| Paul Marks |
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| Monday, 12 November 2007 | |
 I was brought up in a Jewish household, ate kosher food, had my Barmitzvah at age 13, and attended synagogue regularly throughout my younger years. However, as a family we did these things out of a sense of tradition, as we did not have a true belief in God. I even spent a year in Israel after I left school, living on a Kibbutz close to Tiberias.
Back home in 1981, I worked in different jobs before joining the motor
trade in 1984. Within a few years I had moved into my own flat, drove a
company car and was earning good money. You might think that life
couldn't have been much better, but in reality I was suffering from a
sense of gloom and depression. I ended up going to see the doctor
because of this, and even got involved in Transcendental Meditation as
I thought this might help. It didn't give me the sense of peace and
acceptance that I was looking for.After meeting Fiona in 1994, interesting things started to happen. She decided that she wanted to start going back to church, and eventually started going regularly to a Church of Scotland in Howwood. In 1995/6 she attended an Alpha course there, and her life dramatically changed as her relationship with God took off! She asked me if I would consider taking part in the next Alpha course in January 1997, and I told her that I would think about it, which was a polite way of saying no! However, she wasn't about to take no for an answer, and promptly put my name down to attend! I realised that I was committed to take part, but felt worried because my Jewish background meant that I knew nothing at all about Christianity. To avoid looking stupid on the course, I decided to read through the New Testament so that if someone asked me a question I may have a chance of answering it! As far as my upbringing was concerned, the New Testament was not considered to be believed or trusted, but as I read through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, I realised in my heart that these words were total truth, and I could not read John's Gospel without crying. God was speaking to me through these words, touching my spirit with His compassion and love. On January 3rd 1997, I found myself with perhaps the biggest problem I had ever come across in my life. I didn't know what to do, so out of sheer desperation I prayed for the first time and asked God if He was really out there to come and help me, as there was no-one else that could. Instantaneously I felt a presence in the room with me, as my body temperature rocketed and I felt pins and needles all over. At the same time I experienced a vision that could have only come from God. This was a life-changing experience, as shortly afterwards I gave my life to Christ as Fiona prayed with me. Within two weeks I was on the Alpha course, and life has never been the same since. God has kept us on the move with 8 house moves in just 11 years, which has meant lots of activity and change, but we feel that He is allowing us to settle in Paisley now, where we feel really secure and at home. He has even given us a fantastic spiritual home at Mossvale Community Church. Our children Findlay, Eilidh and Rory are involved in the life of the church and have made many new frends. We all look to the future with real excitement! |
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