Family: Stacy, my high school sweetheart since 1983, is an organizer extraordinaire!;  “my guys” – Fleet (21) is studying international finance at Indiana University and serves as the worship leader for The Canvas, a church for college students; Robby (19) is studying marketing at the University of Southern Indiana and loves snowboarding; Bradley (15) is a sophomore at Wheeler High School and is an avid golfer.  

Education: B. A. in Biblical Studies & Psychology (GraceCollege), M.Div. in Pastoral Ministries (Grace Theological Seminary), Th.M. in Church History (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), PhD studies in Religious History (University of Stirling, Scotland) 

Biggest influences: John Calvin (d. 1563), Rev. Bill Goode (d. 1997), Douglas Sweeney (professor of history at TEDS), John Piper, and my wife

Music in my car/on my iPod: Matt Redman, Jack Johnson, Third Day, Matt Kearney, James Taylor, John Mayer, Five for Fighting, (prefer Classical Baroque when studying) 

Favorite word:  My favorite word right now is “Procrustean”  (I have new favorite words every week).

Least favorite word:   can’t

Sound/noise I love:  rain in the woods, ocean waves on a beach, golf ball “sticking” a green

Sound/noise I hate:   phone ringing

Favorite movies:  Braveheart, Gladiator, Lord of the Rings (all three), The “Bourne” Trilogy, and Pale Rider (imagine being a preacher who could shoot a gun like that)

Favorite book(s): Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis); Desiring God (John Piper); The Next Christendom (Philip Jenkins); New Kind of Christian (Brian MacLaren), although I disagree with much of his stuff; Institutes (John Calvin)

Spare time:  Golf, reading, writing, traveling, time with family, a good movie

Best invention:  British ale

Another profession I’d like to try:  professional baseball player for the Houston Astros (would prefer playing second base and I would like to bring back the flashy orange uniforms)

A profession I never want to try:  actuary

Passion(s):  helping people discover a life that is “fully alive” in God, for their joy and God’s glory

Biggest frustration(s):  People who “sit in the stands” and criticize the “players on the field.”  (Sorry, but I only care about the opinion of people who have mud on their uniforms.)

When I get to Heaven, I’d like to hear God say:   There’s a Calvary Church reunion just up the road.  Listen for the loud music and it will take you there – It’s a big party and they have been waiting to hang out with you forever.  

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Lionel serves as a chaplain for the Valparaiso Police Department and is a spiritual advisor to local community leaders.  In addition, he occasionally gives his time as an adjunct professor equipping church leaders in Africa and Asia.  Lionel was recently awarded a Lilly Endowment Grant that he will use to study at the University of Cambridge during the summer of 2012.