I was raised in a Christian home-
My father was assistant pastor at the Assembly of God church under Ron Penrose. -
When I was a kid, I went to Sunday school and church pretty much every Sunday. I accepted Jesus into my life when I was very young, I was baptized when I was 13. When I was 14, I went to Assembly of God youth camp on Mt Lassen... I was very much grounded in my Christian faith at that point in my life.
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When I was 15 My cousin LeRoy moved from San Jose to Willits. LeRoy was 1 year older than me. I introduced Leroy to the country lifestyle. Hunting, fishing, motorcycles, and just out exploring. Willits was a wonderful place to grow up back in the 70's. Lots of wide-open spaces. The creeks were full of trout, salmon and steelhead back then.
Leroy introduced me to the city lifestyle. Partying, drinking, smoking weed, he had already been in Juvenile Hall a few times. I think he might have even had a tattoo... Many of my other friends were smoking weed, and partying during that time also.
That's when I stopped going to church and started partying.
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The book of Proverbs warns us to be careful when choosing our friends because they are going to influence us, either in a good way or a bad way.
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In my high school years there were 4 main groups back then.
The Jocks, the Nerds, the Goat Ropers, and the group I hung out with the Stoners also known as the Burnouts.
We cut school a lot and went partying instead.
My Senior year I was called to the office and told I didn't have enough credits to graduate. They told me about Ukiah adult school and a 2-week program to get my diploma. Back then they handed you a book about 2 1/2 inches thick and gave you 2 weeks to complete it. I handed the book over to my sister-in-law Joyce and she completed it cover to cover. I signed it and turned it in and got my diploma.
So, I never got to graduate with my class.
I went to work at the lumber mill at age 17.
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My father died when I was 23 years old. You would think that I would have turned my life around after that, but I didn't... My dad always invited me to come hear him preach, but I would turn him down every time and go partying with my friends.
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While most of my friends were settling down getting married and starting a family, I continued the party lifestyle for the next nine years. Spending many nights hanging out at the local bar.
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At age 32 I had enough. I knew it was time for me to turn my life around. I stopped going to the bar and I re-committed my life to Jesus. I also got married that year. At age 33 my son Matt was born....
Matt was dedicated to the Lord when he was a baby. Matt was raised in Sunday school and church, and he attended Christian school through the 8th grade.
I wanted to give him the same solid Christian foundation that my parents had given me.
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I know that God was watching over me and protecting me (all those years). I know that my parents were praying for me as well.
Thank God for His love and forgiveness.
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Looking back at my life now, I am amazed how fast time has gone by.... The bible says, "this life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away".
If I could turn the clock back, I would do a lot of things different. I would have went and listened to my dad preach for one. I may have turned my life around a lot sooner if I had.
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Fast forward to today.
I plan on keeping God #1 in my life.
I will be 67 next year. Whatever time the Lord has left for me here on this earth, I want to live a life that is pleasing to Him, and I want to share the gospel with as many people as I can.
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What is the Gospel? I'm glad you asked...
The word gospel means "good news".
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I love our little church here, and I love all my church family. Thank you for letting me share my testimony.