An Update
... and talk of the future.
By my estimation, it has been approximately 18 months or so since I last posted – around June of 2024. I have always intended this Substack to be more consistent and hopefully I have (finally) made the space for it to be just that, but only time will tell I suppose.
Nevertheless, I do want to offer a quick update on things. My first “official” post will hopefully come in a week or so where I share a few brief thoughts about political theology and the current cultural moment, something that I intend to expound upon in a series perhaps.
Until then, an update –
In May of 2025, my family and I moved to Panama City, Florida and I took on a staff position as the Site Director for an SEU Extension Site at a church called High Praise Panama City. This remains my current post. I had already assumed this role part-time in August of 2024 while still living in Alabama and drove biweekly to the Panhandle to teach various courses on theology, hermeneutics, and such.
The founding pastors (Robert and Stacey Gay) and the lead pastors (Josh and Miranda Gay) of High Praise have been some of the most dear people in the world to me and Lindsey. We have been in relationship with them for roughly two decades, and I could dedicate an entire article to how much their friendship and care for us has meant all these years. Their enduring faithfulness and extraordinary generosity remains a shining example for us all.
Also during the last 18 months, I completed a second masters degree (ThM) from Pentecostal Theological Seminary (Cleveland, TN) and submitted my PhD proposal (Bangor University: Wales, UK). Now I am simply awaiting approval to begin the research. For those curious, the specific research area will be something like: Re-imagining Pentecostal Doctrines of Sin in Conversation with the Theology of Maximus the Confessor. (Side note – the ThM is the main culprit as to why this Substack had waned).
I have been sensing the Lord’s leading (or at least I think it is the Lord!) into a full-fledged academic career, which means I have several steps ahead of me: languages, publications, societies, adjuncting, and so forth. Of course, I would never step away from preaching or pastoral work; that has been central to my life since I was a teenager. Yet I do sense a new context for theological work and ministry. What that will look like in the future is anyone’s guess. We all know how these things go – you pick up clues one “Yes” at a time. And the yes in front of me is the PhD.
For Lindsey, she had a major career change in the Spring of last year. She became a realtor (passing her exam on the first try, I might add) and has already exceeded any and all expectations we could have ever dreamed of. In seven months, she closed 21 houses selling over 6 million dollars! She is thriving in the business because, if you know her, it is the perfect fit for her personality. And she has never been afraid to work like a woman on fire.
As far as kids go, our oldest (Analeise, 18) just completed her first semester of nursing school. Our middle child (Katie, 15) is a sophomore and our favorite 7Brew barista (or “Brew-ista,” I’m told). Asher (9) is in third grade and currently trying to master rubiks cubes, wheelies, back handsprings, football, drawing, and dice-stacking.
Being surrounded almost daily by the gray bleakness of bad news and even worse advice, I am eternally grateful for a life that is full and lovely, with so much hope and promise to look forward to.
To prevent boredom, that should be enough for now.
Be on the lookout for an actual post next week.
Talk soon.
so good to hear. thankful for you Casey.