Matthew Hawks

I have experienced several twists in my journey, all not what I was trying to do, all involving some risk I wanted to avoid, but all ultimately for the better. For example, as a young man on the way to commissioning as a Naval Officer, I resolved not to get married until after I had experienced Navy life at sea. I had heard too many horror stories of divorce due to frequent separations. Why would I put a wife through that? It would be far better for me to stay single and avoid the risk of failure. BUT then I met my future wife, we had a whirlwind romance, and I got married two weeks before reporting to a submarine for over three years of "extremely arduous sea duty." By God's grace, we stayed together. We now have seven children, and recently celebrated our 26th anniversary. I have always followed Christ, but my devotion was weak until God used a seminar to open my eyes to the fact that He really created the universe. Then His Word came much more alive to me, and I began to realize how close God had been to me the whole time. My life is truly centered on Him now, and I live each day by accessing His mercy and grace (see Hebrews 4:14-16). * Opinions are my own and do not reflect the DoN/DoD. *

My Life

Favorite Quote

What are you going to do, now that you don't have to do anything? (Gerhard Forde) I also find this comes in handy since I have 7 children: "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus Christ, as quoted in Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)

Friends describe me

as quiet but unexpectedly hilarious

My hobbies

Family, jogging, variety puzzles, reading.

Fantasy dinner guests

Eric Metaxas, CS Lewis, my paternal grandfather

Best advice I ever received

If you tell the truth, then you don't have to remember anything (Mark Twain, relayed to me by a mentor)

My undergrad alma mater

US Naval Academy

My worst subject in school

History

In college I drove

a 1990 Toyota Celica

If I weren't a professor, I would

be involved in nuclear submarine construction.

Favorite books

The Genesis Flood (non-fiction), The Space Trilogy (CS Lewis, fiction)

Favorite movies

The Spitfire Grill, The Hunt for Red October, Master & Commander, Lord of the Rings trilogy

Favorite city

Seattle

Favorite coffee

drip-brewed 8 o'clock coffee

Nobody knows I

can make this strange sound with my hands

My latest accomplishment

Pet ownership

Current Research

Graph-theoretic change detection; relieving math anxiety