My Journey
I am a veteran contractor raised in an Italian American Catholic family in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California. I now reside in a quieter, more serene setting far from the bustling energy of Los Angeles. This move has allowed me greater space for reflection and listening to the Lord. Born on February 11, 1954, I attended Catholic schools from first through ninth grade, including St. Elizabeth School in Van Nuys and one year at the all-boys Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. Navigating the Catholic school system of that era meant experiencing the firm discipline of the nuns—who had the liberty to spank, slap, or pull ears—and I was a frequent recipient. Yet even in those younger years, a genuine heart for God stirred within me.
After high school, a deep heart-tug toward God’s greatness stirred as I lived among the majestic high Sierra mountain range near Mammoth Lakes. That experience drew me to a profound encounter with my Creator, Jesus, on the UCLA campus in 1974 at the age of twenty. A few days later, I stepped into Church On The Way in Van Nuys and remained there as an active member for over thirty years. In the early days, as a young carpenter, I spent many hours on various jobs while the young church was growing, witnessing in an indirect yet powerful way the movement of the Holy Spirit in those early days of TCOTW.
My wife Tammie and I, married since March 24, 1979 after meeting in the church’s college department, have walked together as partners in faith, family, and life’s adventures for more than forty-seven years. Together we raised four children and now delight in our fourteen grandchildren, navigating seasons of joy and trial with a shared commitment to Christ. Through the years I built a construction business in Los Angeles, completing many projects for notable clients in the entertainment, film, and music industries. Yet amid success and challenges—family responsibilities and the ordinary demands of daily life—I have learned that the deepest growth unfolds in solitude and silence before God.
A significant deepening occurred around 2022 amid cultural concerns and personal discouragement. This season drew me into disciplined early-morning hours of prayer, worship, and meditation on Scripture, along with a fresh pursuit of crucifying the flesh so that the life of Christ might be more fully manifest. The Holy Spirit has led me back to the simplicity of abiding—resting in Christ’s finished work, the power of the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the inheritance promised in the Book of Joshua for my family and future generations.
Today, at seventy-two, I focus on family legacy, quiet reflection, and stewarding the businesses with an eye toward harmony and succession. My testimony is not one of flawless performance but of God’s unwavering faithfulness. Galatians 2:20 has become a cornerstone: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (NKJV). As the carnal man dies and makes room for the Holy Spirit—the third Person of the Godhead—to take hold, incredible things unfold through the hand of God. The Church needs this reality for such a time as this. Jesus is on the throne, Father God is well pleased, and He loves His creation. The Holy Spirit was given to empower believers to do miracles and set people free, for whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
On solitudeandsilence.com and connected platforms, I share reflections, prophetic insights (such as words about coming storms and God’s prevailing faithfulness), Spirit-filled Bible studies, and encouragement for others to draw near. My desire is simple: to give all glory to God, walk humbly as a conduit of Jesus’ love and redemption, and leave a lasting spiritual inheritance for my family and anyone the Lord brings across my path. I am no polished expert or super-spiritual figure—just a man who has learned, over more than fifty years, that the most fruitful place is often the quiet place with the Savior.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, NKJV) remains both invitation and anchor. In solitude and silence, I continue to discover that God is enough—and that His grace is sufficient for every season.