Dissertation Dedication

One of the last sections I wrote for my dissertation was the dedication page. As I wrote the dedication, I was very thankful to everyone who supported me throughout my whole life. Since very few people will ever read my dissertation, I wanted to post the dedication here for everyone to see.

This dissertation is dedicated to Jesus, my Savior, my Lord, my friend and my salvation. It is hard to find the words to express my gratitude to my God for all good He has given me. There words from Psalm 9:1-2 summarize my feelings:
I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. (NTL)

I would like to thank my amazing wife, Dena. Dena, you have been my biggest cheerleader. You believed I could do this program before I even started. I would not have completed this journey without you by my side encouraging me every step of the way – Thank You! I would also like to thank my kids, Rebecca, Catherine and Andrew. It has been a joy to have you walk with me through this adventure. Now the daddy dates can start again.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Paul Carr. Dr. Carr, thank you for not teaching me anything, but for facilitating my learning. Your unwavering support and belief in me kept me in the program. You saw my potential and always called me to live up to it. You modeled to me how to create colleagues instead of teaching doctoral students. I would also like to thank Beta Phi, a judicious literary society. Joining Beta Phi while at the Eagle and Child Pub in Oxford is a memory I will never forgot. I would also like to acknowledge all the Beta Phi fellows, particularly Dr. Mike Ponton, Dr. Jim Coe and Dr. Gary Confessore for enhancing my academic pursuits especially at the Autonomous Learning World Caucus.

I would like to thank the professors of SGLE for their non-stop encouragement. Dr. Mike Hartsfield and Dr. Gail Longbotham, thank you for serving on my committee and pushing me to create a document, I can be truly proud of writing. Your calling as professors were evident with every conversation at residency, over the phone or through the dialogues. Thank you for your love, compassion and prayers that surrounded me throughout this academic journey. To the other professors who read my papers, taught the classes and were available for all my questions. Thank you for your time and for believing in me. Thanks to our Dean, Dr. Bruce Winston, for creating an environment where our degree is worth more each year. You push everyone to be their best, and because of your efforts, you have the best group of professors.

I would like to express my appreciation to Cohort 2004 for all that you have done to make this very difficult pursuit, a little easier. You have become more than classmates, you have become my friends. Words cannot express the love I feel for each one of you. We embraced the concept “that we all rise together” and we pulled each other along on this journey. I could write volumes about the ways each one of you have supported me through Yahoo, phone calls, residencies, conferences, prayers and unconditional love, however, for the sake of space, your names will have to do: Rusty Ricketson, Jamie Swalm, Greg Lewis, Frank Christopian, Ann Solan, Katie Buvoltz, Jason Carthen, Jay Gary, Jeff Guichard, Dan Lawson, Brian Duhart, John Hale, Tim Rahschulte, Anita Stadler, Dan Novak, Mark Rennaker, Dee Dee Kramer, Freda Powell and Melissa McDermott. Each one of you has touched my life and my soul.

I would also like to thank Grace Baptist Church of Blue Bell for your love and support. Thank you to George, Barbara, Trish, Bob, Betty and Don, Ed and Becky, Ed and Kristin, Adam, Tim, Bob S., my small group and many others who have supported me in this crazy dream of mine. I would also like to thank all the students who allowed me into their lives and have become friends. Without the love, support and prayers of each of you, I would not have been able to complete this journey. Each of you holds a special place in my heart.

I would also like to thank my circle of friends who held me accountable, prayed for me and listened endlessly to me as I talked about my PhD. Thank you to Todd and Julie, Andy, Brant, Tony, Chris, Dan, Joe and Shawna, Alan and Sharon, and Jeff. A special thanks to my spiritual director, Dave B. Dave, your compassionate listening and attentiveness to the Spirit, was invaluable to my completing this program.

I would like to thank my family, Lois, Sandy, Jim and Billy, and Mike and Jan. Thank you for believing in me when I was younger. Finally, I would also like to thank Dena’s parents, Clyde and Joyce. You have been a constant encouragement from listening to my endless PhD talk, to watching your grandchildren so I could study a little bit longer. Your support of our marriage and ever willingness to watch your grandchildren allows our marriage to flourish. Thank you for making me feel like another son.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
Eph. 3:20 (NLT)

Correction - I spent 244 hours (14,626 minutes) on my dissertation, not 300. I added wrong. :)