Gender	Female
Occupation	Social Work
Location	Long Beach, CA, United States
Introduction	Well, my name is Karen Eckland. Hmmm....stuff about me....well, in a nutshell, I tend to be a very passionate person. I love the Lord, and I'm very thankful and greatful for His grace. He is my "always" friend, even when others aren't. I tend to love people deeply, which often gets messy. And I would say I have a sensitive spirit...when it comes to my own self and the hearts of others. I love to laugh, smile, enjoy life, and have fun. Areas which the Lord has strongly ignited in my heart are those suffering from Aids/poverty in Africa, encouraging others, loving the "loveless", prayer, as well as challenging people towards growth. Most of all I just love listening to people share their hearts, and doing life together with others. I love music...another area that ignites my soul. I love playing my guitar and I LOVE to sing! I graduated from Biola University and am currently getting my Masters now. Have worked at several churches, but now working in the Social Services field.
Interests	God, Africa, Singing, playing my guitar, playing golf, being with my amazing friends, deep conversations till all hours of the morning, riding horses, playing scrabble, sushi...mmmm, ministering to troubled youth, love my two dogs...love them--especially my "Codester", dogs called Barney, kayaking, traveling, watching people grow in Christ, reading, writing (stories, poetry, and songs), learning, encouraging others, praying, challenging people of ANY age and being challenged, hiking, snorkeling, backpacking, fishing (I know, I know), biking, SCUBA DIVING (wanna learn badly!!), Skydiving, camping, any outside fun sport, animals, watching Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility for the Umtienth time, playing in the rain, but also coming in later to sit by the fire to read when it's raining, taking pictures, participating in AIDS awareness, asking the tough questions everyone avoids and sitting with people who are willing to ask and answer them, passion, campfires, swimming, worshipping and bringing others into a place of worship, going running with my ipod playing worship music in my ears...love it!, sitting at the park--either praying or watching people, interior design, walking barefoot (best ever...love it!!), loving others and BEING loved, playing in the waves, sitting in the sand watching sunsets and sunrises, and the list goes on.....just love life, and my surroundings---love seeing God throughout life, through people, nature, etc.
Favorite movies	August Rush, Kingdom of Heaven, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice (All versions)--pretty much any movie based on the books by Jane Eyre or from that era, Cinderella Man, Chronicles of Narnia, Miracle, Lord of the Rings, Dead Poet's Society, Finding Forester, Remember the Titans, The Day After Tomorrow, Tears of the Sun, Dragonfly, Last Samurai, Beautiful Mind, Beauty Shop (anything with Queen Latifa...she's my soooul sista), Star Wars both new and old, oh and one more, can't forget this one---Anne of Green Gables...all of them..even the sequels...love these!!
Favorite music	I love ALL types of music. Some of my stock songs are by Bethany Dillon, United Live, Hillsong, Switchfoot & Relient K (the best!), Kutless, the Kry, Sara Grooves, Nichole Nordeman, Jennifer Knapp, Vicky Beeching, etc.....to the classics like Toto, Journey, Boston, Kansas, Mr. Big, ....as well as country music--such as Dolly Parton, Allison Kraus (my fav!!), The Wreckers, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, the Judds, Martina McBride, Rissi Palmer, etc. So pretty much anything....just love music...love to listen to it, sing it, perform it, etc
Favorite books	Definitely the Bible---hands down the best book ever. I love anything written by Henri Nouwen, such as "The Wounded Healer", etc. His stuff speaks to my soul. I LOVED The Shack...beautiful picture of the relationship we can have with the trinity. I'm loving books by Shane Claiborn. Right now I'm reading Holy Discontent, Everything must change, and the Supernatural power of a transformed mind (3 books). Mitch Albom's "Tuesday's with Morrie" was a beautiful read too.