Well, I've been a member for about two weeks now and am just now getting the chance to post.  Man, I gotta slow down a little!!

Basically, my name is Jason, I'm 34 and I live in Dallas.  I'm a librarian at SMU, musician, poet, cook and lover of all things outdoors.  I grew up in a very loving Christian home in east Texas.  My parents were divorced when I was young and my mother, sister and I moved in with my great-grandmother and great great-aunt when I was 10.  Our family attended the Methodist church in town and we were there every Sunday -- WITHOUT FAIL!!  Church WAS THE THING TO DO WHERE I LIVED!!  Just to give you proof, Chris Tomlin and I were friends in high school and roomed together for a semester in college.  That's how big church was where I lived.  I loved going to church and admired our pastor.  When I was about 13 I decided I wanted to be a preacher.  It was also around that time that I realized what people meant when they said someone was "gay" and that all those weird feelings I had meant I was gay.  I didn't really care.  It didn't really bother me until I started attending the Baptist church where most of my friends went.  It was there I heard for the first time that the feelings I had for other men meant I would go to hell!

So, for the better part of 10 years I ran from my true self.  Going so far as to become an ordained Baptist minister.  In 2003, I had enough and revealed my sexuality to the pastor of the church where I was serving as Minister of Music and Worship.  I was promptly asked to leave by the deacons and I did.

Through all of this I have never lost my faith.  I realize that God is far more loving and gracious than His children and that it is He who made me who I am and that it is only Him to whom I will have to answer.  I have grown to know His Love and Grace more in the last three years than in my entire life to this point.  He is my "strength and shield"!

I'm in the process of writing a book about my experiences growing up gay in a small town in Texas.  What I eventually hope it will be is a collection of essays by many people who grew up like I did.  So, if you're interested in contributing a story for possible publication, please let me know.  You can email me at walker@smu.edu.

 ***OK, so I just realized that I had already posted an introduction on here.  See, I told you I was too busy, I had forgotten about the other one.  Well, consider this more detailed.  OOPS!***

Wow, this was way too long...sorry about that.

Blessings -- Jason