About

Hello there… I’m Dave! 👋

Welcome to my small corner of the internet - Liturgy and Luchadors.

This blog is part of that messy, sacred work of rebuilding a life rooted in purpose, presence, and peace. It explores what comes after the fallout —rebuilding my faith from the ground up, unlearning lies, healing relationships, learning self-care, and slowly rediscovering joy in ordinary moments.

Here, I hope to openly share about emotional and spiritual abuse, mental health, faith and doubt. It’s also a space where I can write prayers and share dreams again. And finally, it is where I can write about my family and the interests that ground and delight me, from books and movies to podcasts and music, cooking, photography, football, OSINT, technology and locksports.

Thanks for stopping by…

More about me

I live in Prairie country near the beautiful Canadian Rockies with my family. I’m a proud Aussie who ironically became a Canadian citizen on Australia Day many years back.

From Dharug Country to Moh’kinstsis. 🇦🇺 🇨🇦

I studied Hebrew and archaeology at university, served as a youth pastor in a couple of churches, and worked as a youth worker/food services manager for a Christian social non-profit.

Most recently, I’ve been a stay-at-home dad and employment support worker, while working on transitioning my career into technical writing, OSINT, and online investigations.

I’m a follower of Jesus who is a bit of a theological mutt, influenced by the rich theology and traditions of Anglicanism, Presbyterianism, the Baptist church and Christian mysticism.

I have a strong interest in historical theology, especially exploring the creeds, confessions, and catechisms that have significantly shaped Christian doctrine. At the same time, I’m deeply drawn to spiritual formation, the Church Fathers, contemplative practices, and Christian mysticism.

While my faith is central to my identity, I have a deep disdain for the way it’s often weaponized in politics and used to fuel hate. Christianity, at its core, should be defined by the love, compassion, and grace found in Jesus —not by cruelty, oppression and division.

“Our task is not to protest the world into a certain moral conformity, but to attract the world to the saving beauty of Christ.” ― Brian Zahnd

Unfortunately, I speak from a place of painful personal experience. Two decades of emotional and spiritual abuse from my in-laws have shown me how easily faith—and even the person of Jesus—can be wielded as a weapon. There is a certain destructive cruelty in the pride of those who believe they have “arrived” spiritually, dismissing all other journeys as lesser or wrong.

“Certitude can be an incubator for cruelty. Perceived infallibility can lead to brutality.” ― Brian Zahnd

And nothing brings a family together quite like being trashed from the pulpit by your Father-in-law. It was a truly heartwarming moment. 🙄

Personality-wise, I’m an INFJ (Advocate) and Enneagram 2 (Helper) type. I’m a major empath, as one might say.

Politically, if I were to apply a label, I lean toward a form of Red Toryism.

That said, holding this position in my province is fraught with difficulty, as the political tide steadily veers to the far right. Too often, discourse is propelled not by principle, but by entitlement, simmering resentment, and a pervasive sense of grievance. Compounding the problem is a stubborn, almost mythic attachment to a romanticized past, which distorts both perception and policy.

Right-wing populism is a complete dumpster fire, ruining everything it touches.

I’m a passionate football (soccer) fan and follow my favourite clubs in England, Scotland, Canada and Australia. I also proudly support Australia’s national teams — the Socceroos and the Matildas.

I’m a big Linux/BSD enthusiast, using Fedora and OpenBSD as my daily drivers, and I make every effort to rely on open-source software whenever possible—though it’s still very much a work in progress.

Beyond everything else, I’m just a guy trying to get by, love God, cherish my family, share a laugh, and find joy in life’s simple pleasures.