: About Me

I'm a middle aged work in process. I don't know if it's a condition of being a former 1960s "flower child" or that I just like the feel of recreating myself every so often, but I am always transitioning. It's not that I'm inconsistent or flakey; it just seems that other concerns take over my imagination and away I go. My life bio looks a bit like this. From ages 1-15 sports and music were everything undergirded by a quest to know God. From 15-25 music (I sang for a number of blues, rhythm and blues and classic rock bands), alternative lifestyles (I was a "hippie"), a fervent search for the perfect woman, and a quest to know God were my major pursuits. From 25-47 my quest for God and being a father and husband were my most fervent pursuits. I went to seminary, got a Master's of Divinity degree, became a pastor, fathered 4 children and married the perfect woman (only in reverse order). From 47-57 a need to study took me over. I added two university certificates, a second master's degree and entered a PhD. program in history. I now feel that I am at a turning point again - one that I think writing may play a major role in.

I am writing to explore where it may take me. Reading and writing have always played an important role in my life. Even as a child, I was a voracious reader and probably through the influence of several uncles and an aunt, who were newspaper and radio journalists, have always assumed that I would one day write seriously. I have written much from an academic perspective and for a significant period of my life made deep use of journaling as an aid to the spiritual life. When I say I am writing to see where it will take me, I mean that I write to explore where writing will take me in terms of the inner life as well as a potential art form. If somehow it were to develop into a later life career change then I would be open to that but that is not the reason I write. I write in order to know myself and God better. I write because writing plugs me into the latent passions that nag at my soul for recognition. I write to maintain my integrity and to probe the issues and events that assail my conscience. I write to examine my prejudices and to allow higher truths to guide me into an appreciation and compassion that I otherwise would not experience. I write to cultivate my imagination and to hone a skill I believe I have some talent for.

I am a "noisy introvert". I am directed from within and love to explore my own thoughts. At the same time I love good dialogue and enjoy the company of others provided I can have ample alone time. Helium for me appears to be a place where I can explore a bit my own adventures in writing while having the opportunity to dialogue with others who are on a similar voyage of discovery. I look forward to the journey and to the companionship.

My passion is ...

To fulfill God's purposes for my life

I know too much about ...

Classic Rock

My parents always told me ...

To get an education or I would end up in the mill

My childhood ambition ...

To be a big league baseball pitcher

My favorite memory ...

Pitching a no-hitter with my father watching

Why I write ...

To explore where it will take me

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

I'm presently reading Dubliners by James Joyce and Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendal

My first job ...

Working in a large commercial bakery as a general labourer

My best moment ...

There are many but I think being present at the birth of my children was the best

My inspiration ...

Ordinary people who overcome extraordinary obstacles while maintaining their integrity

Religion & Spirituality > Religion & Spirituality (Other) Should the Bible continue to be used for swearing-in ceremonies and in courtrooms?

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Should the Bible continue to be used for swearing-in ceremonies and in courtrooms? Despite my belief that the Bible is a powerful symbol of integrity and justice, I do not believe it should be used in court rooms or for swearing in ceremonies. I recognize that the reason we have the tradition of swearing on the Bible is to symbolically remind the oath maker that his integrity or lack thereof is being scrutinized by a higher than human authority. It is the symbolic representation that the person's credibility is appealed to by not only human but also divine justice. I also realize that cert...

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