Introduction — My name is Dan. I am the content editor, creator of the essays, children’s stories, and poetry for this website.
This site is a place of respite for the inquisitive mind and the weary heart. We are all created to be curious about our surroundings, we have an innate self-awareness, and we often experience a tug towards spiritual things. I use the tenants of scripture as the source of truth to address these matters of the heart.
My story — In 1975 I met Jesus while working for the Air Force in Las Vegas, Nevada (Nellis Air Force Base). My life was a mess. My wife had taken the children home for a long visit. Things were not good between us. I knew something needed to change but was not sure what needed to change.
Then I bumped into Mike, a guy I worked with. On that day he was sharing Jesus with others in my work center. I overheard the discussion. I listened. The next day I asked Mike many questions. I rooted about my house and found a bible. I started reading. I was determined to disprove what Mike was saying.
Turned out Mike was right, I was wrong, and I yielded to Jesus. Romans 10:9 was the key for me. I accepted the fact that Jesus was Lord over me (heart change) and I believed that Jesus had been raised from the Dead. I understood the implications of redemption.
To be sure, when my wife left, I was one person. When my wife came back home a few weeks later, I was somebody else. It took time for her to adjust to the new me. Frankly, it took time for me to adjust to the new me.
Mistakes? Ya, tons of mistakes. But gradually God moved in and filled my heart with his goodness. My walk with God has been messy, extremely messy. There have been a couple of divorces in my life. During the first marriage, my son died. Then my first divorce happened. The loss of my son and the initial divorce began a downward spiral in my spiritual life. During my second marriage, I spent years in an “exile mode,” feeling sorry for myself. Then divorce happened a second time.
The essays on this blog gradually unfold my prodigal story. I am not proud of my history. I choose to focus on the present rather than the past. My life is a redemption story. His grace drives my movement toward a contrite heart. If you are not comfortable with real life, this may not be the website for you. I write about real things, real perspectives, and real struggles; I believe that honesty leads to real victory in Jesus through a repentant, servant heart.
What do I write about? I write about things I have absorbed from the men’s group I attend at Church. I write about what the old guys (Augustine, Aquinas, and others) said about the verses I am looking at. And, as you might guess, I spend a lot of time writing about the things that God provides — answers to questions. The things posted on this website are all about finding respite and answers. Learning about the one true living God. Meeting the one true living God. Finding peace… Embracing grace (Romans 10:9). Walking with God (Micah 6:8).
What I believe — I believe God the Father Almighty is all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal, and omnipresent. I believe God is the Creator of all things. I believe Jesus, His only Son, is our God — conceived by the Spirit of God, born of Mary, suffered under the Romans, crucified, died, and resurrected. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Almighty. I believe the Holy Spirit is the teacher of all truth, empowering the church with the Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit. I believe Scripture is God‑breathed, given for teaching, reproof, and for mining God’s wisdom. I believe the New Covenant centers on ransom, redemption, and restoration — individuals gathered into the church. I believe that anyone who yields to Jesus as Lord and believes in His resurrection will be saved.
Why ‘ShalomTalk’? Shalom is a well‑known Hebrew term usually translated as “peace.” It appears 237 times in the Old Testament and conveys completeness, well‑being, and wholeness. Shalom Talk is my attempt to share things that nurture spiritual health and point toward the One who restores the soul.
