My Story

On April 15th, 2011, I began the biggest wrestling match of my career against cancer.  What began as nagging chest pain, night sweats, and incessant itching was eventually diagnosed as Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  As a 22 year old college senior, I had to leave school with a month left before graduation to investigate treatment options at the Cleveland Clinic.  As word got around, my phone and email inboxes were bombarded with encouragement, support, and solidarity.  With neither the time nor the energy to respond to each one individually, I wrote a blog entry as a way to get everyone on the same page.  I began with the diagnosis and then explained how I was processing it.  But the Lord had much bigger plans.

The response that this entry generated made me realize one thing: my struggle with cancer was as much a responsibility as it was a trial.  I had an enormous platform with which to glorify the Lord.  Many people had their eyes on me and my family for compassion's sake, but this was a tremendous opportunity that I could not waste.  In my feeble attempt to process this situation from a Biblical perspective, I changed the name of the blog to Hope Does Not Disappoint (Romans 5) and tried to make it a vessel through which the Lord would encourage and challenge disciples and non-believers alike.  This whole experience has been focused on making sure that He is glorified, regardless of the circumstance.  During this journey, there were times when I have never felt closer to the Lord and during others, I have never felt farther.  But at the end, His faithfulness remained without blemish and by His grace, I was healed.       

My message... hope.  

My mission... to glimpse the big picture of God's master redemption story and help others do the same.
My desire... to see others draw closer to Him through their circumstance, good or bad. 

I could describe myself in many different ways.  First and foremost, I am a sinner saved by grace.  I happen to be a die hard wrestler, aspiring chef, sub-par musician, and staff member with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  I happen to love flannel shirts, coffee, reading, red velvet cake, and the precious moments that I get to spend with my wife, Lindsay.  I even have a dream to write a book one day.  But if there is one thing I want you to know about me, it is this...

I have hope.  And it does not disappoint.