Church of God Seventh Day
Meridian, Idaho 83706
(208) 888-1921

• Education: I am still in the process of learning (aren’t we all). I am currently pursuing both a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Near Eastern Studies and a Masters in Divinity.
• Experience: This is my first pastorate, and I have been here for just under one year.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: I hope you sift something useful from them. All sermons aren’t for all people, but I think there is something to be learned in them all.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: I think most of them have ministered to me before I even spoke a word of it to the congregation. The messages where I get an Aha! as I am working on them seem to make the most difference to me.
• One of my favorite illustrations: Revenge: When someone does something wrong, what they do is jump off a cliff. In taking revenge, all you do is jump off of the cliff after them so you can get a better view of their impact and maybe kick them down a little faster. You may get that, but your going to hit, too. I was told that by a minister when I was younger and I was angry about something. Ever since then, I always asked myself "Do I want to jump off the cliff?" No.
• Family: I am a husband and a father of three wonderful boys, Andrew, Brendan, and Caleb. They range from age 8 to 1. My family is of the utmost importance to me, and I thank the Lord for His blessings, and an opportunity to raise His children, at home, and in ministry.
• What my parents think of my sermons: They enjoy them. My mother and I have some different theological beliefs, but she still enjoys the messages she sees.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: Some times, I know she wishes they were shorter. She has our boys during the message and the young ones have a bit more energy than she would like. I am sure she would prefer them sedated. If they just listened to the sermon, I am sure they’d have no problem sleeping. (ha)
• Best advice given to me about preaching: To truly love and care about those you are preaching to.
• Books that have had an impact: There are a number of wonderful books that have made an impact on me. First by far, of course, would have to be the Bible. Looking outside of that, I have enjoyed "Pastoring the Smaller Church," and "The Lion Never Sleeps." A book I really have enjoyed, and one I would encourage others to read is "What Would Jesus Do?" by Garret Sheldon. It is based on the book "In His Steps." Most of us have seen the WWJD t-shirts, bracelets, and the like- but the book is a must read in my mind.
• Hobbies: I enjoy flying (I am working towards a VFR Private Pilots License), but most of all, I want to spend time with my wife and kids. Kids are great! You get to do all of the fun things you did when you were a kid all over again. Playing with toys, coloring, finger painting, rolling around in the grass. My wife makes peanut butter play-dough that’s edible. My mother used to do that when I was young/
• Something funny that happened while preaching: I was preaching on the simplicity of the Bible. I was standing to the left of the pulpit by about ten feet. In the middle of a sentence, while passing the Bible from one hand to another, I dropped it. It was embarrasing and I apologized to both the Lord and my congregation, but watching the video now is amusing.
• What I want on my tombstone: Unworthy, but Saved Anyway

• Gen. Conference of the Church of God 7th Day