About John and Jaci

Let’s start with characterizations that embody who we are.

I used to be a Commoner. Not so much now when you think of big sheets and lots of things to eat! Just like everyone else I am a sinner saved by grace. I don’t share this characterization based solely on a scriptural understanding of my own depravity, although that is important. I share it because I have walked it. Yes, I am one who is as prone to failure as everyone else! But, I think that this is important to divulge because many who are considered to be people of faith are also considered to be unapproachable by the common people.

We are People of Simple Faith

I revel in the reality that Romans so perfectly drives home, fully embracing, the finished work of the Cross of Christ, the understanding that I am hidden in Him, blameless before God, righteous in His sight, justified, sanctified and fully able to enjoy the freedom that comes in a walk of simple faith. This is my rest!

We Desire a Walk in the Spirit

We fully understand the characterizations of Charismata and Pentecost and have experienced both, however, they are not what identify as a Christ follower's. I think Jaci and I would prefer to identify ourselves as a couple who are under the influence and work of the Holy Spirit. We fully trust that He is capable of doing whatever He desires in our lives and does not require us to do the work that He does so well. This doesn’t mean that we ignore Him, or that we have it all figured out! It simply means that every day we conversate with His Spirit in the language of the Spirit. We are learning to daily invite the fullness of His power and gifts into our lives.

We are not perfect!

We still struggle day to day and we still work through issues of our past, family, health, finances, relationships, and everything in between. But we have Hope and we Trust that the Lord will direct our steps. He has proven Himself faithful and no one can take that away!
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The Prayer Factor

We love to Pray! Not just alone but with everyone we come in contact with. We find it to be one of the most impacting ways to bring Jesus into our circumstances. Saints need it, those who are lost crave it, and what better way is there to love on one another? It hasn't always been that way, So often in life our own spiritual pride gets in the way and we fight our own battles. over many years, hardships and failures. We are still learning to give up our fight and let God battle for us.

Wider Scope

I am a man's man kind of guy and my wife Jaci is a gal's gal kind of girl! We are keen on simple living, family, relationships, and doing life in a rural-country setting. We are not flashy and are better suited for western liv'n. I guess that's a nice way of saying We are just simple!

Passion for the Word

The Word of God is one thing that we are most passionate about. I love to talk about the scriptures in ways that give those who hear an opportunity to make practical application in an easy to use kind of way. For a long time it was information, theology, religion. Now, it's just opportunity to spend time with the Lord.

Sweet Communion

We frequent the Lord's Table of Communion. Jaci and I both do this privately and with our church family so as to regularly be reminded of the glorious work of the cross and to frequently connect with Jesus. For us, it is so important to continually be washed with His blood, forgiven of our sins, and renewed by His Spirit.

About Her

I love my wife! Next to the Lord she is the most precious commodity on this planet. She is wise beyond her years, a student of the scriptures, She is meek, humble, temperate, my counselor, my companion, and beautiful. You will not find a more lovely person or a better friend than my wife Jaci!

Story


Story is how we figure things out in life. It’s how we make sense of things as we align, compare, and correlate them with the story of God. God is not interested in what you think you should be or feel. He is not interested in the narrative you have constructed for yourself, or what others have constructed for you - or even the one your church has fabricated for you. Your story may be chucked full of ruts and potholes, crashes and do-overs! The Lord may even be using all these things to deconstruct some small stories and narratives to ultimately bring them into alignment with His story, a big story, a glorious story, a story of redemption and restoration, the story of God! I believe He does this on our behalf so that we don’t have to be burdened by what someone else’s expectations of us or, what others think your story should look like. When it comes right down to it, the big picture and story of God is the only thing that matters! 
He loves us so much that He is interested in you and me. The us who go through suffering. The us who inflict suffering on others. The you and me who hide. The we who have bad days (and good ones). And God meets us where we are in our story.
Jesus is not the man at the top of the stairs—he is the man at the bottom. The friend of sinners. The Savior of those in need of one. He is the lover of of those who are unlovable! Which is all of us—all of the time!

Let that sink for a moment!
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We freely share our life story with others because we realize that we have all suffered setbacks along with victories, and that often our stories certainly haven't turned out the way we thought or even hoped! many of us encounter pushback from those around us because our story hasn't met their expectations for us. What I do know is this... God has been the author and finisher of our stories the whole time and His story of love and redemption is what is so evident in all of our epic novels!

I love the outdoors, I am drawn to a more western lifestyle and country living, I prefer minimalistic and cozy, good friends, a campfire and great coffee. I love exploration and adventure. and laughing at the commonality in our struggles. I do most of this through the venue company that I started in 2008, called IRR - I Ride Rogue. It has taken me a long time to recognize that this is what God has been preparing mr for and calling me to. I can only say that I have found my niche and love what the Lord does as we share story in simple places that are off of the beaten path. Doing life with simple folk who struggle along with bearing one another's burdens has become the common setting where we can identify God's plans, what He is doing, what His intentions are, and settle in to an Adventure of Hope as we share our stories and become part of His story.

Life has been good at dealing us a great deal of adversity and I have made myself an ample amount of messes. In the last 10 years there have been many changes, trials, wins and losses. They have brought us through a tremendous season and made us stronger. God, even now continues to show Himself faithful to those of us who are weak!