My gradual emergence as a serious writer—after composing hundreds of sermons—began in 2004 when Jan and I made a trip to the East Coast of the United States. We passed through southern Indiana and stopped to visit our dear friends, Jerome and Betty Richardson. When I was a staff member in the Department of World Missions of the Church of the Nazarene, Jerome and I worked together on Work and Witness projects around the world.

Now Jerome was in a wheelchair following a stroke, and he was undergoing kidney dialysis. We reminisced about projects he had engaged in over a period of several years. Jerome retired from the Navy, where he had been a civilian employee. He was one of the smartest men I ever knew, licensed in several fields of engineering.

We talked for several hours about our times together, then Betty said, "I wish someone could write his story before it is too late.” On impulse I said, “I will do it!”

I returned to their home in Columbus, Indiana, several weeks later and spent a week with Jerome, taking notes about his experiences with engineering projects around the world. I made another trip three months later with a nearly finished manuscript. When Jerome read it, he wept. Just a few weeks later, he passed away during a dialysis treatment.

The book, The Master’s Builder, was one of the NMI reading books for 2005-2006. I subsequently wrote two more missions reading books when I began travelling in India with my son Brian.

We moved to North Texas, where I joined several small Christian writers’ groups in the Dallas area that met monthly. That is when I began learning what writing was about.

When we moved to Pagosa Springs, CO, I had the purpose of starting a Christian writers' group. I met two lady-writers who were excited with the same idea, and in February 2015 we put a story in the weekly Pagosa Springs SUN and launched with more than twenty Christians interested in writing. We began meeting every Monday morning and God blessed what became a tight-knit, productive group of writers.

Believing my pulpit ministry continued with the same purposes but now in the print realm, I have taken advantage of new opportunities to communicate with a larger audience. I wrote a regular faith column for the Pagosa Springs SUN. I became a staff writer for “Engage,” an e-magazine for Nazarene missions. I began collaborating on a biography of a retired pastor friend. Ten years ago I began writing stories for the Nazarene Standard Magazine. I was invited to join the editorial team of the Crossroads Chronicles. Then I renewed a friendship with Mark Fuller which began back in 1974.

Joining Mark in writing A Fuller Life has been one of the most profound experiences of my life, impacting me at a very deep level. Mark opens his innermost heart to share what it means to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in both the private and public spheres. I gained life-changing insights from Mark, as will every reader.

At the age of 85, I realize I don’t have the same capacities that I used to have (I can’t set out to hike a long trail the way my ten-years-younger sister does). But, as I have said several times, when I sit down with my keyboard, I seem to enter a zone where words come clearly. That enables me to continue writing words inspired by the Word. And for that I thank God.