If she was going to become 'religious', that was going to completely change our lives, and I was alright as I was! Sue had the good sense to just let me rant and rave (which I did) and then let things settle down.
Prior to this, Sue and I had been amazed at the number of similar things that each of us had recently heard. Sue, by a girl in the village where we lived, and me by someone I had just got to know in my new job.
Both of these people it seemed were Christians, and both were saying things that neither of us had heard before, but that rang true. Dennis in my office was often speaking to me about Jesus and how Jesus could change my life. He was often inviting me, and others in the office, to the church that he went to.
Nobody ever went along until one day he invited several of us along to a meeting to be held in Laindon, and I decided to go.
By now Dennis and I were friends, and he invited my family over to his house on the day of the meeting to share a meal and to meet his family.
The Saturday of the meeting arrived and Sue, I and the kids all had a very pleasant day with Dennis and his family. But as the day went on I felt myself becoming very nervous at the prospect of going to the meeting, not really knowing what to expect.
In fact, when the meeting was underway I started to relax and began to enjoy the singing (there was a husband and wife singing and playing a keyboard on the stage area) until one particular song.'He knows me better than I know myself'.
At that point I began to feel strange, as if something inside was stirred, but I didn't really know what!
When the singing finished, the speaker began to address the congregation. He spoke about Jesus, that He died on the cross to pay the price of my sin and that he had risen from the dead to conquer death. He went on to speak about the disciples in the boat on the stormy sea and how Jesus came to them, walking on the water. I'd heard these stories before. I didn't disbelieve them, but they had never really meant much to me either!
But what was said next, as the speaker continued, did have an effect!
He said that when the disciple Peter (doubting it was Jesus) asked Him to call him also to walk upon the water, Jesus' reply was simply - "come"'.
And Peter did walk on the water!
I was amazed! that just one small word could stir such faith as to be able to step out of the boat, and walk across the water!
When Peter allowed fear to replace faith he began to sink, but immediately Jesus reached out and saved him!
After the meeting some people went to the front of the church for prayer, and following some persuasion I took my son forward. I remember crying when Matthew was prayed for, but not being sure if I believed that anything would really happen.
When the meeting was coming to a close the speaker asked everybody to bow their heads to pray. He then gave the invitation to anybody who wanted to receive Jesus as their own Lord and Saviour, to raise their hand.
I felt my arm begin to rise as if someone was actually lifting it for me!
Afterwards, somebody gave me a copy of the gospel of John and another booklet to read, and he asked me how did I feel now I was a Christian? I said I didn't really know! I didn't feel I was!
That night, I had the worst night's sleep (or lack of) that I have ever had, as every doubt and fear went through my mind. Just like Peter, the faith I might have had earlier was now overcome by fear!
The following evening, I found myself alone as Sue was bathing the kids.
I remembered the books I had been given the night before. The booklet looked the easiest to read, so I started with that.
It told the story of someone who needed rescuing from a perilous situation, and how grateful that person was to their rescuer. I then read the whole of John's gospel.
It all fitted! I needed rescuing! Like the person in the booklet, I was in the perilous situation!
Like Peter on the water, I was sinking in the sea of fear!
And just as for Peter, Jesus was reaching out to save ME!
I prayed there on the spot. I repented of all my sin, asked God to forgive me and invited Jesus in to my heart and into my life as Lord and Saviour!
Oh, how satan would rob us of all joy. I couldn't muster up the courage to tell Sue what I had done. Fear! of what she might say after I had treated her so badly only a few months earlier!
The next day at work, one or two people, knowing I was going to the meeting, asked me how it went.
I said -"it was ok!" And then later in the morning I was asked again and this time I said 'Yes! I've done it!' (become a Christian)
From that moment on I couldn't wait for the day to end!
I wanted to get home to share with Sue what had happened to me! I was so happy!
For the rest of the day my feet were not even on the ground! It was like having little
hovercrafts under my feet!
All the way home I could only think of Jesus!
In tears, full of peace and joy, I drove home the same way I had so many times before, but seeing everything in a completely different way. Seeing my life fitting together perfectly!...because Jesus was doing it.
When I arrived home Sue must have thought a tornado had hit the house as I almost broke the door down in my hurry to get in!
When I told her what had happened to me the joy that filled that house was immeasureable!
We both just praised God for Jesus, and our new lives!
God is faithfull and true to His word, the Bible.
Romans ch 10 v 9 says - "If thou wilt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved!"
I did just that on October 6th 1985 and I am still praising God.
Jesus saved me! He can save you too! Call on him in your need, in your perilous situation. He will reach out to rescue you. He will save you!