My Journey

First of all, I must say I'm not all that I can be, DEFINITELY not what I used to be, but right where I'm supposed to be. And that is a true gift from God.

I was born in 1943 and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan. In my early years, the only time I attended church was when my folks took us to Dayton, Tennessee to visit Dad's relatives. At age 4 or 5, while down there, I was taken into the river and thought they were trying to drown me! I truly didn't understand anything about baptism or about the Lord. It was what my Dad's family wanted for me.

I did go to a few churches on Sundays in Battle Creek until I was 17 years old. Then, tired of my parents' rules, I thought I was smarter than them and joined the US Navy. I learned then what rules REALLY were! I served 3 years, 11 months and18 days (but who's was counting?). I learned to use alcohol to escape reality.

From 1964-1983, I went wherever and did whatever alcohol wanted me to do. I drove a semi as my job, not caring who I hurt and what I did. I was to the point that I carried a .357 Magnum and a .38 "special" around with me all of the time. I wanted to die as much as I wanted to live.

My now ex-wife found me at a drinking buddy's apartment and I told her I was going to end my life. I was wrecking her life and everyone Else's that I was touching. Her question to me was just this: "Who made you God, to take our children's' father from them?" That was the right thing at the right time for her to say. I knew then that I truly wanted to live. That was Aug. 30, 1987.

I went back to a 12 step program and surrendered myself to it, as I knew no other way out. With the help of my sponsor, Don, I started 1 day at a time to learn who I was and to try and change what I had become. It was from that program that I found the true meaning of God and accepted Jesus as my Savior. In 1999, I went back to church with a new concept of a loving God.

In 2001, I had a stroke and spent 7 months in rehab learning to walk and talk again, only by the grace of God. Then, in 2002, after my rehab, I came to Dade City, Florida, to live with my sister, and Joyce entered my life. We had talked on the computer for a couple of years and become friends along with a whole group of others from all over the world. We decided to meet at Wendy's for lunch and she took the key to my heart.

Our walk together has been a true gift and she has helped me in more ways than I could ever explain. We moved to Temple Terrace in September of 2004 from NY and found our home here at TTUMC. I wish to thank everyone at TTUMC for making my life a better place to live.