I decided after being here in L.A. for two months, I need to do something to survive. I joined a gang. There are nine of us ranging in age from 19 to 78.

I got the call to be a background performer on Scrubs, an NBC sitcom about doctors and stuff. It's a funny show. Like all TV, it has little edifying value. But if your doctor has prescribed a dose of laughs to cure your bluesmonia, this show will do fine.

It's my big TV debut. Guess who I got cast as: A bald guy. Now there's a stretch, huh? But it wasn't just me. I got a whole family of bald... let's call them co-stars. My official screen credit name was Carol's Family member. The worst part of the gig was not the bald paul. It was the paul with the "Good evening, I'm Ted Koppel" wig. Those of you who've known me for a long time know that I have never had hair that big. We went on set and they hated it. We were sent to hair and make-up three times to "do something" to it. I received my first hair cut in 9 years. There were 5 women in our group. Only two had to wig up for the first scene. They all were shaved into a Sinead O'Conner look for the next day.

The shoot was a blast. It was highly embarrassing but nothing compared to the time our church had a swim party at our house when I was 10 and a junior high girl just walked into my room and saw me in my aquaman underoos. Each scene we "performed" in was one with quite a bit of Bald Family camera time. What I'm saying is, if you know me  you will recognize (unless the scenes get cut out of the show). The cast and crew were very friendly. The director said that he gave us a bump in pay. Don't know how much. I think five dollars or maybe six. Shooting was mucho fun. Let me tell you, there was some food there. You get to start out with all the healthy organic treats and chase it with all kinds of donuts and cakes and shakes and pepto-bismol.

The dungeon. How did you spend your days? I got to sit in an extras holding room for hours, sometimes twelve of them. After the first day, i sent out a request for some prayer support. This is a pretty hostile place toward Christ, and his followers. there is a general feeling like there are no believers in the room. I got the feeling that if the rapture happened then, there may be only one or two ceiling tiles out of place. Two of my "family members" were very vocal about their disdain for Christians and preachers. They were also vocal about their particular lifestyle. My prayer was that I would be able to share them the love of Christ which should not look anything like me holding a bucket of stones standing in the wind-up position. I also don't want to look like Peter waiting to hear if the rooster will crow.

The second day, i got the chance to share my faith. I wish I could tell you that we had an altar call and that the whole cast came to know God. Nope. I sat at a round table with five background extras (there are people who have made a living walking back and forth dressed up like doctors and nurses) and was hit with some strong views. Actually the strongest were from an atheist and an agnostic. The others were listeners. the conversation remained calm and cordial and I think I made some friends in the process. The third day in the cave, I met a fellow Christian and in the middle of the dungeon we had sweet fellowship.

Thanks to the prayer support, I really felt like I was not alone. I found myself quoting directly from discussions and readings in my current class at Biola (The Church and Society). I also had a whisper in my mind saying, "This is why you are here". I have had a real problem being bold and straight forward about, well anything. I have had a difficult time knowing when and how to say to the world, "My name is Paul and I'm a Christian". I also have had a difficult time saying to my Church friends, "My name is Paul, and I'm an actor". Let's pray that this is a town where I can do both.

By the way, we have been called back to appear in another episode. Pretty soon, there might be a spin-off like "Joey". "The Bald Family". There's your Must See TV.