“...I am humbled.”
I want to live my life with the thankfulness, grace, mercy, and love that spring from the weight of that statement truly defining my heart.
I’m humbled by the graciousness and mercy of a loving God. That’s nothing new, but lately I’ve been repeatedly humbled by the generosity and trust of people. From complete strangers to those I know well and from people with significant financial resources to those who don’t have very much at all; I have been amazed. I have been amazed at generosity and obedience to the Spirit. I have been amazed that these people have so graciously opened their hearts and their wallets to help support me on The World Race.
All this leads me to ask… “Who am I?”
Who am I that the Lord would bring me to a place of opportunity to serve Him in any capacity, much less one of the caliber and make of The World Race? (It’s no more special a call, but it’s still pretty freakin cool).
Who am I that the King of all creation would entrust me with a chance to be part of His plan to love His people at home and around the world?
Who am I that the Spirit would move on the hearts of both those I do and do not know to support my journey?
Who am I that people trust me with their money, to be a shining light to the world?
Who am I but a sinner, saved by grace and turned into a saint, a new creation made whole and conformed in Him? (That’s the most we could ever be).
How unworthy I am. What merit do I have of my own, to be entrusted with the opportunity that I now possess? The answer is none.
How I pray that I continue that mindset, and that it bleeds into my heart and soul and overflows my life every day. Because I can boast in nothing but Christ alone and Him crucified and raised. (Which is the most we could ever boast in). I can boast in nothing else. Certainly not the temporal basics of life like money and food and clothing, none of which I “provide” for myself beyond, at most, the utilization of my God given abilities, which I didn't manifest in myself. Not even when I have a heart that yells to cry out His praises, for it is not placed in my chest by my own hands. I have not formed myself, nor my talents and gifts, merely honed them at best, and even then it is only through the countless graces like health, nurturing, and loved ones that has allowed me to do so.
And those things and questions, must lead me to these questions…
Who am I that I wouldn't shout to all the nations His praise?
Who am I that I wouldn't love and forgive?
Who am I that I wouldn't shower those in this world that I contact with His grace and mercy?
Who am I that I would do anything other than run from my own filthy sin?
Who am I that I would ever value reputation over His glory?
Who am I that I wouldn't leverage the life He allows me to get others to ask themselves these questions in the
depth and sincerity of their hearts?
Who am I to think at all that this could ever be about “me?”
It’s not about me.
And that is why I should be humbled. That is why I AM humbled. People give to my trip because they support what I’m doing, but I’m nowhere to be found in the real foundation of why the cause is worth supporting. I’m just fortunate enough to have the chance to get to embark on this incredible journey, and I’m blown away by a God that is making it happen. He could have put anyone else in this position and in the life He’s already blessed me with thus far, but for some reason not of my own merit, I've gotten to be the guy.
I’m blown away and thankful for the obedience of so many people to play a role in that. And just as much I’m blown away by those who pray for me. I’m equally blown away and thankful for those who've found obedience to mean NOT giving financially to my journey, because God had other plans for their money. That all these people would seek Him and then obey whatever that means is mind blowing.
It is amazing to me that, while I am not at all what their (maybe your) obedience is truly about, I GET to see it and I GET to be a part of it. As great as all of this is, it is only PART of why I am humbled, and that gives me all-the-more reason to think and live a life that says to the world, “...I am humbled.”
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
It's Not Peter vs. Paul
REQUESTED GUIDELINES FOR GIVING (PLEASE READ)
- I doubt anyone is in danger of this, but I’ll say it anyway. Don’t give more than you feel led. If you don’t feel led to give, don’t. But I ask that you at least pray. God values obedience greater than sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22)
- If giving to my trip will pull money from your tithe, please don’t give. It is the local church that is best positioned to minister in your life & the lives of those in your community, many of them can’t make the difference they otherwise could because people aren’t giving to them in a Biblical way. If you trust them with your spiritual guidance, trust your leaders to use your tithe as God leads them. If you don’t trust them with that, perhaps you should examine either yourself or your choice of church. If you want to bring it before your church to support me as a body, I’d be open & grateful to talk about that more. If you give to me, I ask that it be in addition to a tithe rather than in place of it. I understand this may mean less money for me, but I believe it to be the right way to do things. I’d rather do the right thing & trust God to take care of the rest. I greatly appreciate your support of me (I can’t overstate that), but please don’t “Rob Peter, to pay Paul.”
- If you already support a missionary, please treat this the same way that you do your church giving. I ask that you not pull even 1 cent from giving to people that already count on your giving to give to me. This may again mean that you won’t give me money or you may not give AS much, & I understand that & trust God in it all. I appreciate every penny you’d send my way toward my call to minister, but please do not do it at the expense of other ministry that you already take part in, whether it be your local church or other domestic/international missionaries.
If you do feel led to give the following information will be important to you.
IF YOU GIVE MY CHECK, CARD, OR ONLINE PAYMENT, HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR DONATIONS (THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW!)
1. Credit and Debit Card- Click the "Support Me!" link on the left on the left hand side of my blog homepage. Obviously, this is mighty convenient. You can even set up an automatic monthly payment. The drawback is that it requires a third-party service that charges a fee. 5% of what you give using a credit or debit card online is taken out by the financial institution and will not go to me.
2. Bank Draft- Click "Support Me!" link on the left hand side of my blog homepage. The funds come directly out of your bank account rather than through your card. This method is also easy and convenient. It also requires a fee to be paid to a third-party processing company. With a bank draft, the processing fee is 3% going to financial institutions.
3. Check by Mail-It's also possible for you to mail checks to
Adventures in Missions P.O. Box 534470 Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
OR you can mail checks to my home and I'll have them collected and mailed in.
1117 Crossplains-Hulett Road Carrollton, GA 30116
Make checks payable to “Adventures in Missions," and put "Appeal ID: Matt Blair" in the memo line. This method may be a bit inconvenient, but there is no processing fee. 100% of your donation goes toward the trip & none to financial institutions.
4. Setting Up Monthly Payments Through Your Bank: Most banks will allow you to schedule checks to be mailed out on a monthly basis. You can check with your local bank and have then send the check monthly up until a certain date. This option has no processing fee. As the check will just go to the office every month to the same address as you sending a check personally.
5. DynaPay System-For those who would like to make a monthly commitment, the DynaPay system may be the all-around best option. Enter your information online to give by electronic check, once or twice a month. The best part: NO PROCESSING FEES. You MUST enter the end date of the gift in the online form or the donation will continue until our Donor Relations department receives written confirmation that they would like to discontinue the donation. You can do this at www.adventures.org/dynapay.
Please let me know WHICH option you choose (If any). For example, if you're giving monthly and I reach my full funding early if I know that, I can let you know to stop giving to me and have the option of allotting that money elsewhere.
If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to email or call me.
770-715-7141 (call before July 7)
djassist1@hotmail.com
Thank you all very much for all you do and all you are.
-matt
If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to email or call me.
770-715-7141 (call before July 7)
djassist1@hotmail.com
Thank you all very much for all you do and all you are.
-matt
Thursday, August 4, 2011
I cannot "Title" this
Father... Thank You for continually seeking to remind me that You are all that satisfies... all I'll ever need...AND more than I'll ever deserve. Thank You...that though my foolish heart and mind wander and put up hope in other things and people, no matter how "good" they could be, You always seem to remind me how they fall flat compared to You.
I pray that I become an easier student. However, I know I will often require a tough reminder. I'm thankful that You do not give up on me in spite of my pursuit of other, even if "good" and "wonderful," things. I'm thankful that You're always there to remind me, harshly when necessary, that You are BEST and that though my heart may long for "more" somehow that You are more than sufficient for such a prideful man.
None of my words, nor a collection of those of the wisest men and women, could ever come near what it would take to express my need for You, and You alone; Nor could they aptly describe my foolishness for not always having a heart and mind that know the understanding and reckoning of that fact as the ONLY worthwhile lens and path through which they view and feel all blessing and heartache.
May my heart and mind always count it a joy to be broken back to this understanding: that You, Your Spirit, and Your Son are Each, and All-together, greater than the sum of all the other blessings I could ever receive in an eternity in total, and that in spite of my foolishness to not be all Yours, that You love me anyway. Despite my pride and vanity, You see thru and You love me anyway.
May my life be able to be but a speck of a fraction of that love to Your world, and may I understand that if this request is granted, my life will have been more valuable than that of a thousand kings and a million scholars.
May I be a love, grace, and mercy giver more than a lofty thinker or pious theologian.
May my life not max out as something as eternally insignificant as a section in a history book or some novel piece of trivia, but may it be much more just by being but a speck of Your story.
May my life be more beautiful and pleasing to You than any prayer I, or any, could ever formulate.
May this prayer and all else You teach me...be my life.
And may I ever realize and live in the understanding and thankfulness, that even IF all of this is true of my life, that I will still not come near to what You first were, continually are, and always will be to me.
In Jesus' name I make this petition and I thank YOU! Amen
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Least Foundation
Originally Typed: February 3, 2011
Before you read this... just know you can help all this happen by going to
http://apps.facebook.com/dockerswearthepants/entries/2631
and voting for my plan once a day until March 15. Tell your friends, make it your homepage, whatever you want. It's all appreciated!
Ok... So some of you may have heard, quite vaguely I'm sure, about my desire and move to start a non profit foundation. The organization in question would be "The Least Foundation." Here's the latest to my "plan."
The proposed mission statement will be at the very least... very similar to...
"The Least Foundation exists to love the unloved and 'unlovable' reach the unreached and 'unreachable,' bring hope to the 'unseen,' 'hopeless,' and 'forgotten,' facilitate the process of those already engaged toward these ends, and encourage others to do the same, all in reflection of the life-changing love of Jesus Christ."
That'll probably be cleaned up a little bit, but let's break down what that means. It means that the foundation exists to do whatever necessary to show the love of Jesus to people in this world. This will be done in a variety of manners. One of those being to partner with other organizations who are already working to help people in need. There's no need to re-invent the wheel here. If people or organizations already do something well we want to learn from them and help them in anyway we can. That may mean pointing you to them, because they're specific passion lines up more specifically with your talents and/or passion. It also means learning from what they do to do what WE do better.
The Least Foundation itself will eventually not be the ground level for any change, but an intermediary, financially, informationally, in terms of publicity, and any other helpful ways it can be toward positive social change.
The Least Foundation will... Invest in the foundation of non-profit organizations who's missions line up with ours. The plan currently is for the first of these organizations to be started by myself and focused on the ending of slavery in the world, primarily in the form of human trafficking.
The following will briefly describe the mission of the first organization the Least Foundation seeks to support:
_________________________________________________________________
In short this will be take place on several levels, but it's more complicated than any blog could describe. Here are a few areas of we must consider. This is by no means exhaustive.
The Oppressed: We will seek to work for and with the victims. We will seek to work in the areas of prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation with those who are at risk and/or already are caught up in this world. We will seek to take what we learn from the experience of these victims and in our process to more effectively achieve our overall purpose. This means decreasing the risk for those at risk, especially due to rough home lives, being in orphan care, or in danger as a result of poverty
The Clientele: Helping the oppressed is great and wonderful, but if all we do is rescue there are more vulnerable people in danger of being pulled in. Like it or not human trafficking is a $32 billion business, and that doesn't happen without clients. aka people who purchase goods produced by victims of trafficking either directly or indirectly. Some of this is done knowlingly and a lot of it is done unknowlingly. The aim here is to work through massive amounts of publicity and one on one time work to emblazen the harsh realities of what happens when we aid slavery whether it be through horrific habits or unknowing purchases of certain goods and services from larger companies. If the clientele is cut off then the money goes away and the problem greatly diminishes and can be able to disappear. We seek to move those who have engaged in heinous acts of paying for sex with a trafficked person to not only quit their behavior, but then "roll over" on and assist in the apprehension, arrest, and conviction of others involved either as clientele or trafficker. Those who don't change we fully seek to discover, apprehend, arrest, and convict.
The Oppressors: If all we do is save some oppressed and cut off some clientele oppressors will find new people to oppress and new clientele to woo. We must also seek to reach the oppressed. This, like clientele, is an oft forgotten segment. These are some of the most heinous people in the world. People who's actions are in no way acceptable. However, as Christians we see the power of God to change people's lives clearly throughout the Bible. Look at Saul, who became Paul. This man hunted down, terrorized, tortured, and murdered early Christians just for their religious beliefs and after an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus this man became a leader in the church writing 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. God not only rescues the victims of this world, but also the oppressors, and if one oppressor is changed, how many victims are saved? This is the trickiest area, and I don't know how it will work. We will seek the apprehension and conviction of all human traffickers that we possibly can. However, this doesn't mean we are to ignore them. They can prove to be a huge force in ending this problem in our world. Through publicity and various campaigns we can seek to break the hearts of those men and women that are oppressing and trafficking other humans as if they were useless property. We may not have great success, but what if we reach one person who then turns on all the people involved. What if one person's heart is changed? How many people can be saved? How much peripheral justice can then be served? Certainly this can't atone or undo the wrongs already done, but if we ignore ANY method to stop this problem then we are being part of the problem. We are not too good for any viable solution. If we publically make this known that this is our strategy it should at least create unrest and further uncertainty within criminal organizations. Distrust and uncertainty in a business lead to more open doors for escape and a less efficient process. In the very least by doing this we throw a cog in the wheel of the most heinous industry in the history of the world.
The average person: Chances are you aren't highly involved with the human trafficking industry. We seek to educate and motivate you to do so. To get you to have your eyes open, to know how to spot a likely trafficking case, and how to best react to help that situation. You may feel like the "least" able to help this problem, but I assure you that you are not. If everyone works together we can make this stop.
If you are unfamiliar with the problem you can see more information at
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
http://www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com/
There are also several other websites and organizations working to prevent this problem and rehabilitate those women and children involved. I can pass those on to you if you can't find them.
You can also find out more about an FBI initiative.
http://www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com/informational-resources-human-trafficking/fbi-initiative
This is far from everything, but it's a start.
________________________________________________________
Thus ends a baseline description of the aim of what is planned to be the first NPO that LF (The Least Foundation) seeds and founds. It is my hope and dream that we could seed/assist in the foundation of many other NPOs down the line with similar vision for some of the world's biggest problems.
Additionally, We look to form partnerships and alliances with already existing organizations that may need help in some way whether it be in terms of publicity, or financial or human resources. We also seek to be a place where the person who desires to help change the world can come and look for places to help. Maybe you don't have time to start your own NPO, but you wanna know how you can help. LF seeks to become a resource to that. Maybe you want to start an NPO and you wanna know how other people do what they do so that you can be more efficient and effective in your dream. It is my dream that LF would become a resource to that as well.
How will LF get the $ to do all these things?
THAT is a darn good question. Beyond the whole... "the Lord will provide" mentality I feel that the Lord will provide, but it doesn't necessarily fall in your lap. You have to be intentional.
So here are a few ways I plan to do this. Once again... this is not exhaustive.
Individual Donors---> LF will seek the donations of individuals moved by this cause. We will accept prayer help, monetary help, volunteer help ( ie probono legal or accounting services etc)
Corporate Sponsorships and Donations---> This is very similar to individual donors, but likely on a bigger scale. This will help in terms of gaining additional steam and publicity for the problems and the causes.
Social Entrepenuership--->LF will invest in various start up businesses who's aim is to turn profits into change. For example, I would like to start a t-shirt and apparel business that both gets the word out about the problem and provides funds that can be poured directly back into LF to influence greater social change, thus furthering the mission statement of LF in multiple ways. In addition to this I would also like to form partnerships, thus seeding and investing in the dreams of other people. Let's say you have a passion for something, perhaps photography. Let's say you also have a burning desire to help people. If your vision lines up with that of LF, and the business plan is sound it would be my desire that LF could invest in your company, providing start up costs and other resources. What's the benefit here? Well there's more than one. First off you have a business that can provide for you and your family. Secondly, if successful enough you can then hire others, thus creating more jobs in an economy that is seeing unemployment numbers at a higher than comfortable level. You would then have more money and resources to invest in various areas of social change thus spreading the love (one of which would be re-investing back into LF so that we could continue to better provide for the needs of others and help others like you feed their dreams) and the others would be up to you... maybe you wanna help the homeless. Heck, by that time we may even be able to connect you with one of our partner NPOs or an NPO that we've helped found that deals with homelessness or whatever your passion may be.
Is there more... inevitably.... as I learn more, more comes, but let's be honest you probably didn't even want to read that much. If you wanna know more you can ask. I'd be glad to share that information.
You can contact me at djassist1@hotmail.com or at theleastfoundation@gmail.com or on facebook if you're already my friend... or in person... you have options (also a carrier pigeon is acceptable if you can pull it off)
So what's the more immediate plan for now. Right now I'm learning...Studying and researching. I'm leaning toward working ground level with another organization, including quite possibly doing "World Race" ( http://www.theworldrace.org/ ). These things will not only allow me to work and help the people involved, but sharpen my understanding on a lot of these problems, making me a better advocate in the future. It's an investment of time and energy and money to make me, LF, and anything else I work with in life a better more efficient investment in positive change in people's lives.
Thanks for reading. There's more yes and more to learn. If you want to help... then DO IT! If you want to know more... ASK! If you too have a dream then FOLLOW IT!
I do need accounting and legal help to get these things off the ground. I don't wanna owe the government big tax $. So if you can help that would be huge.
(also check out www.hikewithhope.com it's a pretty awesome organization started by some friends... I won't explain... if you wanna know just go to the site)
Crossing Chasms and Building Bridges
Originally typed: January 27, 2011
There's an ever-widening chasm between "vaguely caring about the less fortunate" and "making a worthwhile difference." The only way to bridge it is "intentionally." It won't happen by accident. Love, and worthwhile things motivated by love, don't occur by happenstance. It takes seeking. It takes a surrendered, broken, soft heart and dedicated, driven mind. It takes courage, selflessness, money, time, and more; the combination of which do not fit conveniently into the "American Dream."
To bridge the bigger chasm in the world we've got to bridge the chasm in our lives, between what we say we care about/what sounds good and what we really care about? Sure there's more, but one of the biggest problems is that we often love "the idea of helping" more than the reality that it takes. What does your life; your actions, and your time and money spent, say about what you love and what you treasure?
It only takes one, but it's easier together. So why don't you bridge the chasm? Why don't I? Why don't we work that out in our own hearts and start building the bridge? Because we're spending through the money and the time each day, let's use it for something better than our piece of the "American Dream."
And when you're ready... let's do something. Seriously let me know, or let someone know, but be intentional and hurry, because "when I finish high school...," "when I finish college...," "when I finish this semester...," "when things slow down...," "when I have more money...," "when I have more time...," "when I'm married...," "when the kids are out of the house...," won't bridge the ever-widening chasm any faster or more effectively than happenstance will.
The sooner the better. Hurry! I know a Carpenter that is waiting for apprentices.
Really Making the Most of Jesus
This was originally posted on Facebook, hence the mentions of FB.
Originally typed: January 5, 2011
You may see this note and feel rushed with no time to read it because of the length, but how much time are you gonna waste doing other things today or tomorrow or the next day? Maybe just give it a shot. I mean... you ARE on Facebook, what else of massive importance do you have going? If there is anything you've obviously been willing to put it aside to get on Facebook, so what's another few minutes?
We're not defined by anything we've ever had, anything we have, or anything we will have on this earth, no matter what happiness those things may bring. We're not defined by anything we have ever lost, are losing, or ever will lose on this earth, no matter what pain or distress that may bring. We're not defined by anything that we'll never have on this earth, no matter how great it may have been to have.
That sounds good to say, but it is only of course if what we REALLY value is something more valuable than anything that can be temporally attained and lost. There is one thing, that being Jesus Christ and His glory, that fits this billing.
My goal in this note isn't to have "comments." The goal isn't for you to "like" it. The goal isn't even for you to agree. The goal is to awaken really sincere and critical internal analysis, both for me and for you. It's not just to awaken that analysis, but to turn that analysis into change where necessary in my life and in yours. Many of you who will read this, or who are my friends don't call yourselves "Christians," some call yourselves "Christians" but your lives don't match what you say you believe or whose belief of what it means to be a "Christian" doesn't line up with reality, even fewer actually carry the name and glory of Jesus Christ from the bottom of your hearts, to the words and tones of your mouths, to the thoughts of your minds, to the steps of your feet, and to the actions of your hands, to the expressions of your faces. The question to answer right now for me... Which one of these people am I? The question for you reading this is which one of these people are you? Honestly, are which one are you?
Do you hold onto Jesus as long as you can have whatever else you think makes you happy? Good things in this life will not do it. The good and great things we treasure... our friends, our parents, our children, our families, our spouses, our boyfriends or girlfriends, our fiances, that person we really like, the person we romantically love, the feeling of appreciation, the feeling of accomplishment, the feeling of recognition, the feeling of security, the feeling of comfort, the feeling of safety, financial stability, the breath we breathe... you name it.... are exactly that... good and great and wonderful things and blessings. However, they pale in comparison to the greater glory of knowing Jesus.
Do our lives show that we believe that? I ask myself this and you should too...
"Do I really believe that "to live is Christ and to die is gain?" Do I really believe that only "THE CHRIST," that only "JESUS" is what makes that statement true? If that really is the case...do the people that know me know that I feel that way, could they honestly say that about my life? At the end of my life will they be able to honestly say that? And I'm not just talking about the people I've invested in. I'm not just talking about my "friends." Do more than the people very close to me or in my Sunday school class or home group or bible study or gospel community group or small group or campus ministry or church know that Jesus is the most important thing to me by hearing my words and seeing my actions? Do even those people know it?"
I ask these questions because I really wonder and you should too... If we say we really believe it, the answer to those questions about other people knowing it should be yes. If those questions aren't answered with an honest yes, what can we do to make the answer yes to as many of those questions as possible by the time our lives here are done. We should ask ourselves this. "what can I do where I'm at and where I'm going to make sure that the thing people know about me is how important Jesus is to me, and WHY He is, and WHY He's MORE than worth being that important to them too, because He is the only thing of eternal value that we can ever have?" Do you even want to ask yourself this question? really? Because we may not like the answer. What preconceived notions about my life and yours are we called to give up to for the greater purpose of bringing glory and honor to His name?
All of these things may sound good to some of you, including myself. But VERY few of us will be willing to take the steps necessary to actually make much of Him with our lives. I say "you" in the following statements, but it means "I" as well... I'm writing to myself too.
Are you really willing to take steps necessary to actually make much of Him with your life? Because it MAY mean giving up your comfort. It MAY mean giving up your security, financially or otherwise. It MAY mean giving up the "love" of your life, or what could be the love of your life. It MAY mean giving up your parents' dreams for you, and having do that without them understanding and without the ability to make them understand, but having to try your best to lovingly do that, but not letting the failure to do so stop you. It MAY mean a point where you give up your life in terms of "pulse," and it MAY mean giving up your life in terms of how you thought it would be.
If making the most of Jesus with your life means you don't get to have the career you envisioned, will you give it up joyfully?
If making the most of Jesus with your life means giving up the joy of having your own "biological" children, will you give it up joyfully?
If making the most of Jesus in your life means giving up having a home, will you give it up joyfully?
Maybe you're unmarried, If making the most Jesus with your life means giving up the person you thought you might spend your life with, because they aren't truly desiring to make the most of Jesus in their lives OR maybe because in the process each of you must follow to make the most of Jesus in your lives will require you two to do so separately, will you give it up joyfully?
Maybe you have children... If making the most of Jesus in your life means you have to make decisions that don't provide the "future" you always wanted for your kids in terms of worldly things, can you make that decision joyfully?
Maybe for your child, or parent, or brother, or sister, or current significant other making the most of Jesus with their lives means something uncomfortable for you whether it means following them into uncomfortable places or letting them go away from you, will you be able to support them joyfully?
There are these and many other situations, you know what they may be in your lives, but are you really willing to give up the things of importance to you to make the most of Jesus Christ with your life, and are you willing to get out of the way or go along with when necessary to help others do the same, and will you be able to do it joyfully?
The likely answer to all or some of these questions for you and me in reality is NO in our heart. The question is do we wanna get there and if we do what will we do to get there? We get there by realizing how great Jesus is. And we can only remotely get there by spending time with Him and getting to know Him. If you're not there, what are you willing to do to get there? What are you willing to do to want to make the most of Jesus with your life? Chances are if you believe in Jesus or say you believe in Him and that He died on the cross for you and for His ultimate glory, that you know that you SHOULD seek the most of Him with your life. But what are you willing to do to with your life and your time to take that from a mental knowledge to a heart that truly desires it?
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO REALLY WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF JESUS WITH YOUR LIFE? And what are you gonna do about it? What are you gonna do about it starting NOW? If you're convicted that's one thing now, but beyond that what are you gonna do about it in the wake of conviction, when the convictions numb in a few hours when someone cuts you off in traffic, or when someone hurts you, or when go to bed tonight or when you get up in the morning. What are you going to do with your time? Who are you going to give your time to?
Many of you are reading this all across a spiritual spectrum from those who hate Jesus and those who love him or claim to love him all the way to those of you who REALLY do get it and live it. You fall somewhere in this line. Where you may fall I don't know. That's not for me to judge or me to determine. That's for you to earnestly seek out, and it's not something you've got the luxury of putting off. Where you should be and where you are are likely quite different. But you've got to figure out where you are to figure out how to get where you're going. To know direction you must know two points, where you are and where you're going. You may not know either. But figure out where you are first, and that often depends on where you really want to go with your life. When you see this, as most of us will, that you aren't where you should be and exactly where you are, then you can begin to figure out how to get where you should be. And that may take something as simple as wanting to actually want to be where you should be. But answer these questions now, because if you don't start now, before you know it, whether you live to be 120 years old or till tomorrow, you will be out of time to make the most of the most important thing, Jesus.
This is going to mean many different things to many of you. Making the most of Jesus in your life is only something that you and Jesus can determine together, and that comes through the spirit and spending time with Him. It's been said by someone who I'll leave "unnamed" and I'll paraphrase/add to...that it's not as much what you do so much in this life or where you go or what people you go with or to, but it's what you carry with you and how that affects it. That thing you must carry and that I must carry is the desire to make the most of Jesus. Only then can we have nothing to fear. Only then can we have nothing to lose. Not because what we have is nothing, but because we let nothing no matter how great or wonderful stand in the way of the only thing that actually matters eternally. It doesn't mean we don't ever experience any of those things, that's different for each of us. However, it really is true "If He be for us, who can be against us?"
If what we treasure and hold dear is eternal...What then shall we fear? What do we have or can we have that we should fear losing?
Don't fear what it may mean to make the most of Jesus, just know that whatever it may be is worth it, and live that way. I pray that for you. And I need your prayers in that for me too.
There's more that could be said, but that's for another time. This isn't exhaustive. But that's all for now... If you do like this note, don't "like" it on facebook, like it with your lives. If you want to comment, comment with your life. If it sparks anything in you good or bad... just message me in my inbox if you must communicate, or share your concerns or requests or needs with someone close to you. Whether it's negative or if it's just for prayer to help you find what you need or how get where you need to be. Heck I don't know what it is, but inbox it to me if it's anything. I'll probably delete any public comments or likes, because they are not what this is about. Just dig deep in your heart and find what's there and take what you know should be there and pray that the two and would meet in the actions of your life and mine.
Seriously... the only action "facebook" wise you should take from this is either to inbox me... or copy and paste and repost it as one of your notes for your friends to see, advising them to do the same. And that's ONLY if you agree with it and will actually pray for them if they message you and only if you are genuinely seeking these things in your life. Because it's no more my words than it is yours... It's all from Him and for Him, so maybe it can be viral to the point that no one knows who started it and only that it was said, isn't that the point?
Philippians 2:1-8
Originally written : "Back in the day"
"If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross."
Philippians 2:1-8
Finishing Well
Originally typed: November 3, 2010
It's not how we start, but how we finish, but we can never finish well unless at some point you start well. How do we start well? Start today. What do we start?... Start to love others today, because we have been, and are loved, in spite of our yesterdays, and as for our tomorrow(s)... we can just try to love more if we get there.
How do we know how to love? Look at how we've been loved. Pray that through the Holy Spirit we would be shown our "unlovable" nature, and enamored with the grace and mercy we've received to have the breath to even begin to pray this prayer. Read and study and meditate through the Bible on how we've been, are, and will be loved by our Father, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and through His ascension and sending of the Holy Spirit. And look for ways to reflect that love starting today. We must be attentive to the Spirit. Be attentive to our surroundings. We must be self aware to how we treat people, and to how we're "not all that great." When we do this we can love others more freely, because we see how freely we've been loved in spite of our yesterdays, today, and tomorrows.
There's no better way to build a future that may or may not happen, than to do it in light of a future that will be, and a past that was, and a present that is. Love and do things today to the "likable" and "unlikable" that will leave us justly and rightly happy tomorrow for what we have done with our yesterday, and if tomorrow never comes for us individually or collectively, we've finished well.
Uncommon Sense
Originally Typed: July 6, 2010
We feel and are often taught, in some way, that the goal of life is belief in God, and after that simple belief in Jesus as savior, but this is a short sell to be sure. We are so much in constant judgment of unbelief and the "big" sins we would associate with it that we glorify belief.
Faith is the goal, not mere belief. Belief is an empty and safe ideology, an illusion of security, a self-serving, spiritual pat on the back for a thought well done... in theory; but faith on the other hand is not so empty, or so easy, or so common. And well "common" is something we've got plenty of, and common just takes up too much space. A life filled with "common" is a life void of faith. Because you see...faith is a bit more claustrophobic. There is no faith without room for risk, and risk is far from "common."
So be uncommon, not for the simple sake of breaking trends, otherwise we glorify "our originality" and ultimately in route we glorify ourselves. And well my friend's, nothing is more "common" than self glorification. But, rather, be uncommon in your risks, for One far greater than ourselves. Our lives are of undetermined lengths, but a faithful life will spend that time determined to go any lengths to achieve it's purpose, a purpose far too practical for mere belief, but far too impractical for the "common."
We feel and are often taught, in some way, that the goal of life is belief in God, and after that simple belief in Jesus as savior, but this is a short sell to be sure. We are so much in constant judgment of unbelief and the "big" sins we would associate with it that we glorify belief.
Faith is the goal, not mere belief. Belief is an empty and safe ideology, an illusion of security, a self-serving, spiritual pat on the back for a thought well done... in theory; but faith on the other hand is not so empty, or so easy, or so common. And well "common" is something we've got plenty of, and common just takes up too much space. A life filled with "common" is a life void of faith. Because you see...faith is a bit more claustrophobic. There is no faith without room for risk, and risk is far from "common."
So be uncommon, not for the simple sake of breaking trends, otherwise we glorify "our originality" and ultimately in route we glorify ourselves. And well my friend's, nothing is more "common" than self glorification. But, rather, be uncommon in your risks, for One far greater than ourselves. Our lives are of undetermined lengths, but a faithful life will spend that time determined to go any lengths to achieve it's purpose, a purpose far too practical for mere belief, but far too impractical for the "common."
Ride's part of the trip
Originally "written" /typed January 2, 2010
I used to take trips to Florida with my grandparents. Those 4 hours turned to 6, 7, or 8 on the road were utterly annoying, only made more bearable by 2 things counting the cars of certain colors (white wins) and knowing there was a beach at the end. That my destination was somehow worth the hell I THOUGHT I was experiencing. What irritated me worse then was when I urged my grandfather to speed up (who mind you was driving 45 miles an hour to the beach) he would always say "Ride's part of the trip" I've often jokingly mocked my grandfather of the ridiculousness of this comment. Now I don't think my grandfather meant this in a spiritual or deep way, I genuinely think he was just excusing his lack of desire to get to the beach. However, recently as I sat eating with a dear friend of mine it hit me. The ride IS part of the trip and equally, if not more importantly, that what we know or misguidedly think is the destination sometimes. Not literally in terms of driving, but on the road of life. We may make wrong turns or be driving down dead end roads and have no idea, it's who we are and how we obey His will along the way, and how we enjoy and serve those on parts of the journey with us that will give our ultimate earthly destination it's true meaning.
I don't know that I've ever been so uncertain of what to do? or where to go? or when to do it? or how to do it? or who to do it with? and what those ends mean for my current means... I trust in His wisdom. It would be foolish to trust in anything else. But what specific application of that trust am I being guided toward.
I will wait, but while I must not idly do so. I must love. I must give. I must serve. I must obey. I must seek. I must pray. For it is how we do these things on the road that will determine how we are and who we are when get where we're going.
And because of this...
we must serve in spite of our wilderness, love in spite of our pain, give in spite of our poverty, obey in spite of our confusion, pray in spite of our desires, and seek in spite of the darkness around us.
We must do all these things in spite of ourselves and in spite or our pride which tells us that we'll do what we're called to do when we either know OR arrive where we are called to be. But we miss the point in that. We are called to be where we are today, even if it's not glamorous, which it's often not; and even it's not fun, which it's often not ; and even if we don't even know where the heck we are today, which we often don't.
Our obedience isn't conditional, that's not obedience, that's a barter and we are in no position to barter. Beggars can't be choosers, and anyone who lives long enough will be a beggar at some point in some regard. And there's no better place to be a beggar than at the feet of a just, gracious, merciful, and loving king, so it's best to travel on our roads with that understanding than to be shocked and surprised by it.
I don't know why I am where I am or where I'll be tomorrow or in a week, or if I'll even see those days. But I know that those days won't be what they can be until I obey by loving, giving, serving, seeking and praying with each breath I have. This doesn't mean I'll be any less lost than I am now circumstantially, but my life and my days won't be lost or wasted, even if there's no grand earthly destination, even if my road is a long winding weary road. Or a short one cut off "too soon" as some might say. I am not my own.
We must seek what is right, but we can't be afraid to make mistakes though. We mustn't over-think and paralyze ourselves with realization of our fragility or God's grandeur. We can't paralyze ourselves in an emotional or spiritual search of the right thing in any given situation. and I'm one to talk haha.
Sometimes we just have to DO.
We must get busy living, because we're already dying. And until we're dying to live and living to die neither of the two will bear the weight they should in our world.
Does this note encompass all my thoughts... not a shot! peanut butter mustard igloo ballgame... still not close, but it's what i thought of now... so i guess that's that.
I used to take trips to Florida with my grandparents. Those 4 hours turned to 6, 7, or 8 on the road were utterly annoying, only made more bearable by 2 things counting the cars of certain colors (white wins) and knowing there was a beach at the end. That my destination was somehow worth the hell I THOUGHT I was experiencing. What irritated me worse then was when I urged my grandfather to speed up (who mind you was driving 45 miles an hour to the beach) he would always say "Ride's part of the trip" I've often jokingly mocked my grandfather of the ridiculousness of this comment. Now I don't think my grandfather meant this in a spiritual or deep way, I genuinely think he was just excusing his lack of desire to get to the beach. However, recently as I sat eating with a dear friend of mine it hit me. The ride IS part of the trip and equally, if not more importantly, that what we know or misguidedly think is the destination sometimes. Not literally in terms of driving, but on the road of life. We may make wrong turns or be driving down dead end roads and have no idea, it's who we are and how we obey His will along the way, and how we enjoy and serve those on parts of the journey with us that will give our ultimate earthly destination it's true meaning.
I don't know that I've ever been so uncertain of what to do? or where to go? or when to do it? or how to do it? or who to do it with? and what those ends mean for my current means... I trust in His wisdom. It would be foolish to trust in anything else. But what specific application of that trust am I being guided toward.
I will wait, but while I must not idly do so. I must love. I must give. I must serve. I must obey. I must seek. I must pray. For it is how we do these things on the road that will determine how we are and who we are when get where we're going.
And because of this...
we must serve in spite of our wilderness, love in spite of our pain, give in spite of our poverty, obey in spite of our confusion, pray in spite of our desires, and seek in spite of the darkness around us.
We must do all these things in spite of ourselves and in spite or our pride which tells us that we'll do what we're called to do when we either know OR arrive where we are called to be. But we miss the point in that. We are called to be where we are today, even if it's not glamorous, which it's often not; and even it's not fun, which it's often not ; and even if we don't even know where the heck we are today, which we often don't.
Our obedience isn't conditional, that's not obedience, that's a barter and we are in no position to barter. Beggars can't be choosers, and anyone who lives long enough will be a beggar at some point in some regard. And there's no better place to be a beggar than at the feet of a just, gracious, merciful, and loving king, so it's best to travel on our roads with that understanding than to be shocked and surprised by it.
I don't know why I am where I am or where I'll be tomorrow or in a week, or if I'll even see those days. But I know that those days won't be what they can be until I obey by loving, giving, serving, seeking and praying with each breath I have. This doesn't mean I'll be any less lost than I am now circumstantially, but my life and my days won't be lost or wasted, even if there's no grand earthly destination, even if my road is a long winding weary road. Or a short one cut off "too soon" as some might say. I am not my own.
We must seek what is right, but we can't be afraid to make mistakes though. We mustn't over-think and paralyze ourselves with realization of our fragility or God's grandeur. We can't paralyze ourselves in an emotional or spiritual search of the right thing in any given situation. and I'm one to talk haha.
Sometimes we just have to DO.
We must get busy living, because we're already dying. And until we're dying to live and living to die neither of the two will bear the weight they should in our world.
Does this note encompass all my thoughts... not a shot! peanut butter mustard igloo ballgame... still not close, but it's what i thought of now... so i guess that's that.
Feeling Again...
Originally Written : Tuesday, July 24, 2007
It's funny in sort of a sadistic way what our minds and our hearts can team up to do when we're hurt. Our emotions can get blugeoned to where they can either feel bitterness and hurt, or nothing at all. And holding it in just ups the ante. We can walk around dying or dead inside and it seems like nobody really cares, but we won't dare give them a chance too, maybe because we got burned pretty bad. Plus it's not like we'd want anyone to pity us anyway, that would just make us feel worse. We sit around and think, "I can't imagine ever feeling anything again... at least anything resembling true joy." We may even know the way, but not care about ourselves enough to pursue it. I have lived in this place. But God IS answering my prayer. My prayer that he would make me care enough about myself to pursue him. The hurt is still there, but the sting and the numbness is leaving me. Because God is blasting away at the softening the pieces of my heart and restoring it. I was not pursuing Him for a while. I was sitting stagnant. It was not that I was running from Him, but I was not running to Him, and that's just as dangerous. Yeah I was still happy, but after a long time of pursuing him my joy began to fade more and more and more. I was selfish and then I would get mad at myself for being selfish. I'd get frustrated and mad at myself for being frustrated. I still loved people, but not with the same fire. But my father in heaven is pulling me from being embroiled in that hellhole that was my deceitful pride. I still believe the same things about some of the things that have happened to me. But God is taking away the bitterness toward those people, I pray next that the awkwardness can be taken away and that I can forget it all together. But that will be a while and my patience must be utilized. I now have the joy of my father in heaven, and now when my selfish pity and pride and bitterness try to arise in me they are pressed away by the joy God has restored to me, whereas before I would dive in headlong.
If you've been in a place like this or are going through any kind of pain. Whether or not you're questioning God maybe this can help you:
the Bible presents a picture of Christ as the potter and us as the clay, but lets examine this a little further. What does that potter do to the clay? He transforms it... He makes it from "just a lump of clay" into a masterpiece? Let's think of ourselves as clay. Does clay know what's happening to it, does it know what it's becoming? No, and neither do we. Clay is pulled from it's home in the ground and set apart in a potters gallery for example. As when we are pulled to Christ and stored as sons and daughters of God. But a potter doesn't just buy clay for it to sit around in his studio and do nothing and remain a clod of clay. Neither did God purchase us with the blood of His only begotten son, just to sit around and look pretty or just be "Christians" and do nothing. So what must he do to transform us into a useful masterpiece? Well the potter takes the clay. He/she takes it and beats, stretches, etc. it into a workable clay. Then the clay is put on the wheel and spun and shaped and reshaped continuously. Well we are the clay. In God's transformation of us we are tossed and turned about. Our lives may be dizzying and confusing as we are spun on a wheel and stretched and turned seemingly everywhich way. Clay on the wheel can get off balance however and undo the work of the potter and the potter has to rework it. Kind of like when we try to do our own thing, or make handle our lives and pull ourselves out of whatever we're in without his help. Then we have to be reworked and go through more stuff to get to where he has us. The more we fight the more we have to be reworked, when just the working can be a long process. If we're not careful, just like clay, we can get lumpy and if we stay away from the potter we get in danger of being lumpy and have to really be broken to be able to be reworked. The clay in it's transformation to a masterpiece may get to times when it feels like its where it needs to be, just like we will in our life get complacent. Then the potter may spot something, something uneven or unfinished in need of reworking and begin to spin the wheel again to work that kink out. We think, well "I was doing good, why is this horrible thing happening to me." Just like the clay if it had feeling would be like... "ummmm owww dude why? I was a being good clay not flopping all around I was standing up and everything." These times can happen often in our lives. Then eventually when the potter has completed the shaping of the clay the clay may have settled down on the wheel. Kind of felt at home there. The potter then takes the potters string and cuts the clay from its base and its "roots" so to speak. These are the times when God asks us to GO somewhere or do something for Him out of our comfort zone. Just like the clay we can be like, "owww dude why. you had shaped me like you wanted me why are you moving me now?" But still the potter knows best. Then the clay which is now a pot is in the shape that God wants it in, but is still not as strong as the potter wants it to be... so it must be put into the kiln. It must be put through the fire in order to harden it and to solidify its shape. This is when, "bad" things happen to good people who are living for God. It's just making them a more stable and stronger masterpiece. Clay may have to be placed in the kiln multiple times, before its finally hardened and strengthened and fully ready to serve its purpose for the potter. Just like the clay. Throughout our journey we may be able to perform God's purposes, but we become better able as the journey goes along. We will never realize the full scale of the masterpiece God is creating in us unto we can understand as he can. There are two ways we can take this and apply it to our lives. We may know that he is forming us or not, but if we fight it and run from it the journey and the reshaping and reforming will take much longer and be much more painful. The best thing for us is to just realize and BELIEVE and say to God. " Here I am. I am clay in your hands. I know I'm gonna go through rough times, and I know I'm gonna hurt, but I know that the means will produce an ends that is glorious beyond my understanding. I pray that you be with me through it and put people in my life to help me through the reshaping, and me for others as well, but bottom line I trust you. I will be clay in your hands. Mold me and shape me as you will, because I trust in your abilities and your intentions." When we can truly believe this pain and hurt and confusion can be put in their proper perspective, instead of seeming like the end for us. We can then live with more joy, even when we are hurt, and our joy can spill over and help others, and that is a truly beautiful thing.
Our Potter who is in heaven
shallow be my pain
your will be done
in at least this one
on this earth
on my path to heaven
Give me this day
my daily spin
and forgive me for my hardness
as I forgive others
who've been hard to me
Lead me not into to the fire alone
but deliver me from pity
for thine is the wheel and the skill and the vision forever and ever
AMEN
Stay Clayey!
Pun count: 23
It's funny in sort of a sadistic way what our minds and our hearts can team up to do when we're hurt. Our emotions can get blugeoned to where they can either feel bitterness and hurt, or nothing at all. And holding it in just ups the ante. We can walk around dying or dead inside and it seems like nobody really cares, but we won't dare give them a chance too, maybe because we got burned pretty bad. Plus it's not like we'd want anyone to pity us anyway, that would just make us feel worse. We sit around and think, "I can't imagine ever feeling anything again... at least anything resembling true joy." We may even know the way, but not care about ourselves enough to pursue it. I have lived in this place. But God IS answering my prayer. My prayer that he would make me care enough about myself to pursue him. The hurt is still there, but the sting and the numbness is leaving me. Because God is blasting away at the softening the pieces of my heart and restoring it. I was not pursuing Him for a while. I was sitting stagnant. It was not that I was running from Him, but I was not running to Him, and that's just as dangerous. Yeah I was still happy, but after a long time of pursuing him my joy began to fade more and more and more. I was selfish and then I would get mad at myself for being selfish. I'd get frustrated and mad at myself for being frustrated. I still loved people, but not with the same fire. But my father in heaven is pulling me from being embroiled in that hellhole that was my deceitful pride. I still believe the same things about some of the things that have happened to me. But God is taking away the bitterness toward those people, I pray next that the awkwardness can be taken away and that I can forget it all together. But that will be a while and my patience must be utilized. I now have the joy of my father in heaven, and now when my selfish pity and pride and bitterness try to arise in me they are pressed away by the joy God has restored to me, whereas before I would dive in headlong.
If you've been in a place like this or are going through any kind of pain. Whether or not you're questioning God maybe this can help you:
the Bible presents a picture of Christ as the potter and us as the clay, but lets examine this a little further. What does that potter do to the clay? He transforms it... He makes it from "just a lump of clay" into a masterpiece? Let's think of ourselves as clay. Does clay know what's happening to it, does it know what it's becoming? No, and neither do we. Clay is pulled from it's home in the ground and set apart in a potters gallery for example. As when we are pulled to Christ and stored as sons and daughters of God. But a potter doesn't just buy clay for it to sit around in his studio and do nothing and remain a clod of clay. Neither did God purchase us with the blood of His only begotten son, just to sit around and look pretty or just be "Christians" and do nothing. So what must he do to transform us into a useful masterpiece? Well the potter takes the clay. He/she takes it and beats, stretches, etc. it into a workable clay. Then the clay is put on the wheel and spun and shaped and reshaped continuously. Well we are the clay. In God's transformation of us we are tossed and turned about. Our lives may be dizzying and confusing as we are spun on a wheel and stretched and turned seemingly everywhich way. Clay on the wheel can get off balance however and undo the work of the potter and the potter has to rework it. Kind of like when we try to do our own thing, or make handle our lives and pull ourselves out of whatever we're in without his help. Then we have to be reworked and go through more stuff to get to where he has us. The more we fight the more we have to be reworked, when just the working can be a long process. If we're not careful, just like clay, we can get lumpy and if we stay away from the potter we get in danger of being lumpy and have to really be broken to be able to be reworked. The clay in it's transformation to a masterpiece may get to times when it feels like its where it needs to be, just like we will in our life get complacent. Then the potter may spot something, something uneven or unfinished in need of reworking and begin to spin the wheel again to work that kink out. We think, well "I was doing good, why is this horrible thing happening to me." Just like the clay if it had feeling would be like... "ummmm owww dude why? I was a being good clay not flopping all around I was standing up and everything." These times can happen often in our lives. Then eventually when the potter has completed the shaping of the clay the clay may have settled down on the wheel. Kind of felt at home there. The potter then takes the potters string and cuts the clay from its base and its "roots" so to speak. These are the times when God asks us to GO somewhere or do something for Him out of our comfort zone. Just like the clay we can be like, "owww dude why. you had shaped me like you wanted me why are you moving me now?" But still the potter knows best. Then the clay which is now a pot is in the shape that God wants it in, but is still not as strong as the potter wants it to be... so it must be put into the kiln. It must be put through the fire in order to harden it and to solidify its shape. This is when, "bad" things happen to good people who are living for God. It's just making them a more stable and stronger masterpiece. Clay may have to be placed in the kiln multiple times, before its finally hardened and strengthened and fully ready to serve its purpose for the potter. Just like the clay. Throughout our journey we may be able to perform God's purposes, but we become better able as the journey goes along. We will never realize the full scale of the masterpiece God is creating in us unto we can understand as he can. There are two ways we can take this and apply it to our lives. We may know that he is forming us or not, but if we fight it and run from it the journey and the reshaping and reforming will take much longer and be much more painful. The best thing for us is to just realize and BELIEVE and say to God. " Here I am. I am clay in your hands. I know I'm gonna go through rough times, and I know I'm gonna hurt, but I know that the means will produce an ends that is glorious beyond my understanding. I pray that you be with me through it and put people in my life to help me through the reshaping, and me for others as well, but bottom line I trust you. I will be clay in your hands. Mold me and shape me as you will, because I trust in your abilities and your intentions." When we can truly believe this pain and hurt and confusion can be put in their proper perspective, instead of seeming like the end for us. We can then live with more joy, even when we are hurt, and our joy can spill over and help others, and that is a truly beautiful thing.
Our Potter who is in heaven
shallow be my pain
your will be done
in at least this one
on this earth
on my path to heaven
Give me this day
my daily spin
and forgive me for my hardness
as I forgive others
who've been hard to me
Lead me not into to the fire alone
but deliver me from pity
for thine is the wheel and the skill and the vision forever and ever
AMEN
Stay Clayey!
Pun count: 23
Other Half of “Sappy Chick Creed” Found
Originally Written: July 12, 2007
AP-Yuma, AZ---Over the past several years women and girls everywhere have been adopting a creed, at least outwardly. The famous creed, entitled “Sappy Chick Creed” has several different versions, but is most commonly something like doctrine stated below:
"Wait for the guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who holds your hand in front of his friends, and will stay awake just to watch you sleep...
Wait for the guy who will be your best friend, the one who makes you smile like no one else can, and when he smiles, you know he needs you.
Wait for the guy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, and who thinks you're even prettier without makeup on!
Wait for the guy who is constantly reminding you of how much he loves and cares for you and how lucky he is to have you.
And most of all wait for the guy who will put you at the center of his universe, because that is where you belong!"
It has mostly been women who claim a Christian belief structure to adopt this creed. However, German theologian Elwin Vonson finds a slight problem with the “poem.” “Much of the ‘creed’ is harmless. However the last line is a bit misleading.” Vonson went on to add, “A mate should never be the center of one’s universe, highly important yes, definitely higher than oneself. However, the Bible tells us that the center of our attention should be reserved for God not for our mate, no matter how important they may be.
Several men have found inconsistency with the poem. These men say, “Hey I was that guy, and it didn’t work out.” Well a recent discovery may clear things up for these cynical and jaded men. The other half of the “Sappy Chick Creed” has been found buried in the Mojave Desert just outside of Yuma, Arizona. Researchers are certain that this is the other half of the missing creed.
This bottom half of a ripped sheet of paper, not only perfectly matches the previously found portion of the creed in handwriting, ink color, and approximate location, but it also fits perfectly with the first half of the creed to form a whole sheet of paper. Aside from these things it finishes a very important piece of the puzzle for some skeptical guys. Just take a look for yourself.
"...and once you have found this guy you don’t have to stop at this
It’s perfectly okay to ask for more
Even if he does give you more and make sacrifice for you like he’s never done before…
Even if he loves you with all of his heart…
It’s perfectly ok to shaft him and break his heart.
Even if he loves you he will likely be clueless
He will inadvertently do things that you don’t like
Even if he never intentionally does anything to hurt you the following punishments are acceptable
Be purposefully mean to him
Withhold affection from him
It’s also a great tactic to in no way tell him what’s wrong
He will rarely know what’s wrong…
Even though you know that he isn’t a mind reader
It’s perfectly acceptable to expect him to be one.
Ladies we hold all the cards and are perfectly okay to do whatever we want, and then we can bad mouth him to our friends if we so choose the option."
Upon reading the recent discovery sociologists agree that this is an original document. Gerald Grenders Phd., a sociology professor at the University of Southern California had this to say, “It’s truly astounding the importance of this finding. The fact that many women already applied the tactics without ever having read this is a strong case for common ancestry, actually it’s probably the strongest case we have.”
If you would like to know more about this research you can find it at www.really-questionmark.com/chickcreed
AP-Yuma, AZ---Over the past several years women and girls everywhere have been adopting a creed, at least outwardly. The famous creed, entitled “Sappy Chick Creed” has several different versions, but is most commonly something like doctrine stated below:
"Wait for the guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who holds your hand in front of his friends, and will stay awake just to watch you sleep...
Wait for the guy who will be your best friend, the one who makes you smile like no one else can, and when he smiles, you know he needs you.
Wait for the guy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, and who thinks you're even prettier without makeup on!
Wait for the guy who is constantly reminding you of how much he loves and cares for you and how lucky he is to have you.
And most of all wait for the guy who will put you at the center of his universe, because that is where you belong!"
It has mostly been women who claim a Christian belief structure to adopt this creed. However, German theologian Elwin Vonson finds a slight problem with the “poem.” “Much of the ‘creed’ is harmless. However the last line is a bit misleading.” Vonson went on to add, “A mate should never be the center of one’s universe, highly important yes, definitely higher than oneself. However, the Bible tells us that the center of our attention should be reserved for God not for our mate, no matter how important they may be.
Several men have found inconsistency with the poem. These men say, “Hey I was that guy, and it didn’t work out.” Well a recent discovery may clear things up for these cynical and jaded men. The other half of the “Sappy Chick Creed” has been found buried in the Mojave Desert just outside of Yuma, Arizona. Researchers are certain that this is the other half of the missing creed.
This bottom half of a ripped sheet of paper, not only perfectly matches the previously found portion of the creed in handwriting, ink color, and approximate location, but it also fits perfectly with the first half of the creed to form a whole sheet of paper. Aside from these things it finishes a very important piece of the puzzle for some skeptical guys. Just take a look for yourself.
"...and once you have found this guy you don’t have to stop at this
It’s perfectly okay to ask for more
Even if he does give you more and make sacrifice for you like he’s never done before…
Even if he loves you with all of his heart…
It’s perfectly ok to shaft him and break his heart.
Even if he loves you he will likely be clueless
He will inadvertently do things that you don’t like
Even if he never intentionally does anything to hurt you the following punishments are acceptable
Be purposefully mean to him
Withhold affection from him
It’s also a great tactic to in no way tell him what’s wrong
He will rarely know what’s wrong…
Even though you know that he isn’t a mind reader
It’s perfectly acceptable to expect him to be one.
Ladies we hold all the cards and are perfectly okay to do whatever we want, and then we can bad mouth him to our friends if we so choose the option."
Upon reading the recent discovery sociologists agree that this is an original document. Gerald Grenders Phd., a sociology professor at the University of Southern California had this to say, “It’s truly astounding the importance of this finding. The fact that many women already applied the tactics without ever having read this is a strong case for common ancestry, actually it’s probably the strongest case we have.”
If you would like to know more about this research you can find it at www.really-questionmark.com/chickcreed
How I invented the 8 track player
Originally written May 15, 2007
I'm writing this note to address something very few of you know about, and I wanted let you all know from me before you heard it from someone else. It is true that I am do have a fairly large net worth, and that the money comes from money made from my invention of the 8 track player.
Earlier in my life I was a traveling fishing pole salesman, for about 2 years in fact. The money was good, and the life was better. I was number one in my division for both years and was lavished with several awards. Also my clients were so pleased with the quality of rods and reels that I had provided them with that they would often give me gifts. Some of the gifts were quite odd and seemingly insignificant, but little did I know that these gifts would help me make the invention that would soon change my life and the music industry.
I was particularly puzzled when on back to back trips in Saganaw, Michigan I was given to strange gifts. At the Miller house, Mr. Miller after purchasing one our better Zebco reels invited me into his kitchen before leaving. He gave me a hamburger and a packet of twist ties to send me on my way. I was confused, but said thanks and left Mr. Miller with his new reel and went on to his neighbors house. Now I will never forget Jebidiah Andrews. Mr. Andrews lived in a house that looked like a huge burrito. Inside I gave Mr. Andrews the typical schpeel. He agreed to buy a couple of rods and reels and some high test fishing line. After the sale was made, Mr. Andrews had a strange look on his face. I asked if there was something wrong. What he said, I'll never forget. "No Mr. Blair things have never been more right." He insisted on thanking me, but all that this odd man had to give was a box of taco sauce packets. I greatfully accepted.
These things seemed like no big deal. When I returned to my hotel later that evening I opened up the box of packets. All the packets were blank, except the top center packet. It said "durlin easu iohnhil di esrtha" It was German. I called my uncle, current UWG German Professor Dr. Blair. What he translated the message for me as, "Invent the 8 track player." I was like, "what does that mean?" He said he'd never heard of it and then quipped, maybe because it needs to be invented. I laughed a little and then went to bed. That night I had a dream and woke up in the middle of the night and immediately grabbed the twist ties and began to do as I had done in my dream. Within 10 minutes I'd invented the 8 track player.
The money I made from the invention made me nervous. It was hard to tell who was really my friend. So I decided to start a new and move to Carrollton, where I'd sold fishing supplies before and start over. Then with invention of cassettes and cds my invention became a joke and I was ashamed. However, now I know who my real friends are now here. And I am comfortable letting you all know, because I'm no longer ashamed of my invention. Thank you all.
I'm writing this note to address something very few of you know about, and I wanted let you all know from me before you heard it from someone else. It is true that I am do have a fairly large net worth, and that the money comes from money made from my invention of the 8 track player.
Earlier in my life I was a traveling fishing pole salesman, for about 2 years in fact. The money was good, and the life was better. I was number one in my division for both years and was lavished with several awards. Also my clients were so pleased with the quality of rods and reels that I had provided them with that they would often give me gifts. Some of the gifts were quite odd and seemingly insignificant, but little did I know that these gifts would help me make the invention that would soon change my life and the music industry.
I was particularly puzzled when on back to back trips in Saganaw, Michigan I was given to strange gifts. At the Miller house, Mr. Miller after purchasing one our better Zebco reels invited me into his kitchen before leaving. He gave me a hamburger and a packet of twist ties to send me on my way. I was confused, but said thanks and left Mr. Miller with his new reel and went on to his neighbors house. Now I will never forget Jebidiah Andrews. Mr. Andrews lived in a house that looked like a huge burrito. Inside I gave Mr. Andrews the typical schpeel. He agreed to buy a couple of rods and reels and some high test fishing line. After the sale was made, Mr. Andrews had a strange look on his face. I asked if there was something wrong. What he said, I'll never forget. "No Mr. Blair things have never been more right." He insisted on thanking me, but all that this odd man had to give was a box of taco sauce packets. I greatfully accepted.
These things seemed like no big deal. When I returned to my hotel later that evening I opened up the box of packets. All the packets were blank, except the top center packet. It said "durlin easu iohnhil di esrtha" It was German. I called my uncle, current UWG German Professor Dr. Blair. What he translated the message for me as, "Invent the 8 track player." I was like, "what does that mean?" He said he'd never heard of it and then quipped, maybe because it needs to be invented. I laughed a little and then went to bed. That night I had a dream and woke up in the middle of the night and immediately grabbed the twist ties and began to do as I had done in my dream. Within 10 minutes I'd invented the 8 track player.
The money I made from the invention made me nervous. It was hard to tell who was really my friend. So I decided to start a new and move to Carrollton, where I'd sold fishing supplies before and start over. Then with invention of cassettes and cds my invention became a joke and I was ashamed. However, now I know who my real friends are now here. And I am comfortable letting you all know, because I'm no longer ashamed of my invention. Thank you all.
Changeover
So I've decided to copy over some facebook notes that I've written over the last couple years... So that might explain some of the references within them or if they don't make chronological sense.
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