As of late I've been doing some reading. I've been reading things that displease me. Things that I find disturbing. Whatever the case, I felt it necessary to write this. This is my own personal story. Meaning your opinions and ideas may not be welcomed. Lets start with...

My Military Service:

I served in the United States Marine Corps. Yes there it the joke that the Marines removed our brains and put them in a jar later to be reissued, but never reissued. But I remember my training like it happened last week. I distinctly remember my Heavy telling us to take some initiative. I remember being told not to be a mindless idiot. While boot camp was good for making Marines, when It was done, I was still and individual.

So life was good in the old USMC. I was a sinner. A religious one but a sinner none the less. By the time I got to Camp Pendleton, CA,my life took a turn for the worse. I did things I said I never would. These "sins" made me miserable. My life was a total mess. I fell into a state of depression. I was supposed to be happy! I was not. This was all due in whole to this burden of sin I had racked up and I KNEW IT!!!

Something wonderful happened. Someone stole some of my clothes out of the laundry room. This angered me. So I started sitting in the laundry room when my clothes needed cleaning. It was one of the times that some guys invited me out to their church. I turned them down. They persisted. In my mind, I thought don't they get it! I said I have a church!! (I hadn't been there in a few months, but I did have one.) Then while I was thinking on this God spoke to my heart and said, "You might as well go, you're not going to your church any way". So I relented and agreed to come.

My First Service In A New Testament Christian Church:

I walked in and sat down. I mean mugged everyone that looked my way. Everybody wanted to smile and know my name. I do not know why this bothered me so much. They were only being nice. (I know love when I see it! This was LOVE!! They made me feel welcome. It is this same love that keeps me a member today.) Then the preacher got up to preach. I thought to myself, why is this white man trying to preach like he's black. Then I began to have other thoughts. Thoughts that I voiced to NO ONE. Even as I thought these things, the preacher would say what I'm thinking, word for word. I distinctly remember this happening two or three times. I immediately wanted to tell the guy that brought me out, "You told the Pastor all about me"!?! But I realized that this man was preaching my thoughts. I knew then that God had my number. I'll never forget that service, even though I have no idea what was preached.

At work I began to think about changing my life. I knew I needed to change. I came to Camp Pendleton thinking I could escape the life I lived in Okinawa, Japan. Only to realize I didn't need to change location. I needed to change me. I found this change in church as I gave my life back to God. The man that prayed with me told me that God laid this upon his heart. I need to move into the serviceman's home. Shortly there after I did.

The Serviceman's Home:

the serviceman's home was a sweet, spiritual refuge. My first night there, my sleep could only be described as Godly. It was like God literally tucked me in. I believe this was the Holy Ghost's way of confirming to me that this was the right place. This was where I needed to be. After living in the serviceman's home for a while and participating in spiritual activities, the barracks changed to me. As a Marine, I was required to maintain a room in the barracks. So I was bouncing back and forth. But when I went to the barracks, I felt like there was a force there. like an invisible shroud over the whole area. It was in the barracks that I experienced that temptation to smoke. To go get with the ladies. To do drugs and get wasted out of my mind. There were things that went on in the barracks that would make you blush. Shameful, depraved, sinful, and morally bankrupt were many activities there. Things that even to this day, I cannot believe that this is going on here.

The serviceman's home was not so. We were Marines, but we were respectful. We studied the word of God to learn what God required. We were able to live life as a Christian without the constant bombardment by the enemy of our souls to live in sin. We learned that you can joke and have fun without being vulgar and intoxicated. But most importantly God was there. I remember the exciting church services. I remember the Holy Ghost inspired messages. I remember seeing people's life change for the better. God truly is good! I am blesses to have led to my church and I am happy to be apart! *from my drafts circa April 16th, 2010.