I was raised in a nominally Christian home, where God is a tool used to manipulate children. It wasn't long before I rebelled. I felt a hole inside me but never quite knew how to fill it. I had plenty of Christian friends who did try to explain God's free gift of salvation, but I never really heard what they said. I was reasonably successful in life, married at 22, started a family, earned a Ph.D. and began the tenure climb. I was erecting my tower of Babel, planning to climb up and be king of the mountain. Of course, God had other, better, plans. I was on the road to alcoholism. I drank heavily and often, being intoxicated at least once a week and talk about a bad temper. How my family got through that is a testament in itself. The year before my tenure decision, my wife insisted I attend church and the minister actually insisted on coming to my home. The audacity of it! Well, he wouldn't leave until I promised to read scripture. "Read Romans for me", John said. "What? Look I'm a busy man," I replied. "Ok, read just one chapter a day." "Aren't you listening, I am much too busy." "Well, surely you can read one verse. Everyday just read one verse. Surely you can read fast enough for that," John taunted. Is this guy ever going to leave? "Ok, John. One verse a day." Well, one verse grew and before spring I had read nearly the entire New Testament. I still didn't believe, but God had prepared me with the answer He knew I would soon need. A few months before my tenure package was due, my new department head sat down with me for the first time to hear what I had been doing. Of course, I laid it on thick. "No, no no! None of that is any good, you have done everything wrong." Everything I worked for came tumbling down. I had only one place to turn and having read most of the New Testament, I knew where it was. I surrendered to God and put my faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. I did this as a broken man, making no deals with God asking for nothing but the chance to experience the Father's love. Well, my need for alcohol disappeared overnight. I never missed it. It simply vanished. I am tenured. My department head remarked at what a huge change in direction I was able to accomplish in a matter of 6 months. Hey, I didn't change, I was changed. My temper, well it's in control; just ask my kids and my students. Why do I believe? Is it because there are scientific and intellectually compelling reasons? Not only that but because God has changed me. He will do the same for you, just ask Him. "That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" Romans 10:9-11. Thank you God, Jesus is Lord of all!!!