I met Stephen Myshrall during his sophomore year at Dallas Christian College. After a rocky beginning, we became good friends and had several theological discussions, one of which being on predestination and election (I had been raised with the understanding of free will). We went back and forth (actually, he was more convincing, as he was raised and “armed” with more Scriptures on predestination and election than me!) and finally, he recommended my reading John Piper’s Desiring God (which I did!) While it took me a while, I began to both understand Piper as well as the Apostle Paul in his writing the epistle of Romans.
Please understand: while I have completely read Desiring God, there are times in which I may accidentally write from a free will perspective. Please forgive and be patient with me! I am also in the process of understanding grace vs. works salvation/legalism!
A peek into my mind, to hear the thoughts of a 40-something single male as he walks this planet called Earth.
John M. Kirton II
DISCLAIMER: This is a personal weblog. The opinions expressed here represent my own solely and not those of The Village Church, her ministers, pastors, administrators, staff, covenant members, regular attenders or visitors; my parents; my alma mater, Dallas Christian College, her administration, faculty, Board, alumni, or students, past, present and future; or my employer and fellow employees.
My Story
- John M. Kirton II
- I attended public school for two years and private school for the remainder of my education. After graduation, I attended Bible college in Dallas, Texas, for four and one-half years consecutively. Unfortunately, I failed a class and was unable to graduate with my class but God enabled me to re-take the course and I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Bible and minors in Youth Ministry and Biblical Languages in 1994. After failing the aforementioned course, I had continued attending a church but began to falter in my faith. It was during my second year after my Bible college years that I was introduced to the International Churches of Christ (ICOC), where I became a member and was involved for twelve years. It was not until my twelfth year that, after much prayer from my parents and closest friends, Greg Faure and Wayne Stiles, I became convinced that the ICOC was a religious sect. In June, 2000, I left the ICOC and became a covenant member of The Village Church in Highland Village, TX, in April, 2004.
