I was born and raised in an Amish family. There were seven children, five boys and two girls. Three of my brothers and both my sisters are older than I am. My mom was the stronger Christian. The Amish seemed to stress going to church more and joining the church or becoming a member of the church between the ages of 16 and 20. Personally, I never understood the plan of salvation But I always thought that I would go to heaven, even though, had I died, then I would not have. I was pretty wild and did the party scene for quite a few years. When I was 15, I started working for my Uncle Elmer, who was a Christian. He taught me the masonry trade. When I was 25, I met Lou and we started dating. We got married when I was 29. We didn't go to church, but we used to say to each other we should. and we knew that we should have. Praise the Lord, he had a plan. In 1987, my dad got cancer and began receiving treatments. During that time, we went to Florida to recoup. During that time, the cancer returned, and he decided he wanted to come home. So my wife, Lou, my son, Shay, my daughter, April, and I went to Florida to bring Mom and Dad home. We picked up Mom and Dad and started home on a Friday morning, February the 19th, That afternoon on our way home to Ohio, our trailer burned. We pretty much lost everything. Two weeks later, my dad died. On March 17th, Pastor Keith Merriman came to our apartment in Delton and shared the gospel with us. He explained how we are separated from God because of our sins. We have broken God's laws by lying, stealing, dishonoring our parents and wanting what others have. Because of this, we stand condemned and face the prison of God, namely hell. But God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, Jesus Christ. God the Son became a man and died in our place to take our hell-deserving punishment. He rose again the third day to prove that his death on our behalf is accepted by God. As we heard the gospel, the Lord opened our hearts to believe, and all four of us were saved. It was the best thing that ever happened to us. Later on, our son Shay got married, and he and his wife gave us two grandchildren, Jared and Brittany. Some years later, April married Ryan Byrd, and now we have Carter, Brody, and Stella. With grandchildren and many other duties, we were very busy, and I think too busy. Last fall, on October 22, 2009, I was going 100 miles an hour at work. I stepped on a scaffold plank and it went down with me. As I lay there in pain, it felt like the Lord was disciplining me for something. As I went through that ordeal, I can't describe how all you brothers and sisters in Christ, my wife, comforted me with prayers, cards, and visits. I still don't fully understand why this took place, but I just praise God for the healing and comfort he gave me through all this. And I pray that I will be open to the Lord and be for whatever he has. Now I'd like to read some scripture that means a lot. Romans 12, 9 to 21. Let love be without hypocrisy. Of her what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of our Saints, practicing hospitality, Bless those who persecute you, bless and curse not. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay it as the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him drink, for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.