J
John R. Cantral's Testimony
I was born in a Christian Home, with Christian ancestors going back as far as anyone can trace them. I was proud of the fact that one of my Great - Great - however many grandfathers performed the first Christian Marriage in what is now Sangamon County, (Springfield) Illinois. Others were circuit riding preachers and/or founded churches, etc. My Grandfather, Mitchell J. Dustin, was one of the founders of one of the world's largest non church related Christian Organizations.
My parents always took my sisters, brother and I to Church virtually every time the doors were opened, both parents being extremely active in Church and also non church Christian Activities. At home, I was always a problem for my parents. Until I got to Junior High School, I never got into any major trouble. In Jr. High, I started getting into trouble, and also about late grade school or early Jr. High, I learned to smoke. When I got expelled from Public School and it looked as if I was headed for reform school, my folks put me in a private Military Academy, thinking that would straighten me out. At first I rebelled completely, but eventually learned to conform enough to avoid the severe punishment I received if I didn't. I also learned, from the other students, where and how to buy beer and wine and steal hard liquor.
By the time I graduated (barely) from High School, I was on my way to being an alcoholic. I hadn't received high enough grades in High School to get into College, despite an extremely high "IQ". I tried a couple of different jobs, but finally enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Once I got through Basic Training, I found it to be a paradise for a developing teen age alcoholic. Even though they were cracking down on under 21 drinking "on the outside", you could drink as much as you wanted (or could afford to), on base, as long as you showed up for duty somewhat sober and not too badly hung over. Needless to say, I didn't do too well in the service -- I can't even remember a lot of it.
I won't go into all of the details, except to say that despite having furthered my education after getting out of the Air Force, I never was a lasting success at anything. I could find an excellent job, anywhere, and quickly rise to nearly the top, only to quit and start over. My personal relationships were the same, all due to the booze and later, drugs. I was never a skid row type of alcoholic or drug addict, but I lived to get drunk or stoned. I can't remember very many times I was ever very happy, except I sometimes thought I was when I was drunk or stoned enough. At one time, I got to the point that I could drink a couple of fifths of Tequila and a case of beer over a weekend and make it to work on Monday.
As I continued my descent, I also became more and more suicidal. Finally, one night, I decided that when I finished the six pack of beer I was on, I was going to kill myself. My wife had left me, not too long before, and my latest girl friend had just broken up with me. I was sitting in the back room of a store I was co-owner of, finishing my beer and planning how I would finish the mess of my life, when the phone rang. It was too late for customers to be calling and I didn't have any friends, so I almost didn't answer it. It was one of my grown daughters.
She said something like: "Daddy, I've just done something that has changed my life forever, I gave my life to Jesus Christ and now I'm happier than I have ever been." I said: "That's nice, for you, but He doesn't want somebody like me".
After about an hour long phone call, from clear across the country, I gave my life to Jesus Christ, too, and my life is changed forever, just as hers was. Shortly after that, I entered a "Rehab Ministry", to help get the victory over my past habits. I'm still not a saint and I still have periods of depression, but I have been off alcohol, drugs, and tobacco for nearly twenty years. Although I still have some health problems, the price for years of abusing my body, I have received several dramatic healings, since coming to the Lord. I have a wonderful Christian Wife and we have an eight year old daughter, who is herself a testimony to the power of God, but I will make that the subject of another article. We are actively engaged in serving Him, both in the United States and in Latin America. -- He has truly given me a new life.
Last Modified Fri, 10 Jan 2003 15:54:56 GMT
My parents always took my sisters, brother and I to Church virtually every time the doors were opened, both parents being extremely active in Church and also non church Christian Activities. At home, I was always a problem for my parents. Until I got to Junior High School, I never got into any major trouble. In Jr. High, I started getting into trouble, and also about late grade school or early Jr. High, I learned to smoke. When I got expelled from Public School and it looked as if I was headed for reform school, my folks put me in a private Military Academy, thinking that would straighten me out. At first I rebelled completely, but eventually learned to conform enough to avoid the severe punishment I received if I didn't. I also learned, from the other students, where and how to buy beer and wine and steal hard liquor.
By the time I graduated (barely) from High School, I was on my way to being an alcoholic. I hadn't received high enough grades in High School to get into College, despite an extremely high "IQ". I tried a couple of different jobs, but finally enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Once I got through Basic Training, I found it to be a paradise for a developing teen age alcoholic. Even though they were cracking down on under 21 drinking "on the outside", you could drink as much as you wanted (or could afford to), on base, as long as you showed up for duty somewhat sober and not too badly hung over. Needless to say, I didn't do too well in the service -- I can't even remember a lot of it.
I won't go into all of the details, except to say that despite having furthered my education after getting out of the Air Force, I never was a lasting success at anything. I could find an excellent job, anywhere, and quickly rise to nearly the top, only to quit and start over. My personal relationships were the same, all due to the booze and later, drugs. I was never a skid row type of alcoholic or drug addict, but I lived to get drunk or stoned. I can't remember very many times I was ever very happy, except I sometimes thought I was when I was drunk or stoned enough. At one time, I got to the point that I could drink a couple of fifths of Tequila and a case of beer over a weekend and make it to work on Monday.
As I continued my descent, I also became more and more suicidal. Finally, one night, I decided that when I finished the six pack of beer I was on, I was going to kill myself. My wife had left me, not too long before, and my latest girl friend had just broken up with me. I was sitting in the back room of a store I was co-owner of, finishing my beer and planning how I would finish the mess of my life, when the phone rang. It was too late for customers to be calling and I didn't have any friends, so I almost didn't answer it. It was one of my grown daughters.
She said something like: "Daddy, I've just done something that has changed my life forever, I gave my life to Jesus Christ and now I'm happier than I have ever been." I said: "That's nice, for you, but He doesn't want somebody like me".
After about an hour long phone call, from clear across the country, I gave my life to Jesus Christ, too, and my life is changed forever, just as hers was. Shortly after that, I entered a "Rehab Ministry", to help get the victory over my past habits. I'm still not a saint and I still have periods of depression, but I have been off alcohol, drugs, and tobacco for nearly twenty years. Although I still have some health problems, the price for years of abusing my body, I have received several dramatic healings, since coming to the Lord. I have a wonderful Christian Wife and we have an eight year old daughter, who is herself a testimony to the power of God, but I will make that the subject of another article. We are actively engaged in serving Him, both in the United States and in Latin America. -- He has truly given me a new life.
Last Modified Fri, 10 Jan 2003 15:54:56 GMT
By the way, the music you have been listening to, if your computer is able and you have your speakers on is my arrangement of At the Cross, an old (public domain) Hymn. Arrangement Copy Right 2003 by John R. Cantral; permission to use granted.
