Influences: My dad and mom, of course. The culture in which I live - but I'm working on that. Tim Hoekstra, Jimmy Johnson, and Wayne Brouwer, -these are personal mentors that have come up along side me in my journey. There is more, but why bore you.

Epic Moments: I am going to try and remember sequentially. Let's see: being born, being in an Amtrak train wreck (that was wild), going on a musical tour to Australia for a summer, getting married to Susan, becoming a dad to the 3 most favorite boys in my life, my dad's life nearly being taken away from him by two teenagers, and going to see the Police reunion at Wrigley field with great seats!

Favorite Bands: U2, the Police, Tears for Fears, John Mayer, oh how the list could go on. I always have music on.

Favorite Book/Authors: Oh my, so many... N.T. Wright, Brennan Manning, Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr, and Richard Foster would be a good start.

Favorite Movies: Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, Lady in the Water, Spinal Tap, -again, the list could go on.

Favorite Food: Anything with tomato-based pasta, anything Mexican (except Manudo - can't get that stuff down) Brownies, brownies, and brownies -with chocolate milk.

Spare Time: Play bass guitar (I'd do it full time if I could figure out how to pay the bills), ride the animal (the name of my motorcycle), and work on my Master's degree of Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Spring Arbor University.

Fear Factors: commercial airplanes (I just know the plane I get on had poor maintenance and/or has a sleep-deprived, slightly inebriated pilot flying the ship)

Motivation: That the Church really can be all Jesus' calls it to be.

Dream Yet To Come True: Play music in front of over 10,000 people at one time. Hike through Europe and Israel. Visit all seven continents - yes, even Antarctica.