Influential People In My Life – Pastor Doug Davidson and Pastor Ron Koehler III

It has been a while since I did one of these I realized just the other day. That is all on me. I totally let it slip. I am not sure why since I have enjoyed writing them. Anyways, here we go.

This one is about 2 key pastors I have had in my life. One was the pastor of my church I grew up at when I was in high school and into my early adult years. The other was, at the time, the associate pastor (not sure if that was his official title at his church) of the church that was just off campus when I was in college. They both had lasting impacts on me during very formative times in my life.

So, I will start with Pastor Doug. What I remember was that he was a caring man. He cared for his congregation. He wanted to teach all of us the Word of God and to help us know God better. I can’t remember any specific things he taught me. I can’t remember any specific sermons he preached. But I can remember that I grew as a Christ follower because of his teachings. I remember that he always had a smile on his face. He showed God’s love in the way he treated others. Doug taught me the concept of looking at life and realizing that I am better than I deserve. I realize he got that from someone else, but it was something Doug said often and I took it to heart. I am so much better off than I deserve in this world. Even on the worst of days I am still better off than what life would be like if I didn’t have God in my life. God makes things so much better and makes life worth living even in the bad times. And that is something I learned from Doug and have run with ever since.

Another thing I got from Doug (and his wife Sue) was a love for Glacier National Park. I recall him talking about a trip there one time early in “B” and I’s marriage. After hearing about the beauty there “B” and I decided that we wanted to head up there. We asked them all about it and got great advice as to where to stay (Camp at Bowman Lake) and where to get food (Polebridge Mercantile). So when we went the first time it was amazing and as such we have returned many more times (although Bowman Lake is getting a bit crowded now which is really sad). Once he left our church he moved just outside Glacier NP, and they even allowed our family to stay with them one time while passing through. It was kindness at its best.

Now for Pastor Koehler. I met him because of a girl I was dating in college that went to his church. I started going to the Sunday evening college Bible study that he ran. It was a great group of college students. The thing was that it was a very conservative Lutheran church and I was far from being Lutheran. Being raised a Baptist we had differences in certain things, but the thing was that he didn’t care. He treated me like any of the other “kids” there. I quickly became friends with him and a few others there through our mutual love of NFL football (not so much for me anymore, but back then I was sure into it). They did a fun weekly “pick” of games for bragging rights at the end of the season. I think over the years I came in second once. He was another man that showed his care for others in his words and actions. He regularly invited the college kids over to his house for dinner. I was always welcomed. Then when the girl I was dating dumped me I wasn’t sure about what would happen at the church on Sunday nights, but he was still the same person. He treated me as if nothing had changed, even though there was always tension in the room after that if she and I were in the same room (at least for a while). In fact I felt that things between us got better once that relationship was over. I learned a lot while going to the Sunday evening Bible studies. I grew in my understanding of Scripture. I grew in my understanding of life application of Scripture. I also learned about the differences in our religious backgrounds. I learned what I meant to be a Lutheran, and how it was different from my Baptist upbringing. While we didn’t agree on it all I believe we both knew we were both Christ-followers and that is what mattered in the eyes of God. He made my time in college better.

Both of these men went through a premarital counseling session with “B” and myself. Since we were in Tucson at first at the same time we went through counseling with Pastor Koehler first. It was a good time and we learned about each other. Then we went through counseling with Pastor Doug as well once “B” moved back to Chandler and Doug was going to perform the wedding. I remember that there were similarities in their lessons, but also differences that allowed “B” and myself to learn different things about each other before we got married. I must say that it was enlightening to get two perspectives on counseling before getting married. Both from Godly leaders but from slightly different backgrounds theologically.

These men made life impacts on me. I know I am a better man because of them. They taught me how to treat people the way God would want me to treat them. They also taught me how to be a better Christ-follower. That is the more important impact they made on my life.

Thank you for the impact you made on my life.