I am a Mooresville, North Carolina native growing up in the Shepherds community. As a child, I wanted to be a professional baseball player like Dale Murphy. Every time that he came to bat it was special. I was glued to the TV – ready to watch him hit a home run. I played little league and practiced hard. But by mid high school, I began to realize that that career path was not really an option.

In college at UNC-Chapel Hill, I was very active in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I led Bible studies, went on retreats, and organized intramural sports teams. During that time, my faith really grew in Christ. I explored the idea of being a full-time missionary. So I spent a summer serving in inner-city Chicago. I was not called there. Next, I spent a summer serving in Africa. I was not called there.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:2

After college, I was ready to serve the Lord. So I worked at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood, SC. I enjoyed the people and learned a lot, but did not feel like that was where I needed to be.

I enjoyed art and wanted to serve God. I returned to my hometown and began working at Laws Stained Glass Studios designing stained glass windows for churches. I loved the work. I loved creating designs and making churches beautiful. I enjoyed enhancing people’s worship experience. I worked there for the next 20 years.

MY MOTIVATION AS A THERAPIST

Always during my work career, my effort has been guided by Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” So during that time, I not only designed windows for certain jobs but created a catalog and library of designs.

About halfway during my time at the stained glass studio, my wife Laura went to graduate school for counseling. A semester later, I decided to join her. My heart has always been to serve the Lord and build the church. I saw this as another way to do that on a part-time basis. I could “lay up more treasures in heaven.”

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us “to lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” and not treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19). When I read this verse, I always think of the end of Psalm 102 which reads: “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.” This verse reminds me that most everything that I see in this world is temporary. What is everlasting are relationships.

MY GOAL IN COUNSELING

My first class in graduate school was Spiritual Dimensions in Counseling taught by Dr. David Ludwig who I interviewed later on our podcast. Dr. Ludwig holds doctorates in psychology and divinity and written numerous books on the subjects. His teachings resonated with me. He taught that the most important thing in life is relationships. I echo his sentiments.

My goal in counseling is to make relationships better – all relationships. Relationship with yourself, with spouses, with children, with other family members, with friends, with food, with money, with work, and of course with God.