Peter Lyndon-James - Driven by Pain, Changed by Grace: The gritty sequel to Peter Lyndon-James book, Tough Love

I would like to dedicate this book to my wife, Amanda, for staying with me for the last 30 years and to my three children: Tosha-Lena, Peter and Rhyan for standing by me from where I have come from to where I am now.

I hope with all my heart that this book and what I went through changes you and your families like He has mine.

Copyright Peter Lyndon-James 2020

The right of Peter Lyndon-James to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research or criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without the written permission of the publisher.

Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Peter Lyndon-James

PO Box 1970 Midland DC WA 6936

www.toughlovebook.com.au

ISBN: 978-0-646-81452-0 (paperback)

ISBN: 978-0-645-3367-0-2 (ePub)

Thanks to the following people:

Jennifer Maly, Head Editor of Paper Lions Australia and her Assistant Editor, Gemma Hooper for editing the book

Steve Blizard for his assistance with proofreading and editing

Cover Art and Design by Shea Walsh

Artwork on the rear cover by Cherie Mongony

Printed by Scott Print

4 Aberdeen Street, Perth WA 6000

www.scott.com.au

Endorsements

The ultimate geek, I was the polar opposite of Peter Lyndon-James, managing a successful business with a normal family. I have no tatts, was never drunk nor did I ever touch drugs. So when our paths collided nearly ten years ago, little did I know how Pete would turn my whole world upside down. The most unique individual I have ever met, Peter Lyndon-James has incredible compassion for the men of Shalom House. My journey alongside him has brought personal healing to my life and family while totally transforming my outlook towards men who are struggling in life.

Steve Blizard, a Perth-based Financial Adviser

Wow! If ever there was a story about how God changed a man's life, this is it! The awesome thing about this account is that it's 100% true as I know Peter personally. This book candidly recounts the path of a man lost without answers and yearning for change. Its raw detail commands your full attention! Only God, something supernatural, could have made the turnaround in a man who was clearly destined for destruction. I love the transparency of Pete's journey with Christ and the real-life struggles he had to face every day for years to get to where he is now. This book will surely create hope for the hopeless and strengthen the faith of the believer!

Christian Gee | 2010 IFBB Heavyweight Mr Australia

(IFBB - International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness)

AUTHORS NOTE

I wish to acknowledge that this book is written to the best of my memory and all full names mentioned are done so with the full consent of the individual.

Why was my life stolen from me? Its like these last 49 years, I have been driven by pain. All I ever wanted to be was normal. Even 49 years on as I write this, I cry because I am still sad for what I missed out on and what I went through.

Laying on the floor of my home after waking up after sixteen days of no sleep with a shotgun aimed at my head and Get down on the floor, get down on the floor in my ear. A coppers knee in my back with my face plastered to the floor. All I could see was my half-naked wife, Amanda, holding our fourteenth-month-old son. There was a sawn-off shotgun held to her head in the corridor of our house.

I hated me, I hated everything about me. Id sold a box of dynamite the day before. I was usually selling two and a half kilos of meth a day, guns, steroids and a whole heap more. The Tactical Response Group had just raided the house, I had a helicopter hovering over the roof of my home, making sure no-one could get away.

It was all over red rover.

CONTENTS

Introduction

My name is Peter Lyndon-James. I have spent 26 years of my life in and out of jails and institutions starting from the age of seven and HAD a criminal record longer than most. Ive broken into houses, stolen cars, mugged many people, Ive sold drugs and guns, had genital warts, gonorrhoea, crabs, herpes and more. Have I given it to others? Yes. Intentionally? No.

Ive played doctors and nurses as a child, Ive fondled another boys genitals growing up, Ive also been sexually molested by an adult male when I was eight years old. I have slept with hundreds of prostitutes behind my wifes back as well as with many other women. For most of my life, Ive never paid taxes until I became a Christian.

I, Peter Lyndon-James, have done all of the above and more. Even if its not written above, I have probably done it.

All I can say is that if you are a victim of my life or my choices, if you are a victim of my selfishness and stupidity I am sorry, I am so very, very sorry. I have no excuse for what I have done to you or to any other person, what I have done was and is wrong and I am 100 per cent to blame, there is nothing I can say in my defence.

Please, I ask that you would forgive me as I am genuinely sorry for my actions and wish I could change what I have done as well as the life I have lived, but I cant. All I can do is take ownership of my mistakes and Ill always try my best not to do it again.

Today I really care about people. That person is not me anymore, that person is dead, thats the old me. Today I am trying my best to be the best version of me. I care about people, I care about them in the way I need to, not in the way they want me to. I am very determined to make sure my life makes a difference in the lives of as many people that I come across while I can. I dont care if you or any person on the face of this planet like me, not even in the slightest, I am not here to make friends but to change lives. I do care what God thinks of me, though.

I am not a religious man, but I am a proud Christian man, and I welcome any person to look over all of my life including my finances and if there are areas in me or what I do that isnt done with honesty, integrity and transparency, then help me see what I cant see to make the changes that I need to make. I am trying my best, please help me to try better. I started Shalom by accident in 2012, all I want to do is to help people, I only made it to Grade 6 and went to 16 different schools, I have tried my best and will continue to do so until the day I die.

WE NEED CHANGE

Over the past seven years, I have been honoured to play a small part through Shalom House in helping so many families to change their lives. I believe that if you change a man, then you change the entire family. I would like to be completely honest with you. For the last 10 years, I have been a full-time volunteer who hasnt received an income and Amanda supported me.

Its only recently that I have begun to start to earn an income with my first book as well as through public speaking experiences to create some personal income. My wife and myself, we believe its not about money, but about people, as we believe people matter, families matter.