Twelve Unforgettable Experiences!

As time moves steadily ahead, I find myself looking back and considering the events that have gotten me to where I am at in this season of time in my life. The order of events may not necessarily be in sequence of importance, but each has played a prominent role in shaping me on the "potter's wheel."

Putting aside my marriage and God's gift to us of three incredible children, what I am about to share is what has shaped my passion, destiny, and hopefully legacy. As I consider the season's of time and experience that God has led me through, I am truly grateful to Him and all that He has given me and allowed me to do.

I can remember, as a young boy of 11 years old sitting in our Civic Center for over 3 hours listening to a crowd chant, "We want Kennedy...We want Kennedy..." It was the 1960 presidential campaign and being young and very impressionable, the aura of 10,000 people crammed into a 5,000 seat arena screaming their heads off for three hours, was indescribable.(I often wondered since just where the fire marshals were). How ironic was it recently, while going through some old newspapers, I found the front page of The Canton Repository newspaper depicting the pandemonium in the civic center that night, and there in the middle of that front page, was me and my mom cheering with everybody else. Yes, the Kennedy mystique won me over and the "Age of Camelot" spoke into my young heart that I too wanted to make a difference some day. It would be some 25 years later that another political giant would speak into my life the importance of public service, for I was blessed to go to the White House twice and be part of political action conferences led by Ronald Reagan. While President Kennedy inspired me to reach for greatness beyond my own abilities, President Regan taught me to laugh at myself and take each day as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I would have to say that these two "political adventures" combined to give me a new found courage to challenge the status quot and change my world.

It was 1968 and the Viet Nam war was about to engulf our nation and the lives of many young men and women. It was then, that I first began to really hear about Jesus in a way that I had never heard before; like He wanted to be my friend and companion. It was during this time of searching in my life that I was introduced to a Methodist youth group by some "born again" friends. Born again...? Never really had heard much about it, but something had begun to transform my quiet little Methodist church into a radically talking and faith believing group of believers that acted and really believed like this Jesus thing really did work. To my amazement, the love and dedication of my friends, and their faith in Jesus and even me, would begin my faith journey that turned me into zealots like them. A short time later, I met an eye doctor and his wife...the Kings, who actually believed in healing and it's present day application. I must say that the Holy Spirit knew what He was doing because Claire and Miriam King became my "spiritual parents" and took me to a whole different level. Over a 3 year period, a small Bible Study that began in their home eventually had over 3,000 people come through their doors. You might ask, "Where did the 100 plus sit each week?" I can tell you that the front yard with open windows and even the bathroom became "pews" with hungry teens and even parents drawn by the love, joy, and victory that was found in the King's home. Many of you reading this blog know exactly what I am talking about, because you came to know Jesus and found your role in the kingdom coming to those wonderful meetings in the early 1970's!

Well, because I don't want to make this too long and bore you, I'm going to pick it back up next week and write about how 5 nations have radically grown my faith and shaped my destiny and the plan that God has for High Mill.

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