Elnut and the Man upstairs...

[elnutsmalljaws]

I have met and made friends with several fella fishermen on this board and I can't think Peter and all the rest for having such a site. I know that I have had my differences with a few people in the past that made me boycott it for a while and I can't thank everyone enough for all the pm's and emails wanting me to stay apart of this site. Just about all of my close buddies on here know the differences I have had in the past with the "Man" upstairs to the point that I said there was no Heaven and no Hell, no God and no Devil basically when you die that was it, into the box you go and that was that. Boy how wrong was I to believe that. I started reading a Bible that my Dad got for me about 2 months ago and started going to church about 5 weeks ago. This past Sunday my wife and I joined a church in Lawrenceburg Ky and I plan on getting baptized in January after the wound on my stomach finally closes up. It was amazing that 5 weeks ago it felt like a ton of weight was lifted off my shoulders sitting in that first service and ever since, even though I was back in the hospital less than 10 hours of leaving my first service for 8 days, it feels like I got somebody right there beside me helping me. No dis-respect to my wife, my buddy Hens, my family and all of you fellas but it is a different feeling of help that I feel. I have tried to tell those that have personally tried to help my faith in the past and now I am making it public for all to know. I fully know this is a fishing website and maybe I am out of line but I just want to publicly thank each and everyone that said a prayer for myself, my wife and my family in helping us get thru all that we have been thru. I know there are too many to thank so if I have not talked to you in person about this, please accept my appology for that and consider this as my way of saying THANK YOU.

God Bless and thanks for everything
Elwood

[Gregory]

WOW this is the best thing I have ever seen on this site. GOD BLESS you Elwood
I was saved 2 years ago, got baptized, joined a church, and my live has changed so much. You too will see change, I will pray for you and your family.

[Dave Stewart]

Just a note on moving this post...I was hard pressed to decide whether to leave this post on the Fishing Discussuon Board or move it here to the Off Topics Board. Obviously I made my decision and moved it. We in the past have allowed requests for prayers and help to remain on the Fishing Discussion Boards and unless Peter changes his mind on this I will continue to do so. My decision to move this post has nothing to do with my beliefs or how I feel about your beliefs....I moved it because it tends to be more of a confessional than a post just asking for a prayer for someone. No offense is intended. I left a permanent redirect up on the Fishing Discussion Board so that anyone that might want to read this post would be aware of it and could read it by simply clicking on the thread topic.

Now..my reply to you Elwood....glad to see you have come to realize that there is a God and that there is something more at work here in our universe than just some freak accident of organic compounds coming together to give us life. Miracles are happening around us everyday...we just have to open our eyes to see them...your surviving what should have killed you and would have killed most folks should have told you something....and apparrently it did. There is a plan for everything and everyone. Obviously you still have more to do here on earth before your time is up...and it will be up sometime...as it will be with all of us. But, when your time comes now, you will not be alone..not that you ever have been alone..you weren't..you just did not realize it.

[DJD]

Elwood,
That's the best news I have read on here in awhile. I was always hoping you would change your mind and spirit about God for your sake and your family. Sounds like alot of prayers have been answered! Enjoy the walk my Christian Brother!!

[DYNATRAK]

just another example of why this site is the best.

[Bassky]

Elwood,
You have made the biggest decision of your life and you will never regret it. I believe there has been a lot of people praying for you over the past 2-3 years. Not only for your health but also your spiritual side. I am one of those. It is all about HIM! I am so thankful to hear of your commitment to the Lord and your salvation. The Lord will truly bless you now and will hear your prayers forever. May God Bless you and your family!
A brother in Christ!
Bassky

[offdtop]

Elwood, he wont give us anything he wont help us get out of, when I finally realized that everything is a gift and give thanks for all my gifts is when I feel at peace. The one thing the bible is about is love and that certain people are put in our paths that will mold us into better people - we just have to pay attention. You have been put in my path unknowingly to you to make me think of how great he is for seeing you through these hard times. This letter touched not only myself but I actually read it to my wife who teared up and we don't know you from Adam, I know you though words yet our paths crossed. God bless and keep you safe
Offdtop

[aceoky]

That's AWESOME!

[shawnrd81]

I do not know you but hopefully I will see you fishin sometime. I am glad you found God. I have read your posts on here along with everyone else and have prayed for your recovery. It seems that it has been a very long year for you and hope that next year brings you more days fishing than not. Take care and do not over do it. God is wonderfull and performs many miracles. Who knows Maybe you will catch the next record smallmouth could not think of anyone that deserves it more!

[Devils Horse]

Dave, thanks for putting this over here on the 'outcasts' board, it's a very inspirational post.

El, congratulations on finding some direction in your life, I hope we get to go fishing again sometime. I'll be on Dale the next couple of days and will make a couple of casts in your honor.

[dsonthelake84]

Elwood, Congrats on finding the Lord. I have been Baptized for many of years now. Attend church everyday that the doors are open. I know if you keep your faith in God, that things will become better. It might not be the way you think it, but they will. Just remember he died so you could make the choice to accept him. God Bless you Elwood and your family. Have a good holiday.
Daniel

[dc chopper]

I would have never made it through divorce if it wasn't for church and the real big guy upstairs. I was told once that you never know how bad you need him until he's all you got left. I had my friends and family but that wasn't enough. It takes a big man with a good set of elnuts to say what you did and I'm happy to say welcome aboard.