Souped-up Golf Carts

I think for the most part I do not enjoy sarcasm. I try to not dish it out but, often I do. One thing I think is very funny is when people are being sarcastic, then, someone says, "Is that sarcasm?" Then they sarcastically answer, "Nope." To me that is really funny. I don't know why but I just thought about that....

I'm at work today and some high school guys come inside. One guy starts talking about how he wishes his cart was faster... I say "do you know how to adjust it? Put a tee in it?" he has no clue that this is even possible... I first show him the bolt to adjust to get the speed he wants... But then I show him the golf cart racing associations soupin up must. Which is a tee between the cable in the engine compartment against the generator, you may have to cut the tee to obtain the highest speed possible. I begin telling them about how when I was younger we would race them down the road... Then the moment of truth comes. Time for a test drive. He is thrilled. He cannot believe that his cart will go that fast.... I guess that is the way I was too when I found out... But, it was cool to see them get that excited.

I went to ChickFilA in Padcah Kentucky with my sister Wednesday. There was about 200 people there waiting in line at 6AM. They gave us all raffle tickets and started drawing. Megan was number 42 and I was, well I never got drawn. So, we split the 52. It was fun, I got to spend time with her and I also got to talk to some pretty cool people and got to talk to some not so pretty cool but cool people. I met this fella named Damon, he was cool. We talked a whole lot and shared different stories. I'm not sure how much he was bs'in me though. I also read Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller. I started the book a month ago and couldn't ever get into it. But, when you're just sitting outside for 24 hours with nothing to do...I read. It was a really good book and I really enjoyed it once I started got into it. It is more or less of a journal of his for a month. During that month or 2 he leaves Texas for the open road with his buddy Paul. They live in a VW van and are basically hippies. He goes from living a life where so much matters, to a life where nothing materialistic really matters all that much. The first few chapters he talks about how he believes that it is good to go out and make yourself. That it is not finding yourself, you're actually making yourself. They travel from Texas to Oregan with stops in the Grand Canyon, Vegas, Sacremento... He talks alot and so much of the book is just his journaling but I believe it's funny too. The book talks a whole lot about what life is about I believe. And within that is truly just being happy. Yet, that is not as easy as it sounds. Because one would say many things make you happy... I just got a new phone and I'm happy about that. But, I am talking about true happiness that cannot be taken away. Yeah it can be frusturated, aggravated and such but not taken away. But, thats not all. I'm also talking about just loving people for who they are... Don talks about beautiful things and people who ask the question why opposed to how. He believes that the why question is way more important than how... Because sunsets happen... chemicals in his brain makes him think how beautiful it is... but why is it like that? Why is the sunset.... That was kind of a new perspective to me I often just take things as they are without asking questions.... But I like the idea of asking the why question....

Cisterns

So Saturday at work a lady calls, she seems to be very old...80+ I'm not real sure, Marylin Smith was her name. She called and asked me about how the majority house leader. And was asking how a man could get so tan playing golf. She said he was tan all over, I said, "Mam, he probably plays at a country club where they have a swimmin pool." We talked for close to ten minutes. I am unaware how I did not get to laughing. Then she was talking about Obama and whether or not he was black enough according to Jay Leno, then was wondering if this man was orange enough. She proceeded to tell me that he may use that "tan in a can" stuff. She also told me that she called his office and asked how he got so tan, thats how she knew he golfed. This lady might have made my day in her craziness.
But today at church a family got up in front of the congregation for a little commission since they are going overseas as missionaries. She talked about who knows what, but, He talked about digging his own cisterns(wells to hold water) instead of relying on the one God has given us. He was a Younglife leader and talked about how he dug his own got pleasure out of that then realized after a few years it was dry. Then he got his pleasure in life by living in God's will and so forth... It hit me that I am often getting pleasure out of worldly things but then when I get my water from God it is so awesome and is not dry. It is very much fulfilling. I also seen a beautiful picture of marriage, I thought to myself this is what marriage is. It's about to submitting to God, then you really can't go wrong as long as your living in pursuit and within God's will. Which brings me to my next story. Today at the 19th hole, these men (very loose term) were talking about how Meatball was going to have to drop his membership due to his wife wanting to come out and watch him play golf. The story goes his wife told him she would like to watch golf in person one day. This all happened the week that he played in a 2man tournament with a very "scandalous" lady, in which you pick your partner. Well, she followed them around, and continues to. So, at the 19th hole he gets made fun of for his wife following... Later on the two men are talking about meaty dropping his membership, I say "why?" These two guys, one of them who is divorced, one of them who averages 3 hours in the bar a day, says you'll understand someday, you gotta have your own place... I think, "man, hmm you guys don't know what marriage is about..." It just grabbed me, meaty was being very sketchy, and his wife said huh ugh, I don't think so... But, who knows.... I just know that I don't want to marry someone whom I feel I might have to run from later in life or not want to be around....
But, when asking those questions I also ponder, why do I want the things I don't really want. And do the things I don't really want to do... But I guess those guys at the bar never said before they got married "in 15 years I hope I'm miserable." I think it could be all about following the Lord and not the world...
In other news, a boy came in and ate 3 candy bars in a row....

TRUST

This is a poem? maybe more just me rambling sentences without answers. As I began reading Brennan Manning's Ruthless Trust ideas grabbed a hold and I began thinking...

To really understand something you must trust.
How can I say I believe if I do not truly trust?
What man can take away anothers trust?
What gods do not require trust?
What relationship does not require trust?
To whom is worthy of my trust?
Where is shalom without trust?
What man can be whole without trust?
What man is crazy enough to trust?
What man lives for others and not himself?
Can man truly know the desire of God?
Who am I to not trust God?
Surely he will care for me.
Why should I worry of tomorrow?
Am I willing to trust?
Am I willing to not look only to my own desires?
Who am I to think my ideas are best?
Why is it so hard to trust?
A great joy in life comes as we learn to trust.
Not only a joy for ourselves but for everyone around. But, most importantly for the Father.
What do I have to lose in trust?
Am I only saving my self from the pain? Go trust.

Approaching 21

When I look at my life, I love it. There is not many things in my life that I can say that I would change if given the opportunity. The way I live, the things I learn, the things I do. Today I went to Pizza Hut in Sparta to eat lunch with a highschool guy. Before going I prayed that we would both have a good time and that if God willing we would talk about something worthwhile. We got there and ate a lot(it was the buffet.) But, there was not really any time while we we're talking that I sensed we could talk about something deeper than just surface stuff. I was alright leaving and felt good because even though we didn't talk about anything deep, I did get to spend time with him and show him love whether or not he realized it.
This brings me to my next point, as i approach 21 I get excited because I will be able to go out and have a good time. My friends say they can't wait... But, what I have found out recently is that I may not really want to do this... Occasionaly of course, but, what I really want my life to be about is about loving others. I have a sign by my bedroom door that reads "It's not all about me." But, most of the time it is all about me and that is not what i want. I want to be propelled by Christ's love so much that i would not even think of myself. Just like Phillipians 2
¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

So as I go forward I hope that I can keep this in mind and know it.

July so far.

Well, hello to all. I'm just writing this to write. I do not have anything much to tell you. I just didn't want to stop writing. I wanted to keep you informed of my life. I wanted to tell you stuff. This weekend I celebrated Independence Day in Pigeon Forge. Jordan Walley came, as well as Justin Steele, Michael Borden, Drew Wilkinson and Brandon Stephenson. We got a room at the Family Inns of America for $29.97 a night (killer deal) We also visited Discipleship Focus very often. On the 2nd we got there and hung out and went to eat at McCallister's Deli. I got to steal Lauren Daughtery for the night and go walking. It was really good. Saturday we just hung out waiting on fireworks. Walley, Drew and Myself dressed up. Somewhat against my will, but, drew said "she's your girlfriend you don't have to impress her anymore..." So, i dressed up which may or may not have been a good idea. We get to Patriot park to watch Diamond Trio, man they're awful. We try to get a closer seat, guy starts yelling at me and walley because his 5 year old boy cannot see because we sat in the grass in front of their lawnchairs.... Then old lady starts yelling at our buddy Jared. She was being really hateful, I wanted to punch out her lights! We decide to leave early. I yell at her while we're leaving IM SORRY WE GOT IN YOUR WAY!... Maybe i overreacted maybe i didn't. Sunday July 4, 2010 Drew and myself both got speeding tickets from the same motorcycle cop at the same time. Talk about two birds with one stone, it turned out better than we expected though. As long as we do not get any motor vehicle violations for the next 6 months we are off the hook and do not have to pay that one. It is called Traffic Probation. Yeah, i'm on probabtion.... Sunday we hung out at DFO, walley and I hung out with Autumn Collum, turns out she is really cool as well... Sunday night Mike Ashburn talked at family night really just bringing it. Talked about ebeneezers and how we are to love every single person. That we are Christ to the people that we come into contact during our days...Which is something awesome. monday we left. As soon as I got home I went and ate at my mommas house, played golf... Tuesday I worked and afterwords went to hang out in Sparta with one of my Younglife guys. It was awesome getting to talk to him and sharing instances from both of our lives that we found cool. We sat at Sonic for an hour talking about grace and why things happen and hebrew language... it was cool... Today I am at work....