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For today's '"Friendly Thoughts" I am giong to tell you about my religious experiences through the years. God is very real for me and I have had many experiences that substantiate my belief in him.

I began my walk with my Lord very early in life. My parents were Quakers but since there was no Friends Meeting in Moline, Illinois where we were living at the time, and the family that lived on the first level of the house were devout Baptists I was sent to Sunday school with them. This Swedish Baptist church was holding evangelistic meetings at the time. I was probably only five or six years of age when at the close of Sunday school the evangelist spoke to the closing session of Sunday school and then gave an invitation to follow Jesus and I responded.

I was too young to understand the full meaning of that decision and certainly did not remain true to my commitment, however by the time I was in high school I recommitted my life to my Lord and have remained fairly steadfast in my devotion to him from that time to this.

God gave me a voice that I enjoyed using to share his message. I did that regularly from that time until I had my strokes in 1998. In 1944 I felt called to enter the ministry. With the full support of my wonderful wife we accepted the invitation to begin preaching and attending college at the same time. By that stage in my life God had blessed us with three fantastic girls. We were one very happy family.

By the year 1953 and four pastorates later I was able to finish college at Earlham in Richmond, Indiana, just 20 years after I graduated from high school. In all I gave 39 years of my life in ministry, 22 in pastoral service and 17 at Friends United Meeting headquarters, Richmond, IN in one form of service or another.

After my wife died in 1996 I was devastated until God led me to another woman who is now the pride of my life. I was reviewing a senior site when one name just grabbed my attention. I immed- iately responded. That was in August of 1997 and on January 11 we said our vows to each other at the close of worship at Dublin Friends Meeting, Dublin,Indiana. Rosalie has been a real bless- ing to me for the past eight years and I never fail to thank God for her every day.

I continued in my ministry of one form or another until forced to give it up as the result of my strokes.

Now, at age 91 I have a new outlet for my ministry in the "Friendly Thoughts" pages I continue to put on the Internet for all to read who desire to do so. I now have over 136 such pages and the number goes on and on.

I trust that He will use me as long as he gives me life.

I give him all the praise and glory!

11/7/2002 Earl J Prignitz