Encounter with a Jesus Freak

I was 19 years old when I met Bud, a throwback hippie with long hair, bare feet, holey jeans, and an extraordinary relationship with Jesus.

We met through a mutual friend, the guitar player in the Christian rock band I was in at the time. Bud also played, sang, and produced music so we connected rather quickly. I was intrigued with Bud from the moment I met him, not by his outward appearance but rather by the way he spoke about Jesus.

It was as if he knew Him personally.

He talked about Scripture all the time, but it sounded different. It was almost like he was an eyewitness, as if he had been there when Jesus walked on water or healed the lepers. I was hooked. Whatever he had discovered, I wanted it too.

After meeting Bud several times, he invited me to his house. "Come over anytime," he said, and he meant it. No scheduled meeting, no calling ahead.

"Just drop by, if my truck is in the driveway, you're welcome."

I grew up in a home like that. My parent's house had a swinging front door. Relatives, friends, neighbors would just show up anytime and my parents would pause whatever they were doing to visit or help.

So I took Bud up on his invitation. His house was a little more than a mile from where I worked, and before long, I found myself stopping by two or three nights a week. We would catch up briefly about life or music, but that wasn't why I was there. I was there to find a relationship with Jesus that was more than just understanding scripture.

I wanted to know Jesus like Bud did.

Almost every visit turned into an hour or more of sitting at their small kitchen table. Bud would pull out his Bible, turn to a scripture and begin talking about Jesus.

But there was something different about the way he talked about Him. The stories weren't just ancient history to Bud. They were real. The Jesus he read about was the same Jesus he knew and walked with every day. And it showed.

There was a boldness in his faith, a confidence in the things he believed, that I hadn't experienced before. As we talked, I would search my heart... "Could I believe that? Could I have that kind of faith? That kind of boldness? Would I be willing to give that up?" With every visit it felt like I was coming more and more alive.

By now you are probably thinking, "This guy is discipling you."

And you would be right.

But can I be honest? Those words were never spoken. I never felt like a project. I was just invited into his life and he shared who he was and what he knew.

As time went on I was feeling pretty good about myself and the progress I was making. But here's where the story takes a turn. Summer was approaching when I stopped by Bud's house one evening. It was a normal visit, much like all the others. But as I got up to leave, Bud asked me a question.

"What are you doing Saturday night?"

"Nothing really," I replied.

"Good. Then show up here around 9 p.m. We're gonna go talk to some people about Jesus. We've been talking about Him. Now we're going to see if you really believe it."

What?

My heart began to pound. Could I really be bold enough to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger about Jesus? I've got to be honest. I thought about not showing up. But I did. And what I experienced that night, and over the next few months, changed my life.

As we climbed into Bud's truck, I asked, "So, where are we going?"

"To the bars," he replied nonchalantly.

Now, for a little perspective, I grew up in a conservative Christian family in a small town, surrounded by a strong community. I'd never been to a bar. I'm not even sure I'd ever been around someone who was drunk.

So the thought of going to a bar was unnerving enough. But now I was supposed to talk to those people about Jesus? My heart was pounding again, and my thoughts were racing. Maybe I could jump out of the truck when he came to a stop. But something inside me kept drawing me forward.

This was the "real" I was searching for.

We pulled up and parked on a dimly lit street in a part of town I'd never experienced.

As I stepped out of the truck, my mind was spinning. "What am I about to experience? Am I even going to make it home tonight?"

Bud wasted no time. We hadn't walked fifty feet before he approached a guy.

"Hey man, what do you think about Jesus?"

That was his opening line! No introduction. No small talk. Just straight to the point.

But to my surprise, the guy began to open up. He talked about his past, his previous encounters with Jesus, and the sin he was struggling with. And there was Bud, talking with him with the same warmth and openness I'd experienced so many nights around his kitchen table. Before long, we were praying with this stranger as he asked Jesus to become his Savior and Lord.

And that was just the beginning. We had several more conversations that night, many of them ending with people praying to receive Jesus or recommitting their lives to Him.

This was what I'd been searching for!

This was REAL!

That night rocked me. But I'm not going to tell you that I became a fearless evangelist overnight. Every week, I still had to battle my fears and my own selfish desire to just go have fun with my friends. But every Saturday night, I showed up. And slowly, I began to gain confidence and boldness. Before long, Bud started saying, "It's your turn. You start the conversation."

As time went on, he even turned it into a challenge. "Let's see who can come up with the most creative approach. The best opening line." He was having fun sharing Jesus. And before I knew it, I was having fun too.

It was becoming addictive.

I spent a lot of time with Bud over the next few years. There are so many more adventures and stories I could tell, but those will have to wait for another time.

I'd love to tell you that Bud and I are still close today, but life eventually took us in different directions, and somewhere along the way, we lost touch. I wish that wasn't the case, but one thing I know about Bud is this: His goal was never to gain a follower. It was to point me to the One worth following.

Jesus.

So, wherever you are, Bud, whether here or in heaven, thank you. Thank you for showing me what it looks like to really know Jesus. Thank you for inviting me into your life. And thank you for helping me discover a relationship with Him that has changed my life and my eternity.