About the Author
Frog Man
A speaker, teacher, and mentor of spiritual development—John is not generally known for talking to frogs. But, BP Frog commissioned him to pass along the principles of truth-seeking to empower the SEARCH of others.
A former sprinter for The Ohio State University, John was a Big-10 Champion and record-holder with his 1600m-relay team. He also earned national, and world ranking in the 300m. He graduated with a degree in Communication, then added two advanced degrees, a Master’s of Biblical Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, and his doctoral studies in Leadership Development at The Ohio State University.
John has worked for The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, served as a Senior Pastor, as Area Director for Search Ministries, and most recently as Director of The Heart for Home—a service dedicated to inviting friends into The Conversation of Life and God leading to Life in God’s Love. All this time, he has lived by the code of Amphibian Diaries with countless stories of life change along the way. They are the tales that form the foundation for the book.
John and his wife, Susie, were teenage sweethearts, married young, and have spent forty years together in love in Columbus, Ohio. They have two daughters, and—so far—two grandchildren. John loves writing and telling stories with a creative and comedic flare. His hobbies often serve as subject matter for stories—their Golden Retriever service dogs and anything fast and daring, from speedboats and wave-runners to rappelling and sky-diving.
Gus recently passed his test… so he's a full fledged therapy dog!
No special effects, no filters… nothing but pure "Why in The Sky!" I'm serious as all get out, I promise you, I looked up and there it was. I was sitting in the sand on the beach, just down from Beach Road and Fern Avenue on Little Traverse Bay a couple miles from Harbor Springs, Michigan. I snapped the shot with my very own I-Phone. That's when I knew I had to finish compiling Amphibian Diaries. Personally, I think it was meant as a gift to you, our readers.
My Hope for You…
A couple secrets: For one, BP Frog lives in honor of his namesake, the inventor of the LifeBet—a seventeenth century, French mathematician, philosopher by the name of Blaze Pascal.
And, the stories in this book are true or based on personal account. The opening chapter in the Bijou and the two frogs?. That really happened. And Josh Valentino’s race in the Special Olympics actually was the tear-jerker.
Most of all I want you to know I am a follower of the first century Jewish Carpenter, Jesus. I’ve been convinced of the reason for my faith in him many years now. Since committing to his love, he has conveyed to me a peace and joy that I’m sure will last forever. I want to love others like he loves me. So I’m compelled to wish and want his peace and joy for you. And, that’s why I was happy to write this book with BP.
I want to invite everyone to the opportunity of spiritual conversation as I’ve described in this book. I believe a genuine SEARCH for truth will ultimately lead to the reality of Jesus and the potential for your own experience of fulfilling peace and joy. And I believe relational dialogue will empower the spiritual quest.
My hope for other followers of Jesus is to become LifeBet Makers. Please get Amphibian Diaries to your friends, and invite them into a humble—gentle and respectful conversation of spiritual things. I’ve learned that the process will encourage and solidify the reality of your own faith.
And I have a hope for friends who have yet to be persuaded of the reason for faith in Jesus. I pray they would become LifeBet Takers. Let this book launch into a quest for real answers to life’s ultimate questions. Join the conversation with a humble and open mind and heart. Find out where it may take you. Of course I prefer you would read and discus the issues and principles raised in the book with a genuine LifeBet Maker. But, if you can’t find one of those, interact with me and others via this website. That’s why it exists.
One last point, especially for LifeBet Takers: If you’re in a spot and can’t afford the book, please contact me through the website or by email to BPFrog@AmphibianDiaries.com. I’ll trust I can find somebody to buy it for you as a gift!
Credit Tyler Rowe Photography for professional pic.