BE ADVENTUROUS,TAKE A CHANCE. START A NEW AND WONDERFULL LIFE.
It's not about being judged,or about finger pointing,but about being greatly,and unconditionaly loved. In addition,it's about hope for a real future, power and forgiveness.
"For in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" For I am persuaded,that neither death,nor life,nor angels,nor principalities,nor powers,nor things present,nor things to come,nor height,nor depth,nor any other creature,shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD,which is in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:37-39I grew up on the Eastside of Detroit,poor,and on welfare.My mother divorced my father who was an alcoholic when I was only three years old.My earliest memory is walking in the courthouse corridor hand in hand with my mom.Funny although the courthouse was a busy place the building seemed deserted to me. Many times my mother struggled just to feed us.Going to elementary school I got into fights almost everyday. In Junior high one of my teachers after standing and witnessing a fight asked me if I ever considered being a boxer.By then I had lots of experience.I witnessed a murder,and was almost killed myself at age 14.At sixteen I quit school and started doing drugs and drinking. I was arrested,and found guilty
of firebombing a home.Something which I had not done.Shortly afterwards I broke probation and spent time in a boys reformatory.
Six months after being released I was sentenced to a worse place. At age 17 a friend and I stole a car and escaped from The Lancaster boys reformatory.Shortly after that I moved back to Detroit.
My adult life wasn't much different.I continued doing drugs,and drinking living only to party. However,I was angry sad depressed and alone even when I had people around me.I overdosed on drugs a couple times,spent time in jail,committed various crimes.Anything from selling drugs,breaking into houses,or shooting at people.I got money from hussling,selling stolen items,or from the state.I believed that the only future I had was a dead end job like everyone else I knew,and grew up with.It took awhile,but I finally realized that working in a factory like my father wasn't for me,That somehow I could do better.I registered for college with the help of grants,and loans..After graduating Summa-cum-Laude from college,I found I had money for the first time in my life,but money didn't bring happiness either.Money just meant an opportunity to buy more drugs,alcohol,and trouble. Although I had a new car,and anything I wanted life still meant very little.However,I continued to live my life as I thought I wanted to.
I was angry,stoned when I wasn't working,depressed
and even dangerous at times.I bought a 12 gauge pump shotgun as one of my toys often shooting it off in my neighborhood backyard,or out my bedroom window.It was my firework display.
I met my current wife online and moved to Ct.8 years ago hoping for a happier life.One of my sons came with me.
Two years ago my wife,and I separated,and filed for divorce.I had continued to be an angry,violent,and depressed person.Someone called the police the night my wife left with our children and told them that I might harm myself.I was brought to the hospital crisis center that night,and locked up.
As I lay on the cot in the mental health lockup I cried out to God.I asked for forgiveness,and HIS help calling out in my brokeness,and sorrow.I had tried to serve God at different times in my life,but I had been running from HIm for quite awhile.
I was released the next day,but I was again arrested and charged with violating a restraining and protective order by writing a letter asking my wife to pick up her cat who I had thought wasn't eating,and gave the letter to her friend.
Although my bond was 10,000 dollars I was released for nothing.On the way home from court my son who was drinking took my car and totaled it.The next day the story of my cat arrest appeared on the front page of the newspaper I was then fired from my job the next day after my employer said it was bad publicity.
However,I continued to have faith in the Lord no matter the circumstances.In addition,I now knew that I had no where to go but death if I again turned my back on GOD.He was now somehow real to me,I heard HIS voice,and saw HIM working in my life. When I felt alone I called out to Christ and he comforted me. I felt HIS presense and knew HE was there with me.I prayed and watched as God destroyed every barrier in my life.
God then supplied me with a car,and a better job.The
felony charges were dropped.Finally after a series of real miracles my marriage was restored,and
my wife and I renewed our vows in church last year.
Our marriage,and our lives although not perfect are a great deal better than they ever were. We are one in Christ growing daily.
You see we are all searching for meaning,and hope in our lives.Sin will only bring happiness for a very short time.We are spiritual creatures in reality searching for God. However,God will not force us to find him. He gives us a choice,and leads us to him in our searching. We might hear a word in passing from a believer. We might hear about God while channel surfing on tv or the radio. We might read about God on myspace. There are times that you feel unhappy for no apparent reason. You know that something is missing in your life,but you havn't found it. Those are all seeds that are planted in your soul to help you in your search for the truth. We are all drawn to him ,but until we find HIM we are unfullfilled. However,once again we have a choice. Either we follow our spiritual father,or we follow darkness. By our indifference to God we have choosen Satan by default although the majority of us don't realize it. The bible clearly states that each of us can serve only one master. Either we follow Christ,or we follow Satan. If two men are running for President,but we chose indifference,and don't vote for either we still have a President even when we don't choose one ourselves. The same holds true of which spritual force governs your life. God won't just take your choice away and come into your life unless you invite him in. Satan however will enter your life whether you invite him in or not. Satans job is to kill you,steal your happiness,and destroy your chances for eternal life. He's been doing his job for quite awhile,and is very good at it. However,the spirit of God that dwells within the believer is a greater power. As the bible says "Greater is he who lives within us than he who is of this world" As children of God we have authority over Satan and his works. The same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead on the third day lives,and works within us. We are far from perfect. We still make mistakes,have doubts etc. We sin at times but are no longer sinners. Once depressed,abused as a child and hopeless,We both now have life,and someone with us who promised to never leave nor forsake us no matter what we do. Christ who gave his life for all of us. If you're addicted to drugs,or alcohol there is deliverance. Lived a life of crime,violence,and imprisonment,there is freedom. Been physicaly,or sexualy abused there is healing. Searching for something real in a life where everything fades away? There is power,and healing in our Lord, the one who parted the sea,caused the lame to walk,and the blind to see. God is the same now,and wants you to know Him,and to experience real spritual power in your life,not the luke warmness,and powerlessness of most churches. Looking for love? Christ has promised to love you no matter what you have done,or who you are.
WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU AT CHURCH. My son who came to Ct. with me is 25 years old now. He continued to run,and did a good job of following my example.He has now been in prison
for almost 2 years.
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