Who am I? What am I doing here?

The title for this first entry would sound more clever if you could hear the accent with which I am speaking in my head right now. Years ago, before Phil Hartman was tragically taken from us, he portrayed a character on Saturday Night Live that has stuck with me since. When Ross Perrot and Admiral Stockdale were running for President in 1996, Hartman portrayed Stockdale's debacle of a performance in a Vice Presidential Debate where he said those now famous words "Who am I? What am I doing here?". Admiral Stockdale wasn't confused about his person place or time. Rather he was trying to make a point that he was an unknown contender with little political experience. He had hoped he would be able to convey to the viewers that he was an outsider to the Washington culture and help solidify his claim that he was the best man for the job. Although it put his name out to the public, it served to be a source of ridicule and contention between the other candidates and the Perrot campaign. And as he was portrayed in SNL's skits, Admiral Stockdale becoming a laughing stock among the voters he was trying to reach.
As I prepare to embark on a campaign to reach the hearts and minds of the student's at First Presbyterian, I am reminded of this skit and how it has taught me that even the most clever gimmick is still a gimmick none the less. So here you go, with as little pomp and flair as I can prevent I would like to introduce myself to my students and my church.
Who am I?
My name is Daniel Tipton. I like taking long walks on the beech and watching sunsets....oh sorry I drifted back to the pomp. But seriously, I want you all to know the real me (or as much of the real me I think you can handle). So here goes: 5'10 2**lbs, smart and incredibly sensitive about how much time it takes for some people to get dressed in the morning. I have a dog named Sadie (named after the Beetles Song "Sexy Sadie") and I live in a van, down by the river! I have an incredible sense of humor and I'm not afraid to laugh at people when they do stupid things. I hate it when people waste my time but am willing to sit around and do nothing with people I actually like. I hate it when people are afraid to think about their faith and ignore the realities of the modern world. I hate technology and I think we should outlaw cell phones completely.
What am I doing here?
I am here to serve you, the students of First Presbyterian Church and you the viewer's at home. (sounds like a campaign ad right?) Well for the most part it is! I want you guys to learn to trust me and invest in me the way you did your past leadership. I want you all to know that I am not afraid of the hard questions (I do have an illness however that when I'm asked a question I don't know the answer to I get violently ill and projectile vomit, so be careful). I am here to help you guys in any way I can. I come to you with Degrees and Experiences but most of all, with an open heart to learn who you are and open up to you who I am in return. Let's spend the next few months discovering what God has in store for us all as we embark on a new journey of life and faith.