About Blake
Servant. Husband. Father. Author
The Story
Blake never saw himself as a writer — English and grammar were never his strong suit. But isn't it just like God to take something that was never on his radar, something that felt more like a weakness than a strength, and turn it into something beautiful for His glory? Blake envisioned many ways to serve the Lord in ministry — but writing books and recording podcasts weren't among them. Yet here he is, following the Lord where He leads.
But that path didn't begin where you might expect. He was raised in a home where hard work was expected and integrity was valued, but faith wasn't part of the mix. He was brought up to be a good man, but not a godly one — not as a criticism of his family, but simply reflecting the reality for most homes today, where God isn't at the center.
Everything changed during his freshman year of college when he met Tara Cook. Before learning anything about her family or background, he was drawn to her quiet inner beauty and resilience. He fell in love with her heart — and there was a feeling of safety in her presence, a warmth and steadiness he couldn't quite explain. It would be years before he fully understood what he'd experienced: the peace of Christ, alive in someone who walked closely with Him.
Meeting her family reinforced this impression. Here was a multigenerational example of what it looks like to walk with the Lord for a lifetime — with both sets of grandparents celebrating over fifty years of marriage, and parents whose faith wasn't just believed — it was lived.
Tara's mother, who passed away at the young age of forty-three, left a deep and lasting mark on Blake's heart. Her warm, nurturing spirit gave him his first real picture of what a godly woman looks like — and it stirred something deep within him that he didn't fully understand at the time. In that moment, he learned what it truly means for a family to walk with God — not just as a Sunday duty, but as a way of life. Something changed in him during that season, and that's when his walk with the Lord truly started.
From there, Blake actively sought strong mentors and eagerly pursued wisdom. He read extensively from godly authors, learned from inspiring preachers, and attended church classes that shaped his theology and beliefs. Although setbacks occurred along the way, there were also victories — and in looking back, he can see how the dots connected to tell a perfect story, God's story, and led him to where he sits today, staring down the chapter he was made for. Ultimately, it boiled down to one thing: sincerely seeking, obeying, and placing the Lord above all. He lived a Coram Deo life before he even knew what the phrase meant.
The Work
Blake spent years building businesses and leading from the front — in manufacturing, real estate, and eventually owning a large landscaping company. It was in business that he first learned the principles of servant leadership — putting others first, leading with integrity, and understanding that every workplace is an opportunity to serve and reflect Christ.
But it was through the toughest seasons at Crawford Landscaping that a deeper lesson emerged: surrender. There were times when Blake doubted the business would survive, teaching him to hold everything loosely — to recognize that all of it belongs to the Lord, and he is simply a steward. He recalls praying, "Lord, even in failure, help me to serve and glorify You." That attitude of surrender shaped him as much as any success ever did, and it gave him experiences and credibility that would later open doors in ministry with other Christian businessmen. It also prepared him for the hardest and most rewarding work of all — surrendering his own children to the Lord and learning to shepherd their hearts rather than controlling their paths.
But even as he built his career, God was shaping something deeper — a passion for ministry. That passion started in 2008, shaped by his friendship with Dr. Scott Engelman and Awakened Heart Ministries, where Blake served on the board of directors and helped lead Men's Story Weekends and Marriage Intensives. That hands-on work — sitting with men in their struggles and walking with couples through their toughest seasons — gave Blake a front-row seat to what God can do when people stop performing and start being honest. That experience shaped his conviction that faith must be lived out at home before it can be taught elsewhere, and it laid the foundation for everything that followed.
Among all these experiences — the surrender, the mentorship, the ministry — two things unexpectedly emerged. What started as a private journal for his three daughters turned into Raise Them Right, a comprehensive parenting guide rooted in Scripture and seasoned with real-life experience — built around a framework he calls Project 13. What began as a quick morning email to a few friends grew into Coram Deo, a daily devotional that has been landing in inboxes every weekday morning since 2015. None of it was planned. Everything flows from a personal relationship with the Lord — walking closely enough to sense His direction and being quick to adjust when He moves.
Blake is neither a pastor nor a theologian. He's a businessman, husband, and father who takes the Bible seriously and believes that the most important work a man can do happens within relationships — through the sometimes difficult and mysterious ups and downs of life with those closest to him. It's where faith is truly tested, in the chaotic and often painful places that real relationships demand. It's not about achieving accomplishments. It's about making a heartfelt impact on those you meet — all for the purpose of glorifying and serving the Lord. It's about being willing to enter the darkness to create something beautiful.A Partnership
While Tara isn't listed as a co-author, her fingerprints are on every page. From the beginning, Blake and Tara have partnered together — with each other and with the Lord — to live out everything he writes about. In many ways, their partnership reflects the oldest story there is: when God saw that Adam shouldn't be alone in the garden, He provided a helper. Tara has been exactly that for Blake — his helper, his partner, his closest companion in faith. Over thirty-one years together, raising three daughters, and sharing a devotion to building a Christ-centered home — her wisdom, patience, and faithfulness shine through every word. This work is theirs.
Everything Blake writes boils down to one core belief: faith is not accidental — it's intentionally developed. Whether he's writing about parenting or the daily discipline of walking with the Lord, the main message stays the same: it's about cultivating a personal relationship with the Lord that's actively lived out every day, for His glory. And Blake just keeps following the Lord where He leads.