sons Eric, Sean and George.
Click a topic below to read writings. My short Bio is below.
I was baptized in 1954. As a young man in 1960s I began my study of the Bible by attending Sunday school classes at Saint John’s Lutheran Church. Many of my classes were on the good news in the New Testament. As a result, I understood very early on that God’s love and grace are a blessing from above that are not deserved and cannot be earned. It is God’s merciful grace that saves us through his son Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. We are justified by grace through faith. Faith that only the holy Spirit can give us. Thanks be to God!
At the age of eleven years old I attended confirmation classes to become an member of our church congregation. I have to thank my mother for always encouraging and supporting me with this effort. Confirmation classes were complete after three years. I studied both the Old and New Testaments. I learned the Lord’s Prayer, the Creeds, Ten Commandments, and the sacraments of the Lutheran Church. I also studied the Small Catechism written by Martin Luther. During my confirmation years I served our Church by being a acolyte during Sunday services. My first communion was at the age of fourteen years old. This was the first time I truly remember feeling the Holy Spirit.
I have been a disciple of a number of Lutheran congregations. In 1992 I was a member of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church. My calling with this congregation has been to share God’s word with our young people. I taught for several years the High School Sunday classes in the early 1990s. I have served the church as a volunteer assistant youth director. I have been part of the planning and supervising of many youth events such as Christian youth rallies, church youth sports; snow skiing trips, camp outings and many other similar type events. I was a LOGOs (God's Word) confirmation teacher for the eighth grade class at Christ Our Shepherd for 12 years. In 1993 I was commissioned as an ELCA Stephen Minister and was active for six years. It has been a gift to be able to assist the ordained Ministers of our Church in the care of our congregation. To serve in such a capacity has been very humbling, educational and rewarding. I have learned we are not here to see through each other, but here to see each other through. I am also privileged to have been asked serve as a lay minister at Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church.
God continues to call me. Just prior to me retiring from a career in aviaiton God made it clear He has plans for me. In October 2007 I submitted my application for rostered minister candidacy. In April 2008 I was accepted as a candidate for ordain ministry. On May 13, 2008 I was licensed and appointed as minister to serve Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church (www.mtplutheran.org) in Haralson, Georgia. My journey of faith has been and continues to be wonderful. God has certainly blessed me. I rejoice in having purpose in serving God, to teach his word, to serve the Church family, to give of my time, talents and resources. I am Blessed to be a Blessing.
Although I am not a great writer I do love to write and preach about God's love. I thank God for my wife Angie. Angie is the one who helps me with my writings. I will continue to preach and write to share humbly what I can about God with hope it will help you in your spiritual journey in building your relationship with God.
Peace be with you,.
Gary