Author: Steve Warner
Located in: Montrose, CO
Submitted: March 31, 2013
Tell us a little about yourself. Springing from Midwestern blue-collar roots, I (Steve) am a licensed professional counselor with more than 25 years of experience. I am an internationally-read blogger and article writer and hold graduate degrees in counseling, biblical studies, and biblical counseling. In addition to my private practice, I work as a professional counselor at a large local church. I have been happily married to Mary since 1980. We now reside in western Colorado, where we serve together on a worship arts team. My interests also include fiddling, photography, social media and fly fishing.
What was your motivation behind this project? After 25 years as a successful Christian counselor, I felt the persistent nudge of God to write down some of my hard earned lessons, especially those that have an impact on people's intimacy with God and with one another. Blog and article readers kept asking when I would compile some of my insights into a book. I prayed, doors opened, and here we are!
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? The 40 chapters in this book are brief and make one point that will be helpful to readers on their own roads to intimacy with God and one another. There are questions for reflection or meditation, suggested prayers to get them going, and one "milestone" or decision they can make to help them apply the biblical truths to their lives.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? The editing work was quite tedious, and there were times it became too much about the process. Periodically, the Holy Spirit gave me a glimpse of the impact these words would have on others, and tears began to flow. It was definitely a work of love--God's love!
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? I love the works of Francis Chan, Max Lucado and John Ortberg to name a few. The book is firmly rooted in scripture, and I have had some great teachers along the way. My alma mater's include Dallas Theoligical Seminary.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: Before I took the leap to publish, I made a decision that success is defined by doing what I believe to be the will of God. Anything else is gravy. I hope and pray that lives are touched for now and for eternity by the inspirations of "Milestones."
