Who is Brian Carlin? A pretty tough assignment to answer that in a few paragraphs, as it would be for any of us. So here is at least an introduction to me from a couple of angles.
I am 53 years old, an almost native of St. Louis (my family moved here when I was three) and have been married to my wife, Janet, for over 30 years. Together we have raised three children, all in their 20’s now, and welcomed two sons-in-law into our family in the last two years – Lindsay (and Ryan), Matthew, Michelle (and Parker).
On most Sunday mornings, you can find me seated behind the drum set. I’ve been involved in worship ministry for over 20 years and also play around town throughout the year as a jazz drummer. On every other Sunday afternoon, you can find Janet and I leading a BLT (small group), in which we learn as much from our fellow group members as we do from preparing the lessons.
In the business world, you would probably call me an entrepreneur. I have started four companies – all still in operation and am in the process of starting my fifth company. In the midst of it all, I spent nine years as a Division President for Maritz, as a result of Maritz buying one of my companies.
But the most important part of my story is that I grew up in a broken family, with broken people who taught me how to live a broken life. While perfecting my degree in depravity in college, God saw fit to mount a rescue mission, putting several key people in my life that eventually led me to Christ when I was 22. Janet and I married a year later.
We would have lived happily ever after, except that I was not a very happy man. I was, in fact, quite an angry man – saved, but still full of the bitterness and selfishness of so many years without God. It wasn’t until 18 years later, when I was 40, that God mounted the next rescue mission. This one took more time and a different set of people to perform what I can only describe as a “spiritual surgery” to remove all that cancerous stuff in my heart. And there was no anesthesia. And it lasted seven years.
Since then I have been continuing to grow, to learn more deeply the truth that while I am still capable of great sin, I am nothing more than an ordinary sinner and God’s extraordinary grace and redemptive power continue to give me an increasing capacity to confess, to repent, to receive, to feel, to love and to care for others in ways I have not previously known.
Colossians 1:13-14 says,
For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
To that I say, “Amen.”