My Dad

My dad’s life is a testimony!

Charles Pettijohn grew up dirt poor and the youngest of a large family. He didn’t have indoor plumbing or a TV set. He was the last of the kids to take a bath … in the same tub … in the same water. He was usually working several jobs to support himself and his family even when he started in the military.

If you know my dad at all you know that he lives in a house with 5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 2 living rooms, and is lakeside property. He is constantly buying everyone elses meals at restaurants. He owns 3 houses in 3 different states and is looking to buy another one if the price is right. He has a sailboat and even has his own golf cart of which he graciously lets my mom ride around and get stuck in the garden sometimes. My dad is not poor now. My dad’s life is a testimony that working hard and being smart with money can make you rich. Do you want to know how much my dad cares about having a testimony like that? NONE!

My dad was rarely respected early on. Working as a bagger he asked for his wedding day off and was denied. He was probably one of those kids my mom didn’t want me playing with. He wrecked his dad’s car and even skipped school … elementary school.

If you know my dad at all you know that when he walks in the room heads turn. You know that whether he is standing at a pulpit or in the middle of the living room and starts talking, people listen. He made it to full colonel, was the president of the home owner’s association, and was recognized as one of the fastest growing mortgage broker’s in Colorado Springs for a time. My dad’s life is a testimony that if you do the right thing, treat people how they want to be treated, and respect others, you yourself can be highly respected. Do you want to know how much my dad cares about a testimony like that? NONE!

My dad wasn’t perfect. He was divorced after 17 years of marriage. He made mistakes that can’t be spoken here. He yelled at his kids. He lied and stole. He has a past that would make many of us blush.

If you know my dad at all you know that he cares for people a great deal. You know that his kids and grandkids are very precious to him now. He welcomes them with open arms and makes sure they are comfortable in his home. If you know my dad, you know that he walks with God daily and strives to shine his light to others. If you know my dad, you know that Jesus Christ is the absolute most important thing to him in the entire universe. My dad’s life is a testimony that no matter who you are, God absolutely loves you and sent his son to take the place for your sins so you can spend eternity, starting today, with Him in relationship. Do you want to know how much my dad cares about a testimony like that? A LOT!

Friends, to honor my dad means that I would speak words that he would speak. I and my dad are not alike in many ways. He doesn’t like piercings. We have different ideas about the church. And I couldn’t tell you a sports statistic if my life depended on it. But you know what we both agree on. You are important to God.

We all, like my dad, have screwed up in our lives somewhere. We break God’s heart when we look to ourselves for how to live. God’s laws have been broken since Adam ate of the tree in the garden and someone’s gotta pay the price. God wouldn’t be someone worthy of worship if he let a couple things slide here and there. If you’ve tried to kid yourself in the past by thinking you’re not that bad, I plead with you when you lay down tonight and you’re all alone with your thoughts, be honest and ask yourself, “Am I really as good a person as I say I am?” I can tell you with all assurance that I and my dad are united on this and our answers would be, “NO!” God’s word tells us when we humble ourselves in his sight, we are lifted up. By telling God, “I am a sinner and I have broken your commandments.” You start on a road to recovery like AA only dreams of. God begins to work in your life and at the moment when you kneel down before God, Jesus Christ steps to your side and says, “My brother, let me walk with you and show you a more excellent way.”

If you are here today and don’t know what it’s like to wake up in the morning and not have the guilt and shame of your life on your shoulders then it’s time to talk. My dad’s life is a testimony my friends and the only testimony my dad cared about was making sure that the people in his life knew there was a God, knew he was holy, and knew that we could live in a relationship with Him. If you knew my dad then you know he would invite you to talk to someone who could give you the answer you’ve been looking for and start on a journey that you never thought imaginable.