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I was raised up in Istanbul since 3 years of age.
I was raised up like almost every other Turkish boy. No difference.
After I had finished the military service, I began thinking..
as to where I will be working and earning a living.
I loved the sea. That's why I was interested in seeing cultures overseas.
Therefore I started working in ships abroad as an electrician.
I began exploring different cultures, yet at the same time earning a living.
I saw different cultures. North America, Asia..
.. East Asia, Europe, Africa
Also, I've been to Arab countries and saw how the Muslims lived.
I observed a huge difference between Muslims and Christians in the way they live.
In Turkey people can not go abroad because of financial difficulties.
So they are unable to assess the life style of different cultures.
As I have seen many different cultures, I had the chance to make a comparison.
Turkey is very nice, very blessed. Environmentally,
.. and having a green nature.
Very nice surroundings. But we do not give value to such things anymore.
and we keep on destroying the earth.
But I love the people of Turkey. From east to the west, north to south.
We have a rich cultural heritage compared to some other countries.
Yet, something was missing.
There was no salvation.
Streets were full of anger and hatred..
Nationalism and some other problems prevailed in this country.
This place was going more into turmoil and I did not see a way out.
I was thinking upon this day and night.
I was sad.
I was feeling awkward.. I was unfulfilled of my life in this country..
The people around me saw me as a controversial thinker.
There was a huge gap between us.. I couldn't understand why it was so.
My life was chaotic because I lived at sea.
I stayed one or two months on the ground.. The rest of the year, I was on board a ship.
Basically my life was out of order.
When I was in Turkey, I was spending my time in bars and clubs.
I spent whole my time in bars, even until the morning.
I was going into a dark pit.
It was a late marriage for me at age 35.
My life had a little bit of order after the marriage.
I felt more responsible towards my wife.. and I quitted the bar-life, yet I couldn't quit drinking.
Then my child was born.
After she was born, I felt more responsible.
I began fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan even though I did not know the prayers.
Each year I was doing this ritual regularly.
As I forced myself doing the rituals I did not feel so good
And fights broke out with my wife, and in the ship I was feeling not so well either.
This was my life back then.
But, one morning I woke up.
I felt some hope.
There was a feeling, a voice, that said to me "go to a church!"
I was Muslim, on my ID is written "Muslim", and my family was muslim..
but all of a sudden, a voice in me says "Go to a church!"
and read the Bible!"
That same morning I had a shave...
I had shower.
And I went to a nearest church.
As I entered in, I saw happy people.
Women and men.
I sat down on one of the rearest chairs.
They began to sing a worship song..
God is love
He is love.. He forgives.. He gives new life.
I was impressed.
People were cheerful when singing..
I felt some kind of joyfulness.
I was so happy that I wanted to scream "I am so happy"
The people were so cheerful when singing the songs.
The vibes were fascinating.
Then the pastor preached.
I enjoyed it as well.
After the service people came to greet me.
I told them it was my first time in the church.
They gave me the Bible and a book about the biography of Christ.
When I came home, I didn't find difficulty explaining my wife about where I was.
I told my wife "Guess where I was today"
"Tell me" she said.
"I went to a church" I said.
She was surprised.
I said I wanted to be there every Sunday.
I started going to the same church every Sunday.
I had no idea about who Jesus was back then.
I started reading the Bible to get to know him better.
I wanted to know more and more. My heart was hungry.
Back when I was a Muslim, I did not pray except for a few times in Arabic,
..and I did not understand a single word when doing it.
Praying Muslim prayers never made any sense to me.
So when I learned the real praying, at first I was having difficulties.
The pastor was encouraging me to practice praying when in church.
I was embarrased, I was shy.
At home I prayed so great. But in church, I was a fiasco.
But some time later...
I remember it was months later..
I learned how to pray just like the people in the church.
I still read books about Jesus.
I read the Bible once.
And I read the Bible again.
I started once again from Genesis and finished again.
I started once again reading it recently.
I know, I will keep on reading it till the day I die.
I will read this Book of Jesus, the Book of God, over and over again.
So wonderful words are in this book. I won't give up reading it.
Because it is teaching me and changing me a lot.
Muslims have wrong ideas about Christians.
For a Muslim, a Christian is a German, a French..
For a Muslim a Christian is just this.. A European.
On the contrary, Christianity was rooted in the land of Israel.
and leading its way from Turkey, it was spread to the nations of Europe and the rest.
I learned Turkey was home to 7 different churches.
From Antioch to Pamukkale, there used to be 7 main churches.
And Christianity was first in our own land, Turkey.
So a European may be called a Christian..
A German, an American or an Italian
a Greek, a Russian, a Romanian..
.. They may be born Christians, but are they following Christ?
Today, Europe is unfortunately under Satan's dominion.
So, being a Christian and a "follower of Christ" are utterly different things.
Muslims keep on claiming the same things over and over.
Christians are alcoholics.
Christians are drug addicts.
Christians are having pervert relationships.
It may be true for Europe, unfortunately.
But after I learned more about Jesus, I realized that none of those had to do with Him.
I've had many many changes in my life after I came to Christ.
Before Him, my life was just like a puzzle game.
Chaotic, in confusion, without order.
Now everything in my mind settled its course.
Now, I am having smoother communication with people.
Before Jesus, I was having quarrels easily.
All my relationships are better. My wife, my family, my friends..
But the most important change in my life is; death does not scare me any more.
I do not believe in dying at all.
Because, I am already dead, now.
I will be born to a new life when I physically die.
Most people are afraid of dying.
People start doing daily rituals after they are 60.
..because they sense that death is near.
I am not afraid to die any more.
For a follower of Jesus, dying means having a new life.
Dying is existing.
We will die and be with the Lord again.
This is the ultimate reality for me. Death has no meaning for me.
And yes, this is the biggest change that ever happened to me.
I enjoy praying now.
I have a new contact with my Creator.
I used to be afraid of God before.
I was afraid of saying a wrong word against Him.
But, I am not afraid now.
Because God never puts you down if you truly love Him.
If a person accepts Christ as Lord and Saviour, that person becomes the child of God.
We have a unique relationship with the Lord based on Love.
Sometimes I call Him "Father". And sometimes I call him "My God"..
It doesn't really matter how you call Him. He is always with you.
He is good to you if you submit your life to Him.
He wants nobody to perish.
I feel that everything in my life has settled its course.
I know Him better now.
I will always thank Him, and praise Him.
..Because He came into my life, and poured His love and light on me.
That is why I worship Him and give His name Honor.