About Me

Hi! My name is Joe. Although I’ve been a Christian for more than four decades, it’s only been in the past few years that I’ve begun to realize that both my ministry and my own walk with Christ are at their best when they flow out of an understanding of who I am. In other words, when my life reflects who God created me to be (identity) and what he created me to do (purpose).

I created this website after it became clear that some of the insights I was seeing during my quiet times might be helpful for other Christians as well as myself. My goal is to help other believers grow in Christ, by helping them better understand their identity and their purpose.

I started Square Holes back in 2011, originally to blog about archaeology, railroads, and other subjects I was interested in. Over time I found I was writing more and more on Christian topics until, around the beginning of 2025, I felt that the Holy Spirit was leading me to turn the blog into a web resource to help believers grow in Christ – I’ve long said that leading a person to faith in Jesus without teaching them how to grow is like delivering a baby and leaving it on the sidewalk. Some of my old blog posts may eventually reappear, though.

The theme verse for this site, Ephesians 2:10, highlights the individual way that God deals with each of his children. We are his handiwork – not mass produced, but uniquely and lovingly crafted. God also prepared a place for each of us. Every one of us has been given a part in building his kingdom. There are things that I was created to do, and other things you were created to do. We are, each of us, square pegs, and God has prepared square holes for us.

I’ve been married since 2007 to a wonderful woman, who enjoys exploring ghost towns, ruins, and rock art sites almost as much as I do. (I love you Honey!)

Since the summer of 2021 I’ve been attending Outlook Christian Church, where I currently serve as part of the safety team, in the children’s ministry, and in the men’s ministry. However, I do want to make it clear that neither Outlook nor its leaders are in any way responsible for any part of this web site. All the opinions, as well as any errors, are mine.

 

Theological Background

Jesus, who was the Christ, or Messiah of Jewish prophecy, died and rose again to rescue the world from sin, and from God’s judgment. A salvation that is available to everyone who believes. But interestingly, the message that changed the world in the years after Jesus’ ascension was not just “Jesus saves,” but “Jesus is Lord.” This is what the disciples insisted on preaching, even in the face of imprisonment and death (because to say that Jesus is Lord is, necessarily, to also say that Caesar is not).

Fun fact: to be a follower of Jesus we have to actually follow Jesus (1 John 2:4-6). As Dallas Willard put it, “I am learning from Jesus to live my life as he would live my life if he were I.”1 This does not mean that we can earn salvation! Salvation is entirely an act of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Rather, it is a recognition of the fact that we are not only saved from something, we are also saved for something. It’s not just praying a prayer and then waiting around for him to return. Being a child of God (Romans 8:16) means a whole lot more than just being rescued from Hell.

Working out what this looks like in everyday life has been my journey for the past several years. Although I certainly have not yet arrived, I offer the articles and other resources on this site in hopes that others will be encouraged and challenged, just as I have been.

 

Notes:

1. Willard, Dallas
1997 The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. HarperCollins, Pymble, Australia, page 310.