Written by: Josh K.

On September 6^th, I have the opportunity to cook breakfast for 30 or more men. This will be Unbound Church’s first prayer breakfast, and it will mainly be East African men and foreign exchange college students. I will be sharing my testimony of how the Lord delivered me from life-dominating sin, AKA addiction and a completely self-centered life. In preparation, I found this poem Michelle wrote before we were married in early 2012.

At a Crossroads

I was on my way to die.

On a road with no hope and no future.

I was lost.

I was on my way to die.

Arrogance was my middle name, and pride my only friend.

I was lost.

I was on my way to die,

BUT something happened that day.

I couldn’t understand it all, but

I was found.

I was on my way to die,

BUT you saved me.  You delivered me from darkness to light.

I was changed.

I was on my way to die,

BUT you gave me a whole new life. 

You put yourself behind the bars for me.

I was freed.

I was on my way to die,

BUT you took death for me.  You defeated death.

I am alive.

Today I live a life I don’t deserve.

An abundant life of joy, peace & love far beyond what I could imagine.

All because I finally died, and You live.

Written by: Michelle

Reading this poem reminded me of how truly blessed I am to be breathing today.

 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

In all actuality, I could have died at so many different times. Here are just a few that were captured on film, before the era of smartphones.

In 2001 I was jumped by three guys and beaten up pretty badly. The police had to take a Polaroid photo of me at the hospital to enter into evidence, as I was a minor and the attackers were over 18. I easily could have been fatally struck in the head by one of those steel-toed boots.

2003 I fell into a large bonfire pit, receiving 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns on my arm and back. This could have been a fatal fall if not for the many people around to help me get out and roll around on the grass.

2006 Small pipe bomb explosion, resulting in shrapnel slicing through my left hand, severing my entire index finger and half my middle finger. Took three surgeries to reconstruct my hand. It is a true miracle that the shrapnel did not hit my head or heart, resulting in instant death, or that I was conscious to get help and didn’t bleed out. In fact, the nurses said it was a miracle I was alive and made comments about God saving me.

2008 Drove off the road and slammed into a tree, resulting in a totaled car and minor injuries. Easily could have died in this crash, but God had other plans. A local pastor came to my hospital room and presented the Gospel to me. For the first time in my life, I began to listen.

2009-2025 Thanks to God’s saving grace, I have been born again, set free, saved, and become a new creation. I was baptized and have been following the Lord with my wife and three amazing sons. I have been given so much that I do not deserve. I write this post as a reminder to myself of that old life being gone and the new life still unfolding. I am thankful to God for being alive today, for my wife and my three sons. Thank you, God.