A merry heart does good like medicine, and this supplement is lighthearted.

Perhaps you’ll find a bit of humor, and then again, you might just shake your head. I believe it’s okay for Christian leaders to be somewhat transparent. Occasionally, I find it healthy to laugh at all the individual quirks that make each one so unique.

I’m sharing some random facts about myself, and here’s the disclaimer. This list post will probably not be the most inspirational piece on this site. This is just my way of awkwardly enjoying who I am. So thank you for letting me be myself again.

1. THE HAIR: As a teenager, I had long hair. Nope, not the all-over cool-looking late 80’s / early 90’s kind. It was a simple rat tail. My girlfriend kept it braided for me most of the time.
2. THE NICKNAME: My hairstyle, at one point earlier than the rat tail, resembled that of a contemporary pop artist. At least the older kids at my high school thought so, and they gave me the moniker of Wang Chung. That nickname stuck through four years of high school basketball and was even on my varsity letterman jacket.
3. THE FIRST JOB: My first public job was as an employee of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Cedar Bluff, Alabama. I worked one whole summer and then let them have it. I went back about a year later and worked through my senior year of high school. Management didn’t like my rat-tail hair, which had to stay hidden in my shirt collar while on the job. There, I learned how to work with the public and kill them with kindness. I also learned about the generous folks who didn’t mind tipping an impoverished teen. By God’s grace, I’ve been employed ever since then.
4. THE INTEREST: Some have called me a “Trekkie,” but it’s not that serious. I am a science fiction fan. I know and understand the Star Trek series and the spin-offs well enough to hold my weight in a conversation regarding who was the best Enterprise captain. Most likely, I picked up my appreciation for science fiction from my mother. She not only watched science fiction but read it voraciously.
5. THE PERSONALITY: I’m introverted. Those that only know me as a church leader and preaching pastor don’t usually realize this strength. Usually, on the Myers-Briggs assessment, I pan out as an INFJ. On the DISC methodology, I come out as the SC/DC. What this means in the realm of speaking is that I’m not the person that always feels like they have to say something. However, if I’m called upon to speak, I’ll make sure I have something to say. There’s a difference. And yes, I am nerdy enough that I really like personality analysis.
6. THE DESSERT: I’m a self-proclaimed “cookie monster” who prefers cookies over cake. Yes, a cake is good too. Lisa’s homemade cookies are my worst weakness. If they’re in the house, all thoughts of moderation soon vanish with hopes for a better nutritional tomorrow. Really, if I didn’t like sweets, I’d be less of a man, but I married my own Betty Crocker, and it would be rude to ask her to NOT use her gifts.
7. THE MIRACLE: Lastly, the most miraculous fact about me is the marvelous grace that overshadows my life. I shouldn’t be here, but GOD… I don’t deserve the blessings I’m enjoying, but God… The adversary had plans for my death at a very young age, but God… By His miraculous grace, I cast my lot with the righteous, and my destiny is among the redeemed. I’m saved by grace through faith! That’s my story, and I hope it’s yours too.

Which one of these seven is the most surprising to you? Unless you’ve known me for a long time, you probably didn’t know all this randomness. I’ve learned that no one is as one-dimensional as they first appear.

What are some random facts about you that your common acquaintances would be surprised at? Care to share and laugh with me?