I was born in a small town called Carthage, New York. Within a year, my parents moved to Niagara Falls, New York, with my sister. Those years were very influential in forming my understanding of God. We lived close enough to the Falls and I could hear the roar of the water from my bedroom window at night. Having seen the swirling water cascading over the rocky cliffs, then crashing down to form whirlpools, I always had a fear of the Falls' power. Sometimes I had nightmares about being caught in the tide and almost drowning. At 5 years of age, while standing above the falls, a thought struck me so powerfully that it changed my life. 'God, you created this. If you made this tremendous power, then you are greater than it. If you are greater than it, and you love me as I have been told, then I have nothing to fear at all.' From that day onward, I have had the firm conviction that God's power is so great, that nothing can harm us apart from His will. Added to the messages I heard from my parents, friends, and church about God's love, I have found this combination (God's greatness and love) to be an enormous key to living a successful and meaningful life.
I love to read books and learn from those who have lived their lives well.
My favorite books are the Bible, of course, followed by anything from history. I have a great love for Victorian Christianity, not because it was a model for religion, but because it was often quirky.
Most important to me is being a husband to a beautiful and loving wife, being the father of three wonderful children, being a pastor to a great congregation, reading, eating, and sleeping (yes, in that order).
My wife, Kathy, and I have been married for 30 years. We have three children, Katy (27 yrs), Heather (24 yrs), and Jacob (21 yrs).