Hey y'all. (Y'all - besides great friends, and a lot of experience, that's the main thing I picked up from 17 years in Nashville.)

So this is an informal, from my heart, bio. Let's see...

I currently live just outside Washington D.C. in Frederick, MD with Erin, my wife of 20 some years (figure of speech, I do know the exact number :), and our three world-changer children (Lauren, Brooks and Pierz). God moved us here in the summer of '05 to Direct/Pastor the Worship Arts & Technical ministries at Damascus Road Community Church in Damascus, MD.

I say that God moved us because we really didn't want to leave Nashville. We were working hard at what He'd given us to do in that area, and were committed to staying with it. But, when the offer came and we went to MD for a visit, we knew at the depths of our hearts it was an appointed move - something we had to do. Hard as it was to let go of our Nashville plans, we're so glad we obeyed. We had a good four-year stretch at DRCC and are now worship pastoring at Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Frederick, MD. Like the bands and singers at Damascus Church, I now work with a great bunch of gifted musicians who move powerfully in spontaneous playing/singing. Makes for some very meaningful and enjoyable times.

We were in Nashville, TN for 17 years where I worked in and around the music industry (signed and independent) and built our ministry base (and also spent way too much time trying to gain the support of a system I didn't respect – hmmm…). Overall, I spent over 15 years on the road vocationally playing conferences, colleges, coffee houses, did the staff writer/record deal route and so on – a great stretch, though very much like real life – really fun, and really hard. Heh, heh, fun for God, hard for me. Actually, though, it was God's appointed place for us (mostly me) to go through the fire (hardships) required for Him to gain my heart's deepest passion and commitment for honoring Him first – and last. As painful as it was at times, I'll be eternally grateful.

There's nothing like having your identity grounded and centered in the Lord, Jesus Christ. That's when life really becomes an adventure. My life for His. Looks good and rather simple on paper. Feels like hell throughout the process though (hell: not as in swearing, but literally, the process feels like you're separated from God, that He's no where to be found). But when you come to the end of yourself…Peace. Joy. Purpose. Clarity of thought. Increased sensitivity to the Holy Spirit – and on it goes. I know that doesn't always make sense in the natural, but, in hindsight, it always leads to God's kingdom being advanced in us; and then, if we remain faithful, though us. In short, fruit that feeds your life and the lives of others. Usefulness in God's plan for humanity: on this side of eternity, that's as good as it gets.

Hmmm…songs. Though it seems I always have several songs under construction, I don't write constantly. It's a great practice, but I prefer to write via inspiration so my work tends to happen in seasons. Singer/songwriter Gary Chapman once said to me, "Try to write only those songs that need to be written." I've taken that to heart – so they tend to form slowly most of the time. Could also be because I'm a bit slow... I spend more time reading, listening and watching – life, people, my family, friends, etc. Then, when the time is right, the heart of the song is ready and it usually turns out stronger overall.

I take great delight in conversing about things that count – like, the pursuit of becoming a more gracious, patient and giving person, learning to agree with God's view when things I see in my life and around me look really bad, getting past my own wants and selfish ambitions in an effort to serve someone else. Those are worthy topics.

I also love being with my family, laughing until my stomach aches and the tears flow, Johnny English (Mr. Bean) tends to do that for me, so does my wife (not that they look or act anything alike...). Oh, yeah, and I love to eat. Not just eat, I mean EEEEEAT! (Though I don't go for it too often.) Boy, my taste buds are a true blessing (or a curse depending on what's on the menu). On the flip side, along with my love for eating is a passion for staying in shape – stewarding the health thing. Gotta do it, cause along with keeping my heart strong, it also helps keep my mind in tact (Ok, I'm an arguable case). Though each passing year brings a little more age, I'm committed to not accepting an expanding middle and high cholesterol along with it - giving it my best anyway.

Wow. This is long. Better stop. Catch ya later.