Paul from Antioch
Active Member
Really! My parents W R (not J!) & F E Bridge K on May 9, 1946, gave birth to their second son & youngest of 3 other siblings D & N sisters & W R K, Jr., & then Paul R! But that's about as near as I got to that other Paul from that other Antioch! But, if U should ask me, I'll say, "Yeah! He's my brother & although many of his writings are heavy, He isn't! Actually I was a BB Member a few years back, but had to leave posting on BB because of medical reasons that I'll not take y'alls' time 2 read. On BB I used the handle ktn4eg & that's what I'll use again....Fellows like my OLD BB buddy "Salty" confused me enough so I'll placate him (U wouldn't DARE get "Salty" mad....His NY State Gov once got him mad & we daily see what trouble "Salty" caused him!!
Nah, "Salty" & I are good friends (I H O P E he still is!) since we're both veterans, etc. I'll briefly introduce myself since it's been a few years since the MDs "gassed" me 4 their cuttin' 'n' slicin' work (I asked to 2 just out a zipper on my chest 2 save them time, BUT 4 sum reason, they didn't CUT IT! ANYWAY....This time of the year I get to observe my 2 birthdays: On 23 April 1966 I was born again & on 9 May 1946 those MDs gave me my very first spanking....& I didn't DO anything!! (Well, my mother had an objecting opinion though!!) In 1964 I graduated from HS & successfully evaded the draft! On 21 Sept 1964 I enlisted in the USAF! (But just in case I didn't my "friends & neighbors"(??) told me to take a physical for my "Selective Service" forthcoming!!) I did my basic training near San Antonio TX & then, on Election Day 1964, I was transferred to Chanute AFB in E Central IL. (Yep, it was the height of the tourist season Nov - Feb!! I still remember having 2 wear ski masks due to the wind!) Then my first PCS was to Davis-Monthan AFB just outside Tucson AZ. For almost 20 yrs I was as lost as lost could be, "BUT GOD" moved me from my hometown in SE PA (approx midway between Philly & Allentown PA) to hear the Gospel for the first time! I wasn't seeking Jesus necessarily, "BUT GOD" knew I needed 2 B Born Again! And I was! That evening a stately, grandfatherly gentleman took me aside and showed me John 3:16....and then he said, "See where it says, 'Whosoever"?....Put YOUR name in there & read it again. That's when I received God's "Only Begotten Son" into my heart & life. I'd like to say that I never strayed from Him, but God's Word says, "ALL WE like sheep have gone astray!" And I think I was Exhibit A on that case. THEN, as the war in Vietnam REALLY started to intensify & all of us were know where our next assignment was...."BUT GOD" (via the USAF) sent me to Germany, to Ramstein AB which is located approx mid way between Frankfurt & the NE border of France. "Officially" the USAF SAID, "NO, WE weren't involved in that 6-Day War!!" but as a Tactical Recon Wing, we sure were busy. Then spring 1968 the "Prague Spring" in neighboring Czeckoslovakia (sp?) was no more than 200 mi E of us. "BUT GOD" kept me out of it. Finally on 15 April 1969 (I DID have one good April 15!) I was released from AD & flew home to PA....Here I was, a 3 YO in God's family & KNEW I needed more Bible training & fellowship with my new Sisters & Brothers...and had NO IDEA where I could find a church to grow in Jesus. "BUT GOD" knew that too & He led me to a Baptist church nearby & whose Founding Pastor was a Greek scholar! In the 4 years I spent there, I GREW up on the manna God's Word gave me. "BUT GOD," in 1972 led me to Clarksville TN to enroll in Clarksville Baptist College when I majored in the Bible & Christian Educ. My professors there saw my interest in History & encouraged me to pursue an MA at Austin Peay State Univ in Clarksville. APSU was named for TN's Gov Austin Peay. He was gov when TN was considering adopting this "ANTI - Evolution Bill," over which the Scope's "Monkey Trial" was debated. Although Gov Peay wasn't a Baptist, his address to TN's State Assembly read more like a speech that Dr Henry Morris or Jim Daly or men of that ilk. I'm NOT saying that one cannot get an MA from a state univ, "BUT GOD" allowed me to earn one in1891 at APSU. From 1976 - 1994 I taught JH & SH students at Bible Baptist Academy. "BUT GOD" knew that my finances were such that, after 18 yrs of teaching at a Christian School doesn't lead to one securing a property nexy to Bill Gates. I'm not saying that as a complaint but more as a means to let folks know the sacrifices that Christian School teachers are many. If you have or know of a Christian School, do me a favor for them &TELL them "Thanks for caring for our future generations!" "BUT GOD" knew about my stretched financials & led me to assume a job as an Electronic Technician for BellSouth (later AT&T) Telecommunications in its Network Reliability Center located in Brentwood TN. Now, if you're one who looks at Brentwood TN as an upscale SW suburb of Nashville.....To some extent you may be correct, but most all the people I came to know in Brentwood were (believe or not) PEOPLE!! They have struggles just as much as those who live in the projects. I became friends with the manager of Chik-Fil-Lay & many times I'd go there B4 my 1600 - Midnight shift & met their children & even occassionally witness to some of the people who came there for an afternoon meal. "BUT GOD" did me even MORE by placing me with some true Christian believers with whom we'd pray for our fellow workers. ....."BUT GOD" was EVEN "More Gooder" in leading me to a church whose pastors & members LOVE & PRACTICE what a family should! Whenever I needed a helping hand or someone to share my burdens with THEY WERE & ARE there for me. You'll see for yourself if you log on to www.lighthousenasville.org & see what the church GOD led me to for more than 25 years. Well, like some Baptist preachers are wont to do, my concluding remarks to tend to go on & on sometimes, "BUT GOD" not only proves His love for a sinner like me, that in Romans 5:8 God's Word says, "BUT GOD" displayed His great love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US!!" Selah.
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