Bootstraps: Autobiography of a Man of God

By Daryle B. Gant

This book is about a thirteen year old that starts using heroin cocaine cigarettes drink alcohol to support his abuse. And how God protected him and delivered him. It examines his whole life showing that abuse can happen to anyone.
After reading this book you will learn how to help people with substance abuse though an experience christian substance abuse counselor real life story, and the power of God transforming a life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781491787328

Daryle B. Gant

Daryle Gant Currently has a degree in Bible Theology and a certificate in Christian Substance Abuse Counseling. Also he is currently enrolled in Newburgh Theological Seminary for a Bachelor in Pasturing. He have counseled and worked at Teen Challenge Ministries and Pivot house for a total of five years and directed a substance abuse program while he was a member and Minister at Ridgley COGIC. He and his wife Connie have two Children and three grand children. He and his wife Connie live in Douglasville GA. and is members at Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral in Austell GA.

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Copyright © 2022 Daryle B. Gant.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-8731-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8732-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016900430

iUniverse rev. date: 01/04/2022

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Afterword

This book is

dedicated in memory of my mother Lucille L. Gant (October 22, 1926-April 8, 1985) who always instilled the things of God in my life. She pointed me to Christ at the darkest hour of my life, and she is the reason I am saved and serve the Lord today.

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Preface

I have written my autobiography to share the reality of God in its extraordinary power. I am convinced that people respond quicker when the Word of God can be seen in the bold witness of a changed life…"that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God". (1 Corinthians 2:5NKJV) Every event is factual, but has been modified where necessary to make it suitable reading even for teen-agers. Some names, events and places have been changed to protect individual privacy. The biblical source of all scripture included in the text is noted.

Introduction

The literal meaning of NKJV Romans 5:6-8 6. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God demonstrated His love by the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. This demonstration was first, at just the right time Gal. 4:4. Second, it was when we were still powerless without strength, feeble John 5:5. Third, it was for the ungodly, the rude disrespectful toward God and parents the drug addict, the prostitute and others Rom. 4:5. Clearly Christ’s death was a substitutionary death, a death in place of others. The Greek preposition hyper often means on behalf of, but occasionally it means in place of, its meaning here. This is clear from the statement in 5:7, which also has hyper. A person willing to die for a righteous man or for a good man obviously is offering himself as a substitute so that the righteous or good man can continue to live. This is the highest expression of human love and devotion. However, God’s love contrasts with human love in both nature and degree, because God demonstrates (keeps on showing) His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (hyper, in our place). Though a few people might possibly be willing to die to save the lives of good people, though that is rare, Christ went well beyond that. He died in the place of the powerless (feeble, ¹v. 6), the ungodly (v. 6; 4:5), sinners (5:8), and even His enemies! (v. 10). God’s love is unconditional there isn’t a time his love is not giving or a reason it is not given. With that being said I like to share Romans 5:6-8 how it was applied to my life and I hope and pray my life testimony will help someone who is experiencing life controlling problems substance abuse and is about to backslide from God. If God can change my life he can change anyone’s life.

Chapter One

Early Childhood and Family History

B orn June 1, 1954 in Washington, D.C., son of John Robert and Lucille Lavonia Gant, my family which included seven siblings, lived with my grandparents until I was about three. At that time, we moved to a government housing project, Lincoln Heights in the NE section of DC. Given our large family and limited income, we were very poor. My father, who physically and mentally abused my mother, had left us. But, not before he stabbed my pregnant mother nine times while my oldest brothers and sisters watched. Once moving to Lincoln Heights my mother still struggle, but did the best she could to provide working different jobs. One day my older sibling notices something was wrong with me. Mom did not have transportation or funds to take me to the hospital.

Polio Years age four

There was a friend of my mother by the name of Mr. John. Mr. John came to our home to visit my mother and started playing with me hey boy wassup punk as older guys would always say to younger guys in those days. I did not respond as usually and Mr. John asked what is wrong and my mother responded telling Mr. John that I was sick. My mother did not know at that time that it was polio. Mr. John gave my mother money to take me to the hospital. After arriving at the hospital I can remember my mother placing me on a bench and went to get something to eat and drink. I then notice I could no longer hold myself up. My mother came back and asked me to set up and I responded telling her I can’t . Immediately she picks me up and places me on the receptionist desk and asked someone help me!!!! After that I cannot remember very much because according to my mother I was out of it most of the time. The things I do remember is the pretty nurses they were very nice every one of them. There were no male nurses during those days. All of them were