John S.
Testimony
02/20/08
I had a forever job, that is, until the company I was working for went
bankrupt forcing me to file for bankruptcy also. I then walked 6 miles
each way to a job, saving my pocket change for the bus on rainy days.
One very hot sumer day while walking home, I felt the weight of my
situation and exhaustion. On that day in 1983, at age 24, I looked up
to the heavens and said, "God, there's got to be a better way."
Although I was raised in the Catholic faith, believed in God and the
work of Christ on the cross, this was the first time I remember calling
out to God in desperation. Circumstances in my life began to change
soon after that day.
Some time later I took a sales job that eventually had me traveling
through the Dakotas, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well
as Minnesota. In 1984 I moved to Bismark, ND, to work a sales territory
including the Dakotas and Nebraska. That company ended up struggling
and wanted me in Chicago, IL. I said no and returned to the Twin Cities
area in 1985.
While traveling the Dakotas, God got hold of me and started the
clean up. In the car with 4 hours between cities I listened to a lot of
rock & roll. Becoming bored, I went to other radio stations
searching for something interesting. I couldn't stand most of the talk
radio being small town chatter with livestock and grain reports. At
night, dinner and prowling about became the habit. Hitting bars and
flirting with waitresses grew old. Searching out the few gentleman's
clubs was only frustrating. Fortunately, God protected me from myself
in those days of heavy drinking as I was always alone when I got to my
motel room.
I began listening to radio preachers. They actually caused me to
think and the driving time passed more quickly. I mainly thought about
how wrong they were because what they said wasn't matching up well with
my Catholic upbringing. I soon began making notes of their references
so I could prove them wrong. I thank God for the Gideons, there was
always a Bible in the motel rooms. To my surprise, 9 out of 10 times
the radio preachers appeared to be correct. There was always that one
that was off base. At night I began staying in my room and soon grew
tired of the same ball games, CNN repeating themselves over and over
and over, bad sitcoms and movies that seemed to make time drag. I began
to watch The 700 Club. I opened the Bible once again thinking that I
could show these guys to be phonies and prove it using their Bible
against them. I failed again. One night in February of 1985, I was
watching the 700 club. I don't remember what the topic of the show was
or what was said, But I remember it was Ben Kinchlow. At the end of
that show I got on my knees next to that motel bed and prayed. I said,
"God, if what that man said is true, then here I am. I am yours, I
surrender."
About one month later on a beautiful spring day, I was on the deck
of our Bismark apartment reading a book. I believe it was "The Cost of
Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoffer. Like a bolt, it dawned on me. It
was as if someone had just said to me, "Not only have you not drank or
smoked for the past month, but you haven't even had the desire to." I
flushed the pot down the toilet and poured the scotch down the drain of
the kitchen sink.
Soon after, I went to a Wednesday night service at an Assembly of
God church in Mandan, ND. I stepped forward affirming my faith and
salvation in Christ. The circumstances in my life continued to change
and we moved back to Minnesota. The Lord heard my cry. He took me away
to save me and clean me up. He then sent me back to be a witness for
Him of His saving grace.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to fill in the gaps, a more detailed sequence of
events can be found in the Biography forum in a post entitled My Life's
Journey.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jesus
said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes
to the Father but through Me." John 14:6 That doesn't leave much wiggle
room. Yet, we continue to try to get right with God on our own terms
rather than submit to Jesus Christ.
8 posts tagged “john”
My wife and I have gone through a lot these past five months when I was out of work for about three months longer than planned after my shoulder surgery. I have put together a section on my forum site that gives the facts of the matter as well as thanksgiving to both God and all the people who saw fit to help us and encourage us along the way.
I would also like to thank those who I have met here. You don't know it, but the times I've needed to escape the reality of my troubles and pains for a bit, I found comfort here. That's both working on my pages as well as visiting yours. I found humor at the right times, some rants worth thinking about, some creative writing to enjoy, some pictures and tunes to evoke memories, and some just plain weird stuff. So I welcome you to also visit the forum and get the juicy details if you would like to.
The segments of it are:
2008 Road To Recovery
Chronology Of Events
Today
Lessons
Blessings
It is a work in progress, but I have enough posts on there now that I think anyone can get the gist of what is going on.
2 Weeks!?
I have to start paying attention to the urge to blog. So many times I have had said urge, only to put it off, set aside for sleep, to read another page or what have you. It's been a period of time that has been long yet fast at the same time. It was two weeks that were supposedly my last two weeks of down time after the shoulder surgery which seemed to drag but in which great progress was made regarding the necessary healing. The time off has been of benefit to me in many ways; physically, mentally, spiritually but certainly not financially. Tuesday I was telling people that I felt better than I had in three years. Then came the tenderness in the ball of my foot, the left big toe, as if someone grabbed hold and said tauntingly, "Not so fast there, sonny boy." Yes, it was an attack. The precursor to a gout flareup, the one thing I dread at this point of my life.
At it's worst, it is unending pain filled with a variety of sensations. If you've ever had a tiny sliver that just stung a bit, one that you couldn't extract, you would know the beginning of the irritation. Now imagine 500 of them stuck in a joint in your foot, all of them poking you like a fiberglass sliver from insulation, inflaming the tissues around it so it swells up in a puffy redness with the irritation many times that of an eyelash in your eye that you just can't seem to locate for removal. Add to that the pain of a thumb struck hard by a hammer or slammed in a door, but rather than a dissipating pain, a lingering one. And the recurring sensations, one after another, a nail in the foot to the tearing off of the toe nail. The sensation is there, but to look at the foot wood not support the feeling. I could go on with the swelling of the foot, etc., but ... If you haven't turned away already, I would surely drive you from here by continuing.
Benjamin Franklin wrote a humorous tale about gout as though it were an actual person paying a visit. I am certain it relates better to those who have experienced the malady, but none the less, it can be read in it's language of 1780 or it can be enjoyed
audibly if you are more inclined to sit back, close your eyes and enjoy the tale.
So it's really been two weeks, eh? Two weeks of rehab exercising, endless web surfing and far less productive activity than I care to admit. I am in first place in my fantasy baseball league through week three though. A noble accomplishment, wouldn't you agree? Yeah, right! It was all a part of that time/money cycle around which my life has spun. Considering things I'd like to do, when I have the time - I don't have the money, or when I have the money - I don't have the time. In an effort to not be totally self deceiving, I need to admit that a fair amount of procrastination was involved through which I prevented myself from accomplishing tasks I actually could have completed. It hit home yesterday with a supersonic boom when I read a story posted about 17-year-old Brian Moore. (Scroll to the bottom to read the story). It's called "A Teenager's View Of Heaven", and it talks about being held accountable for how we use our time.
Well, I'll post other items separately so this doesn't go on forever.
Happy Friday!
Sarge
This song is all too true without Jesus Christ and the Resurrection. Without the Creator and the subsequent work of salvation, to what end is our existence?
Although this song seems to offer no hope, being we're all just dust in the wind, it is pretty neat how the end scene of the video is a cross. Also, if you pay attention to the scenes in the video, the credits at the end will actually define them for you. I found it interesting.
But really, what is the scenario? Does the thought of end times, be it of the world or your individual life, mean gloom and doom to you? Or does it offer hope? Follow the link and you can see what the scenario is. I came to a point in my life where I had to determine for myself what the point was to this life without hope for something after our time here is done.
The fact of the matter is, after thoroughly thinking the matter through, there is no point to what we are going through now if it is just an existence based on chance with nothing to follow. Is this enough of a reason to develop a religious philosophy or to follow after someone else? Not necessarily, but it does cause us to search out a purpose for our lives. That purpose is to worship our creator. We are commanded to believe what God has revealed about Himself to us through His Word, the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. As we are obedient to that command, we are given the gift of faith which enables us to place our trust in His promises, including the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. This forgiveness allows us to enter into a relationship with God. It is a relationship that our sin was preventing us from being in.
So apart from the scenario laid out by God, what does the future hold for us? Are we truly just dust in the wind? Where did our moral compass come from? Why do we want to believe people are basically good? Why do we teach our children to do good and not wrong? Why do we place a high value on those who are helpful or generous? What is the point of it all without it leading to something? The endless loop of reincarnation means nothing to me. Neither does following someone's ideas of a spiritual plane without substance.
So where do we go from here without the cross and Jesus Christ?
The photo of the lift bridge can be found at the photographer's site. He has many other nice photos of Stillwater and other areas. If you see one that you really like, I believe they are for sale as prints.
A little history on Stillwater, the birthplace of Minnesota, can be found here. This is good for an overview of the area and why it came into existence.
I spent the day roaming this river city with a good friend. Mark B. and I were looking to get out for a day rather than going stir crazy. I have been off work for approximately 15 weeks as I recover from shoulder surgery. I called Mark and let him know that I needed to get out and he was happy to get out of his apartment for the day as well.
Yesterday we got about 2 to 3 inches of wet sticky snow which made for a rather sloppy morning, but as promised, Mark picked me up at about 10AM. The drive to Stillwater was about 45 minutes and was actually quite nice. We took some county roads rather than the freeway and wound through a couple of towns. Along the way we enjoyed the look of the snow on the tree limbs shimmering in the bright sunshine. When we arrived, we parked in a public lot near the above pictured bridge.
The sun was already making history of the wet snow as the temperature crept over 30 degrees. We walked along Main Street discussing the history of the city and noticing some of the changes since each of us had last been there. It was good to be outside, breathing the fresh air and seeing different sites. It was a good cure for the cabin fever I was experiencing. The city was rather quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of the summer months when it hosts a number of festivals and regularly thick weekend traffic for tourists, shoppers and frequenters of the riverside community. Although some of the shops were preparing for the upcoming season, the walkways were absent of the numerous benches that are normally available for sitting and watching the people and traffic pass by. There was also an absence of people passing by, so that activity would have been a bit thin today.
After a little more than an hour of strolling the length of the town, we stopped in a building to grab a Chicago dog for lunch. I remembered the spot from a delivery I made in the building last summer. I had been looking forward to stopping there since we decided last weekend that Stillwater would be our destination for the day. We were blessed with the good fortune of arriving on a day that Chicago Dogs was actually open. Today was there first day of business for the new season. The dog was very flavorful. We sat and chatted for nearly 1-1/2 hours that seemed like 20 minutes. I can't say that we solved all of the world's issues today, but we covered plenty of topics and enjoyed each other's company.
We walked up the hill into a neighborhood and looked at the architecture of some of the older buildings and homes, ending up at a park that had a great view over looking the town and river area. After a short rest admiring the view, we decided it was time to head back to the car. The drive home was absent the snow scenery we enjoyed on the way. Soon the green will reappear on the trees and the ride to and from will appear much different. I got home at about three o'clock, satisfied that it was a day well spent. A day with no demands or schedule spent with a good friend in a scenic town on a beautiful day with pleasant conversation.
Really, can it get much better than that. Thanks Mark B.
Til next time, Sarge
A little history on Stillwater, the birthplace of Minnesota, can be found here. This is good for an overview of the area and why it came into existence.
I spent the day roaming this river city with a good friend. Mark B. and I were looking to get out for a day rather than going stir crazy. I have been off work for approximately 15 weeks as I recover from shoulder surgery. I called Mark and let him know that I needed to get out and he was happy to get out of his apartment for the day as well.
Yesterday we got about 2 to 3 inches of wet sticky snow which made for a rather sloppy morning, but as promised, Mark picked me up at about 10AM. The drive to Stillwater was about 45 minutes and was actually quite nice. We took some county roads rather than the freeway and wound through a couple of towns. Along the way we enjoyed the look of the snow on the tree limbs shimmering in the bright sunshine. When we arrived, we parked in a public lot near the above pictured bridge.
The sun was already making history of the wet snow as the temperature crept over 30 degrees. We walked along Main Street discussing the history of the city and noticing some of the changes since each of us had last been there. It was good to be outside, breathing the fresh air and seeing different sites. It was a good cure for the cabin fever I was experiencing. The city was rather quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of the summer months when it hosts a number of festivals and regularly thick weekend traffic for tourists, shoppers and frequenters of the riverside community. Although some of the shops were preparing for the upcoming season, the walkways were absent of the numerous benches that are normally available for sitting and watching the people and traffic pass by. There was also an absence of people passing by, so that activity would have been a bit thin today.
After a little more than an hour of strolling the length of the town, we stopped in a building to grab a Chicago dog for lunch. I remembered the spot from a delivery I made in the building last summer. I had been looking forward to stopping there since we decided last weekend that Stillwater would be our destination for the day. We were blessed with the good fortune of arriving on a day that Chicago Dogs was actually open. Today was there first day of business for the new season. The dog was very flavorful. We sat and chatted for nearly 1-1/2 hours that seemed like 20 minutes. I can't say that we solved all of the world's issues today, but we covered plenty of topics and enjoyed each other's company.
We walked up the hill into a neighborhood and looked at the architecture of some of the older buildings and homes, ending up at a park that had a great view over looking the town and river area. After a short rest admiring the view, we decided it was time to head back to the car. The drive home was absent the snow scenery we enjoyed on the way. Soon the green will reappear on the trees and the ride to and from will appear much different. I got home at about three o'clock, satisfied that it was a day well spent. A day with no demands or schedule spent with a good friend in a scenic town on a beautiful day with pleasant conversation.
Really, can it get much better than that. Thanks Mark B.
Til next time, Sarge
Happy Birthday BooBoo!
It's been a wonderful 30 year's knowing you and a joyous 28 married to you as of last weekend. I am truly blessed. It is impossible for me to find the words to describe the depth of my LOVE for you.
I Love You !
Sarge
And hey, about next month,
For those who have not heard the story of my salvation, here is a copy of it from my forum.
http://truthdriven.8.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=55
My Road To The Cross
Thanks to justice and mcgee, here I am, John, aka Sarge.
The low maintainance, summer haircut wasn't exactly this short when I got the nickname Sarge. I began playing on a softball team with some guys from work during high school. They all had the long hair, style of the day in contrast to my short hair which was required by the ROTC program I was in at the high school I attended. One of the guys thought he would try to get under my skin by mockingly calling me Sarge for the first month. I was too stubborn to give into his prodding and the nickname stuck. For many years not many people in that social life knew my real name, but they knew the name Sarge was referring to me.
I am the second oldest of seven kids.
I am the third from the left in the picture.
With 2 brothers and 4 sisters, there was always something going on around our house, be it for better or worse. Gotta love those 60's looks, eh?
********************************************************************************************************************************************
To the left is March 22, 1980.To the right is 24 years later.
I met Margaret Sue at the electrical distributorship where we both worked. She had a great smile that got my attention and once we got together, we never separated. Although we look 15 in the wedding picture, we were actually 20. In fact Sue turned 21 a week later as I did the following month. Yep, got myself an older woman.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
As most families do, ours got older and grew bigger.
This photo shows an added brother-in-law, to the far right, as well as my beautiful bride, new to the family.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
We wasted no time in starting our own family. Our four lovely daughters were born in 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987. It wasn't exactly planned that way, but it worked out nicely.
Stacy, Laura, Sarah and Kirsten have been a joy and a blessing in our lives.
As Sue and I have grown older, so have the girls.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
In 2005, Stacy was the first of our daughters to marry and we gladly welcomed Aaron into our family. And so it continues to grow.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
As we grow and the family grows, we still try to gather together for a meal to celebrate birthdays. In 2006 we gathered at the best steak house in the Twin Cities to celebrate my and Sue's birthdays. At least Sue and I enjoy the opportunity to dress up once in awhile.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
Then our baby had a baby.
Our first grandchild, Xochitl, was welcomed to our clan. She was born in December, 2007.
So, that is a little bit of where I came from and where I have progressed to thus far. I look forward to the blessings yet to come. Sarge.
My Groups
-
Hockey Junkies Updated: Yesterday
-
Vox Banners Updated: 2 days ago
-
New Things Updated: Jun 26, 2008
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
