Delivered from the bondage of Crime & homosexuality
I was involved in the Irish Gay community. I was also well known for dealing in counterfeit dvds, xxx, drugs and stolen property. I hope it gives courage to those that are struggling.
I am now 45 years old brought up a Roman Catholic, was considered "out" (ie openly admitted that I was gay to my family & friends) I was also a regular to gay bars & night clubs in both Dublin (George, Gubu,) London (XXL, Kings
Arms) and Barcelona (Martins, bear fests in Sitches Spain) I would use the bath houses & Saunas (Boiler House & Chariots of Shortditch) as cheap accommodation and would think nothing of practicing unsafe A sex. (I was a passive guy for those that know). I began to developed white thrush (Fungus) on my tongue and assumed it was a symptom of HIV. I was terrified and decided to take a blood test at the local gay drop in free clinic in Baggot St Dublin. (It was two years since my previous test) The results were to take almost a week.
I could not eat or sleep for several nights before the results I was expecting the worst. I knew there was more to life than this from a biblical encounter I had in the past. The night before the test I decided to read the Bible and could not put it down. I cried out to the lord and asked him to come into my life the words started to come "alive" on the page as I was reading, In particularly the teachings of the Gospels, I pleaded to God for forgiveness. "Anyone who calls upon the name of the lord shall be saved"
(Romans 10vs 9). I then proceeded to destroy ie shread up my entire master collection over 500 xxx dvd titles and flushed over several hundred euros worth of cocaine & ecstasy down the toilet. This was an indication to God that I wanted to repent ie turn away from my past self centered life.
The following evening I came out negative in the test and felt this wonderful feeling of forgiveness and very powerful feeling flow into my heart and mind. I am now a committed born again christian who has put my complete lifestyle behind me and will not never look back. " Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ...without hope and without god.....Ephesians 2:12-13.
However it is not all over, I have to wait until May 2007 for a "Window"
blood test to make sure that I am completely free as there is still a possibility I could still have the virus. However I do not worry as I have Christ in my life. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for tho art with me" (Psalm 23:4)
There is hope for any of you guys/gals out there. "For god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3 vs 16.)
Any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
Yours in Christ