I think the main difficulty in starting a blog is writing the About Me section.  I also think that admission is sort of sad, really.  After all, the easiest thing in the world should be to write a short statement about oneself.  I mean, we all live with ourselves all day, every day.

The problem is not so much writing about oneself as it is deciding what to share about oneself with the world.  Being authentic without revealing all the grisly details.  So in that spirit, here goes….

My name is Matthew Schmink. My last name is not very common and I have heard nearly every pronunciation under the sun. Just think “Sh” and “mink” and mash it all together. Like Schmidt but with an “ink” at the end. When I was a child, I found a children’s book of monsters in the library. One of the monsters was called the Schmink, spelled just like my last name. Strange.

I am a Christian.  I am not always a very good one, but I am persevering and I “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phillipians 3:14).  I recognize that I do and will fail which is why I place my faith in Jesus and stand on the grace of God to support me in my weakness.

I am a father and a husband.  I have 2 boys, aged 10 and 12.  My wife and I were married in 2007.  We have made our home in the Detroit metropolitan area. 

I love to read.  I don’t stick to a specific genre though I have some favorites.  But really, I find joy in learning and discovering new things.  I am curious by nature so that discovery process is fulfilling for me.

I work in the metals industry.  Though I was a history major in college, I ended up through a circuitous path in the metals industry, specifically titanium.  Life is strange sometimes.

You can reach me via email at matt@confessionofhope.com