Welcome

Category: Personal Adventures

  • Why We’re Studying Ruth This Summer

    Over the course of this summer, I’m leading a Bible study on Ruth with college students. SHIFT hasn’t historically done things over the summer, but since we were just stepping into being more involved, I wanted to do at least something during June and July. For a variety of reasons, I thought Ruth would be…

  • Rebuilding My Morning Routine

    Yesterday, I explained how I use my summer breaks. I mentioned working out first thing in the morning, something I haven’t historically done. My history with a morning routine goes back to when I worked at Lowe’s between high school and college. I often opened, which meant getting there at 6am. Since I didn’t particularly…

  • How I Use My Summer Break Wisely

    I often get asked what I do over the summer. I wish I could say, well I just sit around and read. But, the main thing I do is figure out how to replace my teaching income for 2 months. After that, then I read. That process actually starts late spring, when I start trying to…

  • 3 New Books on Evangelism

    Last Friday, a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses came to our door. Unlike an ambush on Christmas morning a few years back, I saw them coming. I answered the door and the guy introduced himself and his wife, and then starting talking about comfort and read me 2 Cor. 1:3-4. I mentioned that Ali has these…

  • Why Are We Raising Support?

    In a perfect world, I would have a full-time job in some type of vocational ministry. It’s what I know I am called to do, and it’s what I spent 8 years in school for. And that’s not just my opinion, it’s Dallas Theological Seminary’s as well. But, we don’t currently live in a perfect…

  • The Well-Educated Mind: Autobiography and Memoir

    Last week, I posted a list of novels from Susan Wise Bauer’s The Well-Educated Mind. The next section in her book covers autobiography and memoir, which is a bit more complicated than you might think. After giving a brief overview of the history of criticism of the genre, Bauer guides readers through the grammar, logic, and…

  • Our Target in College Ministry

    Yesterday, I reflected on what it might look like to do college ministry different. In case you’re wondering, yes, I’m ripping off Apple by using an adjective when you “should” use an adverb (my views on grammar are somewhat philosophically radical). After answering why and how, it’s time for what. As in, “what should the…

  • What If We Did College Ministry Different?

    This is a question I’ve been thinking about for over 10 years. Ever since we’ve been in Florida, I’ve been involved with a college ministry at UCF called SHIFT. I’ve also been a high school teacher at a small private school about 20 minutes away. As far as teaching, I’ve taught 3 classes now from…

  • Car Repairs and The Providence of God

    On Sunday, I dropped my car off for a much needed oil change. Since it’s on high-mileage now (just under 250,000), I try to space them out as much as possible (within the guidelines). This is tricky because as the car has aged it has acquired a taste for oil. I can’t actually make it…

  • Update on Summer, Life, and College Ministry

    While the last day of school was May 25th, it feels like summer only really started this week. We did have our end of the year teacher workday last Tuesday, so this is the first week without any school obligations. Although, I am not without a bit of prep and planning to do for the…