My First YouTube Video! (Its Okay to Laugh)

Ahhh YouTube! That internet land where people embarrass themselves in a myriad of interesting and unique ways. Well I have joined the embarrassed masses with my own video! Everybody has to loosen up and have fun  sometimes, right? Well here is me having fun trying to be a comedian! God did say that laughter was the best medicine!

Try not to laugh at me too hard....

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is the day we all gather together and remember the things we have to be thankful for (and tomorrow we go fight over more things to be thankful for...). If you are anything like me you probably ate way to much food and probably too much of that food was sweets!

I think alot of the time we forget what today is really about. We remember the food and family time but we forget the thankfulness part. I know I am guilty of that! With current events in our country being what they are, it is not hard to get caught up in who's side we are on and who is in the right. Today, at least today, we can step back and think about not what is wrong with our country but what we have in our country.

As I look at my life I realize I am blessed in a number of huge ways! I am so thankful for my family, my friends, my job, my freedom, and so much more! The most important thing I have, though, is my God and the salvation He gives me! Not only have I been blessed with this gift of salvation, but I have been blessed with the freedom to live out my faith!

Today's post is short, but I just want to use this moment to remind you to be thankful! Step back and look at your life today and think about what you can be thankful for!

The Duggars vs. LGBT Radicalism

If you are a fan of the popular TLC show 19 Kids and Counting, you are probably aware that its stars, the Duggar family, are under attack. This is nothing new for the controversial family, but this is perhaps one of the biggest attacks they have faced. The Duggar family is under attack because they have beliefs. They are under attack because they are exercising their 1st amendment right to free speech. The are under attack by a group I like to call the "radicalized LGBT".

In recent years the LGBT community has emerged as one of the greatest threats against America as we know it. You see the LGBT radicals are not attacking America like most previous assailants. They are not using the violent methods employed by radicalized Muslims, or the cyber attack methods used by cybeterrorist. No, the LGBT activist have made the very foundation of America their target. The LGBT radicals are attacking our freedom. 

Do not be fooled by the mass media. This attack on the Duggars is not about anything but the LGBT's radical desire to conform everybody's belief to their own. The Duggars were not hateful. They have never been threatening. They simply hold beliefs that they are not afraid to express. According to the new LGBT radicals that is a crime. It is a crime to have an opinion other than their own. If you do not agree with them then you are not allowed to speak about it. You are not afforded the same rights that all other Americans are.

We have seen this over and over again. Just this year: Phil Robertson was fired from his family's show, Duck Dynasty, and much of the show's merchandise ripped from shelves because he voiced his opinion against homosexuality (this was overturned after Christians and freedom loving Americans stood up and fought for the family); the Benham brothers had their show on HGTV cancelled after previous comments reflecting their opinion against homosexuality surfaced. They also lost a major business deal with SunTrust banks (that decision was never reversed); Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich was forced to step down form his position in the company after he made a donation in support of traditional marriage; and Chic-Fil-A was attacked yet again (this seems to be an almost yearly event). 

Do you see the issue? None of these people or people groups ever attacked the LGBT community or did anything other than express their opinion that homosexuality is wrong! They simply made a statement or a donation. In other words, they took advantage of their right to the freedom of speech. They used a right that is guaranteed to all Americans! And the LGBT radicals are attempting to take that right away.

Now is a crucial time for us. As Christians and as a country. We need to decide what we want our, and our children's, future to be like. If we want to continue to operate as a free nation we need to STAND UP! If we want to continue to be a free religion we need to STAND UP! This is not about gay vs. straight. This is about freedom. This could have been titled "Freedom vs. Oppression" and meant the same thing. We are fighting for freedom. We are fighting for the right to live as Americans no matter what our beliefs are. We want to be allowed to express our beliefs, just as any LGBT activist should be able to do as well. See, we are not against the LGBT community expressing their beliefs. We are not against them fighting for what they believe in. We just want them to respect our right to disagree without losing our lively hood.

If you want to stand up for freedom you should sign the petition supporting the Duggars. If you sign it doesn't necessarily mean you agree with them, just that you believe they, like any other American, deserve to be free! The Traditional Marriage vs. Homosexuality battle will be fought on the political front. It will be fought in votes and laws. While that battle is fought in other places though, we can, and should, ensure we do not promote the violation of any groups rights!

If you would like to join in the fight for freedom you can sign either of these petitions:

change.org petition

Life Site News Petition

Kidnapping My Mom

This last week I kidnapped my Mom. Is that Momnapping? After I kidnapped her, I force marched her down a 16 mile trail in bear and outlaw infested woods. I also trudged her through rivers and ruined her shoes. We almost didn't make it back, and she almost got a ticket to boot!

At least that is the story she tells. My version is a bit different. Actually, in my version the whole thing was her fault. I just drove her out into the country to show her where I wanted to live. She decided we should detour to the state park. What's more she decided we should get out of the car and walk into the woods to see the waterfall. Now, being my Mother and all, she should have realized that I wouldn't be content with staying in sight of the car. No, she should have realized that her adventurous son would want to explore some!

So you see, it was all her fault! And as far as the bears and outlaws go, it was a state park! And I carried a knife (this didn't seem to reassure her too much but I felt she should have had a bit more faith in me...). And we don't live in bear country! And I could have taken a bear on! (My head got bigger than my biceps for a second there) Like I said it was no big deal! We walked maybe a mile and a half. My Dad, my brother, and me are going to go hike the whole 16 miles in the next few weeks. It is beautiful country!

My Mom is so funny. She carried on and complained but she was secretly enjoying it. She would complain and I would tell her she needed to regain her sense of adventure. Those are the moments we will remember forever. We pick on each other relentlessly. She carries on about something and I give her a wave and laugh. I complain about something or another and she says I'll live. We love to mess with each other and egg each other on. It is just part of our relationship.

I truly feel blessed to have my Mom. We are really close. Some people don't understand that. They think I should be excited to leave home and get out on my own. Truth is I love my whole family and I abhor the idea of living alone! I plan on living with my family until I start my own family. And I think it makes me more ready for that time.

The Momnapping incident in question is just one of the many adventures we have had and can laugh about. It was also the first one we had had in quiet a while. I think we should have adventures more often. In fact I think I may force her to ride in my truck while I hit some rough trails. I can see her gripping the door handle like it is the only thing keeping her on Earth and cringing while she yells at me. Makes me smile to think of the raw fear. And while she is scared to death I will laugh. And laugh. And laugh. In between fits of laughter I will tell her not to worry because I am a professional (I am so not an off-road professional).

So guys go kidnap your Mom! Or another family member! Go have fun with your family! Whatever you like to do! Make some memories! You won't always have your family. One day you will be starting a new family. You won't have your first family as much. You should forge your relationship with memories now! God gives us families so we have people we love to go on adventures with.

Woman Crush Wednesday: Proverbs 31:13-24

It is WCW again and, as you might know, we have been covering the many admirable attributes of the "Proverbs 31" woman! The next several verses all share a similar theme so we will condense a large passage into one post this week.

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant"

 -  Proverbs 31:13-24

This passage, though it appears long, is mostly on just one theme. There are several messages here but this week we are focusing on two: The proverbs 31 woman is industrious and she looks after her home.

First lets talk about the industrious nature of the Proverbs 31 woman. As you can tell from the above passage, she is anything but lazy! In fact, the Proverbs 31 woman seems to be extraordinarily busy! The passage lays out several entrepreneurial projects that she has taken onto herself. She is in the business of real estate, gardening, making clothing, and dealing with merchants from far away! She is always busy providing for her household both in physical things and in monetary means. It says her light doesn't go out at night because of how busy she is!

The passage also details how the Proverbs 31 woman cares for her home. This is definitely not a very popular concept in modern culture but the Proverbs 31 woman is a homemaker! She is in charge of all household affairs and that is her main priority. Everything she does in this passage is either directly for her home or done in a way so it doesn't interfere with her ability to care for her home. She does not place herself at the mercy of a master to tell her when she is allowed to be at home. She is self employed so she can be there when she is needed!

Something that really irks me about our modern world is how homemakers are looked down on. If a man is heard saying he wants to marry a homemaker or stay-at-home Mom, he is likely to be told he is sexist. He is likely to be told he shouldn't hold on to ancient stereotypes that demean women and their role in the world. How insulting to stay-at-home Moms everywhere! People who make comments like this assume that every woman wants to have a career outside the home and is not valuable if she doesn't! News flash! Some women want to be homemakers! And that is not somehow lowly! It is one of the hardest jobs there is! Most men couldn't do it!

Think of it this way: if 2 men join the Army and one goes over seas to fight in a foreign land, but the other stays stateside, are you going to look down on the one who stayed? Is he less of a man for not going over seas to fight? Is his service less valuable? No, of course not! And all of us will be glad that some Army personnel stayed behind if we are ever attacked! It is the same thing here. A woman who decides to be a homemaker has decided to be the soldier on the home front! What she does is not any less valuable or important. It is just different.

The other misconception is that homemakers must be lazy. After all, they don't go to work! They just hang out at the house all day! To this I will simply say; try it. I bet you realize soon that it is not that easy. My Mom was, and is, a stay-at-home Mom and I respect her more than any woman on the face of the Earth! She works hard! Being a homemaker is like governing a small town! You have to keep everybody happy, everything clean, everyone healthy, the house well stocked, and manage the house economy! It is not easy! The verses above shows how hard it is!

With all that said, thank you! Thank you to all of the industrious homemakers out there! You are our Woman Crush Wednesday this week! God bless!

A Review for "Interstellar": Should Christians Watch It?

Interstellar has been the talk of the film industry for the last week or 2. The film has garnered huge amounts of attention for the artistic value it holds as well as the message it contains (the financial success of the film has been discussed as well). It isn't breaking ticket sales records but it is still doing quite well for an original, non-sequel film. The question is does it live up to the hype? And more importantly for Christians, should we watch it?

Seeing this film myself I can attest to the fact that it is, artistically, a really great film. The fact that I felt the movie was too short after nearly 3 hours can attest to that. Unlike Christopher Nolan's last big project, the Batman Trilogy, this film did not suffer from stiff acting and wooden dialogue. The film flowed well even when it stepped into the unbelievable. The script was very well written with a very natural flow to it. The casting was excellent. Mathew McConaughey leads this film perfectly in a role that returns him to the adventurer type character he seems to be born to play. The entire cast including veterans Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries, The Dark Knight Rises), Michael Caine (Inception, The Dark Knight), Topher Grace (Spider-Man 3), John Lithgow (Footloose), and Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games), stepped into and made their respective roles great!

Thematically, the film combines action/adventure and dramatic elements into a great sci-fi adventure. There are moments in the film to choke you up, put you on the edge of your seat, and make you jump out of your seat (one scene literally made everybody in the theater jump). The film is also, for the most part, a believable story. Of course, there are plot points that are based on theories Christians know to be untrue as well as a few points completely made up for artistic reasons, but overall it was well grounded. Even with the scientific background of the film, that delves into the theory of relativity and space time dialation, you can enjoy, and understand, the film without taking college courses on the work of Einstein. The film's dialogue explains everything adequately enough for the average person.

Just because a film is artistically great doesn't mean it is appropriate for a Christian though. Interstellar does indeed have some problems for the average Christian. First of all there are language concerns. God's name is paired with a swear word once and their are two uses of the F-bomb. Excluding those instances (which are both contained in 2 scenes) the swearing was mild overall. Most Christians will probably find their biggest issue in the film's theological themes.

This is not a Christian film by any means. In fact, most would agree that Interstellar is decidedly humanistic. Humanity is largely the focus throughout the film. Mathew McConaughey's chararcter muses that, "Mankind was born on Earth, it was never meant to die here". The environmentalist approach of describing the world as a dying planet is ever present throughout the film. The characters are willing to put their faith in man to save them but never are seen to ask God for help. The most spiritual reference we get is when we are told that a mysterious "they" has taken steps to influence our world and minds to save humanity. This "they" is later revealed and it is not God or a spiritual force.

I would not simply disregard Interstellar due to the fact it does not contain a strong Christian message. There is a strong emphasis on the power of love and the importance of family is stressed. Our heroes act in a selfless manner to save the human race. We also see some fantastic shots of God's creation in space that may be CGI but offers a glimpse of just how awesome He is. There is also discussion about greed and how technology has hurt society.

While there isn't an outright Christian message in the movie, it does offer an outstanding opportunity to discuss Christianity and God. We can walk away and discuss the perfect nature of God's creation. We can discuss the flaws in the characters thought processes and how Christianity offers us a true understanding of our world that humanism cannot. There is also plenty of opportunity to discuss time and how it can be used effectively (not to mention all the opportunities to discuss the theory of relativity and how it applies to time).

Overall, I would say Interstellar is a great artistic piece that is also a thought provoking converstaion generator. Do I think Christians should watch it? I don't think they shouldn't. There are some great themes in this film and even the not so great themes are not oppressive. The film is highly entertaining and, at the very least, should offer a few hours of entertainment to anyone who watches.

Why Guys Love Action Movies!

How many guys do you know that don't love action movies? Most guys love a good, old-fashioned, blow 'em up, shoot 'em up, beat 'em up action movie! Most people chalk it all up to chromosomes but it is more than that. Men are chemically, mentally, and biologically inclined to like action movies! Action movie DNA runs through our blood! (Girls if you like action movies too it doesn't mean you are chemically imbalanced. Just really awesome)

Guys have alot more testosterone in their bodies than women. It makes us bigger, physically stronger, more hairy, and more aggressive. We tend to think of aggressive means to settle issues and grievances. If we see an innocent person get punched in the face we are more likely to punch the assailant than to check on the victim. We want to see justice served! Plus, when we fantasize about dishing out action hero justice there is usually a pretty woman near by. (I have to be honest if I am going to blog about the inner workings of guyism) However, since most of us will never get to live out these fantasies, we fulfill them through movies we watch!

It has to be admitted that an ego is a big part of being a guy. Big as in we have big egos. Maybe I should quiet admitting all of this but first I have one more. As big as us guys' egos are, we are actually really insecure. We really are! Part of our problem is we always feel like we need to be the best or we aren't good enough. That isn't to say we are never confident in ourselves. We are sometimes but it is shaky. People tend to think of women as the ones having self confidence issues but really men are just as bad! We just handle it in a different way! That is why it means so much to us if a woman calls us her hero or lets us know she needs us.

The point here is that guys use action movies to live things we can't. I guess when we watch action movies we feel tough. We might be a bit delusional about our ability to replicate what we see but we fuel our imaginations through film. Maybe we don't have the strength or technique to disarm a gunman while simultaneously incapacitating his 2 not so friendly buddies, but we sure have the ability to imagine we did and that a gorgeous blonde was standing by watching adoringly!

As you can see guys need action movies. Where would we be without them? Besides having alot less ideas to fuel our fantasies, we would lose a safe place to go to fulfill our unrealistic dreams! So go enjoy your action movies! Please, if you are any good as a filmmaker go make some Christina action movies! We can be stereotypical action movie lovers together!

Woman Crush Wednesday: Proverbs 31:11-12

It is that time of the week again! The time we crush on Godly characteristics of women! As you know, if you read last week's WCW, we are currently covering Proverbs 31! This passage of scripture is used often as a tool to teach women how to live a Godly life as a female. We are walking through this passage and discussing why, from a guy's perspective, a Proverbs 31 woman is so attractive!

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." -  Proverbs 31:11-12

This is a great couple of verses from the passage but a couple of verses that seem to be overlooked quiet often. A Proverbs 31 woman is trustworthy and does good by her husband. That seems like common knowledge. I mean Christians in general are supposed to be trustworthy, right? And what wife shouldn't be good to her husband? As plain as it may seem God considered it important enough to mention so it must be important enough that we should take note!

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. A Proverbs 31 woman's husband not only trust in her but safely trust in her. She doesn't just seem reliable. She is reliable! After all, just because we judge something to be trustworthy doesn't mean it actually is. Bridges have collapsed, people lie, buildings fall, security fails, etc. It is extremely important that we trust things that are truly trustworthy. A false sense of security can be dangerous! If you have ever climbed one of those plastic rock walls you put your trust in a harness. You trusted that harness to stop you if you fell. What if that harness was weakened in the middle in a place you couldn't see? What if you fell on the weakened harness and it broke? The fact that you thought it was trustworthy does not save you from hitting the ground!

So that he shall have no need of spoil. Sometimes, feeling safe, is just as important as being safe. We need that peace of mind to keep us rested. Proverbs 31 women are so trustworthy that their husbands can rest in them. They do not need to go gather spoil to please them because they have a trustworthy wife to rely on. Think about how much easier it would be to be faithful to somebody you know is faithful to you. By being a trustworthy wife, a proverbs 31 woman, makes her husband a more trustworthy husband (and vice versa). Now that doesn't mean there is any excuse for being dishonest or untrustworthy. I am simply saying it is easier for 2 people to encourage each other if both are trustworthy. 

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. A Proverbs 31 woman does good by her husband as long as she lives. She is always looking out for him and trying to provide for his needs. And he should do the same for her! How much happier could we be if we spent our lives trying to make one another happy?

Another twist on this last part I really like. Joshua Harris' wife (who I believe is named Shannon) discussed, in one of his books, how she read this verse as the woman does him good and not evil all the days of her life even before she meets her husband. Imagine that! Imagine starting to do good by your husband before you even meet him! How does a woman do this? By saving your heart and body for him and preparing yourself to be his. (By the way guys this is something we could all be doing for our future wives)

So this week we are crushing on trustworthy women who love and take care of their husbands all the days of their lives! It is hard to find a woman like this anymore. Proverbs 31:10 mentions how hard it is to find a virtuous woman and this is just one feature of a virtuous woman!

Man Challenge Monday: I don't Want to Sell it to You

Today I have a big challenge for all of the men. This is a really hard one. In fact it is so hard I don't want to sell it to you. Its too ugly for that. (Yes I stole a Red Dawn quote and I now feel really cool). What I am going to ask you to do is be a 1 Timothy 4:12 leader.

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." - I Timothy 4:12

Most people have probably heard or read this verse. It is a pretty recognizable verse. It is also a very applicable verse. Even if you are not exactly a... ahem.. spring chicken, please don't think this verse isn't for you! This verse applies to people of all ages, physical and spiritual!

Paul wrote 1 Timothy as a letter to a young man named Timothy (surprise!). He wrote alot of different instructions to his young disciple in the book and this verse spells out a very important one. Paul tells Timothy to be a leader no matter how young he is. No matter how looked down on he may have been due to his age, Timothy is instructed to throw that aside and be an example!

Now you may be wondering why is this so hard? Why is it so ugly? Well, as an oldest sibling, and a youngest coworker, I understand both sides of the age coin. All of my fellow oldest siblings know that a certain amount of respect is given to the oldest sibling. We carry a bit of clout, if you will, with the younger siblings. At some point or another (or several) we all fall into the pride trap a bit with this extra "clout". Then we step out into the real world.

It hits you like a slap in the face. In the real world, we aren't always the oldest. Often, even if we happen to be older than some, we do not get much, if any, respect from our peers. It is a difficult situation we find ourselves in. Of course we are to respect our elders. In fact the next chapter of 1 Timothy discusses that, but that does not mean they are always right. Any person, not matter what age, is a flesh and blood person prone to failure like the rest of us. Sometimes we may need to lead somebody who is senior to us.

This verse tells us how we are to lead them: by example. Different translations differ on whether Timothy is instructed to be an example of or to the believers. In the end I do not think there is much of a difference. We are called to do both. We are instructed to "Abstain from all appearance of evil" in 1 Thessalonians 5:22. That is to protect our witness to the lost! Titus 2 is all about Christians being examples to other Christians. Plus, how can you live as a Godly representative of Christianity, if you aren't living in a way to be a Godly example to other Christians?

How do we lead? Thankfully, Paul didn't just drop the "don't let people look down on you because of your age" bomb without some instruction. We are to lead by example in several different areas. First we are instructed to lead by example in word. Words are powerful. They have a huge effect on the people who hear them. They are a reflection of our own hearts. "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man." (Mathew 15:18)

Is that not scary? The things you say are directly related to what is already in your heart! We can show our love of Christ by guarding our words! This could be a complete discussion in and of itself! For the sake of brevity, lets just say things like swearing, crude jokes, crude discussions, mean comments, and the like, are obviously not things we as Christians are supposed to be allowing out of our mouths! This is a hard one I know but it is very important! People notice if you are the only one who doesn't swear. It has an effect whether you know it or not!

Next we are instructed to lead in conversation. Again, this is a word that is changed between translations. Some say actions and some say conversations. Either way, as we stated above we need to be careful with our words. Words make conversations. Our actions also shape our conversations. We talk about things we do or have done. Even if our words are perfect and we only discuss good things, people watch our actions. If you say one thing in conversation and do another in action, you will lose the respect of people watching.

Charity is the next act we are to lead in. Love and charity are often interchangeable in the Bible. If we are loved by God, how much more should we love others? Mathew 22:39 sates that the second most important commandment for a Christian is to "love your neighbor as yourself". Love is so important that the entire concept of Christianity relies on it. After all without love Jesus would never have died for us wretched sinners!

We are also to lead in spirit. How much spirit do you have? What kind of spirit do you have? Do you tend to be of a joyful spirit? If we walk around mad at the world or if we walk around with a noose around our neck, why would anybody want to be a Christian? Psalm 100:2 says, "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing." We are commanded to be joyful! What a great commandment! If we live it out we can reach more people for Christ!

Faith is a very important facet of Christianity. After all, without faith there is no belief. We have to use faith everyday and we need to make sure others know about it! We have no salvation without faith! "For by grace are you saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). We can live out our faith by speaking of it. Speak of how you know where you will go when you die. Speak of how you trust God to provide for you. Just speak faith!

Finally, we are instructed to lead in purity. I have read that this actually is closer to today's term integrity. Integrity is very important. If we are not honest, or can't be trusted to do the right thing, then we are not shining a positive light on God or His people! If we cannot be trusted then how can somebody believe us when we tell them about God's great salvation?

I also think this verse means purity in the purest sense of the word (couldn't resist). Purity as in being pure. There are alot of different ways we can be pure or can think of purity but the first to come to mind is sexual purity. In today's sex crazed culture, sexual purity is probably the biggest battle of any Christian! Sexual purity is also a very private thing, but it tends to become public knowledge. If you shy away from discussions about sex or graphic physical descriptions of the opposite gender, people notice. Often you will find yourself asked outright about your sex life (not sure why. I dont ask about their sex life...).

If you truly try to do this it will be tough. People will make fun of you, spite you, and treat you different. You won't fit in. You will be different. But your supposed to be. Nobody said the Christian life was easy. It can be easy on your conscious. It can be easier if you cast your cares upon God. But you will still struggle. Sometimes, though, it is the struggle that make us stronger. If you accept the challenge to be a Timothy 4:12 leader you will see a difference. Some people will respect you more. Others will respect you less. Some will clean up their act around you. Some will try their best to drag your mind, your ears, and you through the gutter with them.

"Let no man despise your youth". You have been told by God Himself to not allow people to look down on you for your youth. He even told you how to go about it! Are you man enough to take Him up on that?

That Time I Tried Online Dating

Everybody has done things they said they never would. Most of us have done something we said we would never do and the regretted it. We have all different motivations for doing these things and we end up with all different results. Maybe it isn't something actually bad either. Maybe it is just something crazy. Like joining Christian Mingle.

That was my moment of craziness. I joined a website that claims they can "find God's match for you". Looking back on it I know why I did it but if common sense would have prevailed I wouldn't have done it. What on Earth would lead me to believe a website that claims to have God's match for me actually would? I mean the corny commercials and the presumptuous tagline should have been warning enough!

See, this crazy decision, to join an online dating site, was brought about by another crazy decision. And like most crazy decisions guys make, it can all be traced back to a girl. Most people won't understand why this is all that crazy but I asked a girl out. I know for most people that would seem pretty normal but I am 21 and that was the first time I asked a girl out. Since I don't date and actively practice courtship this was pretty crazy. Plus she may, or may not, have been a team lead at a place I work...

Anyway, how did I go from asking out a girl to joining an online dating site? Well, she wasn't interested. What's worse (and probably due to my inexperience on these kinds of things...) it took me asking her out 3 times to get that. In my defense she never said no. She always said maybe which I figured meant if she wasn't busy.... So I was kind of crushed. I mean my first time asking a girl out and I pretty much humiliated myself and then she wasn't even interested in giving me a shot. Who wouldn't have been upset?

When you add up the despera... errr.... longing for a special someone, and the sting of rejection, and the idea of an easy place to meet other Christian singles, you end up with a 21 year old on Christian Mingle (I would also add that my Mother threatening to sign me up herself may have influenced the decision but she rejects this as true). Deep down I think I knew it wouldn't work, but even deeper down I was desperate for anything to work!

In all honesty, I figured signing up for Christian Mingle would at the very least make for a good laugh. Plus if you say it is just for laughs people will laugh with you and not at you! But what did I find after joining? A number of things. I found that chatrooms were addictive, people are creepy, and I am much smoother online than in person (who isn't?), and that the internet is not a very private place! I enjoyed goofing off on the site but it did not take me long to realize it wasn't for me.

In real life I am not a "lady killer". Being an pale, ugly bean pole means I am not turning very many heads. I don't get "checked out" or flirted with usually. There may have been a few occasions but not many. Of the few occasions I have been flirted with it was not from a woman 10+ years older than me. That would be weird. I'm 21, I don't want a 30 year old or older! Well on Christian Mingle love apparently knows no age. I had women well over 10 years my senior flirt with me or check out my profile. Then there was that guy (shudder). Let us just say the internet is a strange place.

I had fun on Christian Mingle. I got to laugh at a few creeps, flirt in the chatroom a bit, and even talked to a few girls more seriously. But the creepers were too much. I actually had one girl ask which airport I lived closest too so she could fly out and see me one day! Like no thanks! I don't even know you! That is the scary thing about online dating though. You give all of this information out about yourself to people who may or may not be real, honest people! I learned through Christian Mingle that I can be a detective! Based on first name, location, job, username, or sometimes last name, I discovered I could find people on Facebook. Heck, there was one girl (who I never spoke to) that I was able to find where she went to church, where she worked, and what kind of car she drove! Definitely not safe!

Aside from my catfish detective ambitions, I realized that no website could take God's place. I struggle to trust Him still. I want to trust Him and just have inner peace but I find myself in my own personal hurricane. My biggest fear in life is that I will die single or not get married until I am 30. I know it seems silly but it really does terrify me. People don't understand how hard it is. They try to offer good advice and encouragement but they don't understand. Maybe it isn't as hard for them but they have different ambitions than I do. They have different lifestyles. Everybody that tells me to be patient has other big goals that are more important to them than getting married. Everybody that says look how old they are and still single has had dating relationships to appease them, if you will.

It isn't that I don't have any goals other than getting married. I do. But besides living for God, getting married is my biggest desire. Most guys are worried about their careers or enjoying the single life. I am working on my career but it isn't my driving force in life. Having never dated I can't say the single life is for me. When people who date try to tell me to "just keep on waiting" and "my time will come" I kind of want to smack them! Of course you aren't worried about it! You get to experience at least some fulfillment in the romance department! How can you tell me to be patient when you aren't having to wait? Sure I could date. But that isn't what I feel called to and quiet frankly it doesn't look fun. Breakups are about as fun as driving nails into my head. I know I would never find fulfillment in a dating relationship.

I understand that I should have faith in God. And, really I do. I know He has a plan for me. I just can't help but feel left behind sometimes. I can't help but feel forgotten. And lonely. But I know God is there and He cares. He has plans to prosper me (Jeremiah 29:11) and He will always provide for me. Just maybe not through an online dating site!

Woman Crush Wednesday: Proverbs 31 Woman (Intro vs. 10)

I'm sure it has been done a million times but I want to dissect the "Proverbs 31 Woman" passage of scripture. I may not do the whole thing without interruption. If another quality strikes my fancy any given week we may skip a week.

I love this passage of scripture. It begins in Proverbs 31:10 and spans to the end of the chapter. It is probably the most direct description of what a woman should be in the Bible. I totally have a crush on Proverbs 31 women!

Proverbs 31:10 reads, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." A virtuous woman is worth more than rubies. Not just more than but far more than rubies! I don't know about you but I haven't purchased any rubies lately. Probably in part because I am a guy, but also because I can't afford them!

Rubies are expensive because they are rare and beautiful. You can't walk into your backyard (most likely) and dig up a ruby! What makes this so scary is the fact that a virtuous woman is worth far more than rubies and, by implication, that would mean she is far more rare and beautiful! I can tell you from my own experience that a virtuous woman is not an everyday find. I haven't met many. I definitely haven't met any in my backyard!

As we continue breaking down this passage we will learn just what a virtuous woman is. For the time being, we can say with certainty that she is rare and beautiful. She is also valuable. If you have a virtuous woman in your life you should take care of her! Respect her! If she happens to be your significant other guard her! If you had a handful of rubies I bet you wouldn't risk losing or damaging one. How much more so should you fear losing or hurting an even more rare and beautiful gem-your virtuous woman!

Man Challenge Monday: Minister

It is MCM again! I am sorry my post comes so late in the day! My weekend has been crazy and my week hasn't been so calm thus far! I did, however, learn I am getting a new position at work that will make posting much easier!

All of that aside I need to have a challenge for today and I honestly haven't thought to much about it in all this craziness! I will just wing it today and see how it goes. I really intend on being more prepared from now on! This week I challenge myself and any guy reading this to minister to others!

Ministering to others isn't so popular anymore. Not many people have a servant's heart. Ministering to somebody can be as simple as opening a door or picking up a dropped item. If you know somebody going through a rough time tell them to let you know if they need anything. And then if they call on you be there!

Sometimes holding doors or picking up a pacifier for a mother with her hands full is all the ministering somebody needs. Other times it may be preparing meals for somebody who lost a loved one or helping fix a neighbors car. Ministering comes in all shapes and sizes but we are all called to it! Christians are called to love. Jesus Himself said the second most important commandment (right behind loving God) was to "'Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). How good does it feel when somebody holds a door for you? Do you appreciate a stranger helping you pick stuff up when you drop it? Would you want a car savvy neighbor to help you fix your vehicle? If we enjoy and want these things for ourselves we should do them for others! After all we are to love others like we love ourselves!

One of the most important parts of ministering is to smile while you do it! Be kind and show that you really care! Somebody may be having a horrible day and you might turn it around! The only way we can reach the world is by being different from it! Take a bag of skittles. Choose one red skittle. Then take all of the red skittles from the bag and mix them with yours. Now find the one you picked. You can't. They are all the same. Now put your red skittle in a pile with all green skittles. I bet you can find yours alot easier now. In order to shine for Christ we have to be different. If we are no different than the world then we blend in with everything around us and our religion becomes one more part of the blurred background.

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine". Let your light shine!

God bless!

Spending the Morning in a Police Car

Technically it was a truck. Not that it really matters. Thankfully, I was in the front seat, not the back. Oh and the second one was actually a SUV (well crossover SUV). In case you haven't guessed I had an exciting Saturday morning!

Saturdays are a hard day to write. As everything winds down, and I have a day or two without posting, I get flooded with ideas. I actually had two ideas for today before I got off work. Then I rode in a police truck. The morning has been anything but typical. I got off work late due to a power outage (when you are a mechanic in a factory you don't like power outages). Looking back at it as I write, I can't help but wonder if God wanted me to be late. On my way home I came across a vehicle stopped, hazards on, in the middle of the road. It was still dark, at that point, and it has been cold and rainy all day. Maybe that is why I stopped. Usually, I don't stop. After all who can you trust anymore? But for some reason I felt like I should stop this time. I noticed the car's right wheel was messed up when I drove by, however the car was in reverse. So I stopped and waited to see if they needed help getting off the road. It became apparent they did. That is when things got interesting.

Like I said, I don't usually offer to help strangers on dark roads. We live in a dangerous world! But I did. It didn't take long for me to realize something was wrong. As soon as I got to the car I noticed there was no tire on the left side. Odd. The wheel looked pretty beat up too. I knocked on the window and asked the driver (well sitter...) if she needed help. Her reply threw my back. She said she did need help and she didn't know why her car wouldn't work even in all the different gears! Ummm.....you kind of don't have any tires! As I explained to her that she had no wheels on the front of her car she seemed shocked! I asked her if she hit something (the bumper was tore up too) and she told me she hadn't. It was pretty obvious that the car was NOT going to move so I asked if I could give her a ride to the shopping center across the street where she could call a tow truck. She agreed to that.

As soon as she stepped near me red flags went off. I have not been around alcohol a whole lot but she smelled pretty strong of what I thought was alcohol. She never slurred in her speech though so I couldn't be sure. On the way to my truck (maybe 50 feet away) she nearly fell over 3 times. Yea not good. Then when she finally made it to the truck, she seemed to have forgotten that I had offered her a ride. After insuring that she could ride with me she got in and was polite and grateful. When the cops pulled up I left her in the truck and jogged over to her car. I explained what was going on and the officer drove me back over.

In the end she tested WAY over the limit and was arrested for DUI. The most shocking part? It wasn't her first DUI and she was only SEVENTEEN! Here was this beautiful, seemingly sweet, 17 year old girl getting put in a squad car. She was so hammered she either fell asleep or passed out in my truck (Thank you God that she didn't throw up!). But you know what I felt then and have felt the rest of my day since then? Heartbreak.

I don't know her life or her situation but I was suddenly heartbroken for her. She is so young. She should have so much future ahead of her, yet here she is getting taken out of a strangers car, that she probably won't remember, and getting arrested. I could feel her nervousness and fear as I spoke to her. She was scared. I'm sure in that moment she was lonely. I wonder, if she is turning to alcohol as often as it seems she is, how lonely is she everyday?

It is so easy to judge somebody for the choices they make. It is so easy to look down on them and say they are getting what they deserve. But what about compassion? I know I am so guilty of forgetting to be compassionate. I find myself on a high horse saying, "well I don't do that stuff", but what have I done? There is sin in my life. There have been times I didn't feel worthy to clean toilets the rest of my life. There were times I wondered how I was even going to continue with my life! We all have dark times. We all have struggles. Alot of the time we turn to sin to help us forget or cope with other situations in our lives. We substitute God and meaningful relationships for sin. One of the hardest things to consider is where we would be if everybody saw our sin. If your sin was as plain to see as this young woman's how would you feel? Would you be looked down on? Could you cope?

This girl tugs at my heart. Maybe she is lonely and thinks she has to drink to have friends. Maybe she has a hard home life and drinks to escape. Maybe she lost somebody and drinks to forget. Are any of these good reasons? Probably not, but what are your reasons? What are my reasons? We are not perfect. We are saved by GRACE! "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8) We are not saved because we are better than anyone else. The famous Bible verse John 3:16 begins, "For God so loved". For God so loved us He saved us. Maybe if we loved more, God's love could be seen more. If a perfect, sinless God can forgive and love us in our dirtiest place, shouldn't His people who sin and live in the dirt love and forgive as well?

After the cops showed up I didn't get to talk to her much. I asked the officer to give her the name, address, and phone number of my church. Not sure if it will help but I wanted her to know I cared. I wanted her to feel like, even in that dark moment, somebody cared for her. Maybe knowing somebody cared will be enough to get her to look beyond what she is facing. Maybe she will call the number. Maybe she will find out that there is a God who cares infinitely more than I can. Maybe....