In your notes you have also spoken about transformation—transformation of life, marriage, outlook—that has occurred while living alongside the ministry of Dad and Mom. I’m happy for you, thrilled that through knowing Dad and Mom you have more fully grasped the height, and depth, and breadth of Jesus Christ who is your life and love.

It is true that Dad has departed this life and joined those who went before him, including of course, Mom seven months ago. It is also true, as Larry Norman sang, all of us are “only visiting this planet.” Sooner than we might think, we too will depart this temporal to fully apprehend our eternal.

In the meantime, Dad and Mom left a legacy. Now it is your turn—our turn, those of us who remain—to leave a legacy.

One of the things we worked very hard to manage at Lifetime Guarantee, the ministry Dad, and Mom, and I founded many years ago, was the personalization of the ministry. It is very hard to be personal with a large mailing list, but based upon your notes, we were successful. Many of you posted on the Lifetime memorial page about letters you received, dinners enjoyed, and even serendipitous meetings with Mom or Dad. You spoke of notes written on pages of books, cell phone numbers exchanged, hugs in lieu of handshakes, and so forth. You wrote about radio broadcasts heard in the middle of the night that were “just for you.” The archives at Lifetime are filled with hundreds more such notes received over the last thirty-five years.

Mom and Dad and I each had visible presences on the platform of Lifetime Guarantee, but Mom and Dad were the more visible face of Lifetime, I more the one pulling levers behind the curtain of the organization. As we positioned ourselves to launch into ministry via radio, we convened a strategic meeting in which we determined to not use any illustrations, or make any references, to current events while on the air. Our hope was to create a legacy of ministry material that was timeless. Twenty years later I run into folks who ask if Bill and Anabel record each day or each week.

When we assembled ourselves in Houston to partner with Mars Hill Productions to create “The Life” video, each person in the audience, especially the ladies, was coiffed to eliminate “high style” and any other physical feature that would cause the video to age prematurely. We carefully chose Mom and Dad’s attire, worked on Mom’s hair, Dad’s glasses and lapels, and the decoration in the room to create a classic style that would stand the test of time. Many, many of you have written to say that you continue to use “The Life” long after similar products have gone out of style.

As technology changed, so did Lifetime—in order to foster a legacy of ministry. All of the audio materials created through Lifetime were converted to digital formats. Today, the audio ministry of Bill and Anabel and me reaches a potential listening audience many, many times greater than our radio broadcasts did at their zenith. Every product—audio, video, and written—was digitized against decay and for dissemination across multiple platforms.

Another standard at Lifetime, one of our stated core competencies, was simplicity and practicality through personal transparency. Our belief was that we could best encourage you, and guide you on life’s path, through not only teaching but also showing. There are lots of diagrams and illustrations, but there are many life-stories. We all need information, but in the end, we all need an example.

Mom is gone, dead on November 7, 2010. And Dad is gone, dead on June 23, 2011. I transitioned Lifetime, the Board of Directors, and myself on August 31, 2008 to the next generation of leadership. The ministry of Lifetime continues, but more to my point in this note is that there remains a legacy of ministry, a legacy rooted in simplicity, personal transparency, ageless relevance, practicality, and the message of Jesus Christ’s transformational power.

Yes, Mom and Dad are gone, but they left you—all of us—many tools standardized to the key element for successful living: Christ in you and through you the hope of glory.

Yes, there is a mailing list of significant size at Lifetime, but our Heavenly Father doesn’t measure success by the size of a mailing list. You know that. Dad taught you this with his egg illustration. Remember? Size isn’t what’s most important, not even results. What is most important is methodology.

My point? You know the methodology of ministry. Dad taught it to you, we demonstrated it for you, and Lifetime diligently created resources to equip you for ministry. The legacy you celebrate as you recall Bill and Anabel is a legacy that you can—that you must—access and possess and share with others, just as you have been taught, and have seen, and have witnessed in us.

My brothers and I, our families, and the ministry of Lifetime are deeply grateful for your attention to our loss and a grief that will never be assuaged in this life. But life proceeds. We are transients, just visiting this planet. Our highest calling is first to trust in Him who is life, grace, truth, mercy, and wisdom from God. Our greatest privilege is to transfer our calling to others, and in so doing, create a legacy rooted in Life.

There are many hundreds of audio messages at Lifetime.org. You can listen and learn for the rest of your days. There are hundreds of pages of written resources, a daily devotional, and many hundreds of articles on an array of subjects that are all indexed. All of this is part of the legacy created at Lifetime Ministries for you to draw upon as you grow, and live, and transfer yourself to others.

Although I have transitioned myself from Lifetime and into a new phase of professional life, I post thoughts and writings at my website, PrestonGillham.com. I publish books and materials here as well. In fact, my latest book, “No Mercy,” is a work of fiction designed to demonstrate the battle that rages between the flesh and the spirit. But the story of “No Mercy” doesn’t end there. This adventure of a King and his two sons demonstrates the victory that is ours in Christ Jesus. In the main character, Hank, there is an example to follow.

Dad and Mom and I, and the ministry of Lifetime, would be heartbroken if we ever had any inkling that you ran aground, lost your way, or turned away because our lives on Earth have progressed toward change and death. Seize the day! Our remaining time is short. It was only “yesterday” that Dad and I signed the formation papers for Lifetime Guarantee. Immerse yourself in the open legacy available to you and join those whose feet are upon the road to greater revelations of victory.

Thank you again for writing in memory of my Dad. He finished well midst very difficult circumstances. I miss him terribly, but I wouldn’t return him to this place for anything. Instead, I will go to him—we shall go to him, as well as those who come after us.

I don’t know. Perhaps there are those who get used to death and the dying process. I should have asked Dad’s hospice nurse that question in retrospect, but I didn’t think of it until now.

Dad was in a mess. He wasn’t all broken up like Mom was after the tumble that destroyed her in November, but he was afflicted with the progression of profound Parkinson’s and associated dementia. His brain was sabotaged by the effects of the Fall, rotted throughout with disease, and compromised by the plaque of his sickness.

Parkinson’s is what killed him, the dementia dictated it was an ugly process. What a wicked disease! Please come quickly, Lord Jesus, but until you do, thank you, thank you for the people you gifted to provide care to us all in such times of ungracious need. My soul! I have rubbed shoulders with angels since Dad moved into the care facility.

Dad turned into death’s tunnel Wednesday morning and died Thursday afternoon at 3:18 PM. I was with him. One of my very close friends, Scott Walker, died late Tuesday night of a heart attack. It has proven to be a long week.

I was somewhat prepared for Dad’s exit. I was totally unprepared for Scott’s, as all who knew him were. We buried Scott today and reached for consolation in each other. It is odd how the untimely robbery of an early death draws us together. Scott is a formidable loss, and coupled with Dad, is proving a taxing time.

I will write more later. Right now, my reserves are low. There will be a memorial service in honor of Dad here in Fort Worth, most likely toward the end of August. My brothers and I will get that figured out soon and let you know.

We will again make the trek to Eastern Oklahoma, just as we did eight months ago, and place Dad’s ashes next to Mom’s. It is fitting, and I promise: I will be in touch soon. Thank you again for your outpouring of love and thoughts.

The work on No Mercy might be slightly delayed but it will not stop. The release of No Mercy is at a critical juncture. The final edits are completed. Thank you Lord! Several versions of the book cover are ready, and we need to know which one is Father’s choice. We are in need of an electronic store offering the best customer experience and yet at a reasonable price. Difficult to find. Not impossible for God. Also, the shipping and handling component is still missing. Please intercede for a creative solution which will serve people well and get the book in as many hands as possible.

Grieving with Preston and the family,

Reny Madjarska

Head Prayer Tribeswoman

Reny and I worked together for eleven years at Lifetime Guarantee Ministries. She is talented, trustworthy, and has a vibrant relationship with God.

Reny came to college at TCU from her home, Bulgaria, in 1994. She was an atheist, a card-carrying communist, and on a full scholarship in Economics. Our Heavenly Father pursued her, won her heart, and she became a follower of Jesus Christ. She has since earned a MATh, a MBA, and is currently the CFO of a financial services company in California.

“No Mercy” is a work of fiction. It’s about connecting with God, what goes wrong in the process, and how to remedy the relationship.

As Dianne and I discussed with Reny some of our challenges, she offered to assemble a tribe of people to pray. This is where I hope you enter the picture. Would you join the Prayer Tribe and pray?

As I share with Reny, she is going to write to you and post to my website, PrestonGillham.com, under the “Life” column. If you sign up by clicking this link, you’ll see “Join the Prayer Tribe” in the right column. Reny will keep you focused.

Reny has expressed concern that she, whose third language is English, is posting to a writer’s website. I have encouraged her that you are meeting to pray, not judge her writing.

So you’ll know, as Reny writes she will sign her name to her posts. If my name is on a post, it’s from me.

Thanks in advance for joining us. If you want, please pass this invitation along to others.

You will see “Join the Prayer Tribe” in the right column of PrestonGillham.com.

Bless you,

Preston

After a few days of fly fishing to clear the cobwebs I began settling into the rhythm of a home-based schedule. It’s been good—kind of strange—but it’s OK now.

My timing is different. During those years running my own gig I knew where I was supposed to be at 8:00 AM: in my chair, the mission of the organization in my crosshairs, leading my team in pursuit of our corporate adventure. Great stuff. Now, I’m free to start whenever.

Since I am my own boss—the donors and Board used to be—I work to the beat of my own metronome. No more starting my morning workout (I ride a bicycle) at 5:05 AM in pitch blackness. That’s good. These days I ride mid-morning after I’m brain dead from writing for five hours. Then, I clean up and pick up where I left off. I work until it’s time to fix dinner, just like in the old days.

The schedule does for me today what the 8-5 workday, the Board, and the donors used to do. The alarm goes off at the same time it did prior to September 2008. I employ the same tools in my study that I did in my office. I set goals and tweak my business plan just like I used to do back in the day—sans the team meeting in the Conference Room.

How you work from home? We’d love to hear your tips.

Since you are here, I will let you in on my plan. The next few weeks are filled with uncertainty. There are travels, an assortment of nieces and nephews that must go swimming with their Uncle, and the amazing reality that there are places in this world still not “connected.” A few of my upcoming days will be spent somewhat technologically disconnected.

So here’s the plan: I will begin to blog in earnest and update the site with regular content in the first or second week of July. In the meantime, know that myriad thoughts are running through my head that I can’t wait to put before you for consideration. I am anxious to get started, but a solid start is preferred over a false start. Don’t tell anyone I’m here yet; wait a couple of weeks, then tell them.

More soon, and thanks for being here.

Backing up a step, I contacted my friend, Andy, for assistance with this development project. After two days of work to get started on this site I was exactly nowhere. I had not posted one letter of the alphabet, created a single category, or discovered how to install a template. I had worked furiously and brought all my technical expertise to bear on the problem. My confidence was shot—and I thought I was somewhat technically minded. Wow!

I asked him if he could get me started—like jumping a dead car battery was the image in my mind. He was very gracious and kind. Rather than telling me straight up, he spent a number of minutes guiding me to the clear understanding that I needed professional help. Lucky for you, and a blessing to me, Andy had some time to spare. So, we are off—like a turtle—but we’re rolling.

I’ll tell you right now, I’m going to mess some stuff up, so get ready. I think Andy is skilled enough to fix most anything I foul up, but that presumes I discover the mistake. That’s where you come in—and you thought this blog was for your reading pleasure. Ha. You are an active and responsible party if you are reading. If you see something that needs fixing, or that could be done better, or know of some trick that would help you and others, by all means let me know. I’m viewing this as a group project.

I won’t repeat the content I placed earlier under “About,” except for one thing: I know there are a couple of blog posts already posted; they are worth reading, but they are tests from the archive. This is my first, official post. My pledge going forward is that I will tell you what’s on my mind and in my heart. I’m on the journey of a lifetime. PrestonGillham.com is an invitation for you to join me. I will do my level best to take you with me. I’ll tell you what I see and experience. I’d like the same from you if you feel the freedom to offer it.

As important as all the preceding words are, it is now time for dinner. We are meeting W, Karla, and Carson for Mexican food in Arlington and I’m not ready. So, I must go. Meet you back here—provided I can find it again. May have to call Andy.

Before I sign off, if you have things you would like for me to include in my thoughts or on the site, let me know in the “Comments.” I’ll do my best.

Off now to forage for food.

You presume my counsel is that you should look to God…but not so fast. There is merit in considering your options, especially when there is a great deal at stake. Looking to God may seem right, but it may not be sensible.

Personally, I’m in a pinch. I’m fighting battles on multiple fronts: professional, physical, economic, family…now that I start listing them, I’m surrounded. I suspect your report from the battle front is similar.

But I have some options. My history, training, resume, and abilities confirm that I have resources at my disposal. I have the force of my personality to be persuasive and engaging. I have reasonable intelligence. I have learned that I can think my way out of most any situation. Like a cat, I always land on my feet.

Perhaps most compelling is that I can determine a course of action toward resolution and relief today. Even a cursory assessment of my options declares the plans I should adopt. Right away.

I can do this….

And in so doing declare with William Ernest Henley that “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”
The troubling thing about personal resources is that they can be independently engaged instead of first being empowered by God. Stress is a powerful motivator to act quickly; to determine the expedient route; to do what seems rational and escape the heat of the battle. Sensibility, expedience, and rationality are not necessarily indicators of God’s will.
All of the personal options I listed earlier are God-given abilities, but please note: God is not mentioned in my listing of personal resources. Therein is the problem and my point.

The prophet Isaiah lived in tumultuous times. We know from history and his book that the political, economic, spiritual, and physical climate of his day was unstable, even dangerous. The nation of Israel was in a pinch. The people were assessing their options and Isaiah was providing perspective.

God had brought Israel out of Egyptian captivity and escorted them to the Promised Land. But Israel had a propensity to look backward’toward the resource of Egypt’rather than forward with faith in God.

Before them lay uncertainty, difficulty, and disconcerting problems. Behind them lay the riches and refuge of Egypt. Looking forward they gazed through the fog of faith with only the promise of God’s pledged faithfulness. Behind them they saw a certain path to perceived security. God’s promise was open-ended. Egypt afforded a quick resolution to their overwhelming stress.

Isaiah writes to his countrymen, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, / And rely on horses, / And trust in chariots because they are many / And in horsemen because they are very strong, / But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD” (31:1)!

The rational, expedient decision for Israel was to take matters into their own hands, call upon their resources’their network’and return to Egypt. To leave the Promised Land was the only sensible thing to do. Their demise was imminent. An ally of Egypt’s clout seemed reasonable. The only problem was, to return to Egypt meant turning away from God.

Friend, God is not rational, expedient, or sensible. If He were, you could figure Him out. He is illusive because He is faithful, loving, honest, and eternal. You can’t understand God with intellect and analysis. You know God by faith, belief, and determined trust.

Always look to God. He may choose to utilize your options, but He may choose to work through another venue. Let it be His call’by faith’versus your insistence that He endorse your plan. He is a safe bet, regardless of the circumstantial evidence to the contrary.

Bless you,

I went for a bicycle ride a few days ago and stopped at a garage sale to catch my breath. The sale was sponsored by a group who rescues Pug dogs. I started talking to one of the ladies running the event and she told me all of their rescue and adoption homes are full of dogs. She told me the same was true for all the rescue groups and their breed of choice. She went on to say all the shelters are full of dogs as well, including the SPCA.

By now I’m looking at her quizzically, wondering where all these dogs are coming from. She explained, “It’s the economy. If you can’t put gas in the car and food on the table; if you are about to lose your house, then you have to make a provision for the dog.”

The challenge of the economy was suddenly quantified for me. Oil prices, inflation, jobless rates, foreign currencies against the dollar: All of these are hard for me to understand. But a monstrous surplus of dogs, orphaned because they can’t be fed, brought our economic difficulties into focus.

I wrote to our newspaper (and was published) because I figured I was not the only person struggling to understand our economic predicament. Our politicians don’t get it, or they would do something productive. The media sensationalizes, which is neither helpful or meaningful. But the two ladies at the garage sale understand, and they were able to explain the situation to me.

In my experience, it is essential to define a problem before I can begin to work on the challenge in a productive way. On the one hand, I could adopt a dog, and do my part to alleviate the over-population. I’ll think about that some more before I make a pledge. On the other hand, I’m thinking about the implications of so many people having to get rid of their pets, and considering what I can do.

All over America, parents are sitting down with their children and explaining why the family pet has to be given away. Maybe you are facing that talk. I don’t envy you.

It doesn’t cost much to feed a dog’unless you have a Mastiff. But to not be able to afford a Pug? If you are one of the many who can’t feed a Pug, which is a small dog, then that means you are not eating well. In fact, I doubt you are eating regularly.

My neighbor is selling his truck. Dianne and I are not watering the yard as often as normal. We think twice before eating out. And as the global economy adjusts to India and China’s modernization, it doesn’t appear our economic woes will ease anytime soon.

Is there any encouragement? I believe there is. Here is what I have been focusing upon lately: I bent down this morning and smelled the roses growing beside our patio and a passage of Scripture came to mind: “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin…. If God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you (Lk. 12:27-28)?

I watched a Scissortail Flycatcher (bird) the other day. Periodically, he would fly from his wire perch and snag a passing bug. Then, he would return to his wire and watch. After four or five iterations, a Scripture came to mind: “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life” (Mt. 6:26-28)?

Friend, I don’t know how Father will provide for us, but He will (ref. Phil. 4:19). These are disconcerting days, but Father is thoughtful and unwavering. Odd that my greatest challenge is trusting Father. In spite of the verses above, and seeing them play out right in front of my eyes, I still wrestle against distrust.

But here’s my deal: I have what appears to be an ongoing opportunity to trust Father, to define my needs from His vantage point, and to embrace His economy. I promise to write to you about this. Meanwhile, we should trust our Father’s heart and kind intention toward us. I am determined. How about you?