“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts.”
C.S. Lewis
I view my writing as a way to serve you. Sometimes we all need help putting complex issues of faith, history, and culture into context. I have spent my life speaking and writing about how these complex topics impact all of us. My goal is to use my work to make a difference. I hope you can join me in becoming part of the solution.
Work Background
18 Years Pastoral Ministry
10 Years Adjunct Professor of Religion, History, and Philosophy
Fields of Research
My academic research focuses on the intersection of faith, history, and culture. My ministry related writing focuses on historically assisted spiritual formation. I have also written on the Muslim minority experience in medieval Spain, the Christian crusade against heresy in medieval France, and the impact of modern fringe theology on public life and culture. Additionally, I work with struggling churches to discover their potential for new life.
Education
Ph.D. in Biblical Studies-Historical Theology
Master of Theology
Master of Arts in Theology
Master of Arts in History
Bachelor of Arts in History
Personal Life
I am married and have four wonderful kids. We live on a farm house in rural Missouri. In our spare time, we enjoy camping in a tent or our 1968 Airstream camper that we renovated from scratch.
Favorite Book: The Count of Monte Cristo
Favorite Hobby: Camping in National Parks
Public Speaking
As a pastor and professor, I love to take complex material and communicate it in a fresh and engaging way. Click here to send a request.
Future Projects
It all begins with an idea! My writing always focuses on the interaction of faith, history, and culture. Look for upcoming projects on everything from rural ministry to medieval Europe.
Recent Media Appearances & Publications
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Rinse, Repeat: Should Believers Be Dunked Again?
For Christianity Today
Just like being “born again,” the symbol of baptism is a way of life, not a repetitive ritual.
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"Pastors in the Valley of Death Row" at Christianity Today
For Christianity Today
While a win for religious liberty, the Ramirez ruling will take a traumatic toll on an already burdened profession.
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The Love Chapter: A Devotional from 1 Corinthians 13
You know this passage from a wedding you were in or attended. But what is Paul, a single tent maker and Old Testament scholar, doing writing about love? There must be something more going on than a wedding sermon.
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Religion and American Culture: A Brief History – Book Review
For Themelios
The strength of the book lies in its scholarship and its chronological structure. Marsden avoids one-sided bias even while writing from a Christian perspective. Religion and American Culture says: you don’t have to take Marsden’s word for it. His only predetermined effort is to tell the story of the impact of religion on America, for America, and by America.
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“‘Jezebel’: The Dehumanizing History of Name-Calling in the Name of God”
For Religion & Politics
Shortly after the Biden administration commenced, a small but vocal minority of white evangelical pastors revived a familiar insult from history. After only two days in office, cries of “Jezebel” began to appear on social media from self-identified Christians describing Vice President Kamala Harris.