Correctional Chaplaincy
Fort Worth, Texas 76127

• Education: BA Southeastern Oklahoma State University '93 MDiv Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary '97 DMin Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary '10
• Experience: I pastored for ten years, was an active duty Army chaplain for three years, and have been a federal prison chaplain ever since.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: I hope that my scribblings may inspire you towards the great good work that our Lord wants to do through you.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: I once did a series using the songs of my childhood (mostly Country and Western) as the backdrop/setup for the texts; it was very well recieved.
• One of my favorite illustrations: In 1944, during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, US Gen. Anthony McAuliffe rejected a German demand for surrender by writing “Nuts!” in his reply. The besieged town of Bastogne subsequently was held by his 101st Airborne unit. --Stand firm!!
• Family: I am the husband of a wonderful woman and father of seven children (three by birth and four by choice).
• What my parents think of my sermons: My parents love me too much to ever let me know! ...You can take that several different ways!!
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: See above.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: "Tell the story." -Calvin Miller at SWBTS.
• Books that have had an impact: "The Meaning of Jesus: Two Perspectives" by NT Wright and Marcus Borg "The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century" by George Friedman "A Generous Orthodoxy" by Brian McLaren "Adventures in Missing the Point" by Brian McLaren and Tony Campolo "Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis "Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett
• Hobbies: I am married with seven children. What is a hobby?
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Love one another.
• Something funny that happened while preaching: I stepped out from behind the pulpit once and discovered, by the look on the congregants' faces, that my shirttail was peeking through my zipper... I also once invited a new church member to "share what you've done today" who, instead of saying that she had prayed to recieve Christ, proceeded to start listing her sins. (I've since worked to prevent both issues from recurring.)
• What I want on my tombstone: Pepperoni and mushrooms...We are talking about pizza aren't we??