A Fine Day In Hartsville, SC

  This past week, in the nice breezy 80- 90-degree weather, I walked into town from my work a few blocks away for my lunch break.  Breezy? We're expecting between 102 and 107 this weekend........  So I'm enjoying the time in the low-heat environment while I can.. O.o


Hartsville, South Carolina



  In my wanderings downtown this week, I was reminded for the billionth time of all of Hartsville's small-old-town charm.  It's amazing how much you miss when you're constantly focused on going to the coffeeshop - and that's it.  There's nothing wrong with the coffeeshop, but there are so many more things to be doing aside from that one individual place in a town so charming and historic!

  I decided that I would take a mini-adventure through my little downtown Hartsville and share with the world a few wonderful local (non-franchise) places you can go to enjoy a nice relaxing day in a laid-back little town.  For starters: we don't have parking meters, and we have tons of free public parking lots - they're not hard to find, you just gotta find 'em.  For this adventure, we will be parking behing the pawn shop on Carolina avenue!  So imagine your car parked there...

Let's say you have Friday off :) [or this could be Saturday, if you'd prefer] But I like having Friday off ;)


The Midnight Rooster Coffeeshop and Eatery



For a good ending to your week, and a good start to your weekend, you wake up later than usual.  You want to have breakfast, but you don't want to make anything.  It's almost 9 o'clock, and you get showered and ready for the nice day away from the office (or wherever you work).  Who would be open for breakfast this late in downtown Hartsville? The Midnight Rooster Coffeeshop and Eatery!

Breakfast at the Rooster!

The Midnight Rooster is a home-grown, locally-owned coffeeshop and eatery that has served our town since 2002.  Inside, you will find yourself homely welcomed by a staff that is just as eclectic as their surroundings.  Take a seat on the various couches and randomly collected chairs and look at the menu offered.  I personally recommend the Tree Hugger crepe - a delicious thin pancake batter wrap stuffed with grilled mushrooms, savory pesto saice and creamy chunks of goat cheese, topped off with fresh diced tomatoes.  Of course, their menu, otherwise, is outstanding!  While you wait for your food, you can help yourself to a number of books - old and new - lying about, waiting to be read.  Magazines litter makeshift coffeetables, independant artwork by local aspiring artists clutter the walls for your enjoyment, and a slugh of independent music carries in the background.  To compliment your savory breakfast, you can also select from their many flavors of fruit smoothies, caffeinated beverages, and also side dishes and cheescakes.  Once your food arrives - bonne appetite!



Minnie's Giftique



Finishing up your late refreshing breakfast, you decide that you would like to take a look at some local shopping venues - maybe you deserve an update to your wardrobe!  Next door to the Rooster is Minnie's Giftique.  Around since 1979, Minnie's Giftique serves Hartsville with admirable fashion, and giftware for women.  Home decoratives, such as handmade pictures frames, scented candles, stained glass centerpices, and locally-blown lemonade glasses, are laid elegantly across the stoor.  Mixed within are beautiful dresses and blouses - often on-sale - from respected designers like Eva Franco, Free People, and Cape Madras (the Free People selection is usually my favorite!)  Hand lotions are opstions for the dry days, and perfumes of many scents are available for all days.  Take a look around and see if anything catches your fancy!

Leaving Minnie's, you want to enjoy a little walk to the next block before the sun gets too high in the sky.  You walk towards the corner of East Carolina and South Fourth Street and turn onto Fourth Street going behind the string of buildings.  Up ahead, and as you draw nearer, you notice an old building that is a church.  This is Welsey United Methodist Church - one of the oldest church buildings in Hartsville!  The church body was organized in 1893 when Hartsville was rapidly earning the title of 'city.'  As you marvel in its glamour and beauty (and maybe consider visiting on Sunday) you come to the next corner.  Looking to your right, you see the entrance to Hartsville's hometown (and international) college - Coker College.  Coker was founded by the Major, James Lide Coker in the later part of the 19th century.  It's roots were that of a Baptist High school for girls, and became a co-ed college in 1903.  Several of the Georgian-style buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  Looking to your left now, you see more stores tucked away into College Avenue.  Follow this sidewalk to these stores!



Lulu's Boutique



Walking past one of the many free public parking lots, you can see the back of the buildings you were just in.  Many of the buildings have appartments attached, and you can often see their residents coming and going, or talking on their iron patios.  Neat, right? Well look across the street; there's a sign that says Lulu's - and you see another chance for some shopping!

Lulu's is a rad-fashion boutique for (particularly) juniors, and other women of any age.  Inside, you will find high-class style, and a cozy atmosphere to experiment with.  Although prices are usually a bit high, they often have sales that are amazing!  And the clothes you'll find are just plain great!  The attendants are very stylish as well, so if you need a second opinion, they'll be happy to help!  Spend some time adding new additions to your wardrobe if you haven't already - it's your day off, right? You deserve it!



Vintage Wine Boutique



When you're done fitting into a new dress, you walk outside Lulu's and the first thing to catch your eye is across the street in a purple building!  You are looking at Vintage Wine Shop.  Although this proper hangout has not been here long, I have heard many good things about it, and have also known of upstanding people to visit it on occasion.  Inside, the owners of the boutique keep good aged and new wine ready for you to sip throughout a hot, sunny day.  People of all sorts come through and join you in a delightful experience of tasting wine.  Although you may not be hungry just yet after your hearty breakfast, you figure a little wine sipping would help keep you cool and refreshed.  Take your pic!  And enjoy the light atmosphere!

After spending some time resting in the cool air of the Vintage Shop, sipping on some cool wine, you step out into the more heated part of the day.  As you make your way towards the stop light at the end of the block, look left and see Fifth street go back down to the street you first started on.  Walk that way!



Indigo Salon and Day Spa



Walking down fifth street, you can see some shops lining the sidewalk, shaded by purposefully planted trees.  Among them, you will seethe Playzone, for kids, Hughes Photography, and Juice - a children's boutique.  Among these little attractions, there is a spa - it is called the Indigo Salon and Day Spa.  Step inside!  It's hot out, and maybe a nice manicure or pedicure, or a haircut to let some breeze on your neck, or even a little massage might be a good way to relax a little more after the wine you had!  Lucky for you, you called them yesterday to schedule an appointment!  (*Be sure to schedule an appointment at least 24 hours before you go!!)  Specialists will revamp your mood and attitude about the weather and you will surely be pleased with the way you look and how relaxed you feel!  Once you're done here, you feel like it's time for a late lunch.  Where should you go to eat? When you leave the salon, turn left going towards Carolina Avenue!



Hobnob Gourmet



When you get to the stoplight, cross the street heading towards the old classy building known as the home of the J.L. Coker Co.  Next, head right up Carolina Avenue, you'll see a little garden and fountain!  This garden belongs to the city of Hartsville, it is called Centennial Park.  Look closely as you pass: names of people who helped this part of Hartsville to grow are on the bricks you walk on, and surrounding them are the blossoms of constant hard work and care in each flower bed!  The first little shop you'll find is Hobnob Gourmet.  Although Hobnob is not necessarily an ideal place to eat a big meal, it can definitely be a satisfying small appetizer!  Typically a gift registry, guests are welcome to sample types of coffee and little pastries to satisfy an empty stomach and a sweet tooth.  Since 2003, Hobnob Gourmet has been open to Hartsville and her visitors to enter a dainty, aromatic atmosphere in Southern hospitality.  Pick up some feshly baked cookies, and maybe a bag of coffee beans to take home for later!



The Village Cafe



Moving on down Carolina Avenue, you come to a little gap in the wall where a fresh aroma carries out to the street.  What is this place you're beside?  The Village Cafe!  With Daily Specials, the Village Cafe is a newer excitement of Hartsville with the familiar friendly environment.  They serve fresh cut deli sandwiches, and pannini's to satisfy your craving.  Go on in and take a seat at their quaint comfy tables and wait to be served a fresh and refreshing lunch!  Their menu is full of surprises and delectible food - so many that it's hard to pick in this mid-day meal!  But as you wait for your sandwich, you are helped to drinks and coffee of your choice, and a good window view of the theatre across the street... maybe you'll go there next? ;)



Burry Bookstore



Once you have finished your tasty late lunch, you step back out into the hot Southern summer air.  Whereto next? Turn left and continue walking down Carolina Avenue.  Soon you will pass City Hall and the Hartsville Police Station, both naturalk landmarks in our heritage.  Beside that, however, is a large opening where a building once stood... however, the building has been replaced with a garden!  This is a small piece of the Hartsville Community Garden!  In an effort to encourage community bonding and in an effort to promote being "green," the city of Hartsville has been planting and growing gardens in various places throughout town to encourage fellowship among its people.  This is simply the fruit of it!  Looking across the street, you can see a longer piece of building that says, "Burry Bookstore" - you can guess, that is our bookstore!



Carmike Cinema Twin



Burry Bookstore, serving the city of Hartsville and surrounding area since 1975, has been a beacon of literature provided for local and national authors to meet with fans, as well as provide a great opportunity to find a great book!  Whether for school reading, informational education, or mere pleasure, Burry Bookstore has a little bit of everything for every age.  Go inside and see what book might spark your interest!  You never know when you might find a book that really makes you think!  Leaving the quiet atmosphere of the bookstore, you make a left and find yourself smelling freshly popped popcorn.. where is this coming from?  As you walk further down, you realize that you saw the theatre from across the street! 

The Hartsville Carmike Cinema Twin is a larger hangout and attraction in Hartsville!  It is the only theatre, containing two cinemas, that the people of Hartsville can enjoy at the most affordable rate - possibly in all of the Pee Dee!  Well, again, it is hot outside (probably over 100 degrees by now!) so let's get back into the cool air again!  Check and see which movies are playing!  Matinee shows are usually only $2.00 and if you get drink and popcorn, they should be $5!  Amazing, right?  So let's spend a few hours letting the rest of your food digest and enjoy some entertainment!



Wow! It's already the late afternoon!  That was a good movie!  What else can you see in Hartsville to wrap up your day off?  You'll need food again soon - but not yet.. Maybe somewhere you can sit for a little while and enjoy a small crowd... Turn left out of the theatre and walk mack towards the stoplight. 

Frets and Necks Guitar Repair
and Lutherie

Before you reach the corner though, you look into the window shop on your left - the smell of fresh cut wood, and old metal lingers lightly outside the door.  Do you own a guitar or a wooden instrument of that nature?  Do you want to? Or do you want lessons??  This is Frets and Necks Guitar Repair and Lutherie!  It might not be open this late ofter the movie, but you can always check it out!  Frets and Necks is operated by people who are skilled in the art of making guitars, as well as playing them and teaching others how to play!  When you walk in, wood shavings are everywhere behind the counter, and if you ever need your guitar, mandolin, ukelele, or banjo fixed - these guys got your back!  The people here are experts at the guitar trade. 

After crossing over Fifth Street, keep walking back to your familiar starting point, the Midnight Rooster.  Boy, has a crowd gathered!  Inside, you can hear some singing and guitar playing. Local artists and independant artists and musicians from all over come to the hometown coffeeshop and use the stage inside as a revenue to advertise their music and art!  People come from all over to play, so people come from all over to see.  So many interesting people!  You wait around for a little while and enjoy some live entertainment, and maybe even meet a few people who are enjoying their time as well.  Pretty soon, you decide you're hungry for dinner.  You would love to eat at the Rooster again, since they serve dinner on Friday nights, but you want to keep up your trend of trying new thigns.  Across the street is a blue building that also booming with night life.  You can smell the thick fragrence of freshly cooked food lingering across the street to where you stand.  Welcome to the smell of Bizzell's!



Bizzell's Food and Spirits



Always sparking conversation among locals, and a regular meeting place for thousands of people every week, Bizzell's has gained a reputation for its outstanding service and even more outstanding food!  Home grown straight out of Hartsville, Bizzell's Food and Spirits has been serving the community of Hartsville for over a decade.  Go in and take a seat at one of their comfy booths or chairs and enjoy the light, talkative atmosphere.  Take a selection from their pastas and salads, or maybe a nice appetizer or sandwich.  Ranging from everything, you have a wide selection of homemade foods made as soon as you ask for it!  Enjoy your evening with the nightlife crowd, and maybe sip on some beer too! 

Once you are stuffed with your delicious dish, you think it's about time to head back home.  Leaving Bizzell's and heading for your car parked across the street behind the pawn shop, you look down the street to your left and think about the amazing day in Hartsville you have had, remembering every place you've gone to try new foods, and find some comfort and relaxation.  Ah, what a day it has been and you are glad you had the opportunity to experience Hartsville's small-old-town charm.  All it's charm has worn you out and now you're already thinking of returning agin soon!

 

©2011



Our Freedom To Choose: Presidential Election Decisions 2012

DISCLAIMER: This is merely all my opinion, and does not necessarily need to be up for dispute.  If you have other views or opinions - great!  I would love to hear them.  However, this post is not to start an argument or to trash anyone at all.  Such activity will be ignored and/or deleted.

November, 2012

  As we all know (or at least those of us who don't live under a rock), the 2012 Presidential elections are coming up this Fall (November).  At the moment, we are seeing President Obama take the place as Democratic candidate, and Mitt Romney holds the Republican slot for candidacy. Obviously, in any election, there will be candidates running that have a lot of really good ideas and points, while they also have a few ideas and opinions that you strongly disagree with.

  



Mitt Romney
Republican candidate 2012



PresidentBarack Obama
Democratic candidate 2012



  Every election anywhere throughout history is just the same as the next and the last.  Unfortunately, we don't truly have too much say over who is to be the winner in each election because of the ways and regulations of the electoral house and the way every office below the President is run.  Yes, we all have the freedom to vote, and yes, our 'voices do get heard' - but just because we are heard does not necessarily mean that we are taken into consideration.  Our votes overall prove to be the popular vote.  Let's face it; most of the people who go to the polls to vote only vote because they really like the way one candidate thinks on one singular topic, or they only vote based on party becasue they've 'always voted democrat/republican' or they only vote because a friend or co-worker is voting for that person.  The most recent reason to vote for a candidate is because of their gender or race - and don't tell me how it wasn't, I kept up with the polls and stats that year seeing that 53% of women who voted for McCain voted because Sarah Palin stood behind him, while 93% of black voters voted for Obama and 67% of those people said it was because of race.  No one really seems to understand, nonetheless care, about what each candidate stands for as a whole.  They focus on one issue debated and make up their mind.  Based on the reasons of which most of our lazy generation votes, we get candidate after candidate into office for all the wrong reasons and we end up paying for it in the end.  Think of where we are right now????



White House
Washington, D.C., Unites States



  This makes me wonder how many people have been brought into office to which their opposer would have done such a wiser job with our country - notice I said 'wiser' not 'better.'  No matter who comes into office, they will always do something that a lot of people won't like.  The difference comes when they make a decision based off of what is best, rather than a decision that will put them down in history as a hero.  Heroes have often resided in the White House - only the good ones were remembered as heroes because of the good they did to help the country as a whole, rather than win the hearts and money of a select few to advance his own ambitions.  And then there comes the complaining of the People who did or did not vote, and we all realize that we helped to make the bad decision, but won't admit that the mistake is in part our fault.



If you don't vote, you don't
have a right to complain.



  Marginal complaint: if you don't vote, you don't have a right to complain about who's in office because you didn't even make an effort towards trying to make a difference.  If you do vote, truly figure out who you want to vote for for legitimate reasons, not just because you think the candidate is smart, or whatever.  If you vote - you have a right to complain about who is in office and the decisions that are made.  Otherwise, it really irritates me to hear a bunch of lazy whiners talking about how much more they deserve when they did nothing for themselves, nonetheless anyone else.

Alright, so where am I getting at with this post??  I am about to give my opinion and inform you all  of the decision I am beginning to lean towards in this upcoming election. I understand that people advise against sharing who you are going to vote for, and while I respect that advise and claim it to be wise, I am going to put it aside for the time being and explain my reasoning behind the decision (I have not finallized but) I am leaning towards.  It is easier to say it straight rather than beat around the bush and hope you understand.



Write-in Vote



  As an American citizen, I have the right to vote once I am 18 years old and over.  I am 20, and this will be my first Presidential election.  I understnad that President Obama and Mitt Romney are the lead candidates for the next term of presidency.  However, another right that I have as an American citizen and voter is the choice to vote for one of the leads, or to do something called a 'write-in.'  Yes, a write in.  I have been following each of these candidates for months in their respective campaigns, checking and balancing their words and also what they stand for.  I have learned enought about their personally history to understand them as people, and I have learned a fair portion about their stance in politics as to understand who they are as politicians.  As I said earlier, there have been elections that really just aren;t that great for one reason or another, and the people in charge of the polls discourage you from writing in a third party becasue "it is a wasted vote."  A write-in - as long as it is taken seriously and not abused - is NOT a wasted vote at all.  A wasted vote is either one not made, one made for the wrong reasons, or one not taken seriously.  Otherwise, a vote is not wasted if it truly represents you.



President Barack Obama (D)



  I personally feel that, with my knowledge and basic understanding of each candidate standing, my vote would be wasted if I voted for either of them.  Too much corruption and personal gain seems to be on the agenda of each, and I really don't stand for much that either of them stand for.  One of these candidates has me very worried about any future choises he could make because he's so wishy washy; why is he like this? To gain votes.  He doesn't seem to understand what he really stands for.  The other has too much pride in his political past.  I fell personally that he would advance his own ambitions for the sake of making a mark in history, while taking those down who truly need change and help in the process of his gain.  If neither of them (Obama or Romney) stand for what I feel strongly about, then I'm not really sure how I can trust either one of them.  Of course, I understand that these men will be the President of the United States, not the President of Jessica, so to be against them for personal reasons like agreeing with me on most issues rather than working to please the whole - is stupid.  I know.  But that is not what I am saying at all.



Mitt Romney (R)



  We the people have the opportunity to decide whether or not we want someone in office that will truly make the best and wisest decisions based on beliefs that we agree on.  If we don't take advantage of this and enable the corruption to continue, then we will never see the fruit of anything better. 

  My growing choice is to write-in a third party whom I think would do a job in office that upholds what I stand for, while also standing up for the right reasons to make the right decisions.  I, in reverence to the advice given to not share who I am voting, will not share with you which third party Iam writing in.  However you should know that I am probably not going to vote for either the president or for Mitt Romney.  Maybe my vote won't necessarily be counted, but at least I know that, if 'our voice is truly heard' I made a difference without giving either one of them gain, and also making sure that I am understood in where I stand.  I will not fall for the whole "a write-in is a waste" thing because it's not if I intend on using it wisely.  But if I am an American citizen, free to vote for whomever, I will exercise my right to do so.



I don't encourage you in particular direction,
 but I encourage you to do something.



  For those of you who either don't know who to vote for, aren't sure why you are voting for a particular candidate, or just plain don't want to vote, I encourage you to consider your options.  I encourage you to learn about the man (or woman) who could possibly have the most say over our country in terms of social order, economic strife, and international relations.  Who out there best represents you?  You are the individual that helps the United States stay in existence.  Yes, you are one person, but imagine: if you decided to leave, another will follow, and another, and another, and if you started that trend of just walking out on our nation, the United States would hardly have anything left worth surviving for.  That's extreme, I know.  But your vote is the same way.  I do not encourage you towards or against one candidate or the other, and I don't encourage you to write-in like I might.  However, I encourage you to do something.  Learn about our issues, and listen to what everyone has to say.  Make your decision.  I do encourage you to vote, however, because otherwise, I don't want to hear you complain.  We have the coice to do this, we have the freedom to do this, and we can take on these opportunities respectfully, demanding the respect we give and striving towards true representation of us - the people - and away from representation of the personal agendas of those who will never care to know us.

That is all.

©2011

World News

  Catching up with the day's news, I realized: a lot has gone on in the past few weeks that I could written about.  I will only select a handful of topics to brief the world on in case no one else has been paying attention, so starting with the most recent:

Bhutan grieves fire of historical monument



Wangdue Phodrang Dzong



Wangdue Phodrang Dzong Burns
Mournfully into the Night



Late Sunday afternoon, June 24, 2012, Bhutan's Wangdue Phodrang Dzong sparked on its embellished hilltop view and burned mournfully late into the night.  The four-century-old dzong, built in 1638 by the nation's founder Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, stood as a fotress and administrative outlet for the country of Bhutan.  It was built so long ago as an effort to take control over - and unify - the country, as were many dzongs built in that time.  Still uncertain of what caused the spark Sunday afternoon, the Home Minister, Minjur Dorji, assumes it to have been prompted by an electrical short in the building's wiring.  No one was hurt, as conveniently Sunday was a holiday for the nation, and most of the relics were salvaged (hundreds of them, dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries).  But seeing as "95% of the dzong" is completely timber, the only remains, according to the local newspaper, are the stone that used to be the front steps leading up to the magnificent landmark.  Today, Tuesday, June 26, 2012 was held in reverence throughout the Himalayan region, closing all schools and offices to remember the historical structure and what it meant to the country.  Suggestions of rebuilding the structure are being considered as they have rebuilt another dzong after a 1998 fire.  News will continue to be shared over the next several weeks on progress of the Bhutanese effort to unify the people in events like these.

CNN - Bhutan Historical Site Burned

Jack Osborne reveals diagnosis of MS



Sharon Osborne, left, and 26-year-old
son, Jack Osborne, right



In lighter, more social news, Jack Osborne, son of Ozzy (Prince of Darkness) and Sharon Osborne, revealed in a People magazine interview that he had recently been diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis).  Sharon Osborne, a co-host of televeision show, The Talk, and British pop-celebrity, broke down thanking everyone for their prayers and goodwill towards their family for Jack's sake.  MS, overtime, attacks the brain and spinal cord and can cause mild or sever disability, such as paralysis.  Sharon reassures the public that Jack is doing fine, and and that she believes in the vibes of prayer.

CBS News - Jack Osborne MS

LA Times - Jack Osborne MS

Saudi Arabian Women - Olympic Debut



First Saudi Arabian Women's
Basketball Team



Dalma Rushdi Malhas, Saudi Arabian
equestrian rider



For the first time in their history, Saudi Arabian officials decided to allow their female athletes to comete in the International Olympics in London this summer, July 27.  Until now, Saudi Arabia remained as one of three countries (Qatar and Brunei being the other two) that did not allow its female athletes to compete in the games.  This year, all three countries have caved to the promptings of the International Olympics Committee and are sending women to the London Olympics.  This isn't the only socail matter Saudi Arabia is learning to loosen up on, but by 2015, women will also be allowed to vote and run for public office, however, they are still not allowed to drive cars. 



First Saudi Arabian Women's
Olympic Soccer Team



The reason for not allowing the women to compete thus far is due to the moral belief of not performing in front of a mixed-gender crowd - an understandable reasoning.  However, physical fitness and exposure to the games and athletics are seen as a "step towards immorality" - another understandable assumption, wisely considered, but still a painful hinderance to the morale of women in their country.  Equestrian rider, Dalma Rushdi Malhas states that the country opening it's permission to women in the Olympics is "a dream come true" and "will open the door for so many women."  Truly an event worth celebrating, we can look forward to seeing the woman of Saudi Arabia representing their country with pride as Olympians on July 27 for the Summer Olympics 2012.

CNN - Saudi Arabian Women Olympians

Rights of Saudi Arabian Women

This concludes my latest segment on world news for now.  See? Only a handful ;)  Next time, I will update everyone on prgoressions in the Middle East, home country conflict, and the UEFA EURO2012 tournament. 

Anything interesting you want to hear more about?  Comment below and I will write about that too!

©2011

Through The Fog, There Is Hope In the Distance

  Before the summer began, I had some struggles and worries about what was to happen in ministry and with finances...

  God, once again, is coming through as always! :)  I'm learning new and different lessons in ministry: what not to expect; things won't always work out according to my plans that I have made; where there is one, ministry can be done.  It's a hard lesson, but I am taking it fruitfully, understanding that this is how the rest of my life in ministry will be: unpredictable and sometimes frustrating - but never disappointing!

Disappointment...

  Disappointment.  I use that word a lot to explain how I feel sometimes about the outcome of each night I devote to ministry in whichever way it comes.  I felt so 'let down' by all the people that I was trying to count on, only to remember  that relying on any other human is a waste of time that I will never ever get back.  God is the ONLY One I can rely on, and He will never let me down.  Learning lessons is something that happens in everyone's life, but those who chose to blame their lessons and trials on everyone else around them are the people whose hearts are hardened and can't be soften by God's loving discipline.

We are the clay, God is the Potter that molds us
into something beautiful for His glory.

  Discipline.  a word we hear from childhood that means learning lessons the hard way to refine our every verb.  Without discipline, we are told, we are wild, mindless, senseless, irresponsible, disrespectful, less-than-what-we-could-be humans.  It takes trial and error to get this discipline (not taking the cookie from the cookie jar, or we get a wrist-slap and time out to follow - never doing that again), and it also takes spiritual discipline to refine us daily from our wrong doing.  Most have heard the spill about God loving us so much that He disciplines us, but it's true!  If God did not love us so much and want us to live more like Him, He'd let us roam around doing whatever it is that we would want to do on our own!  And when we ignore His lessons and discipline, when we shove the blame on someone else as to why our lives are not working out the way we had hoped or "the way it should be", when we sit back and let things happen without caring what they're happening for, we ignore God and His awesome wisdom and knowledge becasue we are so much more set in our ways!  There is NOTHING more powerful to have than the wisdom of God and that's a fact.  The hard part is: trying to get it across to someone who feels justified by their ways and only looks to the point of human knowing.

A world without God would feel so empty.

  Humanity.  It's such a fragile thing I have come to remember as so many people are dying around me lately.  I think of tiny birds (even if you think this is a weird way to think of it) that are still waiting for a chance to leave the nest, but there are cats below; when they take flight - or at least try to - they fall into the clutches of the one who tries to rip them apart.  Whether figuratively speaking from the inside, or physically taking that life away, the ripper is the one who wins.  It's so hard to hold onto to our humanity because that is all we are instinctively tought as fragile beings - be safe and rely on your gut.  In the end, your gut will no longer be there and there is no longer anything to lose.  But. When we are weak, or scared, or confused, or unsure of what next move to make that is safest - God is the only One we can truly rely on.  Humans let me down all the time; my family members let me down; my friends let me down; my own fiance lets me down at times.  So why do I put so much stock into trusting something that bend and breaks with the wind? Why do any of us? And as hard as it is to see or understand sometimes, God is the only One who will never bend or break because He is the solid foundation for everything that we do.  He will never let us down, and even when I feel like His answers and provision just aren't coming through, He always remains faithful to me as a Father and will always be there to hold tight to when I begin to fall.  I just need to learn to let go of my humanity in the worldly sense, and strive towards a life of His presence.

Weeping might stay for the night, but
joy comes in the morning.  Psalm 30:5b

  Am I talking over some of your heads? Probably.  And I don't mean to.  But one thing I know when it comes to God is that there are no words good enough in any language to really explain or exclaim the love of God.  No word I could ever find to use or any language can fulfill my need to tell God how amazingly awesome He is.  There is still so much for me to learn, still so much discipline in all aspects that I need to be vulnerable to, and still so much time that I have to learn how to trust God with.  This summer is a summer of joy in the learning, a reason in the struggle, and a hope in the insecure.  I know I still have yet so much to learn, but I know one thing: I know I'm filled to be emptied again; the seed I have received I must sow.  

On My Own by Ashes Remain

©2011



History I Have Been There For

  I've always been the sentimental type, in that I love the meaning behind an object or event rather than the cost or price of it.  A huge bejewled necklace dating back to the 16th century, worth at least a million dollars or whatever means so much less to me than the fact that my great-grandfather bought it for my grandma as an anniversary gift from a pawn shop.  [HYPOTHETICAL]  To me, the fact that my great-grandmother wore this necklace, given out of love by my great-grandfather, is so much more important to be than having a pricey jewel - for me, it is priceless and too valuable to be sold.  Whether it's that kind of fortune, or not, I see something of value as important only if it means something to me - and then, why would I sell it!? 



Our history will always be here, even when we are not.

   Similarly, I want to raise my future kids to appreciate what they have been apart of and what they have experienced more than what they wish they could have been alive for. I want them to appreciate the value of memories more than the value of money -  a love that is lost amongst our greedy generation.  Because I am this way, do I write blogs about the Venus transit, and Pottermore opening, and the Occupy movement, the first 'black' president, and things that will be a part of history even in the smallest of ways. 

  Of course, my children will learn about 9/11 and big events in world history, but there is so much more to my life personally that happens day-to-day that I want my future kids to know about and be able to look back and think, "Wow!  My mom was there for that? She was a part of this?  This heirloom will soon be mine? Think about all the memories, and who else held it like me!"  Maybe not necessarily those words verbatim, but I want to instill a valuable mindset within them, rather than the greedy one that is so heavily impressed upon the minds of people today.  Of course, if it's not greed, it's carlessness. 



Occupy Wall Street, New York



  Here, I want to start a post that might continue over months and months of history.  I want to be able to record slowly different events in my life that were important to the world, the social world, political world, economic world, religious world, and my own little world.  If it meant something to me, or if I was around when it happened, I want to record it for the sake of my kids someday being able to appreciate the history they have behind them.

September 11, 2001

  So much is lost in time when we focus on money and fortune.  So much is forgotten, and love that brought about the world today is on the backburner waiting to truly be found again as real love and care.  Over the coming years, I will be constructing blog posts that have to do with the love and memories I have in my life that connect to world events in whatever way they present themselves.  I will give the unbiased details, and then I will slip in my own opinioin and why my opinion is what it is.  I will try to include as much online documentation as possible in hopes that what I link will remain on the internet for years and years to come.  If not, at least I can say that I tried, and my intentions were not to plagiarize.  For my future unborn, but definitely thought of, children is who I record this for, but of course, this will also remind everyone around me what we have been through together. 

Barack Obama, first 'black' president, 2008

  In the coming months, if you would like to record your own history (whether they be local occurrances, personal events, social issues, world news, and anything else) I encourage you to do so.  Have you never stopped and thought, 'I wonder what lies in my family timeline that links me to the history recorded in the past" or even thought, "I wonder if I'm related to anyone significant, or if my anscestors were in the Civil War..." - surely things like this must have run through your mind.  You can start that cycle to find importance in recording your history for those who come after you - children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, even some kids that won't ever really know who you are.  Regardless, to occupy a part of history is something that, no matter who you are, will never be taken away from you.  So soon, this will be the history that I have been there for, the part of me that will always remain...

©2011

Post-Venus Transit

  On Tuesday, June 5, 2012, Venus came between the Earth and the Sun in a rare transit that happens in pairs ever hundred to a hundred and fifty years.  Although this occurrance is that of rarity, it is among very few predictable rarities.  The last time Venus transitted the Sun and the Earth, it was June 8, 2004.  The last time Venus made it's transit was December 9, 1874 and then again on December 6, 1882.  The next time after this past Tuesday that humans will be able to see a Venus transit will be December 10, 2117, and then December 2125 - our great grandchildren will be alive when it happens, crazy, right?  Below is a chart from Google depicting which areas of the world were able to see this event take place:

  There were different methods to have been able to see this transit.  I listed a few in my previous post on the day of the transit.  I apologize if I mislead anyone to believing that looking directly at the sun was the right thing to do - never ever look directly at the sun no matter what I say, you will burn your retinas to a crisp.  Anyways, as it was explained to me, you would take a piece of paper and poke a penpoint-size hole through it.  Hold the paper close to the ground so that you can see the little hole of light on the ground.  Hold it there until you see a small dark circle moving across the little gap of light - it is possible!  Other things you can use for this are saltine crackers (and then eat them afterwards incelebration, I guess).  If you are fortunate enough, you could have gotten a pair of welder's glasses to put on and look directly at the sun.  However, most people don't own welder's glasses. 

  The cloudy picture below on the right was taken in Woodstock, Maryland around the 6 o'clock afternoon hour.  This is the time closest to when I would have been able to see it.  The one beside it (without the cloudiness) was taken in Syracuse, New York around the same time. 

  Although I tried, I myself could not get a mere glimpse of the twin planet crossing the sun in the late afternoon.  However, for history's sake, I can say that I was there when it happened, I tried, and was outside as Venus was crossing the sun - that is more than most people care to do.  So I hope that my children and grandchildren can appreciate the fact that I was a part of a rare, but predictable, phenomenon in history.

©2011



Venus Transit Today!

I have been telling people for a little over a month now about this rare occurrance!  Today, June 5, 2012, Venus is to come between the Earth and the Sun - an event that happened on June 8th, 2004, and before then, had not happened in a little over a century, and an event that will not happen again until Christmas of 2117.  No one living at this moment will live to see another great rare phenomenon like this for over a hundred years.  The only other thing we are looking forward to at the moment is the alignment of the planets with the sun later this year in December (you know, what the Mayans were predicting with their calendar?). 

On the East coast of North America, we will be able to see this happen at an estimated 6:03 this afternoon.  According to the Weather Channel, if you live in the same strip as Chicago's timezone, you can see it around 4:15.  Over near the Los Angeles area of NA, you can see this at around 3:04.  In all, all of North America will have a chance to view this rare occurrance in our world's history! 

Be sure not to look into the sun without some heavy duty protection over your eyes.  I've heard that welder's glasses and radiation shades are good ideas to use in order to look directly at the sun and see the little black dot of venus moving across it.  Otherwise, I have heard from my mother you can prick a little hole into a piece of paper and stare at the black dot.  She also said something about using a saltine cracker to look into, or look at the ground, or something like that (I have no idea, but I'll let you know once I understand it entirely).  Anyweawys, do not look directly at the sun - even with 100% UV protection sunglasses - you can burn a hole straight through your retinas, and you will never be able to see again.  You can't just fix your retinas.  So head my warning.

Here is a picture to give a little tidbit of information on venus:

I will post an update about this spectacular event - that I am so proud to be a part of in my own history - and I will find great pictures and other footage that will keep this piece of history wide alive for a long time.  FYI, the link I have connected to the WEather Channel above gives you more information about this event, and has video of meteorologists and astronomers talking about this rare spectacle.  Check it out for more info!

©2011



Let My Life Be The Proof of YOUR Love

  Sometimes I really realize how big of a hypocrite I can be sometimes...
For the past few days/weeks I've been antsy about this Tuesday night's first Bible study of the summer that I organize and lead.  I feel under prepared as opposed to where I should be and I sure hope that SOMEbody comes... I've been really nerve-wrecked.

  In the chaos of nerves, I admitted that I have not been spending the time with God that I've needed to in order for my soul to be fed and quenched of thirst.  It took a long time for me to do anything about it though.  Finally, on Sunday morning, I decided that I don't need refined sugars in my life for a little while.  It's not good for me, and it's distracting from my walk in even the minor of cases.  So away with it! And in its place, I decided that with the mere thought of sugar, I would dive into my Bible until I no longer felt hunger pains for refined and artificial sugars!  Yesterday, for example, I started reading Daniel - which I have never actually read in its entirety!!!  Bad Bible student, bad!  But I have REALLY been enjoying my time with God through Scripture, I can feel my soul getting stronger again.  This is a really good thing!  One of the things I like to do (and that I feel is necessary for me for Spiritual growth) is to get rid of all of my own earth music for a couple of days and only fill my ears with the message of God's hope and love, and praises!  A song that has really captivated me in its truth is "The Proof of Your Love" by for King and Country. They are a Christian rock band from Australia.  The message of this song is this: If I do everything in the name of God; if I help everyone who needs help; if I reach out to those who need Him; if I take the Gospel into the mountains; if I do anything at all for the glory of God - but I do not have love in my heart like Christ's for ALL people, then I just ruined a LOT of things, and I more poor than the poorest of these that I've served.  Hot dang!  If I do all this, but I don't show Christ in my life, I'm not doing too much good at all.

  All throughout Scripture you hear about how love is the most important out of everything God has given us.  In Greek, love is so important to define hat there are an unbelievable five words that sound similar but all describe a different kind of love from the others.  In English, we have ..."love."  And that's it.  We treat it like it's all the same too: premarital sex because two "love each other"; adultery and extramarital affairs because "I love my wife or husband, but they don't meet all my needs and therefore, I need to find love elsewhere." THIS IS NOOOOOOT LOVE - NOT love.  That is all sex - that is not love.  Love in the physical form is this: a man and woman made for each other love each other so much that they respect each others bodies, and hold each other over themself.  They do not seek out evil of this world (like in 1 Corinthians 13) and do not disgrace the design God made them to be as pure, Christ-filled, God-honoring beings.  They remain abstinent until they are joined in marriage in front of God.  Once they are married, they have a new respect for each other's bodies and continue to honor each other over themselves.  They are truly in love with each other to commit their life together into God's hands, and respect one another in love to honor the gift God has given them. THAT IS LOVE!  Not this screwy "I love so-and-so so we are going to move in together and do marry people things because we don't think committing to marriage is necessary." That is a lame excuse for your wrongdoing.

Anyways.......

  Why am I a hypocrite? Not because of what I just said - that is sound REAL Christian (Christ-following) doctrine.  But because I listen to this song by for King and Country all the way from work up to the Rooster.  I have been prepping myself and praying all day for guidance and wisdom, open hearts and open minds, and on the way uptown, I listen to, "Let my life be the proof - the proof of Your love.  Let my love look like You and what You're made of; how You lived, how You died - Love is sacrifice...." And I had just gotten done with practicing tonight's lesson in my office explaining how we are to be more like Christ and remember the example He had shown.  I'm walking up the sidewalk towards a stop sign and there are these two boys in their car with the stereo and bass blasting, rattling every nook and cranny of their poor shabby car.  They look out the window and I see a red lanyard hanging from their rear view mirror (indicating they are either in high school, or just graduated) and they roll down the window and pretend to be wrapping the lyrics to me - like they're going to impress me or something.  And I think, "hoodlums," roll my eyes at them and walk the other way.

HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!!!!

  After everything I've been praying for, and everything I've been singing about, I let a chance go by where I should have ran up to their car and asked if they were high school graduates, then invited them to Bible study - THAT would have been Christ's love in me!!!  But no, I had to be like the rest of the world :(

Take a gander at this song and see how it convicts you of being the way you are.  REMEMBER: you must find YOUR error first, then work on it OVER TIME before you can immediately jump down someone else's throat about how THEY could learn a lesson ;)

God is good all the time; and all the time, God is good. :)

©2011



Between A Rock and A Hard Place...

  Have you ever felt like this?

Like you're between a figurative rock and a hard place?  Do you get the feeling that you're hanging on to the wrecking ball as it smashes you between two places you really don't want to be?

............Well that's how I'm feeling about a lot of things right now.... :(

Please pray for me as I learn over the coming months how hard it is going to be to confront issues that I never thought I'd have to face.  In being vague, I can explain to you this much: I get to feeling like people use me as their surrogate response to others they'd rather not associate with.  The mature way that I would choose to handle situations as my own adult seems to have too many "loop holes" and therefore isn't a valid response... But as I look through my own intellect and understanding with the peoples in question, I start to realize that I would never treat anybody like that.  I start realizing that the words being put into my mouth are not my own, but it feels like they are the ones that 'need' to be said... Do you ever feel like that?

I have a lot of BIG decisions to make over the next few months for many reasons... And I feel like they are going to be hard decisions to make...

Please keep me in your prayers for now :S

Also, I don't entirely feel like I've been paying God a whole lot of attention, and yet I complain on the sideline about how alone I feel... I do feel that way, but maybe that's because I haven't been relying on God for that companionship :/ I realize this, and yet I deny opportunity after opportunity to spend any time with Him at all.  It's not okay, but you know... It's hard to pull myself up to that...

Well if you've read, thanks for reading.  I know, I need to start talking about things that are happier and more important soon like I started off with, my bad, you guys :))

©2011



Quality Time Lover

  If you've ever heard of the Five Love Languages based off of a book written by Gary Chapman, then you understand already that there are differences in the ways people naturally approach the way they show affection.

  If you aren't very clear on what I'm talking about, let me explain: the five 'love languages' are Words of Affirmation (depending and relying on words to say every emotion you need to get out to someone and also expecting words to be what validates you in other's eyes); Quality Time (the way you show love to your friends and others is through spending a good time with them and be actively involved in what they have going on while also hoping people would want to spend good time with you because they care about what goes on with you too); Gifts (you know just what to get for someone that you know will make them smile and you love receiving gifts because it helps you understand that people pay so much attention to you, they just know you would love what they give you); Acts of Service (you think that showing people you would do anything for them means that they understand how important they are to you and how much you value them, while people wanting to serve you in whatever way they can means the same in return - all of this without expectation); and Physical Touch (you love letting people know you want to comfort them with hugs and putting your arm around them, and whatnot. It shows a level of comfort you have with that person in order to make them feel better, and when you need love from a friend, you just want a bunch of hugs and high fives).

  Now that everyone is clear on each of them, I'll explain that with each love language, people yearn to be reciprocated, meaning that if I show you love [this way] I would appreciate it if you could let me know that you love me in that same way.  In other words, lets say I'm a gift giver and my best friend is a words of affirmation; if I tell my best friend, "Good job on the personal project you've been working on!  It looks so good, and I can tell you really poured yourself into it!  You are so good at what you do!"  I can pour into her/him and show affection to them through their love language, because I understand that's how they feel worthy.  Afterwords, being a gift giver, I take him/her out to their favorite restaurant and but them whatever they like - this is me giving my best friend the thing he or she loves the most through my love language.  My reciprocated hope is that if I was to ever put myself to work on something I really wanted to accomplish, I would love to be shown affection in my love language - maybe recieving a gift, or someone making a prize for me, or taking me out to my favorite restaurant.  You see, love languages are hard to master - there's so much to think about!  You need to consider what every person finds self-worth from, find ideas that they would love if you wanted to show them you care, and remember to show them affection through your own love language as well - lots to keep up with.  But you will be stellar surprised at how happy you can make someone by showing them they are special to you through their love language.

  So why am I telling you all of this?  Well.. this week I've felt a little alone... :( people have talked to me, yes, people have met me for lunch, yes.  But the people I spend most of my life around seem to have so many other personal plans in their lives that I feel like I'm simply there because I always have been.  I have never been one to be the center of attnetion - don't get me wrong, I'd rather not be at the center.  But sometimes, I feel like I pour all of my energy into making others feel good about themselves, and I hardly get the recriprocated affection.  My love language is quality time.  I love getting to know people more and more and more and letting them know how interested I really am in what they have going on.  This language of mine has helped me to mentor people, do some degree of counseling to friends and family who just need someone to talk to.  I have a great time planning events and Bible studies where I get to spend good time with people and learn about where they came from and what God's doing in their life... But I always feel like I  am the one who sets times and dates up for me to meet with people, or even spend time with those closest to me, because no one else really does that sort of thing.  I feel that it's only me who cares about  staying in touch with people, and spending quality time with the ones I love, but I don't feel sometimes like I get that same care back - very few attempt to spend time with me unless I prompt them to hang out or doing something fun.  It's so hard to deal with that sometimes...

  Don't get me wrong - I understnad that the way everyone shows affection is different from the way I do it.  But my thing is this: I figure out the things they love and make sure to show others through their love launguage how much they mean to me, but it's like no one really notices that I want that same affection back through my own love language for a change.  Maybe I'm just rambling... Maybe you can point out how I'm being unreasonable and whatnot, and maybe you can point out all that has  been done for me.  I'm not overlooking any of that, and appreciate it all very much!  But everyone understands what it's like for negative feelings to build up over time.  It's so much easier to look at how bad you can feel and not look so much at the things that can go right :) But for me, lately, I feel like little things have been building and building and building, and not as much effort has been put out by many people to balance out my feelings.  Everyone close in my life seems to have so many other things on their agenda that they would rather do than meet me at my point of longing...

  I don't know, just rambling... But anyways, I don't really know what you can actually learn this time, other than how to truly love someone (and I'm not talking about sex.) with them in mind.  Overall, I just wanted to waste this space on me complaining more than anything, sorry guys...

©2011