Family: I am a truly blessed man! My wife Jessica and I have been married now for almost 8 years and we have been together more than ten years. It is the honor of my life to share this life with her. “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain” proverbs 31:10-11. Jess and I have three beautiful baby girls who are the love of our lives. It is such a privilege to be a daddy; I would not trade it for all the riches in the world! Kylee is our shy sweetheart. She is our oldest daughter, and she is six years old. Tatum is our crazy three year old with more personality than she can handle. Zoe is our baby, she will be two years old soon and is the funniest kid I know.
Greatest influences: It is a great thing to have someone to speak truth into your life, and I have been fortunate to have a few of those people. Some of them I know personally and love...some of them I have never met, but their teachings have helped me get through some pretty rough times. First of all, without Jesus Christ in my life, I am nothing! Jesus transformed a sinner like me into something useful for building up His kingdom, and for that I am eternally grateful. As a young child, I had grandparents who surrounded me with love when no one else would, teaching me most of what I know of the love of Christ: Nana & Pops and Noonie & Deedad...thank you! When I was in college, I was floundering and ready to walk away from Christianity. I cannot name all of my friends that poured themselves out for me even when I was unlovely and unworthy, it would be pages long, but to all of you, I love and thank God for you. I have learned so much from God's Word from some great teachers, preachers and authors: Kurt Hannah (Missio Dei Church), Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church), Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, Chan Kilgore (Crosspointe Church) and too many more to be named.
I would also like to thank Pastor Tom Brown and Pastor Ted Baker and all of the people of James Island Baptist for taking a chance on a knucklehead like me. It has been a truly humbling experience to be a part of this church family. I have been greatly encouraged because these men of God looked into my life and recognized His handywork. I look forward to see what He will do in our ministry here, and I will simply remain faithful to the calling of being a minister of the gospel of Christ.
Favorite musicians: I am a true music lover! I believe that we are all a reflection of our Creator, and the arts are a very special way we reflect His creativity. Whether Christian or not, in some way, we are all made in His image, so all art resembles that image. The most important thing to remember as Christian artists is that we are a redeemed part of that culture.
Ben Harper, O.C. Supertones, Jack Johnson, Mike Doughty, Josh Garrells, North Mississippi All Stars, J.J. Grey, Robert Randolf, Led Zep., Buddy Guy and B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Ray Lamontagne, P.O.D , Xavier Rudd, Soul Coughing, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Mute Math, Need to Breathe, The Legendary J.C.’s , the Black Keys, Amos Lee, Iron and Wine, Death Cab for Cutie, Dispatch, Five Iron Frenzy, Jars of Clay, Matisyahu, MXPX, People in Planes, Rocco Deluca and the Burden, Sanctus Real, Sea Wolf, the Shins, the String Cheese Incident, Joseph Israel, Kings of Leon, the John Butler Trio, Eric Lindell, Citizen Cope……….. and on and on it could go!
Books:Radical Reformission (Driscol), Blue Like Jazz(Miller), Last Child in the Woods (Louv), The Treasury of David (Spurgeon), Life in the Spirit(Lloyd Jones), Shepherding a Child’s Heart (Tripp), Roaring Lambs (Briner), God Came Near (Lucado).
Relaxation: Give me time with my family, a beach, a surfboard, a kayak, a guitar, my dog, and occasionally tickets to a music show and I will be happy!
