My testimony

I was saved when I was very young. I guess I was too young to really understand what it all was about. So I grew up in church but when I hit middle school it all went to hell. I was angry at my parents for allowing 2 foster girls to come live with us and they caused alot of trouble. They got away with everything because they "had a bad life." The Bible says not to treat anyone different because of thier dificult past, but anyway.... I got into drugs and alcohol pretty heavy. Durring those days, I honestly wanted to die. Taking drugs was my attempt to seperate myself from all the crap going on in my life. I was defiant to all authority thinking that I had it all figured out. It got so bad that I told myself that something drastic had to change if I was going to live through it. I searched for a long time to find this "out" and finally found it when a Marine Corps recruiter called the house one day. He signed me up to p[lay in the Marine Corps Presidents Own Jazz Band. Later, I found out that they practiced 12 hrs. a day and never got to shoot or blow anything up. So I was left with the choice to fix refrigerators or blow stuff up. HMMM I guess I'll blow stuff up. Sounds cool. I spent my service planting and removing landmines and drinking like a fish. I had kicked the drugs but the Corps has a habit of breeding alcoholics. So I was sucked into the mix still feeling empty. After my marraige fell apart and I got custody of my then 6 month old son, I decided once again that if I was going to survive, I was going to have to make a drastic change. I told God that if he would keep me alive and my boy safe, that I would get back into church. I kept my promise but my transformation was not as immediate as some. I slowly began to open my eyes wider as my band Big Fish fell apart. It was supposed to be a ministry but it turned out to be a sham. I was so sick of other people that I never wanted to play in a band again. I started writing and recording my own stuff for my beneffit only. No plans were made to form a band and tour again. But as we all know, if you wanna hear God laugh, tell him your plans. I brought my brother in to the studio to lay some guitar tracks down and that led to finding a bass player and finally to playing shows again. This time I vowed to do it for God rather than for myself. (This is where almost ALL christian bands go wrong. The focus is upon them instead of God.) We were going pretty good with a new cd out and then at the height of it all I shattered my knee at a show. The doctor said I would be out for 6 months minimum and never walk right again. Now you would think that this would be a crushing blow to me personally, as a single father, and as a frontman for the band. But, I called out to God and acknowledged that my life was his and I accepted his guidance. I had alot of time to think laying in bed in the worst pain I have ever felt. And it all hit me. It doesn't matter what happens in my life, God has controll and He said that He would NEVER put anything on me that I cannot hadle. I thought of Job and all the crap he went through but the end result of his faithfullness was amazing! God used my broken body to open my eyes and allow me to bless others through Him. Durring my recovery I was blessed to be a part of my church's Bible School. I shot, edited, and produced a video for the church and the kids. 14 kids got saved that week. I remember the pastor calling me as I washome working on the video to tell me about the kids getting saved and I about shouted my self out of my chair! I was editing a part in the video where the very same kids were together when he called. That friday, my band Seraphim played at Crossroads with Old Man Is Dead and another kid got saved! 15 in one week that God allowed me to be a part of. I was on cloud 9. Now the band has gone through some lineup changes and it is evident that these occurances were put into motion by God. Reading my Bible and fasting has put me into a state now where it seems that my faith could not get any stronger. But I have thought that before and He has put me on the next level up several times.

I was stunned when my little boy at age 3 aked me how to pray. I had tears streaming down my face as I told him to just talk to God like he would talk to Daddy. So he proceeded to tell God about his games and his toys. It touched my heart so much that I could not sleep. Don't you think God listened just as intently to his trivial prayer as he would to our "adult" prayers? To this day, Tyler asks me to read him his Bible before bed instead of Dr. Seuse or Poo Bear.

I find myself blessed more than I ever thought possible. I am constantly amazed at the things God does in my life and the lives of people around me. This is better than and pot, acid, or liquor that I have ever had. If you have any questions about how you can feel as free as I do, PLEASE contact me and I will help you change you life through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Besides, if you are right and there is no God, then when you die, you don't loose anything. But if I'm right, and you die and go to Hell, you have lost EVERYTHING.

Go with God
_-TIEK-_