I am the author of Transparent: How to See Through the Powerful Assumptions That Control You. I am also the President of the Assumptions Institute, an educational organization that helps individuals and groups find God and engage with Him in their areas of interest, expertise, and leadership. We do that with resources and strategies that use the power of assumptions to discover what is true and align our public lives with that truth.

This is my own blog that focuses on seeing through the things in our daily lives using the power of assumptions, so this blog is Transparent Territory. Our deepest ways of assuming govern everything we do, say, and think. “As he thinks in his heart, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7). Our thinking always begins with assuming. It is not a question of IF we assume, but rather HOW we assume, and whether our assumptions are true. Those assumptions work themselves out in countless ways, so exploring hidden assumptions is an amazing adventure of discovery.

I write on education, media, popular culture, history, government, politics, science, business, and most any other area that the power of assumptions gives me insight. At the level of assumptions, God is everywhere, and this is where I find how God gives us real, practical knowledge in “real life.”
My goal is to create thought-provoking, life-changing content that will challenge you and show you how God relates to and informs every area of your life, not just the realm of your personal devotion. If you want to be a Christian who is engaged in your public life, then this is the place for you. Even if you are not a Christian, this could be the place where you find a unique, refreshing, and perhaps compelling glimpse into a world that may not have seemed plausible before now. You’ll be amazed to find that at the level of assumptions we are all religious, even atheists, which I know seems like an oxymoron, but it really is true. We are all people of faith, just people of different faiths. Understanding assumptions reveals how.

I typically post a couple of times per week. To be sure you don’t miss the latest adventure, you can subscribe via e-mail.

My Biography

You need to know that while I may be above average in the intellectual department, I am just a regular guy. My dad was a truck driver. I lived in a single wide trailer house. I’m from a little farm town in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. I worked in mundane jobs until I finished college. I have picked strawberries, bucked hay bales, caught chickens, power washed moss off of roofs, washed dishes, washed and fueled airplanes, and I was even a disc jockey at a small market radio station. I’m nobody special. I have just been given a gift and an opportunity to use it.

That gift has given me the ability to work with some of the brightest people in the world – university professors. I have been in ministry for over 30 years. Most of my work has been with professors from all over the world. I know the university and how it works because I know the people who are the university. I also happen to have a couple of postgraduate degrees, including one from the University of Oxford that helps me as I consult with professors. My work with professors eventually led me to found the Assumptions Institute to expand the influence of my pioneering discovery of the power of assumptions.

While I can carry on a conversation with most anyone with a Ph.D., I have a unique talent for “translating” the complex, powerful ideas of the academy into everyday language for everyday people. I am not trying to be a scholar so much as I am trying to help regular people understand the ideas that scholars and pseudo-scholars purvey and what difference it makes in everyday life.

I have been married for 30 years.  My wife’s devotion, strength, and love keeps my feet on the ground. We have three daughters and a son in their teens and twenties. We live outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

When I have free time, I enjoy games, reading, walking my dog, Frisbee golf, and conversations with friends. I have been a member of Dogwood Church in Tyrone, Georgia for over 25 years.

My Contact Information

You can contact me via e-mail or follow me on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Colophon

My blog is built on WordPress 4.5 (self-hosted). My theme is a customized version of the Divi Theme. Ashley did the customization, and I recommend her services. The body text font is the Divi default font, Open Sans. The title and subtitle fonts are also Open Sans. My personal photos were taken by ReAnn Ring. The photos for my blog posts usually come from Dreamstime and iStockPhoto. My site is hosted by BlueHost.

Disclaimer

This is my personal blog. My opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of my employer, Assumptions Institute. The information I give is on an as-is basis. Though I try to be as accurate as I can, I am human and I can be incorrect. Check things out for yourself. I do not claim that the information in my blog is completely current, suitable, or valid. I will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.