Personal Stuff & Other Uselss Facts About Me

No Sugar. I’ve been on a sugar fast for three weeks. I started out thinking I would go a couple of days. After I made that goal I extended it to a week, then extended it again. I’m avoiding processed sugar like cookies, cake, candy, ketchup, sauces, etc. – the obvious sources. Now that I am sugar-conscious I am noticing sugar everywhere – even in canned vegetables – places you wouldn’t expect to find it. Of course, I’m still eating fruit – which contains sugar – but I feel okay doing that. I haven’t experienced any significant weight-loss yet (just a little), but should pretty soon. It usually takes my body about six weeks to start responding to changes in my diet. The beauty of eliminating processed sugar is that I am drastically cutting my calories but I don’t have to stop eating real food. I am avoiding the calorie-dense non-nutritional sources of sugar.

Exercise. I run about four or five days a week. I’m a two-mile runner – at my age that seems to be the best distance for me. Today however I ran 3.4 miles just to see if I could. The weather was very cool making it an easy run.

Stage fright. I never experience it in front of the PCC family. I am very comfortable there. It was not that way when I first began in the ministry however. I would experience stage fright so bad that I would literally be sick for two/three days before the event. I would get nauseated, have butterflies in my stomach, and actually throw up. By the time I took the pulpit I would be weak in body and my mouth as dry as cotton. How I survived those days I will never know. But it’s not a problem any longer. I am totally relaxed and completely at home in front of the PCC family.

What kind of Bible do you use? Primarily the King James Version (KJV) because this is the one I cut my spiritual teeth on and I am most familiar with it. I also sometimes like the New International Version (NIV), the New King James Version (NKJV). I think they all have their strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the day I have the most confidence in the KJV.

Do you ever feel like quitting the ministry? No. I love what I do. But I do think about taking a Sabbatical to get some serious rest. I’m long overdue for an extended break and could benefit from recharging my batteries. Our church would benefit from a well-rested pastor as well.

Do you ever wear designer jeans? No. I’m not that cool. I’m too old to wear fancy stitching on my rear pockets. Besides, I don’t want to look like a dork. Wearing my shirt tails out most of the time is as ‘hip’ as I can get. Other than that, I am a Levi’s kind-of-guy. Levi’s are the standard by which all other jeans are measured.