God...help!!!

I'm not sure if I'm cut out for this. It is only by the grace of God that I will ever survive. It feels like there are a million different things I need to do, need to be, will I ever get it all done? Will it work out?

James says that trials are good because they provide steadfastness. I feel like I am preparing to be the most steadfast man in the entire world. I just am going to be anchored to God, I must be anchored to God. That's it. That's the lesson I'm learning now.

Lady, Bella, Buttercup...Dog

This was one of those things that I feel men are called to do and we hate doing it. I mean, who wants to be responsible? Nikki and I were offered this cute puppy while on a date and after Nikki held it and fell in love I just couldn't say no. I mean, who could turn down 2 adorable ladies at once? However, after staying up for 2 nights keeping the cute thing happy (aka keeping it quiet) we decided it was too much to handle right now. I can only imagine how a baby is going to be...

But I think that circumstances like this are monumental in our lives. As men, we are definitely called to lead, to make the tough decisions, and to listen to those we are leading. The decision to give the puppy to the animal shelter was definitely difficult, I kept waiting on tears from Nikki...but it was really beautiful seeing how my future bride and I made a difficult decision together and we were in unity. No fighting or anger was present. No resentment. I know we will have to make many tough decisions in life and I can only pray they will be as beautiful as this one was. We acted as one, we acted like we were on the same team. I listened to her and she listened to me. And it was awesome to see each of us submitting to the other. I can't wait to be married to this woman!

Lyrics and Such

Surely We Can Change - David Crowder Band

And the problem is this
We were bought with a kiss
But the cheek still turned
Even when it wasn’t hit

And I don’t know
What to do with a love like that
And I don’t know
How to be a love like that

When all the love in the world
Is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose
What our hands will do

Where there is pain
Let there be grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Help them be brave
Where there is misery
Bring expectancy
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Something

And the problem it seems
Is with you and me
Not the Love who came
To repair everything

And I don’t know
What to do with a love like that
And I don’t know
How to be a love like that

When all the love in the world
Is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose
What our hands will do

Where there is pain
Let us bring grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Let us be brave
Where there is misery
Let us bring them relief
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Oh surely we can change
Something

Respect, Honor, Integrity, and Character

It has been wedding season for a while now with my friends. I do not understand how so many people blow off special occasions such as a wedding. I must admit, I have been one of those people for a good deal of my life. But I have realized that I've been making mistakes. There are certain events that only happen once in a lifetime. Or should, maybe the idea of marriage is becoming so casual that it is no longer a special occasion. Maybe we're just so dang busy that we don't have time to celebrate with anyone other than our close group of friends, and only those that entertain us. I mean what is a friend? Is it someone that is entertaining, someone we can use, and discard when we're bored? I don't think so.

I am close friends with a few guys, and that number has significantly decreased since graduating high school and college. I realized a lot of people I thought were close, weren't really as close as I had hoped. It really kind of sucks. I think its more than just people being thoughtless, I think we're just getting too busy to have relationships. I mean, right now I'm working 12 hour days, 8 at work, 4 for studying for the FE. Who has time? I'm not sure when it happened but I suddenly got amazingly busy. And I hear its only going to get busier. Maybe I just need to be more efficient with time. 

I worry sometimes about not being able to slow down. Not being able to relax. I see symptoms now and I think it's unhealthy. BUT I want to work hard. I want to come home exhausted. That is good and right and what God expects of us. This is obviously a period of my life that is going to test me, refine me, and prepare me for later in life. If you are reading this, please pray for me as I have begun the journey of adulthood. I both love it and hate it. 

 

Eyeballs

I'm so tired of being bombarded by sexual advertising. It's everywhere. Sex is used to advertise every product, with the lure of becoming more sexy, more attractive if you use this product. Some of the advertisements on tv today were considered pornography not so many years ago.

It's not just on tv, it seems to have spread to normal people too. Granted, living in a college town means that the latest trends will pop up early. I can't help but notice that it seems every female workout outfit seems to have some sort of sexual appealing feature. The loose shirts that look like they are about to fall off the shoulder, the tight spandex, is it really necessary? I'm at the gym to work out, to be healthy, and to take ease some stress from the day. I'm not there to get a date, nor am i looking for one. And the guys that are, most likely aren't the guys you want to be dating.

I think that men should be self controlled, disciplined, and should respect and cherish women as our sisters in Christ. And women should do the same, respecting men as brothers in Christ. Even if you don't take the Christian viewpoint, at least put some value in yourself. Guys are going to go after the girls dressed to seduce and expect to be "getting some." If you are advertising your body, that's what you're going to sell. If you are advertising your personality, the complete "you" package, then that's what men will see you as.

I don't think its understood how visual men are. We see things, are bombarded with sexual images, and told we are perverts for being so sexually charged all the time. Men need to control themselves. No exception. And we also need to start encouraging modesty. And ladies, cover up please. For us and for you.

Selling Life

You often hear that college is the best years of your life. I think this is because you are being told that you can do whatever you want with your life with just a little work. You have all these dreams that are wide open and all the opportunities in the world at your fingertips. You just have to go get it. And it's exciting.

When you graduate, you are told something else. You now can work hard for all the stuff that is going to make your life easier, simpler, more fun, etc. It's a lie. I think that some of the most content people I've ever known are the least wealthy. You see, the more stuff you have, the more responsibilities you have to take care of everything. Boats, cars, motorcycles, guns, houses...they all take a lot of work to maintain. And you are working constantly to pay for it all. And maybe you enjoy it on the weekends.

I think that there's more to life than just gathering toys. I want to live simply, but the glitz and glam that is pounded into american culture is attractive, for a very short time. Think about it. The best memories I have are definitely not when I got stuff, but when I was experiencing life with people. My first vehicle was awesome, still is, but what was awesome was seeing how my parents were acting. Mom was definitely thinking about safety and Dad was ready to cruise around town with me in the truck. It wasn't the vehicle, it was the significant moment that made it special. Some old junk car would have been just as special to me.

I'm afraid the advertising industry is changing though. Adventure and free-spirited living is being advertised and perverted. The surfing/climbing/hiking culture is being shown as an awesome way of life but its glorified as living selfishly, always seeking the best for yourself. Living selfishly isn't fulfilling. It's like trying to fill a vacuum, its always going to need more. Maybe this doesn't make sense. Maybe it does. I just know that God created me for more than living a life of thinking about myself all the time. I am not claiming to be an expert on this at all. I fail like all the time about putting others above myself. My life is a "God's Work in Progress"...

Have a great day