I was raised in a Christian home, my mother was a member of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and my father was a former Roman Catholic who came to a saving knowledge of Christ through his own study. In my mother's church from childhood, I 'asked Jesus into my heart' when I was six. After I joined a Christian school, I prayed more clearly for assurance when I was ten, and was baptized shortly afterwards.

In college, the doctrines of grace, though I didn't know them by that name at the time, really started to pull away much of the legalistic baggage I had on me over the years. Part of that was realizing my salvation was of God, totally and worrying about if I "did it right" when I "got saved" missed the point. It's about trusting in what God has already done, not what I did.

The last few years have seen me try to get settled, in more ways than one. After attending a baptist school, and becoming not only reformed, but also and Anglican, then ending up at a PCA church in the past year because of the direction the church I was a part of was taking, along with keeping my first full time job and living by myself far away from my family, it's been challenging to keep myself accountable. I'm currently trying to really correct some bad habits, mostly related to how I spend my time.

It was a huge, HUGE relief to realize in college that my salvation, my justification, and even my sanctification, was something GOD did and not me. Years of trying to keep up with the evangelical jones, taking classes, doing church activities, mostly just to 'not fall behind' were draining me. Realizing what "grace through faith alone" really meant was like losing a burden I didn't realize I had been carrying.

The change in my beliefs happened slowly. I don't recall a conversion moment when I became a "5 pointer," and in a similar manner, I don't recall the point I became fully convinced of other aspects associated with Reformed theology, like the covenant theology, a non-dispensational understanding of eschatology, and even infant baptism, quite a change. Now in church, the methods of how we worship are especially important to me, as is the emphasis on the preaching of the gospel to Christians and the administration of the sacraments.

Overall, I feel God has brought me from a 'me centered' spirituallity to real, solid, relationship where I can simply rest in him.

For devotions, I use the ESV study Bible, pray the psalms and, oddly enough for some I'm sure, the Anglican book of common prayer. Ever since I read the 39 articles and was suprised at how reformed much of it was, I've examined it and found it's readings and prayer tools helpful. I really think evangelicals ought to investigate practical helps for personal and family worship like the BCP. For those of us who sometimes can't think of what to pray, we often find the scriptures and christians of past generations are remarkably helpful.

I'm going through different books right now, including Holeman's Apologetics Handbook (the one used in Michael Horton's class at Westminster), and I even started an N.T. Wright book (Simply Christian). I'm looking again, to pick up my reading in general over the next year.

In our church, we are studying the book of Hebrews.

Aside from our Lord, I suppose I'd relate quite a bit to John Mark. A man who failed in his first missions with Paul and Barnabas, yet came back and recorded one of the gospels. It's a hopeful reminder for me at this stage in my life.

Also I must admit I do like the mighty men of David as seen in the Old Testament history books, simply because they seem like action heroes, only real! Stories of men taking on hundreds, fighting until their swords had to be pried from their hands! All fighting for God's promises to His people.

I don't believe I'm really content in my singleness. I do get lonely, and sometimes wish I had someone to really share things with at the end of the day. I also find myself becoming to inward focused, and not investing in people as much as things and my own entertainment. I dont' really have as much accountability as I think would be helpful.

Finally, I would like to start a family one day. I see the what my parents had in our family, I see my brother and his wife and their upcoming child, and I'm more convinced than ever that to have that is to truly be blessed.

I wish to see Christ's church united in truth, and being what she was meant to be, preaching the word, serving those in need, being a light in this world. I worry often that many churches are hammering people with the law, and making people feel guilty for breaking made up rules, squelching God-given, artisitic and creative impulses.

In my day to day work at a library, I work with young people often, and believe in fostering a strong love of reading and literature, for education, and for fun.

The sovereign saving power and mercy of God through Christ.

The family and friends he has provided me with.

A wonderful (if fallen) world to explore and enjoy.

Obviously, integrity and devotion to God matter to me. I need to be able to trust someone. But I also like people who are reflective, can talk for hours about various subjects, and are curious to learn about new things, be they in music, food, art, books, etc.

I appreciate a good sense of humor, and a kind heart, but also a willingness to speak up when something needs to be said.

My last relationship ended rather abruptly when she went to Guatemala...nothing bad happened, she just joined the peace corps! That was about a year ago.

But the relationship that lasted the longest (over 3 years ago, lasted for about a year) ended because we really didn't see eye to eye about the churches we were attending. I just couldn't stay at the evangelical church, because it just seemed so man centered at times in how they conducted worship (there were other factors, like the lack of communion every week). We couldn't work it out.

I've learned a bit about dealing with other people, but also that you have to make priorities and really work at a relationship if it is going to come together.

"I have done nothing; the Word has done and achieved everything.” -Martin Luther

"There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice." -John Calvin

I would like to advance my library career, and perhaps work at a historical archive. I'd like to write a book or two.

I may elaborate/add more here later.

I read a lot of books. Much is "Young Adult" literature, because of my job, but I also read theology and history books, and I also have a special interest in graphic novels (comics), which relates to to my job as well, but I'm a fan of the medium in general.

I do spend quite a bit of time online, listening to sermon and educational podcasts like the White Horse in, and doing research for work of for personal edification, but also playing computer games. I'll go to the local coffee shop sometimes and read, sometimes getting conversation with other people there.

I enjoy church and work events, and other social functions, eating out (southern food, Seafood, in particular) going to movies, concerts, sports games if the opportunity arises (I prefer basketball to other spectator sports, I'll try other games if necessary. I enjoy walks, enjoying the scenery, along I'm not much for working out (even though I really need to more often). On vacation, I tend to favor relaxing over trying to do every single thing.

My family is loving, and very tight. My father is a former supervistor at a transmission making factory. He's intelligent, passionate and very self made in all his beliefs. My mother is loving, sensitive, but extremely practical.

My brother is happily married to a wonderful godly woman, with a baby boy due in March, and looking to become get his degree from Dallas Theoogical Seminary and become a pastor.

My sister is 9 years younger than me, and engaged to be married in just a few weeks. She wants to help people by being a speech therapist.

I'm currently living in Arkansas, about a 9-10 drive from my family. I'm totally open to moving back or somewhere else. In other words, relocating isn't a problem.

Favorite Music: Older rock, Over the Rhine, Derek Webb, Caedmon's Call, Sufjan Stevens.

Favorite Books (besides Bible): Notes from Underground by Dostoyevsky, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, Perelandra, Till We Have Faces and The Abolition of Man by CS Lewis, God of Promise by Michael Horton, Theses on Worship by James Jordan, The Holiness of God by RC Sproul, Creature Tech by Douglas TenNapel, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson, The Story of Christian Theology by Roger Olsen, The Challenge of Jesus by NT Wright, Desiring God by John Piper, His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik,

Favorite Movies: Anything by Pixar, Hoosiers, To Kill a Mockingbird, Spirited Away, The Lord of the Rings, Gettysburg, Clue,