A Political Post

With the election on the horizon I'm sure everyone is sick of political posts that attack one party or the other, or that go after a candidate and make up a bunch of false rumors about each side getting mad at them for doing something they already did.  So I, in honor of my favorite President, have decided to make a slightly different kind of political post.
For anyone who doesn't know, my favorite President is George Washington.  Yup, the first.  The only man to EVER be elected by a unanimous electoral college vote.  No other president has done this, not even James Monroe, who ran unopposed.  Now George Washington had a very specific view of the two party system.  (For those who don't know, that is the system we use)
He believed it would tear this country apart.
Now most people would hear this and think that he was referring to the disagreements and arguments that lead to a great deal of animosity between the two parties.  I tend to disagree.  I think what he meant was that blind devotion to a political party (Something I find very common) will lead to people electing the wrong leader just because he is on that parties ticket.
That is a HUGE problem.  The way that democracy works best is when people think for themselves.  When they have opinions and are informed.  But when you have political parties (I don't mean liberals and conservatives, I specifically mean Republicans and Democrats) people simply align with one and keep voting for it.  This blind devotion leads to parties being able to take advantage of their supporters and use them to "advance party agendas" that really just give them more money or power.  Then they attack their opponents for doing the exact same thing.  I'm not going to say which side I support, though if you know me, you know which side that is, because in truth, both sides are guilty of this at one time or another.  It is a sad fact.
Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying people shouldn't vote or anything like that.  I'm saying that the system we have isn't perfect.  Do I have a better one, of course not.  I'm not a politician, I didn't study political Science of Government.  I only state what I see.  Our system has issues, but if we become truly informed voters and look beyond how a matter only affects us into how it affects the country, then maybe, just maybe, you'll see people start to turn less towards what the party says is right towards what they believe to be right.
So there ya have it.  A political post where I don't yell at either side.  I yell at both.

BTW, here is the quote that inspired this:

 "The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty." — George Washington, September 19, 1796

So I know everyone these days is writing about Chik-fil-a and either saying "good for you" or "for shame."  I'm not going to do that.  I'm not going to talk about which side I support.  If you know me then you know darn well which side I support.  And I'm not afraid of you saying you don't like me because of what I believe, I just have something else I want to focus on and if I take a stance on which side I support then you won't listen anyway.  So now that that is out of the way, on with the important thing.

Freedom of Speech works both ways. 

You can't say you support freedom of speech when the second someone says something you don't like you jump down their throat and say they are wrong and evil and stupid.  It doesn't work like that.  The First Amendment is for EVERYONE.  Not just the vocal majority or minority.  I could say something completely outrageous, and within certain limits involving threats, I am protected by the first amendment.  You are welcome to disagree with me.  However, trying to say that I am a terrible person and should not be allowed to say that.  That is where things go too far.  So please, whichever side you support, if you think you are right or wrong, remember that freedom of speech is for everyone...Except pears, cause they are jerks.

Also, on a side note.  The girl in this video is my hero.  She has incredible poise and handles this situation much better than I would have,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPLNgkP9nzc&feature=player_embedded

For the record, this guy was the CFO/treasurer of a medical supply company.  He is not the former CFO/treasurer.  This video cost him his job.

Yumm...

I really like food.  However, I'm also a pretty picky eater.  Weird, I know.  My favorite foods involve some form of cooked dead animal flesh, but thats not what I'm going to talk about.  Today I'm talking about dessert.  Why?  Because I said so.  So there.

Everyone has their own favorite dessert.  It could be cake, brownies, ice cream or one of a ton of other mouth watering choices.  For me, it's all about pie.  Berry pies to be exact.  Strawberry, blackberry, cherry.  I love them all.  However, pie is also one of those desserts I never learned to make.  Looking back, this may be a good thing as who knows how much pie I would have eaten.  I could say that I love pie because it is the "American dessert," but there are two problems with that.  One, it just isn't true.  I like pie because it tastes good.  That's it.  The other problem is that I don't really think pie is the "American dessert" anymore.  Most places either don't sell it or it comes completely pre made.  So I just feel like it has been overtaken in that category by things like brownies and cookies.  Mostly because people actually MAKE those.  Anyway, that is besides the point.  Actually, I think thats about all I've got.  Sorry if it was boring.  I'm working on something bigger, I promise.

What kinds of desserts do you guys like?  Hope you are all doing well.  God bless!

Fun Facts

So I'm a bit bored at the moment, so I though I would indulge you guys with some fun facts about yours truly.  Yes, everything I am putting here is the absolute truth about me.

I have seen Rascal Flatts live close to 10 times.  (I lost count, but I think 10 will be in September)

I used to work at Petco and was a reptile specialist there.

I have owned 2 lizards and 2 scorpions.

I have tackled a cow on more than one occasion.

I once dead-lifted a goat.

I played Defensive end and linebacker in High School.  This was odd as I was hardly pushing 120 pounds.

I have never had an actual girlfriend or kissed a girl.  Though I have had my heartbroken and know that pain far better than I wish I did.

I have recently taken up archery with the hope of becoming a bow hunter.

I have a weakness for ginger women.

I have about 2 1/2 years of formal martial arts training, but it has been a while.

I really like animals.  My favorite would be the Snow Leopard.

I am a conservationist.

I like dinosaurs.

I really don't like the smell of cigarette smoke and HATE the smell of marijuana smoke.  (Some of my neighbors have used it from time to time and it makes the whole walkway smell.)  It makes me feel sick.

I give odd names to my pets.  My scorpions were Bob and George.  My fish is named Captain.  My bearded Dragon is Tamarand Bruce Lee All The Names.  My Armadillo Lizard was named John Jacob Jingle-heimer Schmidt.

I sometimes wish I had been born in the distant past so I could be a knight.

I still watch cartoons.

I am a Doctor Who fan.  David Tennant is my favorite Doctor.

Well, thats all I can think of right now.  Hope you enjoyed getting to know me better.  God bless!

Dirty hands and a clean soul

So I was talking with someone and they said something that got me thinking.  This idea got into my head and it has quickly burrowed its way into a permanent home.  So some of you may know that I am planning on owning a cattle ranch some time in the future and raising beef cattle for a living.  For those that don't know, well, now you do.  So there. 
Anyway, this person had mentioned to me that they were interested in sports ministry and that they were, in fact, saved through the sport they play.  That got me thinking.  There must be a way that I can use my future ranch as a form of ministry.  I think something aimed specifically at city kids who don't get to get out into the country and get their hands dirty with honest labor.  There is something very cleansing about that and I think it would be a good thing to use to reach out to those who live lives so full of the noise and hustle of the city and show them how wonderful getting a little peace and space can be. 
This will take a lot of work and a lot more prayer, but something about this feels right to me.  So I just thought I would share that.  I would love to hear what you all think and any ideas you may have would be welcome. 
God bless everyone!

A man worth being.

     For those of you who don't know, I like to read.  A lot.  It is unusual for me to not bring a book when I go somewhere.  Often I will show up to a place early simply so I have time to read.  Recently I have been re-reading one of my favorite series.  "The Night Angel Trilogy."  I love this series.  If you haven't read of it and are a fan of the fantasy genre then I highly recommend it.  I have never been so drawn into a book and had such an emotional connection to that characters as I have from this.  I came close to tears at times.  Not kidding, and I haven't cried in over a decade.  So yes, it is a great series and I highly recommend it.
     Anyway, on to the point.  In reading this again a character has really begun to stand out to me.  His name is Logan Gyre.  I have always liked him as a character, but it is in this read that he has really stood out to me.  I know he is only a character in a book, but if ever I have seen someone truly worthy of being called a man, it is him.  He is smart, brave, kind, loving, forgiving, wise beyond his years, a fierce friend and is a natural born leader.  He is respectful to those above him and loved dearly by those who serve him.  His life, which starts as pretty easy (he is from the upper nobility) quickly begins to change.  Growing up things aren't perfect for him though.  The product of a loveless marriage his father is sent away when he is only a child.  The mantel of leadership is thrust upon him when he should only just be learning what it means to be a man, much less a leader.  However, he takes to this position quickly and grows as a leader, a scholar, and a warrior to become the most beloved man in the kingdom.
    Now this is all well and good, but anyone can be an upstanding guy when they have everything handed to them.  It is how they handle having everything taken away that marks them as a man.  I'm gonna try my best to not give anything major away, but Logan's life goes from being great to losing everything in less than 24 hours.  I'm not exaggerating here either.  At the end of that night all Logan has left is his life.  He sinks to the lowest of low.  He doesn't just hit rock bottom, he plows into it face first like a semi truck hitting a building.  However, he doesn't just emerge from the darkness, but he lifts others out of it alongside him.  He learns from the evil he has experienced and grows into a greater man than he was before.  He looks evil in the eye and manages to hold on to who he is deep inside.  On multiple occasions he lifts those around him and exalts them over himself.  It doesn't matter who either.  Killers, prostitutes, people that most would consider monsters, he lifts them up and shows them that they can be redeemed.  He forgives them and makes them all want to be better than they were.  He gives them a hope they thought long gone.
     Anyway, the point is, Logan Gyre is the kind of man this world desperately needs.  Men like that are so incredibly rare.  In our history there have only been a handful of men that could even hold a candle to Logan Gyre, and only one who could stand above.  I think in reading it this time I have seen something.  I have seen the kind of man that I should be.  A lofty goal to be sure, but I know that through the grace of God I can be that man.  In truth I feel it would be wrong of me to be any less than the absolute best man I can be.  So I will lean on Him and seek His guidance as I grow into someone truly worthy of the title Man.  A man worth being.

Random though of the day

I wish I could drive a potato.

Disney Thoughts

Hello all,

So back in the day a bunch of my friends asked a series of questions.  These questions were all Disney themed.  Why did they ask them?  They were bored.  I am going to share my answers to these questions with you now.  (These apply only to the animated films)

1. What Disney Character would be your best friend, why?
        
    I think my best friend in a Disney movie would be Genie.  The reasons are obvious, he can do magic and give us the stuff we need.  Also he is an endless source of entertainment and joy.  A win win if you ask me.

2. What Disney character would be your arch-nemesis, why?

     The Devil from Fantasia.  He is the Devil.  Need I say more.

3. If you could marry one Disney princess, who would it be and why?

    This is a tough one.  If I had to go with a fully animated film, I would choose Belle.  She is smart, kind, funny and, most importantly, looks past physical appearance to see the man inside the beast.  That is a rare trait among Disney women.  She also makes the Beast into a better man.  A very powerful quality.  However, my favorite Disney princess would have to be Giselle (technically she is not animated for most of the film).  She is filled with a child-like joy and innocence that I find wonderful.  Plus she can talk to animals in the real world and get them to do stuff.  She also can create spontaneous musical numbers, which is awesome.

So yes, those are my random thoughts for the evening.  As always, feel free to coment with your answers to my questions.  I hope you are all well!

God bless!

 

10 Things to do before I die.

Hey all, sorry for the delay on posting.  I have been busy with work and just generally un-motivated to write.  Anyway, today I am going to make a list of 10 things I would like to do before I die.  Why am I doing this you may ask?  Because shut up, that's why.  Seriously though, I do like the idea of a bucket list and here are some things from mine.

1. Get married.  This is a pretty obvious one (especially for those of you that know me) as I am a bit of a romantic.  I just think that life is better when you have someone that you love to share it with.

2. Have children.  Again, pretty obvious.  I really want to be a father one day.

3. Own a cattle ranch.  Yes, I mean it.  If this surprises you then you clearly have not been paying attention.

4. Visit Ireland/Scotland.  My family has a great deal of heritage from these countries and I have had a great desire to visit them since I was a child.  These is so much wonderful history in these countries and I want to see it.

5. Fight a bear.  This would likely be the last thing on my list, but I think if I was gonna be dead soon anyway (say starving or sick) this would be a badass way to go.  Just sayin'.

6.  Be a mentor to someone.  I know how important mentors can be in a young man's life.  I have a great relationship with my mentor/friend and I don't know where I would be without it.  I just hope that one day I can speak into someones life the same way he spoke into mine.

7.  Do a cattle drive.  Just like City Slickers.  Get a few friends and join a large multi-state cattle drive.  This just sounds like a blast to me.

8.  Spend and extended period in nature alone.  Again, this just sounds like fun.  It would be a great time of self reflection and time to spend with God.

9.  Ride a bull.  Do I really need to explain?

and 10.  Learn to play the banjo.  I'm not explaining this one.  Deal with it.  :)

Well, there ya have it, a list of 10 things I want to do before I die.  What about you guys?  Do you have anything?  Feel free to comment and let me know.  I'm interested to see what you guys have.

God bless!

The simple things

I am a man who enjoys the simple things in life.  Just to clarify, there are many things that could be considered simple.  For some it is just enjoying a nice summer day, for others it could be killing a dragon in Skyrim.  I tend to fit more into the former group.  I love the sound of a soft rain on a rooftop, the warmth of a fire, the taste of sweet tea (Something I don't get nearly enough).  I prefer the simple things because they remind me of simpler times in history.  Times before computers and cell phones.  Before every young boy was considered to be "sick" just because he has a lot of energy.  (This is something that bothers me a lot.  And by sick, I mean ADHD and ADD)  Those days are ones I wish I could have truly seen.  I was born on the tail end of them.  Anywho, that is a rant for another day.
As I was saying, I love the simple pleasures in life.  The idea of sitting on a porch swing with a glass of sweet tea with the other arm around my wife (Something I don't have at the moment mind you) and watching the sun set after a day of hard work is so wonderful to me as to be almost spiritual.  A time spent not just with me and my future wife, but a time for us to bask together in the glory of the world that God has made around us.  A time to give thanks for what we have and to see that it is more than enough. 
Well folks, I hope this finds you well.  God bless!

Reader request!

So today I will be doing my first request:

Question:  What do you like more and why, being a nerd or being a cowboy?

 This is an interesting question.  It is also one that not many people could actually answer.  I mean really?  How many people do you know can qualify for being a nerd AND a cowboy?  I know...me.  Yeah, that is it.  So, on with the blog.
Well, I guess I'll start with what I like about each.  I'm gonna start with being a nerd.  What can I say, I love being a nerd!  I love watching Dr Who and knowing way too much about Star Wars and other random things.  I love playing video games and reading comics.  These things are a great deal of fun.  There are few things like getting to see a D&D character that you have spent months building up finally slay the BBEG (Big Bad Evil Guy) and save the day.  It is actually quite surprising how satisfying it can be to just roll a die like that.  I really do love being a nerd.  I love it so much that I don't even hide it.  
Now for being a cowboy.  I love getting dirty.  I can think of no day more fulfilling than one I spent outside doing manual labor on a ranch or farm and coming home sweaty, tired and smelling to high heaven, but knowing that I put in a solid days work.  I love working with cows.  They are really stupid, and can be a pain sometimes, but there is a simple joy in working with these animals and watching them grow. (Plus its kinda cool to see an animal 5 times your size be scared of you)  On top of that, there is something almost spiritual about the cowboy life.  Yes, it often means a great deal of time alone, and even more in silence, but there is a power in that silence.  A stillness that just feels right.  There is truly something to be said about finding God in a hard day's work.  Jesus didn't grow up a scholar.  He didn't spend all of his time indoors.  David didn't have plush cushions as a child.  These men worked.  Jesus was a carpenter, a skilled craftsman.  David was a Shepard.  A life spent out in the wilderness fighting off dangerous beasts with nothing more than a stick and stone.  These were men.  There is truly, I feel, something of that in every man.
So in conclusion, I would have to answer this question, if I had to choose one that is, with cowboy.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a nerd, but more than that, being a cowboy has brought me much further on my walk with the Lord than any video game or comic ever will.  I find a deeper part of myself when I am out working.  I find the parts of me that God seeks to lift up.  I find the man he is turning me into.
So there ya have it, my first reader request.  Please, feel free to keep giving me ideas.  Comment and follow this blog as well.  You guys are awesome!  God bless!

Shall We Dance?

For those of you who don't know, I love dancing.  However, I'm not very good at it.  As a matter of fact, I'm pretty bad.  However, I still get out there and try my best.  Why?  I just told you, I love it!  I don't care if I look like a fool doing it, I'm having fun, so I don't care.

That being said, I am very particular of the kind of dancing I enjoy.  If you were to take me to your average club where people are grinding to some dubstep song I would have a strong desire to smack you upside the head.  That is not dancing, that is dry humping.  I'm talking about real dancing.  Now some people do dance very well in those palces, but not me.  I prefer the classics.  I like ballroom, swing, and most of all a good old fashioned two-step.  I'm also a big fan of Line Dancing.  To those that know me well, this will come as no surprise.  However I really love to line dance.  I'm pretty bad at it right now, but I'm getting better (or at least I think I am) and am always eager to go out on the floor and make a fool of myself while having a blast doing it.

Unlike a good number of people out there, I'm all about the slow dance.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good fast swing or two step, but there is just something so... meaningful, about taking someone you care about in your arms and swaying to a good slow love song.  I have had very few opportunities to do this, which makes me sad.  It seems to be a dying trend, the slow dance.  I feel it is something we all need.  To be able to just drift away with the one we love.  Nothing in the world but the two of you and a soft song.  It is a moment that can be so wonderful and so intimate.  As Ferris Bueller said "life moves pretty fast" so sometimes you just need to slow things down.

God bless!

Who the heck do I think I am!?!

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately.  While that can be a dangerous thing at time, and lead to a number of headaches, it is also important.  Recently events have cause me to take a hard look at my life.  This brought me to a few decisions, but also helped me understand who I am on a deeper level.  So just who the heck am I?  Many of you may think you know, and many of you do.  Other have no idea, but maybe this will help a bit.

So where to begin.  I'm pretty simple really.  I enjoy the simple pleasure in life.  Things like the outdoors, rainy days, sitting by the fire reading a book, playing with dogs, the feeling of doing a hard days work.  These things fill me with a deep and powerful joy.  I'm an old fashioned kind of guy.  I try to live of life of honor.  I am kind to those around me (or at least I try to be), respectful towards women, and a good friend.  I am protective by nature.  If you mess with the people I care about then I am someone you are going to meet, and you won't be happy when I'm through. 

Most importantly, I am a Christian.  My life is not my own.  I live for the Lord and love Him with all of my heart.  I stumble from time to time, but I am trying to live my life the way that God asks me to.  I seek to be an example to those around me as to what it is a Christian man looks like, and that is why I live the way I do.  I know I'm not perfect.  I make mistakes all the time, but I know that with God leading me I can be the example I hope to be.

Well, That seems like enough for now.  I hope this has given you some insight into just who I am.  If you have any questions for me then feel free to comment and I'll do my best to answer them.  I hope you all are well!

God bless!

annoyed Alien

So this image may look familiar to you.  I have done a few minor touch ups and decided to submit it to http://www.teefury.com/ and see if they like it.  I don't expect much, but I hope this will be the first of many designs I create.  Let me know what you think.  God bless!

So, This thing has been sitting vacant for over a year.  Yeah.  I think I'm going to start using it again.  I will use this site to showcase my own independent work, but also just as a place to tell stories and to rant like there is no tomorrow.  I hope you all like it.  If you don't well, then why are you reading it?  really?