The Joys & Adventures of Everyday Life        They come at the most unexpected moments, usually. Ron grew up in a religious cult called Christian Science.  He wrestled with the truth of the Bible throughout childhood, finally coming to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior while attending college at C.S.U.N. (that is, California State University, Northridge) - over a decade prior to that city becoming a well-known earthquake epicenter... A few years later, he was struck with Valley Fever.  Mary grew up in the Catholic Church, and she learned about a personal relationship with Jesus in high school, and while attending college in Lincoln, Nebraska, she eventually moved on to take up spiritual roots in Protestant churches thereafter. Well, that's just a "snapshot" about us (There's more to follow; or, click on links above). But what about you? What is God doing in your life? This picture of us was taken at Yosemite National Park, with Vernal Falls in the background. It is also the picture we use in our adoption letter.

Do you know with certainty whether or not you are going to heaven?        Talk with somebody about your life situation. It doesn't have to be us... We would welcome the opportunity to encourage you in striving to have a closer walk with God. There are many good sources of information about salvation available these days, such as the "Certainty" link above. When Mary has time, I hope to encourage her to use this internet space as a forum for her to speak about her life experiences in addition to mine. We both grew up not knowing God in a personal way, but still learning about Him in Sunday School (Ron was raised in a cult, Christian Science; Mary was raised in the Catholic church). We waited a long time in getting married for the first time - not wanting to marry too quickly, via a poor choice, or less than God's best; and, it's our belief that we patiently waited on God as He was then able to bring us together through special (accidental-? Not!!!) circumstances!        When I first got "saved," there was a lot of passion in my heart to be busy about doing "the Lord's work." I volunteered to help in just about any way that I could, thinking it was my "duty" to do so. Well, it just about killed me. I was so worn out, on the edge physically because of lack of sleep, and emotionally because of the commitment I felt to so many people - I didn't want to fail. Who does? But something that has stayed with me for a long time is a song we had kids in "S.E.A.R.C.H." sing every week: "Search the Scriptures, says John 5:39; search the Scriptures, so you know what to do..." Well, coming from a cult background where "context" and accuracy were sacrificed to be able to prove a point, I have had a tough time with why we ever taught the kids that verse! The context of the verse is one of condemnation from Jesus to the Pharisees for handling the truth of the Scriptures poorly, selfishly. You have likely often heard Christian's say: "Christianity is not a religion, per se, as much as it is a personal relationship with God." I believe that; maybe you're tired of hearing it. But, indulge me for a little while longer... This is what the verse(s) say: "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life" (John 5:39,40). What do those verses say to you? (Read them again)        Do you see how Jesus was saying to them, "You've got it all wrong! Just because these things are of great significance to you doesn't make you righteous! The point is this: the Scriptures bear witness of Me, of your need for Me, that there is no eternal life for you apart from Me. Don't you get it? God desires to have a right relationship restored between Himself and all men; but, you have chosen to focus on other things, and not on a personal relationship with God. You are not better than other people because you choose to dwell on the things of God, where others do not - at all. Instead, as religious leaders of My people, you should have been able to model for them what a right relationship with God is all about! But you are simply blind guides, leading blind people to hell!" Does that drive the point home for you? Read the real passage again. Do you see it? I had a problem with being a leader of "Sunday Evening Activities Reinforcing Character Habits" because: habits don't provide holiness, necessarily. If a person comes to "know the Lord," then a life of holiness, godliness, and righteousness should reflect that newly directed relationship between that person and God. Where the focus of one's life is likely on himself without God, with God the focus is now on God; it's similar to the problem Galileo encountered: people were certain that the known universe revolved around the earth, until it was finally accepted as fact that our particular universe rotates around the sun! What will it take to convince you that your thinking about God may be wrong? Even as a new Christian I had many problems to overcome, and with God I have been making steady progress! But back then, while being a S.E.A.R.C.H. leader, I was also the head of an evangelism outreach effort on our college campus called "Campus Life;" and I was involved in visitation ministry at church, training people how to do evangelsim while visiting people who requested visits from the church after visiting some particular Sunday. At some point, sleep and studying was sacrificed to yield to the self-driven need to perform well in my new mix of a church "family;" and, quite frankly, nobody was telling me to do less. I didn't learn how to say "No" to involvement until after I almost died from a then little know illness, "Valley Fever." Yes, I must say now, "My thinking was wrong." Are you willing to admit there is a possibility you haven't thought through every issue in life fully? especially your most important relationship - the one you have (or don't have) with God? There were still problems to overcome; for instance, I didn't stop praying without at least a little residue of Christian Science thinking filtering into it until I had been a Christian for 15 years! Change takes time; old habits are hard to break. That's why it's more and more difficult for somebody to come to know the Lord at a later age (You weren't using the plan: "I figured I would give myself to God on my deathbed." - Were you?). The sooner you get started submitting to God's will, who wants what's best for you anyway, the better off you will be. <Back to top> Hypothetically speaking, if God were to ask you some fateful day, "Why should I let you into My heaven?" What would you say? If you're uncertain about your standing before God, please read the following:       God is good, His promises are great; your response to the following promise is strongly urged "...the Lord is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him;  but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you" (2 Chronicles 15:2b).        Q: Are you held in the grasp of God? I hope so. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Believe the Bible; put your trust in God. You will be glad you did !!!       Are you "Seeking God?" Click the link for more information about this important issue of your future, of your eternity, of your relationship with God! Also, you may want to turn to an expert in the field of evangelism, Pastor D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (Fort Lauderdale, FL). <Back to top> To send E-Mail to Ron & Mary Runsvold, use the Links Below: Send comments, images or whatever to Ron (Ron & Mary Runsvold). We will attempt to update this page on a monthly basis. ©1998-2001 Webmaster .