Faith

---

AND THIS NOT FROM YOURSELVES - IT IS A GIFT OF GOD, NOT BY WORKS, SO NO ONE CAN BOAST." Ephesians 2: 8-9

I grew up as a member of Old Cutler Presbyterian Church (PCA), in Miami, Florida, where I met my wife, Kim.  In addition to my youth pastor, Greg Hauenstein, my education at Westminster Christian School, and my father, were responsible for introducing me to my Christian faith and encouraging my spiritual growth.  While attending the U.S. Naval Academy, I attended Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Annapolis.  After my Naval Service and brief time in Jacksonville, we moved to Longwood, Florida (Northwest Orlando) and began attending First Baptist Sweetwater Church, where we were members for 23 years.  I served there as a Deacon, Trustee, Finance Committee, 6th Grade Sunday School teacher and adult Sunday School, ages 45-55.   Our family currently worships at First Baptist Umatilla and Kim and I are involved in the High School and Middle School Youth Program.  

In the book section of this site, I list several books that I find to be of significant impact on beliefs, but I believe the Bible is the only infallible book, inspired by God and put on paper by men.  while all of scripture is important, especially the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I find these verses lay out the essentials of my faith:

Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

 Romans 10:9-10 - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father (God) except through me."

Family is extremely important to me.  Kim and I have four children, Kaylyn (working for Ameriprise in Orlando), Kara (working for Lifeline as a social worker in Orlando), Kyler (in the Navy ROTC at Auburn University), and Dakota (high school).  I believe my actions back up my words, that my three priorities in life are my faith, my family, and then my vocation.  I sometimes hear people debate which is more important, quality time or quantity time?  While I can't say it has always been the case, my feeling now is that the answer is BOTH.  I made it a point to be home for dinner with the family 5-7 nights a week, while the kids were growing up.  There is something about being around the table together, sharing a meal, that can't be captured anywhere else.  Likewise, family vacations are HUGE with me.  My parents took us all over the United States and Europe, growing up and the experience of being in so many places, first hand, helped shape my writing, social and political views, sense of history, as well as my appreciation for God's creation.

I have planned (I don't use the word loosely.  Ask my kids) vacations we have taken as a family to Hawaii, the Caribbean, the Northwest, Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Mexico, Canada, Washington DC, New York City, the Northeast and all over the South.  Kim and I have taken separate trips to England, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Alaska for our 25th wedding anniversary.

When each of our children turned 16, I took them on a trip that was of interest to them.  Kaylyn and I went to New York City for shopping and musicals.  Kara and I went on a Caribbean Cruise.  Kyler and I headed to the Florida Keys for fishing and snorkeling.