““Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2Cor. 5:17)

As I write to you today, my heart is overwhelmingly full of gratitude.  Thanks to an abundance of intercessory prayer by my family, friends, and the brothers and sisters here at Shiloh, I completed my year at Shiloh and I graduated. This was one of the most blessed days of my life.  My family drove from Portland to see me graduate and rejoice with me in all that had been accomplished in my life.  The Graduation Ceremony honored the amazing change that has happened in me which will affect my life and the lives of those I love for eternity. Everyone reflected and shared about my journey through Shiloh over the past year. I wept as staff, students, friends, and family shared about the good and bad sides of the old Cecil. My wife, children, and parents wept and were in awe of the Spirit of love manifested in the Shiloh Chapel as we gave God glory for restoration and the gift of salvation. It was painful to say good-bye for I love Shiloh and the community of believers in Texas. I’m thankful to all the staff that labor and set aside their own lives for us. I am thankful for each of those who support Shiloh and its ministry, I know now that my relationship with God and family is restored because I surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s call.  I now understand that my purpose in this life is to worship God and from this day forward, I pray that all I do in my life will be an act of worship. I live to glorify and display Him in my life (2Cor. 4:7). My life is not my own. I am the “temple of God” (1Cor. 3:16).

I sadly recall my flight to Houston from Portland in April of 2008. I was ashamed and humiliated. I had completely failed as a husband and father.  For the years leading up to that fateful night in the hotel room in Portland where I was strung out on drugs and I almost took my own life, I kept thinking that I could stop the insanity of addiction, heal myself, and become a good husband and provider for my children. I was so blinded by my obsession to be the one in control.  I would not accept that I in my own power could not conquer my addictions.  As I sat in the plane on my way to Texas, I experienced vulnerability and fear like I had never experienced it before.  For the first time in my life, I was completely broken.  I finally took Cecil Armstrong out of the picture and begged for God to take over and fix me.  As I walked off the plane and entered the Houston airport, I knew I could not go back to the man I had been ever again or I would die, but I was afraid that I would not have the strength God would require of me. I did not know that He would anoint me with all of the strength and grace I would need.  Although I was still in shock and feeling dazed and numb, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit comforting and carrying me from the night I first cried out alone in the dark and then continuing on with me until I completed my sojourn at Shiloh.  Through my time at Shiloh, all my insecurities were laid open and exposed by the Spirit of Truth taught in Shiloh’s classroom.  The Word of God is like a surgical tool in the hands of the Master. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  I can now testify most assuredly that I believe that He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

I am no longer Cecil Armstrong. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2Cor. 5:17). It is amazing the transformation that has taken place.  Over my year at Shiloh, I have experienced the truth of what Christ described to Nicodemus as being born again. Nicodemus ask this question to Jesus, “how can a man be born when he is old?  He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus further said, “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:4-13) I now understand that my spirit man receives and understands the heavenly things as they are revealed by the Word of God. All my life before coming to Shiloh was wasted in futility. I walked around in confusion, being disconnected from my Creator. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

I am so enthusiastic about my progress, but I know there is so much more to come.  I cling to all of the promises of God’s Word, but the following are particularly meaningful to me at this time: “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14), and finally the exhortation found in Hebrews, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.  Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  

Earlier installments of this fictional story about Cecil Armstrong in our newsletter archives

Shiloh Ministry Team.