The Dilemma of a dilemma

The "Shame" Game...Another Fallen!

2009-02-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

NP- A story that is guaranteed to NOT be seen on ESPN, CNN or any other station watched by real people, here is the biggest sports/video game story of the century. A source close to the Dilemma has discovered some the names mentioned in the Toups report. The source reports that Kevin Ernst tested positive for steroids during the 2002 video game season as well as the 2008 Orangefield church basketball league. According to the report, this is the biggest name mentioned in the report. It is far too soon to know how this will affect the record books but it is certain that all of his Everquest stats from the 2002 season will be omitted.

Mr. Ernst was drafted right out of high school as a journey man golfer to junior college. After many failed attempts to expand his game, he then turned to computer and Playstation games. A phenom from the start, many younger high school students looked up to Kevin. Kevin’s career looked promising and he finally hit the big time not long after moving to Shreveport. While in the port, Kevin took a trainer, Seth, and they began to push the boundaries of video games everywhere. After smashing numerous feats such as conquering many dungeons and thwarting countless goblins, Kevin was prone to greatness. Not long after this, however, Kevin was traded back to Orangefield by his trainer Seth, for consideration. “Kevin was never the same” says a sobbing mother. “It was like he was a shell of a man, he turned to postal work, and lack luster video games and even prolonged his college education. We were worried he would never pull out of it.” Elmer , Kevin’s father was quoted saying. Then a new calling, Church basketball! Kevin once again regained his spark for life. He went through rigorous training by eating much pasta, and it was thought he had found his new way. It was not to be. Not long after the 2008 men’s basketball season, where his team was embarrassed off in the semi-finals, Kevin once again spiraled. While he was seen in contact with his former trainer Seth, it seemed that he was done. The source however says it wasn’t the game that gave up on Kevin, it was him who gave up on the game! Seth’s link to Kevin is no coincidence! Seth is the man behind the downfall of Kevin. Seth has been providing Kevin with performance enhancing equipment and drugs for over 8 years now. Seth was unavailable for contact as was Kevin, but this report can be devastating to his career. Other names mention in the steroid and performance enhancer report are Garret, Paul, and Abby.

The Gorilla

2009-01-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

Good day to all that read this! (I think that includes my whole crowd of Amber and Kevin) It has been quite some times since I updated my blog, but in the spirit of my friend Amber, I am going to make an effort to update my blog weekly. For the next few weeks, I will indulge you all with tales of what has been going on in my life as of late as well as discuss studies at our church as of late. Now let me ask you to be patient. Whether you are a believer or not one, PLEASE take the time to read this. I am not out to judge you I am out to open myself up to those around me. This is a realization and judgment of myself! Over the 8 week period (which started January 10th) we are doing something called Celebrating Recovery. This 8 week series is about getting to the truth of our lives, and discovering the “gorillas” we have in our lives beating us down and stealing parts of our lives from us. I am just going to be real with you all in this, so I am sure some of this will be like… yea we know this stuff about you nick… but sometimes you will say, Oh my gosh did he say that? Anyway, I won’t go into details about this series due to the fact that it is what this series is all about…step by step realization of our life troubles. R.E.C.O.V.E.R.Y. is the name of the game so I will combine the first two weeks to get you up to date. Now keep in mind I did the “R” back before hurricane Ike, and started this past weekend with the “E.” So let me lay it out now:

R: Realize
Like any good problem solving idea, you first must realize you have a problem. I always like to fake myself into believing that I have it all together, and of course I am not in bad shape at all. We all know, however, that we all have those small looming problems that could fester into something bigger if we allow it. So I sat down, in the silence of my room and thought about my life as a whole and started to “realize” this may be a deeper problem than I thought of course.

Stubborn – I am quite manipulative. I can use my powers of reason and debating to pretty much get my way with just about anyone of my friends. Do they realize this, maybe? The point is, I far too often allow my idea that I am the only one right at times get in the way.
Financial – Yes I do quite well for myself. In fact, I probably do better than most, and I save well but the problem is I do like to spend money. It isn’t like most people, I spend it on frivious stuff because it is the latest technology or I just find it to be cool…totally unnecessary
Women – Cool yourself here, not as you see it. I had often struggled with the close mindedness of some women due to the fact that I felt I wasn’t as bad as I was. I often sought after the “chase” of a woman like some game. It wasn’t till I basically gave up on the whole thing of dating that God finally said, now you are ready to date…Now why didn’t I realize this one earlier. Since I attended this “R” part of the series, I have met Joy, and realize God is much better than I am at the game of Love!
Time – School, tax season, Joy, family, friends, -- this doesn’t give me the proper time to spend considering where I am and what I should and shouldn’t be doing. I would never want to eliminate any of these (ok maybe school) but we must make time for ourselves and time for me and God to spend together.
Sloth – I haven’t always been this lazy and I dare not make excuses to why I feel lazy over the last 18 months. (Graduate School) It is time to understand, I can do this, if I give this to God, He can do anything!
Gluttony – God is to blame on this, chips and hot sauce is far too good. I learned earlier in 2008 that I can control this, and have done a much better job at it, but at times I do struggle, I think when I am just bored or in a state of hurt.

but like I said this is not about excuses… this is about realizing I have no one to blame about myself but myself.

My prayer for this series to carry out: “God, show me the areas of my life that I have blinded myself to and give me the desire to give them to you!”

E: Earnestly seeking God, realizing that I matter to Him, and that only God has the power to fix my problems.

Ok, here is where my borderline/non believer friends roll there eyes a little. They say, you need to help yourself out here Nick, and telling us that there is a supreme being out there who can do all of this is just a cheap way for you to justify your failure to do so. I am sympathetic to your words, and in a way you are right. I have no one to blame but me. I do what I do, because I only consider myself in what I do. I do not contribute my actions to those around me and in not doing so it can negatively affect my family and friends or blind me to my own imperfections.

Whether you are one who believes in my God or not, you MUST realize we are all in the same state. My pastor tells of a story that a friend said to him “Nathan, there are three types of areas we are all in, we are either getting close to a gorilla, dealing with a gorilla, or we have just dealt with one and another is beginning.” This is a negative way of approaching things if you take this wrong, but if you sit and think about it, it is also built for you challenge freaks out there. It is a challenge, to stare these problems in the face and do what you must to overcome. I had a friend tell me this once, and I use it a lot “Quit telling God how big your problems are, and start telling your problems how big your God is!” That statement says it all. I must take this time to say, I can not do this on my own. I am in over my head and can no longer control my own actions, and only God has the power to do such a thing.

My prayer: “God, I can no longer control myself. I do not have the ability to stop my own actions. I give all these actions and every aspect of my life to You! Only you have the power to change who I am, because obviously when I am in control I mess things up tremendously. Give me the desire to want to give it all to you, then the ability to do just that!”

I hope you will follow along with this as it unfolds, believer or non-believer. I am not out to judge anyone, or tell anyone how to live their life, I just want you all to be able to look at me as the man I am and see that it is love I am offering to the world and not the imperfections and evil that I let out. Evil is not a person who drinks or a person who parties or curses, but evil is a man/woman who does not give love, or show compassion for their fellow human being. We all have our vices, and beliefs but be honest with yourself, whether you believe in Jesus or not, wouldn’t you think this world would be a much better place if everyone in it just loved everyone as He did, and worked to serve people as He did? Think about that, Jesus didn’t force himself on anyone, all He did was love!

Why it is not so simple

2008-10-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

-usual rules of the dilemma blog, i write these blogs straight with no grammer or spelling correction or juggling of the issues because i am just speaking my mind...enjoy!*

The countdown to the Superbowl of politics is here and all I can say is what? The magnificent sparring duos have managed to make a mockery again out of the presidential process and once again this saddens me to no end. I am sure you who read this blog know that I am not much of a person to choose Democrat or Republican, but at the rate these presidential congressmen are moving, I might as well just stay home and not vote! Some point in the election, and for that matter every election that I have had the undo “vomit-worthy” time to watch, they need to point out that these idiots are running for president. Ok I get it, you must make false promises that you cant back up in order to get the countries attention so people will vote but by all means make false promises that the president/vice-president can actually carry out. Listen Obama/McCain you are not running for congress anymore. You can not make the laws, you enforce the laws. If you are going to step into the big boy spotlight, then it is about time you act like big boys. I might be the most difficult person in the entire world to convince who to vote for because I will not be swayed by your moronic attempts to appeal to my “wants” side. Once again the liberals and conservatives have show me they are like cows being led to the slaughter and vote simply because they don’t like bush, or they don’t like Clinton or they are a card carrying member of the democratic or republican party. Well news flash, I walk around with a pizza hut buffet card in my wallet, that doesn’t mean I am going to vote for them as the worlds healthiest food. (Sure you are all saying what???) If you carry one of these cards, wonderful, however …WHY? I mean seriously isn’t your patriotic duty to your country more important. The Republicans and the Democrats of your chosen party are not always right. Neither is that Ronald Reagan hair cut a certain friend of mine had in school, but that is a psychological issue that will be dealt with when he is older, in diapers and running around the nursing home like he is superman!

I have my friends (and you know who you are) who tell me it is simple, Obama is the only choice. I have family and other friends that say the US will fall unless we get McCain in office. Well here is a news flash… Bush was not that intelligent, but we are here and Clinton had sexual relations with an intern and we are still here. 4 to 40 years later we still have the same problems. Democrats and Republicans have yet to fix anything except the seriousness of the presidency. All we can talk about is bush’s “stoopidness” yet we had a real moron who brought shame to the white house just 9 years ago in his cheating ways and now he backs up his wife??? How interesting.

Why isn’t this simple? Why can’t the American public get a clue and realize what the presidency is all about. Why can’t we call out the candidates? I am beyond blaming the candidates at this point on, now I blame us. When are we going to wake up, realize the job of the president and hold him/her/it to just that? I had to come to the saddest realization a year or so ago and that is we will never elect a good president again because in order to be a good president, you have to be what a president is: A upholder of the law and honest! People just wont vote for the honest man, even though it hurts.

So do me a favor oh mighty straight ticket Democratic and republican voters, apologize to me for ruining the office I hold most high and then take a bow. You have officially made me sad.

The New "Ride"

2008-08-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

It is finally here! For those who have been keeping up with the life according the Nick, I have spent the last 3 or so weeks vehicle shopping. Test driving just about every small SUV I could, narrowing my search to the CR-V, Escape, Mariner and the Santa Fe...It left for a difficult decision. In the end, it all comes down to the power of Honda and the resale ability of their vehicles as well as the quality. Through bidding wars and such, I finally got one in the price range my cheap self would pay...and the results is i have my Vehicle! I hope you all enjoy looking at it like i enjoy driving it!

"In the Trenches" The Heroic Tale of Kevin & Nick

2008-08-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

A cold night, one not fit for most to be out and about on, however, when it concerns life or death there is no choice. With the death of night creeping to its darkest hour and the only thing one can hear is his own heartbeat and the footsteps that are marked by a trembling of the hands and a nervousness of being discovered, two men hurry on in hopes of freedom. This was no ordinary camp and these were no ordinary men, for I know one of them as well as I can know anything and to tell you now that they are heroes, you would never believe. Here they are the only two captives of a horrible regime that is hell bent on world domination and they are doing so by moving the world to their every demand. One mile from this encampment is the possibility of freedom, but can they do it. German voices ring out in terror as they make a grave discovery…they are gone! Soldiers mount up in arms, and though the two men can’t understand what they are saying there is one thing for certain, killing is on their minds. Into a tent the two brave men run where Kevin notices a tank. For those who know Kevin, you know he is never shy about stepping outside the bounds of the regular to have a laugh or two, but is this a time for jokes? Kevin climbs the tank, which its massive size is compared to a small building, and prepares to ride his chariot to freedom. Nick mounts the turret on the tank and they take off to a shrill of German horror. How fitting is it that two German descendants are now going to be the ones to take down this power hungry army. With a mighty cannon blast, Kevin smokes an on coming jeep with 6 Nazis in it and with a loud explosion there are no survivors. Not to be one who just kills with a cannon, he turns his focus to running over small groups of Nazis which for some reason doesn’t kill them but instead angers them more. Another explosion as well as fire and screaming signals that Kevin has just torched two more jeeps and ran over 3 buildings that lay in his path. Camera flashes go off all around, people are not just screaming for fear but there is much cheering as well. Street clothed people in tourist clothes enjoy the show as two men wipe out an entire base. The fence crumbles below the pressure of the tank as Kevin and Nick flee into the streets of San Francisco in hopes for freedom. It is decided, there is no way they can out run the army of Nazis by tank, so they abandon the tank and flee to a familiar hotel they stayed at when last here. No where to hide, they flee away from Chinatown and duck into a darkened stairwell. There was no where to go. The door above has been sealed off, so the brave men hid in the shadows of the stairwell hoping to not be detected. Is this it? Are they finished? Suddenly the face of a young Asian Nazi soldier appears in the glass door. Unable to completely hide, they were easily detected and this was sure to be the last run of the brave duo. The Asian gentleman smiled and gave a quick thumbs-up to the heroes, and turned to the Nazis and told them that there was no one in there. A sigh of relief laid out over the cold air as the Nazi soldiers moved on. Leaving their hiding spot to move on, they were spotted by 3 rogue soldiers and a fight ensued. Nick easily took out two of the soldiers while Kevin gutted the third with a broken piece of glass he had found. There was no blood, what does this mean? Hearing footsteps, Kevin opened a man cover into the sewer. The greasy residue was exactly like a pizza hut grease trap and it wreaked of year old food. They pushed on till the air started to clear and the end of the tunnel was in sight. Kevin easily tossed the man hole cover aside to reveal they were at the fisherman’s wharf looking out at the shore of two American allies: the French and the Spanish. It has seemed that the Nazi soldiers had moved San Francisco to England and the brave heroes were not in America. Their mission clear, their goals set they decided to split up and swim to apposing shores in order to get help and make it back to the US. Nick swam off to Spain while Kevin swam for France. The water was freezing, fighting through ice and the burden of the long journey meant that this task would not be easy by any means. Then a flash and a click, a light shown out over all he could see. Nick struggled to see what was going on…it was his computer monitor! WHAT IN THE WORLD? Man, I don’t know what I ate before bed last night, but that was the funkiest dream of all time!

Has the Media already elected our next president?

2008-07-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

First of all before I begin, lets keep in mind the spirit of Nick’s blog posts…I post them straight without correction because I type straight from my heart. I don’t type to change my mind half way through and I do bounce around a lot as usual but keep in mind the spirit of what I write and as always keep in mind that these are my words, and you do not have to think like me at all! Now on to the post….

Do me a favor and read that title and truly think about it!
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Now I know there are liberals out there who are saying “Tough, that is politics!” and then there are conservatives out there saying “This isn’t fair, give equal face time…that is what is right!” My blog post purpose is to say this “know the facts!” To me, as sad as it seems, it looks like the media has already knighted Obama the next president of the United States. They amount of focus on his campaign is quite sickening. Now am I going to vote for him…ehhhh. Do I feel strong for McCain…ehhhh. The next goofball that comes up to me and says race is an issue I will slap them, if you tell me age I will kick you and most of all if you tell me not to elect another republican to office I will remind you that the person makes the office not the party. Now sure, the beliefs of that man as it comes to political parties will weigh in on his decisions but far be it from me to believe more than 10% of what is said by either candidate. “We need a change!” You are so correct sir/ma’am we do need a change, however this can only take place when the democrats and republicans put aside their pig headed ways and open themselves up to the possiblilites of a country no longer divided. Yes, as one of my friends would say we need the different parties to keep our country from being run by one set of ideas that could lead to a dictatorship, but do we need to be so far divided that it tears our country into pieces?

Far be it for me to be conservative or liberal. Anyone who knows me thinks they know exactly what I am…my liberal friends call me conservative and my conservative friends call me liberal. Now what does that tell you? Here is the crux of it all just in case you don’t truly know me and that is…I want you to think about your decisions. Do not base your choice what GW did while he was in office or how Carter messed up or the Clinton affair, but instead base your decision on what you feel is right and just as it comes to running our country. Both sides want to whine about how there are people out there who are “idiot” voters, you know ones that vote because someone fed them false information, however no one is willing to stop feeding the false information.

Let me turn my focus to the media. Now before the sides say I support Rush Butterball or Billary Clinton (yes that is misspelled like that on PURPOSE) but the truth is I just can’t stand either side. I am as hard headed as they come, but when I run into ignorant people who feel either side is the perfect way to run the country…I just puke.

I am calling for a change! Liberals, Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, Left wing, right wing, chicken wing…I don’t care who you are, you need to listen up because this is what the people who are out there are saying! Give me the facts. Give me the facts. GIVE ME THE FACTS! No more dancing around questions, tell me what you believe and what you see our country needs. Then write all of this down and give it to me. Educate me. Make me a smarter voter. Speak to me in a way I can comprehend. You want a true difference in this country… you want people to vote as they should vote? Then…step off your stage, put down your thesaurus and look me in the eye and tell me what you think is wrong, and what you think is right and how can we fix and maintain this. Tell me how you are going to fix Social Security! (Not that it is broke in the first place, it shouldn’t even be around anymore…another story for another time) Show me how we can get health care to everyone! Show me how you fix welfare and the tax evaders. Show me how you are going to fix the “illegal alien” issue…by the way hate that word set…they are freaking people too! Sure they get advantages I think they shouldn’t get as non citizens but I feel there are more people out there who are citizens who do the same thing and oh by the way they don’t work at all because they are lazy! Everyone out there wants to tell me there is one thing wrong here and there, well sister/brother there is A LOT wrong out there. Tell me your solutions.

You are right…it may not be what will win when it comes to the presidency but all I want is a good, honest candidate! I want what ever we put into office to stand for what we voted them in for! Not because someone told me that “this candidate is the best!”

So a few things I think the people cry out for as the time to vote approaches:

To the media:
- Show me some equal face time, and try to be middle of the road so I can see the candidates for who they really are!

To the Candidates:
- Show me the facts. Give me the real answers whether they are popular or not!
- Educate me as a voter.

To the extreme Liberals and Conservatives:
- give me the facts of your party only and not the other, let me decide which is more ethical and most closely follow my beliefs. An election based off lies or twisted truths is one that will cause country division over and over…aren’t you not tired of this yet?
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- Demonstrate the passion in what you believe by living your beliefs and not downgrading someone because they believe different…you are too old for me to tell you this but “name calling” and “tattletales” are just childish and petty.

*if you follow this, I will promise this as a voter*
- We will be better prepared and we will elect the right candidate
- We will respect the presidency and government a whole lot more
- We will be better educated! And changes will get made!

“Honesty may not be the popular approach, but it is the proper one.”

The End of an Era

2008-07-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hello and good evening to all that read this blog (which is Amber, Kevin, Garret, Chris and possibly Ray)

Something that i have often considered was a change in style for me. Now for those of you that have known me for an extreme amount of time know that i have had the same hair cut for my ENTIRE life! Well...due to the persuading quite a few friends i have made a change and well...i figured i would post a pic. Well i tried about 1 million times to take a photo of it, and couldn't get a good photo so the closest thing i have is this i hate the world look...so i don't hate the world...and this is the best i can come up with! So this is the new photo...and i will try to actually acquire a camera and do better next time!!!!!

If you're going to San Fran-ciscoooooo......

2008-06-17T20:09:00.000-07:00

So i thought i would post a small blog, which will turn into a large post i am sure because i type sometimes just to type. As usual, the normal rules of "nick's blog" apply...I post a straight post and i do not edit it. So i am just going to say it all now!!!
This weekend i spent some time in San Francisco, napa and sonomoa valley among other places with possible 4 of the coolest people on the planet. I have officially seen enough fog to last me a life time, and just to let you know unlike the sahara desert we live in here...San Fran was a balmy 70 degree average! Here are a few things i must put about the trip though...

1. In San Francisco, the weather can go from 55 to 75 and back again in a matter of an hour!

2. 100 dollar hotels in San Fran still look like rat motels....but nice rat motels!

3. CHOCOLATE RAIN!

4. go to the highest point in San Fran...and look out at the majesty....or the fog.

5. If you go to the valleys to "wine tasting" don't forget to try the cheese and most of all don't forget to taste the wine before 5pm...that's closing time!

6. $50 meat....make that $65 with a drink! You are joking right?

7. CHOCOLATE RAIN!

8. Alcohol + people = vomit!

9. even bums celebrate father's day...and....all they get for father's day is "this f'n shirt!"

10. Ric Flair...was in california!...no really!

11. People have no clue how to drive in california...and i know for a fact i rode with their driving teacher!!!!!

12. When applying sunscreen...apply it all over and not for what you think you are going to wear because things change and your sunscreen wont!

13. if you are at a bar...and you want alcohol after last call...and it is midnight...and you are sprinting to find some alcohol...remember this important fact....they still sell alcohol at stores till 2am...and you are sprinting for nothing!

14. Hotel rooms in pictures are smaller than they appear...testify

15. because i know amber is reading this...and i haven't said it in a while...CHOCOLATE RAIN!

16. Did you know that it is still cool to look at cells? DID YOU?

17. Ray...my new friend...i hate the Yankees....you should too i dont care if you are from that area!!!!!

18. I am not old...and drive in movies are cool...so BITE ME!

19. Garret is the king of the Stallions!

20. and one more time for Amber....CHOCOLATE RAIN!!!!!!

- that will do for now...i plan on a part two and with more pictures :)

Are we "friends" or friends?

2008-06-10T04:11:00.000-07:00

I have been considering what to post on for my next installment of anything, and my mind had continuously drew a blank. So today...in order to just put a post, I would like to post on reality.

Ok this is a post about just a few things that I have gathered in the last few weeks and I guess I could categorize them into the rants and raves such but I won't. I typed this in one setting and on purpose. I do not want my heart to just spill out and then edit it to make it where it hurts no ones feelings. We should speak our heart more often. So in this post, i will roam and get off on bunny trails and for that I am sorry but i think that sometimes our heart starts us one place and takes us another...so why ask my own heart to change?

This blog post is about the pain of friendship, what friendship needs to fix, and how the love we can show a friend leads to how God works!

1. Our foundation may be great but what we build on it is never what it seems!
-What do I mean by this? I have had a conversation with a friend not to long ago (and if they are reading this...sorry to air this out) and we both realized that sometimes friends aren't always where we thought they were with us. Our life is made up of many different aspects from our relationship with in my case Christ to our friends, family, everyday life, and work and sometimes we do put our faith in other people. Is anything what we actually believe it is? I really struggle with what the term "friend" means and wonder if it is as watered down if not more watered down than the word "love." Let us just say this has not been a good few weeks in the old friends department and this is not meant to be depressing but truth to light...sometimes those who you think would stick by you or care for you are those who are dogging you and breaking your spirit behind you!
---The quick fix: I have spent my week praying about this. We are all guilty of a little behind the back badgering and if you say you don't...think again! If you are one of my friends, I have heard you belittle someone somewhere on a multiple basis so you are as guilty of it as I am. I am calling those out there who actually care about the people around them to examine yourself some. Before you start bashing or making your comment about a person, take a second and remember what it feels like to hear those words of negativity yourself. Now I am also calling you same people to stand up for your friends or for people that may be getting belittled. If not for anyone else but me...If you catch me in this, I encourage you to offer me a quick reminder about that. Guys & Gals we are called to love Jesus and love our neighbors. Accept them for who they are for it is not our jobs to judge any of their faults.
---On the other note: Something else that needs to be brought into your new found kindness is another understanding from the other end. People need to understand that when you are nice to someone or just changed your tune with another ...that it is Christ's love shinning through. This next part is for those out there who assume someone is being nice because they have a "thing" for that person or on the other side of the looking glass...people who take nice-ness from others as the person having a crush or the person being of ultimate interest - - - You need to quit over assuming! Though it is not common for you to see someone showing honesty and compassion to you, you should not take it for granted. Kindness comes from those who are offering love to people in order to work you in a position where you would show an equal friendship love to others. NOWWWWW think for a minute...if everybody did this would we be a society filled with jerks and people out for foolish gain? I know what you are saying, but Nick I am one person so if i did it I may affect one person ...blah blah blah my idea of compassion wont make a difference...blah blah blah. Remember...as the pastor of a church said a couple weeks ago...It was a 6th grade teacher that led a young man to Christ, who led another to Christ, who lead another to Christ, who led another to Christ, who led Billy Graham to Christ...Love is contageous! That is how God works. He created love so that when shared ...it could be this amazing bond of people as well as an amazing bond between us and Him.

So in summary...
1. Try becoming a friend to the people you already call "friends."
2. Remember the heart of another when you speak about them and no one is around.
3. Take the love shown to you at face value...a friend reaching out in compassion to a friend
4. Most important, know whether you show love or not...what you do or say or how you treat a person today could affect future generations. Set the heart right and love people and somewhere down the road you may see the next great person.

Thanks for reading my thoughts
-Nick

Rants quod raves per a verus idiot secui duos

2008-05-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

That, for those who don't know, is latin for rants and raves by a true idiot...part two! Just to make my blog a little more current, i decided to post some more random thoughts by the legend that is Nick!

1. Lance Berkman is a freak. The guy is considered to be in a slump when he is 1 for his last 10 at bats...just about every player in the league not named chipper jones has had at least 3 segments like that or a segment that is even longer! SO how does he answer...3 for 5 with two doubles! If he doesn't win MVP this year...it is rigged!

2. Movies today are too obsessed with explosions and "jittery" action scenes where you can't even see the fights! Come on hollywood this is one time when i say you should go back in time and learn from the older movies just a little!

3. Reading your bible and praying can not help your singing even if you are doing it where no one can hear it...You can still hear it and I SOUND AWFUL

4. No doubt about it, the Kevin burger should be on every menu in america!

5. And while on the subject of food....check out the amberbama blog on chicken recipes...i have not found one yet that doesnt taste like gold!!!

6. I am going to learn latin and that excites me!

7. I can not stand being "set-up"...talk about an empty feeling after a failure...whew

8. I do not think there is anything better in life than watching a stros game with bowl of gumbo...i just dont think there is!

9. I find myself amazed at how God can tailor a book for individual studies to my immediate life...of course i find it amazing that God does what he does for us in the first place.

10. I have said it before and i will say it again...no matter how you slice it...a salad is still a salad ...boring and tasteless!

11. Abby (kevin's dog) has an endless supply of snot that you will surely be wearing on any visit to casa de kevin....just get used to it!

12. weight gain and loss is like the lottery...sure you think you got the winning numbers but what you really have is a useless piece of paper!!!!

13. How many people just read that and said...WHAT!?!

14. What is up with work actually expecting us to work...i mean are you freaking kidding me?????

15. If you dont pay the IRS they WILL get you...you do not have some super powers that they cant see you or a way of manipulation ...You will get busted and you will be like wesley snipes...a prisioners love slave!

16. Sleep is not over rated...not by any stretch of the imagination

17. Golf hates me...i must accept that

18. and for that matter so does just about every other sport!!!

19. I'm done....now if you got a rant...POST it to my comments...i love a good one!!!

The 1st Week

2008-05-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

I feel the need to reveal to my friends and family of my week.
As those of you that have read in my previous blogs know of a struggle that I have had, it has been a bit rough on me for sometime now. Well, this is what I feel to be a turning point week for me. I started a new study on great lives in the Bible, and I tell you what it just seems that every single day since i started this book i have been amazed. Every day, my study had almost directly related with that day or with a struggle that i have dealt with. It amazes me how God can do what He does on a daily basis and still we question Him. This blog is sweet, short and to the point. God is good, all the time.....All the time, God is good!!!
We all struggle, but as for the night and this week I have considered myself on my knees before the thrown of the almighty God.

My Struggle

2008-04-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

I have decided to do a little random thing here, for the first time on my blog and since i am sure it is only viewed by maybe 4 to 8 people...it will be quick!

I have had the same song lyric in my head now for well over 5 hours, and not only am i not tired of it, BUT every time I sing it...It makes me think deeper!
-"Must be some mistake, 'cause I'm not worth the price that you paid."
You know, I get on here often and say I feel i am extremely far from God, and I wonder why I make it so difficult. Lately, I have found myself at my friends house, and talking to assorted people and so completely lost. Yes, I am sure that there are many jokes or people saying...wow here we go, but it really is a dedicated struggle. It is My struggle. Lately I have felt so completely worthless and I can convince myself that I am of any worth what so ever. In my mind, I look for a way out, and before someone says...oh my gosh suicide...NOT A CHANCE that is not even where I am going, and if you knew me in anyway you would know that all the way. I do not know how to put it into words what I feel missing, but in a way I can almost feel a friend of mine telling me that it is a struggle we all face in life. Why do such things mean nothing to anyone in the greater scheme of things?
-"But I can hear them still, as the whispers laced with hatred fill this room."
Another line from this song, one of so many and of course i will post the entire lyrics at the end of this piece so you can see, it is an extremely powerful song. One that I can't believe yet it speaks my mind and makes me think so much. Right now, I feel so dirty. I told a friend of mine, I don't truly love anything about myself at this moment, and he said we all feel that way but I truly feel this is beyond the norm. God, I really need You...That is my constant speech, but I feel He can't hear me in anyway...I know He does, but when you hit that place of complete loneliness inside, you are at a loss. My best friend pointed that out to me today, something that I have noticed about myself. When my jokes come in higher numbers, or when my insults (friendly of course) or when i lash out in the dumbest of moments, that is when I am reaching a point of total loss. I have hidden these feelings, and well i must say...I don't see any light. I look ahead of me, and see nothing. I look behind me and see opportunities lost. I feel at times that God has seen something good in me, yet I pick that apart. I truly have the best friends in the world, but I just feel alone. This is not a dating thing, this is me in a in depth struggle to find myself in God. I will say this, as I conclude something that I am sure that has bored all 4 of my readers to tears...I feel completely beneath every person on the planet right now... Unworthy not only of my family, but my friends, of just about any woman, and most important, my God and King.
- "Guess I'm wasting my time, How could you love a man like me?"

"My Struggle" - Seventh Day Slumber (Picking up the Pieces)
Must be some mistake
'Cause I'm not worth the price you paid.
With every passing hour
I convince myself that you saw something in me.
But I can hear them still,
As the whispers laced with hatred fill the room.
Guess I'm wasting my time
How could you love a man like me?

Lord I need your strength
'Cause I am weak and falling to my knees.
Who is on my side?
'Cause I can't tell my friends from enemies.
Filling up with pain.
Bitterness controls the air I breathe.
What am I fighting for?
Do you have a plan for me?

Must be some mistake
'Cause I'm not worth the price you paid.
With every passing hour,
I convince myself that you saw something in me.
But I can hear them still,
As the whispers laced with hatred fill the room.
Guess I'm wasting my time
How could you love a man like me?

Must be some mistake.
'Cause I'm not worth the price you paid.

Are we starting over?

2008-04-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

I know it has been since extreme late February since I have last posted, and with good reason! I had a rough month of March for the diet and exercise program. Now although I did not gain any weight, I did not make any ground on my ultimate long term goal of 100 lbs. This would be a sign for discouragement and disappointment except we are now in April and it is a new game! Being down 31 lbs going into march, I was poised to take command and fly down to my first set goal of 50 but during the month of March, Tax season hit me hard. School projects came due, and well i lost my focus for a month.

So where am I at now? Are we starting over?

The answer is no! To start over means that I had to have quit. That is something that i did not do. We take our first jump into April, and i am already back to being a "loser" again. Weighing in for two straight days at a loss of 36.5 lbs for the year means that in a mere 13 days of march that i have lost 5.5 lbs. (Just for reference, i weighed in at a loss almost exactly 31 lbs at the end of March, Thus the not gaining or losing during that month) I am back to walking 18 holes of golf every weekend and that is a good calorie burner in its own right as well as basketball with the guys so I have a few more realizations to add to my list:

1. If you are fare to pale skinned, 4 hours of golf = MAJOR SUNBURN

2. According to the law of physics, when eating chicken for more than a couple of weeks...It loses its taste! (sad i know)

3. I looked for loop holes, but no where in those loop holes is there a place in a diet for Mexican food!

4. one more thing on sunburns that i forgot to mention...Major Sunburns = No Sleep

5. (non weight issue but it has to be mentioned) When needing help with your taxes, It is a must to wait till the last week of tax season and then expect them to be done! Obviously your return is the top most priority and i should stop everything i am doing to do yours! (complete sarcasm)

Anywho...That is the update! 36.5 - - pushing for 50 by the california trip in June... Will it happen? Will he make it??? Stay tuned!

Keep on Rollin' ...................................

2008-02-24T17:47:00.000-08:00

Well it comes down to the final amount of time. Much I am sure to the delight of all those who have been dying to know, my birthday is the deadline for my first diet goal. So I have to tell it in order to maintain my honesty about the diet. The goal: 50 lbs from January 2^nd to March 11^th! Here it is February 24^th, and well I have to say it is looking very bleak. So I need the joint effort of those around me to help achieve my goal. As of February 22^nd, I weighed in at a loss of 31.5 lbs which puts me at only 18.5 lbs below my goal. I need to lose that weight in 18 days (18 because I didn’t weigh myself on Saturday) I am confident that I can pull out this miracle, but I wanted to point out that we are making it. I have only found one problem with all this weight loss, my golf game suffers a ton due to the fact I tailored my game around what I was and now that I swing faster and with more power and such, it just won’t adjust. However, wish me luck and Kevin…do not insult my golf game or lack there of.

The Politics of "Giants" vs. "Patriots"

2008-02-04T13:19:00.000-08:00

Those of you who are in hot dreams about super Tuesday allow me to take a minute and dump some ice down your shirt…Super Sunday spells it all. As I partake in the embarrassment of the Media proclaiming Democrats as champions long before the white house is won, I am reminded of another bunch of media idiots who dared to make such a bold predictions…this dedication goes out to ESPN, FOX Sports, CNN, Sports Illustrated and any sports journalism out there in the world…one headline…The New York Giants says eat crap and die! I grew so tired of the Patriot hype that I was forced to cheer for the Giants on Sunday. Now don’t get me wrong, I like Eli Manning, and who shouldn’t. The guy only goes out and plays accepting more blame and having more critics than any other player in the NFL while Playgirl model Tom Brady could do no wrong. I mean there was less than 3 minutes left and the announcers were like no way, this one is over as so the media was saying as well. Yet with 30 seconds left on the clock, people were like…It is still Tom Brady’s game to lose and he is the greatest and he can get the job done. Well for one night, I was a Giant’s fan, and I am thankful for what they have done.
So what am I going on about? Well the thing is, I am a little fed up with this “Democratic” politics that goes on in the media. I have never professed to be republican or democrat, but I am far from in love with what I am seeing. I have had friends basically call me a fool for not being a democrat/republican or being so closed minded to anything but the democratic ticket or republican ticket that it makes me sick. Here is something for all of you friends out there who find me a fool…I will always vote on my morals, I will always vote my heart, and I will NEVER vote straight ticket. I will never be a democrat, and I will never be a republican. Call me a fool for actually wanting to know the issues and the standards of a man or woman who is running for the sake of my area. Call me a fool for believing in those “Giants.” Look here is the thing, to those out there who vote how you do, good for you I guess but the thing is…Do not call me a fool for voting my heart and my morals. Do not call me a fool for supporting or opposing the war. Do not call me a fool for wanting universal health care or leaving the system the way it is. Why? It is freedom of beliefs and opinions that inspired this nation to be founded. It is my freedom to vote how I choose. If you ask me, by calling me a fool for doing what is in my rights to do, you are being the fool. Whether you are democrat or republican or independent, you have the right to vote how you feel. No one should be a fool for their beliefs. No one should be a fool because they don’t agree with democrats or republicans.
In conclusion, fools, Do not degrade me for what I believe. The Patriots did not win last night, they are no longer perfect. You can tell your media happy liberal markets that I said divide the coverage equally and give people the option to choose. Most important, remember…The game isn’t over because of what the media outlets tell you, and they do NOT speak for an entire nation but only their own self righteous needs. You research, vote your heart and stand behind what you believe. However, before you get your gloats in republicans, I say tell ole Rush to have another hamburger, and tell Sean Hanniiidont care what his last name is to shut up. I mean really you are more annoying than most democrats. It will be a cold day in the place of death before I will accept their moronic idealisms on how they are right all the time. Left, Right…Grow up…your way is not the only way. Only one thing will EVER be absolute and that is God, and He is still on His throne…Deal with it!

On a "Lite" note...

2008-01-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

The diet continues, and as my crankier side I have a few more tidbits of joy for those of you out there who are out for self improvement…It is not easy! Let me set the record straight on a few things, there are no such things as miracle diets and drugs that will overall help you blow fat out of your body like Brad blows through hotdogs! If you go into things believing that all will be fantastic in a few days or envision your self going into a diet or workout program thinking I will be perfect in 3 weeks…YOU ARE DEAD WRONG. I think I can safely say that 100% of failure comes from people thinking that you can rebuild your body in a matter of weeks. If that were true, then no one would have self discipline. I mean think about it, If you could eat all the pizza, pasta, and Mexican food you wanted knowing you could lose the weight in 2 to 3 weeks…no one would live past 30! Heart Attacks would be at an alarming rate (as if they aren’t already) and people would suffer from high blood pressure starting at 16!

So why do I come on here and complain? Well the biggest reason is to just blow off some steam. This has been a tough week with me losing Kevin for the week, I felt that I may have not pushed myself enough. Work is increasing at an alarming rate because it is tax season and we shall not forget school began 2 weeks ago. Welcome to the threshold. This is the toughest thing about a diet, is getting back on the weight bench or the treadmill when things get hard. There is no sugar coating, and no compromising. I have drawn on the strengths I have to make it through now and reach the ultimate prize. Now I see you are all saying “wow, this guy needs to get ahold of himself, and quit crying and just do it!” I say to all of you, handle your things in your own way, but let me be! I would like to take this moment in my blog to thank an inner circle of people who make this all worth it…

1. My Mom – In my dedication to lose weight she has stood behind me and done me one better - - She started to quit smoking the same day I did. Do you want any more motivation than that? She has smoked since she was 13, and according to her calendar that is 8 years now….according to the worlds calendar that is 43 years!!! Yesterday, as I spent the day with her and my dad I watched her close…she had 4 cigarettes!!! To tell you how amazing that is, I used to call my mom “Two-Pac” (Tupac pun). That is extreme motivation!
2. My Dad – He too is on a goal of his own, to live long enough to see his grand kids grow up…he hits the treadmill daily trying to make his life better. Asking me daily and if he catches me breaking my diet he takes whatever I got from me. (And honestly that hasn’t been often)
3. Kevin E. – He could do all his stuff on his own, and has more than an ability to lose weight when he so chooses. He included me in, and I know he won’t say it out loud but I know it is because he cares enough as a friend to help me through all of this. He wants me to be healthy just as much as I do! That is a true friend!
4. Garret H. - I have yet to have a day in this diet where I haven’t heard from Garret. I have not heard one negative word from him and he kills me with encouragement. He is nosy about what I eat and do, and if I didn’t feel like I had to account to him on a daily basis, I don’t think I would have worked as hard at this. Another True Friend!
5. Jeff F. – I know what some of you are saying, and that is Jeff? Jeff has been around though all of this and making sure I know that what I am doing is difficult and rewarding.
6. The rest of my friends – For their encouragement when I need it…we are still going…
7. Jesus – What would be a list without listing the one true King. I listed Jesus last because i want His noting to be the last one read so it sticks to your thoughts. There have been many nights I have laid in my bed and just asked him why I have to be like I am. There have been many times where I have got angry because of what I have done to myself…and you know what? He has been more than big enough to listen. Where my friends get to hear all the greatness of it all, Jesus gets to see the ugly side of me. He has been as much a savior as He has been my rock! People pay compliments for what God does on a daily basis, but allow me to pay a compliment for something He hasn’t done…He has not given me the easy way out. Through all of this, He is on his throne and everytime I feel like giving up, He gives me just what I need to continue. You want a diet partner, you want a partner for live, someone who can take you beyond anything you could ever imagine…You should give Him a call! I never say it enough, but I want You to know Jesus that I am grateful for all you have done, are doing, and will continue to do! No matter how far I must walk into the fire!!!!!

So I conclude this blog with something I am sure you all are wanting to know if you know me…How Much? Well I had my weigh in on Friday, Jan 25th and that was the official 24th day of our diet/exercise and I officially am down 20 lbs. I have so many great friends, and so much motivation…I have been asked if I am going to stick with this…my answer…I am sure I will!

(On a side note, if I lose over 100lbs, Kevin said he would let me put up one of those billboards that says I am his weight loss hero and he would take the picture…that ought to be funny…right?)

"Weighing" in on an important matter

2008-01-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolutions sometimes seem unrealistic. The ones such as "I'm going to quit smoking" or "This year I am going to lose weight and work out more" just seem like too much to reach for. I have always hated when people make these "resolutions" because seriously...you are not going to do it.

So in keeping with the tradition of doing things i really hate, I give you my New Year's Resolution. As all my friends know, I have decided to lose weight. So as i venture into day 5 of this horrid idea, I have drawn a few conclusions:

1. Kevin is the Devil. He told me he was "going to take me to hell and back", well let me tell you I think he drove the bus to hell and then LEFT ME BEHIND!
2. No matter how you spice it...A Salad is still a Salad....BLAND
3. If you have not worked out in oh lets say 13 or so years, do not try to lift about 80% of the max of what you can do in 3 reps of 10
4. Ben Gay & Sportscream as well as Mineral Ice do not help...neither does any other pain releiver!
5. There is always the fattest guy in the room. If you look around and don't see him...well that is because i am in the bathroom puking my guts up from running!
6. Since I have not mentioned it in a few minutes, Kevin sucks!
7. Jerad from Subway is a lying crack whore...no one can tolerate subway 3 times a day everyday for over a year...just not possible!!!!
8. Right now, I would kill for some chips and hot sauce
9. You can not loose 50 lbs in 5 days like I was once told by a magical unicorn when i was at hogwarts a few weeks back
10. I still don't understand why God won't program us to be healthy even when we are fat...and make all those who are skinny ..unhealthy till they get fat. (No offense to my skinny friends out there...)
11. No matter how much i pay him, Kevin won't let me quit...so He still sucks!
12. The saying "I am going to lose weight or it will kill me" may just come true and you are all invited to my funeral.

And to recap a few other false myths: When you wish apon a star, dreams do NOT come true! If you believe in yourself, you can achieve miracles...HAHAHA, and finally God helps those who help themselves...Well that is a crap lie anyway!!! Any Questions feel free to contact the devil at his website...he may also be named the trailer guru~!

I'm dreaming of some kind of Christmas...

2007-12-19T11:11:00.000-08:00

So this is the time of year where everybody spreads their Christmas cheer and celebrates the holiday…Wonderful. Nothing I love more than the opportunity to witness people who are complete jackasses year around turn their lives around thinking that possibly the could be getting that blow-up doll for Christmas they always wanted, or maybe even some over priced piece of technology, only to come and find out that someone made them some hand made piece of crap or went looking through a junk yard for some glasses to store “goodies” in for their children. (see this listing of great do-it-yourself christmas items http://amberbama.blogspot.com/2007/12/blue-christmas.html)
Do you know what this does to human society, it gives them another reason to increase their hatred of their fellow man/woman/beast and we have things such as Michael Vick! By being cheap and “making” your gifts you are not showing love, you are being cheap and insane all the while your “cool” friends are buying you actual gifts…great job bone head. Here are just a few items however that I would like to see on the market by no later than next Christmas so that I can finally get something real for Christmas instead of some made up piece of crap…

1. George W. Bush vocabulary board game – Hours of fun as you attempt to pick through something he said in order to determine what the word actually means or if it exists. (Good for up to 8 players)
2. Smarter than a Med-student – why should I waste my time and ego on something as simple as being smarter than a 5th grader when I can have all the joy and fun of being as smart as some idiot who decided to go to school for an extra 10 or so years and rack up a million dollars in student loans. Then they can be sued by some trailer park trash of a person who overdosed on their meds while watching cops to see which family members are coming to Christmas and which ones who will need care packages.
3. Windows Vista repair kit – (AKA a stick of dynamite) do I need to explain this, because if I do then I need to do it after I reboot my computer for the 10th time today thanks to the wonderful world of vista!
4. Pop-up, spam mail return to sender device – this device, once connected to your computer…if you get a pop up or an email that you are so tired of getting, well this device will send a message back to the senders computer or the pop up starters computer a million times over…that will teach them bastards…oh well all except the one person who has a billion euros he is trying to give me, that guy/girl is cool!!!
5. “How to get a foreign grant and take advantage of the USA” by Akeel Fransisco Akezzilymaniariay – Enough Said!
6. The White Trash/Black Gangsta Car enhancement kit – Why ride in a vehicle that is normal and gets good gas mileage and doesn’t scrape when I go over a bump when I can put spinners on my wheels to distract other drivers, paint my car some awful color and install the latest speakers into my car so I can go deaf in a matter of days. I mean come on my music is so good that everyone inside a square mile should be able to enjoy it. Besides, when Kenny chesnesy (or however you spell his name) and Snoop dogg get together to make a CD I want to be able to blare that “Crap” so loud that not only will it suck for all around, but it will cause a rise in the suicide rate! (Follow me people on the “crap” it is when you take country music and mix it with rap music…two completely useless genres of music wrapped into one fantastic piece of …..) ALSO…my car will need to do as much useful crap as possible, such as light up underneath so everyone can see that I am on the street, and hop up and down just in case I need to stir up my chocolate milk and I don’t have a spoon handy!!!

Well…that is what I think will make my Christmas a wonderful one…so whoever is the king of inventions out there, get on this as fast as possible…I mean there is not much time till the 2008 Christmas commercials start (I think sometime in March) and we want these to be out on market!

Golden Triangle Survey for Extra Credit

2007-11-08T15:51:00.000-08:00

If you read this and you live in the GT in the Texas area, please reply to this with the answers to this survey so i can get extra credit for my Statistic class
Thanks
Nick

GOLDEN TRIANGLE AREA ENVIRONMENT SURVEY

Interviewer ID: ____________________________________

Ask Survey Participant these questions or have Participant fill out completely:
Gender: M F [circle one] Age: __________ Years Zip Code:____________
Ethnicity [circle one]: African-American Asian Hispanic White Other
Marital Status: Single Married Number of children: 0 1 2 3 4 or more
In which area do you live? [circle one]:
Beaumont Port Arthur Nederland Port Neches Orange Vidor Groves None of these
How long have you lived in Golden Triangle area:

Less than 5 years 5-9 years 10-14 years 14-19 years 20 years or more
Your highest level of education:
Grade 6 or below Grades 7 – 11 High School Diploma Associate’s Degree Bachelors Degree or higher
Total household income:
Less than $25,000 $25,000-$50,000 $50,001-$75,000 over $75,000
Do you belong to any environmental organization(s)? Yes No Organization Name__________________
Do you watch, listen to, or read the News? Yes No
Number of hours spent daily on this ____________

For questions 1 through 14 below, use the following scale to indicate next to the question on the designated line your level of agreement or disagreement:

1 Strongly Agree
2 Agree
3 Neither Agree nor Disagree
4 Disagree
5 Strongly disagree

1. _______I am concerned about pollution created by the petrochemical industry in the Golden Triangle Area.

2. _______Air and water pollution in the Golden Triangle is affecting my health or my family’s health.

3._______ It is less healthy to live in the Golden Triangle than in other parts of Texas or Louisiana.

4._______ There is an increase in the number of cancer diagnoses and cancer related deaths in the area as a result of chemical toxins emitted by the petrochemical companies in the area.

5.________ Health care costs in the Golden Triangle are higher because of pollution.

6.________ Residents of the Golden Triangle have shorter lives because of pollution.

7. ________ Property values are lower in the Golden Triangle because of pollution.

8. ________ Companies in the Golden Triangle are more likely to build heavily polluting facilities near poor
neighborhoods than near middle-class or wealthy neighborhoods.

9. ________Companies in the Golden Triangle are more likely to build heavily polluting facilities near
predominantly African-American neighborhoods than near predominantly white[Anglo] neighborhoods.

10. ________Companies in the Golden Triangle are more likely to build heavily polluting facilities near
predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods than near predominantly white [Anglo] neighborhoods.

11.________ In general, manufacturers and refiners in the Golden Triangle do not do much about pollution created by their plants.

12. _______ Petrochemical companies in Golden Triangle, as a group, are very concerned about the environment in the Golden Triangle.

13._______ The economic benefits brought by petrochemical companies to the Golden Triangle far outweigh the costs of their locating here.

14._______ The new plants being built by petrochemical companies such as Motiva and Valero in the Golden Triangle area are good news, as they create more jobs, even though it might harm the environment.

15. I work for one of the following Golden Triangle area companies [circle one]:

Chevron/Phillips ExxonMobil Huntsman Motiva Valero DuPont None

16. A member of my immediate family works for one of the following Golden Triangle area companies:

Chevron/Phillips ExxonMobil Huntsman Motiva Valero DuPont None

17. In my opinion, of the 6 companies below, the one circled shows the greatest concern for the environment:

Chevron/Phillips ExxonMobil Huntsman Motiva Valero DuPont No Idea

18. In my opinion, the company circled below shows the least concern for the environment:

Chevron/Phillips ExxonMobil Huntsman Motiva Valero DuPont No Idea

19. In my opinion, the company circled below spends the most to reduce pollution:

Chevron/Phillips ExxonMobil Huntsman Motiva Valero DuPont No Idea

20. In my opinion, the company circled below spends the least to reduce pollution:

Chevron/Phillips ExxonMobil Huntsman Motiva Valero DuPont No Idea

Thank you very much for your participat

Ain't no party like a Scranton party cause...

2007-10-25T05:52:00.000-07:00

Finish that line and you will be singing the same song that 2000 lucky people will be singing this weekend. Yes I know it wont be the same without the main 4 attending, but hey...It is the Office, it is Scranton , Pa. and most important...I would rather be there this weekend!!!! Although i do feel it is sad that this town, which till the airing of this show apparently was considered for lack of better words "Pathetic", is taking advantage to make money but i guess that is the American way. ANYWHO....here is just a few things to note...

Here is what i see as just an image of what it could be like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYyb4LGy6E0

Here is the official site:

http://www.theofficeconvention.com/

and of course...The article that led me to this:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5itR7JMAyWDaFuHErw7vK0PJnwn4g

Chalk this one up to another win for the American way of life...now where is me a terrorist to kill!

A change that we can finally believe in

2007-10-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

It is time for a real candidate. I think we all agree that we are tired of these rich, old white guys who really have no idea what it is like for a working class individual. That goes for democrats and republicans alike. Both of these so called "champions of the people" are retarded if they honestly think that we believe that they are in Washington D.C. to do what is best for us. It is time for America to stand up and demand something new, something fresh, something...Ridiculous! I have assembled a crack staff of "blue collared" Americans with different beliefs and ideologies which will allow us to see the world from every different aspect. We are not rich, we are not supported by our daddy's or Mommy's trust funds...we are the men and women who worked our butts off to make our way in life and we want to do the same for the American people. As a nation we should be tired of hearing the excuses doctors make up for our children not succeeding and we need to start taking charge to make sure they do. It is up to each and everyone of us to make the USA a much better place. We need someone who can do that, someone who wants that. That is why, as stated in my Communications Director's Blog, I am announcing my candidacy for the President of the United States. We are tired of excuses, we are tired of lies. We are tired of paying taxes so my neighbors don't have to work. The US will no longer take welfare laziness lying down. The government shouldn't take lightly the fact that a large percent of Americans do not have health care. Without last names (for their protection) let me tell you who i plan to have on my staff:
Vice President - Garret
Chief of Staff - Kevin E.
Deputy Chief of staff - Seth
Communications Director - Amber
Deputy Comm. Director - Clifton
Press Secretary - Vic
Defense Counsel - Paul
It is time for a change. Time for something different. Ladies and Gentlemen it is time for something that you can actually believe in. We want to hear your issues. Candidates should be able to answer your questions without trying to spin it or beat around the bush or just plain avoid the question. If we do not like something, we will tell you. There is no need to lie about it. So let our voices be heard as we cry out for President Nick in 2024! God bless you and God bless the United States!

*Feel free to post your comments and issues you want us to consider*

Literary Laziness

2007-09-26T09:28:00.001-07:00

They just don’t make authors like they used to. If you draw back to your days in school, you remember how thick the books we read were and how amazingly they left out no boring detail. I am afraid in an era of texts and blogs, the often important things get left out. This saddens me to no end! I think it is time to take a stand against some of these authors who write their straight to the point novels and books that are full of interest. So I have decided it is time to comment on a certain author that has a really good verbal thrashing due. I speak of JK Rowling, the author of the famous Harry Potter 7 pack. As I have read (or listened to) every book in the series, I find huge missing pieces that would more complete the Harry Potter experience and I think it is time I set it right. I am sure by now you all know what I am talking about…spells!!! There are so many spells in the magical kingdom that JK refused to input into her books, and I think with the help of so many of you, we can finally put an end to the myth of the missing book of spells. Here are a few that need to be brought to life: (Keep in mind the danger of these spells, if you have your wand, be sure not to have it in hand when speaking aloud these words…I am not responsible for magical mistakes made by the likes of people who think they truly understand what a wizard is. Just because you have a robe, hat and wand doesn’t make you a wizard! You must also have an owl, and be hopped up on some kind of drug unto which you believe that magic really does exist!)

Papirus Cutularias – The wicked paper cut, most likely would be among of the unmentionable curses
Hemroidia – Talk about a pain in the butt!
Mintia Brethicus – How many people should you have to talk to with bad breath? The answer is NONE!
Baith Washoi – that goes double for those who don’t wear deodorant!
Slicionly – Makes you slice every single golf shot you take – that curse is with me already and it an annoying one!
Hookati – If you make me slice, I give you the golf hook
PMS Reversio – Reverses the attitude effects of PMS. Now she will be extra nice.
Phonias Dropical – An annoying curse that drops every phone call you get after the first 5 words are spoken
Boobio Expandicus – Kevin sent that one to me…you figure it out!
Selfish Esteemian – Gives a person self esteem – I had to put this one out there for me, maybe it will work!!!!!
Pimpiolan – Puts a pimple on you’re the side of your target’s nose…where it meets the face…the painful one!!!!!

Since I am not the only one with such opinions…there has to be other spells out there. So help out a fellow Potter nerd and tell me the spells that you have encountered (also known as “created in your own sick little mind”) Post as many as you can come up with…I am interested in this wonderful topic!!!!!

Heart Matters Part 3: “Treasures”

2007-07-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

*Ok all, I am done with the Goofy saga i wrote so I hope you dont mind me going back to my heart. This blog is about what is in my mind, so i will from time to time lose my mind a little and go overboard!!! Now something i wanted to let you know as you read about these posts. These blogs on heart matters is me, considering my life as it relates to what i am reading in the bible. I am not here to tell you how your life should be, but what i want you to see is me as i am and not hidden. Hopefully, whatever I write may help you to see something in your own life that you are struggling with. Keep an open mind and enjoy and as always, i love to hear what you can add to the matter that affects me!*

So for those of you that have followed along through the first two parts, this one may sting a bit. We started of by asking the question “Why don’t we?” Then we got into the why: Idolatry and Pride leads to God letting us go and saying “If that is what you really want then you can go and chase your desires.” So now we come to what I call the hard part and that is do we really realize we have idols and pride and if we do realize it how deep is it truly ingrained in us. We will spend a good amount of time looking at transient treasures and their affects on our lives. This will be the longest part to date so let us dive in:

For this part we will need a definition of a word and thanks to dictionary.com I have it for you so here is the word:

Transient

1. Not lasting, enduring, or permanent; transitory

/ˈtræn 2. Lasting only a short time; existing briefly; temporary

3. Staying only a short time

Matthew 6:19-21

Matthew is our focal passage for this lesson as we take a look at what transient goods will eventually become. In these verses, the writer wants us to not put our hearts into things that will rust or fade away or be stolen from us.

II Cor 4:16-18

This passage relates the same as of the previous passage. This passage shows us that what we have as our bodies, what we can see will eventually fade away…transient. While those things do fade however, it is our heart that can continue to grow towards our desires. Now keep in mind that thought…if our desires are of our idols then what will our heart grow too and vise versa if our hearts are in tune with God then where will we be?

Psalms 49:16-17

This passage talks about us as people not worrying about what is going on around them. Don’t worry that your neighbor’s “glory” is increasing because he has a bigger house or his car is now the newest thing out. When he dies the glory he attains here and the wealth he has attained will not go with him. (Transient)

Proverbs 23:4-6

Do not over work yourself to become wealthy because as mentioned many times before wealth is gone in the blink of an eye. We shouldn’t worry about how other people view us. The speaker made a point we are all guilty of “If you spend money on stuff you really can’t afford and actually don’t need then your treasure storage is here!”

We shouldn’t spend so much time making everything look so perfect on the outside when it really isn’t on the inside. A church, our friends, and our families should be places where we can be seen as we are. I mean if we are really in pain why hide it, if you need help we need to seek it. How many times myself as well as I am sure some of you reading has it tore you up inside because things are so bad and yet you keep them inside. This breeds more trouble and more till eventually you hit a state where you don’t care about anything…maybe even life itself. I am so guilty of that last line myself and though I know I cant change my whole world in one day, I too have made a dedication that I will work as hard as possible to let God control that part of my life and the only way I know how to do that is not being involved in my decision making process at all…figure that one out!

Luke 12:12-14

If you see a brother in need, sell something you own and fill that need. Ok now think this one through before the ruffled feathers start to kick in. The writer is not saying sell all you have and give everything till you are poor yourself. What Luke is saying is that if you have no money yourself but have possessions you can do without (And yes cable and internet, no matter how much even I believe I need them are not possessions I need) then sell them or get rid of them and help the brother in need.

This is the hardest thing we would have to accomplish as people. No one wants to give up their modern conveniences just so someone else who we feel could do better at managing their lives can eat a meal. Here is food for thought though: If the Holy Spirit tells you to give, then you give period! It is not our job to judge or monitor what they do with the money, that is the Holy Spirits job and if we follow what it directs us to do then we are storing up as Luke put it money bags that can not fade away. (Treasures in heaven) Now some of you are saying, how do I know it is the Holy Spirit? For those of us who are saved, you will know. You can not allow yourself to block the Spirit. I am as guilty as some of you in being pig headed about such things but the fact is when I don’t follow the guidance of the Spirit I am giving into the idolatry and pride of myself and saying to God I can do things on my own without His help. Now next time you decide you aren’t going to do the “right” thing because what you want to believe they will misuse your gift, think about that…when you say no to them your saying no to God, sleep well my friend!

Matthew 6:18-24

And we are back to where we started. As a college student now I have always noticed that when a teacher repeats things over and over again, it must be important and even apart of the test that is upcoming…Take a look readers! Six passages and many more in here I can assure you on the fact that we do not need to put our thoughts and beliefs in the transient things of the world because they will soon be gone. How many of you are still driving your first car you ever purchased? (That is for you older ones out there) For that matter how many of those vehicles if your still driving them is in perfect shape? There is wear and tear on those things because they are transient, they are fading away to nothingness and will be gone and then you will be back at the beginning all over again. Now I know what you are all saying “how does this solve the questions from last week?” Look a little closer, what this lesson does is show you the truth in your life. We all worry about the image as others perceive us…you’re doing it now! So yes you have something idolized in your heart right now! Your pride has blocked you from seeing it! So that means you have allowed God to pull away because you are chasing those desires. In the last verse of this passage it states you can not serve two Masters. If you love one you will hate the other and vise versa. You can not love serve both God and money, time to choose. This is a powerful passage to take in, due to the fact that it makes you feel awkward about your life to date. On the other hand it is also showing you there is that problem.

This passage has left me with a bitter taste in my mouth because as I type these words to all of you I become more and more aware of my own problems. I can not remember the last time I gave of myself for nothing more than to make someone’s life just a little less stressful. I complain because I don’t have the right shampoo because I was too lazy to go get some when I was out or when my friends don’t want to go places because they want to save a little money. I believe honestly that I am more selfish and fixed on idols than anyone I know. We do still have 3 more parts to go, and to be honest if I feel this bad going into the last few parts, where am I going to be when this is done? That is the Holy Spirit revealing to me what I need to get my life on track. Let me say that when we pray to God, he does want to know our needs but what does He want to talk about? He wants to talk about getting our lives on track with Him so we can be used for His Glory. So we can handle the things in life that feel out of our range. To store up bags of money that can not fade away. I am sure a lot of questions pop in your mind and a lot of angry emotions to what I am writing are coming out but I will leave you with a thought: It is not the Billy Grahams of the world that will make the hugest impact into the lives of those suffering around the world, it is each and every one of us who clear our hearts and set our minds on the face of God.

Part 4 is just around the corner…feel free to comment.

Episode III: The End of time

2007-07-14T21:59:00.000-07:00

Garret-guy was soon to leave to return to School. His mind is troubled with the thoughts of what could happen when he leaves. So many things have happened over the weekend, Vic Vic’s death, Brad’s disappearance, Amber’s mysterious ways as well as many unexplained attacks. Garret-guy decided to head over to Kevin’s house to say goodbye to the group.

Amber and Clifton leaves Kevin’s house to go home. Amber is going to drop Clifton off when they arrive at the end of the trailer park there stands Brad. He stands there with a scowl on his face, a softball glove and frypan and he is wearing his Fury shirt. “Looks like he means business, time to finish the job my student!” Amber tells Clifton. Darth English hops out and runs toward Frygone when out of the trees comes Jerrad Phonetalker. Phonetalker spears Darth English to the ground, dropping fast as Brad lunges toward the Empress Pod car. Denting the hood, Amber gets out and grabs Brad by his neck and slams him into the side of the dumpster. Phonetalker throws his phone and just misses the Empress. She turns around and staring deep into his soul, Amber flies towards Phonetalker. Jerrad dodges Amber and takes off towards Kevin’s house with Brad hot on his heels. Garret-guy comes around the corner and pulling into the park, sees Amber and Clifton getting up to persue Brad and Jerrad. Garret-guy the Yodi gets out and trips Clifton then takes his magical staff and throws it at Empress Ferrell. Missing her as she chases the guys, Clifton jumps up only to be slammed back down by the powers of the Yodi. “You threatened my teacher, you must die!” Garret-guy says to Clifton. Kicking Clifton in the ribs then driving his now recovered staff into his back…he catches Clifton totally off guard. Beaten and with no hope of survival, Clifton reaches for something to at least fling damage to the Yodi. Garret-guy raises his staff to bring death to Clifton when he hears the shrieks of “yousa Die!” Garret-guy is immediately grabbed and slammed into his car over and over again. Turning briefly he sees Vic Vic, mauling him…shoving his face into the sidewalk and dragging him. Garret-guy is near death when Vic Vic turns to Clifton to finish the job the Yodi started. Clifton takes a hand full of dirt and thrusts it at Vic Vic, blinding him and sending him into a frenzy. Garret-guy grabs his staff, and hurling it like a javelin, he throws it right through Vic Vic’s heart. Waving his hand and chanting some crazy words, Garret-guy causes his staff to explode sending Vic Vic’s parts all over a 50 foot radius. Garret-guy and Clifton are left staring at each other, they nod and go their separate ways. Garret-guy goes to clean up and Clifton heads back to Kevin’s place.

Brad and Jerrad rush into the house where Nick and Kevin are watching the Astros game and start to panic. “She is trying to kill us, we need your help!” Brad says with fear in his voice. Kevin speaks up “Enough of this crap, I wont tolerate it anymore!” Kevin pulling his sword and drives it deep into the chest of Brad. Brad stunned as he drops to his knees “Why????” Brad cries. Jerrad leaps out towards Kevin and Nick holding up his hands freezes him…going to Jerrad, he slams his sword deep into his chest. Jerrad falls without even a fight. Amber bursts in “Sire, I am sorry.” She says to Kevin and Nick. “It is fine Amber, as long as the Job is done.” Nick replies. “Clifton is not ready, he already has horrid thoughts towards us, fix him or deal with him!” Kevin states. Clifton busts in and sees the dead bodies of Brad and Jerrad and then looking towards Nick and Kevin, he prepares to fight. “NO!” Amber calls out. “These are my Teachers leaders of the Quest for Peace.” Garret-guy shows up and seeing Clifton, he pulls out his staff and begins to swing it and Kevin raises his hand to stop the Yodi. Kevin addresses the group “Stop Yodi, she is Nick’s student just as you are mine.” “The job is done and the Fannati are soon finished. Now that the Fannati are without their leaders, the rest should go with little fight.” “Amber, notify the United Nations and return to hiding till you are needed again.” Nick says. “Sir?” Clifton begins to ask. “Yes Clifton?” Kevin asks. “What about Paul odor bad Kenobi?” Clifton wonders. “We do have a problem, Garret-guy take Darth English and find him, kill him if you must but make sure he is dealt with.” Nick orders the Yodi. Garret-guy and Darth English leave and Amber bids a farewell. Amber is going to go back to Europe to conquer some of the sites she didn’t when she was there before. As they all leave, Nick looks at Kevin and he takes out his cell phone. “The Job is done, what is your command?” Kevin speaks into the phone. “Discover the whereabouts of the other Fannati mini leaders, and take care of them. President Berkman wants them removed from site” Britney commands Kevin. “Yes Ma’am!”

Brad, startled from the couch to see Kevin, there are fries all over the ground, spilled Coke and Abby is covered in Ketchup. “What the crap are you doing?” Kevin asks. “Weird dream man, you were some sort of Jedi sort of master and I was like your enemy, you killed me and Nick killed Jerrad and Britney was like the head being…It was crazy!” Brad says. “You are weird man Brad. I had a strange day today…The dang internet was out at work today so I had nothing to do.” Abby hits the remote and Star Wars is on the TV, when a knock at the door is heard…It was Amber, Clifton and Nick. Brad is stunned…………

Episode II: The search for Truth

2007-07-11T16:38:00.001-07:00

Amber, Jerrad, Paul and Vic Vic walk through the parking-lot and run into Garret-guy the Yodi who is home for the week. Garret-guy the Yodi, whom is known far and wide as an old wise man, looks perplexed as he sees this group walking together. “Brad and Clifton are discussing some important stuff” Paul states as they head to his deluxe station wagon. Vic Vic looks unsettled as Garret begins to talk “What if anything would Brad have to say that is important?” Garret asks puzzled. Amber walks over to Garret to say hello and Garret pulls away, He has seen those eyes before. The way she carried herself was as if she was on top of the world, that nothing could touch her. Disturbed by this unseen “force” he feels, Garret asks Paul and Jerrad to come over and help him move a few things and they would be back. Vic Vic loses his temper. “No way are they going to leave him behind, I mean come on…he and Phonetalker have been together since birth.” He thought to himself. “OOOOO Vic Vic wants to come!” he shouts out. Garret, with a look of horror, muffles out “no thanks, I am not having a racist party…go hang out with Amber.” Vic vic, angered by this darts off to Amber’s Vehicle and they go to leave.

Brad darts out at Darth English with his French fried grease pan in hand and ready to swing. Darth laughs and steps aside to watch as Frygone slips, falls and lands flat on his face. Picking up his pan, Darth starts to smash it over and over against Frygone’s head. “Why doesn’t he bleed?” thinks Darth English. Brad’s super solid skull (which was formed the day his brain evaporated due to the inability for him to adapt to anything but sports, hot dogs, French fries and bean and cheese nachos.) is unbreakable. Darth English needed to act quickly, so he turns and grabs the remote. Changing the channel to lifetime, Brad is stunned. “Why did you turn this on?” Frygone asks. “I mean seriously there is no value to this channel I mean sure if you like such things as useless chick flicks and…” Brad began his debate. Darth English, knowing this would keep him occupied for at least an hour, leaves the house to find Nick and Kevin walking up. He is stunned “what do they know?” He thinks. “What’s up midget?” Nick asks. Clifton is enraged “I will show him who the midget is. I have put up with this bloated windbag for far too long. Now would be a good time to end his life!” Kevin, noticing that Clifton is lost in thought offers the idea of heading to Garret-guy’s house. “He just called and he is in town, he wants us to go check the place out.” Kevin says with little excitement. “Sure” Clifton exclaims and they load into Nick’s Isuzu and take off for the Yodi’s pad.

Abby the wookie howls out in horror. She can no longer listen to Brads mindless rants about the Lifetime channel so she runs into Kevin’s room and hides under the bed. This mindless torture drives the wookie to the brink of suicide. After an hour or so of talking, Brad realizes he is alone. (Big Surprise to the audience) He then remembers that he sent out his friends with the Empress. Brad darts to the back, grabs his softball glove and a hot dog and sits at the TV. “I will save them after PTI is over” Brad speaks out loud…Abby howls again!

After meeting at Garret-guy’s place, Amber calls Kevin, and she is in tears. “What is wrong?” Kevin says with great concern. She can only cry, when she tries to speak you can not understand her. Then hearing Vic Vic in the back ground he realizes what is truly wrong. What kind of person would leave anyone in the company of Vic Vic…ALONE? Vic Vic is speaking to Amber about how preposterous it is for anyone to doubt his knowledge. Amber, in all her bravery screams out “Please let me Kevin!”. “NO! We will be right there, meet me back at my house.” She turns her car around and heads back to his house. (For those who don’t know, the Vic Vic clan have a tendency to be an “in your face” I’m always right kind of people. So much so that they will drive a sane person completely mad, even to the point of death.) Everyone arrives at the house to see that Brad has left and Garret-guy the Yodi offers to go to his parents to pick up some Sausage bread. Clifton does that Gay little jumping around and clapping thing as Garret-guy asks Vic Vic to come with him.

When the Yodi-rambler comes to the 4 way stop in Orangefield, Garret-guy stops and pulls over into a field. Throwing Vic Vic from the car, he yells out to him that he is tired of him being so annoying and that he is a racist! Vic Vic suddenly turns on Garret and mauls him. He beats him down to the ground, kicking him as hard as he can screaming out that he hates smart people. Garret-guy, shrieking in horror and realizing that he has no chance against Vic Vic, escapes to his car and proceeds to run over Vic Vic. Then backing up, he drives over him again and again. Vic Vic lays there lifeless. Garret-guy, bleeding from his fore head, drives off towards his parent’s house in anger. He is no sooner than a mile away when Vic Vic begins to stir. What Garret didn’t know is that the Vic Vic’s are a regenerating creature and he will hunt him down and get his revenge.

Moments later, Garret-guy the Yodi arrives back at Kevin’s house with the sausage bread and they begin to eat. “This bread smells funky” Kevin says, looking next to him and seeing Paul there eating like a man who hasn’t eaten in weeks. “Nevermind” Kevin speaks as he walks away. Garret stares intently at Amber. “What is so weird about her?” he asks himself. Could this be the one he was told about? He had heard stories about an uprising. How a leader was sent to destroy the Fannati. Clifton watches Garret carefully as he eyes Amber. “Is Garret the old and wise Fannati he had heard of, the one that no one can kill?” “Hey, where is Vic Vic?” Paul asks interrupting the stares going around the group. Amber shivers in fear at the sound of his name. “He had to go home. Tonight is the dance, dance revolution finals and he needed to get ready.” The Yodi tells the group. Vic Vics are known for their video gaming ability. It is well known that they spend around 60% of their lives playing games on assorted gaming systems.

Garret-guy senses a problem and begins to read the minds of the people in the room. His first attempt was on Clifton and as he looked at Clifton, he then realizing that he is filled with hate and evil. Scanning Clifton’s mind he discovers that he is plotting the death of all the people around him except Amber. “Strange, who is this guy?” Garret thinks, “Why does he not want Amber harmed?” “Why can’t I read Amber’s Mind? Why does it stink in here? What are the Fannati’s true identities? So many thoughts pass through the oversized head of Yodi. I will get answers later but for now I do not have time figure this out, I must follow the orders given to me, destroy anyone who threatens the life of his teacher.

Episode 1: Rise of the Miss

2007-07-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

The Earth, a more or less peaceful planet has existed for many weeks now. Until recently, it has survived in harmony with others. Now, there is something that threatens the fabric of peace…the fabric of life! Last year, the dark side left our beloved nation (USA) and went to a far away to Europe in search of answers. She toured around looking, & taking pictures of places she just knew she would conquer...and then the “ray” of light struck her. It was time. It was time for her to find her another student, someone that she could use to help conquer the entire human race. She would return to the United States, and start her devious plans! So she did, arriving in the US where she thought it would be best to go to the south. Men who live there are much weaker willed there and a lot easier to conquer. She would need a male, someone that has had life beaten out of him, someone with no fight left in them. Her search would lead her to the Beaumont, Texas area.

In this area, the dark force knew that she needed help. She needed what we call “internet access” to find just the man to enslave. Remembering her friend Kevin worked at a mega company called Script Care, The empress stole the internet causing such pain and suffering that Kevin was forced to work instead of doing what he thinks he is paid for…probing the internet for new technology, Harry Potter updates and porn sites that wouldn’t tip off the management. The evil of the empress has struck pain in another individual and this makes her happy. The problem is Kevin’s computer held 2 important shreds of information…the name of the perfect beaten man and the whereabouts of her mortal enemies…the Fannati. Why did she hate them? “They are Worthless” she thought, “All they do is plan for their next draft and brag on some sort of pick ups…what about life, politics, religion…I must kill them all!” The Fannati are an advanced race of idiots. Their life goals rotate around their next draft pick, or some late round sleeper. They lust over ESPN even watching it in the wee hours in the morning during reruns of American Gladiators. She would need help. Sure they are worthless, but their powers are great.

Kevin arrives home a little late, beaten and tired from actually having to work for a day to find his brother on the couch eating French fries and watching the fantasy hour on ESPN. Looking up to see Kevin, Brad Frygone, Fannati master, asks what is troubling him. Abby the Wookie jolts up to meet Kevin while he describes the internet outage. All of a sudden Frygone hears a voice in his head as he senses a disturbance. “They are Miss Lords and there are always two…never more, never less. A “teacher” and a “pupil”!” Frygone gives a puzzled look and says to Kevin “there is a disturbance in the draft, I must go!” Kevin looks puzzled and stares at Brad with a perplexed look as he runs out the door. Then he glances at the TV to see Star Wars on…”Abby why do you always step on the remote?”

Later that evening Amber, A kind lovely and funny young woman (one that everyone loves), arrives at Kevin’s house to see Clifton, Kevin and Nick watching the Astros game. They all have decided to go get some food, but since they want different things, Kevin and Nick go to the store while Amber and Clifton go to taco bell. After being gone for a few minutes, Amber and Clifton arrive home to see Brad, Paul Odor bad Kenobi, Jerrad Phonetalker, and Vic Vic Binks at the house. Amber and Clifton shares their hellos with the group and they watch the game to eat. Clifton announces to the guys that he has a new job starting on Monday. He will be working for Abercrombie and Fitch which he is very excited about. Frygone grabs Odor bad Kenobi and says take Phonetalker, Vic Vic, and Amber from the house for a bit…he needs to talk to Clifton.

After leaving the house, Clifton sneers at Brad and ask him what is wrong? Brad, taking his pan of French fried grease into his hand and stares at Clifton “Who are you?” Brad asks. “I am Darth English of the Dark Empress Ferrell.” Brad’s look of surprise sends a bigger smile to the face of Darth English. “Oh no, I have just sent Vic Vic Binks, Phonetalker and Odor Bad to their death!” he thinks to himself. One of them has to die!

Heart Matters Part 2: “Some Answers”

2007-07-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

So when we left off last week in our little “discussion” I presented you with the question that the speaker of this series left me…”Why don’t we?” What the post from last week was stating is that there were prophets such as Paul who were willing to give everything for just a little more knowledge of the Living God! And we were asked the question again and again “Why don’t we?” Why don’t we yearn for, long for and pursue God like those prophets or like someone who is truly saved?

Ezekiel 14:1-5

So let us look at why. In this passage of Ezekiel, the people of Israel went to the prophet in search of direction from God. As I am sure you know, God led his people through prophets He spoke to…despite what we may sometimes want, which is God just shouting it over the heavens so we can all hear. He then set out his own question and that was one of should I? In answering the people God said (Paraphrased of course) Men will come seeking direction with idolatry in their hearts and I will not answer them but I will talk with them about their idols. So what would constitute and idol of the heart?

It starts with a desire which is not wrong or sinful. We all have desires. Some would like to have a healthy bank account or a nice house and maybe even this great job and there is nothing sinful in these desires. When these desires become Non-negotiable that is when we give birth to an idol. When we as a people start to say “Hey God, do what ever you have to do but I am not leaving my job or changing this aspect of my life” we are closing our fists to the matter. We start to give authority in our lives to these desires or now called idols.

This part started to really make me feel uneasy. I have often known that I suffer from keeping small things from God and I do believe at all times we are all guilty of such matters. I have friends that it literally tears them up as they deal with their own personal idols. In my own I struggle with job and college and of course many personal matters that even my closest friends know nothing about. I have spent so much effort on trying to get bigger (job wise) and better and I have done it all for the sake of self improvement. It is no wonder that over the last few years I have genuinely struggled with my time with God and my own belief system. We continue…

James 4:4-7

James in this passage writes about Pride. Pride is the belief that we can sustain ourselves without any outside help. That when we accomplish thing, no one helped us we did it on our own. Pay close attention in verse 6 to the words “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Sustaining my life is something I have never tackled. I never really looked at the happiness I sometimes attain from doing something that took a long time or a great deal of effort as pride. But isn’t it? How many times in our prayers or in just general conversation with God do we thank him that our assignments went great or our project that we have been working for was the top of the line. Sure many of us ask for the help but do we offer the thanks for that help? No all too often we overlook it. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Well in my past of reading this scripture I would have looked straight at the “…gives grace to the humble.” And said yea that is what I am trying to do, isn’t it great that God does such a thing. Hello?!? I totally overlook the part that “God opposes the proud” and in my actions I am often prideful. We all are as Christians. We set our saved hides up on these pedestals that we claim we don’t do and as a friend writes in a blog we look down on somebody because they are lower classed than us. We keep ourselves in our perfect little bubble and “sustain” ourselves all the while we are suffering from pride and God isn’t answering us but waiting to discuss our pride issues? So what is to come of our actions?...

Romans 1:18-23

Read these verses carefully. Play a little game and look for a few key things. In here look for the terrorists, corporations, governments, neighbors and such as to what is to blame for these problems we speak of. Pay special attention to the verse I type:

21. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God (idolatry) nor gave thanks to him (pride), but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

This passage shows the results of our ways. When we build up idols of the heart and allow pride to consume our lives, God hardens our hearts. Now you’re saying to yourself now “why would God do such a thing?” Think about this for just a minute…is God doing this to us or are we doing this to us? In this matter God is basically telling us “If you want to focus on these things like the better house or better job and that is what makes you happy then by all means go ahead, I won’t stop you.” When our hearts become hardened we don’t understand the messages God tries to convey to each of us. This was often the case with the disciples and pharoses. They often asked questions of Jesus and he answered in parables. This often led to them having more questions because they couldn’t comprehend basic messages due to the fact that idols and pride lived inside of them…their hearts were hardened. God speaks in basic messages to us and we don’t hear him because idols are inside of us and our pride is too great.

If this doesn’t really shake your foundation a little then you could be farther gone than you thought. Even the disciples lived with issues of the heart and pride. Now this can be a huge discouragement if you allow it and I think we need to take from this a lot of disappointment in ourselves but in the same way we can take some good from it. There is no lost cause, the disciples came out of their troubles striving to seek God more. We have to open up the fist we have clinched around our desires and pride and give it to Christ. It is ok to have desires but we must keep our fists open and not close it and not allow God to change it if it is His will.

Now this leads to more questions:

How do we know if we have idols in our heart?
How do we recognize pride?
How do we know if we have closed our fists so that God can not be involved in certain matters?

That is what we tackle in Part 3,4,5 and possible some in 6…I do enjoy the comments or insight or even further discussion into the matters so feel free to “type” your mind.

Heart Matters Part 1: The Question

2007-06-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

As I start a new series on “Heart Matters” I was presented with a statement that I think as a Christian I truly do not think about when I do things not of myself. When I go out of my way for a friend or a stranger, I would like to think I do it by this statement, but do I or does anyone really do that. (I am sure some people do, I think in general I am speaking of myself) The speaker was talking of work his congregation was doing for a local school and he made this statement:

“We do not do this so that people might be saved; we do things because we are.”

How much reality is in that statement? If Christians take this attitude to work, school, home, the gas station or anywhere in life we go, what would happen? Sometimes I think we are too wrapped up in the world around us to even notice that it isn’t about politics or popularity but it is about living a life that others may truly see we are saved. So we begin with Heart Matters part 1: “The Question”.

Psalms 42:1-5 & Psalm 63:1-7

This is an often miss-viewed scripture. You often think of a beautiful deer drinking from a stream in a beautiful forest scene…and while that is cute and all the author of this text is speaking differently. This is as a deer thirsts for water, seeking it desperately or it will die, so the author also seeks God or he too shall die without Him.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Whether he has all the great things in life or whether he has absolutely nothing…Habakkuk praises the Lord

Philippians 3:8-11

Paul states (FIRMLY) not the line of whether it is close to a gray area or keep me from going to far, he asks himself: Is this going to rob me of knowing Jesus more deeply or is this going to help me to know him more deeply. There is no gray area! There is no close to the line…I mean if you are trying to see how close you can get to that line then aren’t we actually testing God? That too is wrong! Then as if Paul, who God has shown himself too and used to deliver thousands of people to Him, asks to know God more!!! He is greedy in wanting to be close as we all should be.

A quote from a 16^th century man Brother Lawrence: “I have had such delicious thoughts on God that I am ashamed to mention them.” When have we actually had such a vision of Christ? So on to the question from the speaker of the evening: “Why don’t we?”

Why don’t we live such a life that we are bothered by the fact that people don’t know about God?

Why don’t we care enough to do things not to see people saved but because we are saved?

Why is it that we are so unmoved by the lives around us that are suffering?

Why don’t we have such thoughts on God that we are moved?

The disciples needed God and to them that was enough. Now I wont offer it as an excuse but they did have the opportunity to walk and physically touch Jesus, but what we have as Christians is something I really believe to be even greater…we believe in God even though we can not reach out and physically touch him…Faith.

Why are we so hardened as people that helping someone is beneath us? Can we change this? What do you think we should do?...your thoughts because after this first teaching, I am quite sick at my stomach at the thought of me being me!!!

Softball not for the old

2007-06-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

Last night I did something that will go down in my book as a good sign that i am old and lonely...I went to watch my friends (who seem to have a problem realizing they are old) play "slow" pitch softball. I shall now take you to a rundown of the evening:

Kevin was 2 for 5 for the evening...now in baseball this would be good, but these are a bunch of old men tossing a watermelon sized ball to the plate and he couldnt get it into play...seriously are you kidding me? His worst error on the evening...actually showing up.

Now on to Clifton...no one fielded his position better. Great players hit often, and great fielders play ....only the greatest players are 1st base coaches for A SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE. WHAT!?! Yes they have 1st base coaches and clifton is so good he doesnt even start, but he manages to lead his team in telling the people on 1st how many outs there are and when the ball gets by the catcher. BAAACK!!!! He got on because the fielder made a crappy play while checking out kevin on third. His second hit was a screamer to the pitcher and with an amazing grab threw clifton out by only a step or ten. He did however make a play at the plate and in right field so props there.

Finally...Brad. Brad found it difficult to get it from second base to pitcher but soon overcame that to throw a man out at home twice. Of course his acrobatic move at second which he mooned the crowd led to a good laugh. He went 2 for 3 with a sac fly and a tremendous slide at second (he tripped over the base)

Ahh what a night...the worst part of the night was...i was so bad myself that i couldnt even get invited to be on the team...so how bad does that make me????

The Fan

2007-06-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

*This blog is for all you true fan believers out there*
It is time for a less intense blog. It is apparent by my previous writings, that starting a war is inevitable. So allow me the opportunity to speak out to another one of those things that really bother me...The fan.
How many of you out there are tired of those annoying jerks who claim to be fans of your sports franchise. For as long as i remember, I have been a Houston Astros, Rockets & Oilers/Texans fan as well as a Washington Redskins fan and i am that fan in spite of their woes and troubles. As any true fan, i always want to see my team succeed but rarely do. Here though is my problem, the "bandwagoner", the being that can and does ruin all sports for just about everybody that is a fan of any sport. You walk around always complaining of what could have been and even when that team is doing well, they should be better and when they are losing, you are always right. Far be it from me to deny you of your god complex and point out how you are wrong. (Oh wait that is what i am doing)
Let us take the Houston Astros for example. They are in a lovely slump where winning more than 2 straight just seems impossible. The true fan wants them to succeed, believes the talent is there and doesn't spend the rest of their days wishing they had all these past, unproductive players back. They always think there is a chance to make a run, or put things together and they wear their shirt with pride because it is their team and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Now enter the bandwagon guy. They want their team to do well, but are they going to say or believe that a turn around is possible? No they are going to cry and complain because their small market team won't spend an extra 50 million a year for a Yankees style budget. (For the person who says Houston is a big city, well that is true but it is considered a small market when it comes to media and sports--KC, NYC, LA, Boston, Chicago & even Dallas are more media absorbed...there are more cities than that too) The team is on limited budget, and as much as I hate to say it, if Uncle Drayton doesn't make money, the team goes under. They complain because we get rid of some player who was sucking the life out of us only to go somewhere else and have a bit more success..."he could have done that here"! Obviously not, or he would have!
True fans are like my friends who tailgate at the Texans games because they root when the times are bad and they see the bright future ahead of them. (Am i right here homan?) They are the guys who wear their nasty orange longhorn hats to work even when the long horns were average, before vince young! (Greg) They sit and watch every Astros game even when they were out of it in the past or when the papers dead and buried them, because they say as long as they aren't mathematically eliminated. (then rewarded with a World Series opportunity)
I guess what i am saying is if you only come out of the rafters during the good times of a franchise then do all the sports world a favor and just stay there. Don't give me some crap about how you were always a fan and you always believed because you were not and you never did.

A post to keep Seth Ghoing

2007-06-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

I had many things i wanted to be in my next blog, but I decided to post a pointless blog just so Seth would have something more to complain about.

Here it is Seth...it is typed and it is pointless. While i do value your opinion, one must pick a time to cut his losses and move on. That just doesn't seem like it will happen with you (and well since i am used to it by now, i should just let it go).

So try to do me at least one favor, hit your jokes...carry it for a comment and move on.

*Writers note: Yes I am aware by just posting this, Seth will become even more obnoxious than before but i had to try, right? Sigh, some people!*

Nice Guys Finish Last

2007-06-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know, I will bounce all around in this because this is my first blog that I write on this site. When I write blogs for the Dilemma of Ages, I want them to come straight out of my mind, no editing. You need to know that because when people speak of truths of what they believe, it shouldn’t be sugar coated but raw and honest. So please bear with me as I continue to write blogs and I will improve much.

As many of you know, I am not very outspoken when it comes to the opposite sex. In fact, this blog may blow the minds of a lot of people who know me but I can no longer sit here and see or live through what I have anymore. I have always accepted women for who they are and yet I have come to the conclusion that the same is not always returned. Let us however for the sake of the blog remember that this is only my opinion and what is installed in my mind and may not be what has entered the mind of others. The Dilemma of Ages is about what I think at any given time. Now for those who read this just out of the blue, a bit of a background on me: I am 30 years old, single (and if you couldn’t tell that after reading this blog you are in serious trouble), a child of the Lord God Almighty, and as time grows on a wee bit bitter. Now I have a friend out there (Scott) who would tell me that “hey dude, you have to be patient and allow God to deliver because He will deliver a woman far better than I could ever catch.” You are right Scott but every once in a while, a guy has to get a few thoughts off his chest. Since this blog site is only going to be available to my friends at the moment, this will be a perfect opportunity to show a few things.

Now also for the sake of this blog, I also want to put out the basic fact that I am in no way a ladies man, nor do I have that Atlas like body…I am Nick, and that is the best way to describe me. (Also to those who know me that is no surprise of a response) I am in no way ashamed to tell the world that I work hard in trying to put God first in everything I do and though I am not always successful, I work harder everyday to be.

Ok that is over, this blog is not about whom I am and who I want to be, this is about women. I do want to begin with an apology to those women who do not fall in these categories, this isn’t meant for you. What also needs to be stated is that I in no way mean that guys are perfect, God will testify that there are just as many crappy guys out there as there seems to be women. So let’s get this thing started shall we?

“Nice guys finish last” is a statement that is overused and in no way understood, and that is why I am taking it back! I have always considered myself the nice guy, and though there are no guys out there that are perfectly nice, some excel at it more than others. A nice guy is an unselfish one, giving and kind. He puts the thoughts of others before him with the intention to gain NOTHING in return. A nice guy is not the kind of guy who does something so that he can get a little closer to a woman or gain favor with someone, that is what we call a brown-nose or a suck-up. They give of themselves not for gain but for the betterment of others. How is that for a definition? Believe it or not there are some guys out there that follow suit with this, and sure sometimes they falter from this but for the most part they are genuine.

Now that I have the definition out there I can get to the point of my blog. Like I stated earlier, I consider myself a nice guy and to those who disagree, well why have you not told me this before?

To the women: Why is it that I journey around and see all these women out there who date these guys who are totally freaking losers, they are rude and well they are just down right horrible individuals? (Yes I know that doesn’t sound Christ like) You date these guys who cheat on you, say horrible things about you, treat you terrible, and well make you basically feel like you are unworthy of anything better! I have talked to so many women who ask me or confide in me that their boyfriends have cheated, or treated you in some terrible way but you won’t separate yourself from them.

Let’s begin with cheaters. I am a strong believer in the once you are cheated on, there is a bond of trust that can not be regained with that man/woman. Good people make big mistakes, that is true and all sin can be forgiven (well except the obvious one) If you are in a dating relationship and such a thing happens, you need to reevaluate that relationship and whether it should be still together. In my opinion it is a sin that would break a relationship and no excuse can get someone off the hook of it. Those of you I have that are friends who have been there I am sorry, but that is how I see it. Now can you change, sure BUT if a guy or a girl cheats on you and you take them back…you are telling them that “hey I will take you back if you do such things.” In this same action you are telling yourself that you are not worthy of a guy who can treat you as if you are the only woman in the world for him. Let me steal another Scott line, you are worthy of such a partner! Now to forgive is the way we are taught as Christians, and yes I do believe it to be true, you are forgiven…and you can be my friend, but the trust bond of a deep relationship is gone and can’t be regained. I can yell at you (hypothetically) and you yell back and we can argue on matters but I have NOT sought the comfort of another woman, trust remains. Yet you take these guys back??? I mean seriously is that what a guy has to do to get noticed by women? (Again hypothetically) Do I have to go out and string along 2 or 3 ladies just till I find the one who will forgive me then use her and find my fulfillment in another, because if I do then I will choose to remain single for the rest of my life and be happy with that! That is my commitment to you.

The trash shall inherit the good. I know some great women of God who have become tied up with some real trash; there is no other way to put it. Abusive (mentally more than physically but both are implied) men who control them and break these girls to a point where they flee from themselves as much as they flee from God. These guys gripe when you talk to other people, they want you to do their bidding at every waking hour and they break you down to a point where you don’t see yourself for the wonderful woman you are. This is a problem, and you need serious help. See a pastor, see a friend, see a doctor, SEE GOD!!!

The Rebel: Oh the adventure, this guy lives on the edge, he does all the things that keep him one step ahead of death or he is the life of the party. You have got to be kidding me right? What kind of thrill are you looking for? What kind of relationship do you have that if you are not on some death defying stunt of life then it is not the right guy. I mean seriously do you not realize that there is just as much adventure in life when you find a guy who loves and cares for you and wants to take on life by your side?

**************Pause for Intermission, because I am sure some of you women are MAD by now at my lovely words!!!**************************************

These are a few guys I see you with on a daily basis. Now let us move on to why this irritates me so much. If I have one more woman come to me and say “I wish I could just find a nice guy like you(insert your name here nice guy)” I am sure I will just puke on them right there on the spot! I mean honestly listen to yourself speak sometime. If you really wanted a nice guy like me(insert your name here nice guy), then you would be going out with me(insert your name here nice guy)! Do you now realize how stupid that statement is? Please do me a favor, DO NOT PATRONIZE ME!!!!!! If you are saying that to build up my self esteem, I don’t need it. If you are saying it because you really mean it, then by all means why don’t you actually come off of your pedestal and take a chance sometime. You never know what may happen. Treat yourself for once and see that there are nice guys out there and they are going to take you to a world you have never been before, one that consists of treating you like the woman you deserve to be treated as.

I am not going to sit here and say you are getting what you deserve because as you can obviously read I don’t think that at all. I think you are stupid in the fact that you accept these guys that totally treat you like trash and you stay with them. You are blind and unwilling to give anyone else a chance because you are too hung up on a precious moment that he can give you. Yes sure Nick he hits me or he has cheated on me or he called me a few things that I am not but u know just a month ago he brought me flowers and took me to dinner, well I had to pay but you know it was the thought that counts. Smell the coffee and wake up! You know the old line, well he/she has a great personality but they are not much to look at or something along that line. Well I got some other news for you, when you’re 60 and old and your “worldly beauty” has gone away, all you have left is personality. All you have left is his and your heart. If you date trash, you become that and you are going to look like your 60 when you are only 40! We are all created in the image of God; we are all beautiful in our own way.

This is not meant jus for anything that happens to me. Sure I have had my list of failures (God has to have something to laugh at and well my dating life is a comedy, even I laugh at times…ha ha ha) but I have friends that are in this same boat. We are tired of seeing (some) women being stupid, and knowing it and continuing. (Some of you women out there recognize when guys are doing the same thing, can I hear you!!!!) You take the scum of the earth in over and over and over, and well as much as it sounds like I am crying, I am. I told a friend the other day (he was being superficial) that he should call and talk with a girl who gave him her number. I said to him, talk to her and get to know her. What do you have to lose by one date? If you talk to her and she spits out the seeds of Satan, well splash some holy water on her and tell her why it wont work out, but if you don’t give her a chance, then you are becoming what we hate…Superficial. He did talk to her, and found out she is a pretty cool person and who knows it may go on or it may not but he gave her a try. There is nothing wrong with stepping outside the norm; you may find out that you are the one that needed that change.

So let me go off on this, why don’t you try something a little different ladies. Cast aside your stupid ways of dating some lovely piece of garbage, and give a nice guy a chance. There is no way of doing a study on nice guys verses the other guys but I bet if you could you would see that nice guys relationships last longer. To those of you out there who are dating for “pleasure,” know this…physical pleasure with someone you are not truly in love with will die, but intimacy with a man that you are in love with doesn’t fade easily. Is there still work to do, well duh of course!

Ok I have said enough for now (this is only my first installment of this series, there is no way on earth that I could have put everything on my mind in one blog…there will be many more to come)

Here is the challenge:

Single women out there, take a minute and examine why you are single. Look at the past guys you dated, any nice ones? Take a chance on someone a bit different from your normal standard of dating and take a chance.

Dating women whom are not married: Take a minute to examine your relationship. Is he abusive, rude, and crude or just a thrill of a moment? Is this guy what you envisioned God to set you with? To keep your life on track for God, you must prune away the trash in your life and only then will God show you something that is so amazing you will realize that no way you could have found him on your own.

Married women: This is the saddest thing to say but you are in this for better or worse. Now if he is abusive, please seek some help. If he isn’t into God, you took this role and now you must pray and see God and lead a Godly life with the hope that God will come to him in the right moment so you may be linked through God as a family.

Finally to the Women who got it right: Good for you, you led the life after God, and He delivered like only He can. Your job isn’t over yet…you are a leader and a role model for others. Let the others see the glory you possess by following what was right.

*Disclaimer: If you do not share the beliefs of this individual, then you need to know that you are not alone. You do however need to respect the views of others, and well since this is what goes on in my mind and not yours, that makes it my blog. Jesus Christ is the Lord, and can I get a hallelujah? All civil comments are welcome.

The Dilemma of Ages

2007-06-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

Under Construction: This blog is to solve the true "Dilemma of Ages" and that dilemma is Me