I've been asked to play the cornet solo The Reason as a part of the Augusta Corps' Music Sunday.  Before I play the solo, I will be giving my testimony.  I've only given my testimony once in my entire life, frankly because I've always had this "thing" against hypocrites.  I thought that in order to give your testimony, your relationship with Christ had to be PERFECT.  We'll come back to that whole "perfect" idea, but since my Spiritual life has never been all I thought it should be, I figured it would be hypocritical to give my testimony.

The Lord has laid on my heart this: to tell you my story mixed in with some scripture that has been valuable as God makes me who He wants me to be.  I know my parents will probably read this... but it's alright.  I just pray God uses my testimony to bring just one lost soul home.

I didn't pick the solo I'm playing, but God always has a way of mysteriously lining things up.  I'm always surprised by this, but I shouldn't be.  You see, the words behind The Reason come from the Salvation Army song Would You Know Why I Love Jesus.  The chorus to this songs says:

This is why I love my Jesus, this is why I love Him so:

He has pardoned my transgressions, He has washed me white as snow.

My mom and dad are both Officers (ministers) with the Salvation Army.  This means that, other than having to move every few years, my life growing up was pretty easy.  We lived comfortably.  We always had everything we needed and my parents were very supportive and loving.  But, being a part of TSA , because of the locations and programs offered, I saw a side of life that many others are blind to, and often times ignore.  The stories of victory and triumph over such great odds were heard time and time again within our churches. 

This somehow made me feel inadequate.  Instead of listening to their examples and staying away from the trouble they spoke of, I often jokingly said "I'm building up my testimony."  This to me meant that I had it easy.  In order for me to eventually have an "effective" testimony, I had to do some crazy things now and overcome the challenges I got into.  Scary Stuff...

If we give up and turn our backs on all we've learned, all we've been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ's sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be!  Hebrews 10:26-27 (Msg.)

When college came around, I decided this was the time to REALLY build up my testimony.  I could've had the truly inspiring testimony of staying pure and clean... a young, yet strong Christian through college, but I had to get Dirty!  I would go wild through school, and then immediately change, "cold turkey," after four years.

You've heard of "Sunday Christians" - living one way six days of the week, and then putting a mask on for church.  Well I was completely Two-Faced.  There was one Sunday where I put my nice clothes on and was headed out the door, and then I got a pleasant reminder of what I had been doing the night before.  I threw up all over myself... needless to say, I didn't go to church that Sunday.  

During this time I was still leading worship at Youth Councils every year.  I hated it!  I could sing and play guitar all day, but I just knew everyone could see right through me.  They could tell that my heart wasn't right.  I was leading others, but I didn't know THE WAY!

Cold Turkey Time... yeah right!  After I graduated I tried to change on my own.   I stopped partying and I cleaned up my language, but I was still lost.  I like to read scripture in context, so I'm not going to post it here, but you should definitely check out Romans 7:14-25.  Here, even Paul admits his constant struggle with sin.  When I saw this, I felt like I was reading my own life story.  But in the last verse, he gives you the answer: Jesus offers a way out of SIN!

There were a couple WOW moments for me in the past two years.  I'll just share one right now.  I was at church when Matt Luyk gave his incredible testimony about overcoming an addiction to pornography.  He said something that has stayed with me all this time.  All the guilt I had from my college days really hindered me from being a leader.  I was waiting... for my life, my Christian Walk to be PERFECT.  

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.  But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)

What Matt said went something like this: "I am never going to be perfect; I will always be a sinner.  I cannot wait to be completely pure... it's impossible.  I have to start now!  Living my life as a Christian and leading others to Christ."  I had never thought about it that way.  But from that point on, I started.  I've never really had a life verse, but I think this one fits pretty well:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.                  Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)  

 So... God always has a plan - a REASON.  This solo was given to me by the Bandmaster of the Augusta Corps, but it was picked for me by God.  I will leave you with my testimony from verses two, three and four:

Would you know why I love Jesus, why He is so dear to me?

'Tis because the blood of Jesus
Fully saves and cleanses me.

'Tis because, amid temptation,
He supports and strengthens me.

'Tis because in every conflict
Jesus gives me victory.