MY STORY

I Pastor a congregation that leans towards the doctrines of grace and the charismatic experience. It has been an interesting journey for me. I first Pastored in a Pentecostal church and graduated from a Pentecostal seminary (Vanguard University). It was there that I was indoctrinated in Arminian theology, Dispensational theology, as well as Pentecostal theology. This led me back to scripture and as a result I found myself questioning all three views. As a result I began believing and cherishing the teachings of Paul like never before in regards to grace, the sovereignty of God, election, and eschatology. People in school started calling me a Calvinist even though I had never read Calvin.

I then spent six years in the Calvary Chapel movement as a Pastor and had to really keep to myself my beliefs about God, grace, and the last things. It was also very non-charismatic in practice. During those years I ended up going away from a strong doctrinal emphasis and Reformed theology and studied psychology, philosophy, church growth and mysticism. During this time I also maintained strong ties with the Vineyard Churches which continued to influence me in my theology of the Holy Spirit.

When I left the Calvary Chapel's in 1987 I planted my own church that was my attempt to bring in the teaching emphasis of Calvary Chapel's with the Charismatic emphasis of the Vineyards. As a result people from both churches would come to the Lighthouse and inevitably one group would think we were too Calvary Chapel like and the other group would think we were too Vineyard like and the Pentecostals would think we weren't Pentecostal enough! During this time church growth and success oriented teachings had great influence upon me and my teaching. I really believe that I had lost my compass theologically, practically, and personally. I was dissatisfied with my church, my walk with God, and my life.

About five years after my church began we experienced a terrible split which knocked attendance from 250 to about 35. It was a low point in my life and ministry. During this time I pulled a book out of my library that I had attempted to read twice but lost interest called Desiring God by John Piper. I cannot begin to tell you what happened to me. After reading this I saw God in a brand new wonderful way. I began understanding His nature, His grace, His sovereignty, His providence, His joy, His glory, and finding my happiness in Him alone. I had never heard anyone speak of God in this manner. I ended up reading this book over and over again.

My whole ministry changed. I read all of Piper's books at least three times each. I committed myself to expository preaching and repented of my man centered people pleasing theology. I became resolved to seek the glory of God in every aspect of my life. John introduced me to the great Jonathan Edwards. I began reading the sermons of Jonathan Edwards such as The Excellency of Christ; Heaven is a World of Love; The Pleasantness of Religion, and A Divine and Supernatural Light. I feel in love with the God of these two men. Then I read Religious Affections and discovered how important feelings were in the Christian life.

I read Augustine's Confessions and The City of God. I read John Owen's On the Mortification of Sin and longed for a holy life. I began reading biographies every day and was enriched by the great lives of so many. I got my Master's degree in Church History and fell in love with the English Puritans especially John Owen and Richard Baxter. I loved Baxter's book The Reformed Pastor. I regularly read all sorts of Reformed guys like Lloyd Jones, MacArthur, Sproul, Horton, Duncan, Mahaney, Devers, Storms, Ferguson, Wells, etc.

I am humbly and unashamedly a five point Calvinist. I believe this because it seems to me the data of scripture strongly, compellingly, and overwhelmingly point that way. But in a way I don't like to call myself that because what I really would like to be called is a lover of the teachings in the bible about the doctrines of grace, the power of Christ to mightily save. I anchor my life on the Supremacy of God, the Sovereignty of His Grace, the imputed Righteousness of Christ, and the wonders of Divine Providence, and the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit.

I am thankful for men like Sam Storms and C.J. Mahaney who believe in the perpetuity of the gifts and yet are solidly Reformed. I really hope to become Affiliated with Sovereign Grace Ministries if God would will it. I believe that true Calvinism is strong in the Word and mighty in the Spirit. I love to see God's Providence in action through manifestations of His grace and Spirit in the lives of His people. I long for moves of God in revival and renewal like in the First and Second Great Awakenings. I long for three things in my life and my church: Orthodoxy-right doctrine; Orthopraxy-right living; and Orthopathos-right passion.

It is very, very difficult to believe these things in Southern California. I am in the middle of a vast ocean of Arminianism, Seeker churches, and Emergent Churches. People here are very doctrinal illiterate. Few churches preach expository around here and virtually none are Reformed. It has often times been a lonely road for me. I have had people leave my church over my doctrine. Also, people that have attended my church for a long time and seen the changes are not always with me in believing in Reformed theology. So I have had to be very patient, gracious, and have like John Newton did, to add a few drops of Reformed oil into the water on a weekly basis. I have people in my church who are Reformed and don't even know that they are! I have others who are still tied strong to Arminian doctrine but I love them anyway.

This is why in God's Providence I am so excited to be here and be privileged to preach a God-centered word and emphasize the Supremacy of God in all things.