I've been an online listener of The Narrow Path for a few years now, as well as a listener of Steve's many fine resources on the web site. I've also been a lurker on the forums for about the same length of time also. I'm not sure I have much to contribute to the site, but I thought I'd create an account and maybe at least participate in some small degree... although sometimes I have a tendency with message boards to regress back to lurking!
Some background information... I'm 30 years old, have been married to a wonderful Christian woman for a little over two years, and we have one son (6 weeks old now). I was raised in a small, rural church (in southern Ohio) from birth. It's part of the Churches of Christ in Christian Union denomination, which is an offshoot of the Wesley-holiness movement. I've attended there my whole life. I realize that being in one church for that long of a time period probably seems extremely sheltered to some, and I realize that's probably the case.
I have to say that Steve's ministry has been pretty instrumental in getting me to think outside of my little world of church. Although I was raised in church, I wasn't born again until I was 17 years old. For some time after my conversion, I didn't dig as deep as I probably should have into the things of God. Over time though, I've began to realize that I needed to dig into scripture for myself, and figure out what I actually believe.
The most recent things that I've been mulling over have been the topic of "entire sanctification" (remember, I was raised in and still attend a holiness church of the Wesleyan strain), and eschatology. As far as entire sanctification goes... I just can't quite get a handle on how it's always been presented from our denomination. It seems like there is a place for a secondary experience in a believer's life... but I still struggle with the specifics. Regarding the end times, my wife and I recently began a survey study of the different eschatological views, and while I'm still trying to wrap my brain around some of the concepts... I waver between historic premillennialism and amillennialism. Sometimes I wish there was just a "pick and choose" buffet for eschatology...
Anyhow, greetings to all on the board. I feel very dim-witted at times when reading other posts on here, as most seem so knowledgable of the Bible and well versed, but hopefully I can stay motivated to contribute in some way or another. God bless!
-Ryan
