"nihil autem opertum est quod non reveletur neque absconditum quod non sciatur"
-Jerome's Latin Vulgate 405 A.D.
"The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public."
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
The Exit
So, I was listening to this band called Lydia. They have this one song called "The Exit". Some of the lyrics go.
"I've just been sitting here counting ghosts.
And you look scared again.
Just sing it out loud, it'll sound like this:....I don't hang this cross for him,
I hang it for my mother's grin.
If I wasn't so far away,
I'd ask my pops if he's free today.
But everyone, everyone here looks like they're on their own."
It's one of those songs, one of those bands really, that makes you think about your past and maybe what is going on right now, why you did what you did, the things you'll never get back, the things that won't happen again, how good your life is now; some basic life contemplation. I started thinking about life. There are hundreds of people that I've known, hundreds that I have been good friends with, hundreds that I don't talk to anymore(i.e. there isn't time, we don't have similar interests anymore, the conditions aren't right, we forget). This all made me think two distinct thoughts that are parallel but not the same. One is that I've known a lot of good people, that have meant a lot to me, that have effected me; that I will probably never meet again (due to the above i.e.). The second thought is of the people I know that i talk to briefly or minimally; maybe i don't say everything i could say to them.
I felt like doing a romper room, without the mirror, listing the people i will never have contact with again, but that have effected me and that i have thoughts of periodically; who i ask God to take care of.
There are the people from high school; we all spent so much time together. We experienced so many things together; became who we are today in part by our interactions with each other. (4 years)
There are the people from Elim Bible Institute all of whom I grew closer to as I saw who i was in Christ and became who God created me to be; we experienced so many things: miracles, emotional times, frustrating times, and each other. Some of you have impacted me the most. (1.5 years)
True I did attend St Clair Community College, Macomb Community college, and Oakland university; but I don't have one person that I am in touch of now because of those classes. I do have a couple that I think of from time to time. (7.5 years)
It's funny how time doesn't necessarily determine closeness or meaningfulness in relationships. For instance, I an closing in on 12 years with the non-profit that I work with. Nearly all of the relationships that I have with the people that i have worked with over the years, even for 12 years, is purely professional; we are not friends. There are some exceptions, that I am grateful for.
Then there is the Blue Water House of Prayer; the musical/prayer group that we traveled around the thumb of Michigan with playing at different church congregations weekly for about 7 years. Some people we came to be very close with. Some people we drifted apart. Some people we never spoke to again. some people we can pickup right where we left off. It's always different when you are meeting people in times of heightened spiritual awareness and emotionalism.
The hundreds of young people, kids in trouble, homeless people that I have met, tried to help out and loved are mostly passerbyers. Some I know for a day some for a few years, but non have really been a permanent connection, but they have effected me; for better or worse. I hope I've had an effect on them. You have to do whatever you can for each other.
Now there's family, whether they are blood or someone you call family, because of some past experience or your feelings; i'm very glad that we have made it a habit or tradition to end all of our phone calls and meetings by saying "bye love you god bless you". Even though sometimes it is said so quick only we know what is being said, it is still meant and means.
What I am seeing and saying is that people really are the most important aspect of this life. There are people who commit horrible acts, people who are miserable, people who love everyone, people who need people.
Some of Lydia's other lyrics (though I don't know what they mean, they make me feel like this blog):
"It's still not quite the way it was
But you promised me this is love
So stay and watch the hospital
That's just across the street
From your apartment balcony
I'll never ever leave there
I'll never leave
Oh, no one is watching now
Sing like you just might drown
But always come back home
'Cause I never got to see you once more, no
I guess that's all I wanted
Yeah, I guess that's all I needed"
Friday, July 12, 2013
Why I don't need cable TV
He recently got his CNA certificate and is working at the DMC.
He asked me for some information to help someone who had been a victim of domestic violence.
First, he told me a story about something that lead up to his coming to ask me where to get help.
His girlfriend, whom he is faithful to and helps take care of her 6 year old daughter, has a friend who has a 3 year old son and a boyfriend. This girl comes to his girlfriend saying she left the 3 year old with her boyfriend and now he cant find him. She is bruised and bleeding a little bit. So the 22 year old man goes with his girlfriend to the house to ask the boyfriend where the boy is. The guy says that the grandma stole the boy.
They are about to put out a missing person/ kidnapping report into the police when someone gets a hold of the grandmother. She says she stopped by the house and say the 3 year old was hurt so she took him and called protective services. After verifying this with CPS the 22 year old talks with the boyfriend who said the grandmother took the 3 year old. The guy says that he doesn't know what is happening and still says the grandmother is trying to take the 3 year old.
After some arguing it comes out by the girl who was bruised and bleeding that the boyfriend is the one who made her bruised and bleeding. Just then she gets a call from CPS about the report and her 3 year old. It is officially reported that the 3 year old has 3 broken ribs and some other bruises and reportedly done by the boyfriend who also beat up his girlfriend. This is when the 22 year old says to the girlfriend, leave him and come with us. She starts to leave with them and the boyfriend tells her to stop. She stops, but so does the 22 year old who came to talk to me. He turns to her and tells her to get in the car with his girlfriend. He tells me about his inner turmoil about getting a good job and doing well in life and how something little can mess it up.
Once the girls are in the car he tells the boyfriend that he is "not cool" beating up his girlfriend and child. He then makes his decision; to beat the guy up; but not to kill him.
This was two weeks ago. The girlfriend is living with them and CPS still has the 3 year old. A few times since then the 22 year old has gotten in his car to beat the guy up again, but chose not to but instead encouraged the girlfriend to press charges, which she did.
I gave him some advice and encouragement; he gave me some hope.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A Poetry Book
Friday, May 17, 2013
megan
I am so impressed by how well megan did in college. She also scored the highest score on the state board test of any macomb graduate. She is very smart.
Friday, May 10, 2013
A Match to Light a Fire not to Burn Out
I recently put up a couple quotes in my office at work:
"better to fight for something than live for nothing"
"courage is fear holding on a minute longer"
"work harder than you think you can"
"do more than is required of you"
While it may be true that (as some have told me) i am under paid and don't receive the recognition or reward for the work i do; this does not pave way to an apathetic or disgruntled outlook at my work. In fact if i worked in a retail store making minimum wage i would carry the same quote mentality with me; in fact encourage others to do the same. i would.
so i remember a man once said to me while i was sitting in a large room. It was a room of about 300 people we were sitting down and he was on a stage talking and he said " young man stand up." i actually looked around me. He said "you there in the hat (i had a tigers hat on). i stood up and he said while pointing at me ," you are the match that is going to light the fire of thousands of young people" ;he said some other things as well. it's my choice to use those words as fuel or to disregard them. they are fuel. Another guy told me in a room of about 100 people; he pointed to me and quoted from the Bible saying, "saul has slain his thousands but David his ten thousands. you aren't going to be slaying people but you will be changing them". more fuel. Still another time a homeless man grabbed my hand and said to me one on one, "when you meet these young people look them in the eyes and give them hope."
i didnt make these things up, but maybe these things made me up. so i will burn until i "am utterly changed into fire".
(i just E-published my poems from over the past 10 years)
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Teeth Dream
Saturday, March 09, 2013
CareCare
Care is a word used to show a type of affection or concern. We tell people we care for them or we may even provide care for them, but what does it mean to care for someone.
There seem to be very few people who are not living for themselves. Notice drivers, notice yourself when you drive, are they looking out for the benefit of other. Just today I was cut off, tailgated, and flicked with cigerrate ashes. I am guessing if each driver had my benefit in mind things would have been different.
Let's try to live for others, Jesus did.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Saturday, February 02, 2013
There is therefore, now no conviction to those who are in Christ Jesus.... (did you notice this is a misquote?)
These are just some quotes from Leonard Ravenhill to think about.
The Church used to be a lifeboat rescuing the perishing. Now she is a cruise ship recruiting the promising.
Today Christians spend more money on dog food than missions.
If I was to ask you tonight if you were saved? Do you say 'Yes, I am saved'. When? 'Oh so and so preached, I got baptized and...' Are you saved? What are you saved from, hell? Are you saved from bitterness? Are you saved from lust? Are you saved from cheating? Are you saved from lying? Are you saved from bad manners? Are you saved from rebellion against your parents? Come on, what are you saved from?
Today's church wants to be raptured from responsibility.
How can you pull down strongholds of Satan if you don't even have the strength to turn off your TV?
Children can tell you what Channel 7 says, but not what Matthew 7 says.
Jesus did not come into the world to make bad men good. He came into the world to make dead men live!
The early church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity.
The church is supposed to do what? To stop corruption? Is the church doing that? No! The world is corrupting the church!
I wish, in America, (that) we were as concerned about separation from church and sin as we are about separation between church and state. Church and sin-- it's a monstrous problem.
I'm sick to death of the so-called Christianity of our day. What's supernatural about it? When do people come out of the sanctuary awed and can't speak for an hour because God has been in glory there? Dear God, as soon as they get out, they're talking football, or sports or something or there's going to be a big sale downtown or somewhere. We are not caught up into eternity!
What are you going to do when you get to eternity, if you can't stick in an hour with God down here? In God's name, what are you going to do in a million year s in God's presence? Expect some reports from earth about football or something?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Unsubstantiated Miracle Part 3 and 4
Unsubstantiated Miracle Part 2
Unsubstantiated Miracle Part 1
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Vainness like last year
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Heroism happens when you make it happen
A quote from Smallville's Braniac: "A hero is made in the moment, not from questioning the past or fearing what's to come."
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Cigerrates and coffee
But it appears that over the past couple years there has been a rise in both coffe drinkers and coffee accessibility. There Is a possiblity of a corrospondance between the outlawing of smoking in public places and this rise inn coffee.
I personable know several people who have either began drinking coffee or greatly increased their coffee consumption since this law passed in Michigan. Perhaps it is an exchange in a way of coping, perhaps it is a way of crating a healthier society, perhaps it is a way for the economy to make up loss sales in cigerattes. Wheezed the CSS is there seems to be some correspondence between a 6.00 pack of cigerates and a 6.00 cup of coffee.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Lions club reaches out to homeless teens
Friday, November 02, 2012
5 of my personal interactions from Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
This nineteen year old girl comes in and says she needs to talk. she tells me that her boyfriend (who happens to be a 45 year old heroine addict) was drunk last night and threatened to cut off her head. He then kicked her out. She related that she is going to look for a different place to live in a few weeks. I offered a few suggestions for immediately leaving him; she said she would think about it.
This twenty-three year old girl calls and says, " guess what happened?"
"What?", I say.
"My boyfriend (who happens to be a 38 year old guy addicted to prescription meds) beat me up, I have a black eye and bruises. "
"Where are you now?" I ask.
"I'm with another guy (who is a forty year old guy who doesn't seem to be addicted to anything). I have my two kids with me." She asks for some paperwork to get into some housing program. I tell her to keep safe and that we will be here if she needs anything. She says she might be around today, maybe Tuesday.
I guy comes in who just turned 18. "Check this out, Heath." He pulls up his sleeve to reveal a homemade tattoo, crooked, and smeared reading "Blood B$ Damnation". I say something about making sure it doesn't get infected. He seems so stoked about how cool it is. He does live in a garage, doesn't work, hasn't quite finished high school yet; but he has a brand spanking new tattoo. After reminding him for a couple weeks, he turns in a job application. He asks if we want a PlayStation, he tells me he is like Robin Hood.
This other guy I haven't talked to in a while, but I've been thinking about him. He lives under a bridge nearby. He's got a couch, end table, and some carpet. He works two part time jobs and has worked them for about six months. His dad just got hit by a car (that's what people are saying). He's got to be twenty-four by now. I just prayed for him.
Sometimes it seems like it might be nice to have a retail job. A place where people come in and buy things, you sell things, everyone says how are you; everyone responds with good, how are you. It really isn't that nice, but it is comforting knowing that not everyone is living on the edge of personal apocalypse. This guy said to me today, "i need to get one of these minute phones, lost mine yesterday. I have a phone holster for my belt and everything. I wasn't stretching or anything, it just seemed to fall out and by the end of the day it was gone. Well, that's my sad story; do you have one you want to share with me?" I told him about my cool coat that has a cellphone pocket that my phone never falls out of. He was buying a phone for 9.99 so we decided it would be a better deal for him to get the phone and use his holster instead of looking for a coat like mine.
This girl did the first concert where I work


