I was fortunate to be raised in a loving family. I was, however, brought up Catholic. My brother and I had to attend Sunday School (CCD) until our first communion, and then we could decide when we wanted to go to Church. Typically, in our house it was on Christmas and Easter. God was certainly not at the center of our family, but we did know that He was there.
Through my teenage years, I became fairly rebellious and started drinking, smoking and trying drugs. I thought that life was about having a good time, and doing hard work. Work, which was for my father’s construction business, was probably the one thing that kept me out of more trouble than I should have been in. This wild behavior continued into my mid twenties. Through those years I had been arrested a couple of times for drinking related offenses, including two DUI's in one night. Yes, that was right two DUI's in one night.
It was that night, September 20 1996 that would change my life forever. I had been out partying with friends, when I met a girl I knew at a bar. We had left together so that we could spend the night together. It was on our way through a town close to my home that I got pulled over for erratic driving and was later charged with my first DUI. The police would later release me to the girl I had been with and she was instructed to take me home. I had parked my truck at my friend’s house earlier that night, and it was more convenient for her to drop me off there, so she did. I had sat in the truck for a while thinking I would sleep there. That did not work, it was very uncomfortable, and I kept telling myself that home was only a mile and a half around the corner. The last thing I remember is turning left out of his development. The next thing I remember is being in the back of the same police car I had been in earlier.
I pieced together the events the best I could from my friends in the fire service, and witnesses. Apparently, I had failed to negotiate a bend at a high rate of speed crashing into a telephone pole on the passenger side and rolling the truck several times over a stonewall before coming to rest on the roof. I walked from the wreckage with only a concussion. The truck was completely destroyed with the exception of the area immediately around the driver’s seat. The passenger side frame rail was split in half and the bed of the truck was found in pieces with some being as far as fifty yards from the crash. As I would latter realize, this had nothing to do with luck.
Over the next several days, I found myself questioning just about every aspect of my life. I knew that drastic changes needed to be made. I knew that there were a lot of questions that needed answers. I knew the one, and only, place to go for those answers was church. I knew that I did not want to go back to the Catholic church though. I did not know where to go, there were so many choices. Protestant, Baptist, Methodist, and many others. Where should I start, was my biggest question. It was in January of 1997 that my father hired a woman to do the company's drafting work that had begun to consume too much of my time. It was that woman who had offered to take me to her church, a Bible believing non-denominational church. I accepted August 1997, and when I went, I immediately felt at home. I felt as if a tremendous burden had already been lifted.
It was during the next year that not only would I begin to find the answers that I was looking for, but I had began to find a life long companion to share those answers and decisions with. Yes, the woman we hired became my wife on May 6, 2000. She was very instrumental in helping me to learn the scriptures and find those answers. I have typically been a fast learner and it did not take long for me to realize that it was only by the grace of God that I am able to share this testimony. I knew that it was Him protecting me on that awful night, allowing me to walk from a horrific crash. It was through a study in the book of Romans, which has become my favorite, that I learned that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. I had realized for the first time that I was in fact a sinner. I had also learned "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life" Romans 6:23. These verses really hit home. However, the one that hit the mark was "for whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10:13. With those verses and the help of so many good people willing to help me, I realized that I was a sinner and needed Christ in my life and in my heart.
It was October 30 1997; yes mischief night, that I accepted Christ into my heart and life as personal Savior. It has by far been the best decision that I have ever made. It is also by far the best, and strongest, relationship I have ever had. That night in September of 1996, that so many would think of a horrific event in anyone’s life, I now refer to as the second best night of my life. The first being the night I accepted Christ into my life. I have strived to continually develop and strengthen our relationship, and follow His will.
I still attend that same church and with the exception of visiting and speaking at other churches have not attended any other. I became a member, was baptized, have served on the Board of Missions for six years, been Sunday School Superintendent for two years, and currently serve as a Deacon. I had said earlier that I had thought that life was about having fun. The last ten years have been a whole lot more fun than the first twenty-six. The only difference is Christ. Since that night in September 1996 I have not drank, smoked, or even thought about trying drugs. I have a loving God, family, church family, and friends. And, in the end, those are the things that are important.
Through my teenage years, I became fairly rebellious and started drinking, smoking and trying drugs. I thought that life was about having a good time, and doing hard work. Work, which was for my father’s construction business, was probably the one thing that kept me out of more trouble than I should have been in. This wild behavior continued into my mid twenties. Through those years I had been arrested a couple of times for drinking related offenses, including two DUI's in one night. Yes, that was right two DUI's in one night.
It was that night, September 20 1996 that would change my life forever. I had been out partying with friends, when I met a girl I knew at a bar. We had left together so that we could spend the night together. It was on our way through a town close to my home that I got pulled over for erratic driving and was later charged with my first DUI. The police would later release me to the girl I had been with and she was instructed to take me home. I had parked my truck at my friend’s house earlier that night, and it was more convenient for her to drop me off there, so she did. I had sat in the truck for a while thinking I would sleep there. That did not work, it was very uncomfortable, and I kept telling myself that home was only a mile and a half around the corner. The last thing I remember is turning left out of his development. The next thing I remember is being in the back of the same police car I had been in earlier.
I pieced together the events the best I could from my friends in the fire service, and witnesses. Apparently, I had failed to negotiate a bend at a high rate of speed crashing into a telephone pole on the passenger side and rolling the truck several times over a stonewall before coming to rest on the roof. I walked from the wreckage with only a concussion. The truck was completely destroyed with the exception of the area immediately around the driver’s seat. The passenger side frame rail was split in half and the bed of the truck was found in pieces with some being as far as fifty yards from the crash. As I would latter realize, this had nothing to do with luck.
Over the next several days, I found myself questioning just about every aspect of my life. I knew that drastic changes needed to be made. I knew that there were a lot of questions that needed answers. I knew the one, and only, place to go for those answers was church. I knew that I did not want to go back to the Catholic church though. I did not know where to go, there were so many choices. Protestant, Baptist, Methodist, and many others. Where should I start, was my biggest question. It was in January of 1997 that my father hired a woman to do the company's drafting work that had begun to consume too much of my time. It was that woman who had offered to take me to her church, a Bible believing non-denominational church. I accepted August 1997, and when I went, I immediately felt at home. I felt as if a tremendous burden had already been lifted.
It was during the next year that not only would I begin to find the answers that I was looking for, but I had began to find a life long companion to share those answers and decisions with. Yes, the woman we hired became my wife on May 6, 2000. She was very instrumental in helping me to learn the scriptures and find those answers. I have typically been a fast learner and it did not take long for me to realize that it was only by the grace of God that I am able to share this testimony. I knew that it was Him protecting me on that awful night, allowing me to walk from a horrific crash. It was through a study in the book of Romans, which has become my favorite, that I learned that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. I had realized for the first time that I was in fact a sinner. I had also learned "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life" Romans 6:23. These verses really hit home. However, the one that hit the mark was "for whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10:13. With those verses and the help of so many good people willing to help me, I realized that I was a sinner and needed Christ in my life and in my heart.
It was October 30 1997; yes mischief night, that I accepted Christ into my heart and life as personal Savior. It has by far been the best decision that I have ever made. It is also by far the best, and strongest, relationship I have ever had. That night in September of 1996, that so many would think of a horrific event in anyone’s life, I now refer to as the second best night of my life. The first being the night I accepted Christ into my life. I have strived to continually develop and strengthen our relationship, and follow His will.
I still attend that same church and with the exception of visiting and speaking at other churches have not attended any other. I became a member, was baptized, have served on the Board of Missions for six years, been Sunday School Superintendent for two years, and currently serve as a Deacon. I had said earlier that I had thought that life was about having fun. The last ten years have been a whole lot more fun than the first twenty-six. The only difference is Christ. Since that night in September 1996 I have not drank, smoked, or even thought about trying drugs. I have a loving God, family, church family, and friends. And, in the end, those are the things that are important.
