My Conviction and Conversion

Yesterday, the 911 emergency calls from September 11th were released. Out of curiosity, I decided to listen to some of them. Within 30 seconds of hearing the first one, I was crying and couldn't listen to anymore. I heard with my own ears, a terrified woman that was afraid to die and out of options. That recording touched me deeply and I still can't get those sounds of desperation out of my head. When we were attacked in 2001, I was working for a coal company and spending alot of time in the hills of eastern Kentucky as an exploration geologist. Spiritually, I had no relationship with God but being raised Baptist, I thought I was a Christian because at 11 years old, I "Got Saved" so to speak. After 9/11, I started feeling something in my soul that was stirring me and making me miserable. I couldn't put my finger on it but I knew there was something that I was missing and I had to have it, whatever "it" is.

In November 2001, I was standing on a hill in Breathitt County talking to a bull dozer operator (Rickey) about where I wanted a road and a site built for a drilling rig. Somehow, we got around to talking about the tragedy in New York. I remember telling him that, "Those terrorists thought they would be ushered into heaven for what they did in the name of Allah, but they thought wrong and ended up in the hottest hell that has ever burned." It was at that moment when Rickey looked me dead in the eye and told me, "Your hell will be no different than theirs." What? I told him that I was saved when I was 11 years old. He quickly responded with, "You've said and done some things that tell me you're not saved." By this time, I couldn't wait to get away from him, so I told him to get to work, jumped in my truck, and headed off the hill.

I had to work with Rickey for the next month so I avoided him like he had the plague and only talked to him, very shortly I might add, one more time. But, that's when the conviction kicked in! Now I was miserable and I thought about what he said to me all of the time. I was mad but also felt guilty. All in all, I was a total wreck. I had been going to church with my wife (a Christian) for a few months and there was some turmoil going on betwen the new Pastor and the congregation, so I decided to go talk him and let him know that I liked what he was doing and I supported him.

At our meeting, he asked me how long I had been a Christian. I told him how I was saved young but had not lived like it through the college years and especially lately. To make a long story short, I gave myself to the Lord that night and have been in his service ever since. Did it make everything perfect? Spiritually yes because he made me a new creation and gave me a new and pure heart. But, now the Enemy was upset to lose what he had claimed so the battle insued. Actually, the battle is still going on today but I can fight it with Jesus, my wife, and a warrior culture of brothers around me. Praise God for being patient, forgiving, and extending his hand of grace and forgiveness to yet another child that had gone along on his own merits.

And as for Rickey: I went months without talking to him because he worked for a different company and I didn't even know his last name. However, when an opening popped up, I made sure to locate him and I hired him to work for me!