I try but it often ends in excuses.  I should be studying something for my own nourishment, but most of my quiet times deal with whatever I'm teaching in youth sunday school.  Right now we are going thru Daniel, which as an engineer who doesn't do well with imagery or symbolism is quite a struggle.

Update: Thru this site and some recent friends in "real life" the idea of infant baptism has come up and I've always claimed I believe it.  Now I"m working thru why I do and I'm really excited about it.  I try to have "quiet time" with nothing but scripture and prayer, but having additional academic study can help fuel and encourage that.

I've learned that being flexible and open to God's plan is the least frustrating plan.  I've been single to this point and if that's the plan I'll keep on indefinitely. But I could use a helper and I feel like I could be a help to someone so I'm putting a little more effort into not staying single lately.  Many of my hangups and qualms are with maturity in general but particularly spiritual.  That's why I'm here I suppose.

Loyal, often to my own detriment

Some would say quiet and some would say loud.  It all depends on company and what situations warrant.

Different, as is evidenced by the bow tie I sometimes wear simply because other people don't.

Mechanically Inclined

Sunday School answers: Grace, Mercy, Truth

Answers that give you insight to a little more:

1) Conversation.  I love talking to people.  I love listening to people.  I have big ears, sometimes some gifts are more obvious than others...  A Friday night of conversation beats all else hands down.

2) Mechanical abiliity.  I have some friends that don't understand how to use a screwdriver and I'm very thankful that I can.  I love being able to come to somebody's rescue when a "this" doesn't turn on or "that" fell off the wall.  It's a very practical way I can see God guiding my pathway, connecting me with people, and using me to bring blessings to them.

3) My parents.  They have taught me that God is in charge and that our lives should revolve around Him.  That's to be acted out in service, leadership and study.  They provide for my financial needs as I am finishing up my degree so I can graduate debt free.   My dad will be my best man at my wedding.

I like people who are servants.  As someone who has a hard time saying no, if I am around selfish people, I tend to get taken advantage of. I tend to find myself being friends with nurses and teachers because these professions require servants.  If you are either, thanks.

I like people who enjoy being with friends and socializing, but do not require it constantly.  I have had room mates who I enjoy hanging out with, but sometimes it seems more like I'm babysitting when I just want to relax.  I think it boils down to being able to entertain yourself by having worthwhile activities to engage in.Also it's about being content and confident with yourself that you do not constantly need to feed off others' approval.

I appreciate frugality with spending habits.  That said, I spend money on quality things and would no consider myself "tight" with money.  I do however know the value of a dollar and know the difference I can make to others with it.  Therefore $20 worth of sushi every few weeks is reasonable, though a $70 bill some of my friends have, drives me up the wall.

My pastor David Strain at Main Street Pres in Columbus, MS.  He has encouraged me to up my spiritual game.  Lay people in the church must know the Bible and be able to converse with the pastor on theological topics.  Before him I had never seen such a thing in action or encouraged.  Now I will settle for nothing less than striving to be one of those.

Update: To clarify this a little, the conversations between "regular people" in the church and the pastor was the light clicking on moment.  While the pastor is obviously gifted differently than some of us and gets paid to study and know the Bible, that's no excuse for us not to know it too.  I had always been of the opinion that we pay them to learn stuff so we don't have to.  Between the new pastor and some of the new church members, I learned that this is not the case and I'm very thankful for that.  That's part of why I'm studying the doctrine of baptism now, because I'm no longer content to take his word for it.

Providence.

Explanation:  Previously there are 2 relationships worth mentioning.  The first involved a girl who wanted to be a professional Christian ballet dancer.  I do not understand or like ballet and she did not like cars.  Spouses do not have to love each others' careers and want to be one themselves, but they at least have to  support it.  She also had a very over-protective dad who ruled with an iron fist.  Fathers are supposed to be in charge of the household, but when you err on the side of tyrrany rather than compassion and quality time, you missed the point.

Relationship 2 had  a very strong mom and a traditionally weak dad.  They have realized in recent years this was a Biblically wrong stance, but it is hard to change old habits.  The mom was very manipulative and therefore made my girlfriend doubt herself and feel guilty constantly.

Morals of all these:  Looking at parents plays a much bigger role in dating/marriage than society today gives it credit for.  I certainly would not write off someone from a broken home or who has a disfunction in their family.  We're all disfunctional thanks to a little piece of fruit back in the day.  It is however worth looking into the family situation, and if there is a red flag there, investigating how the individual has delt with it.

"The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face, I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of Grace, not on the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand, The Lamb is all the glory of Emmanuel's Land."  -The Sands of Time are Sinking

I had sung this a number of times at RUF but this verse sunk in as it was sung at a friend's wedding.  The imagery lept out at me and really brought the words to life.

"Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free, for God the Just is satisfied, to look on Him and pardon me.."  --Before the Throne of God Above

These words simplify so much and explain the Gospel and the concept of Justification so well.

I graduated from a prep school so obviously I went straight to auto body shop school.  That was a culture shock but a good experience but not enough of a brain workout.

Then I went to auto mechanic school then worked at that for abotu 2.5 years.  Enjoyed the challenge and the satisfaction of using my mechanical ability to make people happy.  Income was ok, but I realized I was limited in options if I got hurt.

Went back to school and I'm about to finish up a Mechanical Engineering degree.  I'm going to be working in HVAC sales and account managing.  It is a wonderful mix of technical and people skills.  I start in May and I can hardly wait.

1)Glorify God

2)Die

3)Continue #1

But un-Sunday school answers, yes:

Raise some kids, have lots of money to give away, have a happy wife to grow old with.

Born in Mississippi I've lived here basically the whole time.

My family is a vacation family so we took one every year.  I've been to the other southern states plus Florida a good bit visiting family and such.  I went to Los Angeles once because a friend said I would like it.  Liked looking at nice cars, but nothing else.  I've been to the US Virgin Islands a number of times and enjoy the beaches there a lot!  We went to Germany and Austria a while back and saw some castles.

I've been on a number of mission trips.  I've been to Honduras probably 10 or 12 times which is where I would love to live one day.  Well, I say that, but God may have a better plan and we will go with what He says, but it's a thought.  I also went to Cameroon once for a few weeks and got malaria so it was an authentic African experience even though I didn't get to see a monkey.

There's still a lot I would like to see but I have no trips planned anytime soon.

I've accepted a job in Memphis starting in May.  The plan is to live there at least the next 8 or 10 years.  My parents live 3 hours south of there which is close enough for visits, but far enough to provide me with some distance and opportunity to stand on my own 2 feet.  I will win enough bread for us and that's where we will be living.  If you're not ok with Memphis, this might not work out for you and me.  :)

If you ask, I say that I'd like to move to Honduras at some point in the future.  The weather is warm year round, Pineapples are cheap and plentiful and living can be done cheaply.  I would love to start a ministry that involves technical skills or mechanical engineering, but there are a lot of unresolved questions with this plan.  I need to go 1 step at a time, and next step is definitely Memphis.

Are you too tired to continue filling this whole thing out?  yes

Will you keep coming back to do some more?  yes

How do you feel about the fact that you can see who was last lurking around your page and then go lurk around theirs?  undecided  :)

Are you enjoying meeting people on here?  yep

Should you be studying something or sleeping right now instead of being on here?  probably

Even though I checked "zoos" above, I have not been to one in probably 15 years, though I am aspiring zoo fan.  I would like to go I just don't.  I fealt the need to check it which would then hold me accountable to making more effort.  :)  Also, I've never been to a hot spring, but it sounds warm and I figure I would be a fan.

Do I feel that Craig Barnard is actually a superhero?  While I do not think he is, he thinks he is and his kids think he is.  My opinion matters little relative to theirs so I concede..maybe he is one.