November is the season of gratitude, a time to celebrate the good that has shaped the year. As I look back on 2025, I’m grateful for so many experiences.
Today, I’m sharing my Top 10.
Top 10
- Enjoying another year of the gift of life while remembering that someone sought to end my life in October 2022 (Surviving an Attack & Living a Hope-Filled Recovery), celebrating 26 years (27 next month) of marriage to Susan, and making major financial and end of life planning decisions
- Serving as CEO of White Rock Center of Hope, guiding the organization through a year of tremendous growth during a challenging time that featured a government shutdown and the end of Hope’s multi-year federal funding (Celebrating My Ordiversary: Reflections on Another Year of Ministry) and receiving the Community Builder Award from Roy Stanley Masonic Lodge #1367
- Completing 14 months of service as Interim Senior Pastor at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Arlington, Texas
- Preaching more (Sermons), speaking at more conferences and events, and writing more than any year since 2015 (Inspired by The Rev. Dr. Bill Tillman: My 25-Year Writing Journey)
- Staying connected to the wider church by coaching amazing clergy engaged in innovative and life-giving ministries and visiting a number of congregations in Dallas and Oklahoma City (My Visit to St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral)
- Completing a 12 month learning journey as Preaching Justice Fellow (Preaching Justice: A Community & A Lifeline)
- Hosting and facilitating a life group (formerly known as small group) as part of the ministry of my home congregation: Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ
- Visiting Naples, Florida for the 19th consecutive year (Returning to Naples United Church of Christ: Where My UCC Journey Began)
- Giving back through board service, including Texas Association of Charitable Clinics (2020-2026), South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ (2024-2027), Forest Hills Homeowners Association (2024-2026), Faith & Grief (2026-2029), and Church Building & Loan Fund (2026-2029)
- Purchasing my first electric vehicle – EV (Going Electric!)
This is the fifth edition of what has become an annual tradition: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021.