My Life the Hard Way: { instead of God's way } (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780692381366)

I was born in Stamford, Texas in 1944 and shortly after moved to Meridian, Ms where I grew up. I attended Highland Elementary, Kate Griffin Jr. High, and Meridian High School and went on to four years at Livingston State Teachers College in Livingston, Ala {now called UWA}. After leaving college I entered the field of retail management with F.W. Woolworth, then Woolco, then TG& Y, then Walmart and finally Marvin's Home Center Stores. That career spanned over 30 years of my life. Early in my career {1966} I married my wife Pamela Smith Haynes from Shucktown, Ms. {that's right, she was a country girl}. We have four children - Virginia, Tammy, Susan and Asa. Unfortunately for me and particularly for my wife and family I began a downward spiral over those 30 years that led me into behaviours centered totally around the lust of my eyes, the needs of my flesh and the pride of life that turned me into a dark and depraved man, husband and father. In 1996 when my family could take it no longer, my wife asked me for a divorce and my children basically disowned me and then ordered me to get out and don't come back. Only then did I become willing to accept how deep into depravity I had sunk. Just when I thought all was lost I met a man named Christ Jesus. He has not only saved me, saved my marriage and my family but He has literally transformed me into a totally new creation. What I once thought was the end of everything, I now know was the BEGINNING of everything. Because I am so grateful for His mercy and loving kindness I have purposed along with my wife and family to spend the rest of my days on this earth sharing the Good News with hopeless and hurting individuals and families that no matter how bad it seems - Christ can redeem it, heal it and restore it. Hence, my wife Pam and I founded Righteous Oaks Recovery Center for Men in Chunky, Ms in 2001 and Jacobs Well Recovery Center for Women in Poplarville, Ms in 2005. My Heart's Desire is to live my life today with the assurance of my Salvation, the living proof of my transformation and a burning desire to rise from my bed every morning with only one prayer in my heart. "Lord, until you bring me home to be with you for eternity do not let one day go by that you do not place a broken hurting person in my path that I can give the same hope you have given me in Christ Jesus, Amen.