I was raised in a Baptist church. I first became aware of my lost condition at the age of six, when I prayed to receive Christ.
My adult Christian walk is the continual process of being humbled by the Lord, and learning to love Him for His mercy. My wife was diagnosed with M.S. two years into our marriage, and in a few years she was unable to walk. We were never able to have children. Her condition progressed until she lost all voluntary movement below her chin. She even had trouble breathing and speaking. Then she got ovarian cancer, and died about 4 years later, after 26 years of marriage.
Very long story short: The Lord used her sickness to expose my idolatrous heart. I wanted things to be different for me, and I was angry at God. It took me about 12 years to finally give up and humble myself before Him; to recognize that He is God, and I am just a sinner saved by His rich grace and mercy.
So the past 12 years have been a gradual process of learning to cherish what He gave to us - not what we would ever have chosen, but instead being granted an amazing opportunity to bring Him glory, through simply clinging to Him, by faith.
At this point in my life, all I want to do is to please Him and serve Him - through life or death, through health or sickness, through marriage or singleness, through children or childlessness.
Did I mention being humbled? :)
Why He chose me to be a vessel of His mercy, I will never understand. All I can do now is worship Him, with my life.
I begin every morning with Bible reading and prayer. I am currently using Don Carson's devotional "For The Love Of God", which uses the M'Cheyne chart of daily Bible readings.
Other than Jesus? :)
Probably either Daniel, or Joseph. Daniel for his courage, Joseph for his faith, humility and forgiving heart. These are qualities that I want more of!
I have learned to be content in whatever state I am. But since my wife died, I have been seeking the Lord's direction concerning remarriage, or not. I don't know what He has for me ... but I know that I'm lonely, I believe that I need a helpmate in ministry, and I really think that my church would benefit from once again having a pastor's wife.
If the Lord were to bless me with a wife, I believe I need someone who is warm, engaging, and transparent. Someone who is gifted at making others feel cared about ... loved.
Generous
Caring
Intelligent
Faithful
Serving the Lord Jesus Christ in whatever way He might call me. Currently that means pastoring a small Bay Area F.I.R.E. church: preaching, leading Bible studies, discipling youth, and true biblical counseling (NANC/CCEF style). Our church's doctrine is Reformed, covenantal, and baptistic. Website: crechurch.com
I am very passionate about helping my beloved brethren to worship, honor, obey, please, and love our sovereign Lord. One of the ways I am privileged to do this is through personal counseling. (One of the reasons I believe I need a helpmate is to assist in the counseling of women and couples.) Also, it is our desire to open a biblical counseling center, as an outreach to the community.
1. Christ bearing my sins on the cross
2. Christ's righteousness credited to my account
3. His faithfulness and forbearance towards me
I appreciate humility. I appreciate humor! I appreciate faithfulness. I appreciate hard and conscientious work. I appreciate energy and enthusiasm. I appreciate emotional stability. I appreciate quietness and confidence. I really appreciate a deep love for the Lord.
My deceased wife, Karen. Over the years, she and the Lord together knocked a lot of rough corners off my personality and my character (sin!). I owe so much to her, that I can never repay. I am who I am, by the grace of both God, and my wife.
I am widowed, since September 1, 2007.
I learned to cherish my wife. I learned to focus not on what she was unable to do, but on her incredible gifts: the ability to make others feel loved and cared for, the ability to challenge others to live for Christ, the ability find humor in the midst of extreme suffering.
I used to think that her illness was a hindrance to “my” ministry. I now know that her weakness was used by God to demonstrate His strength!
So very very many ...
Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire): "God made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure."
A fellow runner, quoting 1 Samuel 2:30: "...he who honors Me, I will honor..."
Helmsman, pushing the ship's engines, racing to assist their comrades: "It'll shake apart!"
Captain Sulu: "Shake it apart, then!"
(yes, that's Star Trek!)
Prayer of William Wallace (Braveheart): "I am so afraid. Give me the strength to die well."
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3)
Rock of Ages, Augustus Toplady:
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
The end of a John Newton hymn,
These Inward Trials:
'Lord, why is this?' I trembling cried,
'Wilt thou pursue Thy worm to death?'
'‘Tis in this way,' the Lord replied,
'I answer prayer for grace and faith.
These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st seek thy all in me.'
For 12 years I was a hard-hat construction worker, an electrician. It was challenging work, and a challenging work environment, but I enjoyed walking away at the end of the day, knowing that I had built something.
For the past 7 years I have been a pastor. It's exhausting at times, but I love how I can still feel that the Lord has built His Kingdom in the hearts of His people, just a little, through me. It never ceases to amaze me that He can use me in this way, but it's such a joy when He does.
To please my heavenly Father. To hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
I love the beach, the woods, a quiet lake, the outdoors generally. Taking a drive, seeing places and landscapes for the first time. I live one mile from a watershed area, with miles of hiking trails.
If I have both time and mental focus, I'll read.
Late at night I'll turn on the TV to unwind, but I'm very selective about what I watch. Often it's sports; I am a baseball fan. Or, sci fi movies, heroic action movies, romantic comedies.
I was born in Pasadena, CA. I have lived in Sacramento, Portland, and the East Bay.
I've traveled all over North America, including about half the states, but have never crossed an ocean. I'd like to.
My dad and mom are older now, but in reasonably good health, and are both believers. My mom is especially energetic, and has a thriving ministry to widows and widowers in her church. My only sibling is my sister, two years older. We've never been super close, but we love each other.
I really can't relocate until the Lord calls me to another ministry. So at this time, I don't see how I could possibly leave my church. But in the sovereignty of God, things could change.
Running
I'm 51, but honestly, a very young 51 - no one believes me when I tell them my age. I'm very fit, I run and exercise regularly, and have no known health problems. Obviously, the Lord can do whatever He pleases with my life and health, but my parents, my mom in particular, gave me great DNA.
Concerning possibly starting a family at age 51 ... I am not sure. I am simply trusting the Lord, to either bless me with children, or to bless me without them.
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