Big milestone for Gene
Tomorrow my oldest son will walk to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. For the past four years he has been working 30+ hours per week and going to school full-time, sacrificing much to achieve this milestone. We are very proud of his perseverance and tenacity.
This summer he will be working as much as possible to save money before he heads out for his 11-month, 11-country mission trip around the world. If you want to keep up with his World Race journey, go to http://genewalker.theworldrace.org.
3 John 4
Read More
Top 13 Memories from 2011
As is my custom, I spent a little time reflecting on my journal from the past year and sat down to list my top 10 memories. I ended up with a top 13 list – it was really a fantastic year
- The Lord making Heaven more real to me
- Sabbatical time in Montana
- Seeing our adult children making good choices
- Hosting the Art of Marriage at 3 churches
- Being nominated and approved as a deacon of our church in Little Rock
- Being given the privilege of focusing on strategic technology direction at FamilyLife
- Watching my daughter tee off in front of former President Bush
- CCCI US Staff Conference at Colorado State University with Francis Chan and David Platt
- Getting to teach an adult class again for the first time in Little Rock
- Watching a brother in Christ grow in absolutely remarkable ways
- Seeing the impact that eMentoring is having in thousands of lives
- Being a Scoutmaster and seeing the growth in the young men that are part of Troop 99
- Dreaming about new types of digital content that I can help FamilyLife develop in the future
What were your highlights in 2011?
Read More
Our Adoption Agency Celebrates 40 years of Finding Forever Families
In 1996, Karana and I began feeling led to pursue adoption. We wanted more children but were pretty sure doing it the old-fashioned way wasn’t a good idea due to health concerns. When we began praying about it, the Lord answered our prayer very clearly through a FamilyLife Today broadcast with Jorie Kinkead about international adoption in which Dennis Rainey, in his usual fashion, challenged the listeners to consider whether there was room in our homes for another child. We felt that call very clearly.
We began looking for an agency to help us and spoke to several. When we spoke to the folks at Dillon International in Tulsa we very quickly knew that we had found the right ones. Their heart of service and of love for our Lord Jesus came through loud and clear. They walked and prayed us through the journey of adopting our son and then, 2 years later, our daughter from Korea. We not only got the help we needed, we found some new lifelong friends.
2012 marks the 40th year of Dillon International serving the needs of adoptive families before, during and after their adoption. As November is National Adoption Awareness Month, it seemed like a good time to share. Soon, we hope to take a trip with these wonderful folks back to Korea with our 3 youngest children (the oldest 2 have already been) to visit our adopted kids’ homeland and possibly meet their birth parents. You can be praying about that as it is quite expensive to travel internationally.
Thank you Lord for Jerry and Deniese Dillon, their vision to serve you through adoption and all of the wonderful team that you have assembled to help make that vision a reality! We have been blessed.
Read More
Support Scouts. Eat Popcorn!
Next summer I will be leading a group from the Boy Scout troop where I’m Scoutmaster to hike the Grand Canyon. Our son Kyle wants to be one of those.
Help support his Scouting experience and get some great popcorn in the process at http://www.trails-end.com/
Thanks!
Read More
Before Presidents and Kings
Well, before former Presidents anyway.
On May 27, our Rebekah was chosen to hit the ceremonial tee shot at the 10th Anniversary of the First Tee of Central Arkansas. In attendance and speaking were about 300 people including former President George W. Bush. Her shot was the final event of the ceremony and, with everyone watching, she hit a beautiful shot. The crowd loved it and, after the emcee thanked everyone for coming, President Bush called for her and she went up to meet him and have some pictures made. It was a really special moment that was featured on several media outlets and on the front page of the Sports section in the local newspaper the next day.
What a cool thing that God took a little girl born in Korea to a culture that didn’t properly value her, moved her to a family in America, gave her an indomitable spirit and now has her share the spotlight with a U.S. President. God’s plans for us are far better than we can imagine, especially when we realize that this is a small thing compared to what the Lord did to take us from our sins, cleanse us, clothe us with the righteousness of Christ and make us the sons and daughters of the King of Kings!
I thought you might enjoy some links:
My quick video from our camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14yecfHhB54
Photo album, including Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article: https://picasaweb.google.com/104099128740591747634/20110527BekahTeesOffForPresidentBush?authkey=Gv1sRgCNeSj_3l8cj5Iw&feat=directlink
KATV Video: http://www.katv.com/video?clipId=5895944&topVideoCatNo=189702&autoStart=true
Fox16 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvv7G_Yz8Qs
Read More
‘Today’ show joins the assault on marriage
NBC and the Today show once again showed the media’s agenda to portray homosexuality in a sympathetic and positive light by deciding to allow gay couples in their annual wedding contest. Never mind the statistics. Never mind the law. Never mind the Bible. Folks, the fight for the family is raging – make sure you are fully engaged!
Read More
