When I was a child God guided me to pray to Him. This was before I recall ever having seen or heard anyone pray. I was also a child when I started attending church. One of my sisters, five years older than me, was of elementary school age when she got permission from our father to allow us to attend. She believes I was probably five years old at the time. My parents never attended church during my lifetime.
I started studying the Bible on my own when I was nine or ten years old. It was also something God guided me to do. I started in the book of Genesis going word-by-word and verse-by-verse. This is the same expository (verse-by-verse) way I usually preach. (2 Timothy 4:22 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.)
At sixteen God laid on my heart the three goals for my life: to fulfill my potential, first and most importantly, spiritually, second mentally (developing and using whatever talents and skills He gave me), and third physically (to always be in the best health and shape possible). Therefore, the four main priorities of my life are to pray, study, work, and work-out, and in that order. (Acts 6:4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.")
After high school I went to junior college during the summer and had a teacher who preached atheism. It greatly disturbed me, causing me to question my beliefs. I looked at books in the library to find out whether there was a God or not. In mid-August on a Saturday night God clearly and strongly asked "Why don't you ask me?" I dropped to my knees, raised my hands to the heavens, and asked Him if He was really there. Within about fifteen to twenty minutes I turned on a Christian radio program offering literature that over time answered my questions. It confirmed my beliefs there was a God, the Bible was from Him, and I needed to follow and obey what He showed me.
I've worked at Western Union Telegraph Company as a statistical accounting clerk, Goodwill Industries with the mentally, physically and socially handicapped, and Hewlett-Packard as an associate scheduler/production planner. I have my own insurance business and volunteer as pastor.
My church service has included overseeing more than one-hundred youth, over one-hundred singles, managing magazine and book distribution to the public, working with widows/widowers, those hospitalized, shut-ins, sports programs, fundraising, writing lessons for, overseeing and facilitating small groups, managing and doing personal, paper, and media evangelism, counselings, etc.
I was ordained a Deacon April 3, 1977 and started giving sermonettes. I was ordained an Assistant Pastor February 18, 1995 and began giving sermons in a number of churches. I became the Associate Pastor of the Watsonville Christian Church October 27, 2002 and Senior Pastor July 31, 2005.
To obey The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-2019Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.") and do "the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.") , I 1) prepare and give each Sunday expository (verse-by-verse) sermons mainly through books of the Bible (Isaiah 55:11so is my word that goes out from my mouth:,
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.,1 Peter 4:11If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.), 2) continually upgrade our website, and 3) create, record, and disseminate thirty-second and one-minute Biblical messages for radio and our website.
My favorite time is always my prayer time! (Psalm 42:1-2 1 As the deer pants for streams of water,,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?Luke 6:12 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.,1 Thessalonians 5:17 17 pray continually,)
For more details read "Lessons from Pastoring"