Things I'm Thankful for

Things I'm Thankful For

Days util Thanksgiving: 10

There are a lot of things that I could kick off my list with. A lot of good-well valued things. Things that everyone lists on there 'I'm thankful for this' list. I'm going to go ahead and put something unexpected and way unappreciated on my list. 
I'm thankful for my school. 
Now, if you know me (like really know me, not just think you know me because you've heard something at school about me being smart) you will know this is a really big surprise, with as much as I complain about school, and teachers, and the amount of stress that school and school activities put on me (For real, I have probably lost about fifteen years of my lifespan from stress that evolved from school). I complain so much about school, so I'm going to take a moment to go ahead and just thank everyone for what they do.
I'll go ahead and star with the Obvious, Teachers. Thank you God for some of the teachers you have put in my life through my school. Most of the teachers I have met have been a great influence on me. To teachers out there who thank that what you're doing is pointless, let me go ahead and give to a quick pick me up: You aren't.
You have been granted a chance to make a difference in the lives of so many children, if you're a High School Teacher don't let it stop you that most of the students don't want to engage you.
I also want to encourage any and all teachers to reach out to the kids who don't talk much, or who don't seem to have many friends in their class. From the perspective of a kid who has been reached out to by teachers wanting to make a difference in an anti-social awkward teen's life- reach out to those kids. That doesn't mean calling them out and forcing them to talk in front of people- for some quite children that could ruin their day or week. Trust me, I have been that kid and I'm still friends with many of those kids.
Don't just coddle the children who usually get all the attention- they already have attention and getting a little bit more from you isn't going to make a difference in their lives. They know how to reach out when they need help. Instead go to the quiet children and talk to them. Ask them how their week is going. Reach out to these children. For real, you will find that you are moving lives in completely different ways than you expected.
My seventh grade year especially I had a great English teacher, I didn't have many friends in my class to talk to, and in all honesty I had great potential to hate school that year, but one of my Teachers, Her name was Ms. Phillips, really made a difference in my year. I somehow got into the habit of staying after class and talking to her. She made book recommendations to me. Talked to me, about her son, and I really loved her and felt like she made a lasting impression on me. You see, her son was (is) disabled. His brain can function from what I remember, and he can form thoughts. He's not just stupid, he just can form words. He can't talk, and he can't walk. He had been like that from the time he was born. Which is crazy to think that this lady was dealing with all of us stupid kids and her son at home. The year I was with her she was also finishing up something in Collage if I remember correctly. In the midst of all that chaos she still had time to hang back and talk to me about meaningful things that a more longer-lasting impression on me than any other teacher talking about grammar. That year I got a detention for letting someone cheat off of my homework (rebel, I know) and was basically crying the entire day, and she stopped class to pull me out and hug me and ask me what was wrong. She gave me an encouraging hug, told me that I could learn to just not do it again (which I haven't thank you very much) and that it wouldn't effect me in the future.
Teachers like that leave an impression on someone who doesn't get much attention from teachers. Try to be that encouraging teacher. Please, I'm telling you- if you do this you WILL make a difference in some kids life, and it will mean a lot to whatever kid you take the time to talk to.

Despite the fact that I just rambled quite a bit about teachers, teachers are not the only thing that I am thankful for at school. Another thing that I am thankful for is all the activities offered at school- or at least at my school.
At my school we have a Band, choir, drama class, forensics class, debate class, track team, cross country team, softball team, foot ball team, baseball team, volley ball team, basketball team, etc. etc. The really fun thing about a lot of the things at my school is this: You get in no matter what. Everyone gets to be on the football team. Everyone makes it, not everyone gets to play, but everyone who has seventh hour free, gets a Jersey, a spot on the bench/side lines, and a free ticket to long, hard work out sessions.
I'm not really involved in any sports, so I'm going to quickly retreat to a subject that I know more about. Band.

My Marching Band at Competition 

In my High School Band, you are not required to try out. You signed up in sixth grade, and you stick with it all the way into ninth grade- and you already have a spot in the marching band. A lot of schools do this, and I think that it is amazing. Marching band is something great to invest yourself in (as some people invest themselves into sports, and others into music this is a sort of blend of both I guess). And I love the fact that you don't have to try out.
I am not the best at the instrument I play, and I never would have been able to make it into marching band if I would've had to try out. I'm so glad that I didn't, because now I feel that I have been molded into a better musician, and a person with a way better work ethic. I have learned so many things from being in marching band- man that sounds really stupid- but I have learned that if you put in effort you get out something.
And this is a great chance, for those at our school who aren't dedicated to anything, to really understand dedication, and learn what it means to be a part of something. This is a great place for people to grow. It may not be the best, and probably will never be while I'm here, but it is great, because we have all learned a good work ethic through marching band. We have all, even those of us who started out mediocre, learned what it meant to be part of something great. And that has inspired me to practice more, and to work harder to achieve what I want. It has encouraged me to be better and to get better in my music making and has given me a glimpse at what hard work will be like in life. You give a lot, and sometimes you don't get back what you think you deserve (for example Eighth place at competition last year) and sometimes you give a lot and you get back more what you think you deserve (for example third place a competition this year ). This isn't just the band at my school, this is the football team that I mentioned earlier. Our football team hasn't lost in about 48 or 49 games which is completely crazy and mostly unheard of. For all the Sophomores football players in our school who have never been amazing at football, and who don't even get a chance to play- they go to the practices and they work similarly as hard as those who do get to play. The victory of each game is reflected in them. And when they DO get there time to shine, it must be better than anything else, getting to help in the game after all the hard work you put forth.
That's not it: I'm in the play this year, I tried out and I got in: like everyone else. Everyone who tries out for the play gets a part, which while at first I found annoying, but now I see that it really teaches something to the younger kids at my school come performance day. All the after school practices have finally amounted to this performance. And what you give is what you get. That's what I learned last year myself with the play, I didn't enjoy all the weeks leading up to the performance week, but performance week came and I absolutely loved the show. I loved seeing the children enjoy the show that I was involved in. I loved entertaining other people, and for those who would say that letting everyone be cast is a mistake- I would say that there are plenty of opportunities just in town for those who feel they are up to a higher standard. There are local orchestra's for those in band who wish to excel- local theaters that offer parts, need stage help, All region for choir and band etc. etc. and this may be giving you the push you need to go learn even more skills for yourself, don't be lazy go out there and improve yourself.

So this is me being thankful for my school teaching me hard work and dedication. Teaching me morals in life from teachers.
I'm thankful that my school pushes me to be the best I can be, despite all the complaints I have about it on a regular basis... I am thankful.
Thank you Greenwood.

P.s. Learning can also be considered an up to school, but while I appreciate that and I am thankful I get that opportunity to learn, which many people don't, I'm happier that my school in particular has offered me lessons outside of the classroom also. 

Things I'm Thankful For- Thanksgiving Day Countdown

Things I'm Thankful For

Days until Thanks Giving: 11

Introduction

It's ten days until Thanks Giving, and as I near this day of Thankfulness I'm going to try and take time to take a step back and look at the things that I have been given in life to be thankful for. There's a lot for me to be thankful for, and I don't think that ten days should be enough for me to really cover everything, but I'm sure in the course of the next eleven days I will sit back on the balls of my feet, scratch my head, and wonder to myself what else is there? 

Like I said, there's a lot for me to be thankful for, and starting tomorrow I'm going to begin my countdown to thanksgiving. 

It won't be in a particular order, though I will admit that as the days go on, the things I'm thankful for will grow to be a lot more personal to me- as opposed to things that I am distantly grateful for. 

God has really blessed me, and I hope to bring to you a new perspective of thinking through the next few Blog Posts of mine. 

Until Tomorow. 

Book Review

Human.4 by Mike Lancaster

 

Human.4 was, very surprisingly, a good book.

I read this book for the pure joy of reading it, and found it when I was getting bored of reading the book The Odyssey and went to look for another book in the back of my class room.

So here's the 'official' Synopsis:

 

Kyle Straker volunteered to be hypnotized at the annual community talent show, expecting the same old lame amateur acts. But when he wakes up, his world will never be the same. Televisions and computers no longer work, but a strange language streams across their screens. Everyone’s behaving oddly. It’s as if Kyle doesn’t exit.

Is this nightmare a result of the hypnosis? Will Kyle wake up with a snap of fingers to roars of laughter? Or is this something much more sinister?
Narrated on a set of found cassette tapes at an unspecified point in the future, Human.4 is an absolutely chilling look at technology gone too far.

It was the cover that initially drew me in actually, yeah I know, don't judge a book by it's cover and all, but do you see that cover?! Who wouldn't take a second glance at a book that looked like that?

Anyway, This book follows the kid, Kyle Straker, and his adventure after a mishap when he got hypnotized. I don't want to give away to much- so I'll go ahead and just tell you that you need to read the book. This is definitely a good quick read for any High School and up students.

Onto the actual 'review' part.

This book is a very quick read, and while I wasn't thinking of it in a critical way when I first started reading, I'll go ahead and point out the flaws I can think of the book first.

The characters seemed a bit underdeveloped to me, they didn't seem to have much personality and the main character Kyle didn't stand out to me at all, and he's the one narrating the story. I'm not saying the author did poorly with developing the characters, more the focus of the author was not on the development of characters- which is what makes a good book a great book.  There could have been a lot more there with both Kyle and his friend Lilly.

I did like Kyle and Lilly, I just wish that we would have got to see more of their personalities, I feel like I was just getting to understand Kyle when the book ended. Lilly is different subject altogether, even though she is not the narrator I feel as though she has an amazing developed character. She is very well written, but I believe there could have been more. (There is a sequel coming out, so I'm crossing my fingers that if it is them there will be more character depth)

That being said, this plot and this idea is amazing. It is one of the most original books I've ever read.

It's very fast paced, and is the most confusing book (just because it simply doesn't make sense until the last ten pages) I've ever read, but a good read none the less.

My final review:
Put this on your reading list and read it ASAP. Great book.



Today: Part two- Providing

To Provide

I constantly worry. Don't you? I constantly find myself in this world of what if's and what could've been's. Please tell me that I'm not the only one in this sense. Tell me, please, I'm not the only one who frets how I'm going stay awake through my class periods because I went to sleep at 11 at night and woke up three and couldn't go back to sleep until five- and then woke up at five thirty.  Tell me I'm not the only one who feels her blood pressure go up when I get to Algebra and we're testing. Tell me, please, that I'm not the only one who feels like there's just not enough to sustain me through the day!

Maybe you're problems are similar to mine, that is if your still in High School, or maybe your problems are a bit more serious. Maybe your wondering how your going to feed all of your three children for dinner tonight, how you might help little Timmy with his allergies, make sure your youngest is taken care of during the day while you search for a job, and keep up with your children's life. Maybe you feel like there's not enough to keep your trekking on through today, tomorrow, and the days to follow closely in pursuit.

There's common ground to be sure, completely different ends of this, but we both agree... sometimes... we feel so worn out. Will we get what we need? Will we have the energy we need to make it through the day, and if so... how?!

Let's discuss it. I feel a bit of joy bubbling in my chest and overflowing to the tips of my fingertips as I type this. I'm about share some joy to you. It's coming. Give it a moment.

Our father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

~Matthew 6:9-13

I know you've heard this verse at one point or another, you may not remember it... but you've heard it. It's called the 'Lord's Prayer'. Jesus had bowed his heads and instructed the disciples on how to pray. This is that prayer. Basically this a prayer with a 'Jesus approved' stamp laced through the words. Jesus starts out, 'Pray like this,' and then continues with the prayer. He began this little teaching session on the Mount of Olives.

Anyway, Jesus has told us these are things that need to be brought to attention when  attempting your end of the conversation with God.

(Note: We all have that friend, you know the one, who talks until you think either their jaw is going to go slack from the work out it's getting or your ears fall off. Don't be that friend to God. You need to take time to see what God wants to say to you. And by the way, it might be important if the creator of the Universe is attempting to call it to your attention.)

One of the things that Jesus points out in this prayer is this: Give us this day our daily bread (6:11) you might want to notice something here:

 Jesus didn't say, 'Give us yesterday our yesterday's bread.' Don't carry around regrets and wants/needs from yesterday. Didn't pass that test? It's ok, don't dwell. Live today as today. Didn't manage to get a job? Don't let it trip you up. Don't dwell. Live today as today.

Jesus didn't say, 'Give us tomorrow our tomorrow's bread.' don't worry about tomorrow. Got it? Do. Not. Worry.

'Now, now, where is this found biblical.' you may be thinking that I'm an assumption lunatic by now. No. Not at all. This is all bibically backed up. So, let me show you some cool passages to back this up for you.

Exodus 16 if you want to read it all for yourself.

Ok, let me set the scene for you. Slaves, that's how you start this book out as in Exodus. Your people are slaves in a land they've lived in for years. Your baby, he's at risk now. The king says that it's to much of a risk to have so many men, because they might attempt to over throw the Pharaoh (we're in Egypt) later in the lives. None are spared in the massacre. None. Killed by the hands of the Egyptians.

Obviously this is wrong. So, God saves one kid through his mother and child to lead your people out of slavery. I'm not going to go into detail here, but he ends up in a royal Egyptian family, and then when he's older kills a man. In fear he runs and then gets called back to lead your people out of Egypt. Finally. After many trials you've been released from slavery.

Skip ahead two months and fifteen days exactly.

Your in the middle of no where.

You might as well be lost in your mind.

You are now hearing grumbles of all kinds around you, "This is stupid. If we where in Egypt we'd still be fed." "You know, it would be better to have been in slavery than be out here." "I'm hungry, why the heck did God just take us out here to starve to death?!" here's the thing, you sort of agree.

You're hungry. You're hot, and you're probably confused as to what is next. This question is hanging in the air So... now what?

You know what God does?

"Behold I'm about to rain bread from heaven for you."

WAIT!! He didn't just mean that. Did he? Obviously he doesn't mean it literally rained bread from the sky. That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard!

Oh, you doubter.

Go ahead Thomas, feel like the wise man who complains when really your the fool who doesn't know how to hold your tongue.

God will prevail. The end.

So bread rains from the sky.

So, picture this, now... you're feeling fed, you've got a belly full of food, but God's like 'don't take more bread than you need for one day.' if you take more food than you need for one day. It rots! Disgusting smells will waft through your house during the day and night and you're probably going to want to barf out the contents of yesterday. Gross.

Point: God gives you food for today. Here's the fun part of God... He holds you up. He will take care of his children. Lets look at Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

So what is God saying?

Ask.

Lets look at James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will revive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways." (Matthew 7:7)  

This is like a relief and a jolt of ice-cold water at once. You want something: ASK. Don't piddle around the subject "for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." he wants you to ask. To take initiative to say, 'God I need something.'

Flip side: You can't have any doubt. Don't think, 'Well... I know you can... or I think you can... but... maybe you can do it for me.(?)" Don't uncertainly think things like this. God is so powerful that he spoke creation into being as if it was nothing but a day of work. God is powerful. He can, and he will.

"Because of our little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."  (Matthew 17:20)

You need faith. Kapeish?

Take what you will from this blog post, but I honestly hope that I didn't bore you or waste your time. So have faith, brother, have faith sister, for God is on our side. And if God is for us, who could be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34)

Question/food for thought: What do you need and are you presenting it to God so that he may Provide for you? How does this affect your worry about tomorrow?

Today: Part 1- Today's Tomorrow

Today's Tomorrow

Today's tomorrow, will be tomorrow's today.

Today is a Monday. I hate Mondays, and I'm sure about 99.999% of America's population is in agreement with me. Monday's start the working week, or the school week if your a student like myself, and you have to get up early.

"I hate Mondays. I'm sure about 99.999% of America's population
is in agreement with me."

Oh, you think you have it bad? Yesterday me and my mother spent thirty minutes running around our town (she's slower than me so she told me to run ahead) and now when I walk my head spins a little and when I take a deep breath I can sense the memory of the heavy breathing tickling down my air way with pollen polluting my system and the lukewarm air piercing my lungs as if it was ice cold air in the morning, when really it was late in the afternoon. To add onto that I have a test that I didn't study for, homework due that I didn't think to finish, and an assignment with a group of people who would like to see me squirm. Did I mention I'm constantly managing to embarrass myself with the stuffy sneezes that send snot flying everywhere? What about that headache I had to miss ten minutes of class for to get some aspirin or Tylenol because the nurse was eating lunch ?

I just wish that today would end already.

This is a horrible way to live life. With thoughts of Just keep my head down, don't make eye contact with strangers so I can carry on my Merry way. And drifting through the day only to reach tomorrow.

I'm a teenager. When I was one to about seven everything was so sharp and real and in my face. Everyday was a new adventure, and no one could stop me from having a good time. Sure, I was a brat and when I didn't get my way through a fit. (this I regret) but listen to me when I say this: when I was five the thoughts I can't wait for tomorrow simply for today to be gone... never crossed my mind. When I reached seven-and-a-half-ish I think that was when I began to realize this idea that adults had. Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. constantly waiting for the belated tomorrow.

I was eleven when I renewed my faith in Christ. Only until about last year, though, was when I began to notice how absurd this mind set is that we've gotten into is.

Imagine how stupid I felt when I stumbled upon this rogue, not-of-my-own thought. Today's tomorrow, is tomorrows today.

I keep thinking that and, maybe you had to read it a few times to get it, if you just are skimming through this, bored as I may do sometimes, you probably haven't put forth enough thought to really grasp this.

I keep calling on tomorrow as I lay my head on my pillow, after a long days 'work' (whatever it is you call school). Worn out, tired, and eagerly awaiting the joy of tomorrow. The next day, I wake up and, of course, it's just like any other day. I start my day off waiting for tomorrow. wait, wait, wait wasn't I just wishing for tomorrow, yesterday?
If you keep chasing tomorrow, hate to break it to you, you're never going to be satisfied. Tomorrow is never going to fulfill to you what you want. Why? Because when you reach 'tomorrow' it's going to be today. Sorry, but tomorrow isn't going to make it any better unless you decided it's going to be a good day.

Question/food for though: How can/have you make this a day in which you're not chasing tommorow? (share in comments)

I Dance with Danger

Dancing With Danger

Have you ever been in a dance that held the sense of the utmost urgency? Maybe danger slipped it's way into this dance, maybe a lot is riding on this.

Dancing can hold a Aura of gracefulness about it, something enticing and drawing in about dancing. Sometimes you want to sit back and stare with your jaw gaping open, and other times you may want to jump into the dance to experience it for yourself.

The dance I'm talking about can look hypnotizing, graceful, elegant, and a dance that draws you in even as you stare at it. Each second that ticks by is a second closer for you to join in on this dance of danger. This dance isn't a dance to be envied, though many of us will still look at it and think to ourselves, "I wish I could do that. Maybe I can. I will."

Let me tell you, it doesn't help that you think you are a bystander in this dance. You are really already allowing your feet to move and your mind to go off with the dance and the nasty music.

I have danced the dance of danger, it is not a pleasant dance. It's a shameful dance. The worst part of the dance are your dance partners though. Mine where/are Pride and anger. They are very challenging dance partners, and quiet dangerous when paired together. One may play off of the other to draw you further into the dance floor and further away from God.

I have a feeling I'm not the only one who's danced with both of these dance partners. I mean, look at Moses.

He was in the presence of God and there where times when the Israelites would grate his nerves so much that he would angerly lash out. Example: He had two stone tablets that God had put the ten commandments on and when moses comes down he sees that the Israelite's are worshipping a golden cow they made from their Jewelry. In anger he broke the tablets and had to rebuild them by himself.

Oh, what about the time that he was supposed to make water come out of the rock, but got irritated when the people and hit it instead.

Moses Anger caused him pain. Do not doubt that. At one point God tells him because of his actions (acted on and strike at by anger) he would not be able to walk into the promise land. He would die in the wilderness with the other Israelites.

Sin costs.

It costs a lot.

So God sent his son to save us from the failures that this Dangerous Dance would lead to. God saved us with his blood. God died for us. Don't disrespect that. Don't pursue this Dangerous Dance.

About me

Words are like little demons; they sneak upon me in the night and demand their attention. They all eagerly present their stories to me and persuade me to use my fingers and make a string of sentences that will soon be a paragraph. Words, though demons themselves, can be angelic beings. They can descend with sweetness upon my mind, mouth, and fingertips. They wisper sweet innocent stories that demand to be told. Many are too precious and valuable to ignore; the other ones, the ones that are sticky traps, are my little demons. It is my job to sort through the voices, the stories, and the thoughts to compose a peice.
I'm an author.
Words come to me like breathing may come to you. I will repeat it over and over until you get the fact that I'm serious. Words come to me as easily as breathing. I think it, I ponder it, and I write. Simple, easy, natural process that makes me grin while I do it. It's fun, and it's something I enjoy. I would just sit and let my fingers fly across the keyboard if I could afford to do that. I have a life though. So I guess I have to get up and get out sometimes.
As fun as writing is; my writing would be dead without it's partner, Music. In my world they go hand in hand. I'm writing, expect a song that matches the mood of the book to be playing. I will sing until my throat goes sore, and after singing for hours and hours on end without ceasing day after day; It can take a while for my throat to hit it's breaking point, folks.
WAIT! Before you stop reading, I MUST tell you!
Without the muic there would be no writing, but without God the music would have no meaning to me. I am infact a broken, idiotic person without God. I don't get much done and I don't have much to say on anything. i'm broken. It's the truth. Don't ask about it. I'll tell you when I get the guts to tell you. Here's the thing though. You're broken to. We're all broken. Shattered remains of what we could be, but then God comes along and says "Ok, we're going to do a little fixing up here." and then slowly yet surely, with his help, you become a beautiful figure. You become a mosaic. Light shimmer's through you, don't take it for granted. You still need to work. There's something dogging you. Work on it.
So, I'm here to tell you this: We're broken. (yes! We as in A team!) I'm also here to tell you this: you can be fixed. Because really, you're beautiful.