Growing up in Mansfield, Ohio I would have previously described my upbringing as normal. It's funny how naivety leads us to believe everyone's life is like our own. I'm not sure when I actually realized that divorce and death were not "the norm", but this was the point in time when healing began for me. As I continue to learn about myself and the events of my life I see connections to my current outlook, perspective, and, at times, insecurities. I am learning about the "lense" through which I look to perceive the world. We all have a unique lense, my healing has come from realizing just how unique these lenses can be. Of course, the largest catalyst for my healing and growth has been my relationship with Jesus Christ. This began for me in high school as a dear friend (and his family) were bold enough to first tell me about Jesus. For the first time I understood that being a Christian doesn't just happen by default. I found out that I am not automatically a Christian just because I believe there is a God and because I am not a Buddhist. I learned that by default I am a sinner; that God longs to be reunited with me; and that He is waiting for me to respond. He presented Himself to me in the form of His son, Jesus, and offered true life through the decision to walk with Jesus. Of course, I've learned since then that life is not always easy as a Christ-follower. But I've also learned that true love, depth, joy, satisfaction, dynamic friendships, passion, healing, gentleness, and devotion do come through being a Christian.

What a journey this life has been so far. Just as I would no longer classify my upbringing as "normal", I would also not give my adulthood that label. I went to college and was introduced to a new depth in friendships and my relationship with Jesus. I was also introduced to the idea of being used by God in the lives of others (in a similar way that my friend in high school was used in my life). I graduated, taught high school, completed a Master's degree, and resigned all in three years. I then leapt out in faith to raise financial support to become a full-time missionary on the college campus. In time, I was given leadership responsibilities and mentorship, and eventually I was ordained as a pastor through Great Commission Ministries.

A new leg of life's journey begins for me (and my wife and son) as we move to Northeast Ohio with a team of 21 to plant a new campus church at Kent State University. I can't say that I'm not nervous to pastor this new church. The lense I look through keeps me humble. I can say that I'm excited and that I need God (and would have it no other way). I don't fit the gifting or personality of most of the church planter's assessments out there, but my team does. I don't travel life's journeys alone. God graciously surrounds me with men and women to travel with. They pick me up when I trip and make sure that I am the same man in public as I am in private.

This site motivates me to slow down...to look around...to reflect...to write. What a shame it would be to simply push through life with our heads down only to finish without a clue of what God has done.