I grew up in a middle class Catholic family. Going to church on Christmas and Easter was the extent of God in my life. We had a Bible at home, but it was just a dust collector more than anything. Through my grade school and high school years you could say I was just an "All American " kid. I believed in God, but in no way was He apart of my life like He should have been. I liked all the normal worldly things as a kid. When I was 13 my favorite rock group was KISS, you know, those crazy painted faced rockers of the 70's? I had most of their albums,(albums--I'm showing my age:), I had posters all over my bedroom wall, dressed up like them for Halloween, man they were my life! Kiss Rules! was my saying. I dreamed of becoming a "Rock Star" some day! As I got older I liked other rock bands too, like Motley Crue, Ratt, Poison, Judas Priest, pretty much the whole "Heavey Metal" scene and top 40 bands. The lyrics of those bands are laced with alot of rebellion, sex, drugs, Satan, but at the time I thought all that was "Cool". I would stare at the posters of them on my bedroom wall and idolize them as my heros, thinking of that now scares me to death, because I know alot of teens are doing the same thing today. Drinking beer, partying, and rock-n-roll was my life, I was having a blast most of the time, but to be honest with you, alot of times as I was standing there at a rock concert or at a party, I felt this cold empty feeling in my heart. I would just drink another beer or go out and buy the latest album, that worked for the moment, but that empty feeling just grew inside me. There was no substance in my life. My girlfriend at the time introduced me to some tapes by Evangelist John Muncy. They were about the evil in rock-n-roll. I said "Heh, yah right", after all, if there was evil, it was my friend and was treating me AOK. I went ahead and listened to the tapes, I tell you now my freind, that is when God opened my eyes. John's tapes really made me see the driving force behined the band's music. Like I said before, the lyrics are laced with rebellion, sex, drugs, and Satan. I was on the lighter side of all this, but God showed me the seriousness of it all. The Good Lord opened my eyes to the realism of Satan. ..."Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8... As God removed the smoke screen before me, there was the Devil himself, laughing at me. For all those years Satan had me just where he wanted me, a small care about God and a huge care about myself. I was frightened, in fear for my eternal soul I ran to Jesus for protection, and He greeted me with open loving arms! God showed me the realization of the evil in this world and it's purpose, to lead us all astray,..."We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6... God also exposed the sin in my life that Satan had candy coated..."For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23... I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior a few days after hearing those tapes. At 21 I was blessed, because I was able to see the importance of Jesus in my life without a major travisty happening. God took away my desire for rock-n-roll, booze, smoking, pornography, and cussing. I thank Him from the bottom of my heart. I pray my friend, if your reading this and you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior, that you would give it some serious thought now, before now isn't an option any more. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 What ever happened to that empty feeling in my heart? Well, I'm 31 now, and even though I've had some rough times the past ten years, that empty feeling has never come back. The Joy of Jesus has resided in my heart from that special day until now, and I know it will be there for all eternity! "Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9:10 May the Good Lord bless you in many ways!

Before I truly met Jesus, my life was pretty shallow. I was "living for the moment" and Me, Myself & I. I had lots of fun, don't get me wrong. Nightclubs, credit cards, and Girlfriend! Did I have at-ti-tude! Then, I became a single mother and found myself with a lot of responsibility. Bills, broken down cars, things just seemed to go from bad to worse. Worry became my closest friend. I went to church when I was younger, so I knew about sin, that God punished people for it, and Jesus even died for it, but I had strayed away from the church and Jesus. I never gave these things much thought until I went back to church. Every sermon hit home! God was using the preacher to talk to me. Jesus was showing me He had better plans for me. I started seeing the sin in my life. So, I asked Jesus to forgive me and become Lord and Savior in my life. My attitude about nightclubs, drinking and cussing changed. Even my attitude towards other people got better. As for worry, when I have a problem, I give it to God and He gives me peace and security in return. My life has direction now. Having my own son, it just amazes me that God would give up His perfect son for me! But I know He did this out of love so I can have eternal life in Heaven with Him. He did this not only for me, but for you too.