The Doping Dope

The Tour de France ended recently. The winner was a Mr Floyd Landis. He is from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania which is near where I live. The news has been covering the story quite closely, including story of how wonderful a Mennonite boy he is. Interviews with his parents abound and it seems like there couldn't be a cleaner guy.

Until now. Today the news released that Landis failed a drug test during the Tour de France. More incredibly the stage after which he failed was the same one that he had the big comeback on. Evidently he needed a little help to do it. He has gone from hero to villain overnite. This is just a shame. Although sadly, not too surprising.

I'll be interested to see how the local news covers this one.

Divorce saddens me

I have recently interacted with a woman that commented that she is getting a divorce. She said it quite matter-of-factly and didn't seem to have any disappointment. This bothered me. It seems like things like this have just come to mean much less than they were intended to.

I am sure that marriage is hard, but I still think that marriage needs to become a more serious committment.

Another thing. Why are people so attached to money?

I'm am one...

This morning I stopped at a local coffeeshop on my way to work. I got myself an iced Americano which was very delicious. While at work another guy asked me if that was iced coffee that I had. I simply explained that it was actually iced espresso. Then he proceeded to asked me if I got it from McDonald's. My insides instantly started to shriek, I quickly explained that it was from a coffeeshop, all the while thinking, 'How could someone think I got coffee from McDonald's? Yuk!'

Yup, I'm a coffee snob

I hate goodbyes

Tonight I said the first of what are going to be a few very hard goodbyes. There are a few people that have been very near and dear to me over the past years. The people that I said goodbye to tonight I have know for the last 11 years and we have been around each other for the large part of that time starting with college.

They have always been there for me and I won't see them for the next two years. I didn't realize how much this would affect me. People that I have relied on will not be there for me to lean on. I will develop other relationships which I am sure will become very deep. But they can't replace 11 years of relationship or in the case of my family...a lifetime.

So I shall make through the goodbyes without too many tears.

It's a Name for a Girl

Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame, removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace, it's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world
And when she walks on the street you can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything...

...She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work
You can hear her strings
Grace finds beauty in everything...

...What once was hurt; What once was friction; What left a mark
No longer stings; Because grace makes beauty out of ugly things
-U2

I have been amazed at grace lately. Especially the grace that I have been offered. I screw up so much and any normal human being would ditch me, but it hasn't happened. God just keeps offering me more and more grace. I keep falling into the same sin traps over and over and still more grace.

I hope that I can learn to treat others with more grace. Even if it is just a microscopic portion of the grace that I receive.

A Message in a Bottle

Have you ever noticed how unfulfilling communication can be when it isn't in person? I have noticed this recently. I have been trying to express certain emotions over email and it just isn't working. They can see my face or physical gestures and they can't hear my vocal inflections. Telephone is a little better because you can hear them, but it still isn't always accurate.

I guess this is why I love face to face interaction so much more. I can see them and read them. It is so much more informational and effective. I can show so much more through seeing you rather than typing an email to you.

So why do we like email and the such? Is it so we can hide our true selves easier? Hmmm.

Is it a wonder?

Recently I had the pleasure of procuring a new release by the band called Keane. Now you all know my love for Brit bands and this is one of them. So what do I think?

I like it. For those of you who don't know much about Keane, they don't have any guitars in their band. This could make for a boring album with much of the songs sounding the same, due to lack of instrumental variety. With excellent songwriting, they were able to avoid this on their first album although it did get a bit monotonous by the end.

Not with this album. They may not have guitars, but they have run keyboards and pianos through as many guitar effects pedals as you could think. This has created a very enjoyable sound. It has also given them a lot more variety on this album. They also seem to have more influence from the Radiohead sound this time around. All these things put together make for a good album. I don't think that the songwriting is as strong, but the melody writing is better and catchier.

I like the album and would encourage all of you to go enjoy it for yourselves as well.

Things that make you go...

• It's hot. Really hot (upper 90s and humid). And I don't really like heat. In fact, there isn't any other weather I like less than this. I would rather have anything before this. Obviously excluding natural disasters.
• Would you? I know someone who really wanted to do something. He didn't have a purpose behind it, except wanting to. This action of his caused others to be inconvenienced. He knew that others would be inconvenienced. He still did want he wanted without regard for others, only thinking of himself and what he wanted. Although I strive not to, I am sure that I have done things like this. Hopefully we all can continue to grow think less of ourselves and more of others.
• I saw Cars over the weekend. It was hilarious, pee-my-pants hilarious. Anyway, a very enjoyable movie which was definitely worth it.
• I also saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2. Good stuff. A middle movie to be sure, but it was still entertaining.

What Can Be Done?

What can be done
For the murderous race we’ve become
What have we done
Hands drip with fellow man’s blood
Why do you wait?
Come quickly Lord and change us!
Make us different, Make us different
Make us instruments of peace
to play at your door
No more murder.

Turn out hateful hearts toward love
Let Your mercy cover us
Give us humble hearts O God
The grace to love as you have loved

To love enemies
and our neighbors as you’ve said
What can be done?
What have we done?

Babies unborn silent screams
Electric chairs and M-sixteens
Our hurtful, hateful words,
Our jealousy, our selfish greed
Make us peacemakers, not murderers
Make us peacemakers, not murderers

What can be done? (Lay down your guns)
What have we done? (Lay down your words)
What can be done? (Lay down your thoughts)
What have we done? (Lift up your hearts)

Make us different, Make us different
-CD, BF, JB

Cacophony of Horrors

I don't know how many of you have been following the news recently, but there has been a lot going on the Middle East. First some guerrillas from Lebanon attacked Israeli soldiers and then Israel fought back by blowing up anything and everything and even hitting some Palestinian targets.

This is just such a mess. There is so much hatred and violence there. So much death. In many ways, it is heartbreaking. And nobody does anything. We just let them fight it out. The US has decided to side with Israel many of these times, and so we don't always think about the horrible things that the Israelis do to the Palestinians.

Both sides need to chill and people needs to stop taking ideological sides. Maybe then, everything will calm down and talking can happen. I don't know, it is just something that has really saddened me over the past couple of days.

How Little is the Little Book

Recently I have been reading a book entitled Pocket Guide to the Bible. So what did I think about it?

First off, Jason Boyett is a very funny writer. He throws in all kinds of quirky little comments to keep you off guard and chuckling. Now about the book. It starts off with a Biblicabulary before moving into a review of the cast of characters. I had a rough time with these couple chapters because the reading was very choppy. I couldn't get into a rhythm. After this, the book moves into a review of the Bible's storyline and then into a history of the Bible and its versions, ending with a bunch of lists. Once I got past the first couple chapters I started to really enjoy the book. It moved along well.

For a person who reads the Bible, there may not be a lot of new information here, which can contribute to it being a little less interesting. But besides that I enjoyed the read. The humor was the positive. The choppiness of the read was really the only negative. I wouldn't say that it was an awesome book, but it was decent. So if you want to read a book that contains the word bazongas, this is the one.

What's the Use in Worrying

Why do people worry? Why do I worry? I don't know. I realize that it is pretty pointless to worry and yet at times, I still do. We all have those things that we worry about. Some may be simple like whether or not something will happen. Other may be larger questions of life's goals, relationships, money.

There is always something that could be worried about, but is there ever something that should be worried about? I don't think that there is. Why? Mainly because it doesn't accomplish anything positive. All that it does is make us depressed and nervous and very likely have the same affect on those around us.

Life is gonna happen whether we want it to or not. The only thing that may change that is if we act. Worrying is not an action. Action is what creates things and opportunities.

Likes

I like hugs. I like to give hugs; I like to receive hugs. Hugs are a good thing. And although many people that know me may not guess it, I am a huggy person. They mean something to me.

I like women. It is especially nice when I get to interact with single women. It is just something that gets my blood flowing.

I like marriage. Especially when two friends of mine get married. They are good for each other and make an excellent couple. Congrats to them.

I like soccer. I like the World Cup. Good job and a clap of the hands to Italy for winning the tourney and being World Champions even with their home league in shambles due to a scandal.

I like music. It moves me. I can listen to a song and no matter who wrote it, I can be moved to worship by the music.

Do you pick your nose?

Do you ever wonder if you are annoying to people? Or what your annoying traits are? What about if you smell or have a disgusting habit? I have been noticing lately that there are so many things that we talk about with other people, but won't tell the person whom we are referring to.

Now I think that this comes from wanting to not hurt the person so we choose not to say anything. I know I figure many times that it isn't worth saying anything, because I should just deal with it. But in doing all of the honest, I am not being honest. And in not being honest, I am not doing the most that I can to promote a feeling of realness and openness to my friends. Then I wonder why they aren't always open with me.

Now should we go around telling everyone anything and everything that annoys us or that they do wrong? No, there is a line there, but a little more honesty probably wouldn't hurt anyone and may even improve each other.

So I wonder if I have annoying traits or disgusting habits that people don't tell me...Nah.

I Lied

A couple days back, I was leaving the mall. A car came up beside me and a guy asked me if I had money. He said that he was on empty and didn't have any cash. He could write me a check in exchange for the cash. After I listened and told him that I didn't have any cash on me. I did, though.

Why did I do this? He could have been giving me a line, yes, but does that matter? Can I not spare $5 out of my pocket to give to him and help him out? I would bet that he wasn't lying. I don't know why I did it and I knew it was wrong. Even if I didn't see the money again, I could have gladly given him a couple of bucks.

I have been noticing lately how many Americans are extremely attached to their money. Like it is their favorite child. I am disappointed at this mindset. Then I find out that I have the same mindset. Maybe one day I'll learn.

The 15th Wheel

Last night I was at a cookout with a bunch of my friends. These were the types of people that were there throughout the night. Three dating couples, one engaged couple, one married couple with two young girls and me. That just sucks. Don't get me wrong, I love to be around these people and I had fun, but still it can just be a bit hard sometime.

To be the only single adult there. Even if nothing is explicitly said, the facts are still there and the facts usually bother me when it comes to things like this. I would say that it is hard being around all that cheese, but it wouldn't be true or honest.

Where am I in this whole thing? This whole dating world. I am nowhere. I am in limbo land. Mainly because I am going to Germany in 4 weeks. But yet I have been in limbo land for the past several years and I have no excuse for that. Now I am not worried about this state that I am in. Most of the time, I greatly enjoy my singleness. But there are just those times that it just gets to me. The older I get, the less single people I am around. I will just have to get used to that fact.