From Middletown, PA

Ed Carpenter here. I've got Auto Doc beat by nine years--I'm now 62. Fortunately I've been a Christian all my life and didn't have to endure the hardships of "the evil one" without help like some of you. Sometimes I wonder if I'd have survived the battle scars that others have encountered.

I'm an elder in my church, have been on the administrative council for around 25 years, and served as council chairman for three years. I just recently gave up my membership in the choir.

I can think of two, or possibly three, occasions (when I was a kid) that I saved someone's life; but unfortunatley I can't say that I recall ever having directly saved someone's soul. According to the Great Commission that's what we're supposed to be doing--and I've failed. If this site helps me towards that goal in any way, then it's well worth it.

"...I just recently gave up my membership in the choir..."

C'mon Ed. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Are you sure you gave up on them?

When we had a choir, and I was in it, they changed rehearsal night and didn't tell me! I think they were tryin' to tell me somethin'.

HI!!! Welcome, ED!!!

Glad to see you! You were great on saturday...it was a FUN run!

Hey Ed.

Welcome

Don't forget that God calls us to witness and not focus on the results. We cannot save souls. Only God can do that through His son Jesus Christ. As I move toward leadership and teaching positions I realize that now more then ever. One of the biggest lies Satan tells us is that we didn't allow God to use us in the spreading of his kingdom or in helping others grow in Christ. So be encouraged not by looking at results but by the joy and peace received from being obedient and intimately related to our Lord Jesus Christ.

You have probably done more then you will ever know. There were many people in my life that had no idea the impact they made on me until years and years later. Some people who are no longer in my life never did see signs of the impact they made but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Hey Ed, welcome in

As for saving someones soul, i tire of hearing people say they did, most of the time, that person has already been on the long road toward it and then one person caps it and claims victory, its like the driver in the race car claiming he won....he would be no where with out all the others behind him. If someone see the christian fish on my jeep and it gets them to thinking and they go look into things and eventually become a believer, then i was instrumental and never even knew it.

So, that said, having been a Christian for 62 years and I assume not hiding that fact, I would say you have prolly been instrumental in saving a lot of souls!!!! All the credit goes to Him anyway!!!!

welcome I can't wait to wheel with you again