I recited my testimony in another thread, but thought some of you might could benefit by it. I wager some can identify with what I went through.
I used to do and sell drugs when I was a teenager up until the time I was 20. I suppose I smoked 2- 6 joints a day, plus dropped acid and sniffed freon. I was arrested when I was 17 for the attempt to sell a narco 1 ton of marijuana. I had as many sexual encounters with women that I could up until this time. If I didn't get a different one every week or two something would be wrong. I even went to Gay bars hoping to pick up a lesbian couple a few times. (I saw the girls high school gym teacher in one once with her girl friend).
During Christmas in January of 1979 I went home to be with my parents from the trade school I was going to. Only during the holidays I didn't feel anything.. not love.. not joy.. nothing. Drugs were taking a toil on me. I was given my presents and I really didn't even care. My Dad and I had had plenty of fights about my drug usage, but this time he just left me alone.
Before I left back to school for reasons unknown to me.. as I was walking out the door.. I saw a small black bible in the bookcase in my bedroom and I tossed it in my suitcase.
I had forgotten all about it until Jan 1rst 6:00 AM sharp, when I woke up and clear out of the blue thought about the bible. I got out of bed.. and got it.. and hopped right back into bed and started reading the Gospel of John.. amazing how God works! lol.. not only did I pick up the bible on a whim.. but I starting reading in the Gospel that has saved more lives than any book of the bible.
Anyhow, I read up to John 3:16 "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son that whosoever believeth in Him hould not perish but have everlasting life". Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.. Anf God was in my room in spirit.. his presence was so thick 'you could cut it with a knife'. He was there.. and he was placing me under conviction for all that I had done..
What had I done? I had angered my parents with my drug habit.. I had even hit my father once.. I had used women and then tossed them aside.. I was a liar, a cheat, and a thief... and God and I both knew it.. I started crying in my bed that morning.. I just wept.. I could not keep it back.. Mind you I was a bodybuilder too.. So here was this macho guy all broken..
Well.. I stopped drugs that very hour.. I have never used them since. I read the entire bible in 2 weeks.. and started back over it. Since then I left a very good job with Martin Marrieta building the space shuttle main tank in New Orleans to go to Seiminary. I preach whenever I can about what God has done for me.. He litterally saved me not only spiritually.. but physically. Drugs would have killed me sooner or later.
I can't say I was perfect.. I wasn't.. but it was ignorance that kept me back. It wasn't my desire. I have had my share of ups and downs in all that time.. but God has been faithful with me.. It is God that has kept my marriage together for 23 years.. and I love her more today than the day I married her. Life is wonderful.. I have two healthy boys and I have peace of knowing when I die I will be with my Heavenly Father.. I can't ask for more
I used to do and sell drugs when I was a teenager up until the time I was 20. I suppose I smoked 2- 6 joints a day, plus dropped acid and sniffed freon. I was arrested when I was 17 for the attempt to sell a narco 1 ton of marijuana. I had as many sexual encounters with women that I could up until this time. If I didn't get a different one every week or two something would be wrong. I even went to Gay bars hoping to pick up a lesbian couple a few times. (I saw the girls high school gym teacher in one once with her girl friend).
During Christmas in January of 1979 I went home to be with my parents from the trade school I was going to. Only during the holidays I didn't feel anything.. not love.. not joy.. nothing. Drugs were taking a toil on me. I was given my presents and I really didn't even care. My Dad and I had had plenty of fights about my drug usage, but this time he just left me alone.
Before I left back to school for reasons unknown to me.. as I was walking out the door.. I saw a small black bible in the bookcase in my bedroom and I tossed it in my suitcase.
I had forgotten all about it until Jan 1rst 6:00 AM sharp, when I woke up and clear out of the blue thought about the bible. I got out of bed.. and got it.. and hopped right back into bed and started reading the Gospel of John.. amazing how God works! lol.. not only did I pick up the bible on a whim.. but I starting reading in the Gospel that has saved more lives than any book of the bible.
Anyhow, I read up to John 3:16 "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son that whosoever believeth in Him hould not perish but have everlasting life". Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.. Anf God was in my room in spirit.. his presence was so thick 'you could cut it with a knife'. He was there.. and he was placing me under conviction for all that I had done..
What had I done? I had angered my parents with my drug habit.. I had even hit my father once.. I had used women and then tossed them aside.. I was a liar, a cheat, and a thief... and God and I both knew it.. I started crying in my bed that morning.. I just wept.. I could not keep it back.. Mind you I was a bodybuilder too.. So here was this macho guy all broken..
Well.. I stopped drugs that very hour.. I have never used them since. I read the entire bible in 2 weeks.. and started back over it. Since then I left a very good job with Martin Marrieta building the space shuttle main tank in New Orleans to go to Seiminary. I preach whenever I can about what God has done for me.. He litterally saved me not only spiritually.. but physically. Drugs would have killed me sooner or later.
I can't say I was perfect.. I wasn't.. but it was ignorance that kept me back. It wasn't my desire. I have had my share of ups and downs in all that time.. but God has been faithful with me.. It is God that has kept my marriage together for 23 years.. and I love her more today than the day I married her. Life is wonderful.. I have two healthy boys and I have peace of knowing when I die I will be with my Heavenly Father.. I can't ask for more
, Chris. You ended well, too. I can hardly wait to be with him!
