After thirty-eight years of authoring books about vampires and darkness, Anne Rice grew up in a devoted Catholic family, knowing the importance of god and obtaining something in the life beyond materialistic things. Still she felt unshakably confined within the parameters of religion. At the age of eighteen, she walked away form it all and chose to live a life believing that, "In order for me to grow up, I have to put God aside".
Though her professional career was very successful as an author of Vampire tales, she was a Christ-haunted person. "I knew that as long as I denied Him, I wouldn't know rest or peace. you must know that you can't save yourself through art or music. You can't do it through travel or wealth. Your attempts to achieve salvation alone ultimately amounts to nothing." She found herself very ready to go back to God.
Anne had to stop. "Writing about vampires was no longer relevant in my life because they were stories about a person in a godless world. they were stories about me." That, however, is no longer the case. Now, I have to write for Him.
This soldier took a gun and placed it at my forehead and told me he was going to end my life.
David Nasser was only nine when the soldiers came to his school in Iran and threatened his life.
His parents knew the time had come to flee the ongoing revolution and seek refuge in the United States.
We came here at the same time the American hostages were taken at the American embassy in Iran, David says. So people were watching on TV how the Iranians were burning the American flag and calling America 'The Great Satan.' We moved right in at the wrong time from the wrong place.
My father was having a hard time just being hired by someone, and I was having a hard time just finding a friend.
David struggled to learn English and dreaded going to school. The kids could be cruel.
He says he was called, every nickname you could think of. Every 7/11 joke, every turban joke. You start to think, I must not be as good.
Davids life changed dramatically right before high school.
It was the last day of the summer. I was sitting in my room, and I was crying. My dad heard me, and he walked in. I told him, Nobody likes me, and I dont like them. Im kind of the school loner and just coming from a different part of the world has not been easy for me.
My father just said, Ok, lets go. My dad took me to the mall, and you know the mall is where you go when you want to clone America. I wanted to be like everyone else, clothes, shoes, and haircut. Overnight through this extreme makeover, I found acceptance.
David was raised Muslim and while he admits that his family was not devout, faith was a core part of his foundation.
I still remember my mother praying three times a day, and I remember being taught the Koran, David says.
David still felt disconnected even with his newfound popularity. When high school ended, his loneliness intensified. He turned to a friend for help.
I was telling him how lonely I was, and he invited me to go to church with him. I said, Man I dont want to go to church. I hate religion. He said, No, no, no. This isnt the Muslim religion. This is Christianity.
I wasnt convinced, and then he named the five prettiest girls from our high school and said they all go to our church. Immediately I was motivated.
They all became friends and met David right at his point of need.
David recalls, Im getting a whiff of something I cant deny. Im seeing something thats radiating out of your life thats authentic. When I asked, What is different? They always said, Jesus Christ. Jesus has changed our lives. He is the Son of God. He lived the perfect life, and He died the sinners death. He wants to live in your life. He wants to come and transform you.
One night after church, Davids transformation began.
I realized people are always going to let you down. Churches will always let you down but Jesus Himself never will. He was the one calling me, and I said, Jesus, I want You to save me from myself, from religion, from performance, from all these different things. It doesnt mean that struggle goes away. It doesnt mean that persecution goes away. It doesnt mean that doubt goes away. It just means that you begin a new journey as a new you and that youre not alone.
Davids parents put up with what they thought was his religious phase for awhile. But when he decided to be baptized, they put their foot down.
That was the night that my parents basically said, Youre out of the house, David recalls. The beauty of it is since that moment, one by one Ive seen my entire family come to Jesus Christ.
Evangelist David Nasser now speaks to half a million people every year.
We all long for acceptance. We all long for purpose. We all long to fill this empty hole in our lives with what we think is not gonna make us feel empty anymore.
Davids new book A Call to Grace focuses on an issue he believes we all struggle with regardless of our nationality.
The greatest obstacle for someone from the Muslim faith when it comes to Christianity is the grace factor. They see this idea of you and I finding our salvation and earning the favor of God through the completed works of Jesus as just kind of a cop out.
Its not that salvation is easy. Its that salvation is impossible when it comes to you being good enough because when are you good enough? When are you ever righteous enough? When are you ever pure enough? If theres one thing I know Im going to be consistent in today, its in being inconsistent. We all fail everyday.
We are going to live imperfect lives, and thats why we need a perfect Savior."
This soldier took a gun and placed it at my forehead and told me he was going to end my life.
David Nasser was only nine when the soldiers came to his school in Iran and threatened his life.
His parents knew the time had come to flee the ongoing revolution and seek refuge in the United States.
We came here at the same time the American hostages were taken at the American embassy in Iran, David says. So people were watching on TV how the Iranians were burning the American flag and calling America 'The Great Satan.' We moved right in at the wrong time from the wrong place.
My father was having a hard time just being hired by someone, and I was having a hard time just finding a friend.
David struggled to learn English and dreaded going to school. The kids could be cruel.
He says he was called, every nickname you could think of. Every 7/11 joke, every turban joke. You start to think, I must not be as good.
Davids life changed dramatically right before high school.
It was the last day of the summer. I was sitting in my room, and I was crying. My dad heard me, and he walked in. I told him, Nobody likes me, and I dont like them. Im kind of the school loner and just coming from a different part of the world has not been easy for me.
My father just said, Ok, lets go. My dad took me to the mall, and you know the mall is where you go when you want to clone America. I wanted to be like everyone else, clothes, shoes, and haircut. Overnight through this extreme makeover, I found acceptance.
David was raised Muslim and while he admits that his family was not devout, faith was a core part of his foundation.
I still remember my mother praying three times a day, and I remember being taught the Koran, David says.
David still felt disconnected even with his newfound popularity. When high school ended, his loneliness intensified. He turned to a friend for help.
I was telling him how lonely I was, and he invited me to go to church with him. I said, Man I dont want to go to church. I hate religion. He said, No, no, no. This isnt the Muslim religion. This is Christianity.
I wasnt convinced, and then he named the five prettiest girls from our high school and said they all go to our church. Immediately I was motivated.
They all became friends and met David right at his point of need.
David recalls, Im getting a whiff of something I cant deny. Im seeing something thats radiating out of your life thats authentic. When I asked, What is different? They always said, Jesus Christ. Jesus has changed our lives. He is the Son of God. He lived the perfect life, and He died the sinners death. He wants to live in your life. He wants to come and transform you.
One night after church, Davids transformation began.
I realized people are always going to let you down. Churches will always let you down but Jesus Himself never will. He was the one calling me, and I said, Jesus, I want You to save me from myself, from religion, from performance, from all these different things. It doesnt mean that struggle goes away. It doesnt mean that persecution goes away. It doesnt mean that doubt goes away. It just means that you begin a new journey as a new you and that youre not alone.
Davids parents put up with what they thought was his religious phase for awhile. But when he decided to be baptized, they put their foot down.
That was the night that my parents basically said, Youre out of the house, David recalls. The beauty of it is since that moment, one by one Ive seen my entire family come to Jesus Christ.
Evangelist David Nasser now speaks to half a million people every year.
We all long for acceptance. We all long for purpose. We all long to fill this empty hole in our lives with what we think is not gonna make us feel empty anymore.
Davids new book A Call to Grace focuses on an issue he believes we all struggle with regardless of our nationality.
The greatest obstacle for someone from the Muslim faith when it comes to Christianity is the grace factor. They see this idea of you and I finding our salvation and earning the favor of God through the completed works of Jesus as just kind of a cop out.
Its not that salvation is easy. Its that salvation is impossible when it comes to you being good enough because when are you good enough? When are you ever righteous enough? When are you ever pure enough? If theres one thing I know Im going to be consistent in today, its in being inconsistent. We all fail everyday.
We are going to live imperfect lives, and thats why we need a perfect Savior."
