Yes, you read that correctly: *baby Christian*; and yes, I'm talking about me, ACP, the Oracle!

This major transformation (and minor miracle) took place very recently,
on my own personal independence day, which just so happened to be July 4, 2004.

After years of avoiding, evading, shunning, and actively running in the (any) other direction,
I finally took a friend's advice to *be still*, and in that stillness, heard what I had to do in
response to my plea: "Lord, please make me over!"

And surprisingly, it was so simple (yes, Mom, I know I've always tried to make it complicated)

And in my first real act of humility (Judy, wherever you are in this world,
know that I finally wrapped my head around *that word*)

I acknowledged that though certainly *large*, I was definitely not in charge

And I had left my path so long ago and so far away I had no idea of how to return.
The pain, anger, humiliation, & rejection I harbored, and feelings of hostility I felt towards others was of my own making, and it was killing me DEAD.

But I asked Jesus to come into my life, into my heart; to save me and make me anew;
As I professed my faith in him and his ability to guide me, *just like that*, I began to feel the change.

So now, as I see you, myself, and the world with new eyes, I can see that my real work has just begun.

My life-long question of "Why am I here?", has been answered, *just like that!*
Again, it was so simple, I had to laugh aloud at myself: because of course, I'd thought it would be something so complex!

But, like many of you, I am here to praise God, And to make his will, not mine, real in this world.

Now, although video tapes of each Sunday's services are available, you'll only hear/see the message Bishop Hash delivered on that day.

What you'll *miss* are the images of me, up on my feet on my way to the altar to join the church,
Tears running down my face, snotty tissues tightly grasped in both hands, in the middle of my aisle, trying to yell above the din of the immense congregation:
"Somebody please *help* me; my shoe is stuck inside *her* shoe!" (speaking of the poor child whose foot was being mangled by my heel at the moment....)

But you know, it wouldn't truly be me if there wasn't *some* kind of drama.

Well, people, until the next time: I love you all!

~(All brand new) Avis, 071504

PS-for those of you who may feel great happiness for me and want to do something for me, *Please* do not send me a bible. Got enough to stock a library. Now if you feel so compelled to do something, you can all chip in and get me a new computer.....I'll still be your friend.

¶ 7/15/2004 01:39:00 PM 0 comments