Best Decision I Ever Made!

OK, spiritually speaking my decision in 1982 to follow Christ was the decision that has impacted my life the most for eternity . . .

But the decision that I made in 1986 to marry Cynthia Jean Barnett was right behind it. Today we celebrate 22 years together.
It's kind of funny, we're staying in the same hotel that we stayed in on our wedding night (hey quit it, we got 4 kids with us OK!)

Has it always been easy? No. Has it been worth it? Heck yes! And it gets better and better every year.

A couple of thoughts of encouragement after 22 years:

1) Fight for it - When I've wanted to give in or quit - or just be jerk - nothing makes me fight harder than to think about the generations of influence we can have as we seek to be faithful in the good times and bad

2) Keep Dating - We do that on Thursdays at lunch right now - Find regular time for just you two alone - keep it fresh, keep it real.

3) Stand in the gap for your spouse - Nothing brings me back to thankfulness for Cindy more than when I pray for her - for God's power and blessing in her life.

One Year!

September 4, 2007 was my first blog!

It's amazing how it stacks up so quickly . . . In the first year I've blogged 427 times! (A couple of more than the 3-5 times a week I thought I would do!)

ForwardMotion has had page 30,969 page hits (and that does not include folks who read the pages in their email and don't go to the blog) --- that alone reminds me of the influence that we wield over time . . . and our responsibility to use it for the Kingdom.

I write this for you. . . As a tool to lead Oso Creek while being authentic about my own life.
So help me out: Is there anything you would like to hear about that I haven't blogged? . . . OR . . . What would you like to see more of in the next year?

50 . . . And Just Getting Started!

I was blessed on Saturday night to get to go to the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of some special Creekers - James & Lynda Stayton!

Wow, 50 years! What an awesome model for the rest of us! I told James & Lynda what an encouragement they are in our lives and the lives of so many others. You should be so very thankful if you know them (and proud of them) . . . and let them know!

(Obviously I have my eyes closed in the pic because I'm praying that I will make it 50!)