I believe exactly and completely God's promise found in Proverbs 22:6, "Train children how to live right, and when they are old, they will not change."

Last night Terrie and I watched our oldest, Benji walk across the stage at Azusa Pacific University to receive is BA in Cinema. We were not only proud of Benji's accomplishment (he paid is own way through almost five years of college), but are proud of his maturity and attitude toward life.

As I sat there I kept thinking about all the Sunday mornings at Starbucks on the way to church when Benji was five or six - the hours he spent sitting in a church pew waiting for his Mom and Dad to finish some "church thing" - and the evening we sat in front of a Napa, CA video store and he bowed his head and prayed, "Jesus, come into my heart..."

Benji has not grown into a "Mini Me" version of his Dad. Benj is definitely has a mind and worldview that is his, but he loves Jesus Christ and, even with his cocky attitude and seriousness far beyond his age...

Benji has (OK, ...is...) growing into a great Christ follower. We must have done something right!

Congratulations, Benjamin Paul Newell.