I am still glowing in the wonderful birthday celebration you gave me Sunday…and enjoying the chocolate!!!
I am grateful for 70 years of life and there will always be three pivotal points of gratitude that have shaped my life and made it so full:
My personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Take Jesus out of my story and my life would be completely different and so much less. It is not just the promise of heaven, it is waking up every day knowing that I am loved and have all the power and presence of God in my life. I preach what I live and believe—life with Christ makes all the difference.
My wife and two daughters. I won the lottery with Kathy. We just celebrated 40 years and I have said all these years that she is my rock and you can’t begin to say anything about my ministry or my life without first pointing to Kathy and all the ways she makes my life full. And then to have two daughters–Kelly and Paige—who have helped me to understand how great the love of God our Father can be. And two granddaughters are just that much more
Every church I have served. One seminary church, four full time churches, two interim churches. I have loved everyone of them. In a time when so many pastors are going through so much conflict, I never have gotten over the fact that I have loved and thrived in every church that has blessed me so much more than I have blessed them.
Life is good, and turning 70 is a real celebration. I am so thankful I have Crabtree Valley Baptist to share it with.
Brave Journey, Bill
