Dang, it's been awhile...

Not that people follow this of course, but it is always nice to get some thoughts out there and off your chest once and a while -- wouldn't you agree?

The new job is going pretty good; I'm learning alot about myself and other people -- especially a little thing called patience.  It's always exciting to have people irritated at you because one of their units they are ordering is on backorder and while they *were* expecting to get it the next day, now they have to wait 3 weeks...ya, they LOVE hearing that my friend.

I've started going to a new church called Destiny off Des Peres (Manchester & I-270) which is actually pretty awesome.. the worship is amazing, and the preaching always challenges the congregation.  He knows how to lay it out and make you think - I love that, if I am not being challenged then how much good is it going to do me, ya know? It's good because I really need some consistency in my life - it's been a little depressing the last few months doing nothing but work and not really having a solid church home. It makes you ask, "Well...thats great..whats the point? I go to work, go home, sleep, go to work, go home sleep...& repeat..."  lately though i have been digging into the Word more and its just helped me realize more and more that it's all God  -- I can't do it by myself...I've always known it deep down, but it has been really starting to set in more as of late.  God is so amazing, I want to get to  know Him, all about Him, and really understand his character.  He is perfection, and I am not...the split second I think I have it going on is right when I do something stupid and realize it's not about me, b/c I can't handle it...it's God.  It's hard to put myself second and not always think about "Number 1" -- but its something that I am working on every single day and with the grace of God I'll make it through.

Gods pretty much amazing, and its one lesson I don't mind learning over and over every single day.

T

Interesting People, Interesting Night, & the Lessons Learned

Last night I went to Wal-Mart...partially to just walk around because I was bored, and also to get some things to decorate my cubicle at work.  I got a cd player/alarm clock, a cyan colored table runner to put on my credenza (that’s basically a fancy word for a long 2-drawer filing cabinet), some cute picture frames to liven up the place, and a cheap 3-cd set of "Contemporary Christian Classics" to listen to.  Right now my 'cube' is so gray and tan its just disturbing....so color will be a welcomed thing indeed. :)

That's not the interesting part though, that part comes into play when I checked out at the register.  Of course when I checked out there were only 4 checkers with about 20 people waiting....so it took quite a while.  In my line, directly behind me, was a woman named Magic.  Let me give you a visual: She is a bigger gal, hairy legs, hairy armpits, jet black hair, pale, and has a nice collection of various pentagrams and other pagan tattoos on her chest and arms -- and she's an artist. I explain this to give you an idea of who she is, and of what you may think upon meeting someone like her. It sets the stage in your mind for what I am going to say...

Magic dabbles a lot in various beadwork, making pouches/small purses to hold her cards, necklaces, and even made a beaded wig for a Cleopatra costume she wore last year on Halloween.  The Christian CD set and it was sitting right on top of all my things in plain sight, and she definitely noticed it.  After we had been talking for a while (ya the line was that long), she made a comment that went something like this, "Yea, I noticed that you had that Christian CD up there and the first thing I though was, 'Oh great, she's going to act just like all the people I grew up with and treat me like crap' -- but you are actually pretty nice, it's different"  Then I just told her that, "Well thats not good that they did that, definitely not right.  You have to give everyone a chance and you can't judge them without knowing them at all...(&etc)" Then we just continued to talk a little here and there, and then I checked out, and went along on my merry way.

The reason I thought it was interesting is because it made me really think...as Christians we are called to be just like Christ and to love everyone as treat them as we would want to be treated.  Those people that she grew up with that were 'Christians' just judged her, labeled her as a freak, and that was that.  They apparently didn't do anything to try to get to know her, develop a relationship with her, and give her a chance...so they could witness to her through that relationship. 

I am in no way saying that I did the best job, or that I got it under control, but I guess what I am trying to say is that we can't just judge those people that are different than us and not give them a chance.  We need to show God's love to everyone...some with words, and others with actions.  It makes me sad that those people from her past just pushed her away and didn't show her the same love they showed to everyone else.  Jesus didn't just hang out with Christians all the time...he hung out with all the people that were a little edgy -- you can't let your light shine when you only let yourself be around other lights...it'll just blend in and do no good...but if it's in the midst of darkness, then it'll be that much brighter and more people will be able to see it and be affected by it.

Sometimes it is kind of scary being in a place where you stand out, don't exactly fit in, and are not used to the type of people or lifestyle you are surrounded with. It's a different feeling, but at the same time it's even more amazing because you know that those people will notice something different about you, how you act, how you approach life...and maybe that’s just what they need to open the doors in their heart to start listening and accepting everything Jesus did for them...and they'll be that much closed to joining the body.  How awesome would that be?

I wish I could say I'm like that all that time...that I give everyone a chance and don't jump to conclusions about who they are, what they do, and what they believe...or immediately label them as someone I don't care to get to know for one reason or the next...whether we admit it or not, we all do it...I'm trying really hard to work at it...prayin about it....and I pray that you all do the same as well ;)  ....think of all the people we come into contact with everyday?! We could make a HUGE impact for Christ!!

T

--->

Doesn't it make you smile when you log on there and see all that red action goin on?!

I know it makes me happy! haha, I feel so loved! :)

..thats it for today.

-T

Well life has been movin' right along as of late...Naomi and I just moved into our new place over the weekend which is just awesome --> We were squeezin in her one bedroom, ouch! lol  The one we have now is nice...plenty of space...meaning we have plenty of room for multiple people...hinting that some of YOU should come over sometime ;)  I think here in a few weeks once we get everything put up and lookin' hot we may have an apartment warming par-tay...and all of ya'll are invited.  If its by the end of the summer we could even go swimming at one of the THREE pools our apt complex has...the possibilities are pretty much endless. :)

Onto other things...I'm now at Day 10 at my new job...basically two weeks in...and I got my own desk today which is sorta exciting.  Now I can pimp it out, make it my own...that is add a few picture frames and some color to an otherwise boring, dull, and ever-so gray cubicle.  I am starting to get the jist of my job now, finally, and its starting to really sink in.  There is still a ton of information that I don't know yet, but it'll all come in time. 

And for anyone who is wondering what I do...

I am a Customer Service Representative at the Trane National Distribution Center (www.trane.com) up in Bridgeton, MO. You get on the Earth City Expwy North...I'm at the VERY end on the left. :)  We don't deal with the end users of the  various units we sell...we work with the salesmen and the dealers who place the orders.  Alot of order entry and information look-up...and so much of it to know its crazy...but, like I said, eventually I'll get it...there is hope yet!

Thats all I got for now...I figure it's been about a month since my last meager attempt to update this bad boy, so this is me trying to work on it and make it better. Maybe when Naomi and I FINALLY get the internet the updates can be more consistent...*shrugs* the world may never know...

T

This'll be a test to see who ever looks at this...lol...

I GOT A JOB!! YAY!

...and I start on Monday, so excited! :)

~T