“Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement, all success, all achievement in real life grows.”
BEN STEIN
Here is a quick snapshot of my life this past year:
I am pictured with Brother Andrew, Founder of Open Doors, in Washington, DC. Forty years ago I read his book, God’s Smuggler, and the course of my life was altered forever. Little did I know that I would one day meet him and run his USA operation.
I continued to be a voice and advocate for the persecuted church. On the opposite page, I am with Zakaria Botros. He fearlessly defends the Gospel while living in exile from Egypt. He has a $65 million dollar bounty on his head.
In April, my dear friend and a Founder of Open Doors, Sealy Yates, treated me to The Final Four Basketball Tourney in Atlanta for my birthday. I’m still pushing 60… until April, then I’ll be pushing 70 🙂
In May, I came home to say “good bye” to my college football coach, Dr. Forrest “Frosty” Westering. He was one of many who left us this past year.
In June, I had the privilege of connecting two great friends, Tommy Hughes and Dr. Ken Hutcherson. Hutch has suffered greatly from cancer, but he has shown us all what grace and dignity look like in the face of adversity. He is a warrior for advancing the Kingdom of God. Read his book, Hope is Contagious.
Also in June, I had the privilege of attending one of a number of weddings, Pat and Kathryn Burke. Kathryn is an amazing singer, while Pat is a law enforcement officer. Both are Pacific Lutheran University graduates where Pat was the football captain.
In September I welcomed with a host of family, the arrival of Noah Corrigan Partain, my great nephew. I think he’ll be a linebacker: 21” long, 9lbs. 11oz.
In October Jeff Bethke’s book Jesus is Greater than Religion was released and has been as high as #3 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Here I am with him and his best friend, Jeff Cherry. If you have college kids in the greater Tacoma area, Jerry Cherry is leading For The King on Friday nights. You can contact him at: jeff.l.cherry@gmail.com 
On a personal note, I would say that in all that I was involved with this past year, nothing was more life transforming than meeting Nik and Ruth Ripkin and reading their book, The Insanity of God. Please, please, please read this. It is a worldview changer. Because of the sensitivity of their work, I cannot post a picture of them, but please know that what you read in Insanity has cost them dearly and for their sacrifice, we are the beneficiaries of an amazing and transforming story.
