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A LOVE THAT RESTORES... Part 4- When Heaven and Earth Collide

By
Industry Observer

The end of my music career had come 5 years before the day that time stood still for me.

                                                                                The Day the Music died...

50's

I had spent the last 7 years or so playing with a regional band that had been together for a long time. It was Pentagon w/Rich Claar along with our 50's show and alter egos Rico & The Ravens. We did really well for a part time band and it was time consuming. Along with running our business it got to be too much and also I was really sick and tired of old rock and roll. It just got long in the tooth. If I had to play another Rolling Stones or Beatles tune... I thought I would die! So I "retired" from music. When many of my musician friends thought it was a temporary break, I assured them if I was ever going to pick it up again, it would be something totally new and different. Wow, the prophetic word there was incredible.

When I quit, I really quit. When someone would ask me if I still pick up the guitar much I'd reply "Yeah, sometimes I need to get something out of the closet and I have to pick it up to get it out of my way." I really didn't touch it for 5 years.

As I stated much earlier, we were attending a church on a semi regular basis. If it were up to my selfish desires, we would attend St. Mattress or Church of the Inner Springs every Sunday, but the family seemed to like going and it really wasn't that bad... besides I liked playing for the softball team. It makes me wonder how many people go to church every week and have absolutely no idea just who God really is...

I was starting to change inside, in the last few months since the incident with our daughter's friend, I was slowing down on my drinking and already I was convicted of the language I was used to using... outside of my kid's earshots... they still overheard a few vulgar words at times. When with friends, I would say 5 curse words to say 10 english. The last party we had, celebrating a friend's 50th birthday, in a drunken stupor one person accidentally exposed his naked back side to our eldest daughter... a sight she says she'll never forget, and thankfully she laughs about now. The Holy Spirit goes before to prepare hearts...

Then the email that would be the catalyst for the greatest change of my life came... Our worship leader at Community Fellowship Church, Rick called me and said:"I hear that you play guitar." I know where he heard that, as a close friend and Godparent to our children attended this church. To back up just a bit, the church was having a Marriage Retreat weekend in Inner Harbor, Baltimore that particular weekend. Bonnie wanted to go because she's never seen Inner Harbor and she thought it might be fun. It was the last place I wanted to be, surrounded all weekend with a bunch of goody two shoe Christians and I whined and complained enough that I wormed my way out of it. The reason that is important is because Rick was pleading with me that he just needed someone on guitar this week only because all the others were at the retreat. Oh man... I tried unsuccessfully to plead the case that I hadn't played in almost 5 years... I don't know the tunes... I was running out of excuses. As Rick said, "if you play with one hand and 3 strings... it will probably sound good." Sounds like someone was pumping me up to him! As it turns out, selfish as I was and with my wife denied what she wanted for the thousandth time, I agreed and figured it wouldn't be that bad. It was just one Sunday.

I received the original music and charts and proceeded to prepare. I noticed a couple of songs in particular that sounded really good. I was surprised at how good these songs sounded... and with my out-of-shape fingers already starting to hurt, I did my best... the ego kicked into gear and I decided if I was going to do this, they would get my best effort. And, they did. I "sold" the music just as any good showman would. I remember coming off the platform and the pastor saying "Boy you were full of the Spirit today, that was awesome." or something to that effect. I remember thinking to myself... yeah you Christians are so easily fooled. I wasn't full of anything other than myself and it felt good to have the old ego stroked again.

Once we got home, it was a different story. Bonnie was a little distant and feeling uncomfortable with the whole morning. Then the phone started ringing and people from church were starting to praise me more and tell me I should be on the worship team, they need me and all that. I really knew at that moment it wasn't going to happen but still it bothered Bonnie more with each passing moment. We had an argument about it as she thought I might be entertaining the thought of doing it even though I was a complete athiest. Which reminds me how strange it must sound to hear that an athiest would go to church on a semi-regular basis... as my pastor David said later on... I wasn't a very good athiest!

That evening is when every cell in my body was suddenly and abruptly changed! (See previous post) After having words with my wife, I went for a drive to smoke and cool off. That's when the power of God fell upon me in a most unexpected way. I don't remember pulling out and I don't remember pulling back in. It was what some would call a "Damascus experience". I left the house a Saul, and returned a very confused Paul. I was given a gift no man can give, a heavenly vision. In a matter of minutes, I met Jesus, He showed me the beginning, the end and all the answers to all the questions I ever had about God. The funniest thing I remember Him showing me was Nike sneakers... and the question He asked me was "How did my Word spread throughout the world in a time when the most common mode of transportation was leather thonged hiking, not to mention the whole world wanted to kill anybody speaking of Me... they didn't even have Nike sneakers, and yet My story spread like a wildfire in California during Santa Ana winds! The only answer was it was real. He then showed me 3 things that were going to happen to me. Number one: I was going to tell my father all about this. (Yeah right, the scariest guy in the world I knew, a lifelong athiest- or so I thought) Number two: Start practicing my guitar and learning songs because I would be leading worship soon... not just helping out. (Yeah right, fat chance... I retired and besides we had a worship leader at our church) and Number 3: This life is all about relationships. I was going to start healing relationships from my past and He would make it happen. (Remember, I hated people!- That would be a miracle!)

OK, deep breath time! I was sitting in my garage and the only way I knew I was back and not just leaving... I smelled like smoke. I was thinking one of two things just happened... either I just totally went bonkers and lost my mind or God is very real. I went with the latter. I've seen the psychiatric wards (visiting not residing). I was more sane than I've ever been in my life and I can't remember ever feeling so warm and fuzzy, shaky but yet at peace and more full of joy than a thousand bong tokes ever did for me! I felt so loved.

Next: Sharing it with my family and others...

ACTS 2:17" 'In the last days, God says,
      I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
   Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
      your young men will see visions,
      your old men will dream dreams.

Comments (6)

Terry Miller
Miller Homes Group - Tyler, TX
Miller Homes Group and Tyler Apartment Locator

Great post and inspirational. Thanks for the wonderful story and have a great week.

Oct 12, 2009 01:47 AM
Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

Each of us have our own story if we look for it.  Yours is a wounderful encounter with God. 

Oct 12, 2009 02:07 AM
Bob & Bonnie Horning
Mount Joy, PA

Terry, Tim: Thank you for the encouragement and Blessings to you and Keller/Williams... I know a little of the background of your company. I like what they stand for... much success and prosperity to you both.

 

Oct 12, 2009 02:48 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

OHHHHHHHHHHHHH MANNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!  I cried and laughed while holding breath.... did not ever want it to end!  Praise the LORD for HIS GOODNESS, KINDNESS, and FAITHFULNESS toward each of us.

Bob, you are blessing me more than you know.  I wish EVERYBODY at Active Rain could read this!  Thank you so much..... and please do not keep us waiting too long for the end! 

Oct 18, 2009 09:58 AM
Bob & Bonnie Horning
Mount Joy, PA

Wow, if you could just spread the word to another 999,997 people, I might make the NYT bestseller list someday. You Bless me with your kind words. I will get to the last part real soon... currently am in production of the next issue. I really do hope and pray this bears some fruit. Thank you.

Oct 19, 2009 08:17 AM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Bob,

Another great testimony( I call these God Incidences). Sorry I just saw this.

Nov 16, 2009 02:37 AM