I had the distinct honor and pleasure to meet Dr. Gerstner in 1992, during a seminar he was teaching on Edwards in Dothan, AL. It was Gerstner who finally "converted" me from being a stubborn, full-blown, proud Arminian into a humbled and contrite Calvinist. I had been waging war against Calvinism for years, but Dr. Gerstner explained it in such a way as I will never forget. I was so shaken up at the end of his teaching that when I went forward to meet him afterwards, I was visibly shaken. He was a very warm, kind man with a deep, gravelly voice that would strike fear into the strongest of hearts. The Lord has led me in the Reformed way ever since, and I will always be grateful for Him leading me to Dr. Gerstner to settle those theological issues in my own heart.

Concerning the concept of seeking, I think many (not all of course) professing Christians, who feel they are already saved, are actually in "seeker mode" without even realizing it, and may (Lord willing) one day be enlightened to see the full knowledge of the truth and repent of their preconceived notions and sin of pride. I say pride, because it seems to me spiritual pride is at the root of Arminianism- we arrogantly boast how "we" choose God, and not the other way around. I fit into this category at one time as well, and I remember how puffed up I was in my thinking. Such is the way with all Free Will thought.

Many years ago, I heard an old Reformed Baptist say that "You may be an Arminian now, but if by the Grace of God you enter those pearly gates, you will be a Calvinist to the core."