His Grace at Work Testimony of a Preacher |
I was raised on a farm on the Saskatchewan prairies. A land of hot summers, and frigid cold winters. I was blessed to experience the awesome sunsets and evening northern lights in their entire splendor. The sky would dance like a great symphony, colors of blues, purple, turquoise and magenta. The movements were spectacular and at times seemed to encompass about like a hand from the heavens. The fields of fall were like flowing golden gowns wisping in the wind like a ballerina. The Canola of bright yellow flowers would birth perfume into the dry wind air. From the rolling hills the fields would wave with a light breeze as thou one was standing on the shores of a great ocean. The winters were crisp as your breath steamed from the cold northern mist. When one walked upon the snow one could hear and feel the crackle of the cold. At time the trees glittered with billions of brilliant diamonds. Snow hanging heavily on the great spruces likes clumps of whip cream on a rich dessert. Springs was the sounds of freshness, water trickling and dripping like tears of joy. The land coming alive as it showed its body from the cover of a white coat. The air was alive with birds and songs of praise to the creator. The crocuses and dandelions begin sprouting from the dark rich soil, reaching toward the heavens in thanksgiving. The farm would come alive, as machinery would begin to move from the clutches of ice. The ground in the fields would turn, as the smell of soil would rise to the air. The seedlings planted in the fertile ground to be nurtured and raised to the fragrance of the harvest. The cattle would bring froth their young and frolic in the pastures of freedom. The summers were an experience of heat and the burn of the wind. Then in a moment the cloud would bellow with darkness. The skies would light with great stroke of flames and the horizon would rumble with the voice of a god. At times in the distant the silhouette of cloud would resemble the great mountains. I would imagine myself experience the slender and tranquility of the great Rockies of Alberta. Then the rains would come like barrels of light honey. I would run through the showers with my bare feet and feel the mud masseuse between my toes. My mouth opens to catch the flavors of the pure water. The leaves of the poplars would turn upwards to the sky like hands lifted to glorify the heavens. My parents had eight children, six boys and two girls, which I am the oldest. My dad was a hard working French Mete and my mom a pure bread German. They met in the small-town of Daysland Alberta where my dad was working on a school construction. They have never told me much about this experience but that I was not long coming. I was born the in the village of Killiam Alberta and from their to livelong area of Saskatchewan close to my grandparents, John and Agnes. Dad the disciplinarian and mom the stabilizer. They were good, God fearing Catholics, who felt it was their call in life to create a large family in an atmosphere of security. I must say that I have never regretted the environment I was raised in. I look back on my life and thank God for these wonderful individuals who had ideals of honor and love. Who rose early in the mornings and worked late at night to supply all the earthly needs of a large family. We were in no way a perfect family and at times resembled the WWF, but there was a constant flow of unconditional love, acceptance and good discipline. We lived a few miles from the nearest town so trips were designated to shopping, hockey, curling in the winter and baseball, rodeos and picnics in the summer. The rest of the time was work and more work and some play. Some of our greatest moments were Saturday nights sitting with our parents, watching Hockey Night in Canada. Or sitting around the dinning room listening to my father pipe out, "On the Wings of a Snow White Dove." He has an incredible voice the soothed the soul. My mother would then take over with her honky tonk style and bring out the clapping and fun. She glowed with assurance and the laughter would go through the night. Life was not always roses and although as children we were protected from the battles of life my parents went through many struggles financially. Farming and work was not easy and I know there were many times they felt like quitting or had no place to turn, but somehow hope would rise up in the midst of the darkness. And my Dad was never afraid to work a trait in him I will never forget and always appreciate. Being the oldest meant more responsibility, something I did not always appreciate. But later in life would find it to be a solid foundation. My mother told me that I was a different child who was more convertible around older children and adults I never really went through those rebellious teen years. This did not mean I was smarter. I was an average student who tended to be on the lazy side concerning my studies. Studying just seemed to make me do worse. I was not the polar kid but not the one to pick on either. I did love gym class. Sports became my first love; I started playing hockey when I was about six years old and organized baseball the next summer. I loved the competition and the team spirit. I tended to rebel and voice my opinions coaches did not treat people right so I got in trouble a few times. It was a sign to come in my ministry walk. At sixteen years old I met my wife Janice, and after 4 years of struggle, a young people do, we married. Today we are still together, sadly a feat not common in today's environment we have been blessed with four children, three boys and one girl and grandchildren. As for my career choices I decided that as a young age I did not want to be a farmer, and went into business management. I worked in retail for several years, then twelve years as a district manager for an oil service company. I moved on to be an administrator for a mining company then into full time ministry. I have had several businesses, a restaurant, home improvements and a marketing company. I have not always made the right decision in business and have at times paid dearly for some wrong mistakes. At one point before going into full time business I was traveling near Sacramento California. God was dealing with me on some issues. As I drove by a large Baptist church the Lord spoke to me and said, "I did not call you into the business world but into my ministry." It hit me hard and made a decision that set me on my ministry coarse. |
Chapter One My Grace Begins |
Roxy Nolin Copywrite - 2002 |
