James. Inmate at Lancaster Prison
GOD IS WITH US
There is not a more comforting feeling in the world than knowing that I have a relationship with the Father God-Yahweh through His Son and my Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. I am going to spend eternity in Heaven! Can you image what that will be like? I try, but then I am reminded by I Corinthians 2:9. “But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the hearts of man the things that God has prepared for those that love him.”
My testimony may not be so different from anyone else that has experienced the overwhelming joy of receiving Christ into their life as Savior. Yet like other Christians, there is a time order of events that led up to that moment, which I’d like to share with you. I’ll try to be brief as not to lose your interest.
I was adopted by wonderful parents at two weeks old. My father was an Air Force pilot, my mother a schoolteacher. They met while attending Washington University-Huskies! I also have a brother and two sisters who are incredible as well, but I am the only adopted child. My parents adopted me shortly after their baby was still born upon delivery. My mom Joan told me that she flat lined during the delivery for almost a minute due to the loss of blood. She explained having an out of body experience, during those moments watching doctors and nurses frantically trying to resuscitate her, as her spirit drifted above the chaos of medical staff trying to do everything within their medical expertise to revive her.
My mom recalls immediately finding herself in the presence of an overwhelmingly joyous light whom she believed to be the Almighty God. She said the peace she felt in God’s presence surpassed any she could have ever imagined. Then, just as quickly she found herself looking up at the frenetic faces of hospital staff trying to resuscitate her-and then their celebrating upon her return to life. I share my mom’s personal experience because it is one of my earliest memories of learning about God’s Glory at work. I have never forgotten the sharing of her enlightening encounter with God and believed that someday I too would have a life changing experience with the Lord God.
I fast forward my life to when I was just twelve years old. My brother Mike, friend Clark, and myself were returning home from a morning surf session at Zuma Beach. I had just experienced my first tube-ride (When a surfer pulls entirely inside of the curl of the wave) along with the high-pitched whirling sound of the wave’s energy as I had encased myself inside the barrel of the wave. It was exhilarating! So, on the ride home I was entirely in a state of stoke. When out-of-the-blue, I hear a voice, other than the other occupants in the vehicle say, “James, when are you going to come serve me?” I looked at Mike and Clark wondering if they also had heard the voice but there was no verification in their non-verbal’s. I could barely believe what I was hearing but knew it was God’s voice, even though it was the first time I had ever heard it. While somewhat in a state of shock and unsure how Clark sitting next to me would react, I turned toward the door, closed my eyes, and prayed. “God, I promise you that someday I will come serve you.” I was startled by this experience but it made me feel very special that the Creator of the universe was calling upon me!
Fast forwarding again to when I was nineteen years of age. My lovely newlywed wife Michelle and I were on our return drive home from having just eloped to Washington State’s Lake Tapp’s. We were driving through the majestic Shasta Mountains on the narrow two-lane highway when suddenly the car veered left as if the front left tire went flat. I pulled off into an emergency area on the side of the highway and stepped out of the red 76 Buick, with the primer red driver’s side, to investigate. As I looked down at the front driver’s side wheel awkwardly tilted toward me, and the wheels bearings laying in the dirt at its base. I immediately began thinking of the $60.00 in my pocket, just enough money for the gas to get us back to So-Cal. I thought to myself, what am I going to do to get us home safely? I then heard my bride Michelle singing and praising God, so I looked into the car and explained, “Honey, all the bearings have fallen out of the front wheel and we don’t have enough money for a tow-truck or to have it repaired.” She continued with her praise, so I decided the only thing I could do would be to nurse the car along the shoulder eight miles back to the town of Shasta where I’d try to find a mechanic.
I was finally able to make it to the other side of the highway from the emergency area as cars flew past us at over 70 miles per hour. It was a frightening experience! The car’s front end literally bounced as I creped along the side of the highway. As I drove, Michelle continued singing and praising God, to my dismay. Then, all of a sudden, the car began rolling normally, slowly but normally, all the way back to town and the mechanic garage. After waiting for about an hour, the mechanic’s approached me, scratching his head while looking totally perplexed. He said, “I don’t know how you got back here. There were no ball bearings in the wheel. If you had driven another hundred feet or so the wheel would have welded itself right to the axel. You were extremely lucky. I am only going to charge you twenty bucks for the repair.” I couldn’t believe it as I looked back toward my wife smiling and continuing to sing and praise the Lord. I knew on that day God had his hand on us and that it wasn’t just luck. Once we returned home, I asked Jesus to come into my life as Savior, and lived fervently for Him, yet with.one foot in the world by continuing to smoke marijuana.
Several years later, I began to lose the zeal in which I once served God, resorting to my secular, selfish ways of alcohol and drug addiction. After being given numerous chances to change, Michelle left with our 2-year-old daughter Genevieve to Canada, along with her mother. Losing my Christian wife and daughter destroyed me inside. My life felt empty without them. So, I drove all the way to Canada in my 69 VW bus looking for them, but to no avail. A few years later I went to prison for 6 years, paroled, stayed out for eight years, and then shot and murdered my dear friend during a week-long sleep deprived meth and alcohol related psychosis. As a result of these actions, I was sentenced to Life-With-Out-Parole plus 30 years. Today, I continue .to grieve the devastation I have caused the family and friends of my victim. Today it is still hard for me to believe that I murdered an innocent human being! Shortly after arriving in prison, I realized I needed to change from the piece of garbage I had become into the father, son, and brother that my children and family had once loved and respected, so I got to work.
I wasn’t entirely sure I was saved, so I got down on my knees and asked Jesus to come into my life as Savior. Once arriving in Lancaster State Prison, I joined the church of Emmanuel. As a member of the Church and through my relationship with God, I learned a lot about my identity in Christ, and my calling to go forth and save the lost. And while I have only led a few people to Christ while in Lancaster State Prison, I continue sharing the joy that I receive every day while serving Him. I am so in love with God that I wouldn’t trade my relationship with Him for anything, including my freedom. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord all the days of our life.
Today, I continue serving God with all my heart, soul, and strength. As a result, He has delivered me from a 28-year addiction to drugs and alcohol. On May 20, 2019, I will have 14-years sobriety! And while my adult daughter and three adult sons’ no longer write to me, and my family continues to keep me at arm’s length, I continue praising Him and thanking Him for the amazing things He does in their life and my own.
I currently attended Sunday Protestant Service with Claudia and Dr. Timothy Emerick. I am learning everyday how to walk with my Savior and Lord Jesus! Thank you for taking the time to read my testimony. If you haven’t received Christ, please do. You’ll experience un- surpassed joy.
GOD IS WITH US