Richard John Osborne

Profile Information:

Gender

Male

Country (not County)

Australia

Occupation:

Bus driver

I'm here to...

Improve my relationship with Jesus, learn more, help others.

Interests:

God, Learning to be a better person, Witnessing, Photography, Wakeboarding, Squash, Rollerblading.

I'm passionate about...

God, Learning to be a better person, Witnessing.

My story with God

Oh Gosh, is there enough room?

"IT’S NEVER TOO LATE"
My Testimony, by Richard Osborne.

A BAD START
I was 42, downcast and in a mess, I didn’t like my life or myself, there didn’t seem to be anything to look forward to other than my next cigarette, getting drunk, taking drugs, using women for my pleasure, playing sports or riding my jet ski in water ski shows, but these things didn’t bring fulfillment.

If I was not playing well at sport or if things made me look silly or things were not working out for me, I would chuck terrible temper tantrums, smashing my fist into my surf board or throwing my ice skates into a bin or hitting a wall... Even when things were going well, the joy was fleeting.

I was selfish, angry, bitter, weak and easily hurt. I had a foul temper and suffered terribly from a bad case of “approval addiction”.

I came from a messed up background, my mother was taking morphine while pregnant with me. I was born very sick, my parents were told that I might not live and if I did, I would probably not walk and talk normally. Mum threw plates around the house while screaming at my dad in terrible arguments in which she made it quite clear we were a hindrance. She was institutionalized when I was six & never lived with us again. From then on, I very rarely saw her. She died when I was 12. Dad loved us but was selfish and very strict; his leather belt and teachers cane met my skin regularly. He spent very little time with me, and came for the first time to see me play sport when I was 29.

I felt rejected, unwanted and had very low self esteem.

I had looked into Christianity and had attended a Seventh Day Adventist Church, I think I may have even asked God into my life back then, I’m not sure. But I had never REALLY turned to Jesus to rescue me.

A FRESH START
However driving home from work on the 11th December 2003, 42 years old, I finally turned to God.
Alone and in the privacy of my car I started talking to Him. As lame as it might sound to some, this is what I said "My life is a mess, I reckon there is something to you God and I want to give you a go."

God heard me. Instantly, He smashed me with peace and joy, I had tears streaming down my face as I continued to drive at 110 km/h down the freeway. For the rest of the way home I was wondering what the heck had just happened.

Since then, life has been… interesting & challenging. From that night to now, I have never once had a single craving for a cigarette. Other things however, like my foul temper, selfishness, un-forgiveness and self control I’ve had to work through with Gods help.


A NEW PEACE
For the first time in my life I enjoy work and find life challenging, but rewarding.

I am more content and experience far greater peace, joy & self control. When stress & anxiety creep in, praying for Gods help causes peace & joy to return.

Jesus can bring forgiveness, peace, joy and a new life to you as he has me. God does not always affect a person’s life instantly the way He did me. He wants to have an intimate relationship with you through Jesus Christ. Together, He will help you the way that He knows is best for YOU! Why not seek Him and see.

I don’t know when my salvation occurred, whether it was that night I started talking to God in desperation in my car, or earlier in my search for God, or the following Sunday when I answered an alter call in a Pentecostal Church, I don’t honestly know. I do know that night was a turn around point for me, and writing this many years later, I know I will never turn my back on God again. He has turned my life around! And as scripture says; Who else could I go to but the Living God! ;
Jn 6:67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Jn 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Jn 6:69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Thanks for reading this.
May God bless you.
Richard Osborne.

Other stuff about me:

Like every believer, I'm in a journey, it's a journey with purpose, and a journey that definately finishes with "And they lived happily ever after! :)

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