Commit to the Lord Whatever You Do, And Your Plans Will Succeed. ~ Proverbs 16:3

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Doubledb
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Name: Daniel
Gender: Male


Interests: i listen to christian music ---I have been going to seminary since spring 2006 getting my Master in Divinity/ and got a job as a Youth Minister. I like to read, i write some poetry, i like to play games on computer or console. i like to watch movies.. lots of em.. oh yeah!!! i can draw but dont because im too impatient (- it takes me a long time to do a good drawing), and i also sorta play guitar. oh, and i can sing. I also majored in Religion and minored in youth ministry in my undergrad.
Expertise: Living post-student life, trying to pay bills, student loans, hang with friends, keep up with awesome movies and shows, and follow God in life and ministry.
Occupation: Post-Seminary Student and Part


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AIM: GodismyRock02
MSN: doubledb2000@hotmail.com


Member Since: 5/11/2004
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Saturday, July 04, 2009

Thinking Vs. Feeling

Something I drew this morning...

FeelingVsThiking2

~ Daniel



Saturday, June 27, 2009

On the Soap Box: On Being Ignored and Situational Friendships

On the Soap Box:
On Being Ignored and Situational Friendships



I feel like getting on my soap box based on a post I read on Xanga.com recently, it was speaking about being ignored by people and how extremely annoying it is. I so agree... I thought as I got older my friendships would expand but it seems like friendships drop in and out of radar for no reason at all, among these the most are friendships with females, including the double-standard that comes in friendships with them specifically (do not worry, this is only part of this writing).

I don’t know what it is about friendships with the other gender but doesn’t it always seem more complicated, sometimes for no reason at all. Case 1: I got a message once from someone I barely knew though a friend who wanted to know if I was interested in being her date to a sorority thing. In all honesty, I was not attracted to her that much, call me shallow but hey, I have been turned down as well, so whatever... anyways, it wasn’t just that I was not attracted but I don’t really want to go on a date, especially a socially awkward one, and one where I feel inclined to dance and talk to a lot of people I don’t know (did I mention I cannot dance). I don’t know, going on a date because they can’t find someone and going on a date like that with someone I am not actually dating did not seem preferable. Anyways, so I thought I would wait a day or so and respond somehow. As a guy I want to be direct but not hurtful. Then I get a message from her friend whom I know asking why I haven’t messaged her back. WOH, HEY! How come when a female doesn’t get a response their friends are allowed to message me in complaint but when I do not receive a reply to a message or comment there is no one getting onto females for me. Not that I would want that, but it just seems unfair...


More generally, it is just annoying to me now because I consider people on myspace and facebook my friends, so when I message or comment and receive no reply, it honestly confuses me. Why are they still even my friend if they do not care to respond to me? Why are they even listed as my friend if they do not respond to me? So yeah, a few days ago I deleted a bunch of people, ones who I just never talk to and many of them were females who I would comment or message and they would never respond to me. It is so annoying and I have no problem deleting "friends" who do not associate with me, mainly because if we are not friends I do not care to act like we are. I am not into games or friendship politics... sure I give people chances but after so long I just tire of trying to reach out, trying to friends, after so long I just decide to say screw-it, they are not my friends.

Also, I have noticed there are those friends who are always friends on their own terms. You can try to talk to them, chat with them, call them, or plan things - but unless it is there idea or on their schedule they will not associate with you. This is annoying to me as well but I usually just respond when they choose to show up, though I sometimes wonder if I should... Sometimes friends like that make me want to say I am busy or tired. I just hate to feel like I am giving so much into friendships while some people only seem to take, then when they are done with your friendship, done with letting you fill some emotional void, done with their between times of other friendships, they just drop you and act as if you never existed, as if you friendship didn’t even matter, so annoying...

I mean, where is the quality in friendships when they just all seem to come and go... it is like you put all this time and quality into getting to know someone and then, it is as if none of it really mattered at all, it totally makes you feel rejected as a person… and as a friend. I suppose one could go for more shallow friendships, surely you would have more to do, but I have never liked quantity over quality. I guess situational friends and friendships just annoy me sometimes and then having to act like those people are still your friends when you see them again is almost humorous.

Well, lets be honest, a lot of those I am speaking about were likely deleted and so they will not read this. And another hint that the 50 people I deleted of facebook last week were not really my friends is that it has been almost a week and not one has messaged me or friend requested me, they do not even notice they are not my friend anymore - is anymore evidence needed?

So, if you are a person who gives a lot in your friendships then my heart goes out to you and if you are a person who takes, who goes from friend to friend, I would ask where the quality is in your friendships? Do you leave because you are bored? Do you leave because once people begin to know you, you get afraid or scared? Think about those friends who pour themselves into your life only to be left behind, how would you like that feeling? Maybe it even happened to you once?

May we all try to have quality friendships, may we learn to be givers more and takers less, and if we feel out of balance between the two, may we feel free to leave those friends who are not really our friends anymore and find freedom from that, a release of pressure and worry trying to reach out to someone who is already gone…

*Off the Soap Box* :.)
~ Daniel

Pic:
http://uppitynegronetwork.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/soapbox.jpg
http://www.publishersweekly.com/articles/blog/880000288/20081028/rants.jpg


Friday, June 19, 2009

Separation of Church and State: Part 2 of 2




If there is no respect for another person, then I can assure you there will never be open dialogue in which to persuade them to the gospel of Christ in the first place.

Separation of Church and State: Part 2 of 2:
How Christians Have Lost Their Voice and Will Loose Their Freedom

...Now, I do think paying homage to Jesus Christ is a good thing that should be allowed at a graduation ceremony. Why? Because I think the student earned the right to speak and should be allowed to thank whatever influences are in his or her life. However, again it is important to stress that if we allow this freedom of speech and religion for one, a Christian, then we must allow it for another - otherwise we are just being plain hypocrites. One never has to agree with what is said, but out of respect, one should always respect a person for who they are, including different beliefs. If there is no respect for another person, then I can assure you there will never be open dialogue in which to persuade them to the gospel of Christ in the first place. Does this mean we deny our conviction and faith, no - but we do not force others to deny theirs either...

… And this is where Christians in America have begun to hang themselves - we cry to freedom of religion and speech and we cry to the obliteration to the separation of church and state, not for others but for us, so that Christians may once again rule America as it should be. The problem is that in doing this we are setting ourselves up for a Civic Church, one whose freedom of speech is going to be halted in the mutual agreement on civility, peace, and toleration.

If there is no civic church then there will be a destroying of the church as it eventually must go underground. Freedom of speech is already being lost by Christians in other developed nations when they preach against things like homosexuality. Now it is we who must cease our freedom so that another can have theirs, toleration and all. But who is tolerating the Christian voice in this situation, why does the KKK get to continue it speech and demonstrations but Christians are loosing their own? Why is a good question… And I honestly think it is something we have been doing to ourselves - now that public thought of different religions and ideas being accepted grow, as the information we are fed is always changing, people question absolute truth.. and instead of answering their queries, instead of discussing faith with them, we have taken the approach of merely telling them they are wrong, they are evil, they are sinful - we forgot that we to are sinful and wrong (Romans 3:21-24), this is why Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-11).

Somewhere we lost ourselves as "Christians in a nation called America", we accepted politics over true faith, voting morals instead of sharing them with our feet and by our actions, we have lost our voice and our only true chance to find it is to look to Jesus once again; this son of God who taught his disciples who never knew who he was until the end (MK 8:27-30; LK 24: 13-35), who spent time with sinners despite the murmurings of the religious authorities of his time(MT 9:8; MK 2:15-17); , who told us to pray for our enemies (MT 5:43-48), and who told us to give to Caesar what is Caesars and give to God what is God's (Mt 22:21; MK 12:17; LK 20:25).



Think About It...
~ Daniel

Pic:
http://sarahpalintruthsquad.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/bible-american-flag.jpg
http://erlc.com/images/article_photos/misc/pledge-allegiance.jpg
http://o.aolcdn.com/propeller/media/library/x/-/x-EVlK.jpg

Other Relevant Articles:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-07-23-faith-edit_x.htm
http://erlc.com/article/to-whom-do-you-pledge-your-allegiance/
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0728/p09s02-coop.html


Friday, June 12, 2009

Currently
Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Third Season
By Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, Terry Farrell, Cirroc Lofton
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Separation of Church and State: Part 1 of 2

Let's be honest, it has been a long time coming... and many of us so called Christians and Americans seem to have no clue what it means to have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state. People think they know about the issue but in reality have no idea what is boils down to...



Separation of Church and State: Part 1 of 2

How Christians Have Lost Their Voice and Will Loose Their Freedom

First, what most people think is separation of church and state is related to things like not being allowed to have the 10 Commandments on public property, not being allowed to pray in schools, not being allowed to say Jesus in a graduation ceremony, and not being able to share Jesus everywhere. But when we look at these issues of freedom, where are they at? Most of these are all in public settings, setting where people are all together... The 10 Commandments are great laws to live by but the issue is not that they are not good but that the government is endorsing one religion and not giving freedom to another. The choice is to either take out the commandments or to add other religious texts from various religions; however, a majority of Christians would not like other religions referred to...

Ah, but here it is, Christians wanting freedom of religion, but only for themselves and not for others. Does allowing freedom for others mean we are condoning their beliefs and rejecting our own, certainly not. What it does mean is that Christians are putting themselves in a very difficult hole in society. Toleration is the cry we hear from the liberal foot-hills of free speech and if Christians and right-wing people would be smart, they would accept toleration as a valid point, not only in allowing more discussion of other beliefs but using it as a stepping stone to also allow their own faith and beliefs to be heard and also to remain valid in the eyes of others.

Prayer in school is another thing that was lost almost a half-century ago and is still very much spoken about, especially by the older people of my generation. They feel Americas decline was based on this; of course one would say that the decline caused the idea of ending prayer to come up so something was wrong before that ever happened. Still, think about it - how would you feel if a Muslim was allowed to pray every morning and your child had to be a part in it? Does that seem fair? You say "We are a Christian nation" and to that I say "So was Germany and the Nazis'"... I am not saying we are the same, except we cannot put faith and nationalism on the same scale, Rome did that and fell between their King and Pope conflicts as well if you read the history books (See: Reason why America added Separation of Church and State). To say others faith exist in America is not a denial of our own, in fact, if we would open our eyes we would see it as a vast amount of people needing to see the light of Christ instead of seeing them as political enemies (enemies who Christ told us to love by the way - Matthew 5:43-48 anyone?).



Sunday, June 07, 2009

Currently
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
By Mary Pipher
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Who Do You Say I Am?

Who Do You Say I Am?
(05/30/2009)

Who Do You Say I Am?

Do you see me, do you truly see me?
Or do your eyes deceive you, do they cause you to be blind?

AM I special, AM I a priority?
Do you live your life with me on the sidelines
Do you live your life with me by your side?

Do I consume your every thought
Do I consume any of your thoughts at all?

Where AM I in your life?
Is there room for me in your life
Is there room for me in your heart
Or AM I shoved aside?

Do you yell at me to leave you alone
Do you see me as a ghost haunting you
Do you see me as an angel concerning you
Do you see me as the Spirit speaking ever-gently?

Do you hear my voice?
Are things so loud, too noisy, too busy?
Do you hear silence, nothingness, darkness?

How do you miss my voice
Do you even try to train your ear?

Even sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd…
And yet my voice seems to go unheard so often.

Why is there silence between us
Why is there this rift
Why do you refuse my reaching hand?

Why do you run from my love and grace,
Run instead of learning to stay with me,
Stay with me and learn to trust,
Learn to have joy despite your circumstance?

Why do you not find home with me
Why do you not find peace in me
Why do you think I AM not enough
Why do you seek elsewhere for justification?

Why seek the approval from others,
When I have already approved,
Approved and told you to move forward,
To move forward and Go?

Why do you question me
Why do you look away
Why feel conviction and run,
Why feel conviction and hide,
Why feel conviction and ignore?

I AM Jesus THE Christ!
But who do you say I AM?

Who AM I in your life,
What do your actions and words say?

Who do you say I AM?
-Mark 8:29

~ Daniel

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