Back on December 27, Matt Perry tagged me to offer five things about myself. I have to admit that at first, I started to simply ignore it. Most of the posts on This Lamp are of a topical nature and while offering a personal perspective on issues don't focus on the personal side of my life (that's what Kathy's blog is for!). But then I thought that perhaps I was being a stick in the mud. And could the instructions for this tag have been any easier? All I was asked to do is tell five things about myself. So, I decided to comply.

But what to tell? Some things about myself are fairly well known from this blog: issues about my faith, my wife, my dog; where I teach, where I go to school, where I attend church, etc. So, I decided to offer up five things about myself that all readers may just not know about me. Here they are.

1. Although I've lived in Kentucky for over a decade, I still call the state of Louisiana home, where I lived for more than the first two decades of my life.

And I should add that I make a mean pot of gumbo, and my jambalaya isn't too bad (from what I've been told, of course).

2. In my senior year of high school (1986), I was voted "Most Talented" by my peers.

Oh, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "If most is a superlative, why are there three of you in the yearbook photo?" Well, the three of us were known for different talents. Todd was known for his guitar playing, Susan for her artwork, and me for my dramatic acting ability. In my senior year, I had the lead in our two plays, Cheaper by the Dozen and Lunatics at Large. I would continue after high school to participate in community theater and church drama, but I've since officially retired from acting. I did, however, enjoy going to high school and college in the 1980's. Looking back, I feel like my life then was one long 80's John Hughes Movie.


3. I have a favorite Bible verse from each testament.

Each verse has to do with my own sense of identity. I memorized both of these years ago in the NASB, which is how I will represent them here:

“Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)

Study, practice, teach. These are the three things that I feel called to do as well.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20)

I don't feel as if my actions are always completely Christlike, but Gal 2:20 reminds me of both my calling and standing in Christ.


4. I have a tattoo on my right ankle.

In case you can't make it out, it's the Greek phrase, "δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ" ("bondslave of Christ Jesus") from Rom 1:1. I was also going to have "ἀφωρισμένος εἰς εὐαγγέλιον θεοῦ" ("set apart/separated for the gospel of God") from the same verse added, but it hurt so much getting this done on my ankle that I had him stop with just what you see above. I've had this tattoo now for about five and a half years.

5. I have a great diversion for stress relief.

After Kathy goes to bed, I often take it upon myself to save the world through the elimination of aliens, terrorists, and other known bad guys.

I've always felt that medicines make the best gaming names. I used to have a character named "Theraflu." "Borofax" was the name for the ointment my mother used on my diaper rash when I was an infant. I added the extra x to the name because that makes it cooler. Right?


So there it is--five things about me that you may or may not have already known.

I now tag Kathy (Kathy's Kolloquy), Theron Mathis (Sword in the Fire), Bill Craig (Billog Tremors), Wayne Leman (Better Bibles Blog) and Philip Wade (Wade's Rants).