Maybe my longest blog entry

Well I have been thinking of writing on this subject for quite awhile now but did not feel the time was right or that I would be able to find the proper words or context to write about it
   Since I am not from Fort McPherson I didnt have the the priviledge of knowing Jonathon Andre well. I believe I met him once when he and his father James delivered some Christmas Hampers for us at the Co-op. I'm sure that James offered to do this so he could drive his spanking new truck around lol.
  All I knew of him was he was a boxer from here and that he had lived a life of wrong choices and had turned his life over to Christ and was doing a great job as an ambassador for Jesus and as a role model for the youth of not only Fort McPherson but all over. I still recall when I came back in March and James picked me up at the airport and the great talk we had while driving back to McPherson about Jonathon and Christ and the wish of Jonathon to bring the good news to young people here who may have been struggling or going down the same road he had travelled.
 I was here when Jonathon had his first pro fight and remember feeling proud to be living here like everyone else was when he won his first two fights.
  I remember just three months after I came back sitting at the complex for Jonathons memorial service and being inspired and moved by the preaching of Pastor Pruden and the testimony that Jonathon spoke of. The testimony of grace and forgiveness. He didn't only speak it. He lived it as well. I remember Pastor challenging us who were there to embrace the truth as the Truth shall make you free. It can and will free you from the anger, hurt and unforgiveness in our lives. Jonathon spoke of this in his testimony when recalling how he was praying for the man who had murdered his sister years prior.
   Those words about wanting our lives to make a difference and to someone the young people in town can turn to when they need to talk or need help touched me as I want to be known as someone who when people need help that they can know I was there for them.
   The Bible says Nothing we can do or have ever done can seperate us from the Love Christ has for us. For me this is such comfort because I am far from perfect and knowing no matter how much I screw up that I God never gives up on me. I really want the legacy of Jonathon to shine in my life even though I didnt know him. I want to be a forgiving person, a loving person, a person who tried to make a difference in the lives of people I came into contact with.
  Again I was reminded of this by the testimony of Canadian boxing Champ Kris Andrews who travelled similar roads to Jonathon and also found grace, freedom and forgiveness through Christ, The Time has come people of McPherson for self examination.The time has come to let go of the hurt in each of our lives, The anger and sadness and unforgiveness. Its time to let that go its only hurting ourselves.
  I went through my parents seperating even though my dad was a pastor and being a follower of Christ, a time of me being so angry at God for not answering my prayers the way I wanted. I went through a time of addiction and suicide attempts and bad relationships only to find that void in my life was still there. Eventually after years of prayers and love from many people and me realizing that God loved me and would still forgive me for the way I had been living was I able to work through the unforgiveness, bitterness and hatred that had consumed me. I have found time and time again that God is faithful. He always shows up right on time even when we don't deserve it.
  So Having travelled down some of the same issues as many other people if the Lord can use me to help someone or to inspire a group of people to know they to can overcome whatever issues are in their lives then I am willing. I have had the opportunity to share my story both to groups and individuals and I believe they were helped and encouraged. I believe its important to share our stories of trials and victories as the Bible Says we defeat Satan by our lives and by the words of our testimony.

  Anyways this is alot longer then I intended so I hope this can encourage people and let them know that you to can make it no matter what is going on in your life right now.