Hi, I'm Ben, I've posted here before but not under this username. I live in Sydney and do ESL teaching at a time when the industry is under a tight belt. I'm three years shy of forty (AUGH!) and the forums lend themselves well to my typing wordiness and hermit-like nature (I don't talk much verbally and prefer being alone in solitude).
I've been in numerous churches regularly over the years of my life - Baptist, Presbyterian, Uniting, Evangelical, charismatic Anglican, Vineyard, Pentecostal, and No (meaning floating around and not in a church). Right now I technically belong to Presbyterian church again, but haven't been attending lately - it's a long story, but I've been hurt in a few churches and need a break because going to church has become a poisonous experience to me.
I am a Christian and my beliefs tend to incorporate somehow most of the above denominations (except for the Uniting church) - I suppose I'd be called a Spirit-filled Presbyterian if you want a label. Despite not being in a church practically and feel a bit alienated from the church life I once had, I still believe the things I've believed about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, grace, the cross, etc. I just don't feel I fit into a church right now, and don't feel the church as I've experienced it in recent times is the stronger, more relational community it once was. It's sad, but I believe that thanks to social networking, smart phones, the internet and worldwide greed, the church is becoming too caught up in the world's ways and will suffer for moving too slow in response.
Other than that, people are still people, and God is still God, and His love and wisdom and might are still absolute.
I love K-pop and J-pop, used to play the flute and can sing really well, love Scrabble, like learning Japanese and Korean language and need to get back into drawing again. Welcome to other newbies (although I'm technically a returning oldie!).
Ben !^)