Hobbies: Reading, Running & Working out
Favorite thing to do on days off: Sleep, work out, movies
Favorite Food: Cereal - Cap'n Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Mexican with Chicken
Why did you give your life to Jesus:
I was raised in a Christian home - My parents were
both really passionate Christians, and constantly lived it. They weren't pushy or forceful with their beliefs, but they constantly
lived it and through their lives I knew it was real. When I was still in grade school, I began to see the futility of life
without Jesus. I wanted my life to have eternal value, not simply worldy success. I felt that I could succeed at whatever
I put my mind to & that I could become anything I wanted. However, what was the point of any kind of success - only to
grow old and die and not be able to take any of it with you. I wanted purpose - I wanted to give myself to something that
would matter after my heart stopped beating. I knew I could and was finding this in Christ. My early teen years were probably
the most shaky as far as my spiritual walk. I loved Jesus and knew His presence in my life. I knew He was always there and
loved and knew me fully and completely; however, I was still really insecure. I wanted to be cool and portray this cool image,
but on the inside I was becoming closed off from everyone else. I would never cry or show much emotion, for this was not in
my definition of cool. On the inside, I was becoming even more sad and miserable. I would always run to Jesus and pour out
my heart to him, but other peoples false judgements and misunderstandings of me was really wearing me down. I was definitely
walking some sort of a gray Christianity, which was against my very black and white mindset. Consequently, I was all locked
up on the inside, always building walls to protect myself from others. I went to a youth retreat and brought two of my cool
friends from school. I wanted them to see the purpose and life that I had found in Christ, even though I was messed up in
my own thinking. One of the nights, there was an altar call. A friend from church asked my to go up front with her. I made
sure my other friends knew I wasn't going forward for myself (as going forward showed weakness and need and I was too cool
for that!) Anyway, right when I got up to the front, someone approached me and said that she felt God wanted her to pray for
me. I didn't want her to feel bad, so I said ok. The second she started praying, the presence of God came all over me and
I started weeping. God was breaking me of all of my insecurities and hurts. I was a new person and will never forgot that
powerful move of God on my heart. It was then that I discovered Jesus as my Lord and not simply my best friend.
My walk with Jesus since has been a gradual
process of sanctification and a continually increased passion for Him.
Something God has taught you recently:
God has been teaching me about always walking,
living, and serving in His strength; and is drawing me deeper into dependence upon Him. I've been looking at Jacob, Martha
& Mary, and Caleb. Jacob because he wrestled with God -- ie. he walked in his own strength until God, in His grace, put
his hip out of joint. What a release of freedom he felt as God conquered him. Martha & Mary because Mary sat at Jesus'
feet, while Martha was busy doing. It's so easy to "do" for God in our own strength without first waiting on Him and being
in a place of rest in Him at all times. Caleb, because he was a man who could look beyond his own strengths, and see the mighty
hand of God. He was a man who lived in the rest that only God brings and relied fully on Him.
Biggest influence on your life: I'm blessed to have many amazing influences - My parents would be big influences,
My older sister Kim and brother-in-law John Lalgee, and the rest of my immediate family are all amazing, powerful Christians
and continual provocations to me.
What is your favorite thing about what
you do: Seeing people radically changed by the power
of the Spirit - real change and revelation from the Holy Spirit.
Gear:
Korg Trinity Pro V-3
Korg Prophecy
Korg O1W fd
Korg Delta
Roland MC 505
EMU ESI-4000
