VenomX1's Xanga

Open Letter to Jody Lynn Tucholski

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:00:35 GMT

Dear Jody,

I've tried to say, each day, in different ways, how much I love you. I realize that this isn't a task for mere words, but a task that requires action. So I've decided to use my long-dead Xanga account to write a letter for you and all of your family to see. I believe that this action will demonstrate the fact that I love you very much.

When I first met you, I knew in my head that "we" would be something special. I didn't know what that meant or what it would entail, but I knew that creating an "us" was important. At first, I thought that we'd end up like my boss Dan and his girlfriend, just dating for a long, long, time. A great and many years. But soon it became clear to me that God had something else planned for us, something very wonderful and amazing.

And now we stand, a mere five years later, and it feels as if we have been together a lifetime. You are more than just my wife, you are my best friend. I pray to God we remain together forever, because I don't know what I would do without you. That is how important that you have become in my life. You have, in some sense, become my life.

Though I love Ashleigh a great deal in her own right, having her extends my love for you and inspires more love for you. Ashleigh is as much a part of you as she is of me, and that makes me love you all the more.

So here's to a happy life in the future for us. Sorry for the goofy video, but it was the only one I could find. So I forever dedicate that song to you, my wonderful Brown-Eyed Girl.

Love,

Cory

My Lil' Bright Eyes... and something ridiculous!

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:50:55 GMT

My little girl is so inquisitive! She can be seen here doing what she does best--investigating everything that is placed within six feet of her present location. She's growing up ever so quickly.

Today, I noticed that you can change your username on Xanga. I thought I'd change it to something that is slightly more professional than "VenomX1." However, to change a username costs $10. Can you believe it?? I'll just stick with VenomX1, thank you very much!!!!!

Obscure 80s Tune

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:35:52 GMT

I have no idea why I thought of this tune. I've always liked it a lot. Back in the days before music videos, there was a TV show called Solid Gold. This is a tape of the segment where Sergio Mendes performs "Alibis."

I sincerely hope that it is not based on a real relationship that the songwriter had; since part of the lyrics include "That's exactly the way we met." I can only think that if you're dating someone who is cheating on his or her significant other with you, that will be a big clue as to how your relationship with this person will eventually end. Once a person commits the first sin, the rest just come easier.

On a lighter note, fashion aficionados will have a lot of fun with the styles in this video. File most of these under "W" for "What Were You Thinking???" But, what's an 80s video without bad fashion?

It's nothin' I can put my finger on
But it's there, I swear.
It's not somethin' I'm imaginin'.
Each time you call,
I know I'll get your "working late" routine again.
Is there someone I should know about?
Tell me why do I have this doubt?

I'm sure your alibis are watertight
And you're where you have to be tonight.
Whoa, oh, but I know you're slippin' away from me.

I'm know your alibis are watertight
And you're where you say you are tonight
But honey, I can tell. I know the pattern much too well.
I don't fool so easily.
Slippin' away from me.

Your telephone service says you're out again.
Somewhere, out there, you've got another rendezvous.
I know the way you work.
You'll be someplace where no one can check up on you.
You think you're in the clear but don't forget
That's exactly the way we met.

I'm sure your alibis are watertight
And you're where you have to be tonight.
Whoa, oh, but I know you're slippin' away from me.

I know your alibis are watertight
And you're where you say you are tonight
But honey, I can tell. I know the pattern much too well.
I don't fool so easily.
Slippin' away from me.

Is there someone I should know about?
Tell me why do I have this doubt.

I'm sure your alibis are watertight
And you're where you have to be tonight.
Whoa, oh, but I know you're slippin' away from me.

I know your alibis are watertight
And you're where you say you are tonight
But honey, I can tell. I know the pattern much too well.
I don't fool so easily.
Slippin' away from me.

I'm sure your alibis are watertight
And you're where you have to be tonight.
Whoa, oh, but I know you're slippin' away from me.

Job Change Time: So It's Back to 3 Blogs!

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:23:19 GMT

I have realized now, four months into being a father, that I need to spend some more time with my daughter and my wife. My current job is not conducive to doing that, since I have no set schedule and often have to work very late nights and I almost always work weekends. Then, I have to add my ministry into that fold--currently spanning two blogs and occasional forays into chat channels, it takes up quite a bit of my time as well!

So I asked myself, "What can I do that would let me keep banker's hours?" Most of the banker's hours-type jobs require the job holder to have some sort of expertise. My expertise is food service, and no food service jobs let you keep a Monday-through-Friday-9-to-5-no-weekends-no-holidays schedule. At least no job that I can get within the next month or two of solid job searching.

Then I remembered the corporate trainer position.

This position is perfect for me. I would teach an eight-hour/three-day class each quarter and go into restaurants to evaluate how well their training program meets company standards. Since I'm in charge of my restaurant's training, I have an opportunity to show potential employers my capability in this area. Plus, I can talk passionately about training during interviews because it is something that I believe very strongly in!

But, what else can I do to show a potential employer that I can go beyond simply executing standards? How can I demonstrate my ability to teach right now? Easy! By starting my blog, Fast Food Management Secrets again! Twice weekly, Wednesdays and Fridays, I can add an article to the blog that disseminates leadership secrets of the top selling leadership manuals on the bookshelves and relates the to a fast food environment. Even though I haven't been writing it, the blog is still visited by a handful of readers who are looking for just that sort of information.

I'm not going to stop writing Josiah Concept Ministries and God is NOT Imaginary. In fact, I would still like to make Josiah Concept Ministries into a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. I have my board selected: Nate, Robbie, Jody, and me. They have all said they will do it, and that it would be an honor. All that remains is to write the articles of incorporation, have my board members sign it, and then pay the $125 fee to incorporate. The main problem will be the fee. Obviously, I don't have that kind of money. I'll need to raise that money somehow. After I find a way to get that done, I can accept donations from people and those donations will be tax deductible! I think that I might actually get donations because the "Donate" page on my website gets quite a few hits; the only thing is that since I'm not a nonprofit organization, donations aren't tax deductible--which likely stops people from donating.

This means that, while being a husband and father, and looking for a job, I will be keeping all three blogs up to date.

Something is going to have to go, and Josiah Cast, my new podcast, is the first thing gone. After I do my third show at the end of February, I will eliminate it. It wasn't that popular anyway and I think that the blog is a better service to God. Perhaps I can add the podcast back at a later date; perhaps after I get some more readers.

Speaking of service to God, while I believe that Josiah Concept Ministries and God is NOT Imaginary are both admirable services to Him as well as acts of worship offered freely to be salt and light to the world, I think that there is more I can still give Him. I realize that God demands so much of who we are to belong to Him, but He deserves it as our Creator and the giver of our lives. After all, He chose me to salvation rather than allowing me to suffer eternal damnation--that alone is reason enough to offer myself to Him as a living sacrifice.

What I want to offer Him is something that I've felt convicted about for a while, but I felt really convicted during church today. I want to create a more disciplined prayer life to deepen my relationship with Him. It isn't that I never pray--I just pray so infrequently that I know my relationship to Him isn't what it should be. I also only pray for for favors, mostly for other people: peace for my grandmother, wisdom for her doctors, recovery for my father-in-law, election for Ashleigh. Occasionally, I praise God for His gifts to me: readers for Josiah Concept and its sister site, a great family, an understanding wife.

It isn't that these are necessarily bad things to pray about. In fact, I'll continue to pray over these things and more. It's just that these miss the point of prayer altogether. The best expression of what prayer was offered by a reader at Richard Dawkins's website. It was meant sarcastically, since it appears as #50 on a list of supposedly "unanswerable questions" posed to Christians and refers to God as "her." But it still holds much truth to it, and demonstrates an understanding of the true nature of prayer better than many Christians today have. The question is this: "Why pray asking God to do something for you; shouldn't prayer be a way of offering yourself to God in order for her to make use of you? (by Rus on Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:34 am)" I agree with Rus; and that is what I plan to be more disciplined in. Instead of simply asking God for favors, I want to pray to be used by Him in greater ways--I want to really be salt and light to the world, a true ambassador of God. I want the secular world to notice a difference in my thoughts, actions, speech, and decisions. I want my life to be an apologetic for Christ.

This means reading the Bible. This means reading devotionals. This also means becoming more involved at church. I've already signed up to be on the Outreach Team, which I feel fits with nicely with my apologetics ministry. Assuming that I can get the 9 to 5 job of my dreams within the next few months, I will be able to make the meetings that the Outreach Team must have. As it is still a new team, meetings aren't set; neither are the full responsibilities. But I hope to be an integral part--no, I pray God will use me as an integral part of that team.

Well, I think I've rambled on for long enough. It is time to finish another article for God is NOT Imaginary. TTFN!

Themes? Who Needs Themes??

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:36:08 GMT

I sure don't need no stinkin' Xanga themes--I can design just fine all on my own.

I had this idea for a chess theme worked out in my head, so I put it up, and wouldn't you know--it doesn't work out so well. You can't read the words over the top of the dang chess pieces. Grrrrrr. I was afraid that was going to happen.

But this is too perfect not to show off. Let me know what you think in a comment, then I'll go back to the drawing board and redo my Xanga page yet again. Maybe this time I'll actually use Xanga Themes instead of trying to do all of this by hand.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:31:48 GMT

I grew up with nearly the entire collection of He-Man merchandise. I think that trying to find all of those action figures took 10 years off of my poor dad's life. But finally knowing the joy of being a parent, I understand why he did all of that running. That's just another thing that you do for your kids.

Anyway, it's been a long time since I've done a song post--or any post for that matter. For nostalgia, because Jody is working her way through all of the episodes of She-Ra (He-Man's twin sister and another, less successful toy line from Mattel), and because the song has been in my head, here is the song that was written for the opening credits of the He-Man/She-Ra crossover movie.

I like how they work He-Man and She-Ra's transformation lines into the lyrics. He-Man's "By the power of Greyskull" and She-Ra's "For the honor of Greyskull" become "For the honor of love / By the power above." But then, I've always been a fan of songs that play with words like that.

Somewhere out there someone needs me
I don't know how or where but believe me
I'll walk the universe to find her
For better or for worse beside her

CHORUS:

For the honor of love
By the power above
I have the power
I have the power

A stranger walked into my world
And when he talked I really heard
He spoke of things like love and peace
The joy it brings will never cease

CHORUS

The truth of love is here to guide me
The strength above is here beside me
Forever more we'll be together
Our hearts will soar into the other

The truth of love will always guide us
The strength above will be inside us
Forever more we'll be together
Our hearts will soar into the other
For the honor of love
By the power above
We have the power
We have the power so can you

You Can't Be Irritated with a Baby for Long

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:50:22 GMT

Every parent will know exactly how I feel. I've been told that Ashleigh hasn't had a bowel movement in two days, and the ladies at the Gathering Place confirm that she hadn't had one today, either. So I take her home, and she starts to fuss. I check her diaper. Sure enough, she's slightly poopy.

So I change her. But, midway through, she continues to poop. And poop. And poop. Finally, I think that she's done. However, I soon discover that I am mistaken.

As I clean her, she not only poops some more, but she also starts to pee. Pee mixed with poop form something of a consistency that only those who regularly change diapers will understand, and it is next to impossible to clean up if it isn't contained. Obviously, this wasn't contained.

Now, the only solution is to go to the bathtub and clean the baby there. After wiping her up good, I take her back to the bedroom and dress her in a cute bunny sleeper. Then, I have to take the soiled linens to the washing machine, wash me up as best I can, and then hurry to tend to Ashleigh because she is crying--again!

She's hungry, so I make her a bottle and I feed her. After eating, she falls asleep in my arms and lays there with a peace that all adults have forgotten how to attain. To have this little person, who so utterly depends on me for her basic needs, just lay on my shoulder and sleep soundly and peacefully is a feeling that no one can put into words. It has a tangible warmth swelling from within, and then, somehow, a part the peace that the baby feels transfers to you and you forget the nasty diaper that you just changed, and just focus all of your love on this child.

Moments like that remind me of why I wanted a child in the first place.

Neglecting Xanga

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:51:24 GMT

I've been neglecting my Xanga lately. But those out there who are parents will understand why. My daughter, Ashleigh, is the main reason that I've been neglecting this site. But there are some other reasons, as well.

First, I've created another blog on fast food management tips and secrets. Appropriately titled Fast Food Management Secrets, it is available at http://fastfoodmanagement.info. This project is different than Josiah Concept Ministries for several reasons. First, I intend to turn this into a commercial enterprise. Josiah Concept may become a non-profit organization some day, but Fast Food Management Secrets (FFMS) I am actually going to try to make money from. That is going to take hard work, and more than one person. So I am working on building a team of contributors, doing it for the experience rather than the money. Eventually I hope to make money from it as a management consultant.

I am also planning a series of books based on the site. I have two in my mind right now, and I'm doing research for the shorter of the two, which I will actually add detail and expand to create the longer of the two. I'm not going to discuss any other specifics right now, though I may enlist some help with the editing (if you're up for it, Nate, Robbie, Becca--and of course, Jody!).

I've considered taking a microloan out for the FFMS Advertisement Budget. I don't have time to build traffic to the site the old fashioned way, by frequenting message boards and inputting the name into blog search engines. I have too much else to worry about right now. But I'll see, because traffic is coming in on its own right now. The blog is starting to grow. As it should; there is literally nothing else out there like it right now.

Which is why I have made my final final decision. I'm going to go back to school for a BBA in organizational leadership, and then immediately go to graduate school for my MBA. I plan on attending seminary after that for my M.Th in apologetics, but after I've made enough money consulting and writing to sustain my family.

It is a great thing to have a wonderful and supportive wife through all of this. She knows this plan, short of the microloan (just something I'm considering sweeite... don't kill me!), and she is all for it. Even if I fail at being an author, I know that I will always have at least one fan: my loving, wonderful, and beautiful wife!

Good News for Web Ministry

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:52:11 GMT

One of the reasons that I use WordPress instead of Xanga for my web-based apologetics is WP tracks what phrases people use to find my blog. I receive a report, seen at left, each day under my Dashboard | Blog Stats tab.

Why did I reproduce it here? Simple. I'm excited to note that the top two searches that brought people to my blog were my own name, and the name of my ministry! This has been a recurring trend over the past week or so.

This means that I'm gaining some name recognition in the field of Internet apologetics.

I wanted to share this news with the family and friends who read this and pray for my ministry. God has blessed me with a small but thriving ministry, as well as a beautiful family.

It never leaves the back of my mind that I didn't do anything to deserve this. It was Christ's work on the cross that justifies this sinner in the Father's eyes. By God's grace I am saved, and at His pleasure I enjoy my family and my blogging ministry. To Him be all the glory and praise.

First Item on My Christmas List

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:33:41 GMT

I have no Christmas list to speak of yet. No one has actually asked me, which is fine since I really don't expect gifts. They should be given, in my humble opinion, out of desire and not necessity. Christmas creates a necessity for gift giving. I enjoy this holiday for seeing family.

But, if anyone is interested in getting me a gift, the first item on my list would be the book Pierced for Our Transgressions by Michael Ovey and Andrew Sach. This book examines the cross, and what it means for us as Christians today.

This promises to be a very good book.