My Testimony
First of all, I would like to say my past experiences are far more than I can add on this page, and my entire life is a testimony. I mentioned on the home page about getting stabbed and had a gun misfire, but didn’t mention that I came close to overdosing on drugs twice, or thinking about suicide many times, wanting to just end it all. But, I believe our soul will live forever and our final destiny is either heaven or hell. And I certainly didn’t want to end up in hell.
I started drinking and doing drugs at an early age which ended up controlling my life and went through some tough times and brushes with the law. I also lost my family once and was divorced. We got back together later, but I was on the verge of losing them again. I was broke, had a drinking & drug addition, no job and couldn’t support my family anymore and was losing everything we had. I was almost 6 months behind on my mortgage and our house was to be auctioned off within a week. I was also facing jail time from a DWI. I had a lawyer, but he told me there wasn’t much he could do but try to postpone it for a while. The DA had his mind made up and wouldn’t bargain, and had planned to use me as an example by giving me a year in prison. I had nowhere to turn, and knew my wife and kids would have to go back to her parents to live. But, this changed when my Mother came by one morning as I was drinking a beer. (It’s strange how an addict can get alcohol or drugs even when you are broke) But, regardless, she asked me something that made sense, and made me think. She said, why don’t you give God a chance? What do you have to lose? I certainly didn't have anything to lose, I was already losing it. (I had accepted Jesus in my life at a very young age but ended up on the wrong path. I had thought I was having a good time and didn’t want to give that up. But, the good times were only for a season and I had been really miserable for years. I had a void in my life that I tried to fill with drugs and alcohol, but it just didn’t work) What I needed was a spiritual renewal, and today was my opportunity. I asked God to forgive me and can remember that day as if it was only yesterday. I cannot put in words how relieved I felt when the heavy burden and pressure lifted. I knew then that everything was going to be alright. It didn’t matter if we were losing everything. I knew that God was going to take care of us. The next morning I went to church with my wife she had been attending, and to another church service that was in a revival that night. At the rival service, I felt like the preacher was preaching just to me and thought my Mother or someone told him about me. (They didn’t, this was the first time he even seen me) Close to the end of the service, this preacher walked off the stage and came up to me and said God told him to give me all he had in his wallet, and pulled out $9.00 to give me. I said thanks, but I can’t take all your money, and refused to take it. Besides, what good would $9.00 do for me when I needed more like $9,000.00? But, he persisted and told me to please don’t cheat him out of his blessing. I didn’t understand how I was going to cheat him out of his blessing, but he was persistent and looked like he was about to cry, so I took his money and thanked him for it. I realized later what this was all about. God was trying to tell me he was going to take care of my financial problems, as well as the Preacher’s need. He had an old car that was broke down and was in need of a new car. And I was in need of a job and was losing our house. (It was years later that I found out God blessed that preacher with a new car the very next day. I ran into him again at a different service and he was telling his story about how God blessed him with a new car after being obedient by giving his last dollar away)
And now, I would like to tell you what God did for me.
First, he delivered me from alcohol and drugs, which was the root cause of my problems! This alone was a miracle because I tried to quit a number of times, but would always fail. This time I had no desire for it. I was also a heavy smoker, which I was also delivered from and didn’t even realize it until I seen a pack of cigarettes on my dresser a week later. The day after the revival I decided to drive to Tulsa to a company I worked for in my early years as a welder to see if I could hire out. I knew the pay would not be anything like I used to make overseas or what I made welding on pipelines with my welding rig, but it would put groceries on the table. Upon arriving at this shop, I found the same foreman I use to work for was still there and he hired me on the spot. The pay was not much more than minimum wages at $6.00 an hour. But I was glad to get it and worked just as hard for that $6.00 an hour as I did when I worked my rig or overseas. On the day our house was to be auctioned, I felt the urge to call the lawyer that represented the mortgage company one more time, although I was not able to work things out in the past. It was 4:00 pm and the sale was at 5:00, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to reach him. But, I did, and he surprised me with his response. He said if he owned the house, he would just give it to me, but since he couldn’t do that, he told me what to do, and how to do it, giving me case numbers etc. and where to file it and send him a copy. He said this would delay things for 30 days and maybe give me some time to work things out. I was really feeling good about this, but at $6.00 an hour I also knew I wouldn't make enough in 30 days to do much good. However the next week at work, I seen a crew I haven’t seen before loading a truck with steel, and rigging up some field trucks and welding rigs. I asked where they were taking those welding rigs, they said they had a contract to build a water tower out of town. I seen a chance to get my welding rig on and went to talk to the owner of the company about using me and my truck. He refused at first and said he already had all the equipment and his field crew. I told him I still had my contractors insurance and by him using me and my rig, he could even save money. He had to pay his crew to stay in motels during the week and all their expenses and the insurance on them, and this job was within driving distance from my house. He finally agreed, so my wages almost tripled, and with the hours they would be working, my wages would be almost 5 times of what I was making in the shop. We had most all the tower fabricated, but not welded when weather set in. The field crew had went home for the week-end and decided to not risk driving on the icy roads and delayed the job until the weather would clear up. But the owner of the company called me and said since it is mostly just welding left, if I could make it out to the site, to go ahead and work all I could. I was alone and had to work at heights, which is not allowed today, but I put in 90 to100 hours a week and made some big checks. I almost welded the thing out by myself. By the time 30 days rolled around and I had to answer the mortgage company, I at least had something to take to the table to offer the mortgage company. It wouldn’t catch me up, but it was a couple payments, and I was praying they would accept that. They did, only on the condition that I would make two payments every month until I got caught up. I agreed, but knew the water tower was almost finished, and if I had to go back in the shop, it would not be enough. I would have to trust God. The day we finished the water tower, I went home thinking I would be going back in the shop the next day. But my Mother called that evening and said someone called her number trying to locate me and left his number. (I had moved around a lot changing my number, but didn't know who would be calling my Mother’s number) It was a friend that I met in Norway 5 or 6 years earlier, and he was now a welding foreman on a lay barge in Mexico and wanted to know if I would come down and work for him. Of course I agreed and went to the shop to give my notice. They said they understood and thanked me for helping them finish the water tower. (there is another story here; I went in business years later and gave this shop a lot of work that bailed them out when they really needed the work) Anyway, the job in Mexico had been going on for about three years and were supposed to have at least 5 years left, so I left right away to Del Carmen, Mexico. But when I got there, the friend that called me had already left for a better job in South America and left everything to someone I didn’t know. This guy had a lot of his relatives and friends working, so I was kind of an outsider. I did know one welder, but we were not friends. (He had been a welding foreman on another pipeline barge a few earlier and run me off because I was late getting back on the barge. Because of my reputation back then, he assumed I was on a drinking spree or something. But, I also had a reputation of being a good welder, so when the foreman on the opposite shift heard this, he called me and told me to take care of my business and come back on his shift, and this made him mad and he tried to put a stop for me coming back after he fired me, but couldn’t. So he didn’t like me very well. To go on with my story, I was only there a week when the welding foreman came by while I was welding on shift and informed me that we were going to finish the day and shut everything down. They were going to keep 6 welders and the foreman for maintenance and may start back up a few months later. We had about 30 welders so that left 24 welders out of work, and the ones cut were cursing and pretty upset. I didn’t expect to stay since I was the last one hired in and it didn’t worry me much because I was depending on God for my finances anyway, not this job. But, I guess it bothered the foreman because he kept apologizing saying he hated it because I turned out to be his best welder and only been there a week. I told him it was OK. I will be fine and don’t feel bad, I understand. I was still welding on the pipeline when he came back 30 minutes later and ask if I wanted to stay a week longer. One of the welders that was chosen to stay was his son-in-law and had been out there for a while and would like to take a week off. I said sure, thanked him and kept welding. About 30 minutes later, he came back and said his son-in-law decided to go back to college and wouldn’t be coming back, and if I wanted, I could stay as long as I wanted. I said I appreciate it and would like to stay, and continued welding. I knew that God had his hand in this because I should have been the first to go, and didn’t even know this foreman. But, it wasn’t over yet, about 30 minutes later he came back by and said, he decided to take off until they started back up with the pipeline, and he already talked to the Super about me taking his place and to increase my pay. This came as a surprise to everyone, including the guy that ran me off years earlier, because he was one of the guys staying and now would be working for me. I could go on, but I have to end this somewhere. Six months later, I had caught up all my mortgage payments and was three payments ahead. I also had the opportunity to witness to some others and read the entire bible during my off time while on this job. Work overseas opened up again and I was called the day my contract was up for renewal. The job lasted much longer, but we were only on 6 month contracts and had the option for renewal. I appreciated that job, but felt it was time to move on. I did go back overseas and later in business. I owned and ran several businesses in the US, but have since sold them and went into management, inspection and consulting as third party for major oil and gas companies. This gives me more freedom and my wife can now travel with me on most of my projects, including overseas. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, the DA that was planning on putting me in prison had other obligations and turned it over to the assistant DA, and all I got was a fine.
I started drinking and doing drugs at an early age which ended up controlling my life and went through some tough times and brushes with the law. I also lost my family once and was divorced. We got back together later, but I was on the verge of losing them again. I was broke, had a drinking & drug addition, no job and couldn’t support my family anymore and was losing everything we had. I was almost 6 months behind on my mortgage and our house was to be auctioned off within a week. I was also facing jail time from a DWI. I had a lawyer, but he told me there wasn’t much he could do but try to postpone it for a while. The DA had his mind made up and wouldn’t bargain, and had planned to use me as an example by giving me a year in prison. I had nowhere to turn, and knew my wife and kids would have to go back to her parents to live. But, this changed when my Mother came by one morning as I was drinking a beer. (It’s strange how an addict can get alcohol or drugs even when you are broke) But, regardless, she asked me something that made sense, and made me think. She said, why don’t you give God a chance? What do you have to lose? I certainly didn't have anything to lose, I was already losing it. (I had accepted Jesus in my life at a very young age but ended up on the wrong path. I had thought I was having a good time and didn’t want to give that up. But, the good times were only for a season and I had been really miserable for years. I had a void in my life that I tried to fill with drugs and alcohol, but it just didn’t work) What I needed was a spiritual renewal, and today was my opportunity. I asked God to forgive me and can remember that day as if it was only yesterday. I cannot put in words how relieved I felt when the heavy burden and pressure lifted. I knew then that everything was going to be alright. It didn’t matter if we were losing everything. I knew that God was going to take care of us. The next morning I went to church with my wife she had been attending, and to another church service that was in a revival that night. At the rival service, I felt like the preacher was preaching just to me and thought my Mother or someone told him about me. (They didn’t, this was the first time he even seen me) Close to the end of the service, this preacher walked off the stage and came up to me and said God told him to give me all he had in his wallet, and pulled out $9.00 to give me. I said thanks, but I can’t take all your money, and refused to take it. Besides, what good would $9.00 do for me when I needed more like $9,000.00? But, he persisted and told me to please don’t cheat him out of his blessing. I didn’t understand how I was going to cheat him out of his blessing, but he was persistent and looked like he was about to cry, so I took his money and thanked him for it. I realized later what this was all about. God was trying to tell me he was going to take care of my financial problems, as well as the Preacher’s need. He had an old car that was broke down and was in need of a new car. And I was in need of a job and was losing our house. (It was years later that I found out God blessed that preacher with a new car the very next day. I ran into him again at a different service and he was telling his story about how God blessed him with a new car after being obedient by giving his last dollar away)
And now, I would like to tell you what God did for me.
First, he delivered me from alcohol and drugs, which was the root cause of my problems! This alone was a miracle because I tried to quit a number of times, but would always fail. This time I had no desire for it. I was also a heavy smoker, which I was also delivered from and didn’t even realize it until I seen a pack of cigarettes on my dresser a week later. The day after the revival I decided to drive to Tulsa to a company I worked for in my early years as a welder to see if I could hire out. I knew the pay would not be anything like I used to make overseas or what I made welding on pipelines with my welding rig, but it would put groceries on the table. Upon arriving at this shop, I found the same foreman I use to work for was still there and he hired me on the spot. The pay was not much more than minimum wages at $6.00 an hour. But I was glad to get it and worked just as hard for that $6.00 an hour as I did when I worked my rig or overseas. On the day our house was to be auctioned, I felt the urge to call the lawyer that represented the mortgage company one more time, although I was not able to work things out in the past. It was 4:00 pm and the sale was at 5:00, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to reach him. But, I did, and he surprised me with his response. He said if he owned the house, he would just give it to me, but since he couldn’t do that, he told me what to do, and how to do it, giving me case numbers etc. and where to file it and send him a copy. He said this would delay things for 30 days and maybe give me some time to work things out. I was really feeling good about this, but at $6.00 an hour I also knew I wouldn't make enough in 30 days to do much good. However the next week at work, I seen a crew I haven’t seen before loading a truck with steel, and rigging up some field trucks and welding rigs. I asked where they were taking those welding rigs, they said they had a contract to build a water tower out of town. I seen a chance to get my welding rig on and went to talk to the owner of the company about using me and my truck. He refused at first and said he already had all the equipment and his field crew. I told him I still had my contractors insurance and by him using me and my rig, he could even save money. He had to pay his crew to stay in motels during the week and all their expenses and the insurance on them, and this job was within driving distance from my house. He finally agreed, so my wages almost tripled, and with the hours they would be working, my wages would be almost 5 times of what I was making in the shop. We had most all the tower fabricated, but not welded when weather set in. The field crew had went home for the week-end and decided to not risk driving on the icy roads and delayed the job until the weather would clear up. But the owner of the company called me and said since it is mostly just welding left, if I could make it out to the site, to go ahead and work all I could. I was alone and had to work at heights, which is not allowed today, but I put in 90 to100 hours a week and made some big checks. I almost welded the thing out by myself. By the time 30 days rolled around and I had to answer the mortgage company, I at least had something to take to the table to offer the mortgage company. It wouldn’t catch me up, but it was a couple payments, and I was praying they would accept that. They did, only on the condition that I would make two payments every month until I got caught up. I agreed, but knew the water tower was almost finished, and if I had to go back in the shop, it would not be enough. I would have to trust God. The day we finished the water tower, I went home thinking I would be going back in the shop the next day. But my Mother called that evening and said someone called her number trying to locate me and left his number. (I had moved around a lot changing my number, but didn't know who would be calling my Mother’s number) It was a friend that I met in Norway 5 or 6 years earlier, and he was now a welding foreman on a lay barge in Mexico and wanted to know if I would come down and work for him. Of course I agreed and went to the shop to give my notice. They said they understood and thanked me for helping them finish the water tower. (there is another story here; I went in business years later and gave this shop a lot of work that bailed them out when they really needed the work) Anyway, the job in Mexico had been going on for about three years and were supposed to have at least 5 years left, so I left right away to Del Carmen, Mexico. But when I got there, the friend that called me had already left for a better job in South America and left everything to someone I didn’t know. This guy had a lot of his relatives and friends working, so I was kind of an outsider. I did know one welder, but we were not friends. (He had been a welding foreman on another pipeline barge a few earlier and run me off because I was late getting back on the barge. Because of my reputation back then, he assumed I was on a drinking spree or something. But, I also had a reputation of being a good welder, so when the foreman on the opposite shift heard this, he called me and told me to take care of my business and come back on his shift, and this made him mad and he tried to put a stop for me coming back after he fired me, but couldn’t. So he didn’t like me very well. To go on with my story, I was only there a week when the welding foreman came by while I was welding on shift and informed me that we were going to finish the day and shut everything down. They were going to keep 6 welders and the foreman for maintenance and may start back up a few months later. We had about 30 welders so that left 24 welders out of work, and the ones cut were cursing and pretty upset. I didn’t expect to stay since I was the last one hired in and it didn’t worry me much because I was depending on God for my finances anyway, not this job. But, I guess it bothered the foreman because he kept apologizing saying he hated it because I turned out to be his best welder and only been there a week. I told him it was OK. I will be fine and don’t feel bad, I understand. I was still welding on the pipeline when he came back 30 minutes later and ask if I wanted to stay a week longer. One of the welders that was chosen to stay was his son-in-law and had been out there for a while and would like to take a week off. I said sure, thanked him and kept welding. About 30 minutes later, he came back and said his son-in-law decided to go back to college and wouldn’t be coming back, and if I wanted, I could stay as long as I wanted. I said I appreciate it and would like to stay, and continued welding. I knew that God had his hand in this because I should have been the first to go, and didn’t even know this foreman. But, it wasn’t over yet, about 30 minutes later he came back by and said, he decided to take off until they started back up with the pipeline, and he already talked to the Super about me taking his place and to increase my pay. This came as a surprise to everyone, including the guy that ran me off years earlier, because he was one of the guys staying and now would be working for me. I could go on, but I have to end this somewhere. Six months later, I had caught up all my mortgage payments and was three payments ahead. I also had the opportunity to witness to some others and read the entire bible during my off time while on this job. Work overseas opened up again and I was called the day my contract was up for renewal. The job lasted much longer, but we were only on 6 month contracts and had the option for renewal. I appreciated that job, but felt it was time to move on. I did go back overseas and later in business. I owned and ran several businesses in the US, but have since sold them and went into management, inspection and consulting as third party for major oil and gas companies. This gives me more freedom and my wife can now travel with me on most of my projects, including overseas. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, the DA that was planning on putting me in prison had other obligations and turned it over to the assistant DA, and all I got was a fine.