One-Line Bio
presence in hard places & honest spiritual formation
Biography
My lanky 6 foot 6 inch stature explains the "tall" but why "Monastic"?
Because I think our culture calls for a different rhythm to life in which we can be extra attentive to the voice of God along with the voice of our culture. At the time Franciscan and Dominican Orders were being established, the church was in a similar syncretistic, stagnant, stalled, distracted place. In the past few years I've been inspired by modern day monastic-like thinkers such as Shane Claiborne who are rethinking the posture and practices of the church in present day culture, seeking to be like Jesus through honest confrontation of injustices, helping the poor and hungry, and doing it all together within Christ centered community.
I'm an Indiana native and will always be a Hoosier at heart. For much of the first quarter of life so much of my joy came from throwing a leather ball into an iron hoop. The smell of popcorn, the sound of basketballs bouncing and a pep band playing in a small gymnasium will always spark good memories for me.
My wife, Angie, and I came out to Denver so that I could could pursue a Master in Divinity degree of which I graduated in December 06. We also wanted to experience the Rocky Mountain landscape for a few years and in the process I've fallen in love with hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, and the art, culture and people of the state of Colorado.
God has had me on quite a theological and ecclesialogical ride that's been a little like rafting the rapids of Colorado rivers--unpredictable and risky yet thrilling and beautiful.
After hanging with and serving a local missional community called Adullam for the past 4 years I've recently switched gears a bit to begin intentionally engaging the poor in urban Denver. I seek to be an incarnational presence within our immediate neighborhood by participating in the local Middle School as a basketball coach and mentor to refugee students. I also serve as staff at Network Ministries which engages the street community of Capitol Hill Denver through a ministry of presence and serving coffee. It's been increasingly impressed upon me that grace pools up in some of the lowest places and that the Gospel is "Good News" only when it is good news to the poor.
Aside from my Denver friends God has connected me to other sojourners in recent years who have helped me grow up and have kept me propped up when I've been in the valley.
In these musings of life, disciple making, friendship, and an ever transforming ecclesiology I hope you find hope, joy, commonality, and reasons to smile or cry or laugh to the glory of our God.
DISCLAIMER! The views and opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone. They don't represent ministries I'm associated with, my wife, or anybody else, so... If you have issues with anything posted here please gently take them up with ME. Thanks.
