Who Am I?

I’m two four six oh one! Well maybe not.  While I’m no Jean Valjean I do aspire to be that kind of a disciple of Jesus.  My story starts in New Mexico where I grew up on a cattle-ranch.  I grew up United Methodist and eventually found my way into the Church of the Nazarene, which I’ve called home for a long time now.  I went to college in San Diego at a beautiful Nazarene school right on the beach. I graduated from Nazarene Theological Seminary a while back and now I’m serving as the director of High School ministry at an amazing Presbyterian church in New Jersey.

I have a passion for film and art and I am often found reading one of the several books in my “book garden.” I am continuously humbled and amazed by the God that I make rough and sloppy attempts to follow. Being set free by Christ is a lifelong experience of grace that I can only hope to mirror to those I encounter and live among. I’ve been shaped by the Christian minds of Henri Nouwen, Richard Foster, Stanley Hauerwas, John Howard Yoder, my Mom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John Wright and Brian McLaren among others.

I’m married to the beautiful and brilliant Kara Lyons who I met at the end of my first year at Seminary. She is my willing movie-watching companion (seriously, I think I’ve made her watch over 4 zombie movies and no complaints yet), we love watching a few tv shows these days, namely LOST, Fringe, 30 Rock and the Office. We’re looking forward to traveling the world together and making each other laugh for a long time to come. Kara is currently studying at Princeton Theological Seminary where she is pursuing a PhD in New Testament. She has a special interest in the book of Mark and Theological Hermeneutics. We were married June 2nd, 2007 in Kansas City, MO.

email: charlie [at] chuckp3.com

AIM: PoMoCowboy