This blog is going bye bye.
I'm moving my blog to JordonWright.com!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Don't you?
Don't you dislike when someone you love and care about doesn't believe in themselves, when they have so much potential?
Don't you dislike when people you've never met claim you're a bad influence on someone who you've done nothing but encourage and help through the pain their family has caused them?
Don't you dislike when people you've hardly met make no effort to get to know you but then trash you behind your back with falsehoods?
Don't you dislike seeing people talk a lot about how humble and good they are, when the fact they emphasize those supposed two qualities exposes they're really not that humble and/or good?
Don't you dislike when churches talk a lot of homosexuality and abortion, and not enough time on the streets meeting people where they are and trying to help those who need help?
Don't you dislike a generation of consumers and materialistic people (I'm just as guilty) who complain if they're $5 meal price is increased, when most of the world lives on half of that a day?
Don't you dislike the fact that churches are supposed to be all about the love of Christ, and yet the preachers use the pulpit as a vehicle to air their issues with people or to give their opinions?
Don't you dislike people who are flawed and act as if they're not?
Don't you dislike people who don't seem to think they're sinners? I'd rather be in a group full of people who know they're sinners, than people who pretend they're not.
Don't you dislike when Christians create their own little bubbles where they home school their kids, make their families hang out with only Christians (great evangelism) and who judge the world from their self-made thrones of self-righteousness?
Don't you dislike when people would rather stab you in the back, instead of stabbing you in the front?
Don't you dislike when people don't treat others how they want to be treated, and then preach to others that they should?
Don't you? I know I do.
Don't you dislike when people you've never met claim you're a bad influence on someone who you've done nothing but encourage and help through the pain their family has caused them?
Don't you dislike when people you've hardly met make no effort to get to know you but then trash you behind your back with falsehoods?
Don't you dislike seeing people talk a lot about how humble and good they are, when the fact they emphasize those supposed two qualities exposes they're really not that humble and/or good?
Don't you dislike when churches talk a lot of homosexuality and abortion, and not enough time on the streets meeting people where they are and trying to help those who need help?
Don't you dislike a generation of consumers and materialistic people (I'm just as guilty) who complain if they're $5 meal price is increased, when most of the world lives on half of that a day?
Don't you dislike the fact that churches are supposed to be all about the love of Christ, and yet the preachers use the pulpit as a vehicle to air their issues with people or to give their opinions?
Don't you dislike people who are flawed and act as if they're not?
Don't you dislike people who don't seem to think they're sinners? I'd rather be in a group full of people who know they're sinners, than people who pretend they're not.
Don't you dislike when Christians create their own little bubbles where they home school their kids, make their families hang out with only Christians (great evangelism) and who judge the world from their self-made thrones of self-righteousness?
Don't you dislike when people would rather stab you in the back, instead of stabbing you in the front?
Don't you dislike when people don't treat others how they want to be treated, and then preach to others that they should?
Don't you? I know I do.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Lessons Learned.
2011 has been.....interesting.
2010 was pretty much a bust. 2009 was a waste of life. But this year was different. I put my priorities to the front of my mind and had more focus on the things that mattered. Like I said, this year was different. A good kind of different. I've done my best to try to "plan" 2012, but I know I couldn't predict it if I tried. But I'm not going into the year without some of the same focus that I've given this year.
So lessons learned in 2011:
1. You really can't change people- Frustration with some of my relationships this year has left me trying to change some people. We don't have the ability to change anyone but ourselves. I've tried to motivate some to confront their insecurities and it hasn't fallen on deaf ears. But sometimes it's irritating seeing someone with so much potential not realize that fact. In other situations, I've had people I thought I could talk to and confront issues with. They simply wouldn't listen and it went no where. Certainly I'm not perfect, so I've learned to focus on my own flaws and short comings--and let others deal with theirs. I'll help them as best as I know how to.
2. Religious people are nuts- I've read enough Christian books, watched enough Christian television and met enough Christian people this year to observe the differences between them. Some are conservative, some are liberal. Some are Baptist, Assemblies of God and Catholic. Some are the 'real deals' and some are....nuts. About a week ago in anger, I messaged one of my Christian friends on Facebook to rant. "I really don't like some Christians and I know that's wrong," I told him. We had a decent conversation on the lack of authenticity of the Christian community, the need for some to elevate themselves up to act holier than others. It just smells funny because it is funny. I read Romans 3 about how we all fall short of God and I realize I have a lot of work to do for myself. Certainly I see others errors (or sawdust in eyes as Matthew puts it) but I try to focus on my own (the plank in my own eye, how hypocritical". It just rubs me the wrong way to see Christians who should be engaging a culture that is abandoning their faith in droves who are instead trying to be the loudest in the room, the holiest in the room and trying to prove how spiritual they are. It's not a popularity contest, Jesus already won. Shake off the fake, the holier than thou attitudes, the pride and let's get to business. Let's have some humility to accept our own shortcomings (not everyone elses, OUR own) and focus on the one thing that should matter--Christ.
3. College isn't the answer- It really isn't. I'm not one of those who thinks that by going to college, my situation will be fixed. I know this is the (very expensive) first step in getting where I want to be. I'm willing to put in the work and prove myself. But the motivation and focus I've had in 2011, if I can make this last moving forward, I'm really excited about finishing school and starting my career. What career you may ask? Wait and see.....
4. It's not what you have, it's who you are- I used to be pretty image based. If I had one glaring insecurity, it was my appearance. I didn't like how I looked. Confronting that head on, I just don't focus on it as much. Call it another change of focus this year but it just....doesn't matter. I think it's time I worried less on my image and more on the things that matter--character. If anything was lacking in the last few years, it was character. It helps having someone like Joel here who reminds me how different (in a better way) I am since he first met me in early 2010.
5. God is good- I don't need to explain this one.
I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who reads this. Minus maybe my mother.
In any event, these are some of the lessons I've learned this year. It helps writing them out.
2012, here we come.
2010 was pretty much a bust. 2009 was a waste of life. But this year was different. I put my priorities to the front of my mind and had more focus on the things that mattered. Like I said, this year was different. A good kind of different. I've done my best to try to "plan" 2012, but I know I couldn't predict it if I tried. But I'm not going into the year without some of the same focus that I've given this year.
So lessons learned in 2011:
1. You really can't change people- Frustration with some of my relationships this year has left me trying to change some people. We don't have the ability to change anyone but ourselves. I've tried to motivate some to confront their insecurities and it hasn't fallen on deaf ears. But sometimes it's irritating seeing someone with so much potential not realize that fact. In other situations, I've had people I thought I could talk to and confront issues with. They simply wouldn't listen and it went no where. Certainly I'm not perfect, so I've learned to focus on my own flaws and short comings--and let others deal with theirs. I'll help them as best as I know how to.
2. Religious people are nuts- I've read enough Christian books, watched enough Christian television and met enough Christian people this year to observe the differences between them. Some are conservative, some are liberal. Some are Baptist, Assemblies of God and Catholic. Some are the 'real deals' and some are....nuts. About a week ago in anger, I messaged one of my Christian friends on Facebook to rant. "I really don't like some Christians and I know that's wrong," I told him. We had a decent conversation on the lack of authenticity of the Christian community, the need for some to elevate themselves up to act holier than others. It just smells funny because it is funny. I read Romans 3 about how we all fall short of God and I realize I have a lot of work to do for myself. Certainly I see others errors (or sawdust in eyes as Matthew puts it) but I try to focus on my own (the plank in my own eye, how hypocritical". It just rubs me the wrong way to see Christians who should be engaging a culture that is abandoning their faith in droves who are instead trying to be the loudest in the room, the holiest in the room and trying to prove how spiritual they are. It's not a popularity contest, Jesus already won. Shake off the fake, the holier than thou attitudes, the pride and let's get to business. Let's have some humility to accept our own shortcomings (not everyone elses, OUR own) and focus on the one thing that should matter--Christ.
3. College isn't the answer- It really isn't. I'm not one of those who thinks that by going to college, my situation will be fixed. I know this is the (very expensive) first step in getting where I want to be. I'm willing to put in the work and prove myself. But the motivation and focus I've had in 2011, if I can make this last moving forward, I'm really excited about finishing school and starting my career. What career you may ask? Wait and see.....
4. It's not what you have, it's who you are- I used to be pretty image based. If I had one glaring insecurity, it was my appearance. I didn't like how I looked. Confronting that head on, I just don't focus on it as much. Call it another change of focus this year but it just....doesn't matter. I think it's time I worried less on my image and more on the things that matter--character. If anything was lacking in the last few years, it was character. It helps having someone like Joel here who reminds me how different (in a better way) I am since he first met me in early 2010.
5. God is good- I don't need to explain this one.
I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who reads this. Minus maybe my mother.
In any event, these are some of the lessons I've learned this year. It helps writing them out.
2012, here we come.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Fall.
Summer wasn't as successful as I hoped.
But Fall is here.
So far, so good. I'm back in the full swing of classes and trying to finish 2011 strong.
What's going on with me this Fall?
Things I'm doing-
Working on my classes. Which means lots and lots of homework. Some how I managed to schedule a math class and english class this semester. So Joel gets to hear me yell at the computer a lot. On top of that, I've been studying a lot. Not just school but in other subjects. Which has meant a lot of reading. Like I said on my Facebook, I've done more reading in the last six months than the rest of my life combined. Trying to find a different church closer to our apartment. Also, I'm trying to find a good job. I'm tired of less than desirable jobs, so we'll see what happens. The economy stinks.....so maybe I'll have to settle, eh?
Things I'm working on-
I'm trying to finalize my plans for the last two years of college. I've narrowed my list to three colleges but with how indecisive I am, we'll see. I'm working on my plans for 2012 and what I'd like to call my 5-year and 10-year plans. Apparently that's contagious, I've got Joel doing the same thing. I'm trying to improve my grades after a lackluster Summer semester. To be determined.
Music I'm listening to-
I downloaded No Doubt's greatest hits, so lots of that. Florence and the Machine, Adele, Jesus Culture, Elevation Worship, Death Cab For Cutie, Sufjan Stevens and Amy Winehouse.
What I'm watching-
Pretty much what I normally watch. Restaurant Impossible, Chopped, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, and pretty much anything on Food Network. American Dad, Family Guy, Seinfeld re-runs, Law and Order SVU and really bad Christian television. Which makes Joel laugh.
Books I'm reading-
My math textbook and english textbooks. Unfortunately, that takes up a lot of time. Last month I read "Erasing Hell" and "Forgotten God" both by Francis Chan, as well as"Systematic Theology" by Wayne Grudem. This month I'm reading my textbooks (of course), "Ashamed of the Gospel" by John MacArthur and "Systematic Theology" still. Of course my Bible and when I start my worlds religion class later this semester, you can add on that textbook.
Things I'm looking forward to-
Finalizing my short term plans, rough drafts of my long term plans, deciding on colleges, working on "career advancement", Halloween, Thanksgiving, Starbucks mochas, and Fall walks.
I'm sure you're wondering why I'm telling you all of this.
To be honest, not really sure. Maybe I'm bored, maybe I'm thinking out loud.
But that's my Fall. Enjoy yours.
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