Compassion on Christians

I’m not sure what is happening to me of late but I have had this warmth in my heart toward Christians of late.

That has not always been the case.

For those of you who know my story you know I have plenty to be upset with concerning “Christians”.  Hell, I had much to be upset with when I was a pastor!  I just hate phoneys.  Oh well.

Anyway.  I just haven’t had much compassion towards those I know who claim to be Christians.  It isn’t that I hated them.  It was just more like I could care less about their Christianity, etc.  I really don’t know what I am trying to say.  Well, here’s an example that might help me communicate this the right way:

One Christian I know was talking to me about their church and the problems and the blessings and the blah, blah, blah…I thought Charlie Brown’s teacher was talking to me.  Who cares about your silly church-smirch crap, is what I was thinking, it’s all a bunch of stupidity when it’s boiled out.  I had, what you might say, a lack of genuine concern or compassion towards what they were going through, thinking, etc.

But, of late, I have had several conversations with people who I know claim to be Christians and instead of being apathetic (I’m not even sure what that is) I have been genuinely interested and concerned and offered sincere heartfelt advice, and have even said things like, “I’ll be praying for you.”

I’m not sure what this means or where this is coming from but the warmth feels good on my cold heart.

Counciling Needed

I need counciling.  I think I need some unbiased counciling.  I have a lot that I need to talk about.  I think.

Corey: go to Bellaire

 Dude, seriously, this makes a lot of sense in my opinion; and yes, I am biased – who isn’t.  Here are my reasonings:

1.  You’d be up north (it’s where you wanted to end up)

2.  You’d be close to me (i.e., poker, beer, and well, what else is there?)

3.  You’d be doing something you love (i.e., poker, beer…er, ah, I meant ministry)

4.  You’d be getting a pay check!!

5.  I ministered in that area and was building something that I think could have been special.  Deep down I still have an interest in seeing that happen. So, maybe via you it will (and I can help if I can).

Christmas

This Christmas was the first Christmas that I can remember that made me feel like I did when I was growing up.

This Christmas felt like Christmas to me.

I think there are several reasons why (maybe more):

1.  The company I had: enjoying new traditions with new family

2. The kids enjoying the magic of Santa; there is something magical about something wonderful coming from nothing (for my post on why I believe in Santa click here)

3.  I didn’t celebrate it as a religious holiday.  It isn’t one.  That doesn’t mean I don’t believe (see here), but it just means that I put things into a better perspective, for me anyway.

Pondo Compliments

On Friday my boss shut the office door to have a conversation with me.

Usually that means I he thinks I  have done something wrong.

Usually he is right.

Only this time he said, “Toby I just want to let you know that I have been impressed with your focus, intensity, excitment and passion since your evaluation.  Keep up the good work.  You are inspiring me, and as I said, I need that.  I need to be pushed and you’re pushing me.”

Cool.

Then he added, “Just don’t let it fade and try not to avoid burning out.”

The rest of what he said I don’t remember because at that point my mind went to a Def Leppard song and all I heard were Steven Clark riffs and Joe’s voice…

“It’s better to burn out, then to fade away…”

All signed up!

I am all signed up to start Art School January 7th, 2008!

I am SO EXCITED about this!  I am also scared.  I feel like I am starting over, and hopefully begin to train to do the thing that I want to do the rest of my life…

College Here I Come!

Finished all the college application, aid, loan, garbage this afternoon.  So, in the next couple days I should know more about whether or not I’ll be going.  The criteria?

If I have to pay for it, no.

If I don’t, whoopie, I’m in!

Guess which you should be praying for?

Cyst Surgery Update

*note: there will be no gross pictures – Corey can’t stomach them*

I had my stiches out on Monday.  The same day I had my evaluation at work.  I wonder if the two go together; they were both certainly a pain in the ass!

My wound area feels great.  I have been able to move like normal, except I bumped it last night and it reminded me that things are still a wee tender back there…

Anyway, thanks for everyone’s prayers and help through this weird surgery.

Jesus

I am at the local college filling out my financial aid information and as always I have to be multitasking because my ADD can’t handle just looking at one thing for an extended period of time, and there’s been something that I have been wanting to say for some time but have been afraid to for various reasons that I wont pyscoanalize with you right now.  But, here goes…

 I love Jesus

I believe in Jesus

I want to follow Jesus

If anyone says otherwise listen up.

Professor Tobias Neal

Oh yeah, I am one.  Don’t believe me?  Check it out here.

About 400 people graduate from this seminary a year, all of them havin taken my course.

Sweet…

Debt

Anyone want any of mine?

No?  You sure?

Ok, well then have a lovely day!

Art Institute Online

Well, I have filled out the online application and am working with the financial aid office as we speak.  I will have this completed tomorrow.  So, hopefully in a week or so I will know whether or not I will be going back to school and be in more debt in student loans and hoping to get a job with my degree but will probably end up back at fast food or something…

… oh to live my dream!

Pilonidal Cyst 2.0

My pilonidal cyst surgery went well the first time, but one side of the open wound healed faster and grew over the other side so I had to go back in for a corrective surgery this past Tuesday (the 4th) in which they cut that over grown part off and sewed it shut to heal level.  I’m off work for a week while it heals so I am basically sitting/lying around watching movies, drawing (a lot) and loving the time with the kids.  Thanks for your prayers and thoughts!