Today James Caldemeyer serves as a fishing guide on a Texas lake and competes in bass fishing tournaments around the country. Affable and eager to serve his fishing clients, James engages in all sorts of easy conversation on the water. yet his demeanor belies a deeper secret - that at the age of 21 he was responsible for an alcohol - related car accident that killed a person and resulted in losing his job, wife, and family.
With the guilt, anguish, and hurt overwhelming, James struggled to live. yet in his darkest hours he found god waiting for him, both with the iron-fist of consequences, along with the mercy and grace that saved him from rotting in prison.
This soldier took a gun and placed it at my forehead and told me he was going to end my life.
David Nasser was only nine when the soldiers came to his school in Iran and threatened his life.
His parents knew the time had come to flee the ongoing revolution and seek refuge in the United States.
We came here at the same time the American hostages were taken at the American embassy in Iran, David says. So people were watching on TV how the Iranians were burning the American flag and calling America 'The Great Satan.' We moved right in at the wrong time from the wrong place.
My father was having a hard time just being hired by someone, and I was having a hard time just finding a friend.
David struggled to learn English and dreaded going to school. The kids could be cruel.
He says he was called, every nickname you could think of. Every 7/11 joke, every turban joke. You start to think, I must not be as good.
Davids life changed dramatically right before high school.
It was the last day of the summer. I was sitting in my room, and I was crying. My dad heard me, and he walked in. I told him, Nobody likes me, and I dont like them. Im kind of the school loner and just coming from a different part of the world has not been easy for me.
My father just said, Ok, lets go. My dad took me to the mall, and you know the mall is where you go when you want to clone America. I wanted to be like everyone else, clothes, shoes, and haircut. Overnight through this extreme makeover, I found acceptance.
David was raised Muslim and while he admits that his family was not devout, faith was a core part of his foundation.
I still remember my mother praying three times a day, and I remember being taught the Koran, David says.
David still felt disconnected even with his newfound popularity. When high school ended, his loneliness intensified. He turned to a friend for help.
I was telling him how lonely I was, and he invited me to go to church with him. I said, Man I dont want to go to church. I hate religion. He said, No, no, no. This isnt the Muslim religion. This is Christianity.
I wasnt convinced, and then he named the five prettiest girls from our high school and said they all go to our church. Immediately I was motivated.
They all became friends and met David right at his point of need.
David recalls, Im getting a whiff of something I cant deny. Im seeing something thats radiating out of your life thats authentic. When I asked, What is different? They always said, Jesus Christ. Jesus has changed our lives. He is the Son of God. He lived the perfect life, and He died the sinners death. He wants to live in your life. He wants to come and transform you.
One night after church, Davids transformation began.
I realized people are always going to let you down. Churches will always let you down but Jesus Himself never will. He was the one calling me, and I said, Jesus, I want You to save me from myself, from religion, from performance, from all these different things. It doesnt mean that struggle goes away. It doesnt mean that persecution goes away. It doesnt mean that doubt goes away. It just means that you begin a new journey as a new you and that youre not alone.
Davids parents put up with what they thought was his religious phase for awhile. But when he decided to be baptized, they put their foot down.
That was the night that my parents basically said, Youre out of the house, David recalls. The beauty of it is since that moment, one by one Ive seen my entire family come to Jesus Christ.
Evangelist David Nasser now speaks to half a million people every year.
We all long for acceptance. We all long for purpose. We all long to fill this empty hole in our lives with what we think is not gonna make us feel empty anymore.
Davids new book A Call to Grace focuses on an issue he believes we all struggle with regardless of our nationality.
The greatest obstacle for someone from the Muslim faith when it comes to Christianity is the grace factor. They see this idea of you and I finding our salvation and earning the favor of God through the completed works of Jesus as just kind of a cop out.
Its not that salvation is easy. Its that salvation is impossible when it comes to you being good enough because when are you good enough? When are you ever righteous enough? When are you ever pure enough? If theres one thing I know Im going to be consistent in today, its in being inconsistent. We all fail everyday.
We are going to live imperfect lives, and thats why we need a perfect Savior."
Her life was impacted negatively at a young age by the absence of her father. She spent much of her adult life looking for a way to compensate for her loss.
This is a short video on my story! I was a drug addict for years and I have now been totally set free from my addiction thanks to the one and only - Jesus. I believe that Jesus is the only way to be truly set free from anything! I hope that this inspires you to seek Jesus. All you have to do is invite him into your life. It says in Romans 10:9-10 (paraphrased) That if yoiu confess (say) with yoiur mouth and believe that Jesus is Lord then you will be saved. It is with yoiur mouth that you confess and are saved! That's it. If you say the following prayer then you will be saved.
Dear Jesus, I believe in you, i believe that you died on the cross for me so that i could be forgiven of all my sins, forgive me for my sin and save me. Thanks for your salvation and from this moment forward i will allow you into my heart and into my life to change me from the inside out, in Jesus name Amen.
If you said this prayer then congratulations. Some suggestions of where to go from there. Find a local church, speak to a friend who is a christian and ask for their help, try reading the bible and build your relationship with your best friend - Jesus.
