I'm your stereotypical product of the modern day gospel... a false convert, thorny ground hearer (Mt.13) at the age of 11. This modern day gospel says "Jesus will give you joy, peace, happiness and fill the God shaped hole in your heart, and God has a wonderful plan for your life. Just accept Jesus into your heart." The problem is that people respond experimentally to see if Jesus is better than beer, better than sex, better than the world, better than this and that, and they don't come with a repentant, contrite heart. They just come experimentally, and so when Jesus doesn't prove to be better than all these things and the temptations of the world pull them back to where their heart is anyway, they say, "well it didn't work and I just went through all that for nothing... trials, temptations, tribulation, persecutions... it's all fake." It's a gospel that doesn't present the fear of God and that's what the fruit reaps. Their latter end becomes worse than the first. They are what we commonly call "backsliders" when in reality, they never slid forward in the first place.

Several years ago I saw Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort witnessing to people on the streets and heard the true gospel for the first time, and by looking into the mirror of God’s law, the Ten Commandments, I saw myself as I truly was... the way God saw me, and realized that I was still in my sins and headed for hell. I never realized I was a false convert, because I compared myself to everyone else around me and thought I was a good person. Scripture tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Co. 13:5.) And upon doing so, I found that the Bible says no one is good (Jer. 17:9, Ps. 14:1, Rom. 3:12), that we have all broken God's law and that we are guilty and deserving of hell, but anyone who repents and puts their trust in Christ to save them, will be saved (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3, Acts 20:21).

I am continually amazed as to why God in His own sovereign will would choose to have mercy on me, adopting me as His own rather than lifting His hand of common grace and restraint from my heart allowing it to harden and continue hating His very existence. If Paul was the "chief" of sinners, then what am I? I praise Him for such loving-kindness. However, even if He were to save no one, giving us what we all deserve, pouring out His cup of holy wrath and justice, casting us into the lake of fire, we should praise Him nonetheless... for He is worthy! Everyone will glorify God. You will either glorify God in hell as the smoke of your torment rises before the throne of the Lamb forever and ever, or you will glorify God in heaven because He has forgiven you.

The Doctrines of Grace continue to reveal to me the depths of my sin and the greatness of our God. As God continues to reveal the sin in my life, I am more and more amazed at His grace, knowing that His grace is greater than my darkest sins. As He increases, I decrease... and that is a comforting truth.

The Doctrines of Grace have also given me a greater desire for lost souls by fueling the flame of evangelism... not as a means to earn His favor, but out of gratitude for His kindness towards me. How can we not tell others about a God whom they've offended and angered by transgressing His law, that His wrath abides upon them and that they deserve nothing but His swift justice which could come upon them at any moment, but that this same God is long-suffering and offers them a full pardon if they would repent and trust in Christ who died in the place of those who would believe so that they might live? "Amazing love how can it be, that you my God would die for me?"

This may be both the toughest and easiest of all spiritual disciplines. Easy because God's word is so readily available and as new creatures we have an ever growing desire to be in His word so that we may know Him and to pray so that we may spend time with Him. Tough because we are far too easily distracted by the cares of this world. I have to agree with D.L. Moody when he stated, "The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible." Ray Comfort has often said, "No read…No feed. No Bible… No breakfast." It is more important to be fed spiritually than to be fed physically, for "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." (Mt. 4:4.) This is a truth that has really helped me persevere during the dry seasons. Why would we not feed on the Word of God daily, to meditate on the word day and night, to hide the Word in our heart that we may not sin against God (Ps. 119:11), to not just spend a set amount of time during the day and/or night in prayer, but to be in continual prayer and communion with the One who sustains... to pray without ceasing? (1 Thes. 5:17.) I struggle greatly with the latter, but even though I fail miserably (knowing that even our most God honoring prayers have enough sin to condemn us), I repent and press on (Phil 3:14.)

I am currently using a modified version of Grant Horner's Bible Reading System (1 chapter from 10 different books each day). It's a very rich and balanced system allowing you to see the harmony of God’s word in all genres, by different authors, throughout history.

I’m also slowing working my way through Ephesians, reading through Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, Tim Keller’s Ministries of Mercy, as well as a selection of CCEF biblical counseling booklets by David Powlison, Paul Tripp and Ed Welch.

There was once a man named Jonadab also called Jehonadab. He was the son of Rechab (not to be confused with Jehonadab the son of Shimeah). We see Jonadab, son of Rechab in the book of Jeremiah chapter 35. Though the Israelites would not obey God, Jonadab’s children obeyed him, so much so that God made the following promise to Jonadab: 'Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever."'" – Jeremiah 35:18-19

I hope to one day be a father as he... to raise up a generation in the discipline and instruction of the Lord to the glory of God.

I am learning to be more and more content with trusting in God’s providence. Why? because He is trustworthy. Besides, who am I to sit on the throne and judge God for His actions? (Rom. 9:20) And even if I could, would I really want to? Knowing what’s in my heart and seeing throughout history that the old adage of “absolute power corrupts absolutely” is true, I can’t imagine how miserable my life would be if I were in control of it. It’s a great comfort to know that God works all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11), for the good of His children (Rom. 8:28), and that His will is good, pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:2). How can we not be content with such truth that comes from a faithful God? I don't know either. :) May God help our unbelief.

With that said, I am content with the process of becoming a man and studying to show myself approved before God and one day a wife and children as a biblical husband and father, and also with God's timing during this process. I believe he’s called me to lay down my life for one of His daughters by being her spiritual leader, protector and provider, and I burn with a great passion to do so.

One of my greatest passions is to seek and save the lost, especially false converts, because I too was once a thorny ground hearer, a bad tree, a bad fish, a goat, a tare, a man building his house on the sand, etc. The Bible gives us four qualities needed to evangelize: ineloquence of speech, weakness, fear and much trembling. Do you qualify? :) I've had the privilege of going out with our weekly door-to-door evangelism teams the past 2 years, leading a team this past year and now heading up our evangelism efforts at my church. It has been and still is humbling, challenging and rewarding.

1. God's sovereignty, holiness, righteousness and justice

2. God's grace and mercy - Jesus sacrificing himself as an atonement for our sins, paying our fine in God’s courtroom of justice (God imputing every sin of all believers upon Christ and He imputing his righteousness upon all believers) so that we may be forgiven and have eternal life. Isn’t it amazing that God would create beings such as us to demonstrate His mercy and grace?

3. The Holy Spirit that dwells within those who are trusting in Jesus Christ.

To put it simply, I'm looking for a woman of virtue as expressed by her character in all situations. She would be a woman who desires the things of God more than the things of this world, who possesses qualities and characteristics as mentioned in Pr. 31, Ti. 2, 1 Pe. 3, Mt. 5:3-11 and Gal 5:22, who honors her mother and father. In other words, all the things God has called her to be… the type of woman who would make an excellent wife and mother.

O.k., so maybe that’s not so simple. :) But by God’s grace she will be striving toward these qualities, putting off the old self and putting on the new, as Christ conforms her into His image.

I am blessed to be a part of a church with godly leadership. My pastors in particular are men of honor and integrity, men who exemplify Christ in all areas of their lives, men who are exemplary husbands and fathers, men who are excellent teachers, men who give wise counsel and have taken the time to mentor me, disciple me, men who are not just my pastors but my friends and my brothers. God has used them and is continuing to use them as instruments to mold and shape me, and I am eternally grateful for them.

Other influential people in my life who have shaped and are continuing to conform my worldview into a biblical one, are those that I know in spirit only. In no particular order: Ray Comfort, Paul Washer, Todd Friel, Spurgeon, R.C. Sproul, Voddie Baucham, Paul Tripp, James White, John MacArthur, John Piper, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, John Owen... most people named John. :)

"All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore" – Psalm 86:9-12

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies" - Psalms 103:1-4

This excerpt is taking from the book – "Marriage to a Difficult Man: The Uncommon Union of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards" George Whitefield’s comments of Sarah:"'A sweeter Couple I have not yet seen... She... talked feelingly and solidly of the Things of God, and seemed to be such a Help meet for her Husband that she caused me to... [pray] God, that he would be pleased to send me a Daughter of Abraham to be my wife.' This was an astonishing observation from Whitefield, a bachelor so prissy that someone had remarked, 'He did not think he should die easy if he thought his gloves were out of place.' But after his exposure to Sarah Edwards, Whitefield went out wife-hunting for himself."

Jonathan Edwards' last words on his deathbed were not about heaven or hell, or about books or theories. He spoke of Sarah: "Give my kindest love to my dear wife, and tell her that the uncommon union which has so long subsisted between us has been of such a nature as I trust is spiritual and therefore will continue forever."

"Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." – Matthew 23:12

"Those who think too much of themselves, don’t think enough." - Amy Carmichael

"It is a spiritual drunkenness; it flies up to the brain like wine and intoxicates it. It is idolatry; a proud man is a self-worshiper." - Thomas Watson

"Have you no desire for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that." - Charles H. Spurgeon

I am a web developer / business analyst and have been so for the past 6 years. God graciously provided my current job, and I seek to honor Him by working to the best of my ability.

1. Proclaiming the gospel. 2. Serving the church 3. Honoring God by being a good steward and faithful servant as a husband and father.

Though I enjoy activities such as basketball, volleyball, swimming, good movies (hard to find these days), video production and editing, my guitar, and so many other things, I find myself, more and more, putting away the things of my youth and focusing on serving the church, reading/watching/listening to godly pastors/evangelists/teachers/authors and enjoying the company of other believers.

I was born in Alabama and have lived in this state my entire life. During my college years I spent my summers in Canada, California, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans respectively (and respectably :) ) as a summer missionary. I've also been to Mexico and most recently to Central Asia on a vision trip as our church is seeking to partner with workers in hard places for the the sake of the gospel. I hope to return again this year as we move forward with implementing strategies to promote the current efforts in these dark places.

I’m the oldest of 3 children, the youngest of 3 children, and an only child… but I’m not a middle child. :) So, when it comes to my siblings, I have the privilege of wearing many hats.