So Who Am I, Anyway?
Favorites
Food: Italian, especially pizza; Mom's home cooking
Drinks: milk and Dr. Pepper, not mixed together of course!
Movies: the Star Wars movies, Braveheart, Forrest Gump, The Truman Show, and tons others
Music: modern rock/alternative, folk, and just about anything else except for rap, heavy metal, and most country
Bands: Caedmon's Call, Jars of Clay, U2, Dave Matthews Band, Toad The Wet Sprocket, and tons others (check out my music page for more)
Sports team: New Orleans Saints (they're gonna be winners this year...just wait!)
Actor: Harrison Ford
Actress: Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, & Drew Barrymore (sorry, couldn't pick just one!)
Author: Too many to name
Poets: e.e. cummings, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost
Book: The Left Behind series by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins (currently reading Apollyon)
Poem: "The Road Not Taken" by Frost
Bible verse(s): Matthew 6:25-34
Other Trivial Information
Bad habits: biting my nails, killing a once funny joke by repeating it too often
Pet peeves: cigarette smoke, people who drive too slow in front of me on 2-lane highways, and religious hypocrites who make Christians look bad (actually we're all hypocrites to some degree, but some belong in the Hall of Shame for it)
Best quality: I am a very loyal person; when I make a promise I keep it, and I try not to make promises I can't keep
Worst quality: I have a tendency to procrastinate a lot
Qualities I admire in others: humility, honesty, respect for others, and a deep sense of self-worth with the confidence to be oneself
Qualities I despise in others: arrogance, selfishness
Number of speeding tickets: one
Most embarrasing moment: the entire fifth grade year
Future plans: I will accept whatever God has planned for me, but right now my plans are to become a pharmacist and be successful at that, and hopefully marry a wonderful woman and have a few children.
Biggest accomplishment: getting into pharmacy school (actually making it through pharmacy school and graduating will be an even bigger accomplishment!); being elected treasurer of LCCS
Other things I'd like to accomplish: learn to play guitar, become a contestant on Jeopardy, travel to Europe and Australia and all 50 states, write a book or novel, try different things like snowskiing and hang gliding, among other things. The sky is the limit!
Ideal woman: Basically I just want someone who is REAL...who is not afraid to be herself and does not put on airs and doesn't always go with the flow of society. I like someone who loves God among all other things; one who is caring and always willing to listen, one who is easy to talk to and has a great sense of humor. I also want someone who is really deep, who is not obsessed with the superficial but goes beyond to see the true person inside. I would much rather date an average-looking girl who has a really amazing personality than some beauty queen who is always obsessed with looking perfect, or some hoochie-mama who only wants to draw attention to the way she looks. However, it's a big plus if she's cute, too. :)
Describe myself in five words: introverted, ambitious, friendly, thoughtful, and BIZZARE!
My Faith: I was born and raised in a strong Christian household. My parents were devout Catholics and always taught me the importance of prayer. I grew up believing in God, but like most others I never really understood the importance of Christ and how much I really needed Him in my life. It wasn't until I was a senior in high school that I really started to explore my faith. I was searching for deeper meaning in life; I was tired of everyone living superficial lives and just doing whatever was accepted by society. I didn't want to live that kind of life; I knew there had to be more to life. In my freshman year in college I attended my first LCCS (Louisiana Catholic College Students) conference, and it literally changed my whole perspective on life. I met students from around the state who were living for more than just whatever felt good; they had a true relationship with God and it showed. Seeing all these students gathered together in one place to praise God really moved me. It gave me some hope in a world that seemed so desolate. Over time, I learned that without the Lord I am nothing and can do nothing that is truly worthwhile. I grew closer in my relationship with Christ, and to this day I am constantly looking for ways to make that relationship stronger, one day at a time. It's not something that I feel can be done overnight, but a constant growth process that will go on throughout the rest of my life. Now I'm not saying my life is perfect; in fact, it's far from it. But at least I know that I can rely on Him to give me the strength to endure any trials and tribulations that come my way, as well as hope when all seems hopeless, and peace when the world around me is going crazy.
Final Thoughts
I feel that too many people focus on what they can get out of life. I believe that life isn't about what you can get out of it, but what you can put into it. There is nothing wrong with enjoying life to the fullest, but at the same time I feel we need to realize the gifts that we have been given and focus on how we can use these gifts to do God's work and make this world a better place. We all have so much to give, and yet so many of us are too selfish to realize how much we can help each other out. The worldly things that we strive so much for only last us for a little while, and when it's time to leave this world, we have to leave it all behind. But the heavenly treasures that we earn by giving of ourselves to others and to our Lord will last us an eternity.
I don't believe that being a Christian is about trying to be perfect and trying not to sin. I think that being a Christian is about realizing that we aren't perfect, that we are sinners, and that we need Christ to strengthen us and make us holier people, more worthy of salvation. So many preachers and evangelists that I see on television seem to act like they know everything about Scripture and that their morals are impeccable. To me, this shows a serious lack of humility. I feel that although we are called to minister to others and set a moral example for others, we are also called to be humble and honest with each other. I also feel that this is the only effective way to minister to others, because if we can be honest about our own sins and weaknesses, then others will be able to relate to us more. We won't seem intimidating or turn people off. When I witness to others, I'm not afraid to be open about my past mistakes and some of the sinful things that I still find myself doing. I don't pretend to be perfect or to know all the answers; in fact there are many things that I still don't understand, and there are many areas where I still need improvement. But that's okay...at least I'm making the effort to seek Christ and live a holier life. And if others can see me making the effort, then maybe I can inspire them to open their hearts and their minds as well.
Finally, I feel the best way to witness to others is to live what you believe. We all have a responsibility to spread the Word to others, but not all of us are talented in music, art, writing, speaking, or like me, creating web pages. Even though many do have these talents and are able to spread the Word through their music, their art, their writings, their speeches, their web sites, etc., the most important method of witnessing is through our lifestyles. We don't have to wear WWJD bracelets or crosses around our necks or T-shirts with the fish symbol to show that we are Christian; in fact, there are many people who do and yet still aren't being very Christ-like in their actions. It's good to have talents and be able to use them to express our faith, but if we're not living the faith, it all means nothing. I don't feel it's necessary to be very vocal and outspoken about your faith (not that I have a problem with people who are, but not all people have that kind of personality). I feel that just by going against the whims of society and living the life that Christ calls us to live, other people will take notice, and they will come to us with questions. When they ask questions, we can answer them honestly and sincerely. Some may laugh, some may criticize, but chances are they will be intrigued and enlightened, and who knows, maybe they will be inspired to follow your lead, to join you in your walk with Christ.
Wanna know more? Read some of my basic philosophies.
The Asylum is sponsored by the letter J, the letter C, and the number 3.
