On Sunday January 27th we had the opportunity to give a brief overview of our journey and our response to suffering.  While I admit that I am in no way qualified any more than the next person, I am nonetheless giving my two bits worth, and am including the transcript of what I 'spoke' through Alvin.  If you want to download an MP3 of the morning Click Here.


My life story really begins and ends with Jesus. 

I can point to a time, in the quiet of a moment of self reflection and assessment when I accepted God’s offer of salvation and life. A time and place that I believe was divinely orchestrated.  It was there, in a Ford LTD outside a church in Smithers in August 1987 that I handed the keys to Jesus and said ‘I’m in for life, no deals or bargaining – all I ask is that you lead and I will follow’.  I had no home, no job no money and no clue to the depth of the adventure that I was embarking on .  Up to that point I had been guilty of trying to be a christian by going to church– as in if  I hung around in the cookie jar long enough I could become a cookie.

That moment marked the change in everything in my life.  It was then that I decided to come to Abbotsford.  It was there that I met the girl who was to be my bride.  The thought I had was immediate – I should marry her.  I remember turning to my friend and saying ‘I could never marry her’.  He looked back with most peculiar look on his face – as if I had told him I was a boiled egg.  I know that whisper now to be the voice of the Holy Spirit but back then I Had no clue.

When I arrived in Abbotsford it was like I was coming home – it just felt right.  My prayer was simple – ‘lord, if you want me to stay here, I need a full time job that pays $8 / hr and a furnished room and board situation for less than 350 a month and I need to know within 3 days’.  The next day was Monday and for an unknown reason I was driving along Fraser hwy just past Ross road at 6:50 am.  I remember driving past Ross road then the next thing I know I’m putting my car in park in front of the office of a truss company where the Automall now sits.  I was dazed and confused – even more when I felt prompted to go in the office and ask for a job.

The conversation went something like this

I barged and demanded ‘who’s in charge of hiring?’
One of  the office staff looked at  me and, pointing to another said ‘That would be Bruce’
I walked over and said ‘are you bruce/  I need a job’
He raised his eyebrows and said  ‘that’s nice’
Then he pulls out an application form and continued ‘if you fill this out we’ll give you a call if something comes up’
Not to be deterred I stammered ‘I can start right now…’
He must have thought I was a bit nuts ‘that’s nice , but we don’t need anyone right now.  Fill it out and…’
At that moment another guy pops his head in the back door of the office and hollers
‘Hey Bruce, Bill just quit.  You got anyone you can get for the 7:00 shift?”
He turned to me and said ‘this must be your lucky day, come with me/’

Guess what  - it was full time 8.50 an hour

I still needed a place to stay, and that happened the next day – a furnished room and board situation for 300 a month.

I guess for me that marked the beginning of my journey as a follower of this mysterious god that I had committed my life to and since that time my life.
 
In 1994 I was in the top 2.5 % of salesmen selling life insurance when I felt like god told me to quit.  I was in shock –

 I said ‘and do what?’  the answer was almost immediate ‘ be available for worship’.

I said to god ’ya but I know what the bible has to say about that ‘a man who does not work shall not eat’  it’s one of the proverbs.  I felt pretty smug about quoting a scripture to god.

I you ever decide to get into a scripture quoting contest with god, you will lose.  It was like god said ‘okay smarty pants, read this – I flipped open my, bible and read

‘However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.’

Jaclyn said something like ‘but you can’t spend righteousness at the grocery store – god, you’ll have to speak to me too’
She read ‘I will bend down from heaven, with my own hand I will feed you!”
Needless to say, I quit. It was only one hour my boss had been fired and the Abbotsford Office had been closed.  That afternoon I started my computer company and by days end I had enough work for a week.

The following week I was asked to consider playing keyboard with brian doerksen in a band that was going to tour across Canada 

I had a list of reasons why I couldn’t go –
I had never played in a band before
I was a classical player, not a rock and roll guy
I had just quit
I had no money
I didn’t own a keyboard

 but  I said I was willing to go.

 Brian’s answer was ‘if god orders the pizza, he’ll pay for it.

The trip was incredible.  It was like nothing I had ever experienced – being a part of the Canadian body of Christ from coast to coast, and watching god provide for our needs.  One of the things I had to commit to was purchasing a keyboard that was loaned to me by Yamaha Canada upon my return.  We had no way of affording it but again felt god’s leading to just do it.  At the half way point in our trip we were in PEI and officially heading home when it hit me – “I was somehow going to have to raise 3600 cash by the time we were home.”  That afternoon I was informed by Alvin Epp that the abbotsford vineyard had received a gift from the estate of June Monahan to purchase the keyboard -  the amount was within a few dollars of what the total bill was.

Our lives have been one continuous God story. Our jobs, our finances, our personal lives – god has been taking care of us in a truly amazing manner.

Now we are in the midst of a truly difficult time – one that has challenged us in ways that I have never thought I would be tested.  What began as a minor impediment to my speech has rapidly escalated into the greatest threat that we have ever faced.  Late last fall I was diagnosed with ALS.  As I reflect on what I have experienced thru this latest chapter, it occurs to me that I am a truly wealthy man – I am surrounded by you, family and friends who continually humble us by giving of yourself to help us with food, visits, prayer, encouragement and all manner of support. 

My response is the same as it was at the beginning

‘I’m in for life, no deals or bargaining – all I ask is that you lead and I will follow’