I got my first tattoo in July of 2000. My soon to be son-in-law and I decided to get our first tattoos the night before my daughter and he got married. I wanted mine to be a symbol of my faith so I decided to get a cross. I wanted a verse to go with it and I felt the perfect verse was Isaiah 53:5 to show what Christ had done for me. My son-in-law got the fish symbol that the early Christians used.

The barbed wire tattoo is a daily reminder of all the struggles I've had in my life...and how they only made me stronger to become the man I am today. The Tigger tattoo represents my childhood in that similar to Tigger I grew up alone and had to depend on my own resources to survive. As a result, I built up defenses to cope with the pain and frustrations. Every time someone would try to get close, I would always second guess their motives and reasons. Since arriving at Pinellas Community Church, I have learned to love, trust, and accept others. It has been a life-changing experience for me.

I always swore I would be the last person to get a tattoo. Well, all that changed in the summer of 2009 at the age of 40. I have gone through and overcome many trials and tribulations in my life...through it all I have become a stronger person and it has brought me closer to God.

I believe that you can overcome anything as long as you trust in the Lord and put it in his hands. So, after turning 40, I went through a mid-life crisis. I told my daughter I was going to get a tattoo and she laughed. I actually took her with me and made her hold my hand while getting Philippians 4:13 on my wrist. This verse has always meant so much to me because I believe it.

My second tattoo was a bonding moment with my middle daughter. She had just turned 18 and wanted to get a tattoo. She asked if she could so we went together and got matching flowers on our shoulders.

In high school, everyone was getting tattoos. I wasn't allowed to get one until I turned 18, so the day after my 18th birthday, me and a friend went and our first tattoos. All of my classmates were getting meaningless and godless tattoos. I wanted mine to be a statement of my faith. I drew a cross and picked the flowers. I love when people ask me about my tattoos...I get to share with them the most important part of my life...my relationship with God!

I got my Celtic cross about a year and a half ago. I got it because I am from Irish decent and I had just started going back to church. I got baptized last Easter and it is a constant reminder of my new life with God.

My tattoo is of scales and a dragon. The story behind this tattoo is that my father and I are both Libra's. His Chinese zodiac is the dragon and this is a representation of me and my father...as he wraps himself around me to guide and protect me. He is my best friend.