Welcome! Let me take a moment to introduce myself. Over the course of 40+ years and three careers, one consistent thread has run through my life: I have sought to harness the power of words to communicate the good news about The Word—Jesus Christ.
I have been a pastor, police chaplain, writer, and teacher; an Air Force radio operator; a financial advisor, retirement plan administrator, and operations manager; and a volunteer announcer for high school sports, local parades, ranch rodeos, and other community events. I live in Sonora, California, with my wife, Eiley.
Recently I have adopted a tagline of sorts: A Voice For Good. Whatever I do, wherever my paychecks come from, I want to be “a voice for good,” proclaiming the love, grace, and truth of God in the midst of a world desperately in need of all three.
(If you follow me on social media, you’ll often see me use that as a hashtag: #avoiceforgood. You’re welcome to use it, too!)
Eiley is an interior designer, house flipper, and real estate agent with a passion for serving and strengthening women; and for helping families dwell well by creating livable, healthy home spaces.
Megan, Molly, Morgan (2017)
Eiley and I have three adult kids: our son, Morgan, and daughters Molly and Megan. All three are artists in their own unique ways—graphic design, photography, hand-drawn art—and all three serve others through their gifts and passions. (And all three, for a long time, earned their keep through coffee shops; now I have to buy my own!)
You may notice a logo of sorts—the letters re: in a circle, superimposed over an antique typewriter. The two letters are not only my initials; they also convey the idea of something that happens again, as in second chances; or to identify a subject or topic, as in re: grace—about grace. The circle represents wholeness, which comes only as we experience and accept the grace of God. The typewriter represents the words I use to bring good. God has gifted me countless second chances to experience grace, and I hope you’ll know the same!
An early move – 1971
Lake Langano, Ethiopia – 2008
I’ve been around a lot, both geographically and professionally: A pastor for nine years, financial services for fifteen and counting, seven years in the U.S. Air Force and California Air National Guard. I’ve been a mailman, pipe organ builder, groundskeeper, dishwasher, busboy, cab driver, oil tank cleaner and assembler, secretary, photo processor, and mailroom clerk. I’ve had the privilege of living in Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, British Columbia, Germany, Washington, England, Colorado, Oregon, and California; and have traveled in Mexico, South Korea, Ethiopia, Liberia, and throughout western Europe. It’s been a life filled with adventure, privilege, and challenges. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
For a more personal look at my background, the events and influences that have shaped me, and who I am today, I invite you to take a few minutes to watch this video, created by my parents in 2014 as I was transitioning from Associate Pastor to Lead Pastor.