At one time or another we all have had something happen which could either stop us and paralyze us emotionally and socially for years, or we can learn from it, determined to use it as a lesson for growth, we can forge on ahead. Too many times people ask 'Why is God doing this to me?' or 'Why didn't God prevent that from happening in my life?' God puts trials and evil in our lives for us to confront and learn from. God uses these events to forge us into the people that we are supposed to be. Often, a long-time friend essentially turns his or her back on you all of a sudden immediately after he or she gets married. My 'sin' I was still single. I was a part of the chapter in their life that they turned the page. While I respect and wish luck to people who are in a relationship, one thing I have noticed is that when a friend(s) who is (are) single and begins dating is that he or she 'drops' their other friends, and if they get married, all of a sudden they no longer have any time for their single friends. I've had that happen to me many times, and I vowed that I would not do that to others.
I am quite involved in continuing my education, though I have tentatively stopped (I don't know if I want to get back into schooling and get my Ph.D-my next degree-at my age) my formal education after receiving my Masters degree (education is a life-long process). I try to stay current in areas of theology and philosophy. A former atheist, it is my passion to reach out to others caught in that worldview or at least cannot see any viable alternative other than atheism. I've been on both sides so I understand where atheists are coming from, but frankly I am bored with atheism since I have not seem anything new arguments that wasn't around when I was one. Though I attend a Baptist church now, I am not a Baptist, if you know what I mean; I guess you could call me an 'accidental Baptist.'
Regarding what kind of a person I am looking for, instead of looking for a certain type of person, I try to adapt to their own personality/temperament, and see how well I get along with the person and mesh with them, while being myself. Above all, I expect a person to be honest and genuine, who allows another person to be him or her self, rather than masquarading as something they are not. Even if things do not work out as hoped, I think it is better that the person be real than what they think the other personwants him or her to be. I look to see who I feel free to be myself around. Better to be honest & possibly find that a relationship doesn't work, than find one to 'work' by living a lie.
I like to exercise (lift weights, jog, walk, and bicycle), read and write (I have a web site I am usually writing since I almost always have some article in one stage of development or another). I like to eat out (almost too much). I've debated whether to list this profile as 'Dating' or 'Friendship' because if a dating relationship isn't built upon a genuine friendship, then how healthy is it in the long run? It is difficult to say exactly what twists and turns a relationship will take and how it may turn out. It's been my experience that too many relationships that start out with the intent to 'date' often do not survive because they have not been built upon a friendship foundation. I think it is best to base a relationship on friendship and then see if it becomes anything else. I have had some friendships that are not only more solid & have weathered the storm better, and as a result are deeper and have lasted much longer than relationships that were build upon 'falling' in love (because there will come a time when one of the two people will 'fall' out of love. You can not have too many friends (of course it would be nice if it develops into something else too). But why is friendship often belittled as 'just' friends as if it is inferior or a stepping stone until marriage. Friends are ones that know you and your flaws and still love you in spite of them. A relationship between two best friends can weather any storm which comes their way.
When the questions comes to children, I think it is important to realize that children are an extension of that other person. Children are not a commidity to be compromised and negotiated away. If the relationship blossoms to that level, it is imperitive that the non-parent accept and love the children with the same quality of love that he or she has for their father or mother. If you find such a special person that not only can you share, laugh, and weep with, such a person is a rare find, and that person is truly blessed to have such a friend.

Too often friendship has been belittled as a relationship. Anytime two people begin to know each other, it is hard to know how the relationship-if there will be one- will go (if it does at all). It is best to simply try to get to know each other without the pressure of certain expectations, We would probably go out to eat & talk (a lot)- maybe a walk in the park. Maybe we'll both decide to see a movie or agree on something else. It should be something that we both feel we want to do, not something that we are 'locked into' doing. It should be something we both agree on, not just something I decide I want to do & see if she wants to do it with me. If I like a woman enough that I want to get to know her more, I become 'intrigued' & want to find more about her & spend more time with her. I have been fortunate enough to have a couple special friendships that I can truly call them friends. Friends who not only lets me be myself, but helps me to grow into the person that I should be. I have known what mere romantic relationships can be, but I am now seeing what a relationship that is built upon a deep friendship can really be and look forward to watching it as it blossoms.