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For generations, the marriage of creativity and theology has been a family tradition, and I am blessed to be a part of it.

My paternal grandmother wrote her own commentary for the entire Bible and wrote pages and pages of her own poetry. My other relatives published songs, wrote books, designed furniture, taught classes, and even pastored churches. I find it meaningful that I am not an island, but part of a lineage that goes back quite a ways.

My parents blessed me with a strong interest in Christian theology. My father, who was agnosist at the time, was one of the first seminary students at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. And my mother served in a Catholic convent, until she smuggled a radio and heard a sermon by Billy Graham. Their experiences drew them closer to God and inspired them to pass it on to the family.

In regards to creativity, my father introduced me to the piano when I was a child. He also taught me how to read music, and I learned how to play his old guitar on our family's camping trips. My mother continued the tradition by teaching me how to read and write, as well as singing with me at church.

Creativity is like wildfire. I started writing and designing when I was five years old, scribbling my ideas onto napkins. Not long after, I was composing and arranging songs. In high school, I began performing my compositions at churches and coffeehouses.

My journey has taken me to nearly a dozen states and over several thousands miles, but the common thread through all of my experiences has been creativity and theology. In my life, these two interests are interwoven and cannot be separated.

Now we have started our own family, my wife and I continue this tradition with our children. My son and I share time in the recording studio, work together in church, and discuss deep theological issues with each other. And with our new baby, we regularly sing and dance with her, even teaching her a few drum beats.

In regards to the usual biographical information, I graduated from Taylor University ('03) with a degree in Bible, Philosophy, and English. I followed that with a master's degree at Ball State University ('04), where I studied creative writing and songwriting. Since then, I served with several churches, taught in a Christian high school, and became accredited for ministry with the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

After living in Indiana and Texas for several years, my family has returned to Illinois, where I am studying at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield.