I grew up in a non-religious home during the 1950's and 1960's and like a lot of young men, I really was not sure what I wanted to do with my life.  I thought about joining the service but my mother did not want me to be involved with Vietnam, so I joined the United States Air Force instead.  Joining the Air Force turned out to be a good thing in some aspects, as it really helped me to grow up and mature as a young man.  During my enlistment, I decided to get married and my wife and I had a child together. 

          I really thought I had it going on for myself, that is until my wife informed me that she wanted to end our marriage.  I guess in hindsight, I should have seen it coming, as I probably was not the worlds greatest husband.  Nevertheless, I was devastated when she informed me that she wanted a divorce and I felt like my whole world was crumbling apart and crashing down upon me.  I honestly did not even feel like living at that point of my life, as I felt like I had lost everything. 

          When I called my mother and informed her of the news, my mother's first words was that she would pray for me.  I remember standing in the phone-booth and sobbing like a baby, when I noticed a piece of paper on the ground.  Instinctively, I picked up the piece of paper and read what was on it.  Written on that piece of paper was the Bible verse John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal Life."  I immediately fell to my knees and cried out and asked for God's help.  It is a day and time in my life that I will never forget as long as I shall live, as I experienced the presence of the Lord for the very first time.  It became crystal clear to me that Jesus was alive and that He was real!  I could sense that He really cared about my present condition and that He would never leave me or forsake me. 

          Jesus, the great Savior of the world, arrived in the nick of time and rescued me during one of the lowest points of my life.  Since this amazing encounter with the Lord, I have had my ups and downs in life but I know that Jesus will always be there with me through the thick and thin.  I am forever grateful for what the Lord has done for me and the many blessings  in my life; there are simply no words to describe it or no way that I could ever possibly repay Him.  Jesus is truly amazing!