Not Church
West Sacramento, California 95691
7146128051

• Education: BA, Psychology, CSU Sacramento MDiv, Fuller Theological Seminary
• Experience: * Volunteer Jr Hi, Sr. Hi and College, FPC Roseville, CA * Volunteer, Westminster Woods, Occidental, CA * 89-90, Lead Counselor at Westminster Woods * 98+ Deacon, FPC Roseville (convalescent) * 01-02 High School Intern, Cornerstone UMC, Rocklin, CA * 02 Intern with Adult Ministries at FPC Roseville * 03 Intern with Adult Ministries at La Habra Hills PC, La Habra Hills, CA * 04-07 Solo Pastor, Clifton Heights PC, Des Moines, IA * 07 - Present, Solo Pastor, Bethany Church, Loves Park, IL
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: I try to make my sermons relevant to our daily lives. I try to inspire and teach. All in that order. People say they like my jokes though I often don’t intentionally add one. So I guess I’m funny at times when I don’t even know it! I shy away from topical sermons (not series). I want to learn what God is saying from the written Word. I don’t pick a topic and find scripture to match. I often look up words in a Hebrew/Greek lexicon and I always refer to commentaries.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: Sermon about fictitious character named Riley as part of a stewardship sermon. Told from the first person of a different character from Scripture. Very powerful for me. Still remember as a child, my pastor talking about God coming down as a light during his covenant with Abraham. Really personalized God for me and opened up the New Testament to me!
• One of my favorite illustrations: The first Spiderman movie. Peter Parker is discovering his gifts and there is a great clip of him learning to shoot his web and sling himself from one building to another. Comical and very symbolic of us often learning how to use the spiritual gifts God has given us.
• Family: I have a wife. We currently have no children. I have two sisters, one older and one younger. My wife has a younger sister. My older sister has two teenage sons and my wife’s sister has two girls under 6 years. Currently, my wife is trying to talk me into a cat and I’m thinking about a dog... but we just put in new hardwood floors!
• What my parents think of my sermons: I don’t know. I live out of state from them. They don’t hear them often. When they do they seem to like them.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: They challenge her thinking sometimes. They make her think. She thinks I am a good preacher.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: Write your theme/focus statement on the bottom of each page of your outline/manuscript. Everything on that page must tie into the theme/focus statement.
• Books that have had an impact: CS Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia (Entire series but really enjoyed The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) The Once and Future Church Not Your Parents Offering Plate (A must read) Lessons from the Carpenter (Best devotional book ever... at least for me. :) )
• Hobbies: Running (Big in high school and college, less so now.) Home Improvement Old Time Radio (Jack Benny my favorite) Wood Working
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: God is looking for you. Stand up and say, here I am!
• Something funny that happened while preaching: Instead of saying, "Everyone has the right to BE in the family of God" I boldly said, "Everyone has the right to PEE...." I immediately started laughing and couldn’t stop for about 30 seconds.
• What I want on my tombstone: Do Not Disturb