Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
Yes and yes…
I’m a musician I play guitar and piano I sing
I’ve played parties I’ve performed in bars and nightclubs and concerts and music festivals I’ve been in bands — both secular and Christian
I was also part of a worldwide group of musicians called The Pond We played music festivals and online concerts together.. which were broadcast across the globe…
Later on.. I became a worship leader in ministry and church I also spent many Sundays playing music for residents in nursing homes and mental health hospitals
I’ve lived a pretty crazy life And.. for four years.. I traveled all across the state of Florida as a guest speaker — speaking in churches and at different events — telling my life story… `.°-
Stages and lights and microphones and crowds.. Rooms full of people.. Rooms with only a few..
Today though… the stage is just a memory.. just words…
If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?
When I saw this prompt question… it brought back many memories of my past… my drug days…
I went without much in those years… including sleep…
I was reminded of the time I stayed awake for 18 days… so I started thinking on it… and googling… and reading…
Apparently.. the Guinness World Record for staying awake is 11 days and 25 minutes… so yeah… I shattered that record… but I’m guessing that guy didn’t have any help from stimulants lol…
Through more reading… I learned that being awake 18 days is hanging right on the edge of death…
Guess I’m really blessed and fortunate… because there were numerous times I would be awake around 10 days or more even.. I actually beat the world record many times… nothing to be proud of…
I am so grateful and thankful to God… that I made it through those times… and I am not the same today…
Death waited at the door… but it did not win… I walked back out of those days… changed… and still breathing…
Honestly I don’t really have “pet peeves” anymore.. Ever since I started walking closer with God.. most of the little annoyances I used to care about just… lost their power..
If anything bothers me now it’s only the things that try and steal my joy.. that pull me away from peace.. faith.. or clouds the love I’m trying to live by..
And besides.. I have an ocean to overcome right now.. so I don’t have time to be peeving..
All Around the World — Justin Bieber (Acoustic)👇💯☝️⚘️🏳💥🎶❤️🔥😎`-¡-`~~~ ¡`°
When I was fourteen.. my best friend was killed in a dirt-bike accident.. I can’t begin to tell you what it did to me… Crushed is the only word I have right now.. and even that feels too small..
We were closer than brothers..
After the funeral.. I fell into my bedroom. That room became my world — my home inside my home.. I shut down.. Closed myself off.. No access allowed..
Everyone was worried about me..
It felt like I was on a camping trip in the wilderness alone.. And I stayed there for a whole year..
I needed something… but I didn’t know what..
I started borrowing CDs and cassette tapes from my uncle..
I found an old tape in a forgotten box in the attic — Bob Dylan’s Another Side of Bob Dylan… and I disappeared into it.
rock… country… blues… folk… old… new…
Hank Williams Jr… And the only Christian song I even knew back then.. Amazing Grace..
I didn’t just listen — I drank it.. And the more I drank.. the thirstier I got.. So I went swimming in it.. Something I still do..
Meanwhile.. God was walking the edges of me…
One night.. I awoke from a dream that wouldn’t let go… and there in the corner of my room was a silhouette.. shaped like a guitar..
my mother was so worried about me she didn’t know what else to do.. So she bought me an acoustic guitar.. And one night.. while I was sleeping… she placed it right where I would see it.. the moment I opened my eyes..
and so I took it
I played it… and I played it… and I played it…
until my fingers bled
until it started playing me..
I learned it — taught myself — until it learned me back..
Song after song.. Day after day.. night after night… Month after month.. From the fall of 1988 into the winter of 1989..
I played it…..
until it became my heartbeat..
And finally…
after a year in the wilderness…
I emerged from my room..
ready to face my giants…
…
of the 90’s…
…
…
…
First song i ever learned on guitar 👇
I had many songs embedded in this story.. but it was causing it to load super slow.. so I deleted most of them…
My Friend Joey’Me`
Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.. and saves those who are crushed in spirit…”
For most of my life.. I’ve been strong and healthy.. Then about a year and a half ago.. my health crashed hard.. This past year has been rough… sickness.. weakness.. doctors searching for answers — but lately I’ve been getting stronger day by day..
Six months ago.. things hit the worst point..
I was deathly sick and went to the ER.. They ran tests.. Two doctors walked in with that look on their faces — the look that says everything before a word is spoken..
“We think it’s cancer.”
They told me there were spots on my pancreas… liver… kidneys… and when something shows up on multiple organs.. red flags go up immediately.. doctors assume the worst.. To them.. it looked like cancer that had already spread..
But me? I was calm..
Not because I’m fearless — but because I had a promise from above that I’d live a long life.. I knew it wasn’t my time.. And I also knew they can’t call anything “cancer” until a biopsy confirms it.. honestly.. even if it were cancer.. I’d still react calmly.. because I’m ready to go home whenever…
I was admitted to the hospital.. and while I waited for results.. everyone — doctors.. nurses.. all treated me like it was cancer.. even my patient chart said it’s cancer.. cancer.. cancer.. cancer… everywhere cancer… One nurse introduced me to another by saying….
“This is Bryan… he has pancreatic cancer.”
I looked up and said.. “No ma’am.. I don’t have cancer.. And the tests results aren’t even back yet…”
Everybody around me braced for the worst.. I held on to faith… I wasn’t signing my name on something that didn’t belong to me…
Not today. Not ever.
“Don’t put that evil on me.. Ricky Bobby..” I joked……….. (They tried to curse me — I wasn’t having it 😄…)
And then the results came in..
Everything was benign… No cancer… Doctors scratching their heads because they were almost certain… Me smiling.. because I already knew..
God kept His word to me. And I’m still here — living.. growing.. healing.. getting stronger every day..
If you’re facing something scary.. remember this.. Doctors have knowledge.. God has the final say……
And He’s not done with me yet.
Also… if you’re reading this….. He’s not done with you either…..
“The Devils Mistake” by Eira Wulfnothsson and “Celebrate Every Life… Even Mine” by Nan Panman
Not long ago.. I was watching a documentary.. and there was a woman on there who said some things that hit me deep.. I don’t know why.. but her words stuck in my mind.. So I googled her.. Ended up on her website.. Read about her life.. And then I realized why she stood out to me..
She’s an ex-Luciferian occultist who became a Christian…..
That alone fascinated me — but when I found her testimony on YouTube… man.. The depth she was in.. the darkness she lived in.. the way God rescued her… it shook me.. Because I could relate more than I wish I could.. I’ve had my own brushes with that same evil.. I once tried to sell my soul.. I know the pull of that darkness.. I know the cost..
So I reached out… We ended up emailing.. One thing led to another.. and she invited me into her YouTube community and her podcast.. Pitbulls of the Lord…
She’s smart.. sharp.. grounded.. And because of her past.. she understands the kind of spiritual warfare I’ve been dealing with in a way most people can’t.. She’s been there.. She survived what I almost didn’t…
She’s Roman Catholic, and I’m not — but honestly? I don’t care.. Truth is truth….
Her book is called “The Devil’s Mistake…” And let me tell you… I couldn’t put it down.. I read the whole thing in a day and a half.. It was powerful.. profound.. it’s on my list of best reads…
Her name is Eira Wulfnothsson.. If any of this sparks something in you — look her up.. You might be surprised by what you find…
Also.. I recently read a friend’s book.. it’s also a Christian testimony story of God’s power and love throughout the life of this woman.. her story is similar to mine and Eira’s…. it’s also tremendously powerful… so check her book out… her name is Nan Panman.. and the book is called “Celebrate Every Life… Even Mine”
I recommend them both…
Both of these books are available on Amazon.. and maybe other places also.. I downloaded both from Kindle…
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 