Once a prisoner of his own selfishness, Jim gave his directionless life over to Jesus in a fraternity at Kansas University. Being a weak student, God built him into a writer, teacher and speaker to carry His message of freedom in Christ. He is Maureen's husband; Michelle, Marleen, and Melody's dad and J.P, Malina, and Amelia's grandpa. Along the way he guided mountain hikes in the Rockies, worked with Campus Crusade for Christ, sold sporting goods, coached high school track, pastured four churches, hosted call-in radio, pioneered men's ministries, taught discipleship, trained staff and spoke for Promise Keepers, all with many soul-diminishing successes and magnificent defeats. Now his calendar is filled with one-on-one meetings, men's small groups, home Bible studies, writing books, and retreat and conference speaking.
In 1990 Jim burned out running churches and trying to live the "good" Christian life. He resigned from his church and gave up on religion. It was a time of deep darkness, loneliness, questioning, and seeking true identity. Out of the searching came a new reality of relationship with Christ, freedom from religious systems, and thinking "outside the box." Jim's heart is for those who are in the bondage of religion and need the freedom of walking with Christ, not working for Him. He speaks to those who are exhausted from programs and want the Person, who are tired of looking a shadows and want reality, and who weary of meetings and want to meet with God. He has written six books on the subject of "Living at His Place" and the significance of moving from self-centered Christianity into a Christ centered life.