About Me

That's me, hamming it up with a cup of coffee, overlooking Huntington Lake in the Sierra's on a trip with Mary Ann.
For more pictures, you can go to the "Pictures" page on this blog.

Hi!
Welcome to my blog. I am glad you are visiting. I pray that God will bless you through your time here, and that you may be a blessing to me as well through comments or thoughts you may choose to share.
   I am a follower of Jesus. Sometimes I don't do it very well, but I try. I thank God for His grace and new mercy that He showers on His children. I sure need it!
   I am a former mocker of God as well as a former officer in the U. S. Army (the two have nothing to do with each other), and a current husband of an amazing wife, a father of two amazing daughters, a son to two amazing parents, a friend to some amazing people, and a pastor as well as youth leader to an amazing fellowship, a volunteer fire-fighter since 1997, and a chaplain to our fire department and people we help since 2000. I have not been to seminary, but I am confident of God's call on my life at this time.
   I do not believe in a defensive church that "gets saved" and then hunkers down trying to hold on and not mess up to badly until Jesus comes or we go to heaven. I believe in an aggressive church in which we, as the body of Christ, move in His name and authority, showing His love and image and power to the world. I believe we are in a war, a clash of two kingdoms, a battle between light and dark. I believe it is the devil who enslaves and steals, and Jesus who sets free and restores.I am sick of seeing lives destroyed, people without hope, and the enemy pillaging at will. I think it is high time the body of Christ started standing like David and kicking back!
   I believe that worship and praise are two of the most important things a Christian can engage in, but I struggle to engage in them fully. I love talking about God—especially over a good cup of coffee with some good, like-minded friends—but I believe that the end of it all is not good discussion, but growing closer to Him and to truth so that we can go out and do the stuff He has called us to do.
   2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." I believe that statement includes the New Testament, not just the Old. I believe the Bible is true, that Genesis is a literal account of Creation, and that it does matter tremendously what we believe about Genesis. I believe the Timothy verses make it clear the end of it all is not just knowledge about God, but a knowledge that leads to a maturity that leads to doing God's work, and loving and knowing Jesus, the Living Word, above all else. I believe that it is easy to replace Jesus with things about Jesus—I have done it. I believe being involved in a local body of believers is important, that Bible study is important, that giving to God and His work is important . . . but I believe that all of those are meant to be a means to point us to Jesus, not just to replace Jesus in our lives.
   If you are interested, I have some links at the bottom of this page where you can learn more about me by viewing my profile on Blogger, or by visiting different places on the web site for True Life Christian Fellowship (the church I pastor in rural Monterey County, California). You can also contact me through a comment on this blog (just ask me not to publish it as it won't be visible until I moderate it). Send me your email in the comment and I'll get back to you.

Some Links That Will Help You Learn More About Me:

My Blogger Profile
The Church I Pastor