About Me

Welcome!

Maybe it’s weird, but I have a motto: A pulse doesn’t mean you’re alive.

What gets me up in the morning is a desire to help people live out their faith in practical ways today. Oh, and also my family. My three kids get up early and want breakfast!

I’m a husband, dad, and the pastor at a vibrant church called Westminster in Barrie, Ontario.

I love Jesus, my family, the Bible, writing a daily devotional called “Up!” (you can read current issues and/or sign up here), songwriting, blogging, ketchup chips, and flavored coffee.

If you meet me at Starbucks you might find me with a tall peppermint Latte. I’ll be the one with the orange watch. Oh, and one day I hope to own a rowboat. Just because it seems awesome.

My pet peeves are TVs in restaurants, wet socks, out-of-date websites, and mosquitoes.

In 2015 I served as the Teen Week Chaplain at Glen Mohr Camp, and received an award for “Best Blog” by the Canadian Church Press. How encouraging! Recently I’ve been interviewed on the “Spirituality for Normal People” Podcast hosted by Matt Brough, and the “Young Church Leaders” podcast hosted by Grant Vissers. I’ve also provided youth and leadership resources to The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Plus, I just finished serving a 6-year term on the national Church Doctrine Committee and have had a variety of articles published in the past few years by These Days Magazine, The Presbyterian Record, The Stream, and The Christian Courier.

On October 30th, 2018 my first book will be released based on the daily devotional that I write. It will be called “Up! – 313 Devotionals To Help You Start Your Day in a Biblical, Relevant Way.” I’m super-excited about it, and 100% of the profits will be given to Fight4Freedom, an organization devoted to fighting human trafficking in the sex trade. You can read more here.

I should also say that on my days off I like to wear track pants, play Lego, and make pancakes. Sometimes they have chocolate chips. But only when I’m feeling crazy.

Raised in Bracebridge, it was all about hockey. And then by high school it became all about music. I’ve worked as a rock musician and as a political aide at Queen’s Park. I hold a B.A. (York U, 1999, summa cum laude) and a Master of Divinity (U of T, Knox College, 2008, Gold Medal).

Here’s a few fun facts: I…

• Served as an extra in a Nicolas Cage movie (No, I didn’t get to meet him. Bummer.)
• Appeared as the guitar player in Deric Ruttan’s hit video “When You Come Around” (He’s my big bro!)
• Performed at Canadian Music Week and two Mariposa Folk Festivals
• Did a 3-song publishing deal with Song / ATV Tree Music Publishing

And then there’s this. I believe…

• In prayer and that humans do have wings (they’re called knees)
• That human trafficking is one of the biggest, most urgent problems in our world
• That the castle of your character is built one brick at a time
• That if you have a life-changing faith your faith should be changing your life
• And that you can’t lead from the middle

Why not follow along with The Up Devo? I have fun writing it, and I think you’ll be encouraged reading it.

My heroes are Jesus (from Nazareth), my wife (from my life), Thomas More (from A Man For All Seasons), and all the people whose faith makes a difference in the world each and every day.