"GOD'S GIFT" My Journey To Christ The Beginning Of My Journey I was born in Sandusky,Ohio in 1955,to George and Lydia Hudgins.I am the youngest of 4 boys.At the age of 2 on Christmas Eve our home burned trapping my mother and myself inside.My father was getting my brothers out and both parents assuming the other was removing me.My mother thinking my father had me jumped from the 2nd floor to safety being injured badly from the fall,severely burned and a broken back,realized I was still in the house.My Saviour was there protecting me and My Journey To Christ had begun,for a Fireman went back into the house and searched until he found me.Severly burned but alive he carried me to safety and I was transported to the hospital where I remained for several weeks.It was a long hard battle for my mother and myself,but through her Faith in God we won the battle. "The Journey Continues" My parents loved music,so I grew up or you might say cut my first tooth on a vinyl record.They listened to a variety of music,but my inspiration was Elvis Presley.I would imitate his songs and my parents would marvel at my then talent as a singer.When friends and family would visit my parents would have me do my Elvis(act).The music was in my heart and I wanted to be a singer.Little did I know a few short years later I would have my own "SHOW BAND".We played a variety of music around local establishments.This was my teen years and I had still not found Christ. "The Wrong Way Home" I am now in my 20's and with rock n roll behind me I am now on the road to "Country Music"and all the trimmings that go with it.My band now is "Texas Thunder".We played in local bars and clubs,we were the House Band for Billy Bob's in Ft.Worth for quiet awhile.We toured across country for several years and we encountered many ups and downs.I had the privledge of singing with and fronting for such singers as Sammi Smith,Boxcar Willie,Rusty Weir,Claude Gray,Don Gay(Rodeo King),and Leon Rausch(Lead Singer for Bob Wills/Texas Playboys).I was nominated for Best Drummer in 1991 by the Metroplex C.M.A.In 2001 I was nominated in the Top 5 for Best Song/Writer of an original Gospel Song(Surrounded By Angel's),by Coast To Coast C.M.A..I had one song I wrote "Mountain Man"playing in England and when I received my royalty check I was so proud of it I framed it and hung it on the wall.To this day 25+ years I still have it in a frame on my piano.Those years were hard,but of course at the time it was the best years of my life I thought.Then tragedy hits home.I get a call from my family that my Dad had passed away.We were doing a gig in Colorado and I took a flight home that night.After the service I went back to my band and traveled a while longer but I was tired and my mom needed me so I broke up the band and came back to Texas and played drums and sang with several local bands.I still had not found Christ. "The End Of My Journey" I am now in my mid 30's and with rock n roll and country behind me I am now on the Path to "Jesus Christ"and all the trimmings that go with it.I met my wife Becky and I still continued my singing and playing in bars and it was hard on us.She never complained about my love for music and would go with me night after night and sit and wait for me to finish a show.After about a year we decided that life style was not what we wanted.We left the singing and bars behind us and built us a home in the country away from all the bars and "Good Times",16 years later we are still in that home and in the "Good Times" of our lives.It hasn't been easy don't get me wrong on that.My hunger for music needed to be fed,I am now in my 40's and I attempted to write again.I wrote and recorded a couple songs and then walked away from it again.Tragedy hits home once again.My mom who lived with us and we had her for 5 years passed away.She was in the early stages of Alzheimer's and had copd severly.Becky took care of her those 5 years and they were best friends.I used to tease her you stole my mom from me she loves you more.Losing Mom was very hard on us both, but Becky was lost for awhile without her.When she died all of her arrangements had been premade.So basically all we had to do was just be there.It wasn't enough though.We wanted a Pastor there,but we had never joined a Church so we knew noone.I have a long time friend Brother Thomas Corley who my mom like and respected so I asked him if he would speak at her funeral.He agreed and said he would be proud to do it.After her funeral he asked a favor of us.He wanted us to attend 1 service at his Church "BEACON BAPTIST".We reluctantly agreed to do so.We felt we owed him that much for what he had done for us.We attended that 1 service.It was nice and the people made us feel welcome.We left the service and I later said, I didn't feel anything.Becky tried to explain that I had to open my heart.So about mid week I suggested we go the following Sunday.Again we went and I felt nothing.I told Becky ok I'm going 1 more time and if I don't feel anything I'm not going back.So that night again we went.Brother Reese gave a powerful message.Guess what.....I FELT SOMETHING!!!Before he could finish the Altar Call I was on my knees at the Altar asking Christ for forgiveness and to come into my heart.My Journey to Christ will never be over,but I am now on the Path to Eternal Life with my Saviour Jesus Christ...Amen... I am now in my 50's and my hunger for music is even more intense.I now write for someone else or rather I write what he puts in my heart.My desire now is to Witness and Sing My Saviours Word. Thank You for taking this Journey with me... Your Friend In Christ, Jim Hudgins