I am the Pastor at The Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley, IL and the author of the book, published by Crossway, Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions and Deep Wounds.
You can read why I call my blog, “A Brick in the Valley,” here.
I have one wife (Jamie), four children (Allison, Christopher, Benjamin, and Mary Beth), and one dog (Mandy).
My education is “diverse.” I have a degree in chemistry from Central College (Pella, IA) and an MBA from the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA). In a former life I worked in product development in medical diagnostics for Bayer. I wrote technical materials for new product development and worked in applied statistics, wore a lab coat and tried to act like I understood more chemistry than I ever did.
After leaving the corporate world, I graduated from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree.
Later I received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary having completed the preaching track under Haddon Robinson. My doctoral thesis was a manual for helping pastoral search committees evaluate preaching. (I am convinced this is a crucial area!)
I grew up on a farm in the Great State of Iowa near Keosauqua.
Email me at chris (at sign, no spaces) theredbrickchurch.org.
Read why the title of my blog is, “A Brick in the Valley,” by clicking here. To subscribe to this blog by e-mail, click Subscribe to A Brick in the Valley by Email
Just to let you know that my family and I are thinking of you often and praying for you regularly.
I am staying clean and sober and my marriage is getting stronger every day. The guilt from the dissapointment I caused last November is subsiding but still there. More than anything though, I miss the times of laughter and 1980′s reflection we share. I have a lot of hope and am looking forward to re-building the relationship with you that was going strong about a year ago.
Please continue to pray for me and mine and our AWANA family.
Here to serve,
Tom E.
Chris,
I noticed some of your comments over at Justin Taylor’s blog. Are you writing a book on ethics or on the psalms or bitterness? I am not sure I caught the point of the book you are working on.
Thanks,
James Grant
Thanks for the question!
My book is, Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers to Complex Problems and Deep Wounds.
So, the central topic is forgiveness. Of course, I must deal with the related topics of whether or not forgiveness is conditional, bitterness, and at least indirectly the Imprecatory Psalms.
My thesis is only the Word of God can unpack forgiveness. The problems are too complex and the wounds are otherwise too deep.
This book will present the beauty of God’s grace and the necessity of forgiveness. But, it will also teach the reader that forgiveness must take place in a way that is consistent with justice. We must move beyond a “feel-good doctrine of automatic forgiveness.”
hi
Chris, thanks for the comment on my blog. I never thought anybody read it! I have enjoyed reading yours before – I think Justin Taylor linked to it (??) – and the post was excellent. I think it was on forgiveness and it was quite biblical and convicting.
Thanks for the encouragement in the Lord!
Britt
Thanks Britt. I subscribe to your feed – - RSS feed is the way to go – - I use Google Reader. So, I read every post that comes up on your blog. I even think of you when I come across the title for your blog in Scripture.
Hey Chris!
Just checking in. I hope you’re doing well! =]