on the other side of the fence

“Hey you in the green shirt!” I heard the voice coming from the other side of the fence. Looking down to remind myself that I was indeed wearing a green shirt, I began to approach the fence skeptically. Perhaps it was just another sad story used only to manipulate and then after you’re conscience struck, only to ask for a few bucks.

“They said those in the green shirts were supposed to pray for us!” She continued. As I drew closer I could make out the figure of an emaciated woman who probably could have slid between the iron bars of the fence without any effort. A small boy was standing close by at her feet. They had not been at the community event that afternoon, but had heard from a distance and sent out a desperate plea from the other side of the fence.

“How may I pray for you?” I asked and she presented a litany of things to pray about. Looking down to where the boy was I saw another volunteer in a green shirt kneeling to talk with him. The lady on the other side of the fence repeated her list to the other volunteer in case she didn't hear the first time. She also confessed an alcohol addiction. When she finished emptying her burdens, we reached through the fence, joined hands with her and began to pray in the name of Jesus.

Many of the people that live in my community are like this lady. They are on the other side of the fence where prosperity and plenty have no name. They struggle with addictions and coping mechanisms that only provide a temporary escape from reality. They have more mouths to feed than they are able and finding a decent job without a high school diploma seems nearly impossible. They are on the other side of fence struggling, but not without hope.

God has called his children to reach through the fences, to pray and care for our community, to fellowship with them in the midst of suffering and to love them through our actions. As we do so, we find that the love of Christ melts the iron bars that separate us. We find that we are no different from our neighbors because we are all in need of God. We find that God longs to break down those barriers making a way through Christ to join with those on the other side of the fence.

partly cloudy

Sun setting through the window
shimmers golden hues through the sky and streets
Wet pavement reflects the beauty
while beads of water swell and then streak
Silhouetted trees and street lights contrast the brilliance complete
Wonder still exists in the everyday ordinary things

high five

The High Five is a five level interchange in Dallas connecting two of the busiest roadways in the city. At certain times during the day the forms of the bridges cast magnificent shadows that contrast poetically with the lighter tones of the painted concrete surfaces.

thanks-giving square chapel

Ominous birds perched along the outside shell sit in stark contrast to the livid colors of the interiors.





The "Glory Window" spills color into the room at different increments throughout the day.






The "Glory Window" designed by Gabriel Loire of Chartres, France, directs the focus upward.





A close up detail of the stained glass.






The "Spirit of Thanksgiving" glass etching by John Hutton hovers over all who enter the chapel.

downtown dallas

Things I saw while walking around the downtown area of Dallas.

record snowfall

The biggest snowfall to ever hit Dallas was an accumulation of over twelve inches of snow. Here are a few photos that I took near where I live.

canyon creek prysbyterian church

During the summer of 2002 I worked for James E. Langford as an intern architect. A lot of the work that his firm was doing at the time was ecclesiastical and I was fortunate enough to work on the construction documentation phase of the Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church. The building, while modern, is based on classical proportional design elements.


A cantilever portion of the building provides shelter for people being dropped off by automobile.




The steeple is central to the design of the church and is also the main structural component of the auditorium.

View of the exposed steel steeple.

Light is used to direct the focus upward.

The roof fans out from the steeple like an umbrella.