STEVE DAVIES
OVERCOMING ANGER 
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STEVE DAVIES |
Steve plays Ruby League for the Crusaders in the Brisbane Second Division (a league in which both Arthur Beetson and Sam Backo once played). A distinctive feature of the Crusaders is that they present their opponents with copies of the "Sports" New Testament after home games. Steve says most players receive the gifts with enthusiasm, and some have commented later that they are reading and enjoying the Scriptures. Steve loves to share the Word of God so others can come to the same God who changed his own life.
Are to trying to escape reality? Steve Davies was. Experimentation with heavy drugs, rebellion and alcohol only added to the confusion of discovering his father had committed suicide. The turning point was when a woman had the courage to give Steve a Bible.
My childhood was full of sadness and confusion. By the age of seven, I had lost both my father and grandfather. My mother remarried, and my relationship with my stepfather was strained. Until the age of fifteen, I thought that my father had been killed in a car accident, but this illusion was shattered when my mother told me that he had actually committed suicide. My reaction was one of anger and rebellion. Not able to cope with this, or my home life, I began using drugs, sex and rock 'n roll as my anthem.
By the age of seventeen, I was experimenting with heavy drugs and getting drunk to numb the pain. To escape the attention of the police, I moved to Townsville where my Uncle owned a hotel but my lifestyle didn't change.
Although I believed in God as a youngster, to this point I had never heard the good news that Jesus had died for my sins. Then one day I noticed one of the cleaners reading the Bible. I asked her why she was reading the Bible and Barbara said "God speaks to me through it". Thinking she was weird, I made a point of avoiding her. But one day when she was cleaning my room, I was there, stoned and watching Humphrey Bear on TV. Barbara nervously left me a small Bible with the comment that I should read it.
I couldn't resist reading it and even though I was stoned at the time I found Jesus through reading the Gospels. The reality of what he said made sense. The events leading up to the crucifixion of the Lord really stunned me and from that point on I knew there was something special about this Jesus. I continued to read my Bible spasmodically over the next twelve months. I moved to Brisbane, and although I was caught up in my old ways, the Word of God was really speaking to me. I finally surrendered to the Lord on my knees outside a tiny church at three o'clock in the morning. Two months later I ventured to a church for the first time in my life. The lovely folk from the church who greeted me at the door almost fainted, as I wasn't a typical Christian. But they loved and accepted me regardless.
Because of my childlike faith, I found it hard to understand everything about Christianity so I was sent to Sunday School! I was able to quickly grasp the basic knowledge that I needed, but what a sight it was to see a nineteen-year-old in Sunday School. Although the people at the church were wonderful, there wasn't anyone my own age and I was still hanging out with my mates from the pubs, so it was hard for me to follow what God wanted for my life. It was no small miracle that God led me to a church where some young guys showed me how to be a disciple of Jesus. During the next few years, I married Simone, my wonderful wife who I met at new Christian classes. I went to Bible College, and we had two beautiful children.
I have now come the full circle. I came to know Jesus through the loving efforts of one dear Christian woman who had the courage to give a young man involved in an unhealthy lifestyle a copy of God's Word. Now I do the same and encourage others to believe in the ability of God's mighty Word to change the human heart.
All the best
Steve
"Your word has given me life" (Psalm 119:50).
Read Steve's article Closer Than A Brother
Visit a great web site from the Bible Society at www.godspeak.info
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