I was raised Jewish but my father prided himself on being an atheist and my mother was more like an agnostic. I came to faith in Christ in my mid to late twenties when I realized that my own successes wouldn't necessarily make me happy. I had begun listening to a man on the radio confront his listeners with their sinfulness. I had never heard anything like this before and it really resonated with me as I began to realize that my misery was primarily a result of my sinfulness rather than a psychological deficiency. Shortly thereafter I read Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis and was amazed that I had never heard this stuff (the gospel) before. I think I was a believer by the time I finished the book.

I was radically "converted" to the Reformed faith about five years ago through reading "Calvin's Institutes."

I'm not thrilled about the question, "How is your Christian walk?" because I'm not sure how one measures that reliably. But I am a member in good standing at my church so I attend the means of grace and I try to keep up my private devotional life also, though I'm not as successful at that as I would like.

1. I'm most thankful for a gracious God who has purposed to save sinners by grace alone through faith alone on account of the work of Christ alone--and that He has chosen me of all people to inherit salvation.

2. I'm thankful for God's providence in working all things for the good of His people--and thankful for the certainty of His favor in spite of the fact that I continually spurn His goodness.

3. I'm thankful to God for providing me with a reasonable amount of the good things in life.

There are several things I could share here. I'll start with this gem from the Heidelberg Catechism:

Q. 60. How are you righteous before God?

A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that though my conscience accuse me that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.