Larry L Miller

I memorized this verse when I was 12 and it's in front of my prayer journal. Romans 5:1-2 Amplified Bible (AMP) Results of Justification 5 Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). 2 Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our [a]hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. Footnotes: Romans 5:2 In the NT the word “hope” expresses a cherished desire along with the confident assurance of obtaining that which is longed for. Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

I'm Larry, 78 years old, live in Elkhart, IN, coach, mentor to 18-35-year-old males who have one or more mental illness diagnoses and have attempted suicide one or more times. Most of my men have been or are addicted to alcohol, drugs, gambling, ***********, sex, etc. We offer them hospitality 7/24 and start them on a discipleship program that includes employment, health care, and housing. Many of my guys grew up in Christian homes and attended fundamental churches until their high school years when they generally acted out and dropped out. I learned the Romans Road in high school and started practicing the Romans Road at chain gangs in SC, a Service Men's Center in Augusta, GA, our state prison in Michigan City, the federal correction institution (FCI) in Dublin, CA, and San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, CA, etc. While I have been an elder in 5 Presbyterian churches as we moved from the San Francisco Bay area to Oceanside, CA to Columbia, TN to the greater Phoenix area to the greater Lake of Egypt, IL outreach for me happens as chilerdren of God ask for encouragement, prayer and I have the opportunity to listen to their stories and steward their spiritual (or heart, or soul), emotional (feelings), relational (social), mission (will), mental (mind) and physical (body)needs, concerns and desires. Most of the time I find that people that God drops into my life would like to have a relationship with God. The Bible tells us that the first step for them is acknowledging that they have sinned and that there is nothing they can do to earn God's love (Romans 3:23-26). Next, w ask them to believe and confess that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) and allow Him to guide their lives. Where they once wanted to control their own futures, they now invite Jesus into our hearts to be Lord over their lives. Knowing God's peace, perspective, and purpose for their lives begins with a personal relationship with Jesus. I've always liked the Amplified version of Romans 5:1-2 Amplified: THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (Amplified Bible - Lockman). I hope to get to know many of you as I embark on my Jesus Walk Bible Study. I have joined because of the way the study is presented. I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior July 12, 1952, at Winona Lake Bethany Youth Camp under the ministry of Phil Saint a chalk talk artist who drew Romans 5:1-2. During my faith journey, I have grown and groaned which I believe is practical or progressive sanctification (Do) after accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior (Be). My practical/ prospective sanctification will happen at my death and elevation to Heaven (Have). I have been permanently disabled since February 15, 2002, when I began my 16-year journey due to a progressive invisible chronic disease. My primary diagnosis is uveitis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis. It started in February 2002. I was able to work full time 01/2004 through 05/2008. I was forced to retire in 2009. Ankylosing spondylitis (pronounced ank-kih-low-sing spon-dill-eye-tiss), or AS, is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, It causes inflammation of the spinal joints (vertebrae) that in my case has lead to severe, chronic pain (worse in the winter) and discomfort. It has caused new bone formation in my spine -- causing sections of the spine to fuse in a fixed, immobile position. In an attempt to stay ahead of it I've had 12 back surgeries since 2002, 9 since 2010. My AS has caused inflammation, pain, and stiffness in my body such as my shoulders, hips, ribs, heels, and small joints of the hands and feet. Two attacks (1994 and 2012) of uveitis) has taken about 1/3 of my vision. In 2016 it attacked my lungs (I have a partially collapsed left lung) and heart (ejection fraction is 30 and it's supposed to be 80). The hallmark feature of ankylosing spondylitis is the involvement of the sacroiliac (SI) joints during the progression of the disease. The SI joints are located at the base of the spine, where the spine joins the pelvis. I'm able to go to a gym on Monday and Friday mornings. Now having said that I had almost 60 years of great health. I'm a thought leader on several online support groups of thousands of members and I write/speak with people every day who have never enjoyed one day of good health so I accept every day as a gift and endeavor to be Jesus in someone's life. Karen had 3 nasty concussions during 2018 - two from falls on concrete or asphalt and one from a serious automobile accident 11-01-2018 that could have very easily killed her or maimed her for life. So it takes both of us to focus and complete one task. We say it's 1+1=1.