Today I am going personal. Since I began this blog on August 16, 2005, I have avoided writing on personal issues. Today, I have broken that commitment because I believe that I must give “honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:7).

It is true that behind every successful man there is a woman kicking him in the pants in order to help him get ahead. I have one of those women in my life and I have the prints on my pants to prove it.

Today, however, I want to say that my blog owes much of its success to the work of my son, a work that is done mostly in the background. Several days ago, a reader asked me who J. R. Mariottini, my team member, was. J. R. is my son and J. R. stands for Claude Mariottini, Jr.

J. R. works for a company that provides support work for companies using Oracle. Because of his knowledge of computers and software, J. R. has designed and maintained the web page since its inception. In fact, it was my son who encouraged me to begin a web page and to blog on a regular basis.

In addition, JR has given me ideas for blogs and suggested topics for me to research and write. More than anyone else, JR has promoted the success of my blog. As a result of his work, thousands of people visit both the web page and the blog regularly. Many pastors, churches, seminary students, and lay people have linked my blog to their blogs. The comments and emails from readers in the USA and other countries attest to the success and popularity of my blog. I owe a debt of gratitude to my son for his help.

J. R. is a blogger himself. His blog, www.bolivargrads.com keeps track of students who graduated from Bolivar High School in Bolivar, Missouri from 1985-1991. So popular has his blog become, that the local Bolivar newspaper wrote a long article on J. R.’s blog.

J. R. and his wife Kristen have two beautiful daughters, Payton (the oldest) and Macy (the youngest). It is wonderful having grandchildren.

I call J. R., “meu filho,” Portuguese for “my son.” So, to meu filho, a wonderful son, I say: “Thank you for your work and support.”

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

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