About

“The Rev. Dev.” I’m Josh Steele, a pastor-turned-programmer (“Rev[erend]"-to-“Dev[eloper]”) who solves problems with a programmer’s eye for detail and a pastor’s heart for people. As a software engineer, I work mainly on backend development in Java for a cybersecurity company. But I’m also an ordained Anglican priest (currently resigned from active ministry) with three Bible/theology degrees. Currently living in Toledo, OH, I’ve got a wife, three young children, and an addiction to buying books and tools....

1 min · joshuapsteele

Caveats

You can add the following caveats to everything I write online. If it doesn’t directly apply to you, feel free to move along I’m usually writing for a broad audience and just trying to get people thinking. If I’m interested in starting a debate or argument with a specific individual, I will say so directly. If you think reality is more complicated than what I wrote, you’re right All communication is an oversimplification of reality....

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Contact

The best way to contact me is to send an email to blog@joshuapsteele.com. I’ll do my best to reaad and reply as soon as possible! If you’d like to reach out to me elsewhere online, I try to keep links to all my social profiles updated on the homepage here and also over at steele.omg.lol. Cheers, Josh

1 min · joshuapsteele

CV

(For a brief profile of what I’m like and what makes me tick as a worker, read this self-assessment. You can also view my resume on LinkedIn.) EXPERIENCE Software Engineer II - Proofpoint February 2023 - Present Led the design and development of a major user provisioning integration project, demonstrating leadership and technical skills. Authored scripts for system testing and delivered a technical presentation on the system. Mentored and trained new developers, showcasing leadership and interpersonal skills....

5 min · joshuapsteele

Essays

(Note: Since writing the essays below, I’ve left the academy and now work as a software engineer. Nevertheless, I’m keeping these around for posterity.) Wheaton College Graduate School (2017 - ) (Here’s the elevator pitch for my dissertation proposal: “Scriptural, But Not Religious: Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and a Biblical Critique of Religion.”) The Guilt of Karl Barth: Strengths and Weaknesses of Barth’s Römerbrief Reading of Romans 9:30–10:21 The Tree of Religion: Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the Tree of Knowledge in Genesis 2:4–3:24 When will Thy Kingdom Come?...

2 min · joshuapsteele

My Story

(Note: for a much briefer profile of what I’m like and what makes me tick as a worker, read this self-assessment.) From Childhood to College God’s faithfulness to me is linked with his faithfulness to my parents. They both grew up in nominally Roman Catholic homes, and came to relationship with Christ shortly before my birth. When I came along, their church environment was a mixture between conservative Baptist and non-denominational....

8 min · joshuapsteele

Now

These days, I’m: Living in Toledo, OH (my hometown!) Raising 3 young kids (6yo, 4yo, 1yo) with my wife Enjoying my work as a software engineer Trying to lose weight (current weight: 235lbs; goal: 200lbs) Working on home and auto repair Buying too many books and tools (This is a now page, and if you have your own site, you should make one, too.) Last updated: 2024-10-19

1 min · joshuapsteele

Philosophy of Ministry

(Note: Since writing this “philosophy of ministry”, I have since resigned from active ministry. I now work full-time as a software engineer, and am trying to discern what my Christian “vocation” looks like, going forward. Nevertheless, I will leave what I’ve written below for posterity.) Every Christian is a theologian. I consider it my life’s work to help “everyday Christians” grow in their knowledge and love of God so that we all can put our gifts to good use by joining with God’s redemptive work in the world....

4 min · joshuapsteele

Questions

This is a /questions page, where I keep track of the questions I’m asking! Last Updated: 2024-11-10 Questions I’m Asking (These are in addition to these “self-elicitation” questions, which are always worth asking yourself!) How do I fix a light switch that doesn’t controll a ceiling light/fan like I want it to? How do I get rid of woodpeckers that keep pecking my house? What’s the best “budget” bidet? What’s the best “budget” smart TV?...

1 min · joshuapsteele

Recommended Tools and Resources

A “tool” is “anything that can make your life better.” I love tools, whether physical or digital. And I love books, because they’re some of the best tools out there! (For my personal “tech stack” recommendations, including what I use for email, social media, etc., see my /tech-stack page.) How to Think How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, by Mortimer J. Adler The Personal MBA, by Josh Kaufman The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User’s Manual, by Ward Farnsworth Super Thinking: The Big Book of Mental Models, by Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann Untools: https://untools....

3 min · joshuapsteele