The Story
Behind The Journey
In my mid-twenties, I finally confronted what I had long ignored as a professing Christian –duplicity.
My faith walk had been a rollercoaster of a few spiritual ups but mostly downs. The power behind this tumultuous pathway had been the spirit of duplicity that fueled my spiritual worldview. While I intellectually and formally agreed with the idea of Jesus being the Son of God, Savior of my soul, and Lord of my life, I was also comfortable with attitudes and actions that were not in concert with the calling of a disciple. (Romans 12:1-2)
During my high school and college years, family members, Bible class teachers, and preachers attempted to address my duplicity in their ways. Randy Moon, my high school Youth Minister, made great efforts to connect with and mentor me toward a more focused life of discipleship. However, it would be several years before the good seed he sowed in me took root.
As I mentioned, in my mid-twenties, the Lord reached out to me again through Don Proctor. He could see my ongoing struggle with duplicity. After befriending me and developing a close relationship, he eventually confronted me about my duplicity with great love and assertiveness. While there was a momentary flush of defensiveness, I ultimately listened to his sincere insights about my life. Soon, I accepted his invitation to study together, a study of God’s word that pointed me toward a singular discipleship pathway. As a result of those studies and the loving discipline of Don and his wife, Sandy – the rollercoaster stopped.
Over the next few years, I opened my heart and mind more and more to walking a pathway that desires to live and reflect Christ alone (a journey that still challenges and blesses me today). This pathway eventually led me to a deeper study of Scripture at Sunset International Bible Institute and into full-time ministry.
After more than two decades of church ministry, Rodney Roberts and Paul Dowell (fellow ministers at Sunset Church of Christ) invited me to discuss a crucial need in the lives of so many congregants: the need to be more intentional about pursuing spiritual growth and Christ-like transformation.
Our various ministry experiences led us to the disconcerting conclusion that too many believers (even as I had) were struggling with spiritual immaturity. They allowed duplicitous mindsets to influence their walks of faith negatively; these mindsets left them exceedingly vulnerable to unrighteousness and practically disengaged from the purpose of being salt and light to those around them.
From our initial conversation came a series titled “The Journey.” Separately and together, we developed and wrote each lesson in the series. For several years, we developed and taught these lessons in Bible classes, small group studies, and one-on-one studies. Over time, The Journey started capturing more and more of my focus. It eventually became one upon which I wanted to dedicate the core of my time and energy. I began shaping and rewriting each lesson to reflect my orientation to the topics and according to my wording. However, while the present Journey material is my personalized version, the heart and spirit of Rodney and Paul are ever present in its pages. Thank you, brothers! My prayer, as you begin this material, is that it will encourage you to step onto the pathway of discipleship with a singular focus—motivate you to embrace the teachings of Scripture regarding discipleship—and allow it to assist you as you seek to transform your heart and renew your mind to glorify God and bless others while walking like Christ.
