About: Who is this guy anyway?

*I have got to find a better picture*

I am Jake Riley, 17. I am the fourth child in a family of 12 14 (My dear Dad, Leslie, My precious Mom, Christy, Emily Upchurch, and her husband Tyler, Trey, and his wife Candace, Ellen, 18, yours truly, Hannah, 15, Ben, 13, Sarah, 10, Annie, 7, Mercy, 3, Josiah, 2).

There’s a lot I could say about who I am that wouldn’t really mean much; I am a Christian, by the Grace of an almighty Saviour. I am a living, walking example that Grace really does abound to the chief of sinners. I have been placed in a Christ-Centred Church: I have been taught glorious things (solid Monergism): and I don’t really aspire to remaining, well, me. It will be interesting (humanly speaking) to see how the remainder of my life plays, because I make so many high claims: but Faith demands that I remain certain that the Grace of Christ by which I am called will prevail.It’s not about me; it’s about HIM (to quote another friend’s site). I cannot worry, because the superior attractiveness of Christ will win out throughout eternity, and oh joy, to sit in a corner (as it were) and be unnoticed in praising Him.

Romans 5, 6, 7, 8: that’s my story. Not what I’ve done, but what’s been done to me.

I am homeschooled.

Missions: It is my belief that mission are a daily thing, not something we do in foreign countries. But as far as international missions go, I’ve been to Ethiopia. I want to go again, plus I want to go to China, and anything else in Africa, or India (mostly because of reading Amy Charmicheal).

I am a profuse drinker of coffee, if it is fair trade, ground out home, grown in fair Africa or like places, and preferably French Pressed. And I am a huge fan of Earl Grey Tea, and other like beverages. But without sugar.

Reading: My favorite author is the Holy Spirit. As far as other books go, I like anything by J.C. Ryle, (Practical Religion, Old Paths, Expository Thoughts, ect.) Rutherford (though I’ve only read a few of his letters), A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God, The Divine Conquest, Fellowship of the Burning Heart, The Christian Book of Mystical Verse, etc.), Brother Lawrence, Clyde Cranford, Jonathan Edwards, Amy Carmicheal, C.S. Lewis is okay, J.I. Packer, Thomas A Kempis; and I am excessively fond of Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and his grandfathers John Calvin and St Augustine. Some good fiction writers that I like include G.A. Henty (to many to name), C.S. Lewis (Narnia, The Space Trilogy), Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility); I like edifying fiction like unto Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit,Dr Suess, et cetera.

I don’t think people should watch movies. Ever………………….

Ever…………..

Ever..

e.

Lord of the Rings is my favourite movie,  Sci-Fi, like Star Wars is okay, Iron Man is okay, and Spider-Man is awesome; action-adventure: National Treasure, Sahara, and “older days” stuff like The Count of Monte Cristo, The Patriot, Last of the Mohicans, and Horatio Hornblower; Movies made from English literature: Pride and Prejudice (the good new one with Kierra Knightly, and the really, really, really, good five-hour version with Collin Firth), other Austen, Dickens, Gaskell,  ect; independent Christian: Bella and Fireproof, Saints and Soldiers, and the like. And if there’s any type of movie I appreciate, it is a good animated movie: Pixar Movies, all of them, are favourites, and stuff like Meet the Robinsons and Bolt.

I like flowers, England, walks in a garden, wistfully gazing on the great outdoors, storms, breathing God’s good air.

Music: Kieth Green, Rich Mullins, SteveCampSteveGreenStevenCurtisChapman (whew); Nickel Creek, good instrumental (this may include stuff like Movie soundtracks or Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Classical in all shapes and sizes, Casting Crowns, Third Day…..I hate Hip-Hop……But have reluctantly bobbed my head to lyrics from Lecrae, Shai Linne, Tedashii…(better stop).

And I still play with Legos. Sue me.