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Overactive Inactivity

I've come to discover something in myself I am really not liking right now. I watched the movie Surrogates last night and out of I gleamed a message... it was basically a bunch of people who out of fear, laziness and superficiality would link up to a computer and would operate these machine versions of themselves called "Surrogates". It allowed for military members to be shot and "killed" but not die in real life. It allowed all kinds of physical endurance and stunts by the average person as well as dashing good looks. Well, that is what our society for the most part really wants. A LOT with not a lot of effort or action put into it. What I have noticed about myself is that I prefer mind stimulating non-productive activity. I downloaded and beat a game that was very strategic and fun called Plants Vs Zombies. Sounds kinda silly, but it is strategic and fun. Then, yesterday I stumbled upon an iPhone app called GodFinger, where you are the "god" of a world and you have to take care of followers, tell them what to do, have them grow gold, build stuff and keep them happy. Sounds interesting... but is pretty addictive... I can sit and play these kinds of games for hours and hours. The same with internet and facebook. I can spend so much time busily looking at, well, nothing. Add to it some movie watching and TV Show on Netflix and it produces a lot of non-productive activity. I have a lot I need to be doing. I need to work on my to do list to tell me all I need to do. I'm a little frustrated with how non-productive I have been lately.

I've also been a little less social than normal and maybe in an overall slump. I am moving this next week and am excited/challenged a bit by that. I am super excited to be moving into our house and Harley getting to live with me again, but just going a little crazy with all that needs to be done for that... I don't think anyone reads this, but if so, pray that I can get focused, get everything I need to done and get out of this slump.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God! Heb 12:2

Drained

I haven't written in a while... been all over the place lately.

Life has been good... just more complicated than I like... I am a simple man and enjoy a simple life... that just hasn't been the case lately. It seems several situations have just gone a little hairy and dealing with it isn't always that exciting of the process... though I does make me appreciate the simplicity of my life.

A lot is going on lately and I'm one who typically feels others burdens with them (except when it comes to them being upset with me for some reason). So, with my sister going through a split up from her husband, my mom having mega issues at home, my brother being laid off, a good friend having really bad health problems, another having health problems, and some other stuff... I am kinda feeling a bit emotionally drained lately. In my own life I'm trying to find a new place to live, trying to work on pics and video stuff, organizing for the move, taking care of Harley, and such. It all kinda adds up. I need people who build me up right now and I am not getting a lot of that. I need to be there for those who need it and am trying to find ways to do so. Thankfully God gives me the strength for it!

I pray for God's clarity and guidance in my next steps. I pray that I will lean on Him when I'm feeling weak. Thanks to anyone who reads this and joins with me!

My new Prayers for Her Location :)

I kinda of have 11:11 seasons... I'll go months without noticing it, then all of a sudden... I see it all the time.

I have received some criticism recently about posting them to my facebook... so, I've decided to just move them to here... Maybe someday I'll be able to even copy them from my FB and Twitter to here... I think that would be a good gift someday... or maybe even a handwritten journal? I dunno...

The criticism I received was from someone who lovingly calls herself "Debbie Downer". She said they may come off adding a lot of pressure to any potential girls in my life that they may feel they have to live up to this expectation... I don't understand that because they are prayer for her not for what she will be like? Also, she said it makes it seem like I am desperately seeking a wife... something I don't want people to think at all... after all I am not completely sure God has one for me... I just know that there may be someone out there God has who may become my wife someday and to be able to put up with me, she needs LOTS of prayer :)

So, here they shall be... The great thing about blogspot is it will let me retrospectively time and date them for when they were actually written...

With that... my prayer for yesterday morning at 11:11 - I pray that You show her things to be joyful in all things you give her

And this morning...
I pray that you will give her a love of serving your people and your Church and that you will provide her ways to do so!

Prayer for someone I don't know

Dear Father I pray that You help her realize her value and worth... I pray that you show her the good in other people and help her love others well

Recent Projects

Movie Reviews

What should go in a blog? A little bit of everything I guess :)

Tonight?

Recent Movies I've watched and their reviews...

I really like movies... I really like the way they can move emotions, create laughter or just entertain. I will watch just about any movie... but ones I like, more than once...

So, my recent reviews...

Avatar - I loved it in the 3D theater... and it is great on Blu-Ray too! The story has so many levels to it and I appreciate that. there are a large amount of undertones and amazing effects... I am not into the hippie earthy theme, but appreciate the focus on the battle between technology and nature... And the action and creativity were both awesome too... overall I would say a 9

Night at the Museum 2 - Battle of the Smithsonian - It is great! A good amount of comedy on several different levels, good effects, a good feel good story with incredible characters. I really like it! Better than the first I believe... 9

Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer - Though they are a bit cheesy, it is a good balance of action, cool characters, a little love, and pretty decent graphics and an alright story line. I enjoyed it enough I've seen it about 5 times... 8

Interview With a Vampire - I have seen it a ton of times be rewatched it and still enjoy it thoroughly. though there is a scene or 2 I have to fast forward through, it is a great take on the view of "Vampires" and tells a good story. It has a great cast (though they are greater favored by females) but it is a very interesting piece. 8.5

The Hurt Locker - I don't think it lived up to the hype, but it painted a great realistic picture of the current war going on and the characters were interesting. I really went from disliking to loving one and was left tense often, and I usually don't stress much! I though it was a great piece with a great purpose... soo... 9

Monty Python and the Holy Grail... I am not really the laugh out loud kind of guy... I will sometimes... but am more of a chuckler... So, I may not seem to enjoy it as much as most... however I like the silly witty humor that it had, but it was really kinda weird... I evened out with a so-so opinion... not one I care to buy or will watch many times... so as far as rating for this British parody of life... a 5.5

Clash of the Titans (2010) - Now, I have to start by saying I fell asleep for a while when I went to see this... with that I missed out on a good chunk of stuff... Now, I have seen the original several times and enjoyed the story line in both and liked the graphics in the new one a lot... especially in 3D. But, I still think they could have done more with it... more drama, more power, more effects... so a 7.5 overall

Prayers for Her

11:11
Pray that she grows in grace for others and that she receives God's grace openly.

What's up?

I think I am gonna keep on keeping on with these blogs...

I've been thinking a lot about a lot lately. Hmmm surprised? I'm not. It is nothing like a visit from my mom to really get me focused and out of focus at the same time.

So... I didn't write about it before, but I got my new dog. Awesome! His name is HArley and I am crazy about the little guy (little? Really? He is almost 70 lbs!) We have had a great time, but I am a little concerned about some of his aggressive behavior. He has snapped at me several times and actually angrily bit me twice. I have realized we aren't going to be able to travel nearly as much together as I hoped either... because he gets very anxious when we travel. But, I definitely love the guy and look forward to the adventures of "Harley and Me".

This past weekend I got to take pictures at and volunteer for the Special Olympics in Lufkin... and it was, to say the least, awesome! I have worked it before and loved it then too... but, after recently attending a dance for people with special needs I think my heart was a little more warmed than normal and I just really was overwhelmed by the joy and the fun. I was a little out of my normal bubble and was soooo blessed because of it. I really hope to get to do more in the future!

With video and photography I feel like I have been waaaay disconnected lately. I don't know what it is, but I haven't done a whole lot even after buying an amazingly fast iMac for the purpose of making those tasks more enjoyable... I guess I have felt really busy lately and have avoided a lot of the tasks I need to... something I should work on. Needless to say, I still need to set aside time to do that!!!!

My roommate Chris and I drove around today and called a total of about 20 places trying to find a PS3 for sell in our area and finally found in Canton so we drove there to go buy it! It seems kinda silly, but he is leaving in a few weeks and we've been talking about getting one since we bought our TV... well... now we have one... and Avatar and The Dark Knight. Random... but a fun adventure... well, tonight we rented Hurt Locker and Brianna Mettlen came over and we enjoyed it. IT was a really good intense portrayal of the war going on and I really liked it!

Well, there is much more to write, but not enough time tonight... til next time...

Stoic? Or... Stable

I was once told that I was a "Stoic" individual... and for a while I allowed that to define what I believed of myself. The person who said it had a lot of authority in my life at the time, probably more than any man up until that point. Sometimes people don't realize the effects of the labels they put on others... but, how you label others can be very dangerous... but, that is besides the point :)

I just finished a day of great joy. A day with a TON of GREAT friends, a great mother, LOTS of laughter and joy and fun... a Little fear and protectiveness when a man very clearly on drugs threatened my mother and friends' safety, and just a ton of positive real feelings invoked by a group of people who truly care about me, Then, I sat and read the blog of a friend of mine, who my heart broke for and I sat, drowning in a pool of tears over her loss... wishing I could do something to take her pain.

I may seem "Stoic" to someone who really does not know me. I don't laugh uncontrollably often (only on days like today when I am really engaged with a group of people who are a lot of fun and I feel comfortable around), I don't get upset or angry about the small things that occur, or being challenged by what someone else thinks of my character (now someone threatening my friends or family? Different story!), I don't cry or get sad when I spill milk, don't win something or don't get my way (but when someone really hurts, I well with Sympathy, love, grief, sadness and hurt), and I don't really get embarrassed when things or silly (only when I make others truly uncomfortable, sad, unhappy, do something stupid). So, all of that shows I have a very steady and healthy way of expressing emotions. I am not prone to excessive displays of weak emotions. There are varying levels of emotion and I believe I experience the broad spectrum, but am not the type to make mountains out of molehills.

I truly believe that with this I have a great balance. I believe that I have great joy, great sorrow and times where I ma not experience a large amount of either. And granted, yes there are a vast array of emotions besides those that I do experience, but those are the main ones.

I thank you dear Lord for the great joys, and even the tremendous times of turmoil in my life... I thank you for teaching me through those and helping me maintain overall a healthy balance. I thank you that you have helped me keep a healthy perspective on life and not be run strictly by my emotions, but instead, have them as the background music to the story of my life.

Ketchup

I don't think anyone reads this blog, and if they do, I'm a little surprised. It has remained mostly dormant... but every once in a while shows a little life...

Things here are good... working for carter bloodcare as a Drive Ambassador, it is a great gig where I get to travel all over East Texas, talk to people, plan stuff, think a lot and help save lives. I like it. Someone stated this past weekend that their job, in the bigger picture, didn't really mean much, I think mine does. I like that. I have been passionate about blood and organ donation since 2006 when my cousin passed away and his eyes were donated giving someone a chance to see... It is a beautiful thing.

My church life is mostly good too. I go to Crosspointe Community Church and enjoy it. We are a growing church and just moved into our own building. I am getting to work with the Children's ministry there and I love it. The children's pastor is a joy to work with and the kids are great! I like most of the people in the church a lot too minus one person who treats me rather poorly. I don't care that she treats me poorly though, she is pretty much evil.

My home life is phenomenal. I live with 2 good friends, Dustin Felcman and Chris Timmons who are great roommates. Our house is relatively clean at all times, and we have really not had any conflict or issues. I like it. Our apartment is a great size as well and we have had no issues with it. It is a delightful living situation.

Currently have a few goals of things I would like to purchase over the next few months...
1. English Bulldog... have one I am considering within the next week... 1.5 years old, beautiful male named Harley... everything I could want and only 450...
2. HD Prosumer Video Camera... Need it for business. The one I want is only 2499
3. New Digital Camera... Battling between Nikon D700 (2257) and Nikon D90 (1100)... But, may work on getting my mom a Canon 7D (1472) first.
4. A new truck... preferably a Toyota Tacoma 4 Door... (up to like 22,000)
5. A vacation... looking at Tix to Montana in July, Kentucky in September and Puerto Rico in late December)

We'll see...

Hope all is well with everyone out there..