I have been a Christian for all of my life (excluding a brief time as a Biblical Unitarian with my grandfather) but in many different denominations. I was baptized in a Congregational Church, and was a Methodist, Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian, before becoming a Lutheran, over 55 years ago. However, I "Wandered in the Wilderness" for many years. My grandfather told me that the wilderness was the place between the sinful self and the sanctified self. It was a way of describing a journey that happens to many Christians, the need to be shown the path from spiritual death, which is feeling estranged from God. 

I met Janet as a freshman in college. We dated, fell in love, and eventually married, all in three years. Janet's strong faith and belief in God brought me home to God again. After she passed into glory, my congregation family at Christ the King Lutheran Church helped me with my grief. I have a plaque on my wall that says, "I shall pass this way but once, therefore any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again." Today I'm a lector, on the Pastoral Support Committee, a participant in the Adult Bible class, a regular at the Men's Bible Breakfast each week, and a member of the choir. I believe that singing along with preaching is one of the two great ways that God has ordained for his Word to dwell richly in each one of us! These activities let me support our Church and live out its motto, "God's Work, Our Hands."

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