When I was young I just “had” to get “high” before I could have any fun. Weekends would start out by having a few beers or wines, then I’d smoke a couple of joints, and if available maybe I’d pop a few pills. When my “mind got right” I’d be ready to go out and face the world for the night and have a “good time”.
Hmmm . . . As I look back on it today, I don’t remember the “good times”; just the heartache, pain, and despair.
Last week I got three desperate calls and letters asking me to help their loved ones find assistance for alcoholism and/or drug addiction. They told me that if their loved ones didn’t get some help soon, (somehow – some way), they were going to die.
Sadly it’s a weekly occurrence for me to get these calls.
I also have a steady stream of kith and kin that bring their sons, daughters, or often “themselves” out to Honey Lake to talk with me to try and learn how I was able to break free from my own addictions in order that they might do the same and find some relief.
I wish I could say that all of these encounters have a happy ending – They don’t! Through the years many have gone on to die while still mired in their misery, (including one just last week).
The spiritual experience with Bobby Bowden this weekend was simply awesome. Based on feedback from a plethora of folks, I can safely say that everyone who attended had a terrific time and was filled with the Spirit of God. I know that I enjoyed it immensely.
Those of us in attendance didn’t have to drink a few beers or wines, smoke a joint, or pop some pills in order to smile, laugh, and have a wonderful time on Saturday night. We ate some good barbeque, washed it down with sweet tea, heard a fabulous concert, and listened to some encouraging inspirational testimony as we tried not to munch on the brownies and other goodies placed on every last table, (tantalizingly within easy reach). Throughout the night we got high from God’s Holy Spirit filling our souls with His goodness.
Sunday morning we didn’t stagger around with bad tastes in our mouths and roiled digestive systems looking for aspirin and Imodium. Instead with clear eyes and bright minds we saw the mist rising up from gorgeous Honey Lake through the church’s beautiful windows filled with three crosses, heard glorious music, and listened to the most successful coach in all of college football talk about how God has filled his life with love and blessings “beyond the pale”. Coach went on to explain how God wants to do likewise for anyone and everyone who is ready and willing to ask Him into their hearts.
After the services I encountered two separate people whose lives had changed dramatically in just such a fashion. One heard me give my testimony at a commencement ceremony for his niece some three or four years ago. At the time he’d been a successful business person but had slipped into drug addiction and had taken a mighty fall. At the time he wrote to me he was facing several felony charges and his life was an absolute wreck. He told me he heard my testimony and it struck a cord with him and upon receiving his letter I called him and then sent him my book. I learned later that he was also being influenced by others including a jail chaplain and I’m happy to say that he finally surrendered and accepted Christ.
I’m even happier to announce that he just recently graduated from Liberty Bible College and is now an ordained minister and working with the FCA and the Bill Glass Prison Ministry. He was with his new bride and had a smile as big as Texas on his face at the Bobby Bowden event and it was rewarding to see them so blessed.
The other person I encountered is a hugely successful professional person who not so long ago came to my office with his son telling me that they both needed something in their lives, because they were both disasters. A few weeks later the father came forward and accepted Christ as his Savior at one of our Honey Lake Church services. His son was more hard core and was as rebellious as they come and was filled with hate, bitterness, and anger. He was heavily tattooed, with piercings, and told me he was an atheist. I softly told him I used to be just like him, but God still loved me and He loved him too.
His father came up to me after the service yesterday and told me that his son had experienced a “miracle” in his life and that he had recently completely turned his life around and now believed in God, had a positive attitude and he’ll be in attendance at our next service.
These three men found their peace through their faith in Jesus Christ and He delivered them from their pain and misery.
Coach Bowden came from a great Christian family and never experienced those afflictions in his life. Perhaps you relate more to him. He once said: “Faith is the most important thing in the world to me. It’s the greatest strength I’ve had. It’s helped me get through the hard times. You’re not going to win every one of your football games. I’ve always said I’m not going to make football my God. A lot of coaches put so much into coaching football games that they have nothing left. I’ve never made football my priority. My priorities are my faith and my dependence on God.”
While Coach Bowden’s background and mine are as far apart as one could imagine, we have both found that faith is the most important thing in the world and without it we cannot find our peace. We need God in our lives regardless of our circumstance. We cannot find what we’re looking for without Him in our lives.
You too can have the peace of God course through your being. My friend Mark Wilson at church Sunday pointed to the stained glass window depicting Jesus Christ standing at a door and knocking and said to the congregation that God could easily go through that door, but instead He has chosen to stand at it and knock. It’s up to us to let Him into our hearts. It’s the most important decision that we’ll ever make. Our joy and peace begin when we open that door my friends. If you haven’t done so, I hope and pray that you will do so today!
Rev. 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in . . .
September 9, 2013 – Click here to listen