I'll Fly Away

I'll fly away old glory,
I'll fly away,
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away...

[n][v]

Self Image/Self Worth

It may seem that we are a society driven by how one looks, the contents of their being on the outside rather what really matters, the inside.

I am someone who has suffered with how I look, as some of you might know from my photo blog there really isn't a clear photo of me, and that's more of a self-conscious opinion about my looks from the other end of the lens, but where does it come from?
For me it was when I was younger, my mom would comment about my weight; she wouldn't say I was fat, but she came close. I didn't think I was fat until she made an issue about it and then I'd question myself in front of the mirror am I really fat? I am heavier than I should be, but I still work out and make it a habit to eat moderately (hunger pangs due to skipping meals -- work related -- gets me at the end of the day).
So, does me (a guy) get affected by how society determines ones correlates self image with self worth? YES!!! It does sadden me when scrawny boney anorexic girls and guys feel the pressure, that they're fat, that they're ugly and they have to get rid of the extra pounds. I know the reasons why people become anorexics, so I won't touch that one, but again it's a projection of image; what they see, how they feel and what they must do to get to looking like that.

Here's the point I want to drive home, it is the inside of a person that matters, the outside fades with time and it is the inside that lasts. If you just examine yourself from the outside, you will be let down time and time again, because looks are fading and how society views what's socially "in" is also changing.

Some of you read the Bible, so I'll post a verse I'm sure you've read or heard:
1 Samuel 16: 7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

I know you might find that it's hard to come to terms with how you look sometimes (maybe even all the time), but trust me, it's what's on the inside that matters MOST!

[n][v]

Memento Mori

Memento Mori: Remember that you are mortal, Remember that you too will die...

Death might be one of the most talked about subjects, but it might also be the one people avoid. People want to know where do I/We go when we die? Do we come back? Do we just chill underground forever or what? Yes, death holds many mysteries, but I'm not scared of the topic or death itself, tho I admit that I hope to accomplish all that I'd like to before I die, and yet if I go before my time is done (based on my agenda) I'm cool with that too.

As a follower of Christ I truly believe there is a Heaven and a Hell; no we don't come back/reincarnate, no we don't chill underground and do nothing, no we don't float around aimlessly... The Bible is specific at saying that unless one doesn't accept Jesus Christ as His personal Lord and Saviour, he or she will not go to Heaven. It is also specific at stating that there is only one way to God, and that is through his son Jesus (John 14:6)
...
Yeah you might ask but isn't God MEAN for only allowing us to get to Heaven by only one way? Yes, it does sound mean, but that's what is written in the Bible, the only word of God, ONLY.

As far as Hell is concerned, I truly believe that place exists too; it is a separation from God, from good and the best God has in mind for us. I'm sure it's the worst place possible, being separated from God forever! I don't want to go there, I don't want my friends to go there and I don't even want my enemies to go there!!!

We're all in transitions in this life; we're coming we're going, but we're also living and dying; death is as much a part of life as life is a part of death.

Death is also something I don't fear, when I go I plan on having a big party, everyone is invited, drinks on me! I want my death to be celebrated because even tho it will be sad that I'm gone from this earth, I've gone to somewhere better.

[n][v]

Something to think about: Wealth

A few weeks ago I went to a Lithuanian Museum. While I was there I saw plenty of cool things from one of the countries where my ancestry originates, while there I also saw some things made out of amber.

Essentially amber is fossilized pine sap, Lithuania was part of the Amber Road a long time ago, because of it Lithuania was wealthy because the amber could be traded for weapons and other things... What strikes me as odd is that people found that this hardened sap as valuable, but then I started pondering;

How is wealth defined? Is it supply and demand?
How do I define wealth? Am I "rich"

...


I am rich, I am wealthy, I am a billionaire! Yet my wealth is not defined by what I have but who I have in my life. I have my family and friends, my Xangamigos and holding us all together in this thing called life -- I have God as well.

While I do have wealth in material things, these things are fading and they lose my interest at times. My family and friendships are lasting things, they're things I take seriously even if I'm not in contact with them on a day-to-day basis.

Just something to think about...

[n][v][makes][bill gates][seem][broke]

My Heart

This might seem goofy/rediculous/weird... but that's me in a nutshell, but also remember, you have a heart too, don't mess with mine. Discuss, ask me questions, don't put me down for me being me.

My heart:

up left to right, down left to right.

Over all things, God holds my life together, without Him in my life I would be nothing, I wouldn't even have an existance.

Others -- I am constantly in environments where I am working with others, whether it is side-by-side with coworkers or even the kids who come through the doors of the Boys and Girls Club. I aim to do my job not well or suffient, but BETTER, to provide an environment of safety, fun, belonging and etc. Also others in general; more of God, more of others, less of me.

Johnny Cash & Mr. Rogers: These two guys, one a musician, one a Presbyterian minister who was known as a beloved TV personality, both followers of Christ in unique ways.

Johnny's music was awesome, his message was the Gospel message most of the time and plus he was The Man in Black, which I am akin to since I wear mostly black. He was rude, hardheaded, strong willed a lot of the time...yet his message rang true, and I'm like him in that way as well. Lastly, Johnny had a wife by the name of June, they saw a lot of good times but they saw a lot of bad as well, and for the time being I am a Johnny looking for my June. Sure I am rough around the edges (some might speculate that's all I have) but I mean well and I hope that is known.

Mr. Rogers was a show I watched when I was younger and if given the chance I would still be watching it! He made people feel special, he had guests who had disabilities and he was loving and caring. He dealt with real life issues, I recall the episode on death, he explained it in a great way and perhaps he drove away some of my fear of death at a young age. He did share the Gospel message too, he was a loving man to all, I dig his relational/communal relationships and his morals too. I too want to be a neighbor to my neighbors, not just to the left and right of where I live, but with whomever I come into contact with.

Steak & Sushi: Where do I begin? I love a good steak and I dig good sushi, two great eats that God has made...enjoy!

Etc: I have a lot of passions in this life, they fall in the "etc" catagory because while I have enough room in my heart for all of them, I don't have enough room to write them in the heart diagram. I want to live my life to the fullest, I want to take it all in, I want to try just about everything. I am small, this world is big, but God is bigger, so I shouldn't fret and worry as much as I do. God is in control of it all.

What does your heart look like?

[n][v]