The Time is Now

Almost two months' worth of blood, sweat and tears and it all comes down to this. In less than an hour, a switch will be flipped, the lights will go on and a "GRAND OPENING" sign placed on the facade. I pray everything goes according to plan. I know there are a lot of things that are less than ideal, but this is my baby. To see it fail or do poorly would be devastating.

God, just do me a solid here and make this work in the best way possible.

Amen.

SUCCESS

For those of you who subscribed to my blog, the feed should be fixed, but you might have to re-subscribe.

No series post today.

Unfortunately, I have been caught up in some pretty heavy maintenance on the Raw Rock Militia website. This has caused me to delay posting as planned. I will attempt to get the next post completed as soon as possible.

In the meantime, check out this totally rad banner made by Peter Rollo:

Peter, if you ever read this, thank you sososo much! If you're looking to create any sort of legit website or graphics, talk to Peter! You can contact him here!

Note to Self: Who Am I? pt. 2

The following is part one to a multi-part blog entry. Click here for the introduction or here for part 1.

As of late, I have been following my own path. I had decided that I was to let no one make my thoughts for me. This is a very difficult thing to decide. It begins with a story.

I spent my whole childhood doing and believing what I was told. "I was raised in church. Therefore, I am a Christian." This is just one of the things I identified with growing up. And of course, I was the kid who played the Christian game perfectly. Stand when it's time... Cry when it's time... Sing in the choir... Never speak my disapproval. I suppose I thought that to question authority or teaching was to be completely insubordinate. That was wrong of me and created a byproduct: a lack of anything learned first-hand.

So, I knew everything about my faith simply based on what I had been told. I almost never read the Bible, but professed to know it well. This brought me to question my moral and political upbringing. It all seemed so simulated. At the moment when I realized this, I began to step into a bigger, more informed world. The world of liberation.

Keep a close eye on The Paper Bag blog for new entries. A new installment of "Note to Self: Who Am I?" will be available Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

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Jeremy Bentham.

Lost season 4 sticks out to me. It may be because the story comes together for the survivors of Oceanic 815 more than ever. Or possibly the fact that the flashbacks from the previous seasons were abandoned (in large part) for favor of "flashforwards." Or maybe it was the fact that the season only lasted for 14 episodes.

Needless to say, an abbreviated blurb is in order.

Although it was shorter, this season brought a lot of maturity to the story. A lot of questions are answered for us and that's great. I find it especially intriguing for a television show to use flashforwards like this does. We really know nothing about what's going on in the future until close to the end of the season. And it's like a hook every time--you don't understand, but you crave an insider's view and continue watching to hopefully find clues to the puzzle.

Ultimately, I want to know more about what's happening after they leave the island more than the story of their rescue.

Why is the name "Jeremy Bentham" introduced at the conclusion? Who is he? Is he who he appears to be?

Serving.

There's more glory to be seen and savored through suffering

Than ever was through self-serving escape.

Self-sacrifice is easily the most important virtue a Christ-follower can possess. In its true form, self-sacrifice and love coexist. Love was commanded by Christ. Everyone seems to know the verse "...and the greatest of these is love." Right? But here's an interesting story I learned about on Wednesday evening: the story of James and John.

So one day, these two guys walk up to Jesus and they say, "Teacher... We want you to do something for us." Jesus, of course, responds with, "*Sigh* I'll see what I can do. What is it?" Turns out they asked him if they could be his second and third in command in the Kingdom of God. It's like HOLY CRAPOLA! WHO DOES THAT???

Jesus comes back with a response that is both wise and beautiful. He answers:

"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all."

 Essentially, he's saying, "Look, guys. I appreciate your question. But the truth is that in your heart and in the Kingdom, things work differently than they do in governments and societies on Earth. Before you can hold position under me or truly be called great, you have to humble yourself below all the people you meet. Do all that you can to be selfless and caring toward everyone you meet. Then you will gain favor with me and among men."

I find this really intriguing, simply because almost no one follows this command. Although Christ told us to do it, even the best Christians struggle to serve everyone they meet.

My question to you is: Do you do everything you can to serve others? Is it particularly hard for you? Easy?

lyrics by the classic crime, supplied by metrolyrics

Note to Self: Who Am I? pt. 1

The following is part one to a multi-part blog entry. Click here to read the introduction.

One thing that we all are subjected to is education. We each make our way through to high school and beyond. School is a great and terrible place--it gives us some of the most vivid memories of our lives, but also subjects us to an abundance of peer pressure. I never felt the push that most do to fit into a particular group. The thought of this recently got me to reflecting and asking myself why...

This can be attributed to two things. Either an oblivious nature or an effort to remain a non-conformist.

When I say "oblivious," I mean that perhaps I fit into a group without realizing it. Maybe I was a nerdy kid. Maybe I fit in with the Christian group. Maybe I was one of the outcasts. This is unlikely, however, as I had befriended most of the people in the school. Most of my closest friends, in fact, weren't even friends with each other.

The other option, of course, is that I had some sort of innate ability to avoid following the crowd. I suppose it is possible that I had no desire to do as my peers were doing in fear that my life would become  a mere attempt at fitting in.

The truth is that both of these are valid speculations. I suspect that both are true to a point. I may have been grouped with the Christian kids, but in truth, I never had a need to fit in with that group either. Somehow, I think there is a missing piece to this puzzle... The picture just doesn't look quite complete.

Follow closely. Part two will be available Saturday, October 24th.

photo courtesy: wikipedia
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Jacob Loves You.

I just capped off season three. It was a great comeback over season two. This season, there was adventure, excitement and an unpredictable plot. Notably, we got to see John's triumphant return as the man with a dream--a man with faith. Also, Desmond became a much larger role in our cast with some episodes ("Flashes Before Your Eyes" in particular) dedicated almost entirely to his story.

Possibly the most important difference between this and previous seasons is the exposition. We finally get to meet all (or most) of the others. Their stories begin to unfold before us and we start to understand that they are less of an entity and more of a people. They have thoughts and concerns just as Jack, Claire and Sun do. Character development in this season was a big plus.

-All signs point to the island being somehow disconnected from reality. There is something surreal in this story.

-Charlie and Desmond have developed some sort of strange closeness due to Desmond's newfound responsibility to Charlie. Desmond must decide what tradeoffs are acceptable, as each move he makes has the ability to change the future for both Charlie and the rest of the group.

-We "meet" Jacob for the first time. However, at this point I'm sure no one really knows who or what he is. My question is why does the Season Three box set say "Jacob Loves You" on the cover?

-Things end in a very interesting way. Possibly one of the best season finales I have ever seen. "Through the Looking Glass, parts 1 and 2" gave you a very good balance of feel-good storyline and thought-provoking "flashbacks".

Overall, I may have to consider this season to be my favorite. Even though Ben seems to be a loony in general, the rest of the cast seems to care for each other and they are beginning to acknowledge it.

Bonus: (If you haven't seen Season one, don't read this) What ever happened to the empty casket Jack found? He saw his father in the first season, but since midway through, nothing has developed in that part of the plot.

Note to Self: Who Am I? intro

The following is the introduction to a multi-part blog entry. Please check back regularly for updates.

All my life I've been searching for something,

Something never comes never leads to nothing,

Nothing satisfies but I'm getting close...

Life is a new experience for each of us. You may think this is a stretch, but I feel differently. Every moment in each person's life is liminal; from second to second, nothing will ever be the same. The only true continuity between all our lives is this: the journey lasts our whole life through and is both personal and spiritual. The purpose of this journey is quite clear to me. We are all going through things of varying degrees of pain, happiness and neutrality to help us better answer the question, "Who am I?"

I am finally on the brink of adequately answering this question for myself. I have made it twenty-two years before such an answer was possible, but I feel each life experience--each heartbreak and each celebration--has brought me closer to understanding who, how and why I was made to be.

Through the next several entries, beginning Wednesday October 21st, you can read along as I explore my journey through rant, confession and revelation.

...Closer to the prize at the end of the rope.

lyrics by: foo fighters, supplied by: elyrics

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Simplicity.

I spent a bit of time browsing through images this evening, I couldn't help but come back to the idea that life is complex today...

photo by:  armene

...Much more complex than it was intended. Or at least that's my best guess. People are forced to go this way and that, constantly running errands and trying to make up for lost time. Why is it that in this life you are expected to wake up and go work the majority of your waking hours until you retire--until you're too old to work? I just don't understand how simplicity was replaced by hustle and bustle.

Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!  I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.  ~Henry David Thoreau

Pearl.

Season two is very, very different from the first season. It is much darker in the regard that nothing goes according to plan. When things do turn out for the better, it comes at great cost to someone on the island. Some of the things I have to say are this:

-Many new characters being introduced--which is a little disconcerting--leads the viewer to ask if the writers didn't have enough material to make the season last 24 episodes.
-The fact that Sawyer had the upper hand at one point is quickly forgotten as the line of command stays virtually the same.
-The most intriguing aspect of this show is that the story continues to expand itself; stories you thought you knew were only partially told in season one.
-What are the tests the others performed on Walt and why did they suggest that he is far too abnormal for their liking?
-Who will return for season three? The roster is completely up in the air.

Overall, I must say that season two has turned out to be quite a let-down. A lot is to be had in this season, but there is just far too much death for my taste.

4 8 15 16 23. 42.

I just finished the first season. So far, the series is nothing too new, but the characters' stories bring the show to life.

-My favorite so far is the story of Hurley and his numbers. It is fascinating to me that these numbers seem to breathe meaning into everything that's happening on the island. Without them, there is no purpose or backbone to the storyline.
-I love the chemistry between Claire and Charlie. I was so sad when she came back and didn't remember what they'd been before. However, it seems as though nothing has changed despite her handicap. I love Charlie's courage in the face of love.
-I also love John's adventurous faith. His discovery is my biggest curiosity.

The rest of them are lame. JK

Cassi doesn't yet know this is something I've been up to, so try to keep it on the DL.

I'm too much...

10:07:09

-The Kingdom of God is within both us and God. Inside us is a microcosm of what the Kingdom looks like.

-It's okay to be ourselves. God thinks it's great that we have things we enjoy to watch/do/take part in. Those things are important and meaningful. However, all allegiances must be subservient to our allegiance to God. Anything that takes precedence over it or that does not correspond with it is out of the will of God and, therefore, separates us from him.

Here we are.

It's the top of the 12th inning with no outs and tied 5-5.

Who knows where it will go...

LET'S GO TIGERS!

Today is what it is.

My nephew was admitted to the hospital for a possible staph infection.

https://www.google.com/health/ref/MRSA

I am headed up to see him. We're gonna watch the Tigers win the division tonight.

Also, I got A LOT done yesterday on my project. XD Give me congratulatory comments!

PCE