I have a new favorite game...Rock Band. I got my first taste of the "drum set" Memorial Day weekend. I got my start to Weezer's, "Say It Ain't So," realized I loved the drums and was decent at it...and that's when it really took off. I had to take up the microphone a couple of times to save my band, "Pussyasshole clowns" from floundering on stage. "I Think I'm Paranoid" and "Learn to Fly" were crowd favorites.
Definitely need one of these for my very own. This is the best stuff since Mario Bros...
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The Day My Phone Left Me
Well my phone decided to leave me on Friday night. Here's my story...
I'm at Applebee's after a successful first night of Kiwanis Kapers, hanging out with some friends and showing the pictures of all the beautiful "women" when we decide it's time to leave. I can't find my phone. Josh walks out to Leanne's Jeep with me to see if I left it in there...with no luck. We assumed that Leanne had it so we go back in there and she doesn't have it either. Enter panic mode.
Josh and Leanne both swear that I have been calling them and Leanne said that I even responded to a text message she had sent me. I did not. Someone else who left with my phone did. So we go on a massive phone hunt in Greeneville...after a while, I'm just ready to cut my losses and go home but Josh and Leanne are angry at this point and want my phone back worse than I do. The way I look at it, if my phone is that much of a hooker...let 'er go!
Long story short...at about four a.m. Saturday morning, I'm on the phone with the super nice guy that bought my phone in the Applebee's parking lot for $40. Cheap hooker. My heroes of the evening? Leanne for putting up with me and getting mad enough to keep talking to the guy who has it and Josh who actually drove WAY out of his way to meet the guy in the Food Country parking lot to get it back.
My hooker phone tried to forget who she belonged to...deleted all of the pictures, contacts, etc. Funny thing is though - they kept all of my ring tones. Even the one that says "Phone call for Ms. Wonderfullllll" and Pink's song U + Ur Hand...nice huh?
I'm at Applebee's after a successful first night of Kiwanis Kapers, hanging out with some friends and showing the pictures of all the beautiful "women" when we decide it's time to leave. I can't find my phone. Josh walks out to Leanne's Jeep with me to see if I left it in there...with no luck. We assumed that Leanne had it so we go back in there and she doesn't have it either. Enter panic mode.
Josh and Leanne both swear that I have been calling them and Leanne said that I even responded to a text message she had sent me. I did not. Someone else who left with my phone did. So we go on a massive phone hunt in Greeneville...after a while, I'm just ready to cut my losses and go home but Josh and Leanne are angry at this point and want my phone back worse than I do. The way I look at it, if my phone is that much of a hooker...let 'er go!
Long story short...at about four a.m. Saturday morning, I'm on the phone with the super nice guy that bought my phone in the Applebee's parking lot for $40. Cheap hooker. My heroes of the evening? Leanne for putting up with me and getting mad enough to keep talking to the guy who has it and Josh who actually drove WAY out of his way to meet the guy in the Food Country parking lot to get it back.
My hooker phone tried to forget who she belonged to...deleted all of the pictures, contacts, etc. Funny thing is though - they kept all of my ring tones. Even the one that says "Phone call for Ms. Wonderfullllll" and Pink's song U + Ur Hand...nice huh?
Fly By Shatting
Let me set the scene:
It's approximately 7:30 am on a Monday morning as I am on my way to work. My car - such a wonderful hunk of fantastic junk - died on me in the middle of 25E right in front of Walters State, in the midst of rush hour traffic ...so I decided on my lunch break with my splitting headache that made me unable to eat, I would take my car to Advance Auto and see if there was a quick fix they could do until I could really fix it. The gentleman and I are bent over the front of my car, examining all of the hoses (I was trying to show him the one I thought it was) and I felt something hit my back. I thought it was a rain drop, but as I check the sky for any sign of a cloud, (which there was not) it hits me - no pun intended...and I reach around to find out if my suspicions are correct. A big of pile of bird poo had plopped itself firmly on the lower half of the left hand side of my back. My head was hurting so bad I didn't get angry, I didn't laugh like I normally would have...I calmly walked to my car, started it up and grabbed a napkin to wipe it off as the guy is saying, "it's all over your back." Thanks Captain Obvious. I swear the guy was trying so hard not to laugh. He then pointed out the culprit and I vowed to track it down later and beat it to death with my shoe. After the whole fiasco is over and I'm getting in my car to leave, he apologized for the bird...
Later on that day after I had taken some Goody powders and my head was feeling slightly better...I cried because I was laughing so hard....and then told everyone at work about it so they could laugh until they cried. And now? I'm sharing it with all of you...so you can laugh until you cry. And no, butt jerk, no pictures....
It's approximately 7:30 am on a Monday morning as I am on my way to work. My car - such a wonderful hunk of fantastic junk - died on me in the middle of 25E right in front of Walters State, in the midst of rush hour traffic ...so I decided on my lunch break with my splitting headache that made me unable to eat, I would take my car to Advance Auto and see if there was a quick fix they could do until I could really fix it. The gentleman and I are bent over the front of my car, examining all of the hoses (I was trying to show him the one I thought it was) and I felt something hit my back. I thought it was a rain drop, but as I check the sky for any sign of a cloud, (which there was not) it hits me - no pun intended...and I reach around to find out if my suspicions are correct. A big of pile of bird poo had plopped itself firmly on the lower half of the left hand side of my back. My head was hurting so bad I didn't get angry, I didn't laugh like I normally would have...I calmly walked to my car, started it up and grabbed a napkin to wipe it off as the guy is saying, "it's all over your back." Thanks Captain Obvious. I swear the guy was trying so hard not to laugh. He then pointed out the culprit and I vowed to track it down later and beat it to death with my shoe. After the whole fiasco is over and I'm getting in my car to leave, he apologized for the bird...
Later on that day after I had taken some Goody powders and my head was feeling slightly better...I cried because I was laughing so hard....and then told everyone at work about it so they could laugh until they cried. And now? I'm sharing it with all of you...so you can laugh until you cry. And no, butt jerk, no pictures....
A talk I gave a couple of years ago...
Read Luke 15: 11-32 first.
This story is often called the story of the Prodigal Son. But there are actually three people in this story; the Father and the two sons.
First let me give you the definition of prodigal. It means excessiveness whether that be in wastefulness or in generosity. Each one of the characters in this story demonstrates a different type of excessiveness.
The Father, who represents God, shows excessiveness with the generosity of his love towards his sons. The father gives his sons everything he has. When the younger son takes half his father's property and then returns home empty-handed, instead of punishing him for losing his share of the inheritance, his father forgives him and actually celebrates his return. He holds nothing back, even killing the fattened calf in order to give his younger son the very best for returning home. He shows unconditional acceptance and love.
The younger son, called the "prodigal," demands his father to give him his inheritance early, which should have only been given to him upon his father's death. He takes his father's gift to him and travels far, far away from his family. He chooses a path of self-indulgence and lives very recklessly. Not only did he end up wasting his father's entire gift, but he also wasted a relationship with his father by moving far away where he had no contact with anyone in his family. Only when he was feeding pigs and wishing he could eat with the pigs, did the younger son realize how desperate he had become. It took rolling around in dirt to bring him to his senses. He reminisces about his home and realizes how much love his father had shown him, and longs to return to that love.
Finally, we see the older son. The older son appears to be just the opposite of the younger son. He doesn't demand his share of the property like the younger son. He stays close to home and works with his father to take care of the property. He acts responsibly and does what is right. But inwardly, the older son is wasting his inheritance also. Not the property, but the relationship with his father. He lives off of his father's wealth, but wastes the abundance of love that his father tries to give him. When his brother comes home, he becomes bitter towards his father for accepting him back into the family. He doesn't understand why the father still loves this sinful son. What he doesn't see is that he himself does not have the love needed to forgive someone who has failed. He only considers himself, he thinks that he is much more deserving than the younger brother. But unlike his brother, he doesn't yet realize his needs.
I have recieved so much in my life. I have love from God, I was able to go to college, I have an opportunity to succeed, and I have the love of my friends and family. My family has shown me love, taught me manners, taught me to be honest and to love others as I would like to be loved. When I have a bad day, all I have to do is pick up the phone and call any of my friends and they will be there to comfort and help me in any way they can.
You have also been given more than just material things. We don't seem to be aware of it most of the time, but we receive love, support, moral standards, a sense of honesty, qualities of life - and all of these are much more important than material things. Even though our parents, guardians, and other people can never give us all that we need, just take a minute and think about what they have given you and what they have set as examples.
Think about what you have done with what has been given to you. How are you like the younger son? In what ways have you taken for granted or wasted the material gifts and support you have been given? In what ways do you waste or ignore the most important gifts; the gift of life, relationships, and the love and support you have received from God - from parents - from guardians and other special people in your life?
How are you like the older son? Do you think the love and support you have been given is because you deserve it? Do you think you have to work to gain the love of God? Do you enjoy and expect the material gifts that God has given you, but ignore the relationshsip and love God has for you?
Growing up, I lived in a non -Christian home. I drank, starting when I was eight. I smoked starting when I was ten. I was sexually abused, physically abused and emotionally abused. I have seen drug deals, my mom fist fighting with my step-dad(s), fighting with knives, and throwing things at each other. I moved around constantly, going to 13 schools in 8 years. I have had three step-fathers, put out fires that could have burned down our house and took care of a sister who is six years younger than I am.
I have found that I can relate to the older brother, but also the younger brother.
I remember one night when I was 14, I had to wrestle a gun away from someone very determined to use it. My mother put my sister and I into what could have become a very violent domestic situation. I was trying to keep Guy 1 from hurtin my mother and Guy 2 - but also trying to keep him from hurting me, my sister or himself. Guy 1 was yelling threats, trying to get through the door that separated us from my mother and Guy 2. I can remember be terrified, shaking until I thought I would pass out, becoming very weak, but I was still very determined to keep anything bad from happening. I got Guy 1 out of the house and was trying to get Guy 2 to leave, when I saw Guy 1 sneaking around the side of the house with a gun. I locked my sister upstairs to keep her safe, then ran outside and found myself staring at the wrong end of a barrel of a gun. The situation eventually diffused once the guns were put away. In this instance, I can relate to the older brother. I was taking responsibility, trying to maintain peace in a situation that could have gone dreadfully wrong. I was bitter towards everyone involved. I didn't have the strength or the love to forgive anyone and instead withdrew into myself even more, more determined than ever to find a way to earn my mother's love and support I felt I never had.
Eventually I moved in with my father's sister and brother in law. Not once have they ever implied they regret taking me in. They sheltered me, loved me, protected me, and provided for me. But I didn't seem to get the picture. Rather than embrace what they offered, I went down my own path, not eating, cutting myself to "relieve the stress" I felt. Nothing seemed to work and I was becoming more and more depressed - ending up with a knife to my wrist. I can relate to the younger brother in this case. I was given everything, and while I used it, I wasted it. I let all the gifts they gave me waste away, not having any regard for the sacrifice they had made for me - not caring.
My father's family has always been my stabilizer. They were there for me supporting me when no one else was. They loved me unconditionally, provided me with material things to help me live a better life, and gave me constant support and acceptance. Only when I hit rock bottom could I fully appreciate when they had sacrificed for me.
I started going to church when a high school friend invited me - at this point still living with my mother. I listened and took His word into my heart. I prayed to God for the first time in November of my freshman year in high school. After that, things improved. The more I heard about God, the more I longed for the love He had to give me. When I moved in with my aunt and uncle, I began to feel accepted and the longing for God only increased. I was saved the summer of my freshman year. Things weren't perfect, but God and my family pulled me through the tough times and helped me find my home.
Now that I look back on what I have been through and look at what I have today, my feelings for God only increase. I didn't deserve to be loved after the way I had treated so many people, but I found acceptance in Him and he washed the dirt and smells off of me. I can see so many places that God protected me, and pursued me, even when I didn't know who He was. He was there, ever present, watching over me, and while I still have some scars, emotionally and physically from my childhood, the blessings that I have received from God are more than enough to fill my life. I got rid of holes in my heart when I accepted God...He filled me up.
Where are you in the Prodigal story? Do you still want to be in the pig pen, eating with animals? In spite of God's unconditional love and acceptance, are you still rolling around in the dirt of your desires, guilt, hurt or pride? Are you still trying to earn God's love? Can you hear God asking you to let go of everything you are holding on to and come home?
Remember that God loves you just as you are. God doesn't care that you smell like a pig pen and have dirt covering you from head to toe. God's love and forgiveness are total. He will embrace you and give you what you need, so that you can become all that He created you to be.
When you accept God's love and offer of a relationship, you begin the journey home.
De Colores.
This story is often called the story of the Prodigal Son. But there are actually three people in this story; the Father and the two sons.
First let me give you the definition of prodigal. It means excessiveness whether that be in wastefulness or in generosity. Each one of the characters in this story demonstrates a different type of excessiveness.
The Father, who represents God, shows excessiveness with the generosity of his love towards his sons. The father gives his sons everything he has. When the younger son takes half his father's property and then returns home empty-handed, instead of punishing him for losing his share of the inheritance, his father forgives him and actually celebrates his return. He holds nothing back, even killing the fattened calf in order to give his younger son the very best for returning home. He shows unconditional acceptance and love.
The younger son, called the "prodigal," demands his father to give him his inheritance early, which should have only been given to him upon his father's death. He takes his father's gift to him and travels far, far away from his family. He chooses a path of self-indulgence and lives very recklessly. Not only did he end up wasting his father's entire gift, but he also wasted a relationship with his father by moving far away where he had no contact with anyone in his family. Only when he was feeding pigs and wishing he could eat with the pigs, did the younger son realize how desperate he had become. It took rolling around in dirt to bring him to his senses. He reminisces about his home and realizes how much love his father had shown him, and longs to return to that love.
Finally, we see the older son. The older son appears to be just the opposite of the younger son. He doesn't demand his share of the property like the younger son. He stays close to home and works with his father to take care of the property. He acts responsibly and does what is right. But inwardly, the older son is wasting his inheritance also. Not the property, but the relationship with his father. He lives off of his father's wealth, but wastes the abundance of love that his father tries to give him. When his brother comes home, he becomes bitter towards his father for accepting him back into the family. He doesn't understand why the father still loves this sinful son. What he doesn't see is that he himself does not have the love needed to forgive someone who has failed. He only considers himself, he thinks that he is much more deserving than the younger brother. But unlike his brother, he doesn't yet realize his needs.
I have recieved so much in my life. I have love from God, I was able to go to college, I have an opportunity to succeed, and I have the love of my friends and family. My family has shown me love, taught me manners, taught me to be honest and to love others as I would like to be loved. When I have a bad day, all I have to do is pick up the phone and call any of my friends and they will be there to comfort and help me in any way they can.
You have also been given more than just material things. We don't seem to be aware of it most of the time, but we receive love, support, moral standards, a sense of honesty, qualities of life - and all of these are much more important than material things. Even though our parents, guardians, and other people can never give us all that we need, just take a minute and think about what they have given you and what they have set as examples.
Think about what you have done with what has been given to you. How are you like the younger son? In what ways have you taken for granted or wasted the material gifts and support you have been given? In what ways do you waste or ignore the most important gifts; the gift of life, relationships, and the love and support you have received from God - from parents - from guardians and other special people in your life?
How are you like the older son? Do you think the love and support you have been given is because you deserve it? Do you think you have to work to gain the love of God? Do you enjoy and expect the material gifts that God has given you, but ignore the relationshsip and love God has for you?
Growing up, I lived in a non -Christian home. I drank, starting when I was eight. I smoked starting when I was ten. I was sexually abused, physically abused and emotionally abused. I have seen drug deals, my mom fist fighting with my step-dad(s), fighting with knives, and throwing things at each other. I moved around constantly, going to 13 schools in 8 years. I have had three step-fathers, put out fires that could have burned down our house and took care of a sister who is six years younger than I am.
I have found that I can relate to the older brother, but also the younger brother.
I remember one night when I was 14, I had to wrestle a gun away from someone very determined to use it. My mother put my sister and I into what could have become a very violent domestic situation. I was trying to keep Guy 1 from hurtin my mother and Guy 2 - but also trying to keep him from hurting me, my sister or himself. Guy 1 was yelling threats, trying to get through the door that separated us from my mother and Guy 2. I can remember be terrified, shaking until I thought I would pass out, becoming very weak, but I was still very determined to keep anything bad from happening. I got Guy 1 out of the house and was trying to get Guy 2 to leave, when I saw Guy 1 sneaking around the side of the house with a gun. I locked my sister upstairs to keep her safe, then ran outside and found myself staring at the wrong end of a barrel of a gun. The situation eventually diffused once the guns were put away. In this instance, I can relate to the older brother. I was taking responsibility, trying to maintain peace in a situation that could have gone dreadfully wrong. I was bitter towards everyone involved. I didn't have the strength or the love to forgive anyone and instead withdrew into myself even more, more determined than ever to find a way to earn my mother's love and support I felt I never had.
Eventually I moved in with my father's sister and brother in law. Not once have they ever implied they regret taking me in. They sheltered me, loved me, protected me, and provided for me. But I didn't seem to get the picture. Rather than embrace what they offered, I went down my own path, not eating, cutting myself to "relieve the stress" I felt. Nothing seemed to work and I was becoming more and more depressed - ending up with a knife to my wrist. I can relate to the younger brother in this case. I was given everything, and while I used it, I wasted it. I let all the gifts they gave me waste away, not having any regard for the sacrifice they had made for me - not caring.
My father's family has always been my stabilizer. They were there for me supporting me when no one else was. They loved me unconditionally, provided me with material things to help me live a better life, and gave me constant support and acceptance. Only when I hit rock bottom could I fully appreciate when they had sacrificed for me.
I started going to church when a high school friend invited me - at this point still living with my mother. I listened and took His word into my heart. I prayed to God for the first time in November of my freshman year in high school. After that, things improved. The more I heard about God, the more I longed for the love He had to give me. When I moved in with my aunt and uncle, I began to feel accepted and the longing for God only increased. I was saved the summer of my freshman year. Things weren't perfect, but God and my family pulled me through the tough times and helped me find my home.
Now that I look back on what I have been through and look at what I have today, my feelings for God only increase. I didn't deserve to be loved after the way I had treated so many people, but I found acceptance in Him and he washed the dirt and smells off of me. I can see so many places that God protected me, and pursued me, even when I didn't know who He was. He was there, ever present, watching over me, and while I still have some scars, emotionally and physically from my childhood, the blessings that I have received from God are more than enough to fill my life. I got rid of holes in my heart when I accepted God...He filled me up.
Where are you in the Prodigal story? Do you still want to be in the pig pen, eating with animals? In spite of God's unconditional love and acceptance, are you still rolling around in the dirt of your desires, guilt, hurt or pride? Are you still trying to earn God's love? Can you hear God asking you to let go of everything you are holding on to and come home?
Remember that God loves you just as you are. God doesn't care that you smell like a pig pen and have dirt covering you from head to toe. God's love and forgiveness are total. He will embrace you and give you what you need, so that you can become all that He created you to be.
When you accept God's love and offer of a relationship, you begin the journey home.
De Colores.
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