Hyperreligiosity to Grace

By Thomas Rylen

Thomas ventures through a perplexing web of hyperreligious thoughts that ultimately lead him to a mental institution three times. In this true story, Thomas takes you on his personal journey of how his thoughts led him astray and put him in many peculiar situations. After having lost a great career, and now living out of his truck and with charitable people on occasion, he continues to deteriorate, wandering the streets, and sleeping on benches and grass or below bridges.

God was not through with him and was always there, trying to reach Thomas with his still, small voice. He wanted to tell Thomas how much he loved him and the implications and finality of the work of the cross by his Son Jesus. In this book, Thomas shows how a wrong understanding of our loving Father and exalting works over faith and grace was a recipe for disaster in his life. Ultimately, Thomas came back to reality by the grace of God and lives a happy life today back in his career and on his feet again.

This book is for anyone interested in a true story about extreme mental conditions. It is also for those that have dealt with puzzling issues in life, those that seem to get caught in a spinning wheel of dos and don'ts, and whosoever that wants to know that no matter what you are going through, there is a beautiful light at the end of the tunnel. Your mess can become a redeeming message. If you have dealt with depression, discouragement, confusion, and loss, know that you are not alone. Healing and restoration can be yours. Never give up. Every life has an ending untold, and the author and finisher of faith, Jesus, wants to give you the abundant life he came to die to impart to us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685706524

Book preview

Hyperreligiosity to Grace

Thomas Rylen

ISBN 978-1-68570-651-7 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68570-652-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Thomas Rylen

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Hyperreligious Working Man

Being a Fool for Jesus

A Crisis of Virility

Living Off the People and Walmart

The Homeless Street Preacher

OCD Led Me to the Tracks

The Mental Ward

To Disrobe or Not to Disrobe?

A Blueprint of Recovery from Jesus

About the Author

I dedicate this book to my loving parents of 62 years of marriage. I also dedicate this book to all who are facing what seems to be insurmountable challenges or discouragement in life's path. You have it in you to be an overcomer. Jesus Loves You today. And he teaches us how to overcome through his unending grace (unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor). Enjoy this true story and harrowing mental journey that eventually took me to that place of amazing grace and rest. God Bless You!

Introduction

Ihave been through many challenging mental thoughts that took me to places I never intended to go. In that journey, I learned God was there all along, trying to reach me with his still small voice of peace and comfort, but my mind was overoccupied with hyperreligious thoughts. I went from having a great engineering job to living off of the streets to being admitted to a mental institution. My journey in a world of hyperreligiosity began with small red flags in my thoughts that I couldn't recognize at the time. As extreme as the story I am about to tell, believe it or not, I wouldn't take it back because it brought me to a place of God's grace, and I have learned so much.

There is an easier way than what I went through, so don't be discouraged. If we simply believe what Jesus did for us at the cross and put our trust in him, he imparts his grace, which is unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor. He wants you to have his wisdom to avoid the pitfalls I went through. I am about to take you on a journey that led to a pit of mental illness, but God was not done with me. I am a happy soul today and back on my feet.

I encourage you to give this book a read. I believe you might find it humorous, sad, bewildering, or encouraging and realize that the end of your story has not yet been written, and God has amazing plans for your life and a happy ending. This story may not be anything like you have heard or imagined, and you may find it kind of crazy. I believe it still has value and is worth telling. To protect identities, names of people have been altered. Thank you again for picking up this book.

1

The Hyperreligious Working Man

Beep, beep, beep . There it goes again. My enemy and friend. My graceful alarm that lets me know it's time to pull up my bootstraps for the day and tend to work while being on my secret mission for God. I hear the black and white cats clawing at my door. It's time for their morning meal, and they are letting me have it with their opinion on the matter. Meow, meow, meow. The white cat, Sam, claws her way at black Max to get to the bowls first, even though they each have their own bowl. I quickly scramble into the claw-foot bathtub to take my half shower, half bath. Lord, let me be light to others at work today, I pray. Shine through me. Is it the day to give the great prophecy?

My adventure into hyperreligiosity began with seeing a TV preacher promise me blessings for money. I was hooked. God, you owe me, I thought as I made out that first $1,000 check. But something in me didn't quite believe. It was almost like I had a relationship with the true God and a delusion-based God in my imagination. The one in my imagination was going to make me rich and save me through good works or at least give me a decent life on earth. Call in now. Go to your phone. Don't let this window leave you for greater things, said the man in a shiny suit on TV.

Give it Thomas. Give it Thomas. Give it Thomas, said the voice in my head that I thought was God. A rush of adrenaline, and then I ran to the phone to give my pledge. I was going to be rich. This was the big seed I was sowing. The next day, that adrenaline pumped as I threw the check in the mailbox. This would be a pattern for a number of years in my life. I don't doubt much of it was for good to support the gospel, but some of my motives and push to do it came from my ill mind that thought of God as a big man with white flowing beard, distributing me treats from heaven's vending machine.

My hyperreligiosity kicked in high mode. I read a book on making your house holy, so I gathered up all worldly things like alcohol, cigars, humidor, two hundred plus CDs, and whatever seemed too carnal and worldly, and I ruined them. I felt like as long as I was doing these holy acts for God that he would save me. I thought somehow, I was a super-special follower of God. After every sermon preached at my church, I felt like I must be a super follower and give into the basket. Besides, other less enthusiastic followers were watching me, and I didn't want to be the one not to give on cue. I was doing my good deeds. More shows would be on the TV, and off I would be with my $1,000 checks to various TV speakers, believing for my great riches since I was doing what they said. As long as I tithed, gave thousands of dollars to causes, then God and I were good with each other, and we would have a partnership, so to speak. I give to him, and I would be on his good side with the saints.

One day in my