|
Hello and welcome to the most intimate part of my site yet: Up Close & Personal. I chose to explore the essence of who I am online because in my experience the best way to learn is to attempt to explain to someone else. Somewhere in that struggle for effective communication one often comes to a new personal level of understanding.
Because of this, Up Close & Personal was conceived and is now on-line. This is in no way a vain and self-glorifying bill board, but rather an opportunity to really get to know who I am.
Overall, this site is just another means of me experimenting and expressing creatively. My other pages have already given a brief overview of who I am, so if you haven't read them already, you may want to check `em out.
Now where do we start? The past is behind me... but a few words for those who may need a place to start.
History...
Well, I've been online for years (since 1996) when most people hadn't heard of AOL yet and I was the only person I knew with a home page. The internet afforded reaches into information and really neat stuff that I couldn't access in many other places. Since then, I've always been closely connected to what's happening online. In many ways that's been a good thing, but we still have to be careful... I've gotten myself into some situations and exposed myself to some attention that I didn't need. That is part of why my site exists as it does today.
Online, there is the ability to enter into the world, no longer as yourself, but as ANYONE you wish. You can be taller, thinner, sexier, or anything else that popular culture demands. For some, it is an opportunity to escape the "image" that others have of them and live out a whole different personality. I was caught up in that web of illusion and suffered the consequences. But there's some thing about reality, whereas no matter how far you go in an illusion, what's real or true will always show up. Today, I thank God for Him showing me who I really am and teaching me how to live it. How to "Keep It Real" (for real!)
Today, this site for some may serve as a clarification of character. I am a Christian, a Man of God, who fully holds to and believes the Word of God to be true above all else; who is striving daily to put to death the deeds of the flesh and offer my life as a living sacrifice for the Lord. I may have made mistakes, but God chose me to be perfected and as long as He is living in me, I will "forget those things which are behind" and reach forth unto those things which have been set before" (Phil. 3:13) Not because of my own, but because of the redemptive power of Christ I am justified by faith. My days are over for deeds of darkness-- no compromise. This is a life and death situation! (Rom. 6:13 & Rom. 8:6)
Future
I'm going around the world! In 1998 and many times since, it has been prophesied that I would be used by God to minister the Gospel around the world. Already, the singing ensemble that I am a part of is traveling the country and there are plans in the works to take the whole group with our pastor to do a crusade and concert in Cape Town, South Africa. This is only the beginning and the best is yet to come!
In other news...
LOL, I'm finishing up my last year of college in preparation to be a teacher. I want to teach in a specialized curriculum combining Art and Computer Technology (Art Tech). I do still plan on teaching in Illinois and most likely Chicago. (If it is the Lord's will!) ;) Teaching, learning, and sharing knowledge in general is a major love of mine. It shows up in everything I do.
More To Come...
There is much more to come as this site is a work-in-progress. Most frequently updated will be this page and the "journal" where I will try to post something every week. I appreciate you taking the time to read all of this, and it is my hope above all else that you actually found something useful in the words above... something that will maybe cause you to consider your life or to reach out to God for yourself (more than ever if you have before!).
|
