There are many dimensions to a person. The philosopher Shrek once said that ogres are like onions because they have layers. Well, truth be told, we are all like onions (or ogres if you prefer). I've illustrated a few of my layers below, but I haven't hit the cutting board. 

Beliefs: I figured I'd start with the important stuff. I am an evangelical Christian with Anabaptist tendencies (i.e. Mennonite). What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that the only means of salvation is through His death and resurrection. Grace, as I see it, is what life is all about. We can never earn the approval of God, but we can serve Him as faithfully as possible. I believe in living a carefully disciplined life because God commands it, and also because I believe it is actually the best route to earthly happiness.

When it comes to politics I am a bit frustrated. While I lean slightly toward the Republican ideology,  I have many substantial disagreements with it. I believe in protecting life (thus I am against capital punishment and abortion), small government (personal responsibility), environmental protection, and peaceful resolution to conflict. No party stands expressly for what I believe, so my voting history is distributed among different parties.   

Hobbies and Interests: I love to read. Just about any genre will do. My favorite authors include John Grisham, C.S. Lewis, Tom Clancy, Philip Yancey, and Donald Miller. My schedule has prevented me from reading as much as I would like, but I always find some time.

Music is another interest. I started playing the guitar many years ago, and through that I developed an appreciation for music. I'm a fan of Live, Collective Soul, U2, Third Day, Kenny G, Jeff Golub, Howie Day, Barenaked Ladies, Weezer, Gin Blossoms, The Wallflowers, Tonic, Radiohead, Hillsong United, Test Your Reflex, The All-American Rejects and a host of other bands/musicians. Generally speaking, I'm a bigger fan of recordings than live performance.

I am dedicated to my Philadelphia sports teams, though I don't think I am an irrational fan. Baseball is my favorite sport. A summer evening at a ballpark is a wonderful thing. . .

Horticulture is my field of study and a hobby. I enjoy working with plants and developing landscapes. In addition to growing plants, I also enjoy photographing plants and landscapes.

I'm a Fan of: The Simpsons, Baseball, Viburnums, Ben Stiller, Chinese Food, Little Debbie Brownies, Owen Wilson, Weigelas, the History Channel, Hydrangeas, Matt Damon, Taco Bell, Cheesesteaks, Guitars, Chili, eBay, Garfield, Iced Tea, Dell, Nikon, Fedoras, Tennis

I'm Not a Fan of: Ham, Michael Bublé, American Idol, Sci-Fi, Delphiniums, Coffee, Theatres, Popcorn, Roller coasters, Wendy's, Soda, MTV, Cats, Privet, Yawning, Dark Chocolate, Seafood, Soccer, Designated Hitters, Sigmund Freud, TV Talk Shows