Listen to Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah."  It's a pretty good song.  It revealed something to me.  As I was listening to the chorus, "Oh, it's what you do to me."  And I was suddenly thinking, "why is he mad at her?"  I then realized that that wasn't in the character of the rest of the song, and it dawned on me that he wasn't talking about something negative, but something positive.  I guess I was just so used to songs talking about how someone else has left them and they're now depressed.

I'm just sad that my mind automatically takes a phrase like that and thinks of it in a negative light.

On the other hand, I was so happy today to finally come to the conclusion that in order to display a virtue you must have a choice to not display it.  That came as quite a revelation to me, but I guess it was sort of obvious all along.

Random thoughts while mowing the lawn.

1. Is it better to have no hope than to have hope that is going to be dashed?

2. Is it worth your money to save someone else time and get nothing out of it yourself?

3. uhh... nothing else, my mind works slow, plus I had to stop too often to fix the mower (I can run a pull-start now.  I feel manly).

I love this part of the Declaration of Independance.  Even better then the part where they write down all their "griefs." (Janie )

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

If you want to read the middle part, go to Janie's xanga, or find your copy (you better have at least one in your house... we probably have about 10).

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

That last sentence is especially meaningful.  They pledged to each other everything they had, and they meant it, before the war would end, nine died, five were captured and tortured, twelve lost their fortunes, seventeen lost their homes, and two lost their sons.

Since I haven't posted in a long time, I'll let you in on some other random thoughts.  I was reading Abby's xanga the other day, the post on "forbearing" in love.  That's was love really means, and it's taking me forever to actually start applying that in my life.  Well the random thought that came to my mind first when I woke up this morning was, "marriage scares me."  I mean, living with siblings is hard enough, and usually the easiest answer is avoidance of the sticky issues.  But imagine living with a spouse that you can't avoid (well the point is, you got married to be together).  If anything will take God's help, marriage will.

Happy Independance Day!

Tomorrow I leave for nationals.  There are so many emotions, expectations, and previous experiences racing around in my mind.  I need to sift through my emotions, keep the good ones, throw out all the expectations, and remember the previous experiences to learn from.  But above all those things, I absolutely need to stay close to God through a tough week of competition.

"Climb every mountain..."

The Sound of Music is wafting through the house from the upstairs TV...  It just finished.

How many of us have been with our Christian friends and gotten in joking moods about something sexual (especially about anything that has the remote resemblance of being homosexual)?  I have.  Too many times.  It's those slight or not so slight innuendos that are easy to get involved in it-it gives you attention and people will always laugh at those jokes whether or not they're really funny.  But I would urge you and challenge each one of you (and myself) to try to avoid those types of jokes.  Ephesians 5:4 says, "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."  (Read the chapter for more context).  

Why should avoid such joking?  1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, "We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts."  Remember who you are here to please, but also remember who you are representing.  First, you represent God, and 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 says, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."  Second, you represent yourself, Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."

On the other hand, life is not to be continually boring or devoid of enjoyment, laughter, or jokes.  Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, "[there is] a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."  You can still have good jokes that are clean, and even sometimes about sexuality.  But please, make sure you don't get caught down in that "coarse joking" that unfortunately blends us in with the rest of the world.