My life has changed dramatically over the past few years. I was studying preaching at JBC up until early 2005 when I was given the opportunity to travel and play music full time. I took it without hesitation, as I had been feeling in recent months that I enjoyed the academic study more than the thought of vocational ministry. While God’s word was still at the center of my life, on the road my view of life and people changed. I believe during that time of growth a lot changed within me. I learned just enough tolerance to allow me to empathize with people, while maintaining my core beliefs. I also learned what it was like to eat and clothe myself by how often I could step onstage. The experience was a blessing to me in more ways than one.
I would like to thank the two people who first gave a young pop fusion player a chance to play country music and learn that simplicity can be just as exciting as up tempo funk. Thanks boss, you know who you are. Within a year I went from a preaching student to road dog, and before another year was up I met the only truly genuine best friend I have ever known other than Jesus. Now I honestly know what tangible love is. Loving Christ is a wonderful and life changing thing, but being able to reach out and touch the woman of your dreams is a type of personal revival that few of us can describe.
There I was, rolling into Minnesota in the dead of winter to play at a club that for all I knew was not worth the time it took to walk into the door and hop up on the stage; I have never been so wrong. It just so happened that my rebirth, my renaissance, my “Jenny†was a waitress at this ice cube. First date 3 days later, engaged just months after that, first child a year later, and here we are. I hope to take care of this body God gave me long enough to wake up with her for another sixty or so years.
I still love music, and am blessed to be part of something special at the moment. The bass still excites me every time I pick it up. My “professional†life over the past few years has taken me from telephone sales, to operational management in the ecommerce industry, to IT management in the consulting industry, and back around again to sales. We are blessed, and I know that with continued diligence on my part the blessings will continue to come, and my beautiful wife will never have to work another day again in her life. Unless putting up with me is a taxable job!
I’m excited about things to come, and especially about the things I will experience with my family in the next few years.