Thought of the Day- 28 February 2007

I shaved my head. Not totally bald. It is about 1.2 cm long.

I think when I get tan...or red, which is far more likely...I will look pretty stink'n good.

I got me head shaved one other time in my life and it didn't fit me so well. Now, 16 or so years later, it doesn't look so bad. My head has matured!

Football Haircut 2007

Mother

Why in the world haven't I gotten any e-mails from my mom!? Mom, this is just me putting our business out there in hopes that you will gain some inspiration for an e-mail. Grant it, I did talk to you two days ago and all, but I really like e-mails and I want more of them! I am pretty sure that I check my e-mail more times daily, in hope that I will have received a message from people I love, than a pediatrician checks temperatures during flu season! I am a geek like that. What can I say! I really appreciate the people in my life and I like to hear from them. So Mom...write (and quit using spellcheck, unless it is absolutely necessary, because it is more original without it. just kidding).

Speaking of "hearing from people"...can a brother get a feedback comment? ha ha

Love you Mom! Look forward to hearing from you soon!

Guilt Trip

The Beauty of Purification

I don't think you can ever truly appriciate cleansing by water if you have never been dirty. I don't think the "greatest" testimonies are those of "big" sinners becoming holy. I do think however, that the greatest thankfullness and passion for purification comes from those who lived the crapiest lives and saw the face of God staring at them through the muck.

God just keeps digging deeper. I think if he keeps going he might strike oil! I don't think He wants oil though, oil has caused too many wars and will soon be gone, I think He wants gold.

Have you ever thought about the other side of stories?

I am the man who sold everything he had in order to purchase the pearl of great price. I found the pearl, I see my sacrifice, I see the transaction, I see the treasure. What about the man who sold me the pearl? The man who possesed the greatest of all treasures from the start? He is handing me my treasure (the Kingdom) but what is his treasure. Why does he just give up the most precious thing in the world to me? Why does he allow me to sell everything for a pearl? If it is that special why does he give it up at all?! Perhaps it is because he to sold everything. He saw his pearl, He made the sacrifice, He initiated and finshed the transaction, and as I sell everything for His pearl he finally comes face to face with His treasure. I am His pearl! The kingdom is His gift, His destiny for me. I guess that is what being a King of a kingdom is all about.

I don't fully understand, I do ramble a lot though!

So oil will soon be gone. Good! Gas costs too much anyway. If they keep digging beyond the surface where they keep looking, kind of like God is doing with me, I am sure they will find something. It will be a process though.

Processes suck! Process means time, time means life, life leads to death, death leads to life, and the whole time you are in a process! Too bad there isn't this "kill me quick" button that gets rid of all the bad junk and accentuated the really spectacular features that you posses. This would completely remove drawn out processes...and maturity...never mind.

There is something beautiful in seeing the roaring waters of God rush over your inner being. When your vision returns and all you hear is the sweet trickle of the life giving springs, you look and find that one layer has been removed and you are more beautiful than you could ever have imagined.

I am desperatly awaiting the next big wave. I want to regain my sight and gaze upon something beautiful in myself.

River of God-Flow steady, Flow Strong, Rush Over Me!

Ashes for Ashtrays

It is kind of like a beautiful poem being written on the tablet of a heart.
Your expectancy grows with every stroke of the pen.
Your passions ignite as thousands turn to hundreds and hours turn to minutes.
You approach the door of countless memories and innumerable dreams.
The sun shines brighter in your eye and your heart begins to sweat.

At the end of the alley the door approaches-a metal ring binds it shut.
The crack in the wood reveals nothing and your heart sinks-your purpose is gone.

It is as if the sorrow of the world was rolled up within a beautiful masterpiece.
Lick the edge to close it shut. Or just use your tears as the binding seal.
Inhale. The most cancerous of all agents. Failure

Fear is what is exhaled.

The residue lines your garments that were once of many colors.
You were given the cloak that was more beautiful than the flowers of the fields. Only slight glimmers of the raiment appear now as you have been in the gutter for just the right time.
You do not so much prefere the garments of kings as the rags of the beggar.
A white robe will one day await you.

The darkness falls on another cold town in another cold world.
You dream of futures and families, of princes and princesses.

The Sun announces the redemption at hand.
A new masterpiece has been painted, new Kings and Queens await their crowns.

This is the life of the broken, the life of a servant
Our lives are not ashes for ashtrays but incence for an altar
Our tears are not lost in the oceans but dripped as the oil of kings.

Lijiang-Random thoughts for random feelings

Pride or Promise

Have you ever thought that you where created for something great?
You don't really see what "the greatness" will be but you just hope that your life will be used for exatraordinary, time transending purposes.

Have you ever been afraid of telling other people that you think you were made for greatness? You are hesitant because they will be quick to point out your "pride", although they never see the excessive breaking, pain, and sorrow that comes with the call. Is it wrong to desire for people to know your name because it points so strongly to God? Is it wrong to desire a manifestation of Holy Spirit annointing so strongly that nations quake before you?

Was it wrong for Abraham to trust God for descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens or for the Israelites to refer to God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
*Note: There are some people's names in there besides God

Is it wrong to desire to be known as you make Christ known? Is it wrong to tell others to follow you as you follow Christ.


Why do Christains make your promise feel like pride and your destiny like fault?

Pride or Promise

China Update

So I am finding out quite alot about myself.

1. I cannot just be a tourist! If I am not going with purpose I am not a happy person. This has been one of the most amazing adventures I have ever been on but also one of the most unfullfilling. When you pass people everywhere who need what you have it is so hard to just keep going and hiking.

2. I need alot of character development! I am currently "leading" a group of four other students from HKBU and pretty much everything has gone...not good. We started off not getting our train tickets but we came up with a genius plan.
I. Go to Nanning (where they had a market with live cobras and brain!)
II. Take a flight from Nanning to Kunming

Problem #2
One of the guys lost his ticket and they would not let him on the plane (although the plane had like 20 empty seats and his name was in the computer). So, with like 2 minutes before check-in closed I was still trying to get my friend an0ther flight (they said the one with 20 empty seats was "full").

Problem #3
In the rush to get my bags checked I put my bag through...with Kerosene (EXPLOSIVE) containers in it! They got through! That may seem good but it is not! Now, I didn't get arrested but you know how scary it is flying on a plane that you know has explosive containers on it!? I think not! The very thing I was going to use to cook our food was going to cook us!

If you ask me, I'll finish the story later.

Anyway, I have had a horrible attitude. The story I just mentioned, as well as some other things have really revealed what is in me...and I don't like it. You can never determine what will happen to you but you do determine how you will respond...I haven't responded very well and God has really convicted me of it. Although, I am sure that some of it is because I fell so purposeless (except for in a couple of days when I will get to see my friends) this is not the only reason for my attitude.

This past day and a half has been really great though! Today was a really special day. We weren't able to get a bus to the Tibet border until tomorrow and it has turned out to be really awesome! Even though I am in one of the most beautiful places in the world, which leaves you breathless (literally...10,000 ft), people are what I really am amazed by. Today has left me amazed. More to come

Chinese New Year

I am stink'n Tired!

After many a phone call last night (the longest being my mother for around 1 hour) and many changes to my pack I finally went to sleep at approx. 6 am. I hate alarm clocks! More specifically, I hate phones that have the alarm clock function. Even more specifically, I hate phones with the alarm clock function which ring at 8:05 am and confuse the crap out of you because you can't figure out why the alarm keeps going off when you just turned it off 30 seconds ago and you never come to fully realize that the alarm is indeed not going off but rather someone is calling you, a someone who is about to receive an angered, confused answer from someone who doesn't want to be awake or confused.

I say stupid stuff in the morning. I make run-on sentences too.

As I prepare to enter the freezing Himalayas I leace you with this stupid question.

If you shot a penguine, say, in the face...would it bleed blue?

This is not a trick question! This is just the poopy sentences that come into your head when you are awake after 1 hour of sleep in Hong Kong where for most of the night you were snuff'n fumes because of the poo-lution that was seeping through the open windows along with the noise of all ages accumulated into one single sound. I digress

Himalayas here I come!

Thought of the Day- 14 February 2007

Business Cards

I am leaving for Mainland China tomorrow. Faith. We are going to attempt to get a train, one that will take us on a 26 hour ride (you hear that Bryce? A whole day in a train!), from one of the busiest cities in China, during Chinese New Year! Good Luck Me.

We are going to go to Lijiang where some of my favorite people in the world live and maybe catch a ride up into the border towns of Tibet. Our guide of choice? Lonely Planet, of course! Only problem is I forgot my LP at home so I had to buy another one. Price? Around 35-40 dollars...ughghghg! That is like 3 days in China!

Of course I just can't go into a store and buy what I went in to buy, so I purchased two other books (a bit less of a price than LP) on advertising and business tips. One of the books is quite funny and has some good advice that I am going implement right now. The book illustrates the importance of seeing yourself as you want others to see you. The author gives an example through business cards.

Here is "that-guys" card

Bob Jones

Gas Pump Attendant

~

Now, the other guys

Bob Jones

Gas Distributor and Technician

~

Bob Jones #2 sounds like the real deal!

Another Example:

Jim Johnson

Architect

~

Jim B. Johnson

Architect(s)

Using this format let me present my business card.

~

Brandon Kightlinger

Broke College Student, Professional Dreamer, Girl Scare-er,

Excessive Sweater, Raptor Toe Extraordinaire

~

Brandon T. Kightlinger

World Leader and Dreamer

Founder and President of Inhale International Inc.

~

I like #2 a little better!

~

I will try to update a couple of times while in Mainland.

Please be praying that we have safe travels and that we can gain access to Tibet. Thanks

~

More than Business

Thought of the Day- 13 February 2007

Valentines Day...

We're not going to talk about Valentine's Day, okay! We are going to talk about failure.

First, computer failure. I am currently in the computer lab at school because the Internet on my computer is not working (hence, no blog yesterday). This makes for an interesting scenario because all the screen tabs are in Chinese! Speaking of Chinese

Second, I bombed my Mandarin test today! Holy Smokes it was bad. Failure! Speaking of Failure

I don't really care about failure anymore. It doesn't scare me. It does however, make me really mad! I am a mature man practically ready to be completely independent...except for the you-have-to-buy-your-own-crap clause that comes with independence, of course. I mean, there comes a point in life when you pick your battles. You deem what you will invest your life in, what classes you will take seriously, which girls you are gonna let walk all over you because they're hot, etc. You are all smart people; you know what I am talking about.

When failure really hurts though is when you fail at something you are willing to invest your life in. That is why today's Mandarin test hurt so bad. Granted, I didn't really study (I have alot of excuses though...don't judge me!), but I still could have done better than what I did. It was all Chinese to me! Seriously though, I really want to learn Chinese! I don't completely know what my future holds but I know that the Chinese people will be a part of it. I know that I have brothers and sisters in China that I have never been able to talk to because we speak different languages. I want to learn from them. I want to hear their stories. On top of this though...I want to understand what they are teaching and their stories!

Failure Stinks!

Redemption is approaching though....can I get a "Mid-term" anybody!?

Chinese Class, Valentines Day, Flower Market...Life goes on

For those of you who don't have a Valentine,

"Will you be my Valentine?"

Thought of the Day- 11 February 2007

Minority Report
by: Jay-Z

This is a song I heard the other day and I must say it is really good. Here are the verses.

*Note: There are some explicit words in this song. I have highlighted these in red and have placed an alternative word next to them in [] so that, if reading to children, you can "Disney" it down for them. Seek Justice!

(Verse 1 Jay-Z)
people was poor before the hurricane came
but the down pour poured is like when mary j. sang
every day it rains, so every day the pain
but ignored them, and showed em the risk was to blame
for life is a chain, cause and effected
niggas [people] off the chain because they affected
it's a dirty game so whatever is effective
from weed to selling kane, gotta put that in effect
wouldn't you loot, if you didn't have the loot?
baby needed food and you stuck on the roof
helicopter swooped down just to get a scoop
through his telescopic lens but he didn't scoop you
the next five days, no help ensued
they called you a refugee because you seek refuge
the commander-in-chief just flew by
did he stop? no, he had a couple seats
just proved jet blue he's not
jet flew by the spot
what if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped
hu,that woulda been something to watch
helicopters doing fly-bys to take a couple of shots
couple of portraits then ignored 'em
he'd be just another bush surrounded by a couple orchids
poor kids just 'cause they were poor kids
left 'em on they porches same old story in new orleans
silly rappers, because we got a couple porches
mtv stopped by to film our fortresses
we forget the unfortunate
sure i ponied up a mill, but i didn't give my time
so in reality i didn't give a dime, or a damn [darn]
i just put my monies in the hands of the same people that left my people stranded
nothin' but a bandit left them folks abandoned
damn [Man], that money that we gave was just a band-aid
can't say we better off than we was before
in synopsis this is my minority report
can't say we better off than we was before
in synopsis this is my minority report

(Verse 2 - ne-yo)
so many times i'm, covering my eyes
peeking through my fingers
tryin' to hide my, frustration at the way that we treat
(seems like we don't even care)
turn on the tv, seein' the pain
sayin' such a shame then tryin' to go on with my life
of that, i too, am guilty
(seems like we don't even care)
so we send a lil' money, tell 'em it's alright
to be able to sleep at night
you will pay that price
while some of these folks' lost their whole life
(seems like we don't even care)
now it wasn't on the nightly news no more
suddenly it didn't matter to you no more
in the end almost nothing changed
what the hell [heck], what was that for?
(seems like we don't even care)

No matter the political stance you hold or your opinion of the President...look at the deeper message of this song. What are we doing to seek justice? Injustice is everywhere. People are dying everywhere. You are needed everywhere! Why not act where you are? I am not talking about your money, although it is important, I am talking about you!

Your life is a treasure...give it away.

Thought of the Day- 10 February 2007

4 Hours

I went to a chinese church with a local girl from HKBU today. I was really suprised because it was all teenagers and college students...their adult church meets at another location on Sunday mornings. It was all in Cantonese (that is not english!) except for two of the worship songs which were in english. Knees to the ground, hands lifted high, cries unto God, a beautiful thing!

I had a revelation today....languages are amazing! After they got through the english songs they played Hillsongs' Worthy is the Lamb in Mandarine. It was during this time of mandarine language song that I found God worthy worship. While the church sung unto God in mandarine I joined the chorus in heavenly bliss, in English. At that moment the nations came to peace, the peoples found their purpose, and our God smiled. A beautiful song!

Revelation 7:9
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from ever nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb....

A beautiful thing

A beautiful song

A beautiful sight

A Beautiful Church

No my Love! The Honor is all mine!

Thought of the Day- 9 February 2007

Love

So I am totally on this love kick! My whole life I have heard people say that they have "fallen into love" and that they "love pizza". Personally nothing good has ever come about from me falling, and come on, pizza isn't that good! In fact, I fell off a 50 ft cliff before and all it got me was a demolished, grotesque knee and a sweet scar....not a babe! In fact (again), it wasn't until recently that I found out that "all the girls liked me" in 5th grade, the year I fell off the cliff. If I would have known that I would haved milked that injury for all it was worth...Brandon would have been getting some kisses for sure!

Moving along.

In all honesty and seriousness, I am pursuing love. What does it mean to love? What does it "feel" like to love someone. How do you know if you genuinely love someone or if you are just saying you do? How can I live a life focused on love? Why do we tell people we love them?...shouldn't we be asking them if we love them?

So my mom sent me this excerpt from a book today and I think that every Christian should have the opportunity to read it. I hope you like it.

The Language of Love
by: Graham Cooke

Jesus Christ: Treasure hunter

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke to the treasure God had deposited in people. He even blessed the spiritual treasure people themselves did not realize they had. Jesus once met a crooked tax collector named Zacchaeus. Not once did Jesus reveal the man's sin. All He did was bless him and honor him. Humbled, Zacchaeus knew what to do: "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold" (Luke 19:8) The man simply stopped cheating others, signed away half of his possessions and made a contract with heaven to restore what he had previously stolen. "I robbed you of a hundred dollars; here's four hundred back" That is God at work in one of His special treasures.

God has placed His fingerprint in the people around us, and we need to speak to that spiritual treasure. In Johns gospel we read that the disciple Philip brought his brother, Nathanael, to meet Jesus. Nathanael was at first skeptical: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" he asked. But when he finally met Jesus, the Lord spoke to the treasure in him: "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" Jesus said, noting prophetically that He had seen Nathanael sitting under a fig tree earlier that day(John 1: 46-47). "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" exclaimed Nathanael(John1:49), who then left everything behind and became a disciple. Jesus had spotted the treasure deposited in Nathanael's life and had spoken to it. The result? Nathanael became a pillar of the early church.

Jesus knew that whatever He spoke to would create greater value in people. Humanity always speaks to the earthen vessel, noting every crack, flaw, and warp: " If you put this right, and change that, then we'll let you in and accept you." God is not remotely like that. He speaks to the treasure in a person and releases it from captivity of the flesh. He extracts the precious from the worthless. We often try to do the opposite - take out the trash and see what is left. When we speak to the treasure in people, it moves to the surface of their lives, from the hidden to the obvious. And the rubbish always comes with it. When people see their own worth, they get rid of their own carnality...God knows there is treasure in all of us, and He wants to bring it to the surface. Do not let your view of the worthless obscure that which is precious about a person. We have to change the way we think of and behave around other people. We must realize that our real enemies are the devil and his demons...

*Note: If there were any spelling errors in this...my mom isn't the best typer (runs in the family) so have mercy. This was a long stink'n excerpt!

More love to Come!

Geezers-Thoughts from Yesterdays wrapped up today.

I have found that every time I have "come to the point" it is as if I was climbing a high dive to only take the plunge into an empty pool.

The scary thing about having "arrived" is that we turn the journey, the race, our life through eternity into a set of destinations. We are taking our eyes off the source of our lives and are placing them on a "spiritual goal" or arrival point. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with setting goals and monitoring one's spirual growth through a scriptural lens. The problem comes when we set our eyes on those around us instead of on Jesus, and when we see our arriving as a resting point or end. This is where we are failing so terribly! We compare ourselves to our friends, our parents, and even our leaders. We have settled. We have created a spiritual hierarchy in which we hope to someday ascend to the top. What is the problem with this? We are not supposed to be striving to be like our friends, our parents, our pastors, Billy Graham, etc....they are not the mark! Jesus is the mark! A Christlike life is our aim.

If we would truly take this call to be Christlike it would mess up everything! We would find the platforms empty and the ladder torn down. Why? Because the greatest would be in the dirt, they would be dirty, they would be with those who do not even claim Jesus as Lord. We would not settle! And we would serve.

The other day I was talking to someone about this Christian hierarchy. Here is what they had to say (paraphrased)

"You know something that really bothers me? What really bothers me is when pastors, after a service, beg for people to help 'we need people to help this coming workday...please stay after and help us tear down...etc.' and then after the service they leave! As if noone else there has anything to do!"

Christian Hierarchy. What ever happened to the greatest will be the servant? What ever happened to approachable pastors? What ever happened to the body of believers that realized that each member had something different to contribute to the body for its benefit? What ever happened to people having freedom to be themselves? What happened to joy? What happened to forgiveness? What happened to holiness? What ever happened to 'go into all the world'? Whatever happened to people who didn't care what anyone else thought, all they wanted was Jesus? Where have all the spiritual Mothers and fathers gone? And in the words of the Blackeyed Peas..."Where is the love?"

I started off todays post by stating that every time I feel like I have arrived it is as if I am climbing a high dive and will soon be plunging into an empty pool. I feel that statement defines most people's arrival. At first we recognize the sin in our lives, the things that make us stumble (i.e. music, movies, goals), and we get them out of our lives. But then we arrive! We feel as if we have come to the point that those things no longer bother or affect us and so we start to once again consume them. Let me make this statement-

Christian maturity does not mean that you can "handle" things! Christian maturity is shown when you realize that you cannot handle things and will never be able to, because it is sin. You then keep it removed from your life. It is not an issue of arriving! Spiritual maturity is seeing Jesus and seeing yourself in light of Him!

Paul "the master thealogian"-formerly known as Saul -sees things a little different than we do. Paul did not see himself as this man who was ascending the platforms to holiness, in fact that more and more he saw Jesus the less and less and he became in his own eyes.

Paul starts out by addressing himself as "The least of the Apostles"
In a later letter he refers to himself as "the least of the saints"
and in an even later letter he refers to himself as "the chief of sinners"!

Where have we gone wrong that we desire to be seen as holy in the eyes of men and are thus deceiving ourselves as to how we appear in the eyes of God. We are truly becoming an old church not a mature one. For an old church will soon die but a mature church brings forth life! Perhaps that is why it is estimated that the Western church is losing 7,000 people a day while the African church is gaining over 20,0000.

Old vs. Mature

This was a compilation of many different thoughts and truths I have been thinking about. Hey! scrammbled eggs are good for you too!

New Blog- Inhale International

I just wanted to inform everyone that I have begun a new blog which can be found at

inhaleinternational.blogspot.com

For the past few years I have been dreaming and developing a vision for a non-profit organization titled Inhale International. I have been granted permission by the Taylor University business department to pursue the incorporation and development of this organization as a fullfillment of my practicum requirement. This means Inhale will be starting up its operations as soon as this summer. On Inhale's blog you will find the vision, goals, needs, and progress of Inhale. I would ask that you would please be praying for myself and the organization as we strive to make this vision, God's vision, a reality.

This blog will not take the place of the Wilderness blog...you can wipe away the sweat!

Thought of the Day- 7 February 2007

Pain
Today I was reading through a book of Emily Dickinson's poems, during Int'l Business Class, and I came upon a poem that has to do with pain. I know that I wrote a blog a few days ago concerning pain, but the pain I am talking about today is real pain- the kind of pain that hurts worse than any physical beating.

Pain-has an Element of Blank-
It cannot recollect
When it begun- or if there were
A time when it was not-

It has no Future- but itself-
Its infinite contain
Its Past- enlightened to perceive
New Periods- of Pain.

- Emily Dickinson

I feel like that sometimes. Like I can't remember when the pain came or what it was like before it arrived. The question that intrigues me most is whether or not it has left or if I have just become used to it. The pain is good though, I think. Brokenness is needed....just how broken must one be? is the question. I am starting to find joy in the pain however. Not that sick kind! More like a joy that comes through the realization of a change, a change that beckons, if it will bring more change, for more pain.

Change

Thought of the Yesterday

Old Geezer cont...

So like I was saying.

4th Platform- Two words, Youth Pastor! This is the spiritual giant that oversees those who dwell on the third platform. The youth pastor is okay with this though, because in order to gain access to the next level he must deal with those on the bottom four. Besides, every pastor must pay his dues to outgrow the 4th level!

5th Platform- Three words, Tired Youth Pastor (aka. Senior/Assistant Pastor). Gentlemen and Ladies (in certain denominations) when you have reached this level you "have arrived!" At this level you determine what is sin and not sin (based on your popularity and ability to produce a television show), you determine where the church's money is spent, you go play golf on a regular basis, you hear more clearly from God, and you can now handle sin that you weren't able to previously. Oh yeah, you also get to yell at the kids who are running through the church's halls because hey, everyone knows kids shouldn't be running in the House of God...After all, God doesn't like happy kids!

6th Platform- If one were to search for this platform they would find it right next to the right hand of God where Jesus is chill'n! This is where the televangelists, evangelists, Apostles, Mother Teresa, and Billy Graham are...and Mary, if your Catholic, is living right next door. This is where all the pastors on the 5th platform get their sermons. One can only get to this level by invitation (or by being perfect...Mother Teresa). At this level one can cuss someone out and it would be seen as a blessing! They can drink excessive amounts of wine and it would be called communion....pretty much, they are the sinless ones!

So there you have it....the 7 levels of Christianity! I have shown you how to climb the ladder and what is expected of you at each stop along the way. So keep climbing and some day YOU WILL ARRIVE!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
"Brandon....Brandon.....Brandon...Brandon!"
"HUH? What?"
"Are you Okay?"
"Oh, I think I was having a nightmare"

I just painted a pretty ridiculous picture of Christian maturity don't you think? Don't you? Hello! Don't you think that is ridiculous?

Unfortunately, our answer is being drowned out by our lifestyle! The picture I just painted is exactly how many, if not most, Christians in the western world are living out their faith. It is as if we are climbing a ladder of Spiritual maturity, as if there is a spiritual hiearchy that seperates the church and defines what one should do, and it is as if we are creating a group of self righteous people who have forgotten where they have come from.

Perhaps the term I have used and is used completely too much in the church is "I have arrived". Warning: I understand that in this next thing I write I am going to be stepping on some toes...oh well.
For example:
"I have arrived at a point that I am perfectly content being single."
or
"I have arrived at a point that violence doesn't affect me"
or
"I have arrived at a point that I can watch/listen to those groups again"

We act as if spiritual maturity equals our arrival at some point! We are seriously deceived.

Come back tomorrow as I continue "Old Geezers"....becoming a Mature Christian vs. Old Christian

Once Again: Please no hate comments until you let me finish.

Thought of the Day- 5 February 2007

Old Geezers

The never ending cycle of spiritual growth. It is like a series of platforms stacked one on top of the other that one can ascend. The progression goes something like this.

Dirt- One is a flea infested piece of crap that doesn't deserve to walk this earth let alone worship an almighty God. God in His mercy and Grace decides that He will remember that He in fact did create this individual and will in turn permit them to come to salvation.

1st Platform- One is newly saved and is a thing (not neccisarily a person even) that is all excitement. This individual asks stupid questions in their deeper desire for God that make the 3rd or 4th platformers giggle, and they even occasionally cuss! The cussing is excused though because they need to work it out and grow in their faith.

2nd Platform- An individual usually ascends to this platform around the 6th month to 1 year mark of their conversion. Cussing is no longer tolerated, but the Christian cuss is fully permited because those on the 5th level have deemed it appropriate. The Christians on this level have a unifying battle cry that goes something like this. "WE LOVE JESUS YES WE DO, WE LOVE JESUS HOW BOUT YOU?"

3rd Platform- Now this platform is the first of the commemorative mile-markers for at this platform one has achieved the rank of "Sunday School Teacher". Those in the lower three levels look up to this individual because, in all honesty, they want to stop cleaning the toilets and start preaching the word (it doesn't matter that it is to a bunch of 2 year olds). Besides they know too much Bible knowledge to be the one to replace urinal mints.

4th Platform- Two words, Youth Pastor! This is the spiritual giant that oversees those who dwell on the third platform....


Come back tomorrow to read Brandon's conclusion to "Old vs. Mature"

Please no hate mail until you let me finish tomorrow!

Thought of the Day- 3 February 2007

Iunderstand that the daily followers of this blog are probably freaking out right now or going to have doctor check them out (or both of the above) because they are thinking

I looked for his blog for the 3rd and it wasn't there, or was it?

So, before you go spending radiculous amounts of money on health care let me ease your mind. I missed a day. Gasp! I know, I know, you are all probably wondering How can someone so perfect miss a day of bloging? Or maybe you're not thinking that at all. What you are thinking really doesn't matter right now, what matters is that my body is in pain!

I was supposed to talk about Love today but instead I am going to talk about pain. Not pain from love lost or emotional pain or anything like that at all. I am going to talk about good ol' "my body hurts like heck and I hate everyone" pain.

So here it goes. One story, one analogy, and one wrap-up statement.

I decided to go body boarding (working up into surfing) yesterday, a yesterday that followed two days of very diffucult weight lifting. Some of the waves were estimated by my roomate at 10-15 feet...that's big!

Analogy time- Have you ever seen a butcher, or your mother, or anyone who has hands take a meat tenderizer and just beat the snot out of a piece of meat?

Meat tenderizer=the waves

Meat=my body (it's a good cut of meat! haha)

Wrap-up statement

Pain Sucks! Yeah, that's it. No moral, no deeper meaning, just that...Pain sucks!

Oh yeah, one of the surfers wiped out within the first 5-10 minutes I was in the water and his board smacked me right in the face! He was cool though, he apologized all over himself. Of course I said it was no big deal...owwww.....I'm a man you know! In the pictures, the bump on my forehead is where I got hit (I put up the "tough" picture haha)

UGGHGHGHGHGHG...PAIN

Thought of the Day- 2 February 2007

So I am about to go do some Karaoke in like 5 minutes...this means that I wont be able to finish today's blog. Wait, before the weeping begins rest you troubled hearts-I will finish it in a couple of hours! Before you go into the full swing of your cold afternoon this beautful blog on love will be waiting a complete...check it out later.

Peace
Karaoke Time!

Sleep Time!!!!

So it is 3:16 AM right now and I just got back a few minutes ago! I must say, I had a really good time. The format and people truly brought a breath of fresh air. For the last couple of weeks people have been asking me if Iam going to "Skits" with them. Well, here is the deal...Skits is a bar that implements a US 20 dollar cover charge (once you get in it is unlimited drinks), so for someone who doesn't drink and likes to spend money on food this is a lot of money to dish out on a weekly basis (that is why I haven't!). Tonight I found my Skits. The Karaoke place, "Neway"! It is the same price as Skits, you get two non-alcoholic drinks with entry, and best of all it has an all you can eat buffet! Yeah, this thing has hotpot, sushi, soup, dessert, rice (we are in Asia!), etc.

So tonight I was able to hang out with students from all over the world, individuals who I am trying to build relationships with, I was able to show the world how I am truly a "lyrical assassin", and I left with a full stomache! On top of all this, people are actually going to remember it tomorrow...unless they decide to get drunk later.

That said, I will not be addressing love this fine evening/morning for I, Shaekspear, am far to tired and when addressing love I want to be at my finest. Tomorrow, ladies, I will write on love...right after I get back from surfing (10 AM)!

Lyrical Assassin

January- lol

So that's it. That wraps up the month of January. Holy Smokes! It has flown by~! No more January posts. This is the last one. I better make it stink'n sweet....no pressure!

Alright, I think I have it....funny things that Asians say but probably don't mean to say them the way they come out, and interesting stuff that comes out exactly how they mean it to.

First the names!
So, it seems to me that a lot of Hong Kong and Mainland students have given themselves their own english names, or their parents are really, ummm.....uninformed.

Here they go (this list comes from several different people)
- Circle
- Square
- Angus (that was today)
- Raider
and the #1 name is........This one needs a story!!!!!!

An individual is taking attendance for a group of people
Individual: "Virginia...Is Virginia here"
Girl: "Virginia?"
Individual: "Yes, Virginia...are you Virginia?
Girl: "No, it is [a word that is sort of spelled like virginia and is a part of a woman's anatomy]"
WHAT THE!???? hahaha

Please don't reply in the comment box on what you think it is! I am trying to give the facts but keep it PG! haha

Next: The Words that sound a little different than the speaker intends
- Piece (sounds like Piss)
- LV [as in Louis V] (sounds like L We)
-Peanuts (yeah...this one sounds like a part of a male's anatomy)

I have quite a few more culture quirks but I'll save those for next time!

Thanks for Reading! Blessings

See you all next month

Keep it PG