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I Thought I Knew Better.
I was stubborn and bull headed…
Born in 1938, my early childhood was spent mostly around family - aunts and uncles who lived next to us and down the street. It seemed like the whole neighborhood was my relatives. Even the school I went to was right across the street from my house. I grew up thinking I was a good boy, until I heard from my sister later on what I had done to my cousin. It seems that I clobbered her with a baseball bat! I remember every Sunday we would dress up and go to church. Afterward, the whole family would have dinner at home with Grandma and Grandpa.
On November 12, 1950, I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. In 1957, I graduated from High School. I spent two years in the Navy from 1960-1962 and another two years in electronic school. Finally, my dad got me a job at U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana and I worked there until it was shut down.
As a child, I loved roller skating and enjoyed going to different rinks in the area. I joined a hockey team and thought I was pretty good. That idea lasted until some older guys who had played ice hockey up near Chicago joined in the team!
When I was 28, I met a girl who was 10 years younger than me. We wanted to get married. My mom was opposed to it, warning me against marrying her, because she was not a believer and because she was too young. I was stubborn and bull headed. I did not listen, and we married anyway. We had two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. I took them to Sunday school, but my wife stayed home. The marriage lasted ten years. In 1975, she filed for a divorce. This sent me on a downhill spiral. I became a sex maniac. I started living the single life, drinking, moving in with my brother, and buying a Corvette. I decided to join the Playboy Club, even going up to Geneva, Illinois a couple times. I joined a ski club, played volleyball, and hit all the bars. I wanted to go all out. I decided women were “my thing” and that I was a type of “Hugh Hefner.” I started to hang around a couple of guys in the ski club who gambled, smoked pot, and drank. They were the guys always having a good time. Party, party! You could always find us in the bar.
In 1989, one day while playing volleyball at my club, one of the players started to swear at me. I said to myself, “I don’t have to stand here and take this.” So I left. I just turned my back and walked away from it all. I asked myself what I was doing there, and it was like a light came on. I suddenly saw myself as The Prodigal. Like him, I finally came to my senses. I realized what I had done and decided to go home. I had a feeling someone knew I would become a rebellious backslide and had prayed that I would return. That day their prayers were answered.
“...And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:13-14
I started attending church again, committing my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I asked the Lord to forgive my rebellion and disobedience. I turned from my sins, confessing them publicly and surrendered my life, my will, and my all to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I said, “Lord Jesus, I need you in my life, I need to hear you.” In the midst of the crowd of other people’s voices, I heard Him call my name, showing me His Holy Spirit, that beautiful Dove from heaven.
He filled me with His love, setting me free from alcohol, drugs, pornography, and all the addictions I had indulged myself in. I thank my God and Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, for His mercy and love. I’m so grateful and thankful to Him for not giving up on me, a rebellious and backsliding child.
If you’re addicted to sex, alcohol, pornography, or anything else, just as Jesus helped me, He wants to help you. If you made mistakes at a young age like I did, it’s not too late to change. If you’re tired of the party life, the playboy life, ski clubs, and the bar scene, you can choose to change today.
In Him is forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Jesus wants you to have eternal life too. Only He can save you from the wrath of God that will come upon the world. Jesus died for you so that you may live. Jesus took your sin upon Himself so you can receive His righteousness. You have to surrender to Jesus as Lord and King. Trust Jesus to help you, guide you, teach you, and keep you. He promises to be with you and will never leave you nor forsake you. Even when life seems most difficult, Jesus will be there for you. He is the Eternal One, your Refuge, and underneath all the circumstances are His everlasting arms. Jesus is peace, pure perfect peace. For there is only one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified to in due time.
The Bible says: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in your heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart, one goes on trusting and thus continues toward righteousness, while with the mouth one keeps on making public acknowledgement and thus continues toward deliverance.”
Call out to Jesus today. May the Lord of all the earth, hear your prayer in your time of need, and bless you exceedingly with His presence.
Real Life Stories Christian Testimony Books
Jim and Carla Barbarossa
Phone: 219-762-7589
Email: jimbarbarossa7@gmail.com or jim@step-by-step.org
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