My earthly father rejected me because I was born with ailments – asthma, eczema and a very squint eye. Nothing I did received any acceptance or recognition from my father. All he saw was fault and constantly disciplined me. The rejection I felt turned to anger, hatred and rebellion.

I beat up my father and left home at 15, never to return. However, before my 16th birthday my father showed further rejection by trying to sign me off through adoption to the family I was living with at the time. My rebellion deepened which led me into addictions with drugs, alcohol and pornography. Out of my anger I blamed everyone for my life’s trials and tribulations, hating everyone, everything, including myself.

Despite being very headstrong/stubborn, I enjoyed a fairly successful career and at a relatively young age had most worldly things (cars, bikes, boat, jet ski, big house). But I was empty inside. At 38 whilst seeking for a meaning to all of this, I was introduced to someone who accepted me for who I was, dishing out no punishment for what I deserved. That person was Jesus! However, there were consequences for what I had done but there was no condemnation.

I gave my life to Jesus and immediately my life started to change, the first noticeable change was my sailor-like swearing. The rest, well, as I said, I’m headstrong/stubborn, so change has been slow but consistent.

1 Peter 2:4

‘As you come to him, the living Stone, rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him’