Here are some insights into my Testimony and my Search for Contentment:

I grew up in Irving, Texas in the 1950's as an only child for my first 12 years. I was pampered and rewarded for work in the family business. With this background and no visible representation of Godliness by my father, I went off to college in 1963. I commuted the first semester to NTSU in Denton, Texas and almost flunked out (was taking 15 hours and working a full-time job at a bank in Irving, Texas from 4pm to midnight). The next semester, I took my savings and moved to Denton, rented a room in a house, and changed my major from Business to Philosophy. This semester of studying Philosophy resulted in my obtaining a 2.7GPA (on the 3.0 system). I was no longer on "Scholastic Probation" and safe from the draft. During this second semester, I also found a "book" which I took to be my guide in life ("Atlas Shrugged",a book promoting Existentialism by Ann Ryan).

For the next 18 years, I followed the "book" and achieved success at work, recreation, and somewhat in family life. I considered myself to be a good husband and father since I provided for my financially and in recreation/entertainment. During the 18 years of work, we as a family only had one vacation that was more than a few days. Our "normal family vacations" consisted of visiting family and outings to the DFW area on the weekends. I was never one to restrict by indulgences and as such would play golf, go fishing or play tennis app. 250+ days per year (weather permitting). Despite all my income and sports success, I was never content with my income or sports success.

During my early years (age 8 to 12), my mother would have her friends take me to 'church' every Sunday since she had to work in our family business. The business was a drive in grocery store that was open 7am to 10pm 7 days a week. This resulted in my attending Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Jewish, and tent revival services. Finally at age 12 (1957), I came forward at a Baptist Church and "accepted Jesus as my savior".

Looking back at this "conversion" (25 years later) in 1982, I sought to understand the event. Had I just accepted "Fire Insurance" or was it real? My wife filing for divorce and me leaving the home and family prompted this investigation into my “conversion”. My two children were devastated as was I. I had spent the previous 16 years working the "system" as outlined in "Atlas Shrugged". Since the "Fire Insurance" was supposed to keep me from harm, why had this divorce action come my way? Why would my wife of 16 years get involved with her 65 year old doubles tennis partner ( He was a retired government employee and had been married for 40 years and had six grandchildren) and together plot to divorce their mates and devistate 2 families?

I had played golf on several occasions with members of 1st Baptist Church in Denton (during their open golf tournaments) and remembered one of the members mentioning visiting a local Christian Bookstore. One day as I was making my routes of the Phillips 66 locations (I worked with the Jobber and we had 35 outlets in Denton), I stopped into the bookstore and found the owner (Joe Davis).

Joe asked if he could help me. I told him that I needed a Bible. He asked why I needed a Bible. I told him of my situation and he suggested a Leather KJV (Schofield Edition). The Bible was expensive but it had "study notes, cross references, and a concordance. This was something that my first Bible did not have. Joe showed me how to use the "helps" and asked me where was I going to start reading. He suggested that I start in the Genesis and then go to the New Testament. He suggested that I make notes of interest while I was reading.

During the next week, I finished reading Genesis and the New Testament and had many notes and questions. When arriving ath the store, Joe took the time to show me additional verses and Bible study aids that would provide answers in the Bible. Joe also invited me to 1st Baptist Church, Denton, Texas. I told him that this was my weekend to have the children and that they had never been to church. He said, no problem, bring the children. 

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