I hope you’ll indulge me today. Last Tuesday, August 11th, 2026, I turned 70! For me it represents a significant milestone in my life. To commemorate this milestone, I thought it would be fun to pass on some Stats, Facts, and Artifacts! I hope you enjoy them and they motivate and inspire your faith.
Stats
40–Years of pastoring
8–Years of Strong Disciple ministry
409–Thoughts Provoking Articles written so far
684,333–Messages downloaded from the Strong Disciple website
83,276–Tapes/CDs of my messages rented or bought from 1987–2002 at Evergreen and the Rock
160,000–Messages downloaded from Evergreen/Rock websites from 2002–2018 (a fair estimate)
100,000–Articles read by subscribers and those who’ve read them on my site
1,027,609–Grand total of recorded and written messages downloaded
196–Conferences I’ve preached at (The 1000s of messages downloaded from those conferences are not included in my grand total)
30–Trips out of the country to preach at conferences (16 times to Central America, 14 times to Berlin, Germany)
Prayer Walks–41,602 Miles (I pray out loud as I walk 3 miles each day)
Push-ups–772,500
Total Gym lifts–1,064,886 (using the highest setting the machine allows)
Stairs–540,930 (approximately) accumulated over the last 26 years living in this house (57 per day)
2,378,996–Total strength training exercises (this does not include my workout totals from my years at Bally’s fitness, before I tore up my membership card in front of the manager in protest that they would not enforce an appropriate dress attire)
Facts
My daily/weekly exercise routine now, and for many years:
50–Push-ups per day, 4 days per week
200–Total Gym lifting exercises, 3 days per week
25–Minutes per day of stretches, planks, low back exercise
3–Miles, 1 hour per day on prayer walks
6–Minutes HIIT on bike
I use the Total Gym 1000 because it’s fast, efficient, simple, and maintains my functional fitness and strength.
I cut my own hair every 7 days on Saturday morning the last 23 years.
I trim the sides of my hair every day.
I get up and go to bed at the same time every day, 7 days a week.
I love the super early mornings—the world is quiet, asleep, and I have it all to myself.
I pray with my wife every morning. The impact of that time is irreplaceable and priceless.
I have 12 grandchildren–6 boys and 6 girls. Ironically, my wife and I had 4 children–2 boys and 2 girls.
Recently, I had to get a different vehicle, as our 2000 Sienna finally wore out. I bought a used, one-owner 2011 Honda CRV SE from a small dealer. He asked if I wanted personalized license plates. I said no. They arrived a few days before my birthday: UCR-707. It hit me immediately—Until Christ Returns, 70 years old, 7 days a week I live for God! I’d say God personalized them for me himself!
Leather Jackets
Dark brown, suede, 70s fringe jacket–I had it on the night I met Kathy
Army green, 80’s leather jacket–I wore it for years
Black motorcycle jacket–Bought it in December of 2001, wore it everywhere, and wore it to preach all the time. Bought a back-up just like it at the huge leather barn sale for $29. I took sandpaper to both of them and gave them a weathered, faded look. I would often get stopped by people asking me where I got it. Once, a guy came up to me and literally wanted to buy it off of me for hundreds of dollars.
Black classic motorcycle jacket with silver snaps–Bought for my birthday in August of 2012, sanded and weathered it, cut off the tacky belt, wear it most of the time these days. People often comment on it and ask about it.
Black Leather Boots
4 pair–Black leather tanker boots. Over the last 20 years I wore these boots. Resoled each of them once, as they wore down from miles and miles of prayer walks and preaching. Each boot weighs approximately 2.5 pounds.
I no longer wear those boots as the weight made me too tired. So, I now wear the Pharrel Williams x Adidas Terrex Trailmaker Mid GTX “Triple Black”. Bought 3 pairs. One for prayer walks. One for errands. One as a spare, as they will quit making them, and they work great on my feet.
Bibles
1975, New American Standard–I re-covered in leather, still have it, in great shape
1986, Reddish leather NIV Bible–My wife got for me when I was ordained in 1986, preached from it for years, wore it out, passed it on to my son as a souvenir/faith artifact
Taupe leather NIV Bible–Preached from till I started the Rock, still have it sitting on my desk
The Fall of 1998, New Living Translation Bible–I got it to use when I started the Rock in January of 1999, I still use it daily, re-covered it in cool, brown leather many years ago
1980, Berkeley New Testament–I’ve been using it all these years. I re-covered it in weathered, brown leather years ago, still carrying it around with me, pages all worn on the edges. Carried it with me on all my trips around the world.
I’ve also read, for personal reading and to expand my understanding–The Living Bible, The Living Proverbs, The Philips Bible, and still have them here.
Artifacts
These photos represent some of the artifacts of my faith.
This is one of 4 pairs of boots I have worn out on my prayer walks. See the heel nearly gone.
These are the Bibles of my faith journey.
Top, left to right: NASB Bible, Taupe NIV Bible
Bottom, left to right: my NLT Bible, my Berkeley New Testament.
This illustrates that I’ve used the Total Gym so much that the metal on the pulley began to wear through and curl up!
These handles have been used for thousands of push-ups, and the rubber’s completely worn off.
These leather journals contain my God stories, answered prayers, personal records, stats, and God songs.
I had these made to hand out at the first Rock Retreat to remind us all of the “sacred charge and mission” of our lives. I carry it with me on my key chain.
This is the guitar that was left at my front door. I wrote, played, and recorded my God songs with it.
This is the black leather motorcycle jacket I sanded and weathered, and wore to preach in for so many years.
These are the scriptures I wrote out to memorize 51 years ago. I would set them on a shelf, eye level, in front of my lathe machine, and memorize them as I worked at Mertz Engineering. You can see the cutting oil smudge on this one.
This was the first song I ever sang after giving my life to Christ in 1975. I sang it after sharing my testimony at Calvary Baptist Church in Webster City, Iowa, and also during my wedding. Both times, I was overcome with such emotion I couldn’t finish the song.
Watching it this morning overwhelmed me, once again, with emotion and tears of tremendous gratitude to God. It’s still the theme of my life. I hope it ministers to your soul today.
I hope you enjoyed these Stats, Facts, and Artifacts.
Please pray for me, that God would allow me many more years of healthy, productive service for my Savior and His people.
