Well it's 1:00am, I have to be awake at 6:00am to drive for six hours, so naturally I would decide to write my bio blog now...I apologize for taking two months to finally write this, I'm a bit of a "live in the present" kind of person, so it's hard for me to let go and get too crazy pumped for January. 

Anyway.  Here's a little about myself.

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved."

Paul's letter here to the Ephesians says it all.  It pretty much explains my life better than I could myself.  My life in high school was characterized by my rebellion against the Lord.  Selfishness, serious pride issues, a really unhealthy relationship with a girl who deserved much better, and struggles with purity and alcohol.  I was a rebel and my actions characterized my unknown hatred toward God.  If you asked me, I would have told you I was a Christian.  I grew up going to church, and sat in the front pew almost every Sunday.  I loved doing nice things, always wore a smile, and social justice was my motto.  But, as the Lord has revealed so clearly, all of these things were done for myself.  For my glory; so people would recognize me.  

Today I'd like to think that my life is characterized by verses four and five..."But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ."  Now I'm not sure about you guys, but I've never seen a dead man walk, let alone all the way to God.  But as verse 1 says, I was dead in my sins.  We're all dead.  We're not sinking or drowning, but we've already died.  It seems harsh, it seems rough, maybe it is.  The point: God receives ALL the glory.  As verse four says, it was GOD who made us alive with Christ.  To God be the glory in the change that occurred in my heart.

Now (excuse me as I step back from sermon mode...I apologize), that passage wrecked my world.  In November 2010, as a freshman in college, I read Ephesians 2 for the first time.  It opened my eyes to the self-righteous life I had been living.  Fortunately for me, God has done all the work since then.  Each day I fall more in love with Jesus, all the while growing in amazement of what his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave really means.  "Hallelujah, what a Savior!"

Okay, since I've already written an essay, I might as well keep going, right?

K, cool.  Well as I mentioned, my name is Jordan.  I'm a sophomore at Elmhurst College, which is about 20 minutes from downtown Chicago.  I grew up in a little town realll close to Springfield, Illinois (go Abe Lincoln!).  My town was similar to Mayberry...everyone knows everyone, and I loved growing up there.  However, being in Chicago is my thing.  I love love love the city and the people.  My major(s): Theological Studies and Christian Ministry and Urban Studies with a concentration in Public Service, along with a minor in Religion and Service.

Don't be fooled, it's really just a long, cool title that means "Go to seminary dude, or good luck with life."  

Also, I have a wonderful family, my mom and dad, and a brother-Josh who is 26 and a sister-Holly who is 23.  She is beautiful, and she got married last May.  I love my family a whole lot, so don't mess with them.

Okay, I think that's an awful lot of information.  So here's a top five list of fun facts and then I'll be done:

1.  I lost a bet and had to poop my pants a couple years ago.

2.  I once got in a fist fight and sent my best friend to the hospital to get stitches...(It was before I was a Christian, okay?!)

3.  I run cross country and track for my college.  I love track...sometimes I like cross country. 

4.  I really love the Chicago Cubs.  At one time I might have idolized them.  Today I think it's healthier...I just really enjoy watching them.

5.  My heart miiiiiiight be stuck in Haiti.  We'll see.

I can't wait to meet you all, sorry for writing so much, but I applaud you for making it all the way to this point.  You rock!  We'll it's now 1:39am, so I need to sleep.  See you in January!