I believe that my perception of God has been influenced significantly by a combination of factors. Interaction with my family and friends, as well as important life-shaping events, have served as a basic foundation for my perception of God. I believe also that my perception of Him has been altered in strength in different circumstances throughout my life. My perception of God has fluctuated also depending upon the decisions, choices, and consequences I have experienced.
             My introduction to the Lord was created through a traditional Lutheran upbringing. My family attended a local church where we went to Sunday School, attended the weekly church services, and were inspired by and had discussions of the sermons. Our family was very involved in our church, with many friends there. We participated in extracurricular activities such as the choir, instrumental music, holiday skits, and the bell ensemble.
             A second strong influence that helped shape my initial perception was the faithfulness of my parents. Not only did we attend church the church with deep commitment, but Christianity lived in our home. A supportive environment influenced by the Bible stories, the Ten Commandments, and nightly prayers provided an upbringing of practicing patience, serenity, and understanding.
             As I mentioned above, my perception has fluctuated throughout my life. I believe that the events and circumstances in my history have been the driving force of these fluctuations. For example, I can recall an instance in my youth, when I was about seven, that our local pastor was visiting our home. My sister, about four at the time, had been riding along on the back of my mother's bicycle and had broken her foot in an accident. Before our pastor left, he stopped by my room to see how I was holding up and asked me if I had any questions. I told him that I wanted to know what this meant, as I proceeded to make the sign of the cross
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