What I Do

I've spent most of my adult life in jobs that were pretty easy to explain--pastor, teacher, security guard, pizza delivery guy, baseball umpire...

But two months ago we moved to Washington where I got a job as a Ministry Development Negotiator for Logos Bible Software. I've had many conversations with friends and family members where I try to explain what that means. Heck, I didn't even really know what all it entailed until I was a couple weeks into the job!

So I'm going to take some time now to explain what I do. If you're not that interested, feel free to stop reading now.

First some background on Logos. You can read more detail here on the Logos website; and this video gives a good feel for what the company is like.

This video shows what Logos's products can do.

Logos makes an amazing product--it's not just Bible software (although it is the best Bible software out there), it is a huge library of over 17,000 resources, instantly available because of the incredible technology.

I wish I'd had Logos in seminary.

My department, Ministry Development, works primarily to connect with conferences, churches, and schools to present Logos to groups of people and show them how Logos can make a huge difference in their ministries and studies.

Logos has a publishing arm. Writers can publish their work digitally through Logos.

So what do I do? I co-lead a team of people who try to partner with organizations, setting up opportunities for Logos to present, sell, and train people to use Logos.

I spend a lot of time on the phone talking with pastors, professors, seminary deans, conference coordinators. Listening, getting to know them, helping show them how Logos can help them.

I write a lot of emails. I record a lot of data. I talk with members of my team, learning from each other, encouraging one another, laughing together.

I work most of the time with a guy who is both very different from me (he's conservative, I'm liberal. He's a talker, I'm a listener. He's a Cowboy fan, I'm a Redskin fan); but also somewhat similar. We love sports, movies, fatherhood, and have similar senses of humor.

I work long days; usually 9-10 hours. But I'm so busy, and there is so much variety, that most days go by very quickly. I always feel like I need to get more done, but I have done a good job of leaving work at the office and letting it go when I'm home.

I enjoy going to work in the mornings. I go in early--usually leave about 5:30--and listen to yesterday's Mike and Mike podcast as I drive.

I get off about 3/3:30, and pick up the kids from school. Twice a week we watch Ashley play soccer for her high school.

Life is busy and fun these days.

six weeks into the move

I'm still here. The last six weeks have been a whirlwind. I was talking with a good friend back home in Virginia a few days ago, and after I caught him up on everything we've done since moving to Washington, he was amazed.

I hadn't thought about how much change and activity such a transition involves; but after some reflection, I'm amazed at how much has happened in just 45 days...

We packed up everything we own and drove 3000 miles across the country. As Brady loves to tell, we drove through 11 states: Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington.

We unloaded almost everything into a storage facility, and took the essentials to Jamie's mother's house. I started work at Logos on July 25.

We went to the Logos company picnic in Fernwood--great time.

We went camping with a couple other families--wonderful time relaxing on the Nooksack River--tubing, cooking s'mores, riding 4-wheelers...

We went to two fairs--the Skagit County Fair, and the Northwest Washington Fair in Lyndon. We had a blast looking at horses and cows, eating great/awful fair food, listening to fun music and riding scary rides.


Ashley joined up with a local travel soccer team and played in a weekend tournament.

We enjoyed great food at A Taste of Bellingham.

We have visited three different churches so far.

Jamie has attended a wedding and a funeral.

We found a great daycare/preschool for Cash, and for Brady before and after school.

We got Brady enrolled at the only 5-day kindergarten in town.

We looked at several houses and found the perfect one. We signed a lease and move in Sept. 15!

Ashley tried out for soccer at Burlington-Edison High School and made the JV team. They are 1-1. She's a superstar.

I went to my first Mariners game when my friend Dale came up from Texas for a visit. They lost to the Angels 4-3.

We drove up Mt. Baker and played in the snow near the top on an 80 degree Saturday.

We got approved for the sale of our home back in VA, then found out our buyer lost his loan; so we're back on the market.

I have settled into my job, accomplishing some neat things, and getting more leadership responsibilities.

We are enjoying family here, missing family and friends in Virginia, loving the beauty and summer weather of the Northwest. It still hasn't really sunk in that we live here, but I'm sure it will over time.


I'm glad that I get to keep in touch with people--thanks for the encouragement.