Today was a good day. It has been a while since I have had a purely good day. I like good days. I hope to have more of them in the near future.
Thank you God for a good day, and thank you for letting me enjoy it with someone. I really appreciate it.
Good-day.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Being a Good Person
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
At some point or another, I think everyone has heard this phrase. But let me expand on it for you tonight. I believe that there are good people out there- truly good people who want to make a difference in this world. I believe this phrase is true as well as its implications. All that is needed to defeat evil, on any level, is for a good person to stand up and do what they can. Anything... so long as it is more than standing around and doing nothing at all.
Here is where it gets complicated. Those that are good know that there is no such thing as them doing something half-assed. We do not do things for show. We are not in it to tweak a detail, or even just to be good. We play because we want to win. And not even for the sake of winning, but because triumph is what we do. Why even try unless your goal is to succeed When it comes to the evils of this world, good people really have only two options.
1) We can either stand by and pretend like someone else is taking care of the problems, thereby not committing ourselves to the problem.
or
2) We will give it our all to amend the world as we see fit, simply for the sake of it once again being "right". Not for the glory, not for the sense of accomplishment. We just want the world to be "right", and we believe that we as a people deserve to live in one that is "right". If nothing else, we believe that the God we serve is good, and has placed within the context of our lives, the possibility of living a good life. But beyond that, to where we see life falling short, we believe that God has given each and every one of us the capacity to change and effect the world in th same way that the burden in our hearts crys for us to.
The hard part, atleast for me, patience: learning that sometimes you must learn before you can teach, and sometimes you must be sharpened before you can cut. But there is a difference between walking the winding road, and avoiding it.
Now, it comes down to a choice. How will you live your life?
Think about it.
At some point or another, I think everyone has heard this phrase. But let me expand on it for you tonight. I believe that there are good people out there- truly good people who want to make a difference in this world. I believe this phrase is true as well as its implications. All that is needed to defeat evil, on any level, is for a good person to stand up and do what they can. Anything... so long as it is more than standing around and doing nothing at all.
Here is where it gets complicated. Those that are good know that there is no such thing as them doing something half-assed. We do not do things for show. We are not in it to tweak a detail, or even just to be good. We play because we want to win. And not even for the sake of winning, but because triumph is what we do. Why even try unless your goal is to succeed When it comes to the evils of this world, good people really have only two options.
1) We can either stand by and pretend like someone else is taking care of the problems, thereby not committing ourselves to the problem.
or
2) We will give it our all to amend the world as we see fit, simply for the sake of it once again being "right". Not for the glory, not for the sense of accomplishment. We just want the world to be "right", and we believe that we as a people deserve to live in one that is "right". If nothing else, we believe that the God we serve is good, and has placed within the context of our lives, the possibility of living a good life. But beyond that, to where we see life falling short, we believe that God has given each and every one of us the capacity to change and effect the world in th same way that the burden in our hearts crys for us to.
The hard part, atleast for me, patience: learning that sometimes you must learn before you can teach, and sometimes you must be sharpened before you can cut. But there is a difference between walking the winding road, and avoiding it.
Now, it comes down to a choice. How will you live your life?
Think about it.
Friday, March 09, 2007
too much information
I think I am going to stop telling people about who I am and details of my life. I dont know why I am such an open book. From here on out, no more volunteered information, but I will answer any and all questions as throughly as possible. Because, if they are willing to ask the question, then hopefully they will be the ones who actually care for the information that is me.
blah
blah
exaustion, sort of
I am tired. My body and mind are tired. I am not sure why. I have trouble waking up, and am finding sleep more and more appealing. Why am I so tired?
This week was dirty. I am not sure how to discribe it other than simply "dirty". Mentally, emotionally, converstaionally... all just dirty. The only consistancy has been the ever increasing rate of time. These first weeks here seemed to go by so slowly, in a good way. Every day was fully of oppertunity to grow and develop. But now, things seem to have slowed down, and I am becoming more and more lazy. I do wish that I had the stamina to finish this race strong.
That is one of the reasons I stayed in cross-country -> not because I was good at it, but because my endurance and patience are horribly weak. You know what I learned from two years of running to no end.... my endurance and patience are horribly weak. But, to what extent that effects me, is totally my decision.
So, though life seems to be spiraling into a dark abyss, I will try and press forward and remember what life was like when I enjoyed all of this to no end.
But how am I suppose to enjoy life and all of these wonderful adventures without somone who is going to stay with me for more of my life than these few years in college. This does annoy me, the whole- me not being in "the relationship". I know that God is looking for me to surrender my desires to Him, and I know that I must learn to dissern between girl friends, and girlfriends. But, it is such a strong desire, that I am not the best judge of my actions in this area. I just want to enjoy life with someone who wants to enjoy it with me. I am tired of all the complications and incompatibilities. Isn't there someone out there who fits perfectly with my personality -> and I dont mean who she could be, but who she is, even if that is deep down inside of her. I chose to believe in the good of people, because if that good did not exist beyond the games everyone plays, life and friends would not be worth the effort.
But God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good.
So with that, I will try some music and sleep- in that order.
This week was dirty. I am not sure how to discribe it other than simply "dirty". Mentally, emotionally, converstaionally... all just dirty. The only consistancy has been the ever increasing rate of time. These first weeks here seemed to go by so slowly, in a good way. Every day was fully of oppertunity to grow and develop. But now, things seem to have slowed down, and I am becoming more and more lazy. I do wish that I had the stamina to finish this race strong.
That is one of the reasons I stayed in cross-country -> not because I was good at it, but because my endurance and patience are horribly weak. You know what I learned from two years of running to no end.... my endurance and patience are horribly weak. But, to what extent that effects me, is totally my decision.
So, though life seems to be spiraling into a dark abyss, I will try and press forward and remember what life was like when I enjoyed all of this to no end.
But how am I suppose to enjoy life and all of these wonderful adventures without somone who is going to stay with me for more of my life than these few years in college. This does annoy me, the whole- me not being in "the relationship". I know that God is looking for me to surrender my desires to Him, and I know that I must learn to dissern between girl friends, and girlfriends. But, it is such a strong desire, that I am not the best judge of my actions in this area. I just want to enjoy life with someone who wants to enjoy it with me. I am tired of all the complications and incompatibilities. Isn't there someone out there who fits perfectly with my personality -> and I dont mean who she could be, but who she is, even if that is deep down inside of her. I chose to believe in the good of people, because if that good did not exist beyond the games everyone plays, life and friends would not be worth the effort.
But God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good.
So with that, I will try some music and sleep- in that order.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
We the People
In the two months I have been here, I have been fortunate enough to run across a few people who I think could actually turn out to be friends. I wont bore you to death with my history of friendships, but I will make this point. Through the cycles of life, I have come to distinguish between acquaintances, friends of proximity, and actual friends. Just by the descriptions, I am sure you can understand what I am talking about. It is not that any type of those is any better or worse, just different and for different purposes. Anywho, I have started to notice a similarity among those who have grown into friends. They all, to some capacity, would like to make a difference in this world.
I believe that somewhere within all of us is the desire to make some change in our paradigm, but these people actually seem to be taking steps towards making that difference. Some of them are going into politics, trying to make the change within. Some people are going into business, trying to take the wheel of the great power that is capitalism to do some good. Others are determined to venture into engineering, to help others qualities of life. Then there are the missionaries, who really don't know how to make a difference, but know that being with those who are suffering is better than sitting on their thumbs here. Some of them will become teachers, trying to educate a generation into actions. Some will go into the 9-5 of corporate America, and impact their families and co-workers, inspiring them to be better people, and admits that change, the world will have a renewed hope of being a better place. Then, I am sure, there are some who will end up as pastors of some sort, trying to preach or sing to others a good direction for their life.
Really, I have found myself surrounded by quite a diverse group of individuals, but one things seems to remain constant. These are people who want to make the world a better place.
I was driving down the road the other day and decided that such a grouping of individuals should be able to identify that desire with some greater movement. Sure, the pastors will have their youth groups, the engineers will have their clubs, and the teachers will have their conventions, but how about a bigger picture. That is why I am proposing a new group. Granted, it will probably never develop into an actual group. But the idea is there for something big.
If I were to start a group, it would be called: “We the People”
Affectionately named after the opening lines of our very own Constitution. If you want to read it, you can find a link for it here: http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html Interestingly enough, the phrase “We the People” is the only part of it written in exceptionally large font (except titles like “article 1”). Take a look if you have time.
I have spoken on this topic before, but our Declaration of independence really is a powerful document. Think about it. You have a group of individuals who gather together and decided that their government was not operating the way it should, and that it was causing too much harm to remain subordinate to. And so, they wrote this:
**********************************************
(Pardon the heresy as I present my cliff-noted version of the Declaration of Independence)
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them... they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, ...
(They then contend reasons for abolishing their current system of government)
We, therefore, ... appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States..... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
*****************************************
Having written such a declaration, they then later wrote what we now know as the “Constitution of the United States”. Let me clarify my thoughts here.... You have a group of individuals who have decided that they no longer believed in the ways the government was operating, and so they banned together to form their own group “We the People”, to establish how they felt a government should be run.
Now, please don't confuse what I am saying. I am NOT contending that the U.S. Government should be overthrown or even rebelled away from. But I do believe that there are changes that need to be made, both internally and through external coercion.
The good news is that our government was created around the idea that the POWER IS IN THE PEOPLE. And that is who we are. We ARE “the People”. And when it comes to change, we are the ones who are going to have to do it. Otherwise, as we can see in the world around us, nobody will.
That is why I would call my group of friends- “We the People”... and just as every good group has a motto, I would give our group the motto of “WE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!” Too many times have I gotten the reality speech or stern looks of disapproval when I have talked about actually making an impact. I am tired of it. I do believe such a small group of men and women can start a movement. I do believe in the ripple effect of life. I do believe that through God all things are possible. I do believe that we can make a difference, and I will not just stand, but will move in action towards that difference until the change has been made.
There are two powerful institutions within my grasps that have immense capacity to change this world. There is the government of the United States, and then there is the great Roman Catholic Church. Both with simply the inherent flaw of being opposite sides of the same world changing coin. Pardon the generalizations, but on one side of the coin there is an institution, derived by men and supported by God, to establish freedom and equality- but those two things have served as its undoing as the United States now seems plagued by the effects of “true freedom” and “absolute equality”, when the original intention was freedom FROM oppression, not freedom TO oppress. And on the other side of the coin, you have a brilliant institution derived by God and supported by man, designed to give structure and stability to a feeble Christian faith that at one time, and still is, fighting the world. Sadly though, its structure has trumped its spirit, and what was once a movement of the heart, guided by principles to bring one into a relationship with Christ, has turned into a mechanized structure of rules and regulations creating a new order of Pharisees (in one sense) – and only because it knew no better way to deal with such an influx of new believers.
Here in America, we have the capacity for change, and that capacity is US. Not the U.S., but US- as in you and me. “We the People” are the ones who are going to have to make the change that we want to see in this world. Sure, this sounds crazy, but so does a man from Nazareth saying you could throw mountains into the ocean with but a mustard seed of faith. With the Holy Spirit to guide us, with the anointing of Christ on our lives, and in pursuit of Gods pleasure, what could stop us. Sure, this is not going to be some beautifully eloquent march up the steps of the Capitol asking for immediate change. I know it will take a long time to do, but patience never seemed to be a problem for God, and therefore should not be a problem for me. “We will change the world”... In whatever way we can. Because “We the People” believe that we can, and that this world was not the one God intended for us live in. We believe that we were sent a guide, the Holy Spirit, to direct our passions- and right now, we feel those passions pushing us to make a difference in this world. And so that is what we will do. However we can.
And in closing, I will leave you with my favorite quote from Rocky. Have a good day.....
"What's crazy about standing toe to toe [with life] and saying, I am."
-Rockey
I believe that somewhere within all of us is the desire to make some change in our paradigm, but these people actually seem to be taking steps towards making that difference. Some of them are going into politics, trying to make the change within. Some people are going into business, trying to take the wheel of the great power that is capitalism to do some good. Others are determined to venture into engineering, to help others qualities of life. Then there are the missionaries, who really don't know how to make a difference, but know that being with those who are suffering is better than sitting on their thumbs here. Some of them will become teachers, trying to educate a generation into actions. Some will go into the 9-5 of corporate America, and impact their families and co-workers, inspiring them to be better people, and admits that change, the world will have a renewed hope of being a better place. Then, I am sure, there are some who will end up as pastors of some sort, trying to preach or sing to others a good direction for their life.
Really, I have found myself surrounded by quite a diverse group of individuals, but one things seems to remain constant. These are people who want to make the world a better place.
I was driving down the road the other day and decided that such a grouping of individuals should be able to identify that desire with some greater movement. Sure, the pastors will have their youth groups, the engineers will have their clubs, and the teachers will have their conventions, but how about a bigger picture. That is why I am proposing a new group. Granted, it will probably never develop into an actual group. But the idea is there for something big.
If I were to start a group, it would be called: “We the People”
Affectionately named after the opening lines of our very own Constitution. If you want to read it, you can find a link for it here: http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html Interestingly enough, the phrase “We the People” is the only part of it written in exceptionally large font (except titles like “article 1”). Take a look if you have time.
I have spoken on this topic before, but our Declaration of independence really is a powerful document. Think about it. You have a group of individuals who gather together and decided that their government was not operating the way it should, and that it was causing too much harm to remain subordinate to. And so, they wrote this:
**********************************************
(Pardon the heresy as I present my cliff-noted version of the Declaration of Independence)
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them... they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, ...
(They then contend reasons for abolishing their current system of government)
We, therefore, ... appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States..... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
*****************************************
Having written such a declaration, they then later wrote what we now know as the “Constitution of the United States”. Let me clarify my thoughts here.... You have a group of individuals who have decided that they no longer believed in the ways the government was operating, and so they banned together to form their own group “We the People”, to establish how they felt a government should be run.
Now, please don't confuse what I am saying. I am NOT contending that the U.S. Government should be overthrown or even rebelled away from. But I do believe that there are changes that need to be made, both internally and through external coercion.
The good news is that our government was created around the idea that the POWER IS IN THE PEOPLE. And that is who we are. We ARE “the People”. And when it comes to change, we are the ones who are going to have to do it. Otherwise, as we can see in the world around us, nobody will.
That is why I would call my group of friends- “We the People”... and just as every good group has a motto, I would give our group the motto of “WE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!” Too many times have I gotten the reality speech or stern looks of disapproval when I have talked about actually making an impact. I am tired of it. I do believe such a small group of men and women can start a movement. I do believe in the ripple effect of life. I do believe that through God all things are possible. I do believe that we can make a difference, and I will not just stand, but will move in action towards that difference until the change has been made.
There are two powerful institutions within my grasps that have immense capacity to change this world. There is the government of the United States, and then there is the great Roman Catholic Church. Both with simply the inherent flaw of being opposite sides of the same world changing coin. Pardon the generalizations, but on one side of the coin there is an institution, derived by men and supported by God, to establish freedom and equality- but those two things have served as its undoing as the United States now seems plagued by the effects of “true freedom” and “absolute equality”, when the original intention was freedom FROM oppression, not freedom TO oppress. And on the other side of the coin, you have a brilliant institution derived by God and supported by man, designed to give structure and stability to a feeble Christian faith that at one time, and still is, fighting the world. Sadly though, its structure has trumped its spirit, and what was once a movement of the heart, guided by principles to bring one into a relationship with Christ, has turned into a mechanized structure of rules and regulations creating a new order of Pharisees (in one sense) – and only because it knew no better way to deal with such an influx of new believers.
Here in America, we have the capacity for change, and that capacity is US. Not the U.S., but US- as in you and me. “We the People” are the ones who are going to have to make the change that we want to see in this world. Sure, this sounds crazy, but so does a man from Nazareth saying you could throw mountains into the ocean with but a mustard seed of faith. With the Holy Spirit to guide us, with the anointing of Christ on our lives, and in pursuit of Gods pleasure, what could stop us. Sure, this is not going to be some beautifully eloquent march up the steps of the Capitol asking for immediate change. I know it will take a long time to do, but patience never seemed to be a problem for God, and therefore should not be a problem for me. “We will change the world”... In whatever way we can. Because “We the People” believe that we can, and that this world was not the one God intended for us live in. We believe that we were sent a guide, the Holy Spirit, to direct our passions- and right now, we feel those passions pushing us to make a difference in this world. And so that is what we will do. However we can.
And in closing, I will leave you with my favorite quote from Rocky. Have a good day.....
"What's crazy about standing toe to toe [with life] and saying, I am."
-Rockey
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