First Things First

Alright, so first things first. If you're reading this, you're probably thinking, "Who the heck is this?" So here's a few things about me:

(1) I am a Christian, and that will never change. No matter what happens on this earth, I am held and loved by the Creator, who sent His Son as payment for OUR mistakes. Though I am unworthy, I have been made worthy through Jesus Christ. Amen!

(2) I am a music addict! Ninety-five percent (95%) of the music I listen to is explicitly-Christian music, because I believe what I believe about Christianity. Why shouldn't I listen to it? And also, I find it more encouraging or uplifting in my day-to-day life. Trust me: as a teenager, in high school, I NEED encouragement!
   My musical addiction encompasses practically all Christian genres: rock, CCM (that's "Christian Contemporary Music" for you untrained people!), rap, hip-hop, metal, hardcore (aka "screamo"), etc. I don't prefer southern gospel or country. My favorite bands at the moment are Red (metal), Manic Drive (hip-hop/metal), Thousand Foot Krutch (rap/rock), Wolves at the Gate (hardcore), Chris August (CCM), Jeremy Camp (CCM), and Switchfoot (rock).
   I play guitar, and I sing. I am currently in a band called "Heartstrong," which will be getting started fully soon!

(3) Not only a music addict, I also love books. At the risk of weirding you out, I must make this statement: BOOKS ARE USUALLY BETTER THAN MOVIES. My favorite authors are Wayne Thomas Batson, Ted Dekker, Aaron Allston, Troy Denning, Karen Traviss, Chuck Black, Andrew Klavan, and Joel Rosenberg.

(4) A friend and I have an amateur movie production group we call "Two Men & a Camera." We write, direct, and act comedies, action films, and music videos. Also, we are involved in our homeschool group's play "The Pirate Show."

(5) I am an amateur author, and am currently working on two book series. Stay tuned for tips in writing, and for some hints for my books!
(6) I am a semi-average guy, as you may be able to see. Outside of the arts, I love baseball and I looooove hanging out with my friends (my brothers and my sisters!).

   So that's me in a nutshell. I'm a committed Christian teenager, and even though life is hard, I know it would be much worse without God in my life. He is my hope and salvation, and I hope you find out that He's yours too!
   From time to time, I'll post videos, give my take on certain songs, review books and movies, and etcetera. There will be plenty of Scripture (aka, Bible verses!) mixed in, so if that turns you away, so be it. As Paul says in Galations, "I am not living to please men. I live to please God, because if I didn't, I could not call myself a 'Christian.'"

God bless!
- Garrett