Swan Song...

[The_Hammer]

I had said that I was through posting on SR several days ago, and I am. I will post my personal testimony here, In the appropriate forum, hopefully it will have some impact on people that are in need of it. I have no doubt, as I know that the word of God does not return to Him void.

the Readers Digest version goes like this:

I was born in a small town in the Midwest to a violent, raging drunk and a meek but loving mother. When I was three months old, my mom realzed that she had made a big mistake in marrying my father, he abused us horribly and she was forced to call the Police on him for fear he would kill me at the age of three months old. The story doesn't change much until I became twelve years old; only by that time I had been convinced that my mother wanted me dead too. I heard them argue about my birth being accidental and that I was more trouble than I was worth. I had begged my mom to leave my father so many times, and so many times she promised that she would, but she never did. When my father beat me, she would scream at him to stop or he would kill me.

When I was 11, I took refuge in the local Baptist church. I loved it there, it was peaceful and the people were so kind to me. The Summer of my 11th year, an Evangelist came to town and there was to be an old fashioned tent meeting, complete with a carnival-like atmosphere. I attended vacation bible school that Summer and the whole class was going, including the pretty little blonde girl that I was interested in. I went to the first service on the first night and my heart was broke. I knew the story of Jesus from Sunday School and all the other services I had been attending, but I had a story book image of Jesus, not a personal relationship, nor had I taken Jesus as my personal Savior or even realized that He had died for me! His lips breathed my name on that day that he hung on the cross! The tears coursed down my face as I made my way to the front at the invitation. My body heaved with my sadness, my repentance. I took Christ as my Savior that hot and muggy July night in 1974.

I took home the good news. I witnessed to my father and my mother. My dad had stopped drinking in March, but was still very violent. My mother was more receptive, but fell very ill and nearly died in the Winter of 1974. I was terrified. She called for me in the hospital one night and there was Pastor Swan, the minister at my church. The lady in the bed in no way resembled my momma. I was so scared, she took my hand asked me to pray with her, that she didn't want to die without knowing what had made me so happy. My momma took Christ into her heart that night. She lives today.

Dad on the other hand, claimed to have been saved, but still lived his own way, never really caring for me or anyone else. He quit hitting us with his hands, but beat us brutally with his tongue. As a teen, I became depressed and soon turned to the bottle for comfort instead of my sweet Jesus.

Until February 14, 1998. I had been through Prison, institutions and according to my Doctor, I was the walking dead. My fiance packed her bags and was headed for the door. I begged for just two days. She gave me that two days and I found AA. Since then, I have rediscovered my Lord. He has given me over 10 years of blessed happiness through the AA program. I had a bout with opiate medications after a 7th back surgery, but that has turned out to be an even larger blessing. I have, through the program and the love of JEsus Christ, defeated the pill problem. The alcohol, the abuse has faded away.

But it has take a lot of work, lving by principles and not personalities. I have had to bite my tongue when speaking to a newcomer, for fear that he would flee upon mentioning a loving God, that I called Jesus, for I knew that had someone mentioned Him to me, even knowing Him as Savior, I would have ran screaming, I was scum, what did Jesus want with me now?!

Many have come to know Christ through His example within me. This is s program of attraction (So, let your light shine; so that all may see...) not promotion. People have to want what you have, not listen to what you say. (the tongue is full 0f mischief....). That's all I have. May God richly bless you in you journey, as He has in mine. My journey here on SR is at an end. But I owe so much. Bless all of you, I pray that God will return the blessings that you have heaped on me 1000 times. I will never forget you.

Love in Christ,

Jimmy
The Hammer

[lilkim]

Thank you for the advice and support you've given me. Only the best for you and yours.

[toad]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

I had said that I was through posting on SR several days ago, and I am. I will post my personal testimony here, In the appropriate forum, hopefully it will have some impact on people that are in need of it. I have no doubt, as I know that the word of God does not return to Him void.

the Readers Digest version goes like this:

I was born in a small town in the Midwest to a violent, raging drunk and a meek but loving mother. When I was three months old, my mom realzed that she had made a big mistake in marrying my father, he abused us horribly and she was forced to call the Police on him for fear he would kill me at the age of three months old. The story doesn't change much until I became twelve years old; only by that time I had been convinced that my mother wanted me dead too. I heard them argue about my birth being accidental and that I was more trouble than I was worth. I had begged my mom to leave my father so many times, and so many times she promised that she would, but she never did. When my father beat me, she would scream at him to stop or he would kill me.

When I was 11, I took refuge in the local Baptist church. I loved it there, it was peaceful and the people were so kind to me. The Summer of my 11th year, an Evangelist came to town and there was to be an old fashioned tent meeting, complete with a carnival-like atmosphere. I attended vacation bible school that Summer and the whole class was going, including the pretty little blonde girl that I was interested in. I went to the first service on the first night and my heart was broke. I knew the story of Jesus from Sunday School and all the other services I had been attending, but I had a story book image of Jesus, not a personal relationship, nor had I taken Jesus as my personal Savior or even realized that He had died for me! His lips breathed my name on that day that he hung on the cross! The tears coursed down my face as I made my way to the front at the invitation. My body heaved with my sadness, my repentance. I took Christ as my Savior that hot and muggy July night in 1974.

I took home the good news. I witnessed to my father and my mother. My dad had stopped drinking in March, but was still very violent. My mother was more receptive, but fell very ill and nearly died in the Winter of 1974. I was terrified. She called for me in the hospital one night and there was Pastor Swan, the minister at my church. The lady in the bed in no way resembled my momma. I was so scared, she took my hand asked me to pray with her, that she didn't want to die without knowing what had made me so happy. My momma took Christ into her heart that night. She lives today.

Dad on the other hand, claimed to have been saved, but still lived his own way, never really caring for me or anyone else. He quit hitting us with his hands, but beat us brutally with his tongue. As a teen, I became depressed and soon turned to the bottle for comfort instead of my sweet Jesus.

Until February 14, 1998. I had been through Prison, institutions and according to my Doctor, I was the walking dead. My fiance packed her bags and was headed for the door. I begged for just two days. She gave me that two days and I found AA. Since then, I have rediscovered my Lord. He has given me over 10 years of blessed happiness through the AA program. I had a bout with opiate medications after a 7th back surgery, but that has turned out to be an even larger blessing. I have, through the program and the love of JEsus Christ, defeated the pill problem. The alcohol, the abuse has faded away.

But it has take a lot of work, lving by principles and not personalities. I have had to bite my tongue when speaking to a newcomer, for fear that he would flee upon mentioning a loving God, that I called Jesus, for I knew that had someone mentioned Him to me, even knowing Him as Savior, I would have ran screaming, I was scum, what did Jesus want with me now?!

Many have come to know Christ through His example within me. This is s program of attraction (So, let your light shine; so that all may see...) not promotion. People have to want what you have, not listen to what you say. (the tongue is full 0f mischief....). That's all I have. May God richly bless you in you journey, as He has in mine. My journey here on SR is at an end. But I owe so much. Bless all of you, I pray that God will return the blessings that you have heaped on me 1000 times. I will never forget you.

Love in Christ,

Jimmy
The Hammer

Thanks Jimmy............you should post this in Bikers in Recovery also.

I pray you are well.......................toad

[Hurricane]

Thank you Hammer.

[best]

Jimmy

As far as the right or wrong forum, I battle inside with that idea daily.

Scripture such as...
Faith comes through hearing... tells me that yes we are to be an example that others would want but we also need share the good news from our heart with our lips as well.
and as found in
Matthew

What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!

14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations...

I can bible bash and I can preach but I hope to be found sharing instead.