(JOHN 3:30)
...But, that's what MySpace pages are FOR after all, aren't they? So even though I'm not into talking about me, I guess if there were ever a time or place, this is IT. So SCROLL DOWN and I'll force myself - ...as unto The Lord... - after a little traveling MUSIC and today's selection from SCRIPTURE:
If you really must ask "ABOUT ME" -nicely- or how I'm doing or whatever, my stock answer is the reply made famous by author, broadcaster, and Christian financial coach, Dave Ramsey:
"BETTER THAN I DESERVE."
Life ain't easy. But then again, NEITHER AM I.
So, am I some kind of big TOUGH GUY?
Naw, I just PLAYED one (TORUK The Barbarian) for ten years at The Texas Renaissance Festival!
The real answer to that question is YES in one way and NO in just about every other.
On the ONE hand, I've really NO other choice folks. The good Lord has seen fit to pour me into THIS physical form, given me more than enough personality to match, and has entrusted me with the might of Sampson. (who am I to argue?)
But - on the OTHER hand - never fear. I am probably the gentlest giant you'll ever meet. I'm a dedicated, loving father and husband; a peacemaker and patriot; with the mind of Christ, heart of a warrior, hands of an artist, the determination of your favorite superhero, and I only ever use my powers for GOOD.
(Heh, this is starting out right spiffy!)
But I'm first and foremost a real-live fanatical/on-fire take-no-prisoners born-again CHRISTIAN, and my faith is based solely upon my RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ, and my FELLOWSHIP with other genuine Christians.
And, like Jesus Himself, I'm NOT into RELIGION!
While a TRUE BELIEVER to the core, I'm what you'd call a PALADIN PARIAH, the quintissential ANTI-BULLY, and hardly what anyone expects. Literally. Whether or not you THINK you've got my number and sized me up, figured me out, and slapped some steriotypical LABEL on me as "WHATEVER-IT-IS-YOU-THINK-I-AM," you're in for a suprise. (-MABYE in for a shock.) Spend any amount of quality time with me, and you'll realize I've eluded classification; defied your steriotype; shattered your preconceptions; and likely blown your cover.
(Straight up? -SOME folks can't handle that!)
"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow.
The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
-ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809 - 1865)
An individual should be judged by WHAT THEY DO. The ACTIONS they DO or DO NOT take, rather than what others say about them -or whatever they might say about themselves. I believe that when you want to know THE TRUTH about someone, don't look at what is SAID-
WATCH AT THEIR FEET
to see which way they're really headed! ...Because the FEET don't lie.
I WALK my TALK.
-Just WATCH ME.
Once you've gained my trust, I'm intensely unflaggingly LOYAL. Anyone who's EVER been a friend of mine will ALWAYS be one -NO MATTER any newfound differences in ideology or WRONGS done to me!
Now, if you HARM my family or friends, my DUTY is to righteously protect them. I might even become God's HAMMER should He choose to place me in the conflict. But, without clear imperative otherwise, I choose to see the BEST in a person, not the DENTS, even when they're acting out badly and could use a good pounding to straighten them out.
The fact that I love my neighbor does NOT mean you get a free pass to do harm to yourself - or anyone else - around me. Sometimes "loving" someone involves some TOUGH LOVE, and resolving to do neccesary things that might not seem real pleasant at the time. So whenever I have what SEEMS an adversarial relationship with someone, it's never vindictive from MY end, but only as unpleasant as it HAS to be so eventual healing has a chance. I'm ALWAYS ready to help someone - even an enemy - in as kind a manner as will have any positive effect.
There's hope for everyone, so once I develop a love toward you, it will always be there, difficulties notwithstanding. And if I don't know you well enough to feel love toward you, I'll extend it as an ACTION regardless. That's the example my Lord has set for me, and requires of me toward others.
Besides being blessed (cursed?) with a deplorable excess of personality, I've a myriad of God-given talents, NONE of which - admittedly - can I attribute to any hard work or extensive study. Whereas my forte' is creativity, I found early on I had been inexplicably gifted with exceptional eye-hand coordination, the manual dexterity to back it up, and a restless intelligence that gave me no peace unless I was putting it to some kind of use. Drawing, sculpting, painting - WHATEVER - It was always just THERE, improved as it were through trial-and-error, repetition, and simple practice.
I see it as a testimony to God's sense of humor that he'd bestow the talents and abilities on me that He HAS. It's comical also, that in spite of their large size and the brutal punishment I put them through (in my workouts), I still have an artist's hands!
At my age, I can only WONDER what I could have done with my natural talents had I followed GOD's plan for my life instead of my own.
The ONE thing I've always been sure of though, is that I was born to be a husband and father. And it just comes naturally. Although I seem to have failed my eldest child, I'm doing my best to raise my children with the highest christian standards, yet I'm sure ol' dad's attitude and eccentric flair has rubbed off just a BIT.
As a child, I was what you'd classify as the classic overly intelligent A.D.D. poster child (even though I personally don't believe such a condition actually exists). I was a source of frustration for most of my teachers, too noticeable and unpopular with my Principals, and therefore had to attend different schools from year-to-year just to stay alive.
Looking back, the reality was that I'd been a victim of administrative cruelty (It's just amazing what people got by with back in those days). But it's all good. I never understood it then, but I realize in hindsight that God was toughening me up and strengthening me - desensitizing me, if you will - against the tides of undeserved injustices that would typify my life later on.
To my fellow classmates, I had always been, and would always be, the CLASS CLOWN. In elementary, I was the skinny kid, a fatty in Jr. High, but got real lean and suddenly grew to 6'2" in 8th grade.
Thus, my childhood school life as a human pinball stopped. While still a high-strung indomitable personality, my incessant disciplinary issues faded significantly, and I wasn't the picked-on kid anymore. I habitually underachieved when engaged in activities that were thrust upon me, avoided notice at my choosing, and learned to use my restless intelligence to fly below the administrative radar instead. At the same time, I grew so big that it was hard to ever blend in, but at least I was immune to being victimized or pushed around anymore.
It all just came naturally though, and I've been that way ever since.
In my teens, I was as at home with everyone - from the geeks to the jocks; the cons to the socials; the kickers and the brothers. EVERYONE was my friend. But - being the freest of free-spirits - I chose to run with the freaks in the smoking area, skipping out and intentionally accruing just enough credits to graduate on time. Whereas this worked for ME, I'm seeing to it that my children do things RIGHT, because the habits you establish in those years set the pace for your LIFE. I've spent most of mine as a dilettante, always getting intensely into whatever I'm interested in at the time, only to drop it later in favor of my next pusuit. Thus, I've lived as an underachiever -an idiot savant- and jack-of-all-trades but master-of-none.
...Y'know, I could-a been a contender!!!
Professionally, I've worn many hats down through the years. The first Dollar I ever earned was at my Dad's used car lot as an auto detailer. And as one of the top three artists at my school, it was only natural I worked as a silk-screen concept and production artist until graduating (and worked a second job as a bus-boy at the "Sambo's restaraunt" just up the street).
My intention all through school had been to go into commercial animation as a career. But I was a real idealist back then, and intended to take a full year after high school just to kick back and party up, and seek no job nor college - yet - and decide where to go next in life.
But I had been heavily crushing on a certain girl for a couple years, who - on Christmas day - revealed she just wasn't interested. So I handled my heartache the way I always would handle life's setbacks: I concentrated on upgrading and improving myself.
So I up and joined the Air Force.
I'd intended to enter service in a graphic art capacity, but with my entry test scores showing I had a ridiculously high - innate - mechanical aptitude, they convinced me to go in as a tactical aircraft maintenance technician. I was one of two individuals who - at the mere rank of Airman Basic - was experimentally assigned to the 64th OMS T-37 and T-38 Repair & Reclamation shop (a section of aircraft repair reserved for experienced technicians ranking Sgt - and above), and spent my term in military service keeping Tweets and Talons in the air.
In the "lost years" after the death of my good friend, I worked as a backup cook; delivery courier; NEISD school bus driver: and actor/stunt combatant & sword fight choreographer in environmental theater.
But my day job for the last eight years has been as a radio announcer/board operator.
I've served at KENSradio am1160, News radio am1200 WOAI, and christian talk radio am630, KSLR, in San Antonio, where I felt most at home. I'm also pursuing concurrent careers as a film actor and as an inspirational christian writer for various faith-based publications. I've also have the pleasure of occasionally working venue backstage security for my friend Greg Carnes (& Nathaniel Mack w/Hope Entertainment) at area christian concerts. ALL of which I find immensely fulfilling.
In my life, I've gotten away scott-free with so much more than I ever should have, and have -conversely- been accused (and branded guilty) of things I'd never consider doing. ...Usually without my ever knowing! In fact, I figure there's not much you can accuse me of that I HAVEN'T done much worse than in my adventures.
And those who've known me since back in the day will recognize it's a MIRACLE that I've been absolutely illegal-substance and intoxicant-of-any-kind FREE for over SIX YEARS now!
I've realized being under the influence (of ANY kind - legal or NOT) impedes sensitivity to the consistent leading of The Holy Spirit, as well as that small, still voice God gave us called CONSCIENCE. So, after a life of intensive recreational self-medication, I'm DONE with all that. After "putting away" enough for several men in my time, I've truly put away the folly of clouding my spiritual acuity once and for all. Those of you who don't hear from Him anyway won't notice the difference, but as for ME, I've not had so much as the smallest sip of wine (or even BEER) - nor any other mind-altering substance - whatsoever (not even second-hand smoke, folks)!
Which means I'm absolutely 100%:
The bottom line is that -WHATEVER my sins were- I've REPENTED and don't practice them today!
So, GO AHEAD. BRING IT ON....
The GOOD NEWS is: you're reading a blurb written by a walking dead man. I gave my heart and life over to the living Christ, and left MY will, MY desires, and MY OLD LIFE beneath baptismal waters. The cleansing flow is in effect, brother!
I stepped down from the throne in my heart, and let the risen Jesus take His rightful place there, from NOW 'till forever and EVER!
So, don't confuse my KINDNESS with WEAKNESS. When you face ME, I come before you IN THE NAME OF JESUS, my friend!
...And that's how I ROLL...
I believe fulfilling play is essential to a healthy existence and well-rounded intellect. A few GAMES you might catch me playing in my spare time are:
And by the way, in case you were curious:
95%
Just to clear things up: YES, count me as one of those uber-geeks who dig on superhero movies! And even though I don't rise to the level of a bona fide TREKKIE, I'm totally jazzed about the digital remastering, upgrading, and weekly re-airing of STAR TREK: The Original Series!
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