Show Open And Promise Of Hope

Announcer 0:01

It's time now to get the hell out of your life. A weekly broadcast with real people, sharing real struggles, and offering real hope. Today's show will encourage, inspire, and empower you to face life's challenges with a bold confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, Ron Myers, the promoter.

Expectancy And Blaine’s Story Setup

Ron Meyers 0:21

Hello, my friends. It is so good to be with you today. I'm Ron Myers. I'm your host. And I was thinking about something as I was listening to that intro. I heard this awesome quote one time. The atmosphere of expectancy is the breeding ground for miracles. In other words, friends, I believe God is going to meet you where you're at. I don't believe in accidents. I believe it's all rigged. You're listening to this on purpose. So here's a challenge for you. Listen to this show. And if you don't say at the end of this, man, I needed to hear that, well, then I guess I was wrong. But friends, I'm not wrong. When it comes to God, I'm not wrong. Because God is moving so wonderfully in this world. It looks like a lot of chaos out there, looks like a lot of hell, but God's desire is to work in and through each of us. Have you ever looked at your life and thought, I've just gone too far. I have made too many mistakes. There is no way back for me. Hey, I've been there, done that. I own the t-shirt. But if you have felt that way, today's story is for you. My guest is Blaine Landrum. On the outside, he looked like an ordinary Gulf Coast guy. A husband, a father, an athlete. But behind the scenes, alcohol led to cocaine. Cocaine led to opioids. Opioids eventually led to crystal meth. And his addiction cost him his marriage, his children, his home, and nearly his life. Well, one night, hungry and homeless, Blaine found himself eating out of a dumpster in the same neighborhood where he grew up. It was there at the very bottom that he cried out to Jesus. And what happened next? Jesus restored, redeemed, and rescued Blaine. Friends, today is your day. Let's pray my get the hell out of your life prayer. Repeat after me. Dear Jesus, speak to my heart. Change my life today. Amen. Now let's take a listen to Blaine's Grace Field Story.

Early Life And Addiction Begins

Blaine 2:27

Well, Ron, I grew up, grew up here in Gulport, Mississippi. Was born in Biloxi, but grew up in Gulport. Grew up in a middle class family. Didn't did didn't have everything in life, but never did without anything either. So my dad was a worked out at the shipyard for years. I eventually got to high school and started, you know, like all high schoolers do, started dabbing and drinking a little bit. And, you know, I was an I was an athlete, so you know that kind of comes with territory, uh, you know, especially in high school. But uh after high school, I um I married my high school sweetheart and had my first my first son, Travis, at the age of 20. After that, me and me and my wife and and and my son, we moved down to Orlando, Florida to go to work for for my wife's family. We stayed down there for, I think, 13, 14 years. Of course, when I got down there, the drinking kind of led to, you know, to other things to marijuana and then eventually cocaine. I had a pretty substantial drinking/slash cocaine habit for probably 12 of the 13 years that I was down there. You know, my my my marriage kind of became I don't know if what if the word soured is the right word, but just due to all the you know, the drinking and drugging, it it it kind of took its toll on my marriage. And after that, I grab gathered up my family by this time. By the time I left Florida, I had I'd already we had three kids by then, Travis Hunter and Haley. We moved back up to the coast in 2010. You know, my marriage is still in a in a in a pretty pretty rocky place. And when I get back up here, I've still got a I've not only got a a a drinking cocaine habit, but by the time I got back, I had a a pretty serious opiate addiction also. So I moved back from Florida up here to try to get away from all that. And of course, when I get back up here, with all that on top of me, I was introduced to Crystal Meth. And uh, you know, that was a that was a game changer there. I You're lucky to be alive. Yes, no doubt. No doubt I am. I am that for sure. I was smoking it and and and and and snorting it when I first started doing it. I did that for a couple years. This whole time I still married. By this time I the the state had taken away all three of my children. And after after abusing the meth the way I was doing after a couple years, I eventually started shooting it. And that right there, Ron, was a day that that I wish I could

Opioids To Meth And Losing Everything

Blaine 4:37

I could have back because after that that that it was game over for me then.

Ron Meyers 4:40

What do you mean game over?

Blaine 4:41

I lost, I just lost everything. I lost all hope as far as of of of ever repairing my marriage or repairing my life or anything. It just took every every bit of hope away from me of of ever you know prospering again or ever having any Well, who wants to do anything or have hope when you're high all the time? Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. So uh, you know, eventually, like I said, the the state had taken my kids by that point. Were you still married? I was. Me and my wife had separated at that time. Was she doing drugs? She should she was, yes. We were both addicts of the our whole marriage. We were married for 20 plus years. Of course, eventually we separated, and and and at this time my kids were in in custody of the state. And I found myself homeless, homeless, nowhere to go. I'd burn every bridge that that that I'd ever had. I had no one I could turn to. I had I had a you know a couch I could stay on here every now and then, a couch I could stay on here every now and then, but that was it. I was pretty much living on a street.

The Dumpster Moment And Cry For Help

Blaine 5:36

And the it it came to a all came to a head one night, Ron, when I I found myself eating out of a dumpster in the very neighborhood that I grew up in. And that's that was a night that I got down on my knees and and and I and asked God to help me. You know, I didn't I didn't have any anywhere else to turn and have anybody to turn to. All I all, you know, I I didn't grow up in church. I didn't know anything about God. All I knew was that Jesus hung on a cross. I didn't know why he had been put up there. I didn't know anything except that that was the only thing about God that I had known at that point. But I knew I'd always heard that God was good. So I got down on my knees and I asked God to help me. And that was that was a night that that I fully believed that I got saved. Now, I did I stayed in my addiction for another year after that night because you know everything's on God's timing.

A Facebook Photo Sparks Hope

Blaine 6:28

So I've a year another year went by and I had come across a friend of mine who I had who I'd used to use with. I came across his picture on Facebook one night, and he looked like a totally different guy. He didn't look anything like the guy that I had that I had known from the street. Well, it turns out he was at the home of Grace in Van Cleave. You know, I knew something was different about him. I and of course I in my mind I figured I said, man, he must have he must have actually went and went to rehab or got or done something to to change his life because he just looks like a different person. So I so I I searched him on Facebook and I got a hold of him, and I got a little bit of glimmer of hope because I saw somebody that that was in the same position I was that that had changed their life. And and all of a sudden it seemed possible. So I reached out to him, got a hold of him, and he put me in contact with with Miss Becky out at the homagrace at the time. And when I found out there was a possibility for me to to actually to get somewhere to where all I wanted was help. I just wanted somebody to help me. So she got back up back in touch with me about three days later and told me that that they had found the money for me to come because I didn't have any way to you know to pay for it or anything like that. Uh you know, it was all every bit of that was was was was due to God's grace and mercy and and favor over you know in my life. So I went out there.

Entering Home Of Grace And Stabilizing

Blaine 7:42

Like I said, I didn't I didn't have any clue what kind of place it was. I didn't know that it was faith-based. All I knew was that it was a place where I'd seen You know, their tagline is where miracles happened. Amen. But I I didn't know that. You know, growing up down here, you'd figure that I'd that I would have heard that place before, but I never have. So, you know, I got out there and and you know, of course, my mind was so I was so clouded and so just physically beat down. You know, I got out there and it gave me a couple days to where I could kind of get my wits back about me and and stuff like that. And and when I woke up, I think I slept for three, four days when I first got out there. And when I when I woke up, I was so thankful to be somewhere that I didn't have to worry anymore about what I was gonna eat or what, you know, or where I was gonna stay or anything like that. I was so just so happy to be somewhere safe. So, you know, as time went on, a couple weeks went by and I, you know, I I started to started eating and started, you know, putting a little weight on and got me some decent clothes and you know, and and and you felt like a human again. I did, I did, Ron. I really did. Let me tell you what. There was a guy out there I was with, his name was Andrew Neely. He was the first person who actually noticed a little bit of change in me from the time that I had initially got there. And when he made that, he made a remark, he said, Blaine man, you look like a different person than you were when you got here. And let me tell you what, that was that was a game changer there, Ron. I realized at that point that all this was possible, that I could actually, I didn't have to live like this

Learning God And Choosing The Work

Blaine 9:08

no more. You were getting ready to get the hell out of your life. I was, I was, definitely. After that moment, I dug my claws into that place as hard and as deep as I could. You know, I started going to class, which they have classes out there every day. I started going to class and I started learning about God, the God that I had that I had asked a year prior to help me with my situation. And and the more I started learning about him, the more I wanted to learn more about him. Amen. So I dug in, man. I dug in and I and I and I and I learned as much as I could, and I went to every class and I did everything that I could to learn more about this God that I hadn't not known anything about my whole life. I made it through the initial program, which was three months, and then and then I stayed an extra three months. When my first three months was over, I knew I didn't have anywhere else to go, you know, at that time. So I started praying a couple weeks before I before I initially graduated, the initial program, I started praying for God to direct me in a certain way. So he told me, and and not only that, but my counselor told me, he said, maybe you ought to, you know, stay an extra three months for third phase. So that's what I did. I prayed and I asked, I asked for the the funding for for somebody to step up and help me pay for that. And of course, God took care of that, like he always does. So I stayed an extra three months, and and of course, all during the three months, God is just just changing me and changing me and changing me, changing, you know, the things that I that I think about and the things that I he was changing the desires of my heart is what he was doing. I you know, as I I spent my whole life living a certain way and acting a certain way and and and wanting certain things. And and through this whole six months, God is just changing me and changing

Joseph’s Home Mentors And A New Path

Blaine 10:44

me and changing me. About the fifth month, a guy that I was in a program with, he was, he was making his exit plan, and I didn't really have one at the time, but he told me about a place he was going to here in Guffort called called Joseph Home. So I prayed about that a couple weeks, and and my counselor, Sam Pichay, kept telling me that, you know, this might be a God thing, this might be a God thing. I think you might, you know, should should maybe go over there with him. And I said, I'll tell you what. He said, I'll put the application in and I'll see where God leads me. So when I graduated the six-month program, me and this and this this other fellow, we went, we went to Joseph's home. I'm sorry. You know, Joseph's Joseph's home is a ministry of Michael Memorial Baptist Church. So I got under the tutelage of of some really good godly men, which was which was key to where I am today. That ministry over there at Michael Memorial, the men's ministry over there, is those guys showed me what it what what it means to be a man and how to be a man, which which I didn't know that all those prior years I was not acting like a man. You know, you if if you don't surround yourself with good godly people You're in trouble. You you've got you you you you have zero chance of of success. During all this time I'm I'm I'm battling with the with the state trying to by by the by this time my my other two children were grown, so I still had Hunter, my youngest one, who was still in the custody of the state. When I got to Joseph's home, I started, you know, uh I was battling this battle with the with the with the state trying to get trying to get him back. And I eventually got him back, praise the Lord.

Ron Meyers 12:06

Yeah, in fact, he's sitting in here with you right now. Yeah, he is. Amen. He's listening to his dad tell his story.

Blaine 12:12

No doubt. I'm very proud of him. He's he's he's done wonderful things and and and it's all due to to God's to God's grace and love and and God's hand on my life.

Ron Meyers 12:21

After 20 years of being trapped in bondage, I mean, it had to be hard to get used to. Wow, I I I'm actually free. I can dream, I can hope, I can talk to people. I don't have to be looking for my next fix. What was that like?

Blaine 12:38

It was foreign, Ron, to be honest with you, because I'd lived a certain way for so many years that when I started walking with the Lord, especially when I when I left Joseph Joseph's home and started taking responsibility, having responsibilities, really, was foreign. It was foreign to me, but but God led me through it all. And and you know, if I sat here and told you that I haven't had struggles since then, I'd be lying to you. I have had my struggles, don't get me wrong. But it's the things that I learned while I was at the home of grace, and the things that I have learned from my pastors and and my mentors and and guys that have walked with me through this that has given me the tools to get through the struggles that I've had.

Ron Meyers 13:19

You know, I hear all

Freedom With Ongoing Struggles And Tools

Ron Meyers 13:21

the time that the amount of addiction everywhere along the Gulf Coast, everywhere, is just really skyrocketing. Why is it that the addiction or the attraction to drugs, is it just they people don't want to face what's happening in the world or there's no they've lost hope, or what's the attraction?

Blaine 13:39

The attraction, you know, the only answer I'm giving you that to that, Ron, is is is that's the way Satan wants you to live. Satan wants you to live in your flesh, he wants you to please your flesh, he wants you to walk in the flesh and not in the spirit. You know, especially when you've been living for him for so many years, and then and then all of a sudden God saves you and and and God changes the way you think and changes how you live. Satan doesn't like that at all. So he's he's he's immediately coming for you when he sees that.

Ron Meyers 14:08

Now you mentioned your mom earlier. Are you have a relationship now with your mom? No, my mom passed in. Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Blaine 14:14

Yeah, she passed in 07.

Ron Meyers 14:16

Uh so she's never got to see you clean.

Blaine 14:18

No, she has not.

unknown 14:19

No.

Ron Meyers 14:20

She's looking down at you saying, Blaine, good job. Keep it up.

Blaine 14:23

Absolutely.

Ron Meyers 14:24

Well, that has to bother you a little bit, huh?

Blaine 14:27

Well, you know, it it's I wish she was here. That's all that that's that's about all I can say. But you know, life's been like I said, I've I've I've had my struggles. Jesus came to give life and you know, more life, life more abundantly. Amen. And that's what he's done for me. So what is life like now? Well, you know, I have a uh a wonderful job. I have I have my son, my my son back. I actually am about to get married to a wonderful, beautiful, godly woman, Cassandra, that I met at at a celebrate recovery meeting a week after I left the home of grace.

Ron Meyers 15:00

Amen. So I think it's important to to I ask you that because it's important for people to know that there is hope after addiction.

Blaine 15:07

And there is. There is. Now, the the the one of the things that I've had to learn over the past four years since I've been in recovery is that is that God's gonna do do his part. You know, but but but if you if we don't do our part, he's not gonna do it all for us. You know, you we have to put in we have to put in our our you know our will with his to to be able to accomplish his will ultimately. You know what I mean? He's not gonna he's not gonna he's not gonna come down here and and and keep me a hundred percent from from from using. I have to put in the work, I have to, you know, to to stay in church and and and and and do the things that well the Bible talks about the renewing of the mind.

Ron Meyers 15:44

Absolutely. We have to keep that new teaching, the new promises of Christ, because Christ is living inside you. He just wants to now be your teacher, your mentor, your coach. He wants to be with everything that you do. And you reached out to me to share your story, and I really, really appreciate that. But you know, right now, Blaine, you know, somebody listening is either dealing with addiction themselves or they know somebody in their family and they're losing hope. What would you tell that person?

Blaine 16:12

I would tell that person to to do exactly what I did. Get down on your knees and ask God Almighty to put his hand on your life and on you to help you get out of out of what you're in. Now, now your story may not be the same as mine, he may do it for you immediately. He may wait a year like he did with me. It's on his timing. But but but the Bible says if you you you call on his name, he he he'll save you, you know. And and he he's never lied,

Why Addiction Pulls So Hard

Blaine 16:39

not once that I've that I've known of.

Ron Meyers 16:41

Well, and and and the thing too, uh to a little sense of urgency is I've talked to a few people, I've interviewed a few people from the Home of Grace. I can't talk to them anymore because they have died. Yeah, and this is a real battle option. It sure is. As you said, the enemy is out there to kill, steal, and destroy and take away our livelihood, our destiny, all of our hopes. And we have to understand, and I tell people all the time, and part of this show is that there really is a good life out there. We can have fun, we can smile again, we can laugh again. And it's just we have to want to get to the end of whatever we're supposed to go with our purpose in life. You know, I always tell people that most people that I interview never meet Jesus in church, they meet Jesus at the end of themselves. Right. Just like you did. Just like me. Yep. You know, we go way back. I didn't even know this until you called. I don't remember meeting you, I guess what, 20, 25 years ago. But you went to high school or junior high or something with my daughter. Junior high and high school, actually. Dawn. And when you told me that a couple weeks ago, I said, wow. You know, God is so amazing. He's so amazing. And right now, it is very important that anybody out there listening that is struggling with anything in life, whether it's a addiction of gambling, whether it's addiction of pornography or drugs or whatever it is that they ask for help.

Blaine 18:08

It's it's really that simple. You know, for anybody out there that's that's that's in recovery right now, yeah. Like I said a minute ago, you know, if if if you leave recovery and and just go back to, you know, it's like I said, it's cliche. It's you cannot go back to the same people, same places, and the same things. You won't, you won't, you you don't you your chance of of success is is little to none.

Ron Meyers 18:28

Yeah, I've had people tell me that what they did is they had to make sure they got rid of their cell phone when they left home of grace with all their phone numbers, so none of their dealers and nobody could ever call them again. No doubt. You're right. You've got to be around a whole new group of people.

Life Now And Doing Your Part

Blaine 18:44

For sure. You know, I I mentioned, you know, all the people at Michael Memorial and and and Jeff and Tish over at Joseph's phone, but I'm I'm now a member over at Campground Baptist Church, me and my me and my fiance Cassandra. We've been over I've well, she's been over there years now, and I've been over there, I think, for about two and a half years now, and and and the people over there are awesome too.

Ron Meyers 19:00

Yeah.

Blaine 19:01

But but you know, it's it's all about it's all about God and his time and his sovereignty.

Ron Meyers 19:08

So there is life after addiction. There is. And God is good. Yes, he is. And God answers prayer. Absolutely. And that he has no favorites, that he treats all of us, he's an equal opportunity, God. No doubt. So it doesn't matter where we've lived, what we've done, what color our skin is, God just wants us to say, help me. Absolutely.

Blaine's Son 19:29

Absolutely.

Ron Meyers 19:30

I love it. And you brought Hunter with you. And Hunter, you're a nice young man, and you're hearing this testimony from your dad. So what do you think of that? What do you think of hearing from your dad?

Blaine's Son 19:41

It's a beautiful story, and he really showed that you're never too far gone. You can always change.

Ron Meyers 19:49

Amen. Yeah. Now when you hear his story, he has and what do you think of when you hear your dad sharing some of the struggles and things that he's done?

Blaine's Son 19:59

It's very beautiful and inspirational. You're proud of your dad, huh? Very proud, actually, yes. He's slipped up a few times, but he always bounces back and he always has God in his life to lead him in the right direction. Amen.

Ron Meyers 20:16

And you are on your way, hopefully soon, to the Air Force. That is correct. I can't wait. Okay. Well, thank you for coming in with your dad, Blaine. Thank you.

What It Takes To Stay Free

Ron Meyers 20:26

Thank you, though. And I always ask my guest, and both of you can answer this is if you want, is how do you get the hell out of your life?

Blaine 20:34

I don't have a clue how to do it. I let the Lord guide me to get me to that place.

Ron Meyers 20:40

That's a good answer. What do you think, Hunter? How does a person get the hell out of their life? I honestly have no clue. Well, I think your dad said it best. Call on the name of Jesus and he will save a soul. And so right now, if somebody's listening, they can meet with Jesus right this minute. Absolutely. All you got to do is ask him. Well, well, it's hey, let's will you pray right now for somebody out there listening?

A Prayer For Anyone Still Struggling

Blaine 21:04

Absolutely. I sure will. Dear Heavenly Father, um, I ask for anybody who's out there that is still struggling, Lord, the way that I was. Please put your hand on them, God. Please, um, please, please give them the knowledge to let them know that that you are there and that you will save them if they ask you, Lord. Um, again, put your hand on on whoever's out there struggling. Let them know who you are and that you are sovereign over everything, Lord. I ask all this in the name of Christ. Amen.

Five Takeaways From Blaine’s Turnaround

Ron Meyers 21:33

Wow, what a story. Friends, it's never too late. Blaine's life reminds us of something I say often on this program. Most people don't meet Jesus when life is going great. They meet him at the end of themselves. Think about it. Blaine lost everything his family, his children, his home, his dignity. He was literally eating from a dumpster. Yet that Became the place where hope began. This is what's so cool about Jesus, my friends. Blaine didn't have any theological understanding of God. He didn't even know Bible verses. He didn't grow up in church. He simply got on his knees and asked for help. And God heard him. God began leading him towards healing, recovery, restoration, and purpose. Today Blaine has his son back. He's working, he's serving God, he's surrounded by healthy relationships, he's preparing to marry a godly woman. The man who once had no hope now helps others find theirs. And so what you should take away from Blaine's story today is this. Number one, your lowest point doesn't have to be your final chapter. The enemy wants you to believe your failures define you. But God says something different. God says your future can be different from your past. Number two, ask for help. Pride keeps people trapped. Healing begins when we admit we can't do it anymore. Number three, change your environment. Blaine talked about leaving behind the people, places, and habits that pulled him down. Sometimes getting the hell out of your life means walking away from what keeps dragging you back. Number four, surround yourself with godly people. Home of Grace, Joseph's home, pastors, mentors, and friends all played a role in Blaine's recovery. Nobody wins this battle alone. Number five, keep renewing your mind. Freedom isn't just about getting off drugs. It's learning a new way to think, live, and believe. Recovery is not a destination, it is a daily walk. I will return in 60 seconds to close out the show and give you a pep talk for the upcoming week.

Announcer 23:48

You're listening to Get the Hell Out of Your Life with your host, Ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles, and real hope.

Speaker 1 23:58

Today's refreshing word is found in the Book of Psalms, chapter one. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night.

Speaker 5 24:14

From crafts to trees to sights so pretty. It's all my favorite Christmas City.

Speaker 4 24:43

Visit Christmas City Gift Show dot com for more.

Speaker 5 25:03

Get the hell out of your life. Get the hell out of your life.

Ron’s Pep Talk And Next Steps

Ron Meyers 25:11

As I wrap up today, I want to give you a pep talk. Friends, you were chosen for this time in life. This is not an accident. The system is rigged. God has rigged it so you have been in the right place with the right people, heard the right things at the right time, but now it's your turn to take that step of faith, to call upon the name of Jesus and ask him to save your life and lead you to be the person he created you to be. Yes, friends, we have to take this seriously because the world is getting darker and darker, but our light is getting brighter and brighter. This is our time. So hang in there. Remember, he hung up there so you and I could be free. I will be back next week with another Grace Field episode of Get the Hell Out of Your Life available wherever you listen to podcasts. And please go to my Facebook page, Get the Hell Out of Your Life with Ron Myers and put a comment and tell me something, put a prayer request. I'd love to hear from you. Until next time, this is Ron Myers reminding you that I love you. Jesus loves you. And when you give Jesus your heart, you not only get the hell out of your life, but life begins to make sense.

Support The Ministry And Stay Connected

Announcer 26:37

Today's show was produced by Ron Myers Ministries, a listener-supported ministry. For a copy of today's broadcast, please visit our website, thepromoter.org. And would you prayerfully consider making a tax-deductible donation so that we may continue to share stories of God's amazing grace with the world? And join us next week for another broadcast of Get the Hell Out of Your Life. Real people, sharing real struggles, and offering real hope.

Speaker 4 27:04

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