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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Step(s) (11/29/12)
The bailiff stood up. "All rise, court is now is session. The honorable Nate McPherson is now presiding over the sentencing of Judd Pinkerson."
The judge walked into the courtroom and sat at his desk. The defendant stood up. "Judd Pinkerson. You were convicted of driving under the influence; this is your third conviction. The women you hit almost died. You should have been charged with attempted manslaughter. Luckily for you, the woman has recovered. I'm a Christian and I believe in redemption. I prayed about your sentence before I came out here. Normally, I would not do this, but I am sending you to Life Challenge recovery, a Christian based program."

"Are you kidding me? I don't want to be around a bunch of Jesus freaks."

"It's either five months of treatment or five years in jail. What's your decision?"

Judd looked down on the floor. "I'll do the treatment."

"Just remember, if you get kicked out of this program you will spend the next five years in jail. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, I understand." Judd was escorted out of the courtroom.

**********

The next day Judd was admitted at the treatment center. He was fidgeting in his chair when one of the counselors walked in the office and sat at his desk. "Judd, I am Chad Peterson. I've been assigned to you. Here at Life Challenge we have a five step program. If you cooperate and complete each step you will be released at the end of the five months. We hope that the Lord will change your heart while you're here and that you would come to know Jesus as your Savior.

The fourth step is to read the Bible. That is a requirement for the program. I have a Bible here for you and I would like you to start in the book of Proverbs." Chad handed the Bible to Judd.

Judd looked at it for a second then threw it on the desk. "You can't make me read that garbage."

Chad picked up the Bible and attempted to give it to Judd. He didn’t make eye contact. "You chose to go into this program; reading the Bible is one of the requirements."

"I'm not reading it." Judd folded his hands and shook his head.

Chad picked up the phone. "Okay, I am going to give you a chance to think about it by spending a couple of hours in the time-out room."

The intercom beeped. "I need to send a man to time-out stat." Three men stormed in and forced Judd into the room. It had no furniture in it. They forced him to sit on the floor.

Chad put the Bible down on the floor next to Judd. "You’re here because you have a drinking problem. The first step is to admit that you have a problem. You need to do that. Reading God's word will help you renew your mind. It also may help you reach that first step. The Bible's here when you’re ready to read it."

They left the room and locked the door.

Two hours later, Chad checked in on Judd. "Judd, are you reading?"

"NO!" Judd sat on the floor with his arms crossed and glared at Chad.
Chad left and locked the door.

Two hours later, Chad walked into the room to find Judd reading the Bible. Judd put it down and looked at Chad. "I've started to read Proverbs. I am feeling really bad for that woman I almost killed. I have been in foster homes since I was 10 years old. There is no one in this world that loves me. I don't know about this Jesus thing, but I am tired of the way I’ve been living."

Chad sat down across from him. "Judd, you just completed step one-- to admit you have a problem and also step four which is about Bible reading. There are a few other steps you need to do. Step two is repentance. Would you like to repent to Jesus?"

Judd smiled. "Yes, oh yes I would."

Chad placed his hand on Judd's knee. "Step three, is to admit you're powerless. Only Jesus can change you. If you ask him into your heart, he can make you a new person."

Judd looked off into space then a glow car over his face. "I would love to ask Jesus into my heart."
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This article has been read 706 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Beth LaBuff 
12/08/12
The Word of God is powerful and can change lives as you demonstrated in this story. Perhaps one area you could work on would be, "show, don't tell." For example in your sentence, "They left the room and locked the door." Rather than saying "locked the door," tell about the sound of the lock,-- "Judd was left in silence, except for the hollow echo of the lock being turned on the cell door." Your message comes through clearly on this entry. I always enjoy reading about a changed life.
Sandra Wells
12/09/12
A powerful message that no matter where we are, even sitting on a cold floor in the middle of stubborn refusal, God is there, and His word heals.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
12/12/12
I thought this was a creative take on the topic. Though I haven't read all of the stories, this is the first one I've seen about the step program. You handle a difficult topic in a good way. Nice job.
C D Swanson 
12/12/12
Great job! I loved this whole piece. Wonderful job with the topic at hand, and you've pulled it together in a powerful way.

Thanks. God bless~