Week of August 1
The first anniversary of my son Steven’s death was approaching. I wanted to be far away from anything familiar so I booked a trip to Tahiti with a co-worker.
On The morning (September 1) I told my friend that I needed to be alone for awhile and I was going for a walk on the beach. As I was leaving our hut, almost as an after thought, I grabbed my camera.
At the beach I sat very still and looked out at the water for sometime. I noticed out of the corner of my eye a figure on horseback riding in shallow water. As the horse drew nearer I could see the rider was a young man, bare to the waist with long blond hair. I felt myself stiffen, fully alert.
When he was right in front of me the young man turned his head in my direction, smiled and nodded. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. He was the image of Steven. Even in my stunned state, I slowly reached for my camera and took a picture. A beautiful calmness came over me. I remember thinking, no matter how far you go to avoid reality, it will follow you.
When I returned to the hut my friend asked if I was ok. I related what happened on the beach and I stated that I was fine, “but if when I get home and develop the pictures and there is nothing there I am really going to freak out.” The picture did come out and anyone I show it to says, “that’s Steven.”
A few years after this episode, I felt it was time to visit Vermont where Steven has died. I only had the name of the town and the name Terrible Mountain. A friend insisted on driving me. As we approached the town we came around a curve and I asked my friend to stop so I could ask a man raking leaves if he knew where the place was. He pointed to a road opposite to where we were stopped.
I walked alone around the place where the house had burned. I looked at the magnificent view my 18-year-old son had seen and I felt at peace.
Back in the car, I asked my friend to please turn on the radio as we drove down the mountain. The first song was The Beatles, “Let it be.” The next song was the Grateful Dead’s “Ripples in Still Waters.” Both songs were sung at Steven’s memorial service.
I am truly grateful to have experienced these miracles which have brought me comfort and helped me face many of life’s struggles.
Margaret (Peg) Salter
New Port Richey, Fl.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Ring
Week of August 16
Our three month-old daughter came home from the hospital in September of 1999. She was born in June weighing 2 pounds 3 ounces and spent the next 93 days under special care. She had now doubled her weight, and they put her in my arms attached to oxygen, weighing 4 pounds 6 ounces and said, “Here you go. She can go home with you now.”
During one of her first few weeks home, while I was feeding her in the library of the master bedroom suite of our country home, I accidentally scratched her with the marquis diamond of my engagement ring. It broke my heart to hurt my teeny tiny girl. I took the ring off and decided to keep it off until after she was weaned.
However, a few weeks later John and I were getting dressed up for a date night out without the children. I wanted to put my ring back on, but sadly, I could not find it. I grumbled about it throughout the night, but John, the eternal optimist, assured me we would find it. For days we looked, but we never discovered it.
I tried to remind myself that it was a material posession and that I should continue to be thankful that the amazing man who gave me the ring loved me with an undying love. The ring was gone, but our love and marriage endured.
Several months later we moved from our country home and were heading to the suburbs. Friends from everywhere came to help us. I rallied the team that was working in the master bedroom suite. I told them my story about the ring and asked everyone to look for the ring as they packed and moved and cleaned. The truck was packed, the vacuuming was finished, and the door was closed, but no ring was found.
The next day John and I returned to the house for a final walk through. I returned to the master bedroom suite, opened the door, and there in the middle of the floor of the library, on the top of the variegated plush carpeting was my ring.I squealed, I leapt, I cried. I was so thankful to find it. I really had missed the ring. John came running and he rejoiced with me. We prayed and thanked God. When I saw the ring it was if God were saying, “Here you go. I have been holding onto this for you. And I am holding onto you as you make this move. Christine, I know you were unsure about this move, but I am with you and I bless you on this new season of your family’s adventure.”
About four years later we were in the middle of what I believed to be one of the most difficult seasons of our lives. John and I had pursued a dream of owning our own business. We owned and operated three coffee shops in Western New York. Financial pressure caused us to close one shop and then a second. The flagship store remained open, but seemingly by a thread. The potential financial hardship seemed unbearable to me.
God brought a new friend into my life during this time. This friend regularly spoke truthfully to me. Granted, her words were not always very comforting, but they were true. She quoted Bible verses such as, “You are pressed down, but not crushed.” I believe God and I believed God’s Word so I had to concede that this was true. But I whined and argued that whatever the single last increment there was in the range of pressed down before you get crushed, whatever that last increment was, that is where I felt I was.
I began to see a pattern in our conversations. My friend did not seem particularly interested in hearing all of the details of my circumstances. She was gracious of course, but she always wanted to talk about God and God’s work in my life. She wanted to discuss the truths about who God is and how He acts. She pointed to the truth of scripture which showed that God does not always rescue us from painful experiences. She would even point me to the martyrs. She repeatedly reminded me that, “God sees you” and “God is for you.”
I would get off of the phone after talking with this friend and mutter, “If God sees me why doesn’t he fix things? He could bring more customers into our shop in spite of our limited advertising budget. He has the power to bless this effort supernaturally in spite of our inadequacies and mistakes. He sees me, indeed.” But I knew it was true.
One afternoon we sat quietly for a few minutes, and then my friend said, “Can you tell me about your engagement ring?” I wasn’t quite sure why she asked or what I was supposed to say. I told her our engagement story and how I was surprised to find the ring in my dessert at the close of a fancy dinner out with John.
Then it hit me, my ring! Oh, my,the ring! I quickly retold the story of my ring and the old country farm house. And I wept. This friend had only known me a short time. She had no way of knowing about the ring story. She believed that it was God who prompted her to ask me about the ring. God used this ring to remind me of his tender mercy toward me again God sees me. He saw me in my pain and spoke to my friend and He reached down and reminded me that He sees me, He loves me, and He has not lost track of me or my family. God comforted me.
The last shop closed in 2004 and it was a sad, painful time. We continue to recover from the financial impact of that journey. But God sees me and our family is together, still seeking and serving our Savior. And any time I need a reminder that “God sees me” and that “God is on my side,” I put on my engagement ring and wear it without the wedding band for a day. It sets up there on my finger as a reminder of how God set it up on top of that rug and said, “Here you go. I have been holding onto this for you. And I am holding onto you. I see you, Christine, and I am for you.”
Christine Bradford
Buffalo, NY
Our three month-old daughter came home from the hospital in September of 1999. She was born in June weighing 2 pounds 3 ounces and spent the next 93 days under special care. She had now doubled her weight, and they put her in my arms attached to oxygen, weighing 4 pounds 6 ounces and said, “Here you go. She can go home with you now.”
During one of her first few weeks home, while I was feeding her in the library of the master bedroom suite of our country home, I accidentally scratched her with the marquis diamond of my engagement ring. It broke my heart to hurt my teeny tiny girl. I took the ring off and decided to keep it off until after she was weaned.
However, a few weeks later John and I were getting dressed up for a date night out without the children. I wanted to put my ring back on, but sadly, I could not find it. I grumbled about it throughout the night, but John, the eternal optimist, assured me we would find it. For days we looked, but we never discovered it.
I tried to remind myself that it was a material posession and that I should continue to be thankful that the amazing man who gave me the ring loved me with an undying love. The ring was gone, but our love and marriage endured.
Several months later we moved from our country home and were heading to the suburbs. Friends from everywhere came to help us. I rallied the team that was working in the master bedroom suite. I told them my story about the ring and asked everyone to look for the ring as they packed and moved and cleaned. The truck was packed, the vacuuming was finished, and the door was closed, but no ring was found.
The next day John and I returned to the house for a final walk through. I returned to the master bedroom suite, opened the door, and there in the middle of the floor of the library, on the top of the variegated plush carpeting was my ring.I squealed, I leapt, I cried. I was so thankful to find it. I really had missed the ring. John came running and he rejoiced with me. We prayed and thanked God. When I saw the ring it was if God were saying, “Here you go. I have been holding onto this for you. And I am holding onto you as you make this move. Christine, I know you were unsure about this move, but I am with you and I bless you on this new season of your family’s adventure.”
About four years later we were in the middle of what I believed to be one of the most difficult seasons of our lives. John and I had pursued a dream of owning our own business. We owned and operated three coffee shops in Western New York. Financial pressure caused us to close one shop and then a second. The flagship store remained open, but seemingly by a thread. The potential financial hardship seemed unbearable to me.
God brought a new friend into my life during this time. This friend regularly spoke truthfully to me. Granted, her words were not always very comforting, but they were true. She quoted Bible verses such as, “You are pressed down, but not crushed.” I believe God and I believed God’s Word so I had to concede that this was true. But I whined and argued that whatever the single last increment there was in the range of pressed down before you get crushed, whatever that last increment was, that is where I felt I was.
I began to see a pattern in our conversations. My friend did not seem particularly interested in hearing all of the details of my circumstances. She was gracious of course, but she always wanted to talk about God and God’s work in my life. She wanted to discuss the truths about who God is and how He acts. She pointed to the truth of scripture which showed that God does not always rescue us from painful experiences. She would even point me to the martyrs. She repeatedly reminded me that, “God sees you” and “God is for you.”
I would get off of the phone after talking with this friend and mutter, “If God sees me why doesn’t he fix things? He could bring more customers into our shop in spite of our limited advertising budget. He has the power to bless this effort supernaturally in spite of our inadequacies and mistakes. He sees me, indeed.” But I knew it was true.
One afternoon we sat quietly for a few minutes, and then my friend said, “Can you tell me about your engagement ring?” I wasn’t quite sure why she asked or what I was supposed to say. I told her our engagement story and how I was surprised to find the ring in my dessert at the close of a fancy dinner out with John.
Then it hit me, my ring! Oh, my,the ring! I quickly retold the story of my ring and the old country farm house. And I wept. This friend had only known me a short time. She had no way of knowing about the ring story. She believed that it was God who prompted her to ask me about the ring. God used this ring to remind me of his tender mercy toward me again God sees me. He saw me in my pain and spoke to my friend and He reached down and reminded me that He sees me, He loves me, and He has not lost track of me or my family. God comforted me.
The last shop closed in 2004 and it was a sad, painful time. We continue to recover from the financial impact of that journey. But God sees me and our family is together, still seeking and serving our Savior. And any time I need a reminder that “God sees me” and that “God is on my side,” I put on my engagement ring and wear it without the wedding band for a day. It sets up there on my finger as a reminder of how God set it up on top of that rug and said, “Here you go. I have been holding onto this for you. And I am holding onto you. I see you, Christine, and I am for you.”
Christine Bradford
Buffalo, NY
Friday, July 24, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Yard Sale
Week of July 19
It wasn’t your typical yard sale. For me it was a desperation move.
I was down to my last six dollars. I needed gas to get to work, the electric bill was overdue and my water would be shut off if I didn’t pay it by Monday. It would be another week before I received another paycheck and I was already one month behind in my rent as well as my other bills.
My wife and I were separated and I had recently been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I really was at the end of my rope. I needed this sale to survive one more day.
A friend arrived for moral support and I asked him if he would pray with me. We stood together in my empty living room. He prayed, “Lord bless my friend Patrick and help him though this situation. Without you we are nothing but with your blessing we know we can get through anything. You said Lord, ‘Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’ We are here Lord and we need your help, Amen.”
Everything I owned was out on my lawn except my mattress, clothes and the computer on which I couldn’t make the payments.
During the first hour I sold $80 worth of furniture including my couch, end table and some lamps.The flow of potential buyers slowed considerably during the second hour and I took in just $20 more.
During a lull the phone rang and I dashed into the house to answer it.
The lady on the phone said, “You gave me a quote to paint my house several months ago. Does your offer still stand.”
“It sure does.”
“How soon can you start?”
“Lady I’ll be there this afternoon for the one third
down payment so I can buy your paint.”
I rushed outside to retrieve my kitchen table and chairs from the lawn. Then I told my friend about the phone call.
“I made a bid to paint a lady’s house six months ago and she calls me today of all days. Go figure.”
My friend looked at me with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes and said, “That call was prompted by the Lord.”
Patrick Lavilla
Kountze Tx
It wasn’t your typical yard sale. For me it was a desperation move.
I was down to my last six dollars. I needed gas to get to work, the electric bill was overdue and my water would be shut off if I didn’t pay it by Monday. It would be another week before I received another paycheck and I was already one month behind in my rent as well as my other bills.
My wife and I were separated and I had recently been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I really was at the end of my rope. I needed this sale to survive one more day.
A friend arrived for moral support and I asked him if he would pray with me. We stood together in my empty living room. He prayed, “Lord bless my friend Patrick and help him though this situation. Without you we are nothing but with your blessing we know we can get through anything. You said Lord, ‘Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’ We are here Lord and we need your help, Amen.”
Everything I owned was out on my lawn except my mattress, clothes and the computer on which I couldn’t make the payments.
During the first hour I sold $80 worth of furniture including my couch, end table and some lamps.The flow of potential buyers slowed considerably during the second hour and I took in just $20 more.
During a lull the phone rang and I dashed into the house to answer it.
The lady on the phone said, “You gave me a quote to paint my house several months ago. Does your offer still stand.”
“It sure does.”
“How soon can you start?”
“Lady I’ll be there this afternoon for the one third
down payment so I can buy your paint.”
I rushed outside to retrieve my kitchen table and chairs from the lawn. Then I told my friend about the phone call.
“I made a bid to paint a lady’s house six months ago and she calls me today of all days. Go figure.”
My friend looked at me with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes and said, “That call was prompted by the Lord.”
Patrick Lavilla
Kountze Tx
Saturday, July 11, 2009
"Live by the Water"
Week of Juy 12,2009
It was clear from the beginning that God’s hand was in our decision to relocate to Florida. The purpose was to take care of our aging parents who had permanently moved to the west coast of the state.
The problems were we had a business and a house to sell and I hated Florida. Furthermore I had a business that I loved in my home, taking care of children, which would have to be closed.
Eighteen years of accumulation of living in one place had to be sold as we were not taking all this to Florida with us. We had to pare down from a 6 bedroom, three story house to a smaller 2 or 3 bedroom bungalow.
God is good. The business sold quickly and several garage sales relieved us of a multitude of our "treasures". Now it was time to sell the house.
I was leaving the house I had dreamed of all my life. I had said, "just bury me in the back yard and I will be happy forever.” Until the day I actually left, my friends said, "she will never go through with it," because they knew how much I loved the home I lived in.
Why then was God calling me to move on? How could I endure such a transplant from a place I loved with all my heart to a place I hated? It is called a leap of faith. I bargained with God. I prayed and said "I am honoring our parents as you have instructed in the Bible and you know the place I am leaving, somehow dear God please make it right for me so I can have a proper attitude to do what I have to do in Florida."
One night just before I was falling asleep God spoke to me in unmistakable voice. I shot upright in bed and He said to me "Live by the water and you will be all right.” From that day forward I never faltered for one minute.. We placed our house on the market. It sold within two weeks and we were on our way.
Many things have affirmed God’s hand on our lives as a result of our decision to be faithful to God’s call to honor our parents. I have never regretted it for one day and praise God for his mercy and kindness to see us through the tough times we have had.We have been blessed with with a wonderful church to worship and fellowship in.
Having lived by the water for 15 years God was totally right….I was all right.
Susie Tholken
Sarasota, Fl.
It was clear from the beginning that God’s hand was in our decision to relocate to Florida. The purpose was to take care of our aging parents who had permanently moved to the west coast of the state.
The problems were we had a business and a house to sell and I hated Florida. Furthermore I had a business that I loved in my home, taking care of children, which would have to be closed.
Eighteen years of accumulation of living in one place had to be sold as we were not taking all this to Florida with us. We had to pare down from a 6 bedroom, three story house to a smaller 2 or 3 bedroom bungalow.
God is good. The business sold quickly and several garage sales relieved us of a multitude of our "treasures". Now it was time to sell the house.
I was leaving the house I had dreamed of all my life. I had said, "just bury me in the back yard and I will be happy forever.” Until the day I actually left, my friends said, "she will never go through with it," because they knew how much I loved the home I lived in.
Why then was God calling me to move on? How could I endure such a transplant from a place I loved with all my heart to a place I hated? It is called a leap of faith. I bargained with God. I prayed and said "I am honoring our parents as you have instructed in the Bible and you know the place I am leaving, somehow dear God please make it right for me so I can have a proper attitude to do what I have to do in Florida."
One night just before I was falling asleep God spoke to me in unmistakable voice. I shot upright in bed and He said to me "Live by the water and you will be all right.” From that day forward I never faltered for one minute.. We placed our house on the market. It sold within two weeks and we were on our way.
Many things have affirmed God’s hand on our lives as a result of our decision to be faithful to God’s call to honor our parents. I have never regretted it for one day and praise God for his mercy and kindness to see us through the tough times we have had.We have been blessed with with a wonderful church to worship and fellowship in.
Having lived by the water for 15 years God was totally right….I was all right.
Susie Tholken
Sarasota, Fl.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Cranston
Week of July 5
It is a peaceful summer day at the lake and I am cherishing the stillness sitting on our deck when loud and clear in my head I hear the word, Cranston.
Why Cranston? There is a city adjacent to Providence, RI named Cranston but I haven’t been there in years. I know some people who came from Cranston and my sister once lived there when her children were small. The hero of an old radio program called “The Shadow” was named Lamont Cranston. These are my only Cranston connections. I have no idea why the word Cranston came to mind so clearly. I busy myself with other thoughts.
Later that day I am reading when I clearly hear again, Cranston! Now this is weird. What does this mean? I share what is happening with my wife Joy.
She is genuinely compassionate to my confused state but of course can offer no satisfactory explanation.
The next morning I am looking for the paperback dictionary. I remembered seeing one somewhere. I ask Joy and she says it is behind the hard covered books on the shelf in the breakfast nook. I reach over those books and pickup the first paperback I feel. It is not the dictionary. I stare in disbelief.
I’m holding in my hand a worn paperback entitled, The Miracle of Lourdes by Ruth Cranston.
I can feel the shivers going down my spine. “Hon. How did this book get here?”
She looks at me with amazement “I don’t know. I remember you bought a stack of books at the church fair one year or maybe someone else left it here.” I vaguely remember buying some books at the church fair but I know I need to read this book now.
Ruth Cranston wrote the book in 1955 “in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of when the Blessed Mother of God appeared to the daughter of a French Miller.”
Ruth Cranston’s book goes beyond documenting many of the miracles at the healing pool at Lourdes, France. The author recounts how many well people annually make the pilgrimage to Lourdes just to serve others who are there waiting and praying for miracle cures.
“The greatest thing at Lourdes is putting God into actual everyday living,” she writes. “It’s a life based on love instead of power-a life of helping one another, serving the weak, sharing strengths. It is another example that the path to happiness is to give not grab.”
Wow, good advice for a man seeking but struggling to include God in his daily life.
I also resonate with these words. “The one way to peace and bliss, every great prophet has told us, is to give yourself away.”
Give myself away-I needed to read that Ms Cranston.
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (Matthew 16:25)
R. Malcolm Salter
Sturbridge, Massachusetts
It is a peaceful summer day at the lake and I am cherishing the stillness sitting on our deck when loud and clear in my head I hear the word, Cranston.
Why Cranston? There is a city adjacent to Providence, RI named Cranston but I haven’t been there in years. I know some people who came from Cranston and my sister once lived there when her children were small. The hero of an old radio program called “The Shadow” was named Lamont Cranston. These are my only Cranston connections. I have no idea why the word Cranston came to mind so clearly. I busy myself with other thoughts.
Later that day I am reading when I clearly hear again, Cranston! Now this is weird. What does this mean? I share what is happening with my wife Joy.
She is genuinely compassionate to my confused state but of course can offer no satisfactory explanation.
The next morning I am looking for the paperback dictionary. I remembered seeing one somewhere. I ask Joy and she says it is behind the hard covered books on the shelf in the breakfast nook. I reach over those books and pickup the first paperback I feel. It is not the dictionary. I stare in disbelief.
I’m holding in my hand a worn paperback entitled, The Miracle of Lourdes by Ruth Cranston.
I can feel the shivers going down my spine. “Hon. How did this book get here?”
She looks at me with amazement “I don’t know. I remember you bought a stack of books at the church fair one year or maybe someone else left it here.” I vaguely remember buying some books at the church fair but I know I need to read this book now.
Ruth Cranston wrote the book in 1955 “in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of when the Blessed Mother of God appeared to the daughter of a French Miller.”
Ruth Cranston’s book goes beyond documenting many of the miracles at the healing pool at Lourdes, France. The author recounts how many well people annually make the pilgrimage to Lourdes just to serve others who are there waiting and praying for miracle cures.
“The greatest thing at Lourdes is putting God into actual everyday living,” she writes. “It’s a life based on love instead of power-a life of helping one another, serving the weak, sharing strengths. It is another example that the path to happiness is to give not grab.”
Wow, good advice for a man seeking but struggling to include God in his daily life.
I also resonate with these words. “The one way to peace and bliss, every great prophet has told us, is to give yourself away.”
Give myself away-I needed to read that Ms Cranston.
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (Matthew 16:25)
R. Malcolm Salter
Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Saturday, June 27, 2009
He almost beat Tiger Woods
Week of June 28
Brad’s celebrity status is that he was the first golfer to lose a national title to Tiger Woods.
The year was 1991 and Brad Zwetschke was ranked number two behind Tiger in the U.S. Junior Amateur golf. In the championship match Brad was three up after five holes, and two up at the turn at Bay Hill in Orlando. It would be the first of many well publicized comebacks for Tiger who tied the match and defeated Brad on the first playoff hole.
“Coming out of school all I wanted to do was play golf and party. I lived the wild life,” Brad says. Along the way he met Christina Mauldin, a preacher’s daughter from the South side of Chicago. Brad is also from Chicago. Within a year and a half they were married. “She thought she was marrying a golf professional and I thought I was marrying an entertainer from Black Television.” (Christina had done a stint on the program Heart & Soul.)
“My wife is a strong Christian and my loyal supporter. She accompanied me on tour, which was arduous, lots of travel and expensive. Sometimes we slept in our van because we couldn’t afford the hotel prices.
“In November 2001 we were touring in Australia and we went into a little church in Brisbane. The preacher’s message was based on John 21. The message spoke to me especially when Jesus asks Peter, ‘Do you love me as much as these’ (referring to the fish Peter and his friends had just caught).“Yes Lord, You know that I love You.”
“Then feed My lambs.” John21:l5
"I identified with Peter who was being asked to give up fishing. I felt I was being asked to put down my clubs.
Three months later I was driving to the Canadian Tour Qualifying Tournament when I heard a message on the radio quoting John 21. Again I felt the message speaking to me. I played in the tournament but I did not qualify. My heart wasn’t in the game anymore. I quit golf.
“With the encouragement of my father-in law I enrolled in New Orleans Theological Seminary.He too had been called to the ministry by John 21.”
In August 2005, four months before Brad was to finish, Katrina devastated New Orleans. With two children and Christina eight months pregnant, Brad borrowed a friend's van and fled to Beatrice Alabama where they knew a pastor who took them in.
“We lost everything to Katrina. Our apartment was completely flooded. But God had spared our family. Then another kind of flood hit. I could not stop the flow of gifts of clothing, food and furniture that poured in on us. It still hasn’t subsided.
“When it was time for Christina to have our fourth child we moved to Bradenton , Florida to be close to the doctor who had delivered our other children. I took a job as student intern in evangelism and finished my final semester at the seminary on line. In December 2006 my classmates and I received our degrees. Later I became the voluntary chaplain to the Cincinnati Reds farm team then in Sarasota.
“God has used everything in my life for His purposes. Golf had been my idol…now I’m pictured in golf magazines holding a Bible. It took a while for me to accept God’s forgiveness and to accept his grace. That has been huge for me.
“Tiger has become the king of golf. My notoriety as being the first to lose a national title to Tiger still brings invitations to speak at golf dinners and men’s retreats where I get to tell people about the King of Kings.”
Brad Zwetschke
(Brad Zwetschke is now a U.S. Army Chaplain on active duty-Ed)
Brad’s celebrity status is that he was the first golfer to lose a national title to Tiger Woods.
The year was 1991 and Brad Zwetschke was ranked number two behind Tiger in the U.S. Junior Amateur golf. In the championship match Brad was three up after five holes, and two up at the turn at Bay Hill in Orlando. It would be the first of many well publicized comebacks for Tiger who tied the match and defeated Brad on the first playoff hole.
“Coming out of school all I wanted to do was play golf and party. I lived the wild life,” Brad says. Along the way he met Christina Mauldin, a preacher’s daughter from the South side of Chicago. Brad is also from Chicago. Within a year and a half they were married. “She thought she was marrying a golf professional and I thought I was marrying an entertainer from Black Television.” (Christina had done a stint on the program Heart & Soul.)
“My wife is a strong Christian and my loyal supporter. She accompanied me on tour, which was arduous, lots of travel and expensive. Sometimes we slept in our van because we couldn’t afford the hotel prices.
“In November 2001 we were touring in Australia and we went into a little church in Brisbane. The preacher’s message was based on John 21. The message spoke to me especially when Jesus asks Peter, ‘Do you love me as much as these’ (referring to the fish Peter and his friends had just caught).“Yes Lord, You know that I love You.”
“Then feed My lambs.” John21:l5
"I identified with Peter who was being asked to give up fishing. I felt I was being asked to put down my clubs.
Three months later I was driving to the Canadian Tour Qualifying Tournament when I heard a message on the radio quoting John 21. Again I felt the message speaking to me. I played in the tournament but I did not qualify. My heart wasn’t in the game anymore. I quit golf.
“With the encouragement of my father-in law I enrolled in New Orleans Theological Seminary.He too had been called to the ministry by John 21.”
In August 2005, four months before Brad was to finish, Katrina devastated New Orleans. With two children and Christina eight months pregnant, Brad borrowed a friend's van and fled to Beatrice Alabama where they knew a pastor who took them in.
“We lost everything to Katrina. Our apartment was completely flooded. But God had spared our family. Then another kind of flood hit. I could not stop the flow of gifts of clothing, food and furniture that poured in on us. It still hasn’t subsided.
“When it was time for Christina to have our fourth child we moved to Bradenton , Florida to be close to the doctor who had delivered our other children. I took a job as student intern in evangelism and finished my final semester at the seminary on line. In December 2006 my classmates and I received our degrees. Later I became the voluntary chaplain to the Cincinnati Reds farm team then in Sarasota.
“God has used everything in my life for His purposes. Golf had been my idol…now I’m pictured in golf magazines holding a Bible. It took a while for me to accept God’s forgiveness and to accept his grace. That has been huge for me.
“Tiger has become the king of golf. My notoriety as being the first to lose a national title to Tiger still brings invitations to speak at golf dinners and men’s retreats where I get to tell people about the King of Kings.”
Brad Zwetschke
(Brad Zwetschke is now a U.S. Army Chaplain on active duty-Ed)
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