What You Need to Know About Michael G. Murphy

I grew up in a home with a born-again Christian mother and a father who followed Scientology. Naturally, I concluded that I was going to take a little from my mother, a little from my father, and then come up with my own belief-system. Needless to say, that was a disaster. I was not a good source of truth.

As a child, I had also understood that to be a disciple of Jesus, I had to leave everything and follow Him. I did not want to do this. I had plans in life that I was determined to achieve, and Jesus did not fit. Bad thinking!

In my early twenties, having realized that I was, rather, the source of my troubles, and that the hopes and dreams I had for my life were exceptionally NOT fulfilling, I surrendered what I mistakenly thought to be control of my life and gave it over to the sovereign control of God.

I promptly promised to quit my sinful habits, and also promised to find a church and go. I went to the first church I saw, and I sheepishly slipped into the back row, desperately wanting not to be noticed. The preacher preached my diary (if I would have had one), and I left with the frightful realization that God was taking me at my word. He made himself real to me and that spooked me. I never before knew him to be personal.

I spent the next few years listening to Christian radio and learned about who Jesus was and what He taught. All this time, I did not doubt His death and resurrection; I was just not fully convinced that it was true. Does that make sense?

I began to mention to my friends the things I was learning about Jesus, and they became hostile. That baffled me. I thought, "How can they hate Him. He was – if nothing more – the nicest man who ever lived." Suddenly, I had the feeling that I was, in some mysterious way, partly responsible for my friend's reactions. I also became certain that no man could be as Jesus was – He had to be God.

Consequently, I realized I was a desperate sinner. I could not sleep the night I realized this, and I cried out for Jesus to forgive me. I suddenly had a clear sense of peace sweep over me. Then I calmly fell asleep.

Shortly after this (probably about a few days to a couple of weeks later), while some co-workers and I were around a computer terminal anticipating President Bush to declare war in the Gulf, I noticed a news story announcing that the Jews were returning to Israel. This modern article was almost identical to what I had read about in the prior covenant, which was written about 2500 years earlier.

Instantly, I understood that since these prophecies were reliable, the other parts of the Bible were also true. Jesus really is alive! And now I had proof. I became fully convinced that Jesus resurrection was a historical fact.

The change in me was instantly noticeable. I, now, also no longer had to make promises to do good things. I was a changed man! And I now had a strong desire to please my Savior in every facet of my life. I got a sense of boldness and began to praise Jesus in the presence of my co-workers!

Not long after that, I was listening to Christian radio and I heard a man explain the new birth, and how Jesus did not fix my broken heart, but He gave me a new heart that was recreated by Him taking up residence in my spirit. Consequent to this, I had a new feeling of hope and energy, and I was excited about the prospect of now serving my Savior and getting to know Him more and more.

If this has happened to you, we rejoice with you. If it has not, we pray that you will come into the full joy of knowing Jesus personally. If you want help in this area, please contact us.