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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

It is Thanksgiving, and this year, with all that has been happening in the world, I have been reflecting on my life, how I ended up where I am today. As much as my ego would like to take all the credit—to recount my long hours of study, my hard work, my personal choices—I realize that my choices are only a part of a greater reality. Who I am today, where I am today, is a result of many influences, many people investing their time and energy in me throughout my life and creating opportunities for me to choose and act to take my life down the paths that I have walked. So, this Thanksgiving, I want to remember some of those who have helped me become who I am today.

By expressing my thanks to others, in no way do I want to diminish the necessity of hard work and healthy personal choices—these are essential to a successful life. But my hard work and choices would be meaningless if I wasn’t first and foremost under God’s grace. So first, above all others, I give thanks to God.

Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, thank you for being who you are—for your constancy, faithfulness, reliability, trustworthiness, never-failing compassion, love, and mercy. Thank you for how you have created reality to operate—upon your design laws of love. Thank you for life and for genuine freedom of conscience, the ability to think and do. And Lord of love, thank you for enabling me to choose you and for Jesus, whose life and sacrifice not only reveal you to us but who, as a human, overcame the power of sin and is your means of saving humanity and restoring me to unity with you. Thank you, Father, for not giving up on me despite my many faults, mistakes, the times I have purposely rebelled, the messes I have made, the people I have hurt, and the times I have let you down. Thank you for always pursuing me, for never letting go. And loving Savior, thank you for the people you have sent into my life to teach me, correct me, challenge me, support me, help me, encourage me, hold me, counsel me, befriend me, and love me. To you, above all others, I am thankful and give you my heart, mind, life, and self. Thank you for making me a member of your family. I love you, Lord!

I am also thankful for my father, who, though he was not a member of the church, was a hard worker and diligently provided for his family, disciplined me when I needed it, held me accountable, taught me a strong work ethic and to be responsible, and supported my mother in raising me in the church.

I am thankful for my mother who taught me the Bible, made Jesus the center of our home, sacrificed to ensure that I had a Christian education, and also held me accountable, taught me a strong work ethic, disciplined me when I needed it, and loved me as only a mother can.

I am thankful for the church I grew up in, its concern for children, and giving me a strong Bible knowledge, and for the Christian education that gave me a worldview centering upon God.

I am thankful for my teachers Chuck and Charlene Robertson, Charles Renard, Mr. Swinson, Jan Haluska, Wilma McClarty, Elaine Correnti, and many others, who not only educated me, but valued me as a person, saw potential in me, and counseled, challenged and encouraged me.

I am thankful for my high school friend Chan and his parents Dr. and Mrs. von Henner. Chan befriended me when I was new to the community and struggling with my own adolescent insecurities. He made me feel welcome. It was Dr. von Henner who was a role model to me and inspired me to become a doctor. I am so thankful for their impact on my life.

I am thankful for my professors in college, medical school, and residency who didn’t believe in God and challenged me to examine my own beliefs. Their questions, objections, and criticisms drove me to dig deeper, study harder, and search more diligently, ultimately refining my beliefs and helping me eliminate distortions from my mind and grow in my confidence in and love for God.

I am thankful for Christie, my wife! Words are inadequate to describe her, the incredible blessing God has poured out upon me through her. I am a better man because of her, and I will be thankful for all eternity because God brought her into my life.

I am thankful for all of my family: my brother Bill; my sister Terri; and my step-son, Michael; his wife, Stephanie; and my grandchildren, Lennox and Dexter. What a blessing they have all been to me; the influence they have had on who I am today is immeasurable.

I am thankful for our Come and Reason Ministries board and team, who have given so much of themselves to bring this message to the world. And I am grateful for all of you, our ministry family and friends, for the correspondence you share of your challenges, struggles, and successes, how God has blessed in your life, and how this message has brought healing. I am thankful for your support, prayers, donations, encouragement, and love. I wish I could travel more and meet more of you, but please know that I am thankful for all of you.

And this is just a small sampling of the myriad people and influences that God has used to help me become who I am today; there are so many others I could name. My life has been blessed by so many, and I am thankful.

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Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 17

The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

T.E.H., Salt Lake City, UT, USA

 

Testimony 63

I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

Testimony 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa

 

Testimony 71

When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

Testimony 18

The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 25

I just want to say thank you so much for your conversations via YouTube. I regularly tune in to your lectures, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and many others. Through these I’ve found greater depth and meaning to God’s word. Thanks for all that you do and please continue. I’m currently working in the middle of Silicon Valley at Stanford University. I feel like God really has me in the right place right now and I’m sensing that your teachings might be part of it.

B. F., Silicon Valley, CA, USA

 

Testimony 73

I have been truly blessed by your blogs and other resources. They have helped me to see things in a much brighter light and to reason things out better. Thank you so much for your ministry. Whenever I have the opportunity I pass along your material to my friends.

R. Noseworthy, Newfoundland, Canada

Testimony 76

Warm greetings from Tanzania! I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and your team at Come And Reason Ministries for the amazing work you do. Your teachings have opened my eyes to deep biblical truths and how to live them out in real life. I started following the ministry back in 2018, and ever since, my walk with God has grown so much stronger. I’ve found freedom from fear-based faith and now live with more peace and trust in Him. I’ve also been sharing what I’ve learned, especially through Bible School discussions. Your lessons are so insightful and well-explained that I try not to miss a single one. May God continue to bless the work you’re doing.
Elisha M., Tanzania, Africa