After serving as a pastor for more than 45 years, including 13 years as a pastor and church planter and almost 30 years as an active duty army Chaplain, James retired from the military at the rank of Colonel. In 2010, James and his wife, Gloria, retired from the pastoral ministry and moved to Columbia, South Carolina in order to write, teach seminars around the world, and mentor many spiritual sons and daughters. James is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology; Perkins School of Theology, southen Methodist University, Dallas Texas with a Master's degree in Theology.