So I've joined Christian
Connections, a Christian 'introductions website' (a.k.a. a web-dating
thing). This is my profile:
Age:
34
From:
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Gender:
Male
Christian Tradition:
Anglican / Church of England / Episcopal
I'd like to meet a best friend with whom to grow together for the rest of our
lives. (Eurgh!) (No, really :)
I want to share senses of humour that chase each others' tails. A wife who
complements, matches, challenges, and supports me, who'll be able to receive
the same. A pal who's reasonably active when the opportunities present
themselves, who feels at home with Radio 4, is about as academic (but
probably more arty/humanities), and can hold a tune in a port glass. A gal
who likes hugs.
Someone who can cope with ferrets.
All of these together would be fantastic.
Section One - Personal Details
What are you looking for?
Relationship possibilities
Are you?
Single
How tall are you?
Average
Describe your physical type
Medium build
Eye colour
Hazel
Hair colour
Black
Hair type
Short and wavy
Do you smoke?
Non smoker
What best describes your drinking habits?
Drink socially
Do you have any children?
No children
Do you want to have children in the future?
Want one or two
What best describes your ethnic background?
European / Caucasian
Section Two - Life, Work, Interests, Enthusiasms
Education
University Degree
and half a PGCE
What type of work you do or used to do
Computer development / Technical
How would you describe your politics?
Other
Centre-left/Green, abolish party-politics.
What adjective best describes you? (choose up to four)
Thoughtful / Cerebral
Romantic / Hopeful
Cheerful
What is your best virtue?
Generosity
Sincerity
Honesty
What is your idea of a good holiday?
Seeing the sights and sounds, exploring
How much have you travelled?
At least two continents
Describe your financial situation
Comfortable
What types of films do you like best?
Action /
Adventure
Science Fiction
Art House
Comedy
What outdoor activities do you enjoy?
Cycling
Walking
Gym / Aerobics / Fitness
What other activities do you like?
Socialising
/ Parties
Time with family and friends
Cinema
Music making
Reading
Arts and Crafts, and Design
Computers
Other:
I want to be more kulchurul
What kind of music do you enjoy?
Choral music
Country / Folk
What types of newspapers and magazines do you read?
Specialist publications
What type of television do you watch most?
Do
not watch television
What kind of pets do you or would you have?
Ferrets
Section Three - Spiritual Life
What tradition / denomination do you most identify with?
Anglican / Church of
England / Episcopal
What draws you to a church? (choose up to two)
Reflective, prayerful
atmosphere
Good music and choral tradition
How important is the Christian faith in your life?
Important
What do you "do" in your church? (you can choose up to three)
Member of the
Congregation
Administration / Finance / Fundraising
Occasional helper
Section Four - Essay Questions
What are your interests and priorities? Where have you lived or where would
you like to live?
I have far too many interests. The ones out of the toybox just now include
a-capella singing (hosted at my house), tweaking my catsuit pattern
drafting/sewing website (footed velour catsuits make luverly pyjamas; ask if
you really want the URL), and pretending to be a ten foot otter in a computer
chat room. Oh, and I recently bought a graphics tablet. Yay me.
My priorities... surviving the daily grind, procrastinating, good spelling
and grammar, and finding that special someone. Oh, did you mean World Peace?
I was born in Ilford (London), I went to Warwick University (nr Coventry),
then to Manchester Polytechnic (Manchester) for half a Teacher Training
course. I took a job in Bolton, moved there, moved to Chequerbent, and I've
now been in Cambridge for around six years, my own house around four, and
it's all most excellent.
I ponder moving to Canada or Australia, where I think the attitudes are
better and politicians a little less slimy. Not very keen on hot summers or
insects though.
What work do you do now, have done in the past, or would like to do in the
future?
I currently program computers. Happily, I've been moved off the gargantuan
ancient lump of code I was on, and I'm now a toolsmith: writing programs to
help people write programs. Same stupid company, but more enjoyable work and
a friendly, fairly reasonable, and honest workaholic in California for a manager. Perhaps I'll stay
with it for a while longer.
I'd like to be a voice actor for cartoon characters, and thought reading for
talking books might be a good route, but the RNIB are only interested in
specialist-subject readers: can I fill in all this paperwork, please... Rats.
It seems unlikely that even a lively rendition of 'Advanced Programming in
the Unix Environment' would impress anyone. Even if I introduce talking
hamsters into the text.
Another thought would be doing a web-animation of some out-of-copyright
classic book. It'd take a lot of disc space though.
Please name some of your favourite books, characters or websites:
I love Calvin and Hobbes, and Calvin's dad in particular is my utter hero: I
loathe intentional deceit, but the humour in his creatively outrageous
'explanations' is deeply appealing.
I wouldn't recommend most of the drivel I read, but the three Jasper Fforde
books I've read were all brilliant.
Of most recent importance, Elizabeth Moon's 'Speed of Dark' managed to bring
a few tears to my eyes in relief and recognition at some of the thoughts and
reasoning of the autistic protagonist: I felt like God had patted me on the
head and said 'See? You're fairly normal'. It's okay to want to hide under my
duvet when people or events upset me, to re-play past or future dialogue in
my head, to like shiny things, or occasionally to get unreasonably twitchy
about travelling somewhere new. I wish people talked about that stuff more.
Also: 'Post Evangelical' by Dave Tomlinson. Good if you're increasingly
dissatisfied with pre-cooked Christian responses that somehow fail to answer
the question.
Say something about the nature of your Christian faith. What activities have
you done or would like to do as a result of your commitment? Describe the
Church you attend and why you go there:
My faith has been ambling around the spectrum - I've moved from a fantastic
Pentecostal church via various House, Evangelical, and Anglican churches as I
sauntered around the country, and I'm currently at an ancient Anglo-catholic
church run by a bunch of very real-world Fransiscan Friars who have
nonetheless made the mistake of inviting me onto the PCC. Power! Mua-ha-har.
I can excommunicate people now.
I believe God's led me there to learn tolerance; certainly I'm talking with
folks much more liberal than I am, and I find it liberating, admitting that
the various stock Charismatic answers don't satisfy me intellectually, while
still challenging various aspects of the liberal stances.
I don't think I can put my finger on any particular thing in my life and say
'That's what my faith has done or has made me do', but I have a deep sense
that God exists and that Jesus' death on the cross is uniquely fundamental to
the salvation of everyone - including me. Irritatingly, I still haven't yet
worked out how to apply it practically - how to respond to beggars or
requests on my time that I don't feel comfortable with. I don't feel as in
touch with God as I used to, but the Bible says that He hasn't moved, and I'm
sure He has His hand on me. (Which I presume is why my hair doesn't stick up.)
Are there any verses/extracts from the Bible or by spiritual writers or from
songs or hymns which have inspired you? Which books, publications, films,
people (living or dead) or places have helped you with your spiritual journey?
I love Psalm 139, particularly the first part.
I would be delighted to read 1 John 4:7- in church. I heard it being read
like a telephone directory once; I can't imagine how anyone with a pulse
could manage that! You could just read it with meaning, and skip the sermon.
I'm on a terribly interesting course just now, about understanding the Bible
mystically: as ancient writings about an improving revelation, rather than a
literal narrative. It's fascinating and challenging to see the derivation of
and changes in understanding and beliefs, from the Sumerian/Semitic
Ninti/Hawwah thing to the Incarnation. Church History next year.
"Judith" and "Bel and The Dragon", in the Apocrypha, are both rather jolly
stories. And... Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 41:19b - What on Earth is wrong with
putting your elbows on the table?
I like Broken Windows, Broken Lives by Adrian Plass, particularly for its
honesty. I'm still afraid to pick up Nee's 'The Normal Christian Life'.
Is there anything else you would like to say, which you haven't had the
chance to mention up to now?
I've not yet kept ferrets, but I really do hope to.
I find myself answering emails on Sunday evening, most of the time, so if you
don't hear for a week, that's not a hint: if I want to finish writing, I hope
I'll have the decency to say so explicitly.
I don't consider myself to be very good at chatting on the phone unless I've
met someone beforehand, but that's mainly a fear of awkward pauses exposing
me as fundamentally boring. That said, it's certainly 'lower risk' than
actually meeting, so with the foregoing caveat, I'm game for that.
As far as actually meeting up goes, I'd want it to be within an hour's travel
for each of us. Cambridge is ideal - I work in the city centre and can cycle
or take the bus for anything further out. London by train certainly falls
within the hour, but would tend to mean weekends for me, or I'll end up face
down in my sushi with wasabi up my nose.
