Feb 15 2012
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Life and Faith

Everyone’s Uncle

The article below is not my own.  It was written by my father-in-law, Col Daryl Hartman, about a man I’ve had the privilege of knowing for about a decade and have been providing pastoral care to for the past three years, Uncle George Hartman.  He’s not my Uncle, he’s my wife’s great-great uncle, but to everyone who’s ever known him, he’s always been “Uncle George.”  Uncle George is in the last hours of his life and I have the sacred opportunity to minister to his own children (whom I’ve never met until yesterday) and the rest of the Hartman family as we wait for God to call him home.  Uncle George was a great man who lived a life worth telling others about.  Uncle George lived life to the full and I believe my father-in-law’s words capture the essence of who he was and how he will be remembered by those who knew him.

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My Uncle George is the mellowest man I’ve ever met. It’s not a child of the 60’s kind of mellow, or an “I don’t care” mellow, it’s just, well, Uncle George. I call him Uncle George, but he’s really my great uncle. My paternal grandfather was significantly older than his youngest brother George and in an earlier time when extended families tended to live together, George was only 9 years old and living in the same house when my dad was born. So, since dad had two older sisters, by default George became his big brother.

When WWII started George was almost 20 years old and like most young men of his generation he stepped up to the task of defending his country. He joined the Army Air Corps and boarded the train heading west to pilot training. I have his pilot training yearbooks on the coffee table in my office. He’s easy to pick out in the photos of eager faces with flight caps cocked way too far to the right. I’ve often wondered how many survived the war and how many are still alive.

He never talked about his experiences. He flew B-25s and A-26s in India/Burma/China bombing and strafing Japanese positions until the end of the war. It wasn’t that he had PTSD or was traumatized by what he’d seen, it’s that it was just what he had to do. No fanfare, just a part of his life that was over a long time ago. Millions of others had sacrificed a lot more and his part was no big deal. His generation had been through the great depression and now was looking forward, not back. As we grew up we started asking him about his experiences and I think as he grew older he started to enjoy telling stories that he had never told. He told me about bombing missions in India and how they knew in advance where the Japanese AAA sites were because the natives told them. So they would fly their low levels and watch the airbursts pop up from the jungle well out of range. He told me how the Japanese RPM gage that sits on a shelf in my living room came from a downed Zero he came across on an abandoned airfield. He showed me a piece of the wing of his aircraft that was damaged by enemy fire. His crew chief repaired it and then gave him the piece as a souvenir. He told me the closest he ever came to death was when, on a night combat mission, both he and his copilot fell asleep and woke up at tree top level, just in time to pull up.

I think he became “mellow” after he got back from the war. He went off to college, got married, had kids, but after combat the daily stressors are, well, not so stressful. After his divorce, I suspect his wife thought he was too mellow, he moved in with my grandparents. When they passed, he stayed. He became our de facto grandfather and he lived either with us or, for 28 years, next door to us. He was, to us, our friends, and our church, Uncle George. Three years ago he moved into an assisted living home called Shady Rest. He was to the point where he couldn’t quite take care of himself anymore and, even though every time you visited him he asked when he could go home, his health improved and he had constant contact with other people his age. He turned 90 on January 2nd. We a took a cake and sang happy birthday. We talked and laughed and tried to convince him that he really was 90 years old even though he thought he was 68.

Two weeks later he had a small stroke. We thought he was doing fine, but then pneumonia set in, a week in the hospital, a week in a nursing home, now back to the hospital. More pneumonia, renal failure, DNR, machines turned off, and waiting. Like my dad, I’ll slip a pair of wings into his breast pocket and send him on his final sortie. Not with the roar and oil spray of twin Wright R-2600s but on the silent wings of angels.

God bless and God speed. Fair skies and a strong tail wind.

Colonel Daryl J. Hartman

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Feb 14 2012
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Reviews

Fiat 500 – A Review

Two months and 1500 miles into the experience of owning a new Fiat 500 Pop I think I’m now prepared to offer an honest review of the vehicle.  Let me begin with the obvious, I LOVE MY CAR!!!  It is the eye catching, urban commuter I was looking for.  Fiat redesigned the 500 with the city dweller in mind.  They wanted to market a vehicle that was not only practical and compact for the urban landscape, but attractive and fun to drive as well.  If I may say so myself, they’ve accomplished their goal.

The 500 is indeed practical and compact, but as previously stated, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable driving experience.  To be honest with you, I really wasn’t interested in the Fiat when I was looking for a car to replace my 12 year old Jetta.  I’m a VW/Mazda kind of guy.  Fiat was no where on my radar.  At the time I was really into the Mazda 2′s and 3′s.  I was also considering the Kia Soul, a couple of the Toyota/Scion models, or even a newer VW.   However, after being talked into test driving the 500 I was sold.

It’s like Fiat had intentionally built a compact car for the roads of western Pennsylvania.  The US version of the 500 has a relatively small, 4 cyclinder, 1.4 liter engine and 5 speed transmission that maxes out at about 101 horse power (Abarth version changes that a bit, but that’s a different post all together).  However, the engine/transmission are so finely tuned to carry the 2300 pound vehicle that you might forget you’re in a fuel efficient, subcompact and not a sports car.  The 500 knows how to handle the dips, curves, hills, and ever changing geography of the roads in the Pittsburgh area with spunk and the “zippy” factor so many other subcompacts are missing.  Outside of much more expensive sport models, I’ve never had a more enjoyable driving experience taking on sharp curves, climbing and descending the ever-changing, rolling topography, and engaging whatever environment is before me.

In addition to the driving experience, the 500 is a priced so well, I’m really surprised they haven’t been flying off of the lot.  Starting at a very reasonable $15,500, Fiat gives its new owners all the bells and whistles that Mazda and Mini charge big bucks to have.  At the base price, with no additions, every Fiat 500 comes with a dual tone, leather interior, AC, power doors/locks, bluetooth connectivity (plus their “Blue and Me” mp3/phone user interface with voice activation/recognition), cruise control, high quality sound system (Bose is a bit extra), and of course, a 5-star crash test rating and all the air bags/safety features one could ask for.  In addition to these “free” goodies, for my Fiat, I selected one with alloy wheels for $500 and a large sun roof for $850 (both of which are much pricier in comparable vehicles).   Finally, when you tack on a 3 year/36,000 mile service package that covers all “scheduled maintenance” except tires and a 7 year/100,000 bumper-bumper warranty, it’s hard not to feel like you stole the car.  I would have anticipated paying upwards of $21-23,000 for a car that includes everything I have in my Fiat 500.

Other positive note about the car includes a surprisingly spacious interior.  Of course, if you’re a large SUV driver or are looking for something to pack a family of 6 into, the Fiat 500 will seem a bit tight to you.  However, for me, the car has plenty of room inside; space enough for four adults to ride comfortably.  The back seats, are not the biggest in the world, however, I’m 6’0″ and fit quite comfortably.  In terms of storage, the hatchback is a bit small, but it’s not intended to be your primary hauler.  However, if there are no rear passengers, popping down the back seats is a cinch and more than doubles the cargo space for plenty of room to haul groceries or other small to medium sized loads.

As we all know, there are no “perfect” vehicles, and for the sake of being honest and open I offer these criticisms.  Prior to driving the 500, my daily driver was a VW Jetta TDI (turbo diesel).  My TDI’s average mpg was fairly spot on at 40 mpg city and 50 mpg highway.  In the 1500 miles I’ve driven the Fiat I have gotten as low as 26 mpg city and nearly 35 mpg highway.  I realize the car is still young and the engine is still being “worn in,” but I would have preferred a little better mileage in such a small car.  However, I definitely wouldn’t be interested in losing any performance for higher mileage, so I guess I can call it a necessary compromise.

Another small criticism is that the Fiat 500 has a bit of a rough blind spot for such a small car.  You’d think being so small on the road would make merging in and out of traffic a breeze.  However, what I’ve found is that it’s really difficult to see just behind the driver’s left shoulder when merging and no amount of playing with the mirrors or moving the seat seems to help.  It could be that I am so used to the wide open views of my old VW that I’m still growing comfortable in the Fiat, but after a couple of months of driving I still catch myself concerned about that blind spot.

Finally, my last complain, is probably unfair to mention because Fiat can do nothing about it, but I feel I must share it with you.  I hate that I have to arrive at my destination every time I set out for a drive.  Seriously!  I love driving my Fiat so much, I find myself bummed out when I reach my destination.  This is especially true when it’s a beautiful day,  the sunroof is open, great music are on the radio.  I will admit, I have been known for “going around the block” once or twice just because I hate parking the Fiat.  It’s just that much fun to drive!

Alright, well that’s my review.  I think it’s honest enough.  I hope it helps you.  If you’re in the market for a new car, or are simply interested in the new Fiats your seeing around town, feel free to drop me a line…I love to show it off.

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Feb 12 2012
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Senatorial Address Concerning Air Force Budget Cuts

The colloquy below transpired on the Senate floor about a few hours ago. Sen Leahy and Sen Graham express concern over proposed Air Force cuts to the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.  Their discussion centers on economy, strategy (reversibility), and the Founders’ vision.

Senate Floor

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Senator Leahy: Thank you, Mr. President. I thank the senior Senator from South Carolina, Senator Graham, for joining me to address a matter of great importance to the Nation at a crucial moment in our history.

Mr. President, the United States Air Force last week offered a preliminary look into its budget for Fiscal Year 2013. While the President will formally submit his budget proposals on Monday, last week’s briefings and information papers offered enough detail for the Senate to begin considering the overall strategic direction of the Air Force Future Years Defense Program, which in Pentagon jargon is often colloquially called the “Fie-dep.” And, I am disappointed to have to say, this first look was deeply worrisome.

- Senator Graham: To meet the requirements of the Budget Control Act the AF intends to substantially cut its force structure, with most of the cuts coming from the ANG. AF intends to eliminate more than 280 aircraft across the force (123 fighters, 133 mobility aircraft, 30 intelligence platforms).. The ANG will lose substantially more airframes (e.g., 27 C-27Js, A-10s).

- Example: One of the A-10 units slated for cutting, the 127th Wing from Michigan, has just returned from fighting in Afghanistan to learn that their planes and their mission will go away in the next fiscal year.

- Air Guard set to lose more than 5,000 personnel while the active duty force will lose just 3,000 people.

Senator Leahy: Mr. President, the approach to budget cuts that the Air Force has decided to take is simply wrong and for a wide variety of reasons, and the Senator from South Carolina and I will explain why. First, I would draw the Senate’s attention to a study produced by the Pentagon last year. This report, signed by the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, conclusively demonstrated what we have all suspected for many years: that even when mobilized, Reserve Component units are far less expensive than their peer units in the Active Component. Of course, it has always been a foregone conclusion that the Guard costs are far less than Active Component costs when in garrison. Its personnel are not drawing salaries or benefits like peer units in the Active Component. But this Pentagon report also showed that the Guard and Reserve save taxpayers’ dollars even when mobilized. It’s simple math. The Reserve Component units are estimated to be a third as expensive as similar Active Component units, and they can deploy nearly half as often. The difference between those two proportions adds up to savings. And as I said a moment ago, those savings dramatically increase when the Reserve Components are not constantly mobilizing and deploying.

Senator Graham: The wisdom of the approach of relying more heavily on the Guard and Reserve is evident in the Army’s and Marine Corps’ approach to cuts.

- The Army will make only minor cuts to its Guard and Reserve forces while substantially reducing its Active Duty force.

- The Marine Corps has no plans to reduce the Marine Corps Reserve.

- These plans are based on a new strategic concept called “reversibility”: we cannot be sure of what contingencies might arise and we cannot afford to make cuts that will leave us incapable of responding when necessary.

- Michele Flournoy, during her last speech as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, stated that: “the Guard and the Reserve will play an extremely important role,” in the reversibility concept because they give the military “built-in adaptability and resourcefulness.” And, “We expect the reserve components to continue to provide both an operational and a strategic reserve in the future. They will continue to be a source of innovative approaches to building the capacity and critical partners around the world.”

- But AF is taking the opposite approach by cutting ANG and Reserve personnel and equipment.

Senator Leahy: Mr. President, even before the Air Force announced its plans, General Ron Fogelman, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, published a guest column in DefenseNews arguing for a larger Reserve Component and a smaller active duty force. Here are a few of the pertinent points he made. He said, quote,

- “The big question is, how does the department reduce its budget and continue to provide a modern, balanced and ready defense when more than half of the budget is committed to personnel costs?”

- “The answer to that question is right before us: We should return to our historic roots as a militia nation. So, what does that mean, exactly? Simply put, it means we should return to the constitutional construct for our military and the days when we maintained a smaller standing military and a robust militia.”

- “To do that, leaders must put old parochial norms aside and be willing to actually shift forces and capabilities to the National Guard and Reserve.”

- “This would enable significant personnel reductions in the active components. It would also result in a larger reserve component. Most important, it would preserve capability and equipment that has cost the American taxpayer trillions of dollars, nest it in our mostly part-time Guard and Reserve, and have it available should it be needed.”

- “This concept worked well for our country for the better part of two centuries. Unfortunately, several generations of leaders have come and gone, and most of today’s leadership fails to recognize the true potential of the militia model.”

- “We need our collective senior military and civilian leaders to recognize there is a way back to a smaller active military and a larger militia posture. The fiscal environment and emerging threats demand it.” Unquote.

- Again, those are not my words, but the words of a former Air Force Chief of Staff.

Senator Graham: General Fogelman is right. And as he points out, there are more than just fiscal reasons to reduce our standing forces and dramatically increase our reserve component.

- The Founders did not envision a vast, permanent standing military. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives the Congress the responsibility and authority to “raise and support Armies” and to “build and maintain a Navy” but limits appropriations to no longer than 2 years.

- Language demonstrates that the Founders envisioned that armies would be demobilized after conflicts and then raised again when needed. Further down in Section 8, the Framers make clear that the militia, what has become our National Guard, is intended to be the permanent military force on land, and later, in the air. The Congress is to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing them when they are called to federal service. States must therefore organize and train the National Guard according to federal standards. The approach Senator Leahy and I are describing is not only economical, it is truly the model of Constitutional defense.

Senator Leahy: Mr. President, Alexander Hamilton was speaking about military forces during normal economic times. His message becomes all the more compelling and pertinent during times like this, when the country must figure out how to do all that needs to be done, with fewer resources. Senator Graham and I introduced a successful amendment to last year’s defense authorization bill that requires the Pentagon and the GAO to perform studies this year to produce more conclusive analyses of the relative cost of similar units in the active component and the reserve component. We are also aware of at least two other third-party studies currently underway to address the question. By the end of the year, we can expect to have three or four studies in hand to answer this question conclusively. Therefore Senator Graham and I – and, we believe, most of our colleagues here in the Senate — consider these proposed Air Force cuts to be dangerously premature. Once you cut the reserve component, sending their aircraft to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and their airmen and pilots out to civilian life, you do not get them back. That fact is precisely why the Army and Marine Corps have taken a different approach of preserving their reserve component force structure. You can mobilize active component troops you place in the reserve component. But once you cut the reserve component, those people and that equipment are gone forever.

Senator Graham: Even before we receive those studies, we do have some legacy data from the Air National Guard.

- According to an Air Guard briefing, the Air National Guard, operating under today’s deployment constraints, is still only 53% of the cost of an equivalent active duty Air Force major command.

- The Air National Guard costs $2.25 billion less annually than a similarly sized active duty Air Force command.

- That is a daily savings of $6.2 million.

- After 20 years of service, your average enlisted airman costs nearly $80,000 a year in total compensation. On the other hand, an identical Air National Guard enlisted airman costs about $10,000 a year, about an 85% savings.

- Over a 20 year career, an Air National Guard airman will save the country more than $1 million compared to an active duty airman.

- At 22 years, an active duty pilot will cost the Air Force more than $150,000 in total compensation.

- On the other hand, an Air National Guard pilot at 22 years costs the taxpayer about $30,000 in total compensation.

- Over a 26 year career, an Air National Guard pilot will save the country more than $2 million compared to an active duty pilot.

- Active duty pilots retire, on average, with 22 years of service. Air National Guard pilots retire on average with 26 years of experience, giving the country a greater level of experience and ability for those final four years at a much lower cost.

- These cost figures do not even account for other lifecycle and infrastructure savings that a “reserve component-first” model would yield.

Senator Leahy: Clearly this approach will save our country precious resources at a time when we desperately need to tighten our belts. All of us in the Senate agree that our military must remain strong and vigilant to threats from our enemies. But the source of our military strength has been, and will always be, our economic might. And if we are to protect ourselves militarily while also marshaling our economic power, moving to a Constitutional defense model that my colleague has discussed should be our first choice. Therefore I find these Air Force proposals to be ill-advised and premature at the very least. Based on what we already know, they are flat out wrong, and I anticipate that this year’s reports on the cost effectiveness of the Guard and Reserve will further prove that the reserve component is a better option for military manpower in the future.

Mr. President, for many years, in a trend that has greatly accelerated over the last decade, the National Guard has been given a much greater role in our overall national defense. More missions. Greater responsibility. Heavier burdens. The Guard has performed these missions superbly, with great skill and effectiveness.

The Senate National Guard Caucus has worked closely with all concerned to accommodate and facilitate these changes. And the Senate National Guard Caucus now will take an active role as well in informing the Senate as these new decisions are made. We will not sit by while any of the military services decimate their reserve components. For all the reasons that Senator Graham and I have mentioned today, we will work together with the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the entire membership of the Senate to produce a thoughtful and well-conceived strategy for military manpower that makes full use of a cost-effective, accessible, fully operational, trained, and ready reserve component.

Senator Graham: Mr. President, I could not agree more with my colleague. Constitutional defense is an idea whose time has come. Maintaining a Cold War-era Defense Department just does not make sense. Keeping the “active duty-first” approach will mean smaller and smaller and smaller forces that are stretched thinner and thinner and cannot respond where and when we need them to. That is not the military American deserves nor the one she has come to rely upon. I call on our Pentagon leaders and all of my colleagues in the Senate to join Senator Leahy and me in working for a more original approach the financial strains our country is facing. We can afford nothing less.

I thank my colleague and I yield the floor.

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Jan 26 2012
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Life and Faith

Truly Blessed

There is not a person alive who can say that God has not blessed them.  Of course, I’m not talking about blessings like material possessions or perfect health, all I’m saying is that each person who is currently breathing the air of another day of life, must know at some level in their core that they are fortunate.  We are all blessed to be alive; living another day in the midst of our Lord’s  creation and His Kingdom.  However, some times, we are blessed uniquely in ways we do not deserve nor even understand completely.

That’s precisely what happened to me this past Sunday.  On Sunday morning, after my church’s worship service, the congregation took a vote, and made the decision to invite me to serve as its newest “lead minister.”  There are very few words to describe how I felt and continue to feel since the decision was made.  It’s very rare that I find myself speechless, and I’m still kind of speechless about the whole thing (hence the reason for writing).

To serve as the minister of any congregation is a huge calling and a huge responsibility.  But, the fact that this church is what I consider my “home church,” the church that my family attends, makes it even more daunting.  These are God’s people.  This is God’s community of faith.  Making matters worse, these are also the people who knew me when I was a snot nosed, whiney kid (which, in many ways, I still am).

Who am I to serve them?  Who am I to lead them?  Who am I to be even remotely worthy for this sacred calling?

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I am far from perfect.  I have, and will continue to, make mistakes, big and small.  I’m human. It’s what we do.  However, I also know, that my God is one who uses imperfect people, in imperfect circumstances, for His Kingdom and His purposes.

I’m more than willing to be used in this regard.

I have big dreams for how we, as a community of faith, can change lives, make an even greater impact for the Kingdom of God here in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, and see God’s church expand in ways we never dreamed possible.

I have big dreams for how each of us, as individuals, can grow and find purpose in the Kingdom, no matter who we are, where we’re from, what we’ve done, or what labels we go by.

I have big dreams for how we might all move closer to God and to one another through worship, fellowship, and meditation on the scriptures.

I know that nothing will come easy.  With each new day we will face challenges that we might find incredibly discouraging.  The enemy will undoubtedly try to stop us every step we take towards the Kingdom.  Satan will lead us astray if we let him.

For this reason, I ask that you be in dedicated and intentional prayer for Emmanuel Christian Church, for each and every individual we consider part of our family, and for me as we take these next few steps in ministry together.  Pray for God’s protection over His People.  Pray that His Kingdom come and His will be done here, through us all.  Pray that we might be a united community of faith that supports one another through both good and bad.  Pray that no matter what happens, at the end of the day, the light of Christ shines through us like never before, that whomever stops to look at what we’re doing knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that we serve Jesus and it is His Love that motivates us.

This past Sunday, I was made speechless by the invitation to step up and serve as the new lead minister of Emmanuel Christian Church.  I’m more thankful, honored, and humbled than you may ever know.  I do not take this decision lightly and consider it a sacred honor to serve the church I love more than any other.

I look forward to story we will write together.  I look forward to what this “new chapter” holds for us as a community of faith.

May God bless us all in ways we have never yet conceived.  Even more so, may we receive His blessings with a grateful and humble heart, ready to serve Him, the one who has called us into a story greater than our own.  God bless!

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Jan 10 2012
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Life and Faith

The Next Chapter…

Now that the “cat is out of the bag” so to speak in terms of the future of the ministry and leadership at the church I serve, (Emmanuel Christian Church, Pittsburgh, PA – check it out, it’s a pretty sweet community of faith if I do say so myself) I feel like it is only appropriate to reflect on the whole thing a bit.  For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, this past Sunday during our annual church business meeting, our current Senior Minister, Bob Hartman, announced his decision to step down as the lead minister and the elders’, and my personal, desire to be considered as his replacement.

First and foremost, I must say this wasn’t an easy decision.  This decision required more prayerful consideration than pretty much any decision I’ve ever made in the past.  It goes without saying that replacing Bob, is daunting in and of itself.  ECC is a better congregation thanks to Bob’s compassionate heart and dedicated service.  He’s a great pastor and leader.  When I first heard of his decision to step down, I was taken aback.  I didn’t really know what to say or how to react.  And then, when the elders asked if I wanted to consider taking on the mantle of the lead minister, humbled isn’t a strong enough word to describe how their faith and trust in me made me feel.  However, the truth is, I didn’t respond right away.  I told them openly, like I’m sharing with the world now, I didn’t want to make this decision lightly.  After some private discernment and a bit of helpful advice from a few trusted mentors and colleagues, Erin and I made the decision to accept the elders’ invitation for consideration to become the new lead minister of Emmanuel Christian Church.

After the announcement was made this past Sunday, understandably so, there were some questions about my qualifications for the job.  I don’t know what is a “worthy” qualification and what is not, but I tried to answer the questions as openly, honestly, and clearly as possible.  At the same time though, I hadn’t anticipated going into a long speech concerning my resume, so I offer this little post as something to consider.

I am young, yes.   However it won’t be my first time at the rodeo we call full-time ministry.  After being ordained into the ministry by the elders of ECC many years ago, I was hired as the lead minister of a church in the mountains of western North Carolina while I was in seminary.  This was a part time position but, even still when I served this particular congregation I was the one responsible for the preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and counseling.  I just did all of it on the weekends, and only during the week if an emergency arose (Erin and I lived almost 2 hours away from the church).  Following my service there, I took on a more “full time” position serving a church in northeast Tennessee as it’s Youth/Associate Minister for two years.  Although, it was primarily a youth position I spent a large amount of time doing ministry with adults as well, leading and managing the small groups of the church, preaching regularly, providing pastoral care, and counsel where ever needed.

Following those years in North Carolina and Tennessee, Erin and I moved back to Pittsburgh when the elders here at ECC invited me to serve in the Associate Minister position in which I currently serve.   This position was created due to the fact that Bob had another ministry requiring him to travel around the world for many weeks throughout the year and the church needed someone to take care of the ministry here while he was away.  Here I have had three years of experience preaching, teaching, seeking and leading opportunities for service within the community, providing pastoral care, and counseling, especially while Bob had to be away.  Additionally, during this time, the US Air Force Reserve appointed me to serve as an Chaplain and just this past year I deployed with them for a 6-month tour of duty in the desert.  During my time overseas, much of my time was spent counseling airmen, soldiers, sailors, and marines in all kinds of distress.  I successfully intervened and saved numerous individuals from taking their own lives.  I helped calm the waters of many work centers where tension and stress were out of control.  I assisted numerous folks as they sought the “peace that surpasses all understanding;” many for the first time in their lives.  I ministered to severely wounded troops fresh off of the front lines.  I counseled husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers who were away from home struggling in their relationships.  I planted a new chapel when the wing to which I was attached moved to another location and provided all the pastoral care and ministry on my own until my team was able to join me more than a month later.

That pretty much brings us full circle to where I am today.  I’m a young man; 28 years old.  I’ve served multiple churches in a few different states, done ministry in numerous countries around the world, have earned multiple degrees in my field, am endorsed, ordained, and ready for the next step in my ministerial career.  I am passionate about a few things in life.  I’m passionate about the Kingdom of God.  I’m passionate about my marriage and commitment to my wife.  I’m passionate about the city of Pittsburgh.  And, I’m passionate about my community of faith, Emmanuel Christian Church.  I don’t know if that makes me qualified to lead this church, but I pray it does.

I am both anxious and excited for what the future has in store for Erin and me.  Like everyone else, I’m not sure what will happen in the days and weeks to come.  All we can do is pray and seek the Lord and trust that His ways will be made known to us all.  However I would like to open the door for anyone who has an specific questions or concerns they’d like to discuss with me.  I’ve heard from so many folks over the past couple days reaching out with a lot of support and encouragement.  I truly appreciate all of the kind words and am truly humbled to know you’ve placed your faith and trust in me.  However, I’m sure there are many who have questions or concerns, so if you do please feel free to call or email me.  I’m always available.

Blessings!

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