My testimony to God's awesome power

I want to preface what I will tell you by saying that I'm not anyone special or extraordinary. All the amazing things I am about to tell you happened TO me, not because of me. The "before Christ" me is typical of alot of folks you have probably met. I like to ride. I ran with a rough crowd. I did the whole drugs/loose women/wildman lifestyle. I always worked hard, and believed that whatever happened in my life was 100% the result of what I did, and nothing/no one else. I thought I was the one in control. Things seemed to be going well for me, for a while. I had met a wonderful woman, and even though she was a christian, she didn't beat me over the head with it. I had 2 back to back vacations that were a dream for me. One was 9 days at a bike rally for a club I rode with, riding the blue ridge and partying all night and day. The other was 8 days with the woman I mentioned above. I had a decent apartment, nicely set up garage, bike was paid for, a nice hot rod in the drive way, and was workin my dream job. I didn't think I needed God anymore than the man on the moon. I was the guy who used to taunt christians with those tricky bible questions that can be hard to answer sometimes. I used to say "if God is real, how come he don't do miracles like He did back in the bible days anymore?" read on for a good laugh about this... So, I notice that for some reason I begin to be tired all the time. Not sleepy, but dog tired. So tired, it was a struggle to get out of bed sometimes. I went to the doc, and they said I had a flu bug or something. They gave me some cold medicine and sent me home. After a couple weeks, it was not getting better, so I went back to see the doc. He basically told me that I would be fine any day, and that I am making too much of it. I'll be fine any day now. Well, I know I'm no sissy. So I went to another doctor because I knew something just wasn't right. This new doctor ran a whole pile of tests. Things I'd never even heard of before. He even stayed late to interpret some of the results for me. He told me that there was something wrong with my stomach and that if I have any pain that night to go to the emergency room, but otherwise, return tomorrow for more testing so he can figure out what is wrong. It seemed like I found another quack because my stomach felt fine. I was just tired all the time. Well lo and behold, that night, right after I ate dinner, I got the worst stomach pain I have ever felt. I began to vomit. I called one of my sisters and explained to her about the doc, and asked her to take me to the E.R. We got there, and they put me in an observation room to wait for a doc to look at me. Literally, the next thing I knew, I woke up and all my brothers and sisters (3 bros 4 sisters) are there, in this room and they are all red eyed and worried looking. Then the doctor came in, and they all went out except for my one sister. The doctor told me they had removed almost all of my small intestine because of a blood clot, and gangrene. I had 2 surgeries and still needed one more. I had a 60/40 shot at surviving the next 3 days, and if I could get through them, I would probably live, but not the way I had previously. There was nothing I could say - not because I was speechless, but because I had tubes and wires in more places than you can imagine and I was strapped to the bed, and really drugged up. I don't remember being awake very long, but I had the surgery I needed and survived the 3 days. (obviously) The doctor told me that I used to have about 18 ft of small intestine just like everybody else. Now I had just 14" left. There would be no more eating for me, from now on I would get my nutrition from this bag of white stuff that went into my chest through a tube. It turns out that I have a protein deficiency that gives my blood the consistency of jello, and it caused the clotting that nearly killed me. So there I was a formerly strong independant man who felt like he had the world by the tail a few days ago, now I was strapped to a bed, with my belly split in half, stitched together with this thing that looks just like a shoe string, sort of like the way a football is laced up. They said no more motorcycle, no more partying, eating, drinking, working at my job that I loved. IT'S ALL GONE!!! As i lay there in that bed, freinds were pouring into i.c.u. for the 2 weeks I was there. It was creating a scene because there were so many people. Guys from my club drove 2 hours to come and see me. I.c.u. was standing room only with freinds and family. I swear, I never knew anyone would really care if I ever died, and here were all these people who were genuinely concerned for me. One of the guys who rode with the club was a preacher. One day after everybody had left he said to me "cheez, I think that God has a plan for you or you wouldn't be here right now" I said "what would God want with me? I never did nothin for Him. I barely even believe He exists. He couldn't possibly think much of somebody like me" Pastor Jim (that was what we called him) said to me "you have 2 boys, right?" I said "yeah, what of it?" He asked me "have they ever made you mad?" I said "sure, that's what kids do, it's their job!" Then he said "do you still love them?" I replied "sure I do!" Then he asked me "then what makes you think that you have a greater capacity for love and forgiveness than Him who created you?" For the first time in my life, I didn't have an answer!!! So he said to me, I just know that if you will invite him into your heart, it will change things for you. He has a plan for you! You should find out what that is" So I thought about it, and to be honest, I thought that if I tried it, and it didnt work out, I could always go back to being me, and right now I had literally nothing to lose. So together we said the sinner's prayer. I somehow knew right away that whatever happened after this it was going to be ok somehow. I didnt know what it was then, but I know it now to be the peace of the Holy spirit. Somehow I also knew something else. That whole scenario - the illness, surgery, all the drama, was God's doing. Not a punishment, but a HUGE gift. I needed to be humbled big time, and He did that for me. I needed to be put in a place where I would realize how much I needed Him, and He did that for me. I needed to have my eyes opened because I was blind. He did this for me too! Fast forward 3 months - I'm back at my job, but in a new capacity I actually liked even more. I'm still riding. I can eat nearly anything. Oh, and one important thing I left out. When I got sick I was living in the states. (delaware) The woman I had met (she was living in canada) dropped everything when she found out what happened and didnt leave my bedside for a whole week! I tried to tell her to go find herself a "whole man" and she would have none of it. She said God gave me to her, and He gave her a word that I would be healed. I was, and then some, just like i have been telling you! Well, I spent a while mostly just wondering how I was going to begin my walk with Jesus. I had no real experience previously to this. We hired a new kid at work. He heard me talking about what had happened to me, and took it upon himself to urge me onward in my walk with God. You have to know this kid to understand why this is significant. He is very quiet and humble and non-assertive. Once he Knew I had been called, he would not let go of me! He was like a pit bull! relentless! Helping me to slough off the old me. He introduced me to a church not far from where i lived. I'm tellin you I walked in the door and I knew right away this was where God wanted me to begin. When I told the folks there who knew him (including his family and friends) they were amazed because it was so out of charachter. Funny thing is, there were a whole bunch of people there I had known way back in my past that I hadn't seen in a decade or more! Once folks saw me trying, they helped me out quite a bit. Helping me learn, helping me study, attending my baptism and cheering for me. I caught fire for jesus in a big way. So many things changed it is like a whirlwind went through my life and re-arranged everything! praise the Lord!!!!!!! \o/ So there you have it. I previously talked plenty of smack, taunting christians about God and His miracles, and He not only called my bluff but opened my eyes to many other times He had put his hand on my life. The condition I have is not without certain limitations, but if I didnt tell you about it you could know me and never know about what happened to me. Those side effects are so minimal it's hardly worth mentioning. I suppose it helps to keep me in check. To remind me, as I began this testimony. I'm no one special. just a regular Guy. But He loved me anyhow, and gave me gifts far beyond what I could ask for, and certainly contrary to what I actually deserve. And He continues today, almost 4 years later. Oh, and one last thing. Some of you might know something about the medical profession. You will then see the further proof of Gods hand that other's won't unless I mention it. The fatigue I felt had nothing to do with what was actually wrong with me. It was never explained and it hasn't come back. The clotting that destroyed my intestine happens very, very quickly. Had I not been in that doctors office on that exact day it would have killed me. No symptoms I was experiencing would indicate the problem I had. think that was a coincedence? If I had listened to my primary care doc just one more day, I WOULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW! Sorry it's so long but i made it as short as i know how. :-)