June 1, 1950, I breathed my first breath in a Naval hospital in St. Albans, New York. That is ALL I know about New York. My father, a hospital corpsman in the Navy, was shipped out soon afterward. He soon left the Navy and relocated to Ohio where I spent most of my childhood life.
Up through my high school years, I was raised in a somewhat "Christian" home in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, my mother taught me my prayers; "The Lord's Prayer" and "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep." We went to church occasionally and I grew up and lived by strong moral values... up to my high school graduation.
After I left high school, the world became a totally different place. I was introduced to alcohol by some of my friends. I started smoking and learned to use a different vocabulary than what I heard in my home. I developed the type of relationship with my girlfriend that I knew my parents would not have approved of. My parents soon moved to Florida while my younger brother and I stayed in Ohio.
I took an evening course in Psyc 101 at a local community college. One point really made an impact. Religion was a crutch. To avoid the pitfall, one had to build up many supports in one's life. So, I developed my own variety: dance roller skating, my job, my car and my girl friend.
One by one things started to crumble apart in my life. An accident at the roller rink caused my left knee to dislocate, tearing vital tendons. I lost my job, my girlfriend, my car and finally my self-esteem. I was despondent. My spying brother kept my parents informed of what trouble I was getting into. They decided to buy me a plane ticket to sunny Florida.
Nothing really changed except for the scenery and the people... I was the same. I still smoked, drank, partied and went to the beach a lot.
On one Monday afternoon, I was soaking up some sun at the beach and this cute girl, Fran, came up to me and asked if I would like to go to a beach party with her that night. I consented and she agreed to pick me up that evening. Little did I know what kind of party it was.
When we got to the beach, there was a gathering of young people singing around a band and the band was playing country gospel music! They called themselves the "THE MONDAY NIGHT POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY." I then learned that this gospel group met at that same location every Monday night. A tall, dark haired man with a Bible in his hand took the floor after the band finished. To this day, I do not remember what he was talking about. I was too interested in the girl that brought me.
After the meeting, Fran introduced me to the tall man. His name was Dr. Jarl Malwin, a local dentist. He invited Fran and me to his home about a half a mile away. There Fran went into the living room with his wife and he sat with me in the family room and there opened the Word of God... and I read.
I learned that I was a sinner, lost, without hope, doomed to hell for eternity. I learned that God loved me so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross, to take my place, to pay my price so I would not have to. That night, June 29, 1970, through tears of joy, I believed and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Savior.
For 32 years now, with a devoted wife and four children, I have been walking with Him, waiting and hoping for that blessed day to come when he returns to take me "Home." Until then, I will continue to talk about my Jesus, my Lord and Savior, to whomever will take the time to listen.
My life since then has not been easy. Like the song goes, "Life is hard, But God is good." Jesus has always been there to help me, strengthen me and encourage me through all my trials.
Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.
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