Who I know, influences what you are.

We have all heard something similar to "who you know, determines where you go", or "what you know, determines where you go". I beg to propose a new concept for you. I encourage you to be more purposeful in your relationships you have in life. I propose "who I know, influences what you are". In other words, I don't care how strongly minded or willed you are, those you surround yourself with, influence your thoughts, and have an effect on your emotions and view, whether that be negative or positive. So if who you know influences that, then you in turn influence me.

I have had friends who are great people. They are kind, smart, considerate, goal oriented, dreamers, thinkers, and so on, but each and every one of them that is still a friend has something in common in who they are. Each one of them has something about them that is good. Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed this way despite his difficult childhood of his mother dyeing from his birth, his father abandoning him when he was only 10 and many more things. The question I have for you today is, was Jean-Jacques Rousseau spot on when he expressed man being born innately good but that it was society that corrupted man? He argued that man was made unhappy by experiences that he had in society because society was distorted, corrupt, and
false. I stressed education to a tremendous degree. I interperate it that he felt with education, all could be solved. What do you think? Looking at your country, how do you feel about "education" being the fix-it tool to a happy, fulfilled, good person. Mind you, I didn't specify its quality. For you see, if I am an educator, it truly is who I know, that influences what you are, or who your children will become. I personally believe more than credentials should be considered when determining an educator who will influence the lives and practices of millions.

Near Midnight Blabbing

So its near midnight and I find myself once again sitting at my desk, the same place I was hours ago, doing nothing world changing. Now of course not every day's choices to make a difference will be as obvious as others, but surfing the internet hours for boring things, just doesn't quite qualify. My brain is tired, my eyes are crossing, and yet as usual, my heart is full of passion. I'm nor quite sure what is up with me, but I believe my recent quick decline of energy each evening has something to do with leaving all I've been use to, moving to a new country, and beginning a new career. None the less, I don't think those are a good enough reason to let each evening waste away in front of a computer. I have been thinking a lot lately. I've been thinking about how short life is. How human each person is no matter how much others treat them as an idol, role model, hero, or whatever they may or may not actually be. I've been thinking how fast and yet slow at the same time college flew by, and no I wouldn't do it again if I had the chance. We are each given a short amount of time on this planet. I hope to spend as much of it as I can living up to the purposes God has for this gift He has entrusted to me called, "life".  Hopefully my new regime of exercising three times a week and trying to eat healthier will soon catch up and give me a little boost of energy and focus to match my passion so that I can do more things for others instead of needing so much time to myself. Adjusting to this new culture has tended often leave me feeling drained and not wanting to talk to anyone at the end of the day. I love where I am. I love the people I'm around, and I have more to be thankful for than I could fit in the space allotted me, but I've been made a passionate man for a reason, and I know that man has more to share and give than he is, so by God's grace, power, help, guidance, love, strength, patience, and much more, I will.

God and His Purpose...

God works in mysterious ways...

I had the most peculiar dream last night. Having a dream that I can recall in and of itself is noteworthy, but this one seemed especially distracting to me. I don't remember much other than I was the father of a newborn. The newborn was especially small and especially fragile, truly per-mature in this world of trains, plains and automobiles. The most disturbing part to me was that for some reason, I was not the one taking care of the precious little one, but my sister instead. Normally I would just think to myself, " hmmm, how odd" and then dismiss it. But I don't think this dream was a fluke or even coincidence. You see lately like many 26 year old I have been pressured more and more by those around me of how "in their minds and according to what the norm of culture has taught them" I need to get married for some reason. Now please don't misunderstand me, I have been a die-hard romantic since I could crawl over to the girl next to me in per-school and plant a kiss on her, completely missing her cheek and hitting her eyeball. Okay so maybe not that young, but within a couple years it is no exaggeration.

One of the greatest dreams in my life has been to share the experience of going through this adventure called life while bringing honor and glory to God with my beautiful bride by my side. Whether in or out of a relationship I could be found day dreaming while I watched other couples. I would be dreaming of how incredible they must have felt. One of my gifts is to share in the emotions or feelings others feel on occastion simply by reading into their eyes and... feeling it. As I would watch them smile and go on about their date, not in a creepy way ;), I would hope for true success in their relationship not the broken hearts I had lived so vividly. Thankfully God has taught me a lot through those experiences and created beaty from those ashes. God is truly incredible and faithful when we decide to unyieldingly follow Him.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank and praise God for showing me that we all grow at different rates, mature at different rates, and just because you are mature enough doesn't mean the timing or situation is His best for you to be in a relationship. As I have continued to grow in my personal intimate walk with God I feel like my small understanding of the world, and God's love and creation and His purposes in what He does has blossomed. I have so much to learn and grow in experience wise before I go to join Him in heaven after dieing here. There is so much to do, and now I have embraced why I am here. It isn't about me and my desires and wants. It is about Him! My life is but dust without Him. My dreams are nothing more than a split second in time without Him. I am nothing without Him. But His glory can be everything through Him using me, my energy, my will, my submission to honor Him in all I do, say, and dwell upon in my mind. My life has bloomed and I am loving my God more than ever.

I know know, that He is the one who placed that desire to share this amazing adventure called life with someone else. I also know that His timing is perfect and beautiful. He knows what is going on in her life, heart, and mind, just as He does me. When His timing is perfect, He will have us meet. When our hearts and lives are at the place where by being joined together we would bring the most honor to Him, then we will meet. Now whether this dream I had relates or not, I think it possibly could. i think it could be a reminder to me that just because something is possible, it doesn't mean it is the best timing for it. There are many things that we can make happen in our lives, but it doesn't mean it was His perfect timing. If we seek Him, His glory, and live for Him, his providence in our lives will blow us away! Here's to His providence, His faithfulness, and my faith in Him. May all that I am, every breath, every thought, every hour of studying, every hour sleeping, every hour working, every hour exercising, every hour reading, every hour living be lived unto His glory, for without Him, we ......are...... nothing.. I Love My Jesus, and I love this gift called life that He has given me the blessing of living with its ups, its downs, and its meander arounds. ;)