Well, it all started when I was a cheeky 10 year old and I had a very small sail boat that was so slow. A man came to stay next door with this great twin hulled boat that just flew along. I was impressed just standing at the waters edge watching this man having a ball. The wind was very strong and when he came in I was straight over to him, "Can I have a go?" He was reluctant but after I told him how good I was and he had seen me in my little boat he agreed.
Well, I got on this thing all cranked up and thought "I'm going to get this thing flying!" And I did. Well I got on this boat and went like the wind until I was out a long way, then I hit a fishing net which stopped the boat and turned it on its side. I was tangled in the net for a short while. When I looked up I saw the boat and got up on the centre board to right it as I had seen people do and whoosh! ...up it came but thew me back into the water. When I looked up again the boat was slowly sailing away from me. I tried to catch it but could only swim as fast as the boat and soon realised I wasn't going to catch it and should just save my strength.
Well, as I came up on top of the waves I could see a gathering of people on the beach like little people and mum and dad and my sisters were there. After swallowing lots of water I raised my hand over my head and waved goodbye to them. I thought I was going to die now and the panic all went away and I had a real peace about drowning and then I prayed.
I don't know what a lot of people will think about this one but I said to God if he was real and let me live I would do his work for him, what ever he wanted. But I wanted to live a life first. I wanted to do lots of things... travel, party, all sorts. Now remember, I'm 10 years old here, so I said "If you let me live and experience all the things I want to do, then I will come and work for you when I'm old, about 40."
It felt like my wrist was grasped and I was held just out of the water and then I heard a voice. I was near death here and I thought it was God talking to me but it was the owner of the boat I had borrowed. He had managed to grab someones kayak like a closed in cannoe and was right there telling me to take it easy and to grab the paddle. He didnt have to tell me twice:) And I don't remember much for a while. I think I may have passed out. The next thing, I am in a small rowing boat and my dad is rowing and I'm hanging over the back chucking my heart up and I mean really getting a clean out here:) And my dad is laughing so loud and pulling on those oars. He is so happy I'm still with them.
Well, we landed on the beach safely away from all the people. I think my dad went way down there on purpose so I would have plenty of space. I soon forgot all this and every now and again I would remember my promise. And then at one point I remember shrugging it off like that was just rubbish.
And I did indeed travel much of the world and do many things, good and bad. (More like great and real bad). I have seen a lot and then at 38 I met the devil face to face and it was like we were going out for a night on the town and we were mates. Not long before this Sue, who was my girl friend, had come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. She was praying for me and of course my promise had come back to me and I was angry at it all. I just wanted to keep going the way I was but at the same time realised it was all meaningless.
Well, I felt something in my house this particular night and became frightened. I had just stopped seeing Sue as she had gone all funny on me with all this new Jesus stuff she had just found but I was afraid at the feeling I had in my house, so I rang her up but she didnt want me to go over to her place but after I had talked to her for quite some time she said "OK. But if you are coming into my place I want the pastor of my church to come over to talk to you." So we agreed.
As I got into my car and headed off down the road I looked over and saw a big wolf like creature sitting beside me on the passager side of the car. A real ugly monster! And as I arrived at Sues house and went up the driveway, this thing which I'm sure was thinking we are off for a night on the town, just leaped out through the door and was running along the edge of Sues property looking real angry that I was there. And as I got to her door, the pastor she had rang came roaring into the driveway with tyres squealing to a stop and then one of the decons from their church did the same. These guys knew something was really happening here.
We went inside and I allowed them to pray for me and they lead me to place where I met the Lord and gave my heart to Jesus. I layed a lot of stuff down at the cross that night and my life is so totally changed. I realise now that if I can be saved like this with Gods grace, then we all can be.
I have to tell you I had a real hate for churches at this time. As I had gone through my life, I had had times when I had thought I would go to the church for help. I remember one time (there were many), but I was in Melbourne, Australia. Right in the centre of this city is a great big church and I was in real need emotionally and into drugs at this time as well, not doing a lot of drugs but still smoking pot. Well I saw this big church and was drawn to it and wanted to go in and talk to someone but the big door on the big church was closed and locked up. I couldn't believe it. Here I am wanting to go in and I'm locked out! So I kicked it for a while and yelled all sorts of abuse at this church right in the centre of this big city and nobody even noticed.
And another time, I was in Venice, Italy. They had a guy on the church door who wanted me to pay money to get in and he more or less said to me the more I pay, the closer I will get to God and I would have to get dressed properly as well... no shorts etc.
Well I ended up in a church just after my salvation and was really checking the whole thing out, then all of a sudden I started to sweat profusely. Sue was right next to me and she saw it but nobody else did. As I was standing there and the people were singing praises to God, I got wetter and wetter and ended up in a great puddle of water. It was all over the floor in front of me and I rememberred my promise to God. That is why I want to work for the Lord. There is no burden here at all. I am grateful for all of it.
Keith Donald (Baggi)
yesa@vianet.au
Copyright 1998 Vivian Peek all rights reserved.