What's Got a Hold On You?

A man and I worked together several years ago. Every morning when he woke up the first thing he would do was reach for his can of chewing tobacco. He told me that he wished that he could quit using it. He said that he was scared that he would get cancer. He even had a couple of sores in his mouth. He admitted that he had tried to quit chewing tobacco many times but he couldn’t do it. About that same time I was actually in process of writing this book. Sometimes, when I finished a chapter or two I would bring them with me while I was on the road and work on them. I would let my friend read what I had completed and we would talk about it. When the contractor we worked for ran out of work we both got laid off and we went our separate ways. But, as God would have it, our paths crossed about a year later. He could hardly contain himself as he told me that he no longer was chewing tobacco. I’ll never forget his answer when I asked him how he did it. He smiled and said, “It was easy, I just did what you said in your book.” On one of my trips to the local super center, I met a man who had a table set up at the entrance to the store. He was part of a ministry that worked with recovering alcohol and drug addicts. There goal was to get them saved and free from their addiction. As I spoke to this man I felt like the Holy Spirit was telling me to give him my book. I gathered up all the books that I had with me and gave them to this man. A couple of years later, I saw this same man there at the store entrance once again. He recognized me immediately, even though we had only met briefly that one day. I asked him how he liked the book. He said that he loved it. They had been using it for the last two years at the ministry for a teaching tool, when they ministered to the addicts they worked with. They were having great success using Gods Principles For Tearing Down Strongholds, in getting people free from their addictions.

I met a man while working for a lighting contractor. Our jobs would take us on the road for weeks at a time. During that period we became good friends and in our travels we shared our personal victories and struggles. Every day before breakfast he would fill his jaw with chewing tobacco. He told me how he wished he could quit using it. He said he was scared that he would get cancer and he had sores in his mouth. He confessed that he had tried to quit chewing tobacco many times but it seemed to have a hold on him that he just couldn’t break. During that same time I was in the process of writing this book. Sometimes, when I finished drafting a chapter or two I would bring the draft with me and I would let my friend read it. I would ask him for his input and we would talk about what I had written. When the lighting contract ran out, we were both laid off and went our separate ways but several months later I saw him again. We talked about old times and what we had been doing since we last saw each other. He could hardly contain himself as he told me that he no longer chewed tobacco. When I asked him how he did it. He smiled and said, “It was easy, I just did what you said in your book.” Further evidence that God wanted to use my book was revealed to me when I met a man who had a table set up at the entrance to a local store. He belonged to a ministry that worked with people who were alcohol and drug dependant. The ministry goal was to lead them to Jesus and to help free them from their strongholds. As I spoke to this man the Holy Spirit told me to give him my book. I took the books I had with me in my car and gave them all to him. About two years later at the same store, I saw him again. I asked him how he liked the book. He said that he loved it. His ministry had been using it for the last two years as a teaching tool. The ministry had great success using “What’s Got A Hold On You?”, and many people were breaking free from their addictions.

When I woke up the morning after the night I was saved in 1977, I knew there had forever been a change in me. I knew that it was real and I knew that I didn’t want to be a hypocrite. I truly wanted to live my life for Christ. I also knew that there were things in my life that needed to change. I struggled with my own personal strongholds for years. I wanted to be that person that God had called me to be, but I was never was able to accomplish that goal. Until, God revealed the path to me. God has always used ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Why he allowed me to write this book can only be explained as, “Gods’ mercy”. But I do know this one thing. This Book will give you the tools, strength and ability to tear down any stronghold that you may be struggling with in your life.