Living with my family in the small town of Avalon, on Catalina Island, 26 miles off the coast of Southern California was supposed to be like living in paradise. For most who live there, this is no doubt, true. And in many respects for me, it was also true. But not quite.

At that time, among some 1500 or so souls who lived there year 'round, I was probably the only one who felt like I had nothing to do, and that my life was being wasted.

My publisher, Tyndale House, visited me in my office and offered me a contract to write another book for them. I agreed to do so and did it. But the book did not satisfy my need to contribute to the world in which I lived.

On the mainland, I had been a pastor for some nine years, counting the time in Southern California and Indiana, and served on the staff of several churches. But on the Island, apart from counseling a few souls, I had nothing toward which to put my foot on the accelerator -- literally as well as figuratively. Only a handful of people owned a car on the Island.

Sitting on the hill above Avalon, fondly referred to as Mt. Ada by the locals, was a beautiful mansion built and owned by chewing-gum magnate, William M. Wrigley. Story was that he had four of them, each identical to the other. Problem was, this one on Catalina had sat empty for the past 40 years.

So here you had two things: A wasting life (my perception of my own), and a wasting gorgeous mansion, both of us rotting where we stood.

Enter the old Roman Catholic theologian, Martin Luther himself. October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. This began a religious movement impacting the whole of Christianity, which came to be known as Prostestantism.

What does this have to do with me and Catalina Island?

Well, on October 31, 1977 (460 years later), I stepped out of my house and glanced upward to my right. There sat the mansion. This was an everyday occurence for anyone who lived in Avalon. The thing was obtrusively conspicuous. Impossible not to see.

Somehow, the mansion and Luther's 95 theses connected in my strange mind. I had for years wanted to help kids entering college to discover who they are and the gifts they possessed as an individual. An idea entered my mind: Thesis 96!

I believe in the core of my soul and intelligence that every single person on this earth has rationale which justifies their existence -- just as singular and unique as one's fingerprint, eye retina or DNA. Call it a purpose, a calling, a raison d'etre, whatever.

Whatever it may be, it is their responsibility alone to do or become. It is their own "thesis," a "Thesis 96" if you will. Like Luther's 95, an individual's Thesis 96 is meant by God to impact the world for the reason He had in creating them, and giving them life on earth and in eternity.

As I looked that day at the mansion, I thought, "Why let that thing sit empty for another forty years or whatever? Why not use it to help kids find their purpose in life. At the very least they would gain the knowledge to determine their majors in college."

After mulling this over in my mind for a while -- not sure how long, I decided to find out how available the mansion might be for such a purpose. I made an appointment with the president of the Santa Catalina Island Company and explained my concept to him.

He thought it had merit, but the decision to proceed was not his. That decision belonged to the Wrigley Foundation in the Wrigley building in Chicago. He asked me to put together a proposal which he would forward to the decision makers there.

I did.

Months went by as I waited for a response.

Finally, one came. The board at the Wrigley company liked the proposal and was favorably considering it.

I was ecstatic.

In the course of waiting for the consequence of their consideration, the current heir to the Wrigley estate passed away. I was advised that all of the assets of the Wrigley company went into probate. No decision would be forthcoming until the lawyers and the courts were done their probating. This took years -- after which I was informed that the mansion was donated to the University of Southern California.

I was back to "square one."

But not for long . . .

Long before Rick Warren published his popular book, The Purpose Filled Life, I began to teach at every venue to which I was invited, that God had an individual, unique purpose for every individual, every unique person. And Luther's 95 Theses was just the jumping-off point, the diving board for the rest of us. The name, Thesis 96 was a natural. It fit like nothing else I could think of.

It was so strong that it re-shaped my "calling" from God. I had a friend once, a highly-trained friend who graduated from one of the best theological institutions in the country who declared to me that he did not believe in a "calling." To this day, I am cluless as to where he was coming from.

The apostolic writers literally bristle their messages with the calling of God for his people. Here is only one of many passages . . .

"God . . . who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity." -- 2 Timothy 1:9

Graduating from an outstanding seminary does not necessarily a theologian make. But don't worry, not all Bible students come away with the same ideas. This dear friend remained so indefinitely. Keep in mind our Lord's instructions to Peter regarding John, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"

So the scratchings you find on this website stem from carefully measured thoughts, shaped and massaged by decades if study and practice. It is my sincere prayer that they become effective tools designed to lift the spirits of my readers, and produce rich experiences with God.

Have at it!