I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart at a very young age. However, throughout my teenage years, I didn't want anything to do with God. I spent enough time with friends and family members that I considered to be "Sunday" Christians. Yes, fake hypocrites. I told myself that if this what it means to be a Christian, then I don't want to be one.

Due to all the physical and mental abuse my Mom and I was receiving at home, I moved out when I was 16 years old. My room used to be in the basement. One day I heard my Dad have an argument with my Mom and he hit her. I imediately ran upstairs and saw my Mom laying on the ground. I had never stood up to my Dad before, but that day I told him, "If you want someone to hit on, hit on me" Keep in mind my father was a big guy and a Vietnam Vet. He grabbed me by my throat and lifted me off the ground with one hand. I didn't know it at the time, but my Mom said he was reaching for his kniefe while doing this. I was shoved up against our china cabinet, and when he finally let go, the china cabinet fell and came crashing on the kitchen table. I said, "See what happens"!

Keep in mind, I was a snot nosed kid, and needed discipline. I had a hard time with the rules of the house. I would sneak out and go to parties. After this happened, my father said, "If you don't like the rules then there's the door.

So, I moved out. My senior year in high school I stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment with 5 guys. We partied overy night. Taking drugs and alcohol. I had a job at a restruaunt at nights, then go to school during the day. I graduated high school at the age of 17.

In 1982 I got a DUI. I kept putting off the court date, but I knew I needed to make changes in my life. I wanted to join the military, but I couldn't be on probation. I was sentenced to 1 year of probation, take AA classes, be put on antabuse in which I wouldn't be able to drink alcohol. I could go through this or serve a suspended sentence of 30 days in the county jail. I went before the judge and asked for the 30 days to get it all behind me so that I could join the military. I told her I didn't have any place to stay anyway. I will never forget what she told me. "You really want to go to jail? You do know Mr. Clark, jail is no Motel 6".

So off I go to jail. At the time I had a warrant for my arrest from another County for not paying a hotel bill. So, after 30 days I was free to go. The law states that the other County has 10 days to extradite you to go before their judge. I knew once I was there with no record, they would release me on my own recognizance to make repayment.

While you are locked up in County jail, you learn very quickly you don't want to come back. I was in a small cell with 12 guys, and one toilet in the open for everyone to use. I watched old men come in and say, "Oh, I'm home" This was the best experience for me because I didn't want to come back. We were in our cells 23 hours a day, and only able to walk the hallway 1 hour a day. 1/2 hr. in the morning, and 1/2 hr. in the evening. They handed out books for us to read. I wasn't much of a reader, but a Trustee gave me this book and said you need to read this. He gave me a book titled, THE FOURTH DIMENSION: DISCOVERING A NEW WORLD OF ANSWERED PRAYER, by David Yonggi Cho.

The premise of the book is how to pray and have faith your prayers will be answered. First step is to write down what your needs are and be specific. Describe type, color, etc. Next, you need to pray. It's all about faith. Don't stop praying until you know without a doubt your prayers will be answered. It could be a few minuets, hours, but don't stop praying until you know without a doubt they be answered.

I had already served my 30 days and more, and I am just waiting to be extradited. I wrote down a pretty long list of things I wanted God to do in my life. This was on a Sunday. Top of my list was, "God if your real, prove it" , next was I want LARIMER County to come get me the next day sometime after breakfast, and before lunch. I had just ate my breakfast, and they gave us a chance to walk the hall. I thought about it having a bit of doubt God wouldn't answer my prayers. In the back of my head a heard a voice saying, "Don't you trust me"? It wasn't but 10 minuets later when I was back in my cell I heard my name be called. Corrections would say your last name and if you are being released the will say, "All the way". They only said my last name. I asked the officer what's going on? He said, "You need to go to Court". While being cuffed and walking to Court I told the officer I don't have Court. What's going on? He said, "Someone is here to bail you out. I was shocked as I walked around the corner and saw my Dad. The next thing I knew I was in the car heading home. This blew me away! I said Dad, "How did you know to come and get me"? He said that he was up all night fighting it, but God told him to do it. My Dad had always told me that if I ever got locked up, he would never bail me out, I would rot first.

One of the things on my list was if I was going to turn my life back to God, I need a women to be my rock. Someone near my age give or take a year. I described hair color, have a nice body, and that I could spend the rest of my life with. Two weeks later, my parents invited a couple to the house for Thanksgiving. They just so happened to bring their niece who was in Bible College. Yes, there she was. I didn't want to scare her away at first, but we started dating and I shared my story and shared my list. God brought us together for sure. She felt that same way for me. We became good friends before we became lovers.

Needless to say, the rest of my items on my list were answered. I joined the Army a few months later. After Basic Training, and AIT, we were married. We now have 4 kids, and 5 grandkids.

The Christian walk is hard at times. I can't stand the semantics of RELIGION, We have been fighting wars since the beginning of time. It's about JESUS. Church is just a building, but the Church and the body of Christ is a movement. As Christians we all have a job to do. This is why we get out and ride and share the Gospel of Jesus. Lets face it, those that need Jesus in their lives are not coming to Church. We must go to them. WE ARE IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF IT. If you ever wonder if God is not out their, or you feel he doesn't exist, say a prayer, "God if your real, prove it". Then make a committment to him and step back and watch things happen in your life.

Doug Clark

Secretary Idaho Chapter