My Answer: Why I Believe

By Bill Bowling DPT

A hard-headed rational man who as a youth concluded religious faith was programmed by culture looks into the claims of Christianity. What he found eventually reversed the course of his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664206441

Bill Bowling DPT

The year was 1969. Like today it was a confusing, turbulent time. He had just left high school for college and several students had died at Kent and Jackson State during anti-war demonstrations. He started asking and thinking about the big questions; Why was I here? What was the purpose of it all? Could one know right from wrong? In the early seventies he dabbled in left wing politics, read about eastern religions, partied and sampled a few drugs. Somehow he ended up at a Bible study. He attended a Bible Study one night and a beer party the next. Eventually the Bible studies won out. Now looking back after a satisfying career as a Physical Therapist he was challenged by a friend on matters of faith. She asked, “How can you be so sure about all this?” It was time to answer those questions.

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Copyright © 2020 Bill Bowling, DPT.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0645-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0644-1 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/11/2020

INTRODUCTION

While recently discussing matters of faith with a dear friend,she passionately inquired, How can you be so sure about this? I’m not sure if this was an honest question because I was not given a chance to respond. She then asked me something else, and I never got around to the original question. After some reflection, I decided there was not a quick easy sound-bite answer, and that I needed to put some time into my response. This led to recording these thoughts on paper.

DEDICATION

This effort is dedicated to truth seekers all over the world who are asking honest questions to fill the void within their hearts. May God answer you leading to an intimate relationship with Him. May that empty space be filled with the joy of knowing your Creator.

…..and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…. 1 Peter 3:15

THANKSGIVING

For my wonderful family who supported me in this endeavor: My wife for her many ideas, my son for the amazing cover, and my daughter for her editing and guidance in keeping me focused.

TRUTH

What is Truth? Pontius Pilate John 18:38

When considering the big questions in life (Why am I here? What is the purpose of it all? Where am I going?) the search for truth can be evasive. When I was a young college student in the early 1970’s, I attended a Francis Shaeffer conference at Covenant College in Chattanooga Tennessee. One of the speakers, Udo Middleman, used a definition I never forgot. He said, Truth is when all evidence points towards something and none against. Somehow, deep in my heart and mind I always intuitively knew that truth was important, but had never heard it so succinctly defined. This concept has served me well since then and will be my standard for this work.

How can a concept serve me?

We live in the information age in which all of us are constantly being bombarded with data. We are continuously consciously and subconsciously filtering it to distinguish important from trivial,something that needs immediate attention versus a matter that can be postponed, and truth versus error. It seems everyone wants either our time and/or money or both. This simple definition is quietly working in the back of my mind all the time.

CONTENTS

I     Biblical Consistency

II   Who Moved the Stone?