all become indoctrinated into a specific idea of how things work, such as the idea of evolution.

The perpetrators of these lies are very good at what they do. They don't simply create an intricate lie, they create peripheral lies and they associate these to this original lie. They also associate the peripheral lies to other peripheral lies. They do all this work so if a person attempts to study more deeply and begins to untangle themselves from original lie, they will either get "stuck" in one of the peripheral lies or will eventually become exhausted and stop (re)searching.

See Modalities of Disinformation: How They Make You Believe A Lie

This process leads the victim of the lies exactly where the perpetrator wants them to be:

(1) Moderation (often confusion leading to emotionalism), or
(2) Apathy

This is the place where we are most easily manipulated and controlled.

Because of this "web of lies", it's important to have the persistence to continue studying these questions one-by-one and to find logical and reasonable explanations for them. This process takes time and effort, but it can be done if someone cares enough to follow through.

See An intelligent, in-depth introduction to scripture

I encourage anyone who has the true desire to find out what this life is really about, to read the Bible and calmly, logically, and without fear or anxiety, check out each point piece-by-piece. For skeptics like me, I would also encourage particular focus on prophecy and Biblical numerology, that is, the study of the numbers associated with the letters in both Hebrew and Greek and how it relates to the context. This is truly amazing stuff and you will find that there is no other book like it.

I would also warn you to avoid traps like new Bible translations. Stick with the King James translation and realize that even it is not a perfect translation to modern English, although it is a monumental effort and is excellent overall.

Get used to the "thees" and "thous" and check out the original meanings of words using Strongs Exhaustive Concordance and Dictionary plus get a good Interlinear Bible to locate specific words by number so they can easily be found in Stong's. I would also recommend the Bullinger Companion Bible which has very accurate commentary by one of the few truly excellent historical Bible scholars that will greatly assist the newcomer in grasping concepts more quickly.

Just take a little piece of your life, perhaps 20 minutes a day, and read. The cumulative effect of this type of study is amazing. Before you know it, you just may begin to see what all the fuss is about.

The evidence is there for those who care.

Postscript

After years of research, I discovered that the cause of my depression was mercury poisoning. If you're interested in how I completely overcame it in 1 day, check out My Mercury Story.

Thank you for taking the time to read my testimony. I need to add that God has intervened in my life many times and has saved me from much trouble and suffering, and that this testimony was just the beginning of my realization that God was working in my life. So much more has happened, and I will share more on this thread in the future.

Please take the time to reach out to the Creator and then watch for His response to you. It will change your life, maybe not overnight, (or maybe overnight), but keep learning and what how your life will change.

Links I Hope You Visit

An Intelligent, In-Depth Introduction To Scripture

The Emotional Effects of Mercury

"Follow Your Heart": Using Emotionalism To Control the Population

The Fuel Project: Know Your Enemy

The Witness of the Stars

New Age Bible Versions

My Mercury Story

My Chemtrail Story

My Chemtrail Heart Attack

Chemtrails In the Bible

...by your poisons were the nations deceived

The Fourth Word of the Bible

The Bible Forum

Modalities of Disinformation: How They Make You Believe A Lie

Aquarius: The Age of Evil

My Personal Website

My Facebook Page

Chemtrails: The Largest Attack Against All Life in Human History

Lies In The Textbooks

Orbis Vitae: Everything

Thank you, Russ,

I truly love to read a personal testimony of how a person's spiritual eyes are opened to the Truth of Scripture. This is
amazing, indeed! I have read so many testimonies, yet I never doubt what our great Jehovah God can do to draw a person to Himself.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." --(2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, (Holy Spirit). - (2 Peter 1:20,21 KJV)

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater;
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." --(Isaiah 55:10,11 KJV)~~

Yes, 'Jehovah God works through people.' Keep shining and being salt and light for Jesus. Great is your reward in Heaven one day. ~~

~~In Christ Alone~