LJ

IT'S FREE TO DREAM BUT DREAMS ARE FAR FROM FREE... LJ was told he'd be poor, have nothing and be nothing. “'Failure awaits you,' I was told by some of the dearest people in my life. No one agreed with my decision to pursue missions and music especially at the expense of college scholarships!" At age 15 LJ had big shoes to fill. Both his older brother and sister were attending college on full scholarships were among the first ever in his family to do so. Not to mention his brother being drafted into the NFL and playing for 5 years. "You couldn't imagine the pressure and expectations I had raining on every corner of my life." But LJ's final decision completely shocked everyone in his life. Full athletic scholarships from the best schools all across the nation were at his disposal. Schools such as Rice, Nebraska, OU, Michigan, all wanted LJ in their lockeroom and had 80 grand in college tuition to prove it. "I ignored them. I didn't write back and I didn't call back. The very things I hoped for and dreamed for throughout my life were sitting in my lap and I pushed them to the side."At age 16 LJ went on a 29 day long mission trip to South America that left him different. "My heart broke and my desires changed. I no longer valued what the majority of people valued." LJ recalls stepping out of his terminal and seeing hundreds if not thousands of people just trying to touch him and saying, "Please sir, just one American dollar! Please sir!" This was the beginning of many experiences that influenced LJ's decision to forsake the world of self interest to make a difference by serving people. "I left the scholarship offers in shoe boxes and went to missionary school." It was here that he began traveling every stretch or road in the U.S. making music with different bands. "I had the time of my life there. I learned a lot about life and further adjusted my value system."After two years of traveling and playing LJ settled down in his hometown again. "Life got quiet...a little too quiet." At age 19 he became a youth pastor and janitor at his church making $80 a week. "Good thing they let me live there as well. I wouldn't have made it!" It was during these times of his life that he was really able to deeply reflect upon what he wanted to dedicate the rest of his life to. As he worked with teens and made positive impacts in their lives his passion for music grew. A friend of his allowed him access to his recording equipment and here he discovered another passion. "I love to produce music." It wasn't soon after that he branched out into scoring short films and playing open mics around the DFW area. "I had the opportunity to play with a band in Kansas in front of about 2,500 people. I enjoyed it so much that when I got home I knew it was time for me leave where I was to pursue music on a deeper level."Today LJ is looking to release his first ep entitled Life is Good (Even on the Bad Days.) The release date is yet to be ironed out but, be sure to stop back by and find out how you can get your copy. Thanks.“Courage does not always roar. Courage sometimes is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” —Mary Ann Radmacher