Verse four is the "key" verse. That's what the Lord was doing in my life, and I didn't even know it; redeeming my life from destruction! Things were really going along pretty well when I was born again. Life was treating me very good, as far as I was concerned - I was going first class . But I must tell you, I didn't know what first class was until I met Jesus Christ and He became my Lord and Savior.

In 1974, (that was the year that I was "born again") 'music was my life and finally took everything, ain't it funny how you got it all and not a thing'!

As I look back on this part of my life things weren't really going that bad, at least, I didn't think they were. I had just signed a new recording contract with Asylum Records and as far as my career was concerned, I was sure that I was finally gonna become the successful "recording artist" that I had always dreamed about. Most of my friends that I had recorded with over the years had become very successful: Crosby, Stills and Nash, Neil Young, Loggins and Messina, Randy Meisner in the Eagles, and I was sure it was my turn, I mean I was just as talented as they were. Not only that though, my family life seemed to be doing pretty good also. I had been married for seven years to Nancy; we had a daughter, Timmie Sue and a home in the Colorado Rockies and as far as I was concerned, things were going very smoothly. I had noticed one thing though, there did seem to be a little distance between my wife and I at that time. I didn't want to think too much about it, but it did bother me some. Little did I know, this was going to be the most important time in my life. Not exactly how I thought it was going to be, how I had planned it, but how the Lord had planned it.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)

So, believing that POCO, the group I had been with for five years, had gone as far it could (attaining rock and roll stardom), I left, to put together a new group. I was very confident this would be the group that would be the "launching pad" for the next super group! It was here that I can look back and really begin to see the "hand of the Lord" at work in my life, reaching out to me, working with me, meeting me right where I was, calling me out of the darkness into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ. One of the musicians we brought into the group was a faithful believer in Jesus Christ. He came equipped with a guitar that had a funny little fish symbol on it with strange letters in it. His name was Al Perkins. I was very suspicious of him and opposed to him being in the group. I was sure he was going to hold the group back, if you know what I mean. He had a reputation of being a "Jesus freak", and, well, I didn't want to have a thing to do with him! You have to remember this was 'rock & roll', and it wasn't popular to be a Christian and be rock & roll musician.

It wasn't long after we started that he went right to work, telling me about Jesus Christ and how He loved me and died for my sin and did I want to be a Christian. He also told me about that little fish on his guitar and what those strange letters meant. (IXOYE - Jesus Christ - God's Son - Savior). I was polite and listened (I'm a nice guy, you know?). But little did I know this was only the beginning, he had a "foot in the door" and was just getting started. He had found an ear to listen. What he didn't know there was also a heart that was being softened while he kept sharing!

I remember one night we had invited he and his wife over for dinner and he was really excited because he had this tape for me to listen to.

I was sure it something to do with music, but it didn't and I was stunned to say the least; it was a Bible teaching tape by Pastor Chuck Smith from Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California, about the probability of Jesus fulfilling all of the prophecies in the Bible concerning Christ. I have to admit, it was very interesting, but I was still waiting for the music tape. Well, when the first tape was over, Al got right up, went over to the tape recorder and put in another cassette, not the music tape I was anticipating, but another tape of pastor Chuck's. Now I have to tell you, I was at loss as to what to do (I'm a nice guy, remember?). I hadn't been to church in years, and now here I was having church in my own home. I never did hear the music tape that night, but little did I know, was I was hearing was music to my ears.

The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:130)

We finished our first album in the spring of 1974, and a very significant thing happened. On one of the last recording sessions, my guitar was stolen out of my car! I'm sure it was the car they were after, but it was the guitar that was gone. It was very dear to me; every song I had ever written was written on that instrument. Why it was left in the car was stupid. It was a time we were doing drugs and who knows why we did half the things we did. All I know is when I came out of the studio that night I saw that the windshield of my car was shattered and my heart was shattered as well. There was no way that instrument could ever be replaced, it's value was more than simply monetary, it was a part of me. This was all part of the LORD's plan to begin to show His love for me in a way I could relate to. I reported the loss of my guitar to the police, but I was sure it was gone for good.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

"but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Matthew 6:19-21)

After we finished the record, Nancy and I took off for a month in Hawaii before we would begin he rehearsals for our first tour. It was during this time that I noticed something a little different going on with her. I had never noticed Nancy to be much of a reader, but now she was reading all of the time, but not just the "paperback beach books", but the Bible. Now there was nothing wrong with that, but it was definitely different. I didn't think too much about it, and I don't remember asking her about it, but obviously, there was something happening there. Those tapes we had been listening to, and a couple of books by Hal Lindsey were having an effect on her!

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

There was also something happening back home. When we returned from our trip, there was a phone message waiting for me, telling me to call my accountant - they had located my stolen guitar. Of course I didn't really believe that it could be mine. There was no way! (Later I would learn "that with God, all things are possible" - Matthew 19:26) I was also about to learn the power of prayer, not mine, not yet anyway, but that of my wife. She told me she had prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour and while we had been in Hawaii, she had been praying the entire time for my guitar to be found. Believe me, this was too much! I still didn't believe it, but I was told the serial number matched the police report, and I should go have a look. I was sent to a little pawn shop in the east end of the San Fernando Valley. On the way out there, as Nancy was telling me about praying for it to be found, I told her: "If my guitar is really there, I will seriously consider changing my ways." I didn't know yet that I couldn't change my ways, but only needed to be willing to let Jesus do it. Well, talk's cheap, I wasn't ready yet, but I still felt comfortable with that.

When we arrived at the pawn shop I was sure that even if my guitar was there, it was going to be in bad shape. I had Nancy wait for me in the car, while I went inside. I can't tell you what went through my mind when they took me to the back room and there was my guitar. Nothing was wrong with it, but a few marks. It was fine! Well, needless to say, I 'forgot' all about the remark I had made and it was business as usual. (NOT!) But the Lord was beginning to work in my life in a very special way. I had no idea! That's one of the things that are so amazing about God. He came to this earth, to take on human form to identify with man in our everyday situations of life. Here He was getting involved with me in something as insignificant as a stolen guitar. But He knew it was a way to reach me, He knew how important it was to me, but what He wanted me to really know was how important I was to Him - how much He loved me.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The group, The Souther Hillman Furay Band, went on to Aspen, Colorado, to begin rehearsals for our first tour. We each had our own little condos to stay in. I was kinda disappointed that Nancy didn't come along. Aspen wasn't quite the "Hollywood" scene that it is today, and it would have been another nice get-a-way even though I would have been working. As I look back on it now, the Lord was working, and needed to get me alone.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 14:18,19)

It was here that Al began to pick up the tempo of witnessing to me. Not only to me, but to "fans" who had followed us to Aspen to be a part of this "event". The "buzz" that was going around, was that we were going to be the next "supergroup"! I remember one night coming to the club where we were working, and two girls came up to me telling me that Al and Debby, his wife, had shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. They were really excited. They had been "born again", and now they were witnessing to me. I really blew them off that night. I told them "that is really nice for you, but I have a lot more 'living' to do before I make a commitment like that". (It's interesting how I said it was a "commitment". I know I didn't really understand what I was saying then, but I would find out later on a beach in St. Petersburg, Florida.)

Anyway, the next day it would be my turn. I got a call from Al Perkins inviting me over to have dinner with him that night. I knew what that meant. After dinner he would start sharing with me about saving faith in Christ, and then he would ask me if I would like to pray to receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. It was a routine. The only thing was, this time I heard a little voice in my ear saying to me "tonight's the night"! Well, sure enough, just like clockwork, it happened just like that. After supper Al began to share with me and then asked if I was ready to pray with him to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour for the forgiveness of my sins. And I said ... "YES"! In all honesty, I'm not sure I wasn't just trying to get Al off my back and to stop witnessing, but God took it seriously, because His commitment to man was serious, the price was dear, and we would talk about it in depth very soon. Even though I didn't really know the depth of the words I said when I prayed, I knew something had happened and I wanted to tell Nancy. I knew she would be excited. (NOT!)

I had to wait until the next day because there wasn't any time to tell her that night; but when I got her on the phone that next morning, and told her what had happened, rather than: "all right - I've been praying for you to be saved", (You know, like praying in Hawaii for the guitar to be found, answered prayer, etc ... you know!?!) well, there was dead silence. This was not a joyous moment, it didn't make her very happy. What I didn't know was, in her heart, our marriage was over. Obviously, this changed the scenario! I guess she had gotten far enough along in the 'Word' that she knew God doesn't look favorably upon divorce, in fact He hates it! Among His people, marriage is for life, and Nancy thought: "I'm gonna have to spend the rest of my life with him!" Though she didn't reveal this to me on the phone, I would soon find it out. She wanted out of the marriage. The was going to be a hard and difficult time, but I would be learning one of the most precious truths about the "living relationship" with God.

Delight yourself also in the LORD: and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:4-5)

When she came to pick me up at the end of the week, the ride home was horrible. I don't believe there was anything that resembled a conversation going on, just silence. It was the kind of silence when you know something's not right, and your mind begins to read things into it. I can't remember how many days it was after we got home, but it wasn't long before she told me, and words would never begin to tell how much it hurt. Seven years of marriage would be gone. All of a sudden the carpet was being pulled out from under me. For the first time I was having to consider the priority of things in my life. Was it too late for me to do something about it? What was I going to do? The first thing I thought was to call my friend Al, I was devastated. I couldn't really talk because I was so emotional, but he told me to come on out to his house and I could get some help and encouragement. Leaving home and going to the airport that day -- I was just broken. I didn't have a clue as to what God was doing, I didn't know if I would ever see or have my family back again. It was a total emptiness that you can't put into words. It was a time in my life that God was truly teaching me some lessons of faith...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.

...and prayer...

And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (1 John 5:14-15)

When you're in the middle of a situation such as this, sometimes it's hard to hear the voice of the Lord, difficult to understand how anything like this could be happening. But looking back on this time, though it hurt, though many tears were cried, I wouldn't trade the time for anything. It was the time God would begin to show me the priorities of my life, what really was important - and what wasn't. You see, "music was my life and finally took everything, ain't it funny how you got it all and not a thing", but now God would show me He had to have, and would not settle for anything but first place in my life. Coming to grips with this was what it was all about. I remember my counselor, Keith Ritter, who sat down with me telling me it wasn't Nancy that would make me happy, it wasn't my daughter Timmie Sue that would make me happy, it wasn't my career that was going to fulfill my life, but Jesus.

And so it was, that Nancy told Keith and me that she didn't love me, she had never loved me, and would never love me. I remember trying everything I could to just get her to give it a try, a chance to "fix" the situation. Once, I had a couple I was living with write her a letter. When she wrote back they wouldn't even let me see it, instead they tore it up and threw it away. I took this to mean it was not what I had hoped to hear. They were right! When they left that day, having a lot of idle time on my hands, I went to the waste basket and got all of the pieces of the letter and proceeded to paste them back together. This would prove to be quite a set-back. It couldn't be any more clear - the relationship was over! It would take a while, along with many faithful and committed friends to help me get through this time; but all along Jesus was becoming the strength of my life. Little by little He let me see what He was doing, not fast enough for me it seemed, but His timing was perfect.

Another time while Nancy and I were separated, I remember being on the 605 Freeway in Southern California in a driving rain storm. It was raining so hard I couldn't see the highway - my tears didn't help the matter either! I remember pulling over to the side of the road and crying out to the Lord saying how much I wanted my family. I remember Him saying to me, "Richie, (yes - He knows each one of His children by name) Richie, that's how much I want you to want Me!" And that time in St. Petersburg, Florida, while I was walking on the beach - He stopped me, and let me know what all of this was really about, saying: "You made a commitment to Me, now it's time we talk about it." Yes, it is a commitment, it's nothing for anyone to take lightly. That night though, I had the most awesome thing happen to me. I believe that it was the Lord giving me assurance and reassurance that He was indeed working, that it was Him! That night, in my hotel room, I woke up and it was like someone had turned on all the lights. The room was brilliant, I wasn't afraid though, like waking up during a nightmare, but instead, I just sat up in bed and waited for what seemed like ten minutes (although it was probably more like ten seconds). But a peacefulness came upon me and in the quietness of that moment I believe that Lord was telling me it would be okay. It was then that I remembered a song that I had started to write a couple of years before and hadn't been able to finish. It was called For Someone I Love. When I started to write it, I really didn't know what it was about. But that night I believe that Lord brought it to my attention to show me it was kind of a prophecy song about this very time in my life. I finished it and recorded it on the second SHF Band album. In the song there seems to be a separation that has taken place, in someone's life, it was during the winter of the year, but in the springtime, there would be healing and restoration. The words were: "Maybe just a little more time when the winter snows melt and it's spring and who knows, I hope the sun is a shinin' and you ain't pineing For Someone You Love".

At the time, I could only hope for the outcome, but I held on to it as my song from the Lord. As it turns out, it was exactly as I had hoped. In the spring of 1975, after seven long months of separation, Nancy and I got back together. We have been married for 30 years now, and have four daughters and one grandson. I have also been blessed with a ministry in Boulder, Colorado where I have been the pastor of Calvary Chapel of Boulder for 15 years.

God is good. Truly, He will give us the desires of our hearts, if we trust in Him. Oh the love of God, the peace of God that passes all understanding, to know Him and His personal and loving care for His own. My testimony really includes a lot of what happened in the first few months after my conversion. Not just the instant I became "born again", but the way Jesus caused me to have a better understanding of it. I wasn't aware of the crisis that was taking place, life was good, I was going "first class" with my career, some would say I was successful - concerts around the world, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, sleeping in the Ritz Hotel in Paris, France - but I had no idea what "first class" was until I met my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. My testimony may not be as extreme as some, or may be more extreme than others, but each life and "born again" experience is precious in the heart of the Lord.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. (John 3:3,7)

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

(John 1:12)

And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

(John 17:3)

That if you shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

(Romans 10:9-10)

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

(Psalm 103:1-4)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

(Jude 1-24-25)