Who is Pastor Woody?

One Man’s Road Back to God

In the Beginning

My story begins in the summer of 1975. I had a very good friend whose Father was an active member of the local Wesleyan Methodist Church in Hopewell Junction, New York.

My friend and I had many risky adventures on our motorcycles and off-road vehicles all over the property which his Father was maintaining for the state. We shared a lot together as we became very close. I felt as though I was a part of his family with dinners together, sleep-overs, youth parties and holiday celebrations. This was great for me as my family was going through some rather rough times and had grown apart.

One evening, after a grueling race through the grounds with other dirt-bikers, I saw my friend’s Father in the living room with a fairly large group of people. Curiously, I asked what was happening. His response… “Oh, that’s their prayer meeting. They do this every Saturday.”

Still curious, I asked why they did this. My friend, quick to respond brought me a dog-eared Bible and pointed out this verse….

Acts 1:12-14 – “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

My friend continued in telling me “this is something my Father really believes in and has been doing this for years.” Now my interests peaked and I wanted to know more about all of this “God-Stuff,” I’d been to church as a very young child but, being forced to go, I was never all that interested.

The months went on as I rode with my friend and his Father every Sunday to the quaint little church in Hopewell Junction. Through the sincerity of the minister (Rev. Dale Farley) my heart was softened and I gave my life to God.

Youth Group President

Not long after I began attending the church, Father Dale asked me to join the youth group which I did willingly. I began reading Bible scriptures and eventually became the President of the group.

Soon after that happened Father Dale indicated that, as the President, it was my responsibility to provide the lesson to the congregation every six months. This frightened me as I was only 16 years old and why would any of the adults choose to listen to me? Father Dale pointed to the Bible…

1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Pastor Woody was born 😉

I continued giving lessons to the youth and congregation for a little over a year but then I met a beautiful young woman who stole my heart and my testosterone kicked-in. Unfortunately, my interests in my God and church began to diminish.

At the ripe old age of 18, I wound-up marrying this woman and immediately understood it was time to grow-up and take my responsibilities seriously. I enlisted in the USAF to serve my country and take care of my family. I also thought it might be time to get back to God.

Trying to Get Back

I tried taking my wife to the base Chapel. She wasn’t much of a Christian but was trying to support me in my cause. Unfortunately, every time we went, the guest speakers were always higher in rank than I was making me feel intimidated as I felt I was being “ordered” to listen to God’s word rather than feeling compelled. The constant talks about staying within the budget also turned us away. This wasn’t for either of us.

Shortening my story a little bit, I strayed from the church and my God and my life took a definite turn for the worse.

I was honorably discharged from the USAF after 6 years and found it very difficult to find employment outside of the military.

My marriage abruptly ended shortly after my Son was born. The strain of a newborn and the financial difficulties were simply too much for my wife to handle. My life began its “tailspin!” What was happening to me?

Many years later, and several more failed marriages my life had become worse than I had ever expected. I had worked hard and made substantial money but there I knew there was something missing but wasn’t quite sure what that was.

For a brief time, I turned back to my Bible to ask the question “What had I done?” …and found this…

Romans 1:24-25 – “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.”

I had let go of God and He let me do as I pleased!

I had turned my back on God and I was paying the consequences. I spent more time drinking than eating, more time at the bar than in my own home and a lot more time with friends than with my God. My life was seriously fading fast.

It was late 2006 or early 2007 where I met, once again, the woman of my dreams. She was a southern beauty with long blond hair, blue eyes and the cutest little southern drawl I had ever heard. I never knew how or why we met I just knew something felt right.

I fell in Love head over heels with this woman and gave my entire soul up to her. Anything she said was law. Anything she asked me to do I couldn’t get done fast enough. She took care of me and I of her to the degree we were inseparable. Had God sent me my Angel?

Luke 4:10 – “For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully’”

I sincerely believed He had but continued to ignore my Bible. I thought I already had everything I needed to grow old and prosper with my new Love.

Over six years passed and my Love continued to grow. In her, something else had begun to fester. She had always suffered from, what I considered, mild depression. It had stemmed from a bad childhood and several horrible events that had occurred throughout her youth. I never really knew how badly she hurt inside as I was simply blinded by my own Love.

Devastation

On the evening of May 27th 2013, my life changed forever. She had kicked me out of the house and insisted I go riding with my friends. I did so reluctantly and returned home that evening at about 6:38 PM.

I had been stuck in a fierce rainstorm on my ride home and took off my clothes in the garage before entering the house. I open the door and immediately heard a loud “pop” coming from the back room of the house. Being ex-military I instantly knew what that was… it was the sound of a small handgun.

Depression (The Beast) had finally consumed her and she took her own life. She could no longer handle the torment she was going through in her mind and the troubles still in her heart.

Once again… my world went into a tailspin and nothing I could say or do could not prevent what was to come for me.

I cried, alone, for weeks on end. I didn’t eat for days and ignored the shower and chores for quite some time. I just didn’t care anymore… I simply wanted to join her and die!

Today, I am not ashamed to admit the fact that I did try to end things. Everything from passing out drunk with a large trash-bag tied around my head to lighting a charcoal grill in my bathroom with all doors sealed.

I tried to spark a memory by attending the bar she had tended in Lake Worth and, fueled by an extremely harsh comment from a regular patron, found myself in handcuffs and in jail as I put this person in the local hospital.

Thankfully, after testimony from the owner and a fair judge, the charges were dropped but I was ordered into mandatory therapy with an anger-management psychiatrist where I was quickly diagnosed with PTSD. I fine I still pay to this day.

God wasn’t going to let me go!

The Sun

I found an online organization to help with my new-found depression. It was a web site dedicated solely to the “survivors of suicide.” Without these people, I surely would have died.

One night, while lying in the floor of my living room sobbing (a place where we never spent too much time together) I looked up from my back and saw my Bible quietly sitting on an end-table. I crawled to it and began searching for help and came across this verse…

Malachi 4:2 – “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.”

I certainly needed the “healing power of the Sun” and therefore my early morning rides to the sunrise had begun.

My sunrises soon became a place for me to get back to prayer. A place where I could talk to God, ask for His forgiveness and maybe even get a chance to talk (or feel) my lost Love. This I did consistently and I began to feel the changes.

Finding My Way Back

I tried the dating thing many times but my reminiscing about the one I had lost quickly ruled out any chance at a relationship. The details and my “pity-party” was just too much for anyone else to handle… nobody was strong enough for that… I continued to pray and stay humble as God had told me…

1 Peter 5:6-7 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

I had SO much on my mind these days. I missed the one I Love but hated the loneliness but who, if at all possible, would understand what I’ve been through and why my heart was still in pain. I put my total faith back in God…

Proverbs 19:20 – “Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

A little over two years ago I had gone out to watch my football as that too provided me with some kind of solace. I chose a small little hole-in-the-wall bar in west Boca Raton. Why this one? I didn’t know. Why not one of the bigger sports bars where I could watch all the games? Still, I didn’t know.

I snuggled in for my game and perused through the short-order menu to find something for lunch. I wasn’t  all that hungry so I decided on an appetizer. It would be cheese-sticks as my company for today’s game!

I waited patiently for my morsels and finally, out came the bartender with my bowl. At first bite, I knew something was wrong… I bit into one little stick only to find it hollow with no cheese and only a crusty little tube of bread crumbs.

I complained to the bartender and she immediately brought them back and ordered me a new bowl. The chef herself, after feeling remorseful about her earlier mistake, hand-delivered my new order.

We spoke for a while as the bar was pretty empty. We got to know each other and, after a few months, we became “a thing.” God had given me a companion, along with her family that welcomed me in, that would accept my past and understand my pain… there rest here, is history! God DOES answer prayer!

I Needed More… I needed to get back to my Lord

I continued my sunrise vigils and prayer but needed something more in my life. I wanted to give back to God all that He had given unto me.

I tried the local churches on “church row” in Boca with their marble flooring and granite columns but felt no warmth from any of the congregation. Surely, this wasn’t where God saw me… I didn’t fit in there!

Again, trying to shorten my story as I’ve been known to rant a lot, I found you… now The Sunrise Chapel at Mickey’s Tiki Bar… where people accept you for what you are; impose no judgement against you; and welcome you with open arms into their family…God has found my “church!”

Many of you are well aware of our recent trials and tribulations as we have tried to “grow” this flock. We have been questioned about policy and procedure, rules and regulations and proper credentials… none of which are requirements of being a member in this church!

To all that question us, I say this from 2 Corinthians…

2 Corinthians 3:1-16 – “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

 Such confidence we have through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

I am a child of God and while my ordination is legitimate and legal in the state of Florida, my credentials are within me and rooted deeply in my heart. I have found my way back to God and this has been my journey!

The entire purpose behind this message today is to show you how God never gives up on us… He will let us stray as He provides us with free-will but, as you can tell from my own personal story, He will always forgive us and allow us back into His care and in His grace!

Go with Our Lord… Humble & Kind… God Bless!