I first invited Jesus into my life in the 80’s while I was in my twenties. It was a condition of my first wife’s parents, before they would agree to the marriage. There was no big “Ah Ha” moment or dramatic change in my lifestyle, outlook on life, or habits of drinking and going to the clubs.
I continued to live on my terms and alcohol became a major part of my every day. Life became a hazy world of bad decisions, failed relationships, wasted money, wrecked vehicles and “just this side of legal” situations. Somehow I managed to stay functional enough to not get kicked out of the military or spend any time in jail other than for a DUI. There were periods of peace and happiness, including 10 years of sobriety. When I began dating the woman who would become my third wife her parents, who were Christian, and I hit it off. Her father turned out to be a spiritual mentor to me. Through her father I started coming to understand a little about God, got baptized and tried to live life the “right way”.
In the first part of 1999 the world as I knew it came crashing down when my third wife committed adultery. To keep me from going insane my mentor recommended that I get counseling with a scriptural foundation. I reluctantly agreed and started the counseling. It was during that period that God taught me many things, healed some wounds, and reassured me. While praying one day I asked God how I could repay him and share the joy that I was feeling with others. That’s when he first brought me the message of Freedom through the Cross and saving the lost. He also gave me the vision of the patch I was to wear on my vest. I resisted for awhile because I was afraid of what people might think of me or how they might treat me. God kept pressing me and bringing people into my life to make the patch a reality and the message understandable. I began to wear God’s message on my back for all to see and things did begin to get better. Blessings came my way, the depression was gone, I looked forward to the future, and I met someone new.
In early 2000 I felt compelled to move to California where this new person was from. I thought it was where God wanted me to go. I put things in order, closed my business, sold what I could, rented the house and moved to Sacramento with the new person. That relationship quickly deteriorated and my old habits (instincts) took over. I soon felt abandoned by God and took his vest off. I thought God had let me down so I turned my back on him. I started making my own way in Sacramento not giving any thought to God or living the “right way”.
I left Sacramento in 2003 to go to school out of state. The plan was that after school I’d come back to Sacramento and get married to the person I was living with. But, because of the distance and other things we broke off the relationship. When I returned to Sacramento in 2004 we tried to rekindle the relationship but it didn’t feel right so I ended it. The next year was a rollercoaster as that person became obsessed with getting me and the relationship back. She began stalking me at work, calling my phone without end, driving by my house, etc.
That came to an abrupt end in October 2005. She lured me to her house on the premise of making peace and picking up some legal documents she had for me. Once I was in the house she shot me four times at point blank range with a .38 caliber revolver. One hit me in the side, a shot went into each arm as we struggled for the gun, and the fourth shot hit me in the throat. The last one went through my left vocal cord and hit my spine. It momentarily paralyzed me and I hit the bathroom floor face first. As I lay there in a pool of blood with things going black and the realization that I was going to die setting in, I kept hearing the voice of my mother telling me to roll over and face this head on. That is what I did and over the next fourteen hours this woman beat, tormented and tortured me before finally calling someone. When that person showed up she committed suicide and that person called 911. I spent five weeks in the hospital where I was told by the doctors I’d never talk again, walk without a cane, eat on my own, or use my left arm. To the doctor’s amazement I made a full recovery after leaving the hospital.
Because I didn’t “see” or “hear” God during the shooting I felt that in a sense it
was my punishment for walking away from him and that he had truly turned his back
on me. I spent the next three years mad at God and went further into the bottle
to kill the mental pain I was dealing with. I often made a point of telling God
how worthless I thought he was. Then one night in November of 2008 I honestly asked
God why he wasn’t there and why he had abandoned me. God showed up and answered
me. He said, “I was there, when you heard your mother’s voice, that was me. I used
her voice because you wouldn’t have believed it was me and I knew you’d listen to
her.” He then went on to show me many other times throughout the years, that night,
the hospital, and recovery time where he was with me even when I didn’t want him
to be. At that moment I understood and immediately asked for forgiveness for what
I had said against him, to be freed of the alcohol, and how I could know him. He
did forgive me and take away the need for the alcohol. He also put me on a fast
track to coming into a relationship with him. He put me to task to read the Bible
cover to cover, and learn the true meaning of words like Father, Love, Friend, Forgiveness
and Trust. He then told me that I needed to get into service and use the things
he was teaching me and to always stay teachable. He then poured blessings in the
form of a home, a soul mate for my wife, two awesome step-
Those tasks led me to The Way Ministries and The Way Riderz as well as God allowing me to put his vest back on. After being around The Riderz for some time I began to ask God how I could get more into action. Shortly after that, the opportunity to join the Riderz came about. I was a little confused so I prayed. I couldn’t understand why he would have me walk away from the message he gave. He revealed that the message wasn’t being left, it was progressing and that I needed to take the opportunity and join The Riderz.
Now that I, and my wife, are members of The Riderz I look forward to being the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus not only in my home but in my community as well.
Scott Thissen
Road Captain
