Have you (Mr Harris) always been a Christian?

I guess as a child, I was introduced to the Bible in a Sunday School by a truly ‘Serious Christian’ man of whom I remember only one thing. I cannot recall his exact words but the idea was that wrongdoing hurts God. I resolved then not to hurt God. So, for much of my life I lived by that - and my Mum’s attitude also helped me to always ‘do right’.

At 16, I began attending a church in Perth. From there I went to quite a few Christian camps. Over 1.000 people aged 16 to 25 years all living in tents was a life changing experience! I went to these for five or more years. I learnt a lot of good things.

At one in Geraldton, I heard a girl tell of her life story. I knew then that she had true Christianity - and I did not. I wanted what she had. Her name was Nancy Douglas.

I got true Christianity soon after and began to discover that God was good and being a Christian was a great life.

Over the next ten years I got married, had four children and my only son died of cancer at four years old. It was very hard on my three older girls but I did not know it then. A year after his death as I got baptised and a clear voice said: “You’ll be working with children.” I had no idea what it meant because all my life I made things and worked with my hands. I forgot about it.

Four years later I had a fall at home and broke my back. Four months in hospital. All hell was in my heart. “Where are you God? I need to get up and walk!” etc.

It did not happen and I got quite suicidal and quite angry with God for several months. My bum hurt a lot. A friend told me of a “genuine healer, a sister Philomena in The Philippines has a truly genuine gift of healing.” I believed it!

A missionary said to me: “Peter, if God is going to heal you, there is no need to travel overseas, He can do it here.” I took his counsel, and did not go.

Soon after that my minister came for a chat. I unloaded all my anger on him. When I had finished he said: “Peter, is Jesus Sovereign Lord (the king) in your life?”

I was caught. Did I truly believe or not? I finally answered, “Yes, He is.”

He came back with: “Well, if that is the case, does that give you the right to tell Him what to do for you and when to do it? Don’t you trust Him?” He went home soon after that. Not long after that, a guy knocked on my door. A Commonwealth Government man telling me, “I am from the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service. I am here to get you a job.” No phone call, no letter and no business card.

My home was quite a way from Perth by the edge of the forest.

I fancy he may have been one of God’s messengers. I never saw or heard from him again. To cut a long story short I finished up at Murdoch Uni. as a foundation student in 1975. (Nobody on my family had ever been to Uni.) I became a teacher and taught disabled kids for seven years.

My wife sued for divorce in 1984. I resigned teaching in 1985 and took a holiday. I went to Bible College for two years. I began Scripture teaching in 1988 and they have been the best years of my life. Twenty-three years! (At the time of writing this answer.)

I have ‘learned the hard way’ that God has been directing my life … and that He can trusted.

I hope that was not too long.

Had I got up and walked I would have missed out on 4,000 to 5,000 great Year 7 kids over 23 years of Scripture teaching. Are you one of my past students reading this?

Consider writing a comment about my answers ~

you know me and my wheelie chair!