| Tellyourtestimony URL: |
| http://www.tellyourtestimony.com/Sam |
|
| Sam's Journals |
|
Sam does not current have any journals.
|
|
| Marketplace Ministry |
|
Promote and advertise your business, events, music and talents. Posting is Free.
|
|
Sam does not current have any ads/events.
|
|
|
Sam's Comments:
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/28/2009 2:17:25 PM
Hey Sam, it's good to be TYT friends ! Thanks for your transparency in sharing your testimony. I thank God for Saving you from ALL your addictions, Amen. Your testimony gives so many others hope for a life in Christ, and your life is an example of God's never failing, abounding Grace and Mercy, Amen. Brother, you and I both have Biblical names of Mighty Men of our Faith, right ? May God continue to strengthen you and use you mightily for His Kingdom, Amen. J.o.y in Him, David.
|
|
|
|
| Status Update |
Sam is enjoying life!
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Status Update - Scott")
|
friends 49 hours ago...
|
|
has lost 27 lbs since mid May! Feeling GREAT! 268 hours ago...
|
|
has lost 23 lbs since mid May!!! I feel better than I have felt in a very long time! 4 hours ago...
|
|
has lost 20 lbs in just over 5 weeks now! 4 minutes ago...
|
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Status Update - TYT")
|
TYT is so amazed at the awesome testimonies! Keep storing up your rewards in heaven. 4 minutes ago...
|
|
|
| Sam's Testimony |
|
I grew up in a home with alcoholic parents, and there was always liquor and beer around the house. I started drinking when I was 5 and used to steal beer or liquor and give to other kids in elementary school. My parents drug us or dropped us off at church, but I hated suits & ties, and thought the place was filled with hypocrites like my parents.
I remember getting drunk at parties my friends would have in their basement when I was 11 or 12. At 13, I found my Dad's stash of Playboy magazines, which began a 30-year adventure into pornography. In high school, even though I made good grades, I was caught selling beer and wine from the trunk of my car, and almost suspended. High school began an addiction I developed to sex, and my adventure into marijuana, all of which formed my focus and desires in life - to get high, get stoned, and sleep with as many girls as I could (in any particular order). I actually prayed a prayer on the back of a tract when I was 17, but never learned or grew in the Christian faith. The continuing of my sinful habits were like weeds that choked that part of my life away.
While I was in college, I got a job in law enforcement, and put the dope away, but continued carousing and drinking - that was my life. Work was a big part of it, but the rest of life was all about me, and fulfilling my wants and needs (he who dies with the most toys wins).
At 35, I found an amazing woman willing to settle down with me, and I stopped my promiscuity, except for lusting after other women, justified with "it's healthy for men to look at attractive females", and Internet pornography (it's not hurting anyone). After 5 years of marriage and a move to another city, she wanted to find a local church, and we found one that was tolerant of drinking, even had beer keg parties on church fishing trips, and brought liquor into the ball games we attended. I kinda liked that church cause I could enjoy my sin without feeling ashamed.
In 2001, after a move to GA, my wife wanted to find a church. We visited 15 or so churches, then ended up at an "alive" church - where people seemed to enjoy worship and seemed to be authentic. The message was about "Abiding in Christ" and the pastor said "you can't abide in Christ and be living in willful sin", and "Does your thought life honor God?", and "you might think nobody knows what you're doing on the Internet, but God knows", and "Is Jesus Christ in control of your life, or have you pushed Him out with your sin?" He read two Bible verses "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full", and "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". The message seemed to be written for me, my life had been stolen, and I was so far from free. I was in a cold sweat, my heart was beating fast and loud, and tears welled up in my eyes as I asked Jesus Christ to forgive me of my sin and be in charge of my life.
This church was different than others I had been to - they wanted to help you grow as a believer, to help you with your struggles, including pornography and chemical dependency, and wanted to intentionally establish community and accountability in people's lives. I got into God's Word, small group, began serving in God's church, joined a men's discipleship group, and began sharing my faith in Christ with others. It took me a year, a the wonderful, free, Setting Captives Free ministry, for God to set me free from the chains of lust, pornography, and self-gratification. I've been free from alcohol since the day I prayed to Jesus in the back of that church - now 7 years.
I love reading the Bible, and crave authentic Biblical community. I'm far from perfect - just a work in progress, but it amazes me where He's led me. I've grown enough in knowledge and maturity to lead mission teams, to mentor men struggling with sexual sin, to start ministries, and to teach other people how to share their faith. It's not about me, but looking back, it amazes me to see where God has brought me and used me. I'm not some special individual - God wants to help everyone reading this to overcome their issues and addictions, to seek and follow His plan for their life, and He wants to use you to help His kingdom in some manner. That's why He created you.
"And we can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments. If someone claims "I know God", but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."
1 John 2:3-6
|
|
Sam's Testimony Info
|
|
Which categories of people did you belonged to before you were saved?
|
The Partier, Other, The Self-Focused
|
| Who have been your best examples? |
Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, Andy Stanley, Sumner Wemp, Mike Cleveland, Bill Fay, Mark Cahill,
|
| List books, music or ministries that have helped your walk: |
More Than a Carpenter, One Heartbeat Away, Pure Freedom: Breaking the Addiction to Pornography, Share Jesus Without Fear, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, The Case For Christ, How Good is Good Enough, One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven, Walk the Walk.
|
| List ministries you are involved with: |
Soul Winning Attack Team, Setting Captives Free-Way of Purity, Bill Glass Champions for Life, Christian Motorcyclists Assn., Angel Tree, Crossroad Bible Institute,
Crossroads Church Prison Ministry, Impact Discipleship Minitries, Crossroads Bikers
|
| List ministry websites: |
crossroadsbikers.org/links.htm
|
Church:
Church website:
|
|
| Prayer requests: |
That I would continue to grow in Christ, and look for and follow His plan for my life, rather than my own.
|
| Occupation/Business/School: |
|
| Business Website: |
|
|
|
|
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Sam")
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Commends - David")
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Friends - Anthony")
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Friends - Steve")
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Friends - PROPHET JOHNNY JOHNNY4CHRIST")
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Friends - Joey")
.jpg "Tell Your Testimony - Friends - Harry")
