Howard C MackertABOUT THE AUTHOR Long Version (end of book, with photo of Howard and Rhonda and dogs) Most people in his hometown of Gig Harbor, Washington know Howard Mackert as a successful businessman, ace mechanic, generous philanthropist, and active member of te community. What many if not most do not know is that Howard is, in his own words, a twice recovering fundamentalist. Howard grew up, until the age of 25, in a fundamentalist, polygamous Mormon family in Arizona and later Utah. As a young man, he realized the frustration and powerlessness of his situation, and courageously separated himself and set out on his own. That departure was after Howard became a 25 year old divorced virgin. Through the ups and downs chronicled in this book, Howard found his way first to Christian fundamentalism, still looking for the security of having someone provide him with the certainty and dogmatic answers he thought he needed. It was not long before he realized that this situation, too, was problematic. Through it all, Howard's upbeat, optimistic personality and no-nonsense approach to life and spirituality led him, ultimately, to a life-changing divine encounter and an entirely new worldview: love and grace. After that, there was no turning back, and since then Howard has devoted himself to living outside the box of legalism and inside the embrace of a loving Heavenly Father whose unconditional love erases the lines others want to draw around Him. Besides his leadership role at Mackert Automotive, of which he is the owner and president, Howard is actively involved in many community support and charity endeavors, and is a frequently sought-out speaker. He is also an enthusiastic supporter of his wife Rhonda in her music career. Howard and Rhonda make their home in Gig Harbor, Washington, with their two dogs, Mieke and Keelin, two beautiful Keeshonds. Read More Read Less