Appreciation

I am deeply grateful to a community of friends who have been a constant source of encouragement, feedback, and support throughout the development of this material. Special thanks to Aram and Margie Keith, Steve and Jayne Watts, Steve and Joan Graham, Barry and Sherri Finch, Jim and Helen Steinkamp, Mary Ann Azzolina, Eileen Callahan, Dr. Catherine Hart Weber, Russ and Donna Wertz, Brian and Nancy Hunsaker, Eric and Marie Draper, Terry and Steve Zwick, Greg and Deborah Buckingham, Doug and Eileen Trovato, Rich and Kim Hurst, Bob and Laura Koleas, Chris Bonga, and Jim Lauro. As a community of friends, you are a constant reminder to me and Susan of God’s loving presence, protection, and provision.

Thank you, Mike and Linda Hearn, for your friendship and generosity. You allowed me to use your beautiful home for over a year to teach through the early versions of this material.

Thank you, Mike and Carolyn Parkinson, we have been ministry partners these last ten years. You have given me the privilege to share my life and message with hundreds of men through the Trinity Encounter Cohorts.

A special thank you to Dr. Bill Gaultiere, who skillfully guided me—spiritually and emotionally—through a very long, dark night of the soul. And to Larry Warner, my spiritual director, who helped me navigate the often-turbulent waters of local church ministry.

Thank you, Pastor Rick Warren, who was instrumental in my painful transition as a senior pastor into a new ministry role as a discipleship coach. Rick trusted me with coaching the numerous campus pastors at Saddleback Church and around the world with my material. I also want to thank Dr. Lon Solomon, who was influential in the development of my own character during the many years we served together at McLean Bible Church in Washington, DC.

Thank you, Don Pape, friend and publisher, for your decade-long belief in me; you turned the dream of this book into a reality. David Zimmerman is my editor at NavPress. I have marveled at David’s grasp of this material and its complexities. Along the way, David provided many helpful insights, was an excellent sounding board, and even talked me off the figurative ledge a couple of times. Thanks, David. Special thanks to Elizabeth Schroll, who served as my copy editor. Her careful attention to detail and wise comments were invaluable!

I am also very grateful to Jan Johnson, who, in the midst of a busy speaking schedule and the pressure of making her own writing deadlines, made time to write the foreword.