Earls: A Biography

My mother birthed me into this world on October 3, 1988.  I was by far the most precious baby that anyone had ever laid their eyes on… I promise you that.  Ok, maybe I’m a liar.  I was fat… a very fat baby with a full head of hair.  But ultimately, I was still a miracle.  Obviously I do not remember much about being born, other than the fact that it actually happened.  Bobby and Penny Earls are my parents, and I love them very very much.  I have one brother named Josh and one sister name Jessie.  I am the youngest of the group, which of course means, I usually get what I want.  Because of that, I am very spoiled and I know it. Hopefully my experience here at college will help me overcome my “spoiledness”.  Anyway, back to my biography.

I grew up in a very small town in North Carolina called Icard.  I lived in this town for a little over 15 years of my life.  I made my childhood friends there, I went to elementary, middle, and most of my high school career there.  The majorities of my memories of life were created in that town.  I am a pastor’s son.  I grew up in a southern baptist church.  Basically, there is not much that I can say about my life in North Carolina other than the fact that I spent ALOT of time with friends.  Having friends has always been a huge deal in my life.  My dad led the church there over many triumphs, helped them through problems, conflicts, and struggles.  If there is one thing that I know about my dad, it is that he loves God, and he loves the church.  Not one single person on this earth can persuade me differently.  I was very much involved with the youth group through middle school and my first years of high school.  I went on all the youth camps, went to church every sunday and set that “example” for the younger ones.  Now let me be very serious, and very honest.  I was human then, as I am now.  I had my struggles, my sins, my problems with my spiritual life.  Luckily, I was blessed with those around me who loved and cared about me enough to reach out and help me.  I loved my life in N.C. I was convinced that I would spend the rest of my life there.  But God had different plans in mind…

In the summer of 2005, my family went on our usual trip to the Southern Baptist Convention.  The SBC was being held in Nashville, TN that year.  As always, we enjoyed the trip very much.  Unfortunately, our trip had to be cut short because my dad had to be back for an important church financial meeting.  We returned on a Thursday.  That Friday was the day of the meeting.  That Friday officially has been noted as the worst day in my life thus far.  Throughout the day, I discovered that some punk skateboarder had ripped off the jaguar on the front of my mom’s jaguar.  I think it’s safe to say that she freaked… royally.  Later that day, I literally watched a man on a Mo-Ped flip and crush his face in the church parking lot.  We had also returned to find vandalism done to the church building.  Things were just not going very well.  Ah, but it doesn’t stop there.  My dad returned later that night after the meeting with his head hung low.  I didn’t ask him any questions; I just let him pass by.  I was about to go get something to eat with my girlfriend until my mom stopped me and told me something that rattled my life. It was a statement which I will never forget. “Jordy, I need you to show your dad as much support as you can.” mom said. I replied, “Umm, what is it?” “Son, they have asked your dad to leave…” I stood there and just stared at my mom blankly.  Then… it hit me.  I freaked out.  I did not know what to think, or do.  I was so filled with anger and bitterness that I almost ran out of my house with one goal in mind, to tear those people apart.  But I didn’t.  I fell on my face at my front door and started to cry.  My girlfriend was confused about what was going on.  My mom finally came into the room and told me more about what had been said.  Allow me to put their reason for dismissing my dad from a church he served faithfully for 15 years.  They needed to save money.  The church could not afford to pay all the members of the staff salaries.  It’s funny how they chose the senior pastor.  To make a long story short, I was mad and I had no care for that committee.  I just lived my life out the best that I could with the little time I had left, considering they gave us 2 months to get out, and yes, they put it that way.  Now, I do not want to give off a bitter expression.  Yes, it still upsets me to think about it sometimes, but I have moved on with what God has called me to do.

My family ended up moving to Birmingham, AL.  I immediately got involved in the youth group at the church there.  We did many exciting things and many memories are held there as well.  I don’t think i really have the room to just go on about that though.  I have already written a short novel for you guys… gosh.  I led worship there for the youth group.  I started writing songs and producing them.  I believe that the Alabama experience was a major growing process in my spiritual walk.  You can listen to my songs here. 

Now I am here, at The College at Southwestern.  I am really excited about what God has in store for me.  I hope that this college experience will take me a long, long way.