Up at 5:10 this morning, took a picture for you:
Yeah, black as black can be :P
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Patterns and reciprocity.
It seems that my state of blogging could be diagnosed as manic-depressive. Unlike the real world ailment, blogging surges in depressive states. When something is not right in (my view of) the world, or there is some great injustice (usually more personal than global). Yet I write to give the many readers a chance to see my inner monologue and keep people intrigued like the latest Dan Brown novel. Only, my inner monologue is much more exciting. *Now please re-read that last sentence with a healthy level of sarcasm instead of narcissism.*
A few hours ago I finished catching up on a friend's blog, and found a personal relation in her True Christmas wish list:
A few hours ago I finished catching up on a friend's blog, and found a personal relation in her True Christmas wish list:
"a full time job that engages my brain and allows me to work with creative, caring, and inovative people (not that those at my current job aren't those things)"
Surely this is no new feeling to any blogger. I have some feeling that most bloggers are writing to create an outlet in a world that is focused on plugging along a mediocre path toward massive wealth. This path is adopted instead of charging headlong into a melee of dreams, reality, puppies and barb-wire to come out with an awesome story and life-experience. As far as jobs are concerned it is hard to find a situation where both the work itself and the people we work alongside are engaging. Lets say we have a great job with great coworkers that push us towards new levels of awesomeness, how do we handle our customers? Allow me to share the "Wish List of Customer Relations":
There is my wish list. I'm sure there is some business elite laughing at me with great delight, but that fear is quelled by realizing no elite (of any kind) would read my blog. Just a thought to consider before I drop this; would you like to have these actions extended to you as a customer? If so, immulate Jesus and "love your neighbor as you love yourself." Throw down like Ghandi and "be the change you want to see in the world." Step out there like, well, I don't know who said this but step out and "don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how."
Now get out there and save the world!
Surely this is no new feeling to any blogger. I have some feeling that most bloggers are writing to create an outlet in a world that is focused on plugging along a mediocre path toward massive wealth. This path is adopted instead of charging headlong into a melee of dreams, reality, puppies and barb-wire to come out with an awesome story and life-experience. As far as jobs are concerned it is hard to find a situation where both the work itself and the people we work alongside are engaging. Lets say we have a great job with great coworkers that push us towards new levels of awesomeness, how do we handle our customers? Allow me to share the "Wish List of Customer Relations":
~Smile
~Listen to your customer (concerns and elations)
~Ask pertinant questions to complete the task, save chit chat for when the job is complete.
~Keep the customer involved (as much as they want to be anyways)
~Be upfront and honest (if changes must be made to the solution, fill the customer in)
~Be positive, but be genuine
~All prices should be the same all the time (if you are running a special it should be extended to all customers)
~Reward long time customers (seniority should win out over popularity)
~All negotiations should be done on the front end, not when writing up the bill (even address what may happen in the case of changes)
~Double-check with the customer on their satisfaction
~Leave an open door for questions that come after-the-fact (just in case all the bases weren't covered)
~Listen to your customer (concerns and elations)
~Ask pertinant questions to complete the task, save chit chat for when the job is complete.
~Keep the customer involved (as much as they want to be anyways)
~Be upfront and honest (if changes must be made to the solution, fill the customer in)
~Be positive, but be genuine
~All prices should be the same all the time (if you are running a special it should be extended to all customers)
~Reward long time customers (seniority should win out over popularity)
~All negotiations should be done on the front end, not when writing up the bill (even address what may happen in the case of changes)
~Double-check with the customer on their satisfaction
~Leave an open door for questions that come after-the-fact (just in case all the bases weren't covered)
There is my wish list. I'm sure there is some business elite laughing at me with great delight, but that fear is quelled by realizing no elite (of any kind) would read my blog. Just a thought to consider before I drop this; would you like to have these actions extended to you as a customer? If so, immulate Jesus and "love your neighbor as you love yourself." Throw down like Ghandi and "be the change you want to see in the world." Step out there like, well, I don't know who said this but step out and "don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how."
Now get out there and save the world!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Fresh Meat...read in your best Robin Leach voice.
There's this wonderful restaurant in the mountains of North Carolina called The Gamekeeper. The menu is wonderful and varied. They have your common fine dining cuisine such as beef and fish, even a nice large garden salad. Yet, as the name implies, their forte is in wild game.
On our, mine and my wife's, last trip to Boone, NC we met my dad and step-mom for dinner at The Gamekeeper. From the moment you pull up to this renovated house (after safely steering up 3 miles of curvy mountain road) you feel you are somewhere different. Valet takes your car and you step up onto the deck to take in a great view, which I recommend getting there before the sun goes down. Upon entering there is a wonderful staff and a great atmosphere, but we all know you wanna hear about the food.
So, onto the plates. We began the evening with a meat sampler; this was comprised of antelope, buffalo, buffalo sausage, and their "predetor and prey" sausage (this is the combined meats of rattlesnake and rabbit in the same sausage skin). These came with a serving of steak fries and three dipping sauces; homemade honey-mustard with a kick of horseradish, sweet barbeque with a mesquite taste, and horseradish sour-cream (the dinner party's favorite). This was promtly followed by our entree. Everyone enjoyed different items, I ordered the pheasant which was plesantly spicy served on top of some nice fresh spinach to cool off the spice. The best dish of the night went to my wife with her duck...tender, not overly seasoned and delicious. So tender I would have sworn it was filet mignong. We finished the night with an after dinner irish coffee and an acorn squash stuffed with pumpkin cheesecake and a topping of whipped cream with a caramel sauce on the side, this was slightly underwhelming after the dinner, but still quite tasty.
The dinner was wonderful and the company of family only made it better. If you are now curious about this restaurant, I recommend seeking it out. Mind you the menu changes on a almost daily basis as some items are in short supply, but everything you have there will please...or at least, everything I've had there has. So, I hope I peeked a curiousity somewhere and left you drooling. I'll send out an invite next time I'm going to Boone in hopes of sharing this experience with another couple at another time. If you have not followed any of the above links, again, visit www.gamekeeper-nc.com.
Good evening :)
(Smiley face added to take away from austire tone used throughout this blog, thank you and goodnight.)
On our, mine and my wife's, last trip to Boone, NC we met my dad and step-mom for dinner at The Gamekeeper. From the moment you pull up to this renovated house (after safely steering up 3 miles of curvy mountain road) you feel you are somewhere different. Valet takes your car and you step up onto the deck to take in a great view, which I recommend getting there before the sun goes down. Upon entering there is a wonderful staff and a great atmosphere, but we all know you wanna hear about the food.
So, onto the plates. We began the evening with a meat sampler; this was comprised of antelope, buffalo, buffalo sausage, and their "predetor and prey" sausage (this is the combined meats of rattlesnake and rabbit in the same sausage skin). These came with a serving of steak fries and three dipping sauces; homemade honey-mustard with a kick of horseradish, sweet barbeque with a mesquite taste, and horseradish sour-cream (the dinner party's favorite). This was promtly followed by our entree. Everyone enjoyed different items, I ordered the pheasant which was plesantly spicy served on top of some nice fresh spinach to cool off the spice. The best dish of the night went to my wife with her duck...tender, not overly seasoned and delicious. So tender I would have sworn it was filet mignong. We finished the night with an after dinner irish coffee and an acorn squash stuffed with pumpkin cheesecake and a topping of whipped cream with a caramel sauce on the side, this was slightly underwhelming after the dinner, but still quite tasty.
The dinner was wonderful and the company of family only made it better. If you are now curious about this restaurant, I recommend seeking it out. Mind you the menu changes on a almost daily basis as some items are in short supply, but everything you have there will please...or at least, everything I've had there has. So, I hope I peeked a curiousity somewhere and left you drooling. I'll send out an invite next time I'm going to Boone in hopes of sharing this experience with another couple at another time. If you have not followed any of the above links, again, visit www.gamekeeper-nc.com.
Good evening :)
(Smiley face added to take away from austire tone used throughout this blog, thank you and goodnight.)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
My Adventurous Wife
I want to take a moment and commend my wife on being awesome. This past weekend we took some time away too the mountains, kinda a honeymoon extension. We enjoyed the cool Boone weather and spent plenty of time cuddling, wandering around local shops and hitting our favorite eateries.
We went out on Saturday morning to start a normal trail we like to do off the parkway despite the cloudy skies. As we drove further from the house we would hit patches of rain but decided to press on. Upon arriving at the trail there was a steady drizzle but nothing too off putting, plus, Jess wanted to try out her new hiking boots. So we hit the muddy trail after crossing a creek (or two) and enjoyed a nice gray hike. As we went further down the trail the rain would dance back and forth between a drizzle and a steady rain. A mile into the hike we hit a turn around point, and here is where Jess' true awesomeness starts to shine, Jess decides to press on in the rain. Ascending a hill (attempting to find an alternate route to Hebron Rock Colony) the sky began to open up a little more. I'm not talking about opening up for sunshine either. The rain starts to fall harder as we slide and scrape our butts down a hill to get to our destination. Hearing Jess' yelps and laughter made it that much more fun to experience. Not a word on the mud we were crawling through, or how wet we were getting, OR the fact we had walked over a mile in the rain are all reasons I deem her awesome. Although I did hear plenty about the worms coming out to enjoy the rain.
This was all a wonderful experience, as well as the unmentioned speedwalk back to the car and stripping of wet clothes, and I again applaud my wife. This is something that Myles Munroe touches on a few times throughout his couples' devotional. The point that men and women have different interests (not too surprising) but that a spouse should be engaging and share in the excitement of the other's interests. Munroe even goes into the details that men are looking for an recreational companion and women look for conversation. These are secondary needs to a man's primary need for respect and a woman's primary need for love...which will also have to be another blog. Not that you have to have ALL the same interests and hobbies, but that you should share in the delight with your spouse. I admittedy struggle with getting terribly excited about cleaning products, but I try and I smile and take delight in her excitement...and admittedly, the swiffer is a life saver. But this isn't about my lackings, it is about my wife's abillity to astound. Not only does she patiently sit through the same stories and pieces of information I constantly share (and Lord bless her when I get on the topic of ninjas) but there are some things she will jump in and really make the experience that much more enjoyable. Hiking in the rain is one example, so is our work in the kitchen on meals, going out in public (not always easy for me) and eating wild game. I'll elaborate on the wild game, tomorrow.
Jess, here's to you and your adventurous self. Thank you for making my life fun through our relationship from high school to now. I look forward to sharing more experiences with you and seeing the world, even if it is one small mountain trail at a time. I love you.
So in finallity, for the rest of you; hike naked, it puts color in your cheeks. No, really. Do it.
We went out on Saturday morning to start a normal trail we like to do off the parkway despite the cloudy skies. As we drove further from the house we would hit patches of rain but decided to press on. Upon arriving at the trail there was a steady drizzle but nothing too off putting, plus, Jess wanted to try out her new hiking boots. So we hit the muddy trail after crossing a creek (or two) and enjoyed a nice gray hike. As we went further down the trail the rain would dance back and forth between a drizzle and a steady rain. A mile into the hike we hit a turn around point, and here is where Jess' true awesomeness starts to shine, Jess decides to press on in the rain. Ascending a hill (attempting to find an alternate route to Hebron Rock Colony) the sky began to open up a little more. I'm not talking about opening up for sunshine either. The rain starts to fall harder as we slide and scrape our butts down a hill to get to our destination. Hearing Jess' yelps and laughter made it that much more fun to experience. Not a word on the mud we were crawling through, or how wet we were getting, OR the fact we had walked over a mile in the rain are all reasons I deem her awesome. Although I did hear plenty about the worms coming out to enjoy the rain.
This was all a wonderful experience, as well as the unmentioned speedwalk back to the car and stripping of wet clothes, and I again applaud my wife. This is something that Myles Munroe touches on a few times throughout his couples' devotional. The point that men and women have different interests (not too surprising) but that a spouse should be engaging and share in the excitement of the other's interests. Munroe even goes into the details that men are looking for an recreational companion and women look for conversation. These are secondary needs to a man's primary need for respect and a woman's primary need for love...which will also have to be another blog. Not that you have to have ALL the same interests and hobbies, but that you should share in the delight with your spouse. I admittedy struggle with getting terribly excited about cleaning products, but I try and I smile and take delight in her excitement...and admittedly, the swiffer is a life saver. But this isn't about my lackings, it is about my wife's abillity to astound. Not only does she patiently sit through the same stories and pieces of information I constantly share (and Lord bless her when I get on the topic of ninjas) but there are some things she will jump in and really make the experience that much more enjoyable. Hiking in the rain is one example, so is our work in the kitchen on meals, going out in public (not always easy for me) and eating wild game. I'll elaborate on the wild game, tomorrow.
Jess, here's to you and your adventurous self. Thank you for making my life fun through our relationship from high school to now. I look forward to sharing more experiences with you and seeing the world, even if it is one small mountain trail at a time. I love you.
So in finallity, for the rest of you; hike naked, it puts color in your cheeks. No, really. Do it.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Being Wed
I am a married man. A husband. I delight greatly in my bride. I must say that the greatest of perceptable changes have all been small things. No overwhelming wave of "WOW I'M MARRIED" but instead;
"It's nice to have someone there when I come home."
"Wow, someone else is laughing while I watch T.V."
"Why is the bed sooo freakin' hot?! Oh wait, there is another body heating it too."
"I love feeling the rise and push of her back while she breaths leaning against me."
"That is the cutest apron ever."
"Wow, the refrigerator is actually full."
The list is endless as it is also ever growing. This is already fun, and I plan on keeping it that way.
"It's nice to have someone there when I come home."
"Wow, someone else is laughing while I watch T.V."
"Why is the bed sooo freakin' hot?! Oh wait, there is another body heating it too."
"I love feeling the rise and push of her back while she breaths leaning against me."
"That is the cutest apron ever."
"Wow, the refrigerator is actually full."
The list is endless as it is also ever growing. This is already fun, and I plan on keeping it that way.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Wedding Week
No, it's not a new thing on Discovery Channel. Although TLC may pick it up now and run non-stop episodes of Bridezilla and whatever wedding related shows they have. This is my own personal wedding week. Seriously, I'm married here in 6 days and 12 hours and 45 min.
All I can say is it feels like the beginning of a roller coaster. When I proposed the bar was lowered securely into my lap. When we started the planning the ride lurched forward. Now I hear a steady *click click click*. I am eager for the excitement to come, but I can't ignore the tightening of my stomach as I almost fear the fun times ahead.
I regret no decision I've made in my relationship with Jess, and I definitely don't feel it now. So, as we get closer to the kickoff I will slowly raise my hands. Surrendering to the fun ahead. I can't wait to scream like a little girl :)
All I can say is it feels like the beginning of a roller coaster. When I proposed the bar was lowered securely into my lap. When we started the planning the ride lurched forward. Now I hear a steady *click click click*. I am eager for the excitement to come, but I can't ignore the tightening of my stomach as I almost fear the fun times ahead.
I regret no decision I've made in my relationship with Jess, and I definitely don't feel it now. So, as we get closer to the kickoff I will slowly raise my hands. Surrendering to the fun ahead. I can't wait to scream like a little girl :)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Something Satisfying...
There's something satisfying in a hot shower after a day at work.
Granted, the warmth alone is pleasant, but that's not it. Nor is it the wonderful scent and smooth sensation of Dove body wash; it's not even the soft, fun, girly pink fluffy sponge that I wash with. The fluffy sponge is a nice touch though. It's not even the more ethereal "job-well-done" reward feeling after a hard day. My satisfaction comes from more grody fares.
I love the feeling of looking down at the initial runoff. The water turning gray from dust and dirt I've collected over the day. Running my hands over my limbs and getting an extra layer off and turning the water another fun shade of gray. Patches of thick dust and gravel disappear. This newfound brendle complextion returns to a pasty white. Watching as my hands become clean only to leave the task of cleaning out nails. (Which is a meditative act in itself, especially when done so with a knife.)
I enjoy the feeling of washing the grime out of my hair and brushing some odd collection of grime behind my ears off my skin. Rinse and repeat.
Then, incorporating my manly-tough pink fluffy sponge to retrieve the final layer of scum from my skin, I smile as the suds do their best to hide the gradient of gray beneath their surface. With the last of the bubbles running down the drain I take the simple enjoyment of a warm shower and slowly turn the knob to a colder setting. Cold enough to pull a gasp of air into my lungs, as if the warm air can help with the sudden flux of temperature. This does not last long before I turn the flow off and enjoy the warmth of a towel.
The ritual is complete and I feel clean. But that is not the excuse for the smile on my face. The smile is in the thought that I might get to do it all again, tomorrow.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Lo Mein and Gatoraid
A tasty dinner after being gone from my new home for 3 days :)
I sit here and listen to the soothing tones of The Killers till my unnerving J-Pop kicks in. I hit the skip button to find something more suitable to my current mood. No luck. Again I hit the button and settle on "What's This?" from Nightmare Before Christmas. I have become quite attached to this wonderful apartment. This space that I get to call my home.
I can't help but laugh at this childish nature of "mine". I have this sly smile and a slightly satisfied feeling of happiness at something that is "mine". Even in the reminder of God's gifts in my life and how none of this is truly "mine" I like being able to call that.
I laugh out loud at the first line of "Tell It To Me" by Old Crow Medicine Show awaiting the chorus of the song.
I'm giddy at the thought of being home for a few days. Like the excitement of coming home from college and planning who all to visit. I still have to focus on getting a new driver's license, a new phone charger and doing some more job hunting. Somewhere in there I'm gonna knock out a painting too! Despite my "Bachelor's Party" being moved back a week I'm excited for this weekend. Spending time with my lady, checking out a local church, going to grandma's for lunch and hanging with the kids will make this a very fun time.
So I wrap this up to Chet Baker singing "Let's Get Lost". Have a good night all you hip cats and smooth ladies ;)
I sit here and listen to the soothing tones of The Killers till my unnerving J-Pop kicks in. I hit the skip button to find something more suitable to my current mood. No luck. Again I hit the button and settle on "What's This?" from Nightmare Before Christmas. I have become quite attached to this wonderful apartment. This space that I get to call my home.
I can't help but laugh at this childish nature of "mine". I have this sly smile and a slightly satisfied feeling of happiness at something that is "mine". Even in the reminder of God's gifts in my life and how none of this is truly "mine" I like being able to call that.
I laugh out loud at the first line of "Tell It To Me" by Old Crow Medicine Show awaiting the chorus of the song.
I'm giddy at the thought of being home for a few days. Like the excitement of coming home from college and planning who all to visit. I still have to focus on getting a new driver's license, a new phone charger and doing some more job hunting. Somewhere in there I'm gonna knock out a painting too! Despite my "Bachelor's Party" being moved back a week I'm excited for this weekend. Spending time with my lady, checking out a local church, going to grandma's for lunch and hanging with the kids will make this a very fun time.
So I wrap this up to Chet Baker singing "Let's Get Lost". Have a good night all you hip cats and smooth ladies ;)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wanderlust...not so much.
I like to move, not everything I own, but just my own person. I like to dance and act goofy; I like to jump in the car and go places at random; I like to be away exploring. This has not been true as of late.
I think I am in a new season of life. One where being where I want to be is quite difficult. I have taken a job that keeps me on the go. Last week I was in Lumberton, Whiteville, and Rocky Mount. This week I will be off overnight to Greenville and Jacksonville. (All locations mentioned are in North Carolina.) As I have taken this job I also have just started to settle into a new apartment. I am so happy to feel a little settled and not have to live between the spare bedrooms of my parents' houses. Along with actually making use of my day planner now, I have started to establish this feeling of a set regimen.
I searched the term "wanderlust" to see what it really means. I've used it and wanted to make sure I had it right. The interesting part was not in the definition, which in the modern english it connotates a desire for frequent travel (ha! I was using it right), but instead in the true German term Fernweh. Fernweh is "an ache for the distance." I have quite the opposite desire. I long for the closeness. The comfort of family, a set place of work, a familiar bed, seeing friends on a regular basis are the things I desire. The German for that is Heimweh, which is homesickness.
My last blog referenced C.S. Lewis and his thoughts on how our worldly desires are more deeply rooted in our longings for something beyond this world. This has become a bit of a preoccupation of mine, looking for what my desires here and now are really supposed to tell me. In that respect, I want that closeness and comfort. The ability to be out in the desert, in the hands of my enemies, sleeping in the storm, rag wearing and locust eating and
be completely happy in the hands of my God. That though I travel I am at home as my God is with me and I no longer have this heimweh. I pray that as things change I don't forget my anchor when the storm tosses me a bit. I also pray that over the coming months as I establish a family and a home that my foundation is sure. I cannot control the things of this world, but I can control my reaction, and I want my first reaction to be that I hit my knees. For those of you who are people of faith, I ask for your support. Also pray this as a general for those that aren't of the faith.
I am a quite immature in my faith, but like the adolescent, I want to be older than I am. I have to trust in God's timing and wisdom. Pray for our heimweh, that we may find it.
I think I am in a new season of life. One where being where I want to be is quite difficult. I have taken a job that keeps me on the go. Last week I was in Lumberton, Whiteville, and Rocky Mount. This week I will be off overnight to Greenville and Jacksonville. (All locations mentioned are in North Carolina.) As I have taken this job I also have just started to settle into a new apartment. I am so happy to feel a little settled and not have to live between the spare bedrooms of my parents' houses. Along with actually making use of my day planner now, I have started to establish this feeling of a set regimen.
I searched the term "wanderlust" to see what it really means. I've used it and wanted to make sure I had it right. The interesting part was not in the definition, which in the modern english it connotates a desire for frequent travel (ha! I was using it right), but instead in the true German term Fernweh. Fernweh is "an ache for the distance." I have quite the opposite desire. I long for the closeness. The comfort of family, a set place of work, a familiar bed, seeing friends on a regular basis are the things I desire. The German for that is Heimweh, which is homesickness.
My last blog referenced C.S. Lewis and his thoughts on how our worldly desires are more deeply rooted in our longings for something beyond this world. This has become a bit of a preoccupation of mine, looking for what my desires here and now are really supposed to tell me. In that respect, I want that closeness and comfort. The ability to be out in the desert, in the hands of my enemies, sleeping in the storm, rag wearing and locust eating and
be completely happy in the hands of my God. That though I travel I am at home as my God is with me and I no longer have this heimweh. I pray that as things change I don't forget my anchor when the storm tosses me a bit. I also pray that over the coming months as I establish a family and a home that my foundation is sure. I cannot control the things of this world, but I can control my reaction, and I want my first reaction to be that I hit my knees. For those of you who are people of faith, I ask for your support. Also pray this as a general for those that aren't of the faith.I am a quite immature in my faith, but like the adolescent, I want to be older than I am. I have to trust in God's timing and wisdom. Pray for our heimweh, that we may find it.
Friday, August 14, 2009
29 days till...
So, I have yet to be reprimanded for my lack of comment on my relationship status, but I feel that today was worth an update. We (Jess my fiance and myself) have become one step closer to being able to fill out the "married" box on our tax forms. As a matter of fact, this one step has put us under the 30 day mark. I may not be able to express just how excited I am over this, but I will try:
Almost 9 years of longing to find in the past year exactly what I was longing for. At first I thought that I longed for Jess herself, and later I thought I longed for the relationship. These longings then made me long for simple acceptance. Where I am now, though, is that I am longing for an opportunity. Now, I realize there are many opportunities that I have seized and many others that have been generously given. This is one that has been given. I have been given the opportunity to have an earthly relationship that allows me to mimic the romantic relationship I am coming to know with God. A chance to show that even when I'm hurt I have someone to trust and go to. Someone that can love me with blunt honesty and soothing words. A person that God has placed in my life that I can pour out my love from Him to her.
I'll stop there and go ahead and state that I do not believe Jess to be God incarnate or the second coming. Yet I do believe her to be as every other person, a tarnished reflection of who God is. As C.S. Lewis states in "The Weight of Glory" it is not the things here on this earth that bring us happiness and joy; instead, the things we enjoy point us, guide us, and even reflect the light as a shiny-dangly thing to the Source of Goodness.
Jess, thank you. Thank you for being that reminder of God's goodness in my life. In the plans we make for our family you have reminded me of the goodness I experienced growing up. In our discussions of jobs and work you remind me of the gifts God has placed in me. In the times you get onto me for not doing all I could you remind me there is a higher purpose designed for me. For every time you say "I love you" you show me that there is a source of Love, one that has filled you up so much that you choose to share it with me.
In return, let me be that same shiny-dangly thing reflecting the light when I say, I love you.
Yes, I realize this is in a public domain as well. With that in mind, remember that there is a source of Goodness. Not just niceties and warm-fuzzy feelings, but a source of Truth and Love. With the love of Christ Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit...I Love you, too.
Almost 9 years of longing to find in the past year exactly what I was longing for. At first I thought that I longed for Jess herself, and later I thought I longed for the relationship. These longings then made me long for simple acceptance. Where I am now, though, is that I am longing for an opportunity. Now, I realize there are many opportunities that I have seized and many others that have been generously given. This is one that has been given. I have been given the opportunity to have an earthly relationship that allows me to mimic the romantic relationship I am coming to know with God. A chance to show that even when I'm hurt I have someone to trust and go to. Someone that can love me with blunt honesty and soothing words. A person that God has placed in my life that I can pour out my love from Him to her.
I'll stop there and go ahead and state that I do not believe Jess to be God incarnate or the second coming. Yet I do believe her to be as every other person, a tarnished reflection of who God is. As C.S. Lewis states in "The Weight of Glory" it is not the things here on this earth that bring us happiness and joy; instead, the things we enjoy point us, guide us, and even reflect the light as a shiny-dangly thing to the Source of Goodness.
Jess, thank you. Thank you for being that reminder of God's goodness in my life. In the plans we make for our family you have reminded me of the goodness I experienced growing up. In our discussions of jobs and work you remind me of the gifts God has placed in me. In the times you get onto me for not doing all I could you remind me there is a higher purpose designed for me. For every time you say "I love you" you show me that there is a source of Love, one that has filled you up so much that you choose to share it with me.
In return, let me be that same shiny-dangly thing reflecting the light when I say, I love you.
Yes, I realize this is in a public domain as well. With that in mind, remember that there is a source of Goodness. Not just niceties and warm-fuzzy feelings, but a source of Truth and Love. With the love of Christ Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit...I Love you, too.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Beautiful Eavesdropping
I heard a beautiful thing today. A grading surveyor was leading someone to Christ out in the field. I stopped my hurried pace to get lunch back to my co-workers and smiled as I listened in. "Our pasts are gone and the work that God is wringing through our hearts will refresh us." Amen Brother. I pray for the conversation that I didn't get to hear and the heart it was coming from. :)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate!
Sorry, but according to the state budget, the children are not our future. At least the teachers to lead those children are not a priority. Just a few numbers to mull over:
K-12 SCHOOLS
- reduce textbook allotment due to delay in new math books for grades 6-12: -$38 million.
- reduce funding for school district administrative offices: -$6.5 million.
- transfer More at Four early education program to Department of Health and Human Services: -$86 million.
- discretionary reduction for local school districts: -$7.8 million.
- eliminate funding for several state-administered standardized tests for students not currently required by federal law or grants: -$3.6 million.
- reduce staff development money by 50 percent: -$6.3 million.
- eliminate funding for activities designed to improve performance for poorly performing students: -$38.4 million.
- decrease money for teacher salaries while increasing average class sizes by two students: -$322.7 million.
- order State Board of Education to eliminate 100 positions at the Department of Public Instruction: -$5.4 million.
- support 12 early-college high schools opening in 2009-10 school year: $3.7 million.
- fund dropout prevention grants: $1 million.
- create new standard course of study, consider replacing existing standardized tests and pilot diagnostic tests to identify strengths and weaknesses of individual students: $3 million.
- suspend transfer of corporate income tax funds to Public School Building Capital Fund: -$60.5 million.
- expand North Carolina Virtual Public School, which lets student take classes online: $2 million.
In case you were counting, that's right, $575.2 Million in cuts. If you want to look at some more info it is readily available at MYNC.com.
Not to get ahead of myself, I'm sure that there are proposals and maybe even some budget increases not included in the list compiled by MYNC.com...yet, this is not a good start. Let's make something happen, even if that is simply making some noise. Let that noise be a call of the action to come. So I'll sit here in my chair and type as loud as I can and hope someone hears these keystrokes in Raleigh.
K-12 SCHOOLS
- reduce textbook allotment due to delay in new math books for grades 6-12: -$38 million.
- reduce funding for school district administrative offices: -$6.5 million.
- transfer More at Four early education program to Department of Health and Human Services: -$86 million.
- discretionary reduction for local school districts: -$7.8 million.
- eliminate funding for several state-administered standardized tests for students not currently required by federal law or grants: -$3.6 million.
- reduce staff development money by 50 percent: -$6.3 million.
- eliminate funding for activities designed to improve performance for poorly performing students: -$38.4 million.
- decrease money for teacher salaries while increasing average class sizes by two students: -$322.7 million.
- order State Board of Education to eliminate 100 positions at the Department of Public Instruction: -$5.4 million.
- support 12 early-college high schools opening in 2009-10 school year: $3.7 million.
- fund dropout prevention grants: $1 million.
- create new standard course of study, consider replacing existing standardized tests and pilot diagnostic tests to identify strengths and weaknesses of individual students: $3 million.
- suspend transfer of corporate income tax funds to Public School Building Capital Fund: -$60.5 million.
- expand North Carolina Virtual Public School, which lets student take classes online: $2 million.
In case you were counting, that's right, $575.2 Million in cuts. If you want to look at some more info it is readily available at MYNC.com.
Not to get ahead of myself, I'm sure that there are proposals and maybe even some budget increases not included in the list compiled by MYNC.com...yet, this is not a good start. Let's make something happen, even if that is simply making some noise. Let that noise be a call of the action to come. So I'll sit here in my chair and type as loud as I can and hope someone hears these keystrokes in Raleigh.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Will there be a test?
Over the next year my lady and I are involved in a couple's devotional. Myles Munroe on Relationships is quite insightful. I enjoy how it is set up with an actual day assigned to devotions, like June 27th, not just 365 devotions.
I must admit that in the past 2 weeks I have been challenged to become the spiritual leader of my soon to be family. What exactly does that look like. Thoughts like "If a man can't teach the Word, he's not really ready for marriage." have caused me to step back and question myself. I'm glad that I have such an encouraging fiance that reassures me that I am already doing that in our relationship. There are other thoughts such as, "A man should always make a point to converse with his wife." that make me smack my forehead and say "I coulda' had a V8!" There are some obvious points like conversation that just need to be reiterated. Then there are encouraging moments like June 27th
"One of man's major responsibilities is to teach...the male is wired to teach...Men are teachers, but they must have something worth-while to teach."
You may have caught all those ellipses, and yes, I skipped a lot of material. On to my story; I have been pursuing a teaching career over the past few weeks actively. I have considered it in my mind for much longer. My two areas I want to go into instruction are Art and Martial Arts. Yet after reading this bit of teaching I realized this: I don't want to teach content/technique/style, I want to teach people how to be great people. It is The Word driving me to show this blessing to other people. The subjects of Art and Martial Arts are just the medium I use to connect with people. The real point of the relationship isn't to watch a person get good grades or pass their next belt test, but instead to invest in their lives and see God's blessing in their lives. I don't know about you, but this is (as Ron Burgundy would say) "kinda a big deal."
So thank the people that have brought something into your life that was more than just information to pass the test. Thank the people that gave you the tools and encouragement to succeed. Get on your e-mail, facebook, twitter, whatever and thank those people openly. Bless them in return for how they helped you :)
I must admit that in the past 2 weeks I have been challenged to become the spiritual leader of my soon to be family. What exactly does that look like. Thoughts like "If a man can't teach the Word, he's not really ready for marriage." have caused me to step back and question myself. I'm glad that I have such an encouraging fiance that reassures me that I am already doing that in our relationship. There are other thoughts such as, "A man should always make a point to converse with his wife." that make me smack my forehead and say "I coulda' had a V8!" There are some obvious points like conversation that just need to be reiterated. Then there are encouraging moments like June 27th
"One of man's major responsibilities is to teach...the male is wired to teach...Men are teachers, but they must have something worth-while to teach."
You may have caught all those ellipses, and yes, I skipped a lot of material. On to my story; I have been pursuing a teaching career over the past few weeks actively. I have considered it in my mind for much longer. My two areas I want to go into instruction are Art and Martial Arts. Yet after reading this bit of teaching I realized this: I don't want to teach content/technique/style, I want to teach people how to be great people. It is The Word driving me to show this blessing to other people. The subjects of Art and Martial Arts are just the medium I use to connect with people. The real point of the relationship isn't to watch a person get good grades or pass their next belt test, but instead to invest in their lives and see God's blessing in their lives. I don't know about you, but this is (as Ron Burgundy would say) "kinda a big deal."
So thank the people that have brought something into your life that was more than just information to pass the test. Thank the people that gave you the tools and encouragement to succeed. Get on your e-mail, facebook, twitter, whatever and thank those people openly. Bless them in return for how they helped you :)
Saturday, June 20, 2009
House and Home...
While currently in the process of buying a house (yikes!) I must admit that I've had some things come up. Thoughts fill my mind and most of them are none too funny, more terrifying, and the occasional "Awwwww" moment. Seeing how my thought process is quite fragmentary, typical sentence to paragraph structure does not seem applicable. So with thoughts afloat on my stream of consciousness I'll begin with:
I have never seen or even dealt with this much "potential" money in my entire life.
23 years ain't exactly a great span of time.
Home is where the heart is? Then I have rather spread out heart.
84 days and counting to find the place that my bride-to-be and myself can call home.
I'd really like "home" to be in the form of "a house".
I have no idea how Jess is gonna put up with me.
Don't do business with family unless it's coming from their last will and testament.
I think that spot over the septic tank would be a wonderful place for a garden.
No really, it would be an awesome place for it.
I really am Owen Wilson's character from "Me & Marley", aren't I?
I'm not much of a handy man, but I will do all I can to make this "house" a "home"
IT COSTS HOW MUCH TO REPLACE A ROOF?!
Oh, well, not too bad when you take out the cost of labor.
I love the view from that front porch.
BLACKBERRIES! PERSIMMONS! POSSIBLE APPLES! Yummm...
...
...it seems my mind has deviated to the thoughts of food. I will follow those thoughts as well as my nose away from this keyboard and out in search of something tasty. If anyone has any advice on just how exactly to get federal loans and such to go through, or which banks have first time buyer incentives or any other advice, it is very welcome.
I'll wrap up with a simple request. I've learned in my life that intercessory prayer is huge. I don't think I'd be the person I am today if it wasn't for my grandmother and other family praying for me. I mean praying HARD. I would feel greatly blessed if you would pray for my fiance, Jess, our work towards a house, myself and anything else those of you more experienced in life feel I'm forgetting.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And thank you.
I have never seen or even dealt with this much "potential" money in my entire life.
23 years ain't exactly a great span of time.
Home is where the heart is? Then I have rather spread out heart.
84 days and counting to find the place that my bride-to-be and myself can call home.
I'd really like "home" to be in the form of "a house".
I have no idea how Jess is gonna put up with me.
Don't do business with family unless it's coming from their last will and testament.
I think that spot over the septic tank would be a wonderful place for a garden.
No really, it would be an awesome place for it.
I really am Owen Wilson's character from "Me & Marley", aren't I?
I'm not much of a handy man, but I will do all I can to make this "house" a "home"
IT COSTS HOW MUCH TO REPLACE A ROOF?!
Oh, well, not too bad when you take out the cost of labor.
I love the view from that front porch.
BLACKBERRIES! PERSIMMONS! POSSIBLE APPLES! Yummm...
...
...it seems my mind has deviated to the thoughts of food. I will follow those thoughts as well as my nose away from this keyboard and out in search of something tasty. If anyone has any advice on just how exactly to get federal loans and such to go through, or which banks have first time buyer incentives or any other advice, it is very welcome.
I'll wrap up with a simple request. I've learned in my life that intercessory prayer is huge. I don't think I'd be the person I am today if it wasn't for my grandmother and other family praying for me. I mean praying HARD. I would feel greatly blessed if you would pray for my fiance, Jess, our work towards a house, myself and anything else those of you more experienced in life feel I'm forgetting.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And thank you.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Name Dropping
Unlike most clever writers, I will not bring in the title of my blog many chapters later. Instead you will get this inside scoop on just where this blog gets its namesake.
Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz ) has a chance encounter with Socrates (Nick Nolte). No, not the old guy miming from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", but another fictitious representation of the wise man. If you recognize the names, and for those who don't, I'll skip foreshadowing and tell you I'm speaking on the book-made-film "Peaceful Warrior".
Out of all the lessons that Socrates imparts to young Dan, my personal favorite is the clearing of the mind. Dan has run to keep a meeting with Socrates and rush his lesson to make it back for gymnastic tryouts. The day's lesson is how to clear the mind, not exactly a light topic to throw out in passing conversation. Regardless, Socrates rises to meet this time constraint. Accepting this time limit he grabs Dan by the waist and tosses him over the edge of the bridge. Dan lands in a small stream and comes out angry and yelling about "How was that supposed to teach me anything?!" Socrates applaudes him on learning the lesson. Dan is quite confussed. Socrates asks what Dan was thinking about on his descent to meet the water. Dan's response, "I dunno, nothing."
Even with all the eastern philosophy ingrained in this story, there are some very valid lessons about living in the moment while having hope in the future. I do ask you to see this flick, if you are close enough to me, just ask me for it.
So with hope, I begin this blog. That I can share life with ye people of the internets. That even in my life when I'm thrown off a bridge or fall off due to more internal reasons, that I can see and share the hope. The hope that even in that moment something more can come from it.
Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz ) has a chance encounter with Socrates (Nick Nolte). No, not the old guy miming from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", but another fictitious representation of the wise man. If you recognize the names, and for those who don't, I'll skip foreshadowing and tell you I'm speaking on the book-made-film "Peaceful Warrior".
Out of all the lessons that Socrates imparts to young Dan, my personal favorite is the clearing of the mind. Dan has run to keep a meeting with Socrates and rush his lesson to make it back for gymnastic tryouts. The day's lesson is how to clear the mind, not exactly a light topic to throw out in passing conversation. Regardless, Socrates rises to meet this time constraint. Accepting this time limit he grabs Dan by the waist and tosses him over the edge of the bridge. Dan lands in a small stream and comes out angry and yelling about "How was that supposed to teach me anything?!" Socrates applaudes him on learning the lesson. Dan is quite confussed. Socrates asks what Dan was thinking about on his descent to meet the water. Dan's response, "I dunno, nothing."
So with hope, I begin this blog. That I can share life with ye people of the internets. That even in my life when I'm thrown off a bridge or fall off due to more internal reasons, that I can see and share the hope. The hope that even in that moment something more can come from it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)