I think this is cool...

Which is why I'm writing it, because I said I would write something cool today.

The cool thing is that none of you have to think that this is cool, because that term is very, very subjective. So, I think it's cool, and since it's cool in that sense, it's cool.

The cool thing is the following paragraph:

I was looking at this paragraph, this paragraph that I'm writing, and just saw that it isn't normal... I don't know why, but it looks wrong. Any thoughts as to why it's just plain abnormal? It looks okay, but looking at it again, it's plain to find that most of it is just odd. If it looks wrong, you might say that it's just psychological, as if I got you to think that it's wrong although it actually isn't wrong. But I know for a fact that this paragraph is suspicious.

Hint: the issue with the paragraph has something to do with a certain letter that is used quite frequently in the English language.

The great commision, and the battle that's already been won.

I was reading a book called A Scandalous Freedom by Steven Brown when I read an excerpt from him that said, (and I'm paraphrasing) the battle has already been won by Jesus. What the author left out is our role after that. If the battle is already won, why are we still here? Then, as I was reading on, God reminded me of something not even in Steve Brown's text, but in His text, the Bible. He reminded me of the Great Commission. When Jesus commanded the apostles to make disciples of all men, I believe he was telling them to love. How else do you make disciples? There is no other way. So then I thought, if the battle is already won, then why are we making disciples? Has Jesus not won them over already? Well, the obvious answer is that not everyone has been won over by Jesus. So is the battle really won?
Yes.
The reason we're still here is we, as Christians, have been assigned a task out on the battlefield. Now that the enemy is defeated, it is our job to tend to the wounded. Those who were damaged by the original sin, and still need help getting to a doctor. There's only one doctor that can tend to their wounds, and that's Jesus. So our assignment is a recon mission. Out to find the wounded and bring them to Jesus. We aren't fighting anymore, we're healing. We're leading our wounded brothers back to the medic. All men are our brothers. We must tend to their wounds, and be sensitive to them. Those of you who understand this metaphor, thanks for reading.

I just thought I'd like to ask...

What does the word "free" mean to most people. Do you think that the "free" our forefathers died for is the same "free" that Jesus says we are? How many definitions of "free" are there? I'm pretty sure that there's only one in the dictionary, but I've had a few Christians tell me that I wasn't really that free. So, I don't get it. Is it possible to be half free? Does that make any sense? Here, this is what it looks like to me...

married woman: "Mom, good news, I'm pregnant!"

mother: "really? you're having a baby?"

married woman: "well, no, mom... Geeze, I'm not that pregnant."

Well, I've had conversations like that about freedom. "Oh, we're not that free." Well, I'd like to know how that's even possible. It seems nonsensical, illogical, and pretty unbiblical.
It's wrong. I believe that I am completely free in Christ, and if you think I'm going somewhere I shouldn't with this, well, too bad, I'm going there. You know, I am totally free to mess up even if I am saved. God will love me no less. I am completely free to sin, sin, sin, and God will love me no less. Do I want to? No, not particularly, but if God is truly as strong as we say He is, then He can hold on to us even if we sin. And Jesus' blood really makes that possible when He says we are free, He really means it. We can still choose, but seeing as if we're saved, we know that we are new creatures, and most likely, we have experienced God's UNCONDITIONAL love for us, which means, with God having given His new creatures the ability to understand and reflect that love, then we should want to reflect it because we enjoy it so much that we want other people to see it, and you know what's capital in God's love for us? He made us free. Completely and totally free of any bondage of anything of any control by anything or anyone. Free free free free free free free!!!! F-R- double E FREEEEE!!!!!
So, you know what that means? We're free to be His, and free to make mistakes and still be loved. We're free to love, free to dance, sing, laugh, and even sin. We're free in all things. And, even though we're free to sin, we are no longer bound to sin, but rather we are bound to a victory in Christ. This is the freedom He has given us. That's all freedom has ever meant. Our rights to choose as human beings do is what we have fought for, and what Jesus has already won.

On the night of the Sunday before the Sunday before Christmas...

... me and my awesome group of Christian friends had a white elephant gift exchange. It started out incomprehensibly rowdy as we watched a ballgame that we never saw coming. That day, during the Dolphin's terrible season of '07, the Miami Dolphins.... won!!! They beat the Baltimore Ravens 22-16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't like the Dolphins all that much...
But the party erupted into such a glorious state of somewhat-mock celebration after Brant Hansen stood among an amazed crowd, and started a slow clap. Then, we ate! Dinner didn't last too long before we started the gift exchange.
It was ruthless, awful, as children under five years of age had the gifts adults coveted cruelly stripped from their hands. The Hansen family tearing each other apart over a stretchy, gooey frog-thing. I DESPERATELY attempted to sell off my five-episode classic collection of Little House on the Prairie to someone who didn't care so much about their gift. I finally found someone, and I got a pair of socks. Then, I traded the pair of socks for a plush Patrick Star from Spongebob. I later traded that for a collection of "create your own adventure" books. Score!!
The women quarreled over both a pink purse or a bag with fake tattoos and $5. Twinkies passed around the room, a squirrel-themed lamp switched consistently from reluctant hands, and two men, one being Brant, dressed in small girl's clothing.. Yes, don't worry, it was unfortunate that that was the gift they ended up with. Brant's said "GIRL POWER" and had pictures of Wonder Woman and other female super-heroines. The other one's said "Multi-talented."...
We had a blast over all, and I desperately wish I had pictures to share.

God IS Love.

I've been considering, and I have yet to bring scripture to my eyes that supports my ideas, but here they are, scripture-less.

I believe that when we're told that God is love that we're supposed to take it literally. That's what God is. When we feel love for our fellow man in the name of Jesus, we feel God Himself in that time. It's not that he just zaps us with love, but rather His Spirit, which is love, stirs ecstatically in our own spirit when we love one another. It is His overwhelming presence, of that love that is Jesus, that moves us to love in the first place. When we do what that call to love asks us, it's the ultimate gift that we could give to our Savior. God is love. Period. It's not just a metaphor. It's a complete truth. I believe that there is much more to God than love, but love is all we've seen of Him on earth. It's all He chooses to show us. It's all the glory that we can handle from Him in our state right now is love. It is Him, though. The presence of God is the presence of love, and vice versa. So "love"... Love. Capitol L. God, Love. All we've seen on earth is a result of His Love. It's a result of Him... duh! There is no form of good here on earth that is not a result of Love. Name one good thing that isn't a result of Love. If it's all resulted of love and it's all a result of God, it means that it is one in the same. It's making more and more sense as I live Love. I live God. I live as Jesus said. I try at least. It's love through Jesus that saves us. Love in Jesus' name, Love because of Jesus, Love is Jesus. I'm learning that that's what it means to be a man after God's own heart. We live as Him, as He is Love.
Peace Out! Love ya!

Sarcasm :P

Yeah, I'm one of those people who freaks out when they meet some celebrity. You know, I just really think that famous people are so much better and more important than I am, and I truly believe that if I totally wig out in their awesome, graceful, beaming, glorious presence, they'll think so highly of me, yes, just me, and I'll be their #1 screaming, crazy fan, just like everyone else is their #1 screaming, crazy fan! I truly believe that if I yell louder than the #1 fan next to me that I would definitely be recognized by that o-so-famous guy or gal we choose to scream for, and we could, you know, hang out after their show and stuff. That would be sooooo cool! You know, 'cause that person thinks I'm different and cooler than the rest of the people doing the exact same thing as me when he/she is around. So, that's why when I meet the bands of WAY FEST backstage with Brant Hansen, I'll run right past the bands, and coolly and all suave-like beg for Brant to sign my toast.

Distress on Indiantown (Pt. 2)

Jess stopped at Maddie's house, and said goodbye to someone now invisible to her. She didn't hear a response either. She let out a long sigh, and pulled out of the concrete driveway. She drove out of the neighborhood, and came up on the Walgreen's to the left. The traffic light was red, and she was at least not insane enough to drive right through it. She looked to her right at Johnathan, who was placidly looking out of the window. The thunder roared in her head as the light turned to green. She didn't let off of the brake, but instead doubled over with a splitting headache. She saw that neither Johnathan or Rebbecca would even speak to ask what was wrong. Neither of them were even looking over at her. She was going insane. This was proof. She wasn't even sure she had left the beach a few minutes ago even. None of this was normal. Her brother and sister were never so apathetic as to leave her doubled over in pain. Her world spun with thoughts about where she was and what was going on. She might of been at the beach still, or in her bed asleep. Maybe she actually was here right now with thunder at surreal volumes in her head, and uncaring siblings. She managed to look back up at the traffic light to see it was red again. Thankfully no one was behind her. Her headache subsided a bit, and she looked for the light to turn green. It did, and she drove. She felt dizzy. She began to overcompensate for the wheel alignment, and ended up careening down Military. She couldn't stop. She suddenly found herself face-to-face with a palm tree.
Strange. Palm trees didn't belong in the road. Of course, cars didn't belong in the median did they? She suddenly panicked. Johnathan Rebbecca! Were they okay? She looked back. She looked, but didn't see anything. Were her eyes closed? She forced them open. She still only saw black. She looked back ahead, the palm tree was still there. Nothing else. She kept her head forward, and felt for her seat belt. It was still there. That's what she felt, not what she saw. She was not calm in the least. She couldn't think. The only thing she seemed able to do was hyperventilate, and stare at the palm tree.
"Okay." She told herself. "I'm dreaming. I'll just wake up soon, and things will be fine. My family will be back, and I'll be in my bed. Come on, just find a way to wake up."
She began to feel sweat. She turned. She felt attacked. She didn't see anything. Her mind was being attacked, but she knew she was dreaming. She woke up, and tried her best to stifle a scream.

When I first heard of "night terrors," -the nightmares some have that are so horrific that when they wake up, they can't seem to remember what they dreamed about, or even if they dreamed, they could only remember that they woke up scared to death- I had wondered what it was people dreamed about that was so horrific. It's probably worse than what I thought up here, but I just guessed. What is it that could be so horrifying that they wake up in cold sweat with a scream of terror? It scares me trying to think about it.

I meant to post sooner...

...but a lot was going on.
Let's start on Friday, the fourteenth, my eyes felt like lead weights all the way through school as we took our diagnostic tests. We keep taking useless tests like that.
After school, it was unofficial "poker night" at Mr. Darrel, "Big D's" house. I call it Josh's house, because normally, although I really love and enjoy the presence of the whole Easley family, I'm normally there to see Josh. Tons of people showed up. Brant Hansen, Shawn Bashor, my dad, Chris Miller, Dr. G, Paul Adams (just started showing up at our house for worship) and one of my dad's co-workers. Those who had sons (Brant, Chris Dr. G, Big D) brought them, and their sons just happen to be my friends. Justin, another friend of mine, also showed up. Unfortunately, those younger than eighteen (Joel G., Josh E., Justin L., Justice H., Peter M., and me) didn't seem welcome to play a game of poker with the "elders," so we played our own game of poker... and got... bored. We went outside and played tons of games. Eventually, we concocted a plan for everyone to sleep at Josh's house. It worked. All six of us hung out that night. Consequently, I wasn't at home to post.
Saturday...
We woke up spread in all corners of Josh's house on either couches, air matresses, blanket cots or beds. My dad came in later and invited us to go snorkeling. We declined in favor of airsoft wars (recentlty banned by the Maplecrest H.O.A.) We played our match B.B. (Before Ban) and hung out at my house playing video games later. After a while everyone seemed to vanish back to their houses, and later Peter and the rest of the Miller family would come for dinner. They stayed late. Once again, I didn't post. I didn't mind either.
Sunday... I don't normally post because of group and such runs late, and I would much rather hang out with them than be on the computer.
Monday...
Once again without good sleep, and still taking a few diagnostic tests, I made it through shcool making the best of it all. I went to get my haircut after school... an interesting part of my day. My mom and I arrived at the haircuttery, and were greeted warmly by the face at the front counter. Not too much later, I was called to the chair to get it over with. The lady there was very enthusiastic, either about people or hair, at first I couldn't tell. She commanded I get a shampoo, and I sat at the sink. My mom came up and asked if I told the lady cutting my hair what I wanted. Before I could answer, the lady, whose name I got to know, "Ilana", asked a question I never expected to hear... I'll never forget this... While looking at my mom, she asked "Oh, is this your boyfriend?"
I froze, my mom tried her best not to react strangely. "No, this is my son. I'm married."
Ilana covered her mistake well "Oh, you look so young, it's possible."
Later I found out that she was saved. Strong in her faith in Jesus. I also learned that she was the mother of a certain girl quite popular due to a certain event, and certain technology recording that event, and posted all over YouTube until they banned the video because it was too violent. No, her daughter was not the bruiser. She was the "bruisie." ?
She has a locker right next to mine. I was encouraged to talk to her. It's not easy when she's always talking to other people. I'm not one to interrupt people's conversations. Tuesday, regular, and today, not much happened. Some of Josh and Big D's friends from Louisiana came down. They're still here. It's pretty cool, they can cook really well!
Yeah, so my week had its hinderances to my posting on this blog, but it was all worth waiting to post all of it in one post.
GOOOOO JOE!

Yes! That is NOT what I wanted.

I think I'm happy that I can't always get what I want. It just makes sense. If I'd gotten everything I've wanted to date, I don't think I would be so happy. Think about it. Imagine if you always got what you wanted. Eventually, blessings become worthless to you, and all that you had wanted becomes something you already have, so what's there to want anymore? Well, nothing you don't already have. So, basically, not getting everything I've wanted is something I consider a blessing. It's one of those things that I want, and actually get. Yeah, that's it.

So Friday at lunch...

I went to what is called "Warriors for Christ" and/or "First Priority." This is where Christians, or those that claim faith in Jesus, choose to spend their lunch hour learning and talking about Jesus. I got to talking to a friend of a friend of mine that claims to have been saved this summer. I thought that was pretty cool, so we were talking. He finally made it to the question. For those that meet with me and my family on Sundays, you know what the question is... that's right, "What church do you go to?"
Knowing that my answers might confuse him, I went on anyway. I explained how I don't go to church, but live as the church wherever I go, because I am the church. A good amount of study is what it takes to learn what living "as the church" means. He seemed to understand, or at least acted like he did. I went on to explain that I do meet together with other people living as the church. These people, my family, (extended or not) I like to refer to as the body. The church body. The body of Christ. Yep. I told him about the friendship we've all acquired through Christ, and how we will hold eachother accountable, and helped eachother through struggles.
Then, he said... "So it's like accountability and churh at the same time?"
I felt like hitting my head with my flat palm stupidly. I didn't. I told him "Isn't that what you should expect from every church?"
He made it clear, though, that he thought we were missing some religious ritual that we're supposed to do. I'll spare you the rest of my conversation for the point of my story.

People put so much emphasis on doing certain things religiously in order to gain favor in God's eyes. Well, no matter what we do, we won't be favorable in God's eyes. It's Jesus (if he is in your heart) that makes us so worthy of heavan's gates. So, all we can do is live, and love. And love is the important part, the only way to actually live. Love is about you and God, the friends you've made in Christ and because of Christ, and all that you treat them with in God's name. That's all we can do, and it means nothing else... and nothing else could mean more.

Something I should've seen coming

I sat with the most ridiculous look I've ever had on my face in French class. I was laughing somewhat hysterically with the rest of the class as we watched a blue cartoon character rap in French about how his friends liked to go to the park and have picnics.
Justin and I walked out of the class, mocking the most hilariously entertaining thing we had ever viewed in school. Still laughing, and adding our own jokes on, my arm was suddenly disturbed from it's peaceful rest at my side by a firm tap. I looked behind me to see someone I hadn't spoken to in about seven months. She smiled at me and said, "Hi, Josh!"
I smiled back, and confusedly said, "Uhh, what was that you called me?"
"Oh, uhh, Josh. I'm maiking up names now. Heh." She didn't attempt a correct guess at my name.
"Well," I began to say almost jokingly, "I'm Jonathan, I'm sure Josh is in this building somewhere, though."
She somehow managed to point him out in the crowded hallway as he passed, and said, "Oh, there's Josh!" She half-smiled.
"Are you okay?" I said.
"Oh, I got like two hours of sleep and all. I'm really tired."
I wondered how she managed only two hours of sleep when this was the school's late-start day. She was either awake until 8:00 or had only slept from 10:00 pm to 12:00 am. I didn't pry in that issue.
I noticed something different about her. Something that used to be in her light blue-green eyes was missing. By talking to her, it seemed this change was not for the better. She began talking about things I could hardly decode. None of it made sense. Now, I knew she had been one to talk quickly, but I had never heard her ramble nonsense while trying to make sense. I let her finish whatever rant she was on with a smile on my face, trying to share the almost-fake smile on her own as she went on. When she had finished, I said "Soo... where have you been lately?"
She hardly gave a moment of thought before she said "Well, not at your house, huh?"
I was pretty confused at this last statement, but replied like I wasn't. "Well, I can see that."
She began to ramble again, and ended her run-on sentence with a coherent combination of words saying, "What did you do this summer?"
I told her about my trip to Peru. She acted surprised, but told me after that she already knew that because she had seen pictures from somewhere. She asked why we were there, and I told her what we did. She started rambling again, this time about going to Peru for missions, not for missions, not going to Peru for not missions, going to Peru but not for not missions... and you think you're confused by what I typed? Before we parted in the hallways, I said that I'd see her later. I thought about how her ramblings lacked passion. How she didn't seem only two-hours-of-sleep-tired, and how she had left her good friend's (my sister's) side last shcool year in persuit of a "more successful social life."
This wasn't the girl I used to know. I used to know a passionate, considerate, smart girl. Something was wrong. This didn't make sense to me at all. I think she's done something really bad, and is trying to hide it by avoiding a true, flowing conversation, but all her rambling just makes it more obvious. I won't share her name, but just know she needs prayer... and a case of reverse irony. I hated to see her like that. I think she might have come to me for help. I need to talk to her again.

The Best Flavor of Irony: Reverse

I like the ultimate irony in the Greek myth of King Midas and the Golden touch. A man so greedy that he wanted everything he touched to be made to gold. He later turned his own precious daughter into gold, which later became worthless. Sad huh? But then, more ironic than all that was worth to him was made worthless because of his own actions to obtain something that was worth so much, was that when he cried out to the gods for a second chance at his old life... they forgave King Midas, and gave him back everything the way it was before.

So, you're asking "Oh, how is that irony?" Well, it's reverse irony, if you super-language-term guys can come up with something better than reverse-irony to describe what I'm saying here, please let me know.

Anyway, imagine that you're somebody who has given up everything that was worth anything to you just to obtain something that you thought was everything to you, but in the end, was worth less than what you had before. Irony, right?
Now, let's say that you're somebody who has forsaken God, and stepped on others to climb that ladder of success all by yourself, only to find that that ladder leads to no place you want to be. You're crushed. Now, when God takes you up, and forgives you for betraying Him, he has made all that you thought was worth something back then, worth nothing in His light. Now, when all that work is worth nothing, and the hero you had pictured yourself to be was actually the villain, and the victim to yourself... is that not irony? But a good kind, because you're now a new person, and God's the hero, and His yoke is light. All you thought you had done wrong for something you thought was worth everything is now worth nothing. Can you follow that? I hope so. I do my best. Anyway, if you made it to the end of this post without being totally lost, congratulations! Maybe I'll use some of my parent's money to treat you to lunch someday.