Week #1—In the Beginning

I began writing weekly letters to my family—reflections on faith, life, and the moments that shaped us. This is where that journey began…

Can you imagine a time before the cosmos existed? A brilliant light engulfed the nothingness—darkness was driven to the edges of outer space. Cosmic gas expanded exponentially, radiating heat, stars materialized, galaxies formed, black holes devoured, and the universe expanded. Thirteen billion years later, after untold mutations, here we are.

Or, as Scripture declares:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

Wow! What a place to start, then—In the beginning… You may remember back in 2020, I wrote you a letter every week for an entire year—52 in all. Each one was a short devotion that reflected special moments in our family life. Today, those letters live on in this book—52 Letters—so that our story of faith can be remembered and cherished for generations.

You all know I’ve published my first book, The Awakening, The River Between Fear and Faith. What you may not know is I’ve written a trilogy. In the next several months, I’ll be publishing two more books to complete the Logan Murdock Trilogy.

Publishing is never easy, but writing has always been my gift. It served me well throughout my career, and Jonathan has seen firsthand how my words helped guide him in making important decisions.

So here’s the plan. You’re going to help me out. Don’t worry—I won’t ask for more than ten minutes of your time each week—750 words, for 52 weeks. Just take the time to read it. I’d love your feedback, but it’s not required. At the end of the year, I’ll have a collection of 52 Letters that I plan to transform into a book that may help other fathers and grandfathers communicate faith and family to those they love.

These letters are Christian-focused. Since retirement, I’ve felt a calling to share my faith through writing. Each of you was baptized and raised in the Christian faith, so none of this will be new—but I pray it will be meaningful.

Since retirement, I’ve engaged in daily Bible studies. Two Bible verses continually stand out for me:
• Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
• Joshua 24:15: … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Gramma and I are getting old. Gramma just lost her mother and her oldest sister. I hope we have twenty-plus years on earth, but who knows? Before I leave this world, I want to do everything in my power so that we are all reunited in heaven in a glorious family reunion for eternity.

When I reach the pearly gates, I long to hear, Well done, good and faithful servant (Matt 25:23), not You denied me before men, I will deny you before my father (Matt 10:33).

So, get ready. This is the first of 52 letters. I pray you read them (come on 750 words, ten minutes per week). May the Lord strengthen and preserve you to life everlasting.