Good Conversations

I love a good conversation, don't you? Yeah, thought so. Today, I'm posting parts (well, it is most of it) of a conversation I had with an old friend of mine a couple weeks ago (actually, I think it was the day I posted the Koontz blog). Anywho, thanks John, for the excellent conversation and permission to post it!
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Swedey18: hello, John
Swedey18: how's it going?
JrChristian 77: well hi there
JrChristian 77: how’s it going?
Swedey18: awesome, you?
JrChristian 77: I am okay
JrChristian 77: what’s up in Woodstock?
Swedey18: not a whole lot...things are usually pretty boring.
JrChristian 77: ok I've gotta find something else to watch Jimmy Neutron is weirding me out
Swedey18: rofl
Swedey18: Jimmy Neutron is kinda creepy!
JrChristian 77: kinda like Barney u can only take soo much before u wanna put a gun to ur head and pull the trigger...somehow I don’t think kids shows are meant to make u feel that way
Swedey18: but kids like it! It's the adults that can't stand it
JrChristian 77: I guess
JrChristian 77: that’s better
JrChristian 77: smallvile at least I don’t feel like my intelligence is leaking away
Swedey18: rofl yeah
JrChristian 77: aww shoot it's over
Swedey18: yeah, CSI just ended too
Swedey18: oooo but there's another coming on!
JrChristian 77: I forgot about that
Swedey18: yeay
JrChristian 77: at least there’s a show u use ur brain on
Swedey18: heck yeah
Swedey18: I'm a CSI junkie
JrChristian 77: there’s no such thing as a perfect crime today Sherlock homes would love it today
Swedey18: aw yeah
Swedey18: brb...gotta water the dog
JrChristian 77: LOL don’t drown him
Swedey18: lol
Swedey18: that would be too easy!
JrChristian 77: LOL
JrChristian 77: I think my dog keeps trying that
Swedey18: rofl
Swedey18: yeah but our dog's a corgi...short little legs!
JrChristian 77: LOL
JrChristian 77: Brandon's got a wiener dog that’s a site to see she can barely reach the food and water bowl lol
Swedey18: rofl yeah
Swedey18: hey, you can see a pic of Sidney (the dog)... here http://blogthepirate.blogspot.com/
JrChristian 77: cool
JrChristian 77: she’s cute like a small Collie
Swedey18: yeah. I just recently started the blog...nifty little thing
JrChristian 77: yea I have a LJ not for the faint of heart tho I say exactly how I feel
Swedey18: fun
Swedey18: my recent post was something I've been working on for awhile, I dunno, feels like I'm just blowing smoke, but it makes for some interesting reading
JrChristian 77: I understand that I do it too
JrChristian 77: believe I prolly have more anger to work out than u
Swedey18: probably
JrChristian 77: well I literally only have I friend
Swedey18: that sucks, but believe me, I understand that part
JrChristian 77: I don’t have any gay friends cause they only want one thing and I don’t have str8 friends cause I am not str8 so go figure I really don’t belong anywhere
Swedey18: yeah, I understand feeling like I don't belong. I'm at a really cool place right now, so I don't wanna bum you out with how good things are going.
JrChristian 77: nah it's fine
Swedey18: I've spent most of the past year angry at God...he took away my two best friends (one just stopped talking to me, the other moved to Minnesota a week ago)
JrChristian 77: aww
JrChristian 77: I know the feeling
Swedey18: but I realized, among other things, that God was doing that so that I wouldn't rely on my friends anymore, but Him.
Swedey18: And for the first time in my life, I feel like I'm doing what God wants me to be doing, he's using ME in the lives of the kids I work with, and it's so totally awesome
JrChristian 77: that’s cool
JrChristian 77: I am in the process of trying to find a church there are no Quaker Churches here in Dallas
Swedey18: I hope you do... one that will accept you for who you are without trying to change you
JrChristian 77: true and one with honest Gay Christians not ones who use Christ to get into other peoples pants
Swedey18: good point
JrChristian 77: I don’t believe in exgay Ministries like Exodus it's a hoax and it does more damage than its worth
Swedey18: yeah no idea what you're talking about sorry. Still dumb in many areas of my faith, but working my way inch by inch
JrChristian 77: they try to change gay men into str8 men using the Bible and all that they have really high suicide rates cause they make people feel like they are a mistake and need to change cause God made than wrong and alot of Gay men cant take it cause they wanna be saved and then they kill themselves cause of it
Swedey18: oh. my. well, that's some people's views, skewered as they are
JrChristian 77: I know
JrChristian 77: I went thru all that and when I see others go thru it, it breaks my heart
JrChristian 77: do ya remember that Christian cliché from when we were kids?
Swedey18: uhmmm
JrChristian 77: about How God doesn’t make junk?
Swedey18: yeah
JrChristian 77: I really love that saying
Swedey18: yeah, and it is true
Swedey18: I've got a variation of my own
JrChristian 77: despite all my medical problems it’s the only thing that actually gets me thru
Swedey18: well, a couple variations. One being "God doesn't make mistakes"
Swedey18: Goes along with a theory I came up with a couple years ago
Swedey18: "It's all good"
JrChristian 77: lol
JrChristian 77: I am pretty sure u didn't coin the saying "it's all good"
Swedey18: well yeah, I know that, but I have my own theory behind that saying
JrChristian 77: ok? And that is?
Swedey18: well, you know how everything God makes is good, right?
JrChristian 77: yes
Swedey18: even the bad stuff is supposed to be good
JrChristian 77: true
Swedey18: that means, that somehow, something good has to come out of even the worst situations
Swedey18: but how?
Swedey18: my theory is that we're supposed to learn something from bad things happening to us
Swedey18: that's how I came up with that I'm supposed to learn how to rely on God from Him taking away my friends
Swedey18: yeah, that's pretty much it
JrChristian 77: that’s cool
JrChristian 77: I like that
Swedey18: there's another thing similar to that, that I read once...
Swedey18: I wrote it down...lemme find it
Swedey18: ah, here it is.
Swedey18: It's from the same book I was talking about quantum physics in my post today...
Swedey18: "From the Corner of His Eye" by Dean Koontz
Swedey18: Anywho, the quote from the book is this...
JrChristian 77: I have that book but haven’t read it
Swedey18: "Whether God's a Catholic, a Baptist, a Jew, a Muslim, or a quantum mechanic, He gives us compensation right here in this world, not just in those parallel to it and not just in some afterlife. Always compensation for the pain... if we recognize it when we see it."
Swedey18: you HAVE to read that book
JrChristian 77: ok I don’t know if I agree with that
JrChristian 77: it was my Great Aunt's when she died I got her library
JrChristian 77: I have a lot of problems with that in fact since I am in so much pain from my broken hip and torn tendons I really am struggling with that
Swedey18: but it's pretty much a more sophisticated version of my "It's All Good" theory
JrChristian 77: I have a major problem with the whole job thing I don’t understand the purpose of it and y if God is so great why he just doesn’t tell Satan to go away and not return I don’t think it's fair for them to "wager" over ours souls
JrChristian 77: true
Swedey18: hmmm
Swedey18: there's an old saying...
JrChristian 77: after awhile u just wanna be left alone ya know?
Swedey18: yeah, I know
Swedey18: but... oh, how's it go! Nothing worth getting is ever easy... arg that's not it
JrChristian 77: lol close enough
JrChristian 77: I know what u mean
Swedey18: yeah
Swedey18: I turned around and asked my parents...they came up with "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" and that's definitely not it
JrChristian 77: lol
Swedey18: but you get the point
JrChristian 77: mmhumm
JrChristian 77: and ur right
JrChristian 77: it's just after awhile u get tired of bad stuff happening to ya
Swedey18: believe me, I know
Swedey18: but something good..."compensation" if you will, will come eventually
Swedey18: it's all about patience
JrChristian 77: I hope so
Swedey18: trust me, I know from experience
JrChristian 77: I see u go into angel and demonology?
JrChristian 77: that’s good
Swedey18: yeah not that far yet
JrChristian 77: there’s a Jewish book u should read
Swedey18: dude, it'd probably put me to sleep
JrChristian 77: it's called Book of Enoch
JrChristian 77: nah I enjoyed
Swedey18: lol
Swedey18: Enoch is a character in that Koontz book
JrChristian 77: it talks about the levels of heaven and hell and who guards them Satan's fall Angel and Demons names their ranks and all that
JrChristian 77: well looks like he’s done his homework there
Swedey18: lol you should read my blog post for today!
Swedey18: He mentions a demon and an archangel in the book I just finished today, 'Hideaway'
JrChristian 77: cool yea I was reading it just didn’t finish it
Swedey18: ah ok
JrChristian 77: lol I have Adult ADD like u lol
Swedey18: rofl
JrChristian 77: I am easily distracted
Swedey18: oooo look a butterfly!
Swedey18: lol
JrChristian 77: lol not nearly that bad but if I start typing what they are saying on TV I am really sorry
Swedey18: rofl I'll keep that in mind!
JrChristian 77: what’s really funny is if I am talking to more than one person online I type the wrong message in the wrong window.
Swedey18: lol yeah, I do that too
JrChristian 77: which can be really embarrassing!
Swedey18: lol yeah
JrChristian 77: so I am curious u talked to Any of our old friends?
Swedey18: yeah
Swedey18: Sean and Rob, mostly
Swedey18: when they write me back
JrChristian 77: lol I don’t know them
Swedey18: Rob you do
JrChristian 77: oh wait Rob from Canada?
JrChristian 77: how is he? I think about him a lot
Swedey18: yeah that Rob
JrChristian 77: I try to remember to pray for him too
Swedey18: he's doing well...check the comment on my first post, he wrote about what's going on
JrChristian 77: ok
Swedey18: I was rather glad to hear from him finally, I was getting worried
JrChristian 77: aw too bad
JrChristian 77: bless his heart
Swedey18: he's got the most amazing sense of humor of anyone I've ever met
JrChristian 77: I went thru the whole cancer thing last year so I know what he's going thru
JrChristian 77: yea I know
Swedey18: it's why I've tried so hard to stay in touch with him. He really puts things in perspective for me
JrChristian 77: that’s cool
Swedey18: the 'Wake the Neighbors' is a reference to a Steven Curtis Chapman song called "Live Out Loud"
Swedey18: I used to "sing" the song to him over IM when he was feeling down
Swedey18: always made him laugh
JrChristian 77: I've heard just really didn’t care for it
JrChristian 77: lol good for u
Swedey18: well just after I met him, he almost died, and I was the only friend who stuck around... it was weird... trying to keep him alive gave me a reason to live.
JrChristian 77: aww I couldn’t get the guy to talk to me I thought he just didn’t like me after what Rodney did I deleted everyone who was associated with him cause I didn’t think they would talk to me
Swedey18: 'cept me...Rob's just very shy, not a big talker
JrChristian 77: ok
Swedey18: we had some things in common; just hit it off, tho it took him awhile to really talk
Swedey18: it happens sometimes, and when it does, it's cool
JrChristian 77: that’s cool
JrChristian 77: u hear from anyone else?
Swedey18: just those two...sometimes I'll hear 'bout Rodney thru Sean, but other than that, they've all pretty much dropped off the face of the earth to me
JrChristian 77: that sucks
JrChristian 77: what about Adam?
Swedey18: haven't heard from him in years
JrChristian 77: I think he’s mad at me or hates me or something
Swedey18: it happens sometimes
JrChristian 77: I haven’t heard from him since 2001
Swedey18: Stoo, Steve, Refined, Kristi, Julie, Justin, the whole crew, I haven't heard from any of them in at least two years
Swedey18: last one of that crew I heard from was Julie (RazeTheRoof??)
Swedey18: one of the younger ones
JrChristian 77: Justin keeps inviting me to do something with a cell phone I am not sure but I don’t own a cell phone anymore
Swedey18: lol
JrChristian 77: stoo and I talk all the time he’s getting married
Swedey18: really?
Swedey18: cool!
JrChristian 77: I thought he was gay to be honest
Swedey18: lol guess not
JrChristian 77: but he’s getting married to a girl they have "been together" as in living together for a year
Swedey18: do tell him "congratulations" from me next time you talk to him
JrChristian 77: ok will do
Swedey18: if he even remembers... lol
JrChristian 77: they wanted to get married but couldn’t afford it
Swedey18: that sucks
JrChristian 77: I am sure he does he asked about u a few months ago
Swedey18: really?
JrChristian 77: he’s one of those metro sexual guys
Swedey18: rofl yeah, I can see that
JrChristian 77: yea and I told him that u were kinda on but not much
JrChristian 77: u still have his yahoo?
Swedey18: uhm prolly not
Swedey18: I don't really use yahoo anymore, just aim
Swedey18: all of the kids I work with have aim, so I just stick with that
JrChristian 77: oh ok I don’t think he uses AIM too much I don’t use it too much cause I was getting harassed on here
Swedey18: yeah that's not good
JrChristian 77: well I used to belong to a gay Christian site and that didn’t go over so well cause they very liberal and they didn’t think they needed Christ or Salvation and nothing was sin and the Bible wasn’t true and one day I just came unglued and I posted verse after verse showing them that they were wrong and I got banned from the site
JrChristian 77: and I used to get harassed on him cause of that
Swedey18: not fun
JrChristian 77: nope
Swedey18: I'm tryin' to find yahoo messenger...
Swedey18: ah crap that's right...this isn't the same computer
JrChristian 77: LOL
JrChristian 77: oh hey can I show u something?
JrChristian 77 wants to directly connect.
JrChristian 77 is now directly connected.
Swedey18: okie dokie
JrChristian 77: ok let’s see if I can do this
JrChristian 77: [photo]
Swedey18: what is that?
JrChristian 77: this appeared over southern France after the pope died this spring
JrChristian 77: it's supposed to be a comet
Swedey18: cool
JrChristian 77: can u see what it is?
Swedey18: upside-down cross, kinda, right?
JrChristian 77: mmmhumm
JrChristian 77: creepy huh?
Swedey18: yeah
Swedey18: tho it's done with a fish-eye lens... hmmm
JrChristian 77: what’s that?
Swedey18: no offense, but has anyone verified that photo?
JrChristian 77: it was on yahoo news y?
Swedey18: a fish-eye lens is a lens for a camera, so you can take wide-angle shots
Swedey18: it's what makes the horizon bend in the photo
Swedey18: and usually makes all horizontal lines bend
JrChristian 77: ok
JrChristian 77: so u think it's fake?
Swedey18: I dunno
Swedey18: it might have been partially faked...
JrChristian 77: ok
Swedey18: you'd be amazed what people can do in Photoshop
JrChristian 77: true and I have seen and done it myself
JrChristian 77: done
Swedey18: yeah, I LOVE adobe Photoshop!
JrChristian 77: me too
JrChristian 77: let me ask u this what do u think of the Da Vinci Code sine they are making it a movie?
Swedey18: that collage in my blog I made with a program called PhotoIllusions
Swedey18: The DaVinci Code is bunk
JrChristian 77: that’s cool
JrChristian 77: and yes to US Christian it’s a joke but to many people it's fact
Swedey18: some people are soooooo gullible
JrChristian 77: but think about it if ya wanted to make a false religion that will deceive many isn’t that a good way to start to say Jesus had kids?
Swedey18: it is
Swedey18: it's a very interesting thought, but still its bunk
JrChristian 77: than someone just needs to come along say I a am the descendant of Christ and there ya go
JrChristian 77: it maybe false but still very dangerous to the Christian faith
Swedey18: tru dat
JrChristian 77: a lie don’t need to be a good lie to be believed
Swedey18: definitely
JrChristian 77: I just believe something bad is going to come of it and that inverted cross is a sign of what is coming
JrChristian 77 direct connection is closed.
Swedey18: could be
Swedey18: just have to wait and see
JrChristian 77: true
JrChristian 77: and ur right
Swedey18: sometimes news ppl like to play things up...you gotta take it with a grain of salt, as the saying goes
JrChristian 77: true
JrChristian 77: well the False Apostate is being taught down here in Texas churches so I know we are close to Christ coming
JrChristian 77: there’s soo many false Christianities floating around its scary
Swedey18: hmmm true
JrChristian 77: another reason I haven’t found a church
Swedey18: lol
Swedey18: I dunno for some reason, I don't think God's going to give us any clue or warning shot, as it were, that Christ's coming back...I think He wants us unknowing so He finds us in our true hearts
JrChristian 77: true but he promised signs to alert us and do ya know about the watcher's crown?
Swedey18: no, what's that
JrChristian 77: well it's in 2 Corinthians just don’t remember the exact verse
Swedey18: 5:10?
JrChristian 77: it talks about a crown of Gold that is given to people who watch for the return of Christ and is ready for him when he comes. They are given the responsibility of reminding me people that Christ is coming by the interpretations of the signs that Christ give us
JrChristian 77: I don’t know let me look
Swedey18: I googled "watcher's crown"
JrChristian 77: lol what do u need me then for?
Swedey18: lol :-D I love google!
Swedey18: it's more interesting from someone I know!
Swedey18: go on!
JrChristian 77: that’s not it that takes about the judgment seat of Christ
Swedey18: ok then, I didn't read the whole page
Swedey18: this is the first page I got... http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Prophecy/Judgment.Seat.Christ.Text.html
JrChristian 77: hmm it’s not mentioned and there are more crowns than that
Swedey18: go figure
JrChristian 77: well I am not making it up I hear I in church! lol
Swedey18: lol I know you're not
Swedey18: I'm checking other sites... it sounds interesting
JrChristian 77: lol I guess I shoulda took notes
Swedey18: The Watcher's Crown

This meritorious award is given to all who longingly and desiringly
watch for Christ's return. Paul declares in 2 Timothy 4:8, Henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love his appearing. Imagine, God gives a
special crown to believers who fix their eyes and hearts heavenward in
watchfulness of Christ's return.
Swedey18: how's that?
JrChristian 77: well I heard the 2 combined but I think its 2 separate crowns
JrChristian 77: sounds right
Swedey18: ohhhhh I don't think you'd like this page
JrChristian 77: y?
Swedey18: Adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, drunkards, drug addicts,
extortioners, swindlers, liars, and worldlings are not anxiously
awaiting Christ's return. Neither are carnal believers who neglect the
Bible, prayer, God's house, soulwinning, and personal holiness. No,
those who look daily and expectantly are not among the worldings, who
sit in bars, theaters, rock concerts, gambling casinos, and other
pagan dens. They do not want to be found there when Jesus comes.
JrChristian 77: what gay bashing?
Swedey18: alotta bashing
Swedey18: rock concerts! sheesh what quacks
JrChristian 77: yes from Corinthians
JrChristian 77: I know that verse
JrChristian 77: I don’t agree that it means what people think it means
Swedey18: yeah
JrChristian 77: LOL
JrChristian 77: dude if Jesus was here today where would he be?
Swedey18: with all those fornicators (that word is hilarious) and sinners and whatnot
JrChristian 77: lol
Swedey18: he hung out with the people the Pharisees scorned
JrChristian 77: well he would be in the rock concerts, bars casinos wherever someone opened a door to him
Swedey18: it's something we covered in YAF two weeks ago
JrChristian 77: Behold I stand at the door and knock he who opens the door and lets me in I will come and eat with him ...hmmm I don’t see any conditions there
Swedey18: true true
Swedey18: have you heard of Rob Bell?
JrChristian 77: nope
JrChristian 77: nope
Swedey18: he's a pastor at the Mars Hill church (wherever that is) he's done a series of DVDs...
JrChristian 77: oh ok
JrChristian 77: I am careful who I listen to
Swedey18: ok, but I think you might like this guy
Swedey18: he's really good; we've been showing his DVDs in church and for the youth, and now for YAF (the college age group I run)
JrChristian 77: that’s cool I'll check him out
Swedey18: we watched the one called "Dust" two weeks ago; it's the one I was just reminded of
JrChristian 77: ok
Swedey18: he talked about how Jesus chose for his disciples those who weren't seen as 'the best of the best'
JrChristian 77: true
JrChristian 77: I believe John was gay lol
Swedey18: could be!
Swedey18: the DaVinci code thinks he's a woman
JrChristian 77: str8 men don’t hang on other men and hug them and all that
Swedey18: lol
JrChristian 77: yea well that’s where he gets it wrong lol
Swedey18: back then, you never know
JrChristian 77: don’t touch my name sake lol
JrChristian 77: true
Swedey18: I mean, Judas kissed Jesus to betray him...
JrChristian 77: yea but that was a traditional Jewish greeting
Swedey18: ok, I'll give you that
JrChristian 77: we are talking about a guy who hung on the other guys hugging them kissing them and laying on them
JrChristian 77: I am not saying anything sexual happen I am saying that’s just too gay
Swedey18: lol but you're putting modern labels on ancient happenings
JrChristian 77: I know John was still a kid but still teenagers don’t act like that either
Swedey18: things were different back then; you just can't know what things meant back then
JrChristian 77: that’s true
JrChristian 77: gay was a horrible word back then associated with cult worship and sexual ceremonies
Swedey18: also meant happy
JrChristian 77: there was a big cult during time of Paul that did those things
JrChristian 77: true
Swedey18: see what I mean? It's something we just can't know until we get to Heaven
JrChristian 77: true maybe
JrChristian 77: I do think that God expect certain things of us rather we are gay bi or straight
Swedey18: could be
JrChristian 77: one thing he expects is that our sexuality shouldn’t define who we are
JrChristian 77: and we shouldn’t allow it to control us
Swedey18: very true
JrChristian 77: Rodney made me look like this sexual addicts it’s simply not true
Swedey18: I ignored whatever you two said about each other...I just couldn't handle being in the middle of friend-bashing
JrChristian 77: true
JrChristian 77: but I want u to know I am nothing like that
Swedey18: I know
JrChristian 77: that’s half my problem is I am not promiscuous
Swedey18: that's a problem?
Swedey18: :-)
JrChristian 77: yea well I can’t fit into the gay world otherwise
Swedey18: that's not always true
JrChristian 77: it is here in Dallas
Swedey18: I'll grant you the big cities...
Swedey18: but my next door neighbors are two gay guys who've lived together for... I dunno, at least five years now
Swedey18: lol they're both named Dave
JrChristian 77: that’s great Brandon and I have been together 3
JrChristian 77: oh how confusing
Swedey18: lol there's good Dave and bad Dave...
Swedey18: good Dave's live there for since I can remember, and he's nice
JrChristian 77: that’s not good
JrChristian 77: u mean one is mean and one is nice?
Swedey18: yeah, and he says the other Dave is, and I quote "Socially Retarded"
JrChristian 77: LOL that’s me
Swedey18: the other Dave won't even wave when he's walking their dogs
Swedey18: Charlie the greyhound, Joey the Chihuahua, and Bishop the terrier
JrChristian 77: lol ok
Swedey18: I used to go over and *ahem* water the dogs for Dave
JrChristian 77: that’s nice of u
Swedey18: he worked the late shift... I haven't had to do that since the other Dave moved in
JrChristian 77: and very mature I am prou8d of u
Swedey18: he's a nice person, and man, he can SING
JrChristian 77: cool
Swedey18: so yeah
Swedey18: this is from that Dust DVD by Rob Bell...
Swedey18: "Believing in God is important, but what about God believing in us? Believing that we can actually be the kind of people we were meant to be. People of love, compassion, peace, forgiveness, and hope. People who try to do the right thing all of the time. It's easy for us to sometimes get down on ourselves. To feel "not good enough" or feel like we don't have what it takes. But maybe if we had more insight into the culture that Jesus grew up in and some of the radical things He did, we'd understand the faith that God has in all of us."
Swedey18: well, it's a description, anyway
JrChristian 77: true I agree
Swedey18: that was my favorite of the ones we've seen so far
JrChristian 77: I agree
Swedey18: I loved the statement of...oh, how'd it go...about how we believe in God, but did you know that God believes in us? That was just really cool for me
JrChristian 77: I think if we took the time to understand where people are coming from and where Paul and Jesus was coming from we as Christian would not only be seen in more positive way but we would grow more as a person and as Christian
Swedey18: true
Swedey18: check this out..."God loves everyone, so a Christian should, too. In fact, Jesus said that the most important thing in life is to love God with everything we've got and love others the same way. But it's not always easy to love everyone around us, is it? Sometimes we strongly disagree with other people's political views, religious beliefs, behaviors or something else, and it makes it hard to love them when we feel like we're right and they're very wrong. But Jesus doesn't separate loving God and loving others. So maybe that best way for us to show our love for God is actually by loving other people no matter how hard it sometimes is. Maybe it's the only way."
Swedey18: it's the description of another of the DVDs...called Bullhorn
JrChristian 77: I agree
Swedey18: I really think you should check this guy out
JrChristian 77: I just don’t think everything is so black and white life is too complicated for that
JrChristian 77: I will
Swedey18: good. it's highly memorable...
Swedey18: Rob Bell just sits and talks apparently to himself...
Swedey18: they're odd, but with good messages that make you think, as you can tell
JrChristian 77: lol ok
JrChristian 77: I sit here and talk to myself and ur point is?
Swedey18: rofl yeah, but he videotapes himself for others to watch!
JrChristian 77: ok that’s a disorder lol
Swedey18: lol
JrChristian 77: I try not to let anyone see including Brandon and he lives with me lol
Swedey18: rofl he's quirky, and with so many strait-laced pastors out there, he's a breath of fresh air
JrChristian 77: true
JrChristian 77: r u watching whose line?
Swedey18: when I can... I'm not technically home, so I have no control over the TV
Swedey18: I don't live with my parents anymore, I live with my grandma
Swedey18: and my parents have the computer
JrChristian 77: oh ok
Swedey18: speaking of, they're wondering why I've been over here so long...and so I must take my leave…and run with it.
JrChristian 77: lol oh ok have a good nite
Swedey18: you too...it was nice talking to you again
JrChristian 77: yeah same here
Swedey18: and such a loooong good conversation!
JrChristian 77: lol
JrChristian 77: ok
Swedey18: g'night!

Wacky Days

Alright, I put it off long enough, YOU CAN STOP BUGGING ME TO POST NOW DAN!!! Hee hee! Anywho, I had something else that I wanted to post, but I need to talk to someone first... (John R, e-mail me if you still got the address), so that's why I haven't blogged in awhile. But after yesterday, well I just gotta blog this, it was unbelievable!! Seriously wacky day. Sorta unchronologically, but try and follow...

I had YAF (sorry...Young Adult Fellowship) last night, but after work I saw I needed to get gas, so I headed off to southbridge before YAF started at 7 (I get out of work at 5:30). Got there fine, but five minutes from the woodstock/southbridge border I heard the most unsettling of sounds.... "ssssssssssssssssssssssssss" and as I pulled the car over it went sssssssssthwapthwapthwap" and my thoughts were "aw crap!!!" Yup. Flat tire. A lovely puncture wound, as it happens. And do I know how to change a tire? Theoretically...no. And a decent cell signal was a mile back on the road, so the cell was the main source of my incredible amount of frustration. AND AAA WAS OF NO HELP WHATSOEVER!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully, thru the crappy signal, I managed to get ahold of my dad for help and a friend to let them know I'd be late for YAF...who ended up coming to my rescue first (GINNY AND TIM, I LOVE YOU GUYS, YOU'RE THE BEST!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!). And seriously, like 100 cars went by in a half hour's time, and only THREE ppl stopped to see if I was alright, and the last one offered to help Tim, Gin and I (none of us know how!!) change the flat. (thank you mystery man from Sturbridge Host, whoever you are!) Then my parents showed up WITH THE DOG! Meanwhile, someone from church kept calling and because of the crappy signal, couldn't get thru. So I finally got thru to someone who wasn't the one trying to call and left a message with what was going on. Finally, tire got changed and we got back on the road heading home. Oh, and the spare didn't have much air pressure, so I couldn't go above 40mph! I had Tim and Ginny ahead of me, and my dad behind (with mom and dog)...it was a regular entourage! Half an hour later...get home and Ginny and Tim (awesome friends they are...I'll never forget this guys!) brought me to YAF...as I remembered that there was going to be a new guy there!! Some one had called me right before I left work inquiring about the meeting...she'd called on behalf of some lady who'd called on behalf of some guy who'd just moved up here from florida and was looking to be plugged in to some college-age church group. So yeah, I, the leader, show up late (flustered and frustrated) for his first meeting!! Not the best of first impressions, I do believe! But once I got into the swing of the meeting, I calmed down some (I can get high-strung when frustrated), and made proper introductions once the meeting ended. Most of us (including John, the new guy) went to Deary Bros (a local ice cream...uh...place with awesome food too) for ice cream (SUGAR! I needed SUGAR!!) and just hanging out. So hopefully he'll not have been totally freaked out by us crazies and will show up next week! After that, it was home...finally. Well, almost. [tangent: mmmmm pancakes] I got home (Grandma's) and I hadn't even stepped foot in the house when I heard fireworks coming from next door. So being the curious pyro I am, I went home (parent's) to investigate, tho I knew what was going on. My younger brother's (21st) birthday was on monday, and he was having his party. I ended up going inside to check my e-mail (after the fireworks were ended... not that they finished, but it was almost 10 and we have neighbors). There were upwards of 50 people there, and being a 21st birthday party...well you can guess what kind of stuff was going on. As I was online, talkin' to a couple buds, I heard noises coming from the deck that...well, intrigued me. The sound of a ping pong ball on a table, and yelling. Including my mother's voice... I jumped up faster than you could say "What the heck?" and found...My mother playing Beer Pong. BEER PONG!!! Seriously! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself!! She and Tim (my brother...not to be confused with Ginny's Tim) were playing doubles with two of his buddies from school. AND THEY WERE BEATING THE CRAP OUTTA THOSE TWO GUYS!!!! She was drinking wine instead of beer, but still...BEER PONG!!! As David so eloquently put it... :::Imagination Overload::: It positively boggles the mind.

I topped of the night downloading on the phone with Ebert (I had to tell Nat about my mom playing Beer Pong... She'd just told me about her Beer Pong story last week), and hit the sack (couch) around 1am.

What a wacky day it was!

The Writings of Koontz...

Hello everyone again! I finished my current Dean Koontz book today, and it started me thinking all over again. I mean, some of his books really make me think that Koontz at least believes in God, whatever religion it is, be it Catholic, Christian, or whatever. Out of the twenty or so Koontz titles I've read (some re-read many times), several of them have some sort of religious theme, weather right out in the open, or something you have to dig for. As a Christian, it's really heartening to find touches or outright convictions of God in the novels of a popular (and best-selling!) author.

The one I just finished today, Hideaway, had, in the end, an demon and archangel battling it out (well, if you can call it a battle... They had words, then the archangel conked the demon on the head with a crucifix, and that was the end of that!) through the bodies of two resuscitated people, one with severe psychotic problems (demon: Vassago, which is actually a mythological demon prince), and the other a nice guy, husband and adoptive father (archangel: Uriel, one of the 7 archangels of God...I looked both up online, this wasn't made up!). And one of the other characters was a ten year old girl (Regina) who is physically handicapped and was raised in a Catholic orphanage/school. She was the most interesting character for me. Her...vision of God, the way she talks and relates to God, was just fascinating!

This wasn't the first of Koontz's novels to make me wonder what he believes. Others that have some sort of reference (and some you have to dig deep for) include Sole Survivor (dig deep), From the Corner of His Eye, The Taking (which actually quotes the Bible!), One Door Away from Heaven, Odd Thomas (dig real deep), and I think there are others that I can't remember, but those are the ones that stick in my mind.

The one that really struck me was From the Corner of His Eye. Seriously, you have to read this book! The title comes from a line one of the main characters (and there are several of them) said while consoling her 3 yr old son who's about to go into surgery to remove his tumor-filled eyes. Little Barty asks his mom "Is God really watching?" And Agnes, a Christian, tho I'm not sure which denomination, replies "God's here, sure as I am, tho He's so busy with everything... But he's always watching us from the corner of His eye."

The first time I read that, the words really resonated with me. It was always so hard for me to believe God could actually be everywhere and see everything...the whole omnipotence thing. How?? Being only human, we're not meant to comprehend how God works, but that doesn't prevent us from wanting to. We just have to believe that it's possible, which is so hard!

When I read those lines, I really loved the imagry of God keeping an eye on things, even if not with His full attention, but at least from the corner of His eye. Though it's not necessarily true, it made the "all-seeing" aspect easier to believe in. I have a better theory now, though, and from the same book.

An interesting thing happens when you read alot. You learn things. Sometimes obscure things that would otherwise seem incredibly boring. Like quantum physics theory. I actually have a basic understanding of what quantum physics is and how it works from several books and a TV show. Quantum physics is basically what would make time travel possible. It's kinda like, there are an infinite number of alternate universes right next to each other. Every single moment in time at every single place all exist simultaneously at once, in some alternate universe. The theory is, that every time something happens when something else could have happened (like a choice as simple as to go left or right...), and alternate universe breaks off where the 'something else' did happen, and the consequences of that.

Anywho, what I realized was that though scientists may not have figured out the mechanics of quantum physics, but it's true. It has to be true. Quantum physics is how God does it all. It's how God is able to be everywhere and see everything. Therefore, I also believe that quantum physics will remain theory, because it's God's. Also, because I think it's too complex for any mortal to apply. It's hard enough to understand, let alone try and explain!

So there's my ramblings for the day. Do tell me what you think, I'm rather interested to know if I'm making sense or just blowing smoke! Bye!!

Busy busy busy...

I've got maybe five minutes to post, then I gotta jet... Went back to work today after a niiiice loooooong weekend (why'd it have to end!!) and since we took that niiiice loooooong weekend, EVERYONE came in today. So we were SWAMPED!! And after swimming alot this weekend, I had water that was annoying the crap outta me in my left ear. Went straight to Wal-Mart after work, tho, and found some Swim-ear stuff that's supposed to dry trapped water...works like a charm!! Woohoo, I can hear right again!! Now I'm being offered some dinner before I gotta get up to Pastor Dave's house for Young Adults at 7... yikes, I'm gonna have to eat fast! That's all for now, catch ya laters!

Alright!!

It works!! Woohoo!! Anywho, I've been helping set up the screenhouse and whatnot for some of our extended family coming to watch the fireworks tonight since after church/lunch with Grandma. Not much going on this week, just YAF (a college age Bible study I run) on tuesday night. Since it's the 4th of July weekend, there is no Sr. high group (SNL), and Jr high (Breakaway) ended back in may for the summer. This past week has been pretty interesting. A close friend moved away to Minnesota on wednesday, and on thursday I went to Six Flags NE as a chaperone for the youth. So that kinda balanced out, and then friday I went bowling with some friends (we do that almost weekly). I call us the Bowling Brigade...see photo collage somewhere below. We have a good time...none of us are really very good, but we have an absolute blast anyway! Ok, that's it for now, I'm being yelled at to go help more...sheesh! Adios!

My first blog post ever!!

Like who would wanna read my rantings anyway! It's late, and I dunno if this is gonna work, so if it does, I promise I'll post again with what's been going on... Ok then! Arrr matey!