BUT GOD..........

I have been thinking about years that have been important in my life. Some dates and years are good memories and others, not so much. February of 1979 was a pretty good year since that is when I was born. Even though I was a sick little guy and they did not think I would make it through.

The Number 7 is important because that is the age that I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ! That was a good thing. That would be July of 1986. I remember it like it was yesterday. Just got home from VBS and I was sitting on the counter in the old farm house. I started asking questions about faith and Jesus. So my mom, being a good mom helped me through that process! That was a good very good thing!

September of 1993 was not a good time! I was diagnosed with type one diabetes at the age of 14. I was scared to death. That date has impacted my life forever! I started getting complications at a young age and it is a huge struggle for me! So I will put that in the, that really sucked column!

In 1998 I graduated High School, which was a big deal since I have a learning disability. School was very hard for me, but I made it through and made some great friends. That was a pretty hard year to. I missed most of my senior year because I was sick the whole year. That was a bitter sweet year!

January 2001 I started Bible College. In High School they said I could never do that, so that was great to be able to do that. Bible College was great. It was a struggle being in and out of the hospital and having to drop out of school a couple of times. But I was able to learn the Bible and that was GREAT!

August 11 2001 I married my wife! That was pretty great! We were both pretty young, but we took the plunge. I just saw a picture of us about a month after ward and it said, and they said it would not last. Whoever they are, I guess they were right.

In 2001 I got my first youth Pastor Job and that same year got licensed as a Gospel Minister. And somehow to this day I still have that!

2003 and 2005 we had Joel and Michele. That was great! My kids are the best kids ever.

In 2004 I took another youth pastor job at a place that I loved. It was a pretty good church. In the summer of 2006 I started showing my alcoholism by my actions. And that would lead me to being found out as a drunk.

In the summer of 2005 I started to drink. Bad year! I hid that from every one for about a year and a half. It all came out in November 2006. I was asked to resign as Youth Pastor at the place I was out and it seemed the world was falling apart. 2006 started a process that I would stay sober then relapse over and over again. In 2006 I was diagnosed with a mental illness, major depression, and I struggle with that to this day.

August of 2011 my wife had enough and kicked me out. We eventually got divorced in May of 2013, but all  that happened so I would get sober. September 3 2012 was my first sober day and I have not taken a drink since. I finally gave the twelve step programs a chance and they have changed my life.

July 17, 2013 I moved back to Ames to be closer to my kids. I do miss California, but being by my kids is the right thing to do.

So why the fast survey of my life? Well, just to show you how I am where I am. I in the future will explain more on these things. And there are some that I missed. But through it all God has been with me. He never gave up on me, I gave up on Him. I like to say I was in the pit, BUT GOD! I have been told by pastors that they will not work with me because I was not faithful. I have been told that I am a lost cause. I have been shunned by whole churches and people, BUT GOD never gave up on me. He waited for me to be ready to fully come to Him. To give my will and my life over to Him. Even if people disappoint me or give up on me, God will never ever leave me or forsake me. Jesus came to save people like me! That I am grateful for! Keep reading and I will do my best at writting!