My Life So Far

Since I am re-connecting with so many old (and not-so-old) friends, I thought I would blog about my life so far and fill in the blanks.

After graduating from Longview High (Texas) in `78, I attended Baylor University and majored in Music Education, but was more interested in partying (I know that's hard for some of my high school friends to believe) than studying. After a great experience in BUGWB, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and SpiritWind, I left school after the Spring semester of `81 and went to work, planning on returning a year later.

That summer of `81, I met the love of my life, Kris(ti Kirk), a native of Austin, and we married in January of `82 at First Baptist Church, Hewitt, a bedroom community of Waco. We ended up settling in Austin, and in November of `82, our only child was born: Joshua David. After working in the Soft Drink industry, we left Austin for the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with the intention of my going back to school, and surrendering to the call that God had put on my life.

In `88 I started serving Chisholm Baptist Church in Chisholm, Texas (between Terrell and Rockwall), and the next year I went back to school at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas. I finished my Bachelor's Degree in Music in `92, and enrolled the following semester at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas to earn a Master's Degree in Music. I graduated in `95 and really enjoyed my time as Associate Minister of Music at Southcliff Baptist Church in Ft. Worth.

Kris and I always felt like we would be moving out of state, not that it was an easy decision, because we miss Texas. But God has been gracious. We have served four churches full time since `95, one in Georgia and three in Illinois, as Minister of Music and Worship Pastor. Our son, Josh, married the former Kim Bright of Flora, Illinois, in May of `05. Josh and Kim both graduated from McKendree University in Lebanon, IL, with their Bachelor's Degrees and Kim earned her Master's Degree as well. Josh is currently working on his Master's Degree, and he and Kim will be planting a church with three other friends in October in downtown St. Louis.

As a side note for all my football lovin' Texas friends, Josh was an All-State Football player at Anna-Jonesboro High School in Anna, IL (OL/DL). He actually was chosen for four All-State teams, including the Coaches All-Academic Team. He also played football for McKendree University, an NAIA school.

We currently live in Carlinville, IL, and Kris is a Teller at U. S. Bank in Carlinville. Josh and Kim live about 25 minutes away in Litchfield, IL, where Josh is Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church in Litchfield, and Kim is working for a CPA as an Administrative Assistant in two office locations. They don't have any children yet, but we do have a Grand Dog named Sophie. Kris and I are the proud owners of 2 pugs, Dolly and Suzie Q.

We're enjoying life and waiting for the next page to turn and see what God has in store. Thanks for reading, and I would love to hear from you and what you've been doing these past years.