I really don't remember when I had my first drink of alcohol; I know I was very young. When I was eight years old, I was sneaking my dad's beer out of the fridge. I liked the way it made me feel. I started using drugs when I was 13 years old. When I was 15, my sister was drugged and raped, and left for dead. She has never been the same since this happened. I tried to escape the reality of my world falling apart around me by numbing the pain. By the time I was 19, I was a full-blown alcoholic and an addict.  When I was 26 years old, I had just sold out my half of a partnership business in Dallas to move back home. I was a very functional alcoholic and addict. My best friend, who I grew up with, and I were drinking and doing drugs to celebrate my return to Oklahoma.

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We got into a wreck, and he was driving. I broke my arm, cracked a few ribs and got banged up pretty good. I lived; he died the next day. This incident started my downward spiral. I would use however much meth it would take not to feel the pain of my brokenness. The feelings always came back. I was becoming a horrible addict. When I was 32, I decided to quit drugs, so I traded that habit for drinking. I never could even imagine living a sober life. I got arrested for my first felony, 2nd offense DUI. I entered the drug court program, trying to keep a felony off my record. I tried to fake it until I made it. I never quit drinking.  I thought I was really good at hiding it. I got another DUI and went to prison. I got out of prison and went right back to drinking. I got married, had a daughter, and became no longer happy in my marriage. I love my daughter so much I tried to stick out the marriage. I started using meth again. My wife got pregnant, and we were going to have a boy.  Two days before my son was born, my wife left me. She couldn't stand the monster I had become. I blamed everybody but me. I found the needle and went from a functional alcoholic and addict to out of control. My own mother put a protective order on me. There I was, sitting in jail; no one wanted anything to do with me. I got out and am spent Thanksgiving by myself, and I tried to overdose.

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When I finally came to, I didn't care about anything or living anymore. I couldn't see my kids; all I could do was try to get my next fix. I found myself living out of my vehicle, eating out of a dumpster. A friend let me stay with him, and I just could not pull myself together. I had warrants in three counties, and I was done with me. I cried out to God. I told Him I can't do it on my own I mess it up every time. I asked Him to reveal Himself to me. I turned myself in to the authorities. I should have been in jail for a year, yet I am free and clear four months later.  Three days after I got out of jail, God showed up. I don't just believe in God; I know He is real. He saved my life and delivered me from drugs and alcohol. I now live my life to serve God and help other alcoholics and addicts learn a new life to live through Christ. I thank God every day for saving me."