Darrell Velegol Good news!

And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.      — 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT) My hope in Jesus Christ.  It's what helps me wake up every day ready to change the world.  If you have a question about my Christian hope, please see me or email me.  I would love to explain how the grace of God has changed my life. How did I become a Christian? What is my testimony? In my senior year of college, I met the love of my life. I poured my whole life into this girl. After graduating in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University, I left for the University of Illinois for my PhD. But I couldn't stay away. In just two semesters at Illinois, I returned to West Virginia about 20 times to see her. She got a job just below Wheeling WV, and so I decided – fairly sure that I was throwing away any chance at my dream job of Professor -- to return to Carnegie Mellon for graduate school. But after just 1.5 years, she broke off the relationship. And I learned first-hand what it means to have your heart ripped out. It was then that Jesus walked in. He put a little Bible in my hand, and just reading the words in that Bible changed my course forever – gentle words that spoke to my broken heart, and powerful words that promised me a future. God has since granted me my amazing wife Stephanie and a family. And He did indeed call me to a professorship at Penn State, with a plan for my life. Darrell Velegol's links for new believers Biblical answers to tough questions in life Bible Gateway (various versions, languages, searches) Other links Send a prayer request. [Note: all verses in this web page are from the New Living Translation.] "Tolerance" is a constant buzzword today.   And I agree with tolerance ... unless it impinges on the truth.  Many people want "tolerance" in religion.   And while the Lord is amazingly tolerant of our weakness, he is not tolerant toward our sins or falsehoods.  We can choose any faith we want (e.g.,Christianity, Judaism, Islam, atheism, etc.).  But the faiths are, in fact different.  For someone looking for details, I suggest           C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity           C.S. Lewis, Miracles           Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict But for me, the thing that separates Christianity is its GOOD NEWS!!!  What is the Good New?  -  God loves me just as I am.  He ACCEPTS me with grace!  Who else accepts us so unconditionally? -  God has a PLAN for my life.  I might have to change to accomplish it, but that’s OK. -  God will PROVIDE my needs.  Food, shelter, clothing, companionship, ability. -  God gives us a NEW beginning.  The past will not hold us back from His plan for us! There are so many difficult questions people have before they become Christians …      - Does Christiantiy say that the theory of evolution is incorrect?      - What does Christianity have to say about the "Big Bang" theory?      - How does a person know that the Bible is God's inspired word?      - Even if the Bible were God's inspired word, has it been handed down faithfully?      - Does Christianity say that Muslims, Jews, and Hindus are going to hell?      - How can there be a God when such cruelty exists in the world? There are many other such questions.   And I don't have good answers for all of them.  And although a lot of people have thought about them, there still are no definite answers.  For thousands of years, people have argued both sides of these (and other) questions, and for every argument someone has given, a counterargument has been developed.  Of course, there are many questions that Christians can ask non-Christians also ...      - Are our thoughts truth, or mere nonsense arising from the molecules in our brain?      - Is the physical universe that we sense the only one that exists, or is there a spiritual        universe?      - Where did we come from?  Why are we here?  Where will we go after we die? We all start with certain presuppositions in life.   The most consistent "life view" that I have found is in the Bible, a set of books written by many different authors in many different locations at many different times.  Many people first become Christians when they read the Bible, because prior to that, they have never really heard God's word of truth.  As someone once said, "Describe for me the God who you don't believe in.  I'm sure I don't believe in that god either!"  I invite you to read the Bible. A few links ... Bibles and study aids Bible Gateway (various versions, languages, searches) Bible Verse Art (with Bible study path) Other links Campus Crusade for Christ, Penn State CCC, CCC Ministry Tools Navigators Gideons”?