This is my new favorite song in the world.
And, to clarify, I never stated in my previous blog that "casual dating" is all that I wanted out of life, just that my thoughts had brought me to those conclusions. Thanks for the advice everyone, but I wasn't writing with the intent on being a...player or something for the rest of my life. Just writing out my thinking. But thanks all the same.
I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do.
Adios amigos
-Edit-
This video is pretty epic too, it's the trailer for Kill Bill. One of my favs, without a doubt.
Adios, for real
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Something Beautiful
So, I've recently been overcome by thoughts about dating. Dating, relationships, marriage, and even having children. Yes, spawn of my own. Brace yourself, World.
Jerry Seinfeld once said "Make no mistake, these babies are here to replace us." Very humorous. But, I think my thinking begins with the question "Do I want to have children? Do I want to raise a son or a daughter?" I think my answer would then be, "Yeah, some day." The best way I see fit to raise a child is with a healthy, balanced relationship between both mother and father (yes, this is extremely idealistic, especially in today's sub-atomic families, but please bear with me). So what does this mean to me? If I want a child, the best way to raise him or her is within a relationship very similar to marriage. Okay, I can deal with that.
So, I guess then I would have to get married. Let me be very transparent -- I LOVE THAT IDEA. But let me very transparent once more -- MARRIAGE SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I'll paint you an example:
I started off the summer very possessive of the affections of one (1) particular girl, and had the singular ambition of pursuing her through the course of summer leading into a more-than-just-friends relationship. Now I'm not so sure I want to even get married (unless to have good kids. of course). Okay. In a few months' (actually weeks') time I've moved from desiring this one (1) particular girl to being skiddish at the mere thought of a forever relationship. Now, duh, these aren't exactly polar opposites. But, my likes and dislikes in regards to relationships have changed from an interest in a girl who seemed pretty ideal to possibly remaning single and celebate for life. If my heart can move that much from May to mid-July, who knows what it'll do over the course of a marriage, which is forever? Certainly not I; I figured I would be half-way endeared into her heart by now.
So, the point of this scenario is that I'm not ready for marriage yet, and thus I'm a bit scared of it, and rushing into it. Therefore, I don't really feel like chasing after a sincere, serious, more-than-just-friends relationship. I'm not scared of that relationship, I just don't want it right now, sorta...
So, what options am I left with? I don't know. Let's see. I like people, I like meeting new people, I like getting to know new people, I like spending time with familiar faces, I enjoy going on dates, I enjoy the flirting and the coy responses and the thrill of the "hunt," so clearly I could do some dating if I wanted. But, what kind of dating do I do? I can't go back on all that I've just said. Maybe just casual dating? Does that work? What does casual dating involve?
I don't know.
I don't think I've ever investigated the idea of casual dating. I've seen movies and TV shows that depict it, but I've never really ventured out into it. I think I might like it, really. I'm not looking for huge commitment -- hence the previous about marriage. I don't feel like I really need somebody to bolster me emotionally or socially -- I've got great friends that support me emotionally and I'm social enough on my own to have a good time. I don't really feel like I'm in that great of a position right now to be a spiritual leader in a relationship -- that's not to say my spiritual life or "walk with God" is shipwrecked, I just mean it in that I'm a bit of A Work in Progress myself, so I don't know just yet if I'm cut out for leading another person in that role. So, yeah, casual dating? Maybe it's for me? What would I do in a casual dating relationship? What approach would I take to it?
"Hi, my name's Geoff. We know each other decently well enough, would you like to hang out sometime? Maybe we could have coffee, tea, enjoy Happy Hour at Sonic, or dinner sometime? My intentions are much like my expectations -- I want to get to know you better. What do you say?"
So, tell me what you think, please. I'm not saying this is my final resolution on dating, because as I've already said my opinion has changed from May to now, it can very well change from now to tomorrow. But, this is where my thinking has left me lately. Not hungrily anticipating the next serious relationship I can get myself into, but interested in all the learning opportunities of life still to come my way.
Jerry Seinfeld once said "Make no mistake, these babies are here to replace us." Very humorous. But, I think my thinking begins with the question "Do I want to have children? Do I want to raise a son or a daughter?" I think my answer would then be, "Yeah, some day." The best way I see fit to raise a child is with a healthy, balanced relationship between both mother and father (yes, this is extremely idealistic, especially in today's sub-atomic families, but please bear with me). So what does this mean to me? If I want a child, the best way to raise him or her is within a relationship very similar to marriage. Okay, I can deal with that.
So, I guess then I would have to get married. Let me be very transparent -- I LOVE THAT IDEA. But let me very transparent once more -- MARRIAGE SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I'll paint you an example:
I started off the summer very possessive of the affections of one (1) particular girl, and had the singular ambition of pursuing her through the course of summer leading into a more-than-just-friends relationship. Now I'm not so sure I want to even get married (unless to have good kids. of course). Okay. In a few months' (actually weeks') time I've moved from desiring this one (1) particular girl to being skiddish at the mere thought of a forever relationship. Now, duh, these aren't exactly polar opposites. But, my likes and dislikes in regards to relationships have changed from an interest in a girl who seemed pretty ideal to possibly remaning single and celebate for life. If my heart can move that much from May to mid-July, who knows what it'll do over the course of a marriage, which is forever? Certainly not I; I figured I would be half-way endeared into her heart by now.
So, the point of this scenario is that I'm not ready for marriage yet, and thus I'm a bit scared of it, and rushing into it. Therefore, I don't really feel like chasing after a sincere, serious, more-than-just-friends relationship. I'm not scared of that relationship, I just don't want it right now, sorta...
So, what options am I left with? I don't know. Let's see. I like people, I like meeting new people, I like getting to know new people, I like spending time with familiar faces, I enjoy going on dates, I enjoy the flirting and the coy responses and the thrill of the "hunt," so clearly I could do some dating if I wanted. But, what kind of dating do I do? I can't go back on all that I've just said. Maybe just casual dating? Does that work? What does casual dating involve?
I don't know.
I don't think I've ever investigated the idea of casual dating. I've seen movies and TV shows that depict it, but I've never really ventured out into it. I think I might like it, really. I'm not looking for huge commitment -- hence the previous about marriage. I don't feel like I really need somebody to bolster me emotionally or socially -- I've got great friends that support me emotionally and I'm social enough on my own to have a good time. I don't really feel like I'm in that great of a position right now to be a spiritual leader in a relationship -- that's not to say my spiritual life or "walk with God" is shipwrecked, I just mean it in that I'm a bit of A Work in Progress myself, so I don't know just yet if I'm cut out for leading another person in that role. So, yeah, casual dating? Maybe it's for me? What would I do in a casual dating relationship? What approach would I take to it?
"Hi, my name's Geoff. We know each other decently well enough, would you like to hang out sometime? Maybe we could have coffee, tea, enjoy Happy Hour at Sonic, or dinner sometime? My intentions are much like my expectations -- I want to get to know you better. What do you say?"
So, tell me what you think, please. I'm not saying this is my final resolution on dating, because as I've already said my opinion has changed from May to now, it can very well change from now to tomorrow. But, this is where my thinking has left me lately. Not hungrily anticipating the next serious relationship I can get myself into, but interested in all the learning opportunities of life still to come my way.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
You Are Welcome Here
So, a few things I learned/to learn from my Super Summer experience.
- Despite my tiny and small and timid expectations, God can yield big results
- The King of the Universe loves me and I am His favorite
- The world may appear to have forgotten me, but God has not
- Blessings are all around me, I have only to adjust my perspective
- God loves me, and He has blessed me
- God wants His people to know He's here, and He's calling us to action
As I was typing this, I realized not a single one of these is a complaint, and everyone relates directly to God. It ammuses me that I can spend a week in a strange and new environment, and walk out knowing only new things about God, and my relationship with Him.
For those of you who don't know, I went to Super Summer as a sponsor for the youth in my younger sister's youth ministry. I was assigned to Orange School, or students just having completed the 9th grade, going into the 10th grade. 15 year olds, mostly. I had 12 to co-"babysit" and lead, really, all week long with a girl from Dickinson, Texas. It was fun.
I met a lot of new people, and saw a few old and familiar faces. Great chance to see and meet some UMHB Alumni (almost all were mid-90s grads), and get to know a few youth ministers from various places around the state of Texas. One offered me an internship, one was a good friend to me the entire week. Got a business card from one friend there, and another I encouraged to apply to UMHB.
The joy and perspective God granted me and allowed me while I was at Super Summer was a much needed rescue in the middle of the summer. In fact, I don't know how I could have made it this far without Super Summer there to save me. I am ever so thankful for the joy and experience and memories that I carry with me now from the past week. If you prayed for me even a little bit at all while I was gone, thank you.
As the Spirit begins to strike me, I'll continue to post more things from my week. And if you're reading this and you were with me last week, let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from you friend.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
So, I like Batman. In fact, I've liked Batman since...oh...since I was a kid. Knee-high to a grasshopper, in fact!
Don't think this is about the new movie, it's not. In fact, it has very little to do with the movie (comes in two weeks, in case you were wanting a tip). What it does have to do with, is Batman's -- or maybe just Bruce Wayne's -- discipline.
When I watch Batman battle the bad guy, what amazes me the most is his ability to stay disciplined and focused on the goal at hand. In the episode this most came clear to me, he was poisoned by the Riddler, or maybe the Penguin. Anyway, this toxin caused him to go crazy and do what he would otherwise NOT do. He attacked Robin and Batgirl, and was serving the will of the villain.
Then, after much pleading on behalf of his sidekicks, he stopped fighting them, and the struggle internalized. All of a sudden, he began to fight off the effects of the poison. And soon, he was free.
How it resonated within me was as an equation of sin and discipline in my Christian life. I'm a fallen creature that is sinful. I fall to temptation to do things I don't want to do (this is biblical, by the way), and have a hard time doing the things I want to do. I need to be like Batman, and fight the temptation to do what I shouldn't, and instead do what I know (deep down, beyond all the temptations) I ought to do.
If you get nothing out of this, please know that we can beat temptation and sin. Not on our own, but with the grace of God, but sin and tempation can be beaten.
Don't think this is about the new movie, it's not. In fact, it has very little to do with the movie (comes in two weeks, in case you were wanting a tip). What it does have to do with, is Batman's -- or maybe just Bruce Wayne's -- discipline.
When I watch Batman battle the bad guy, what amazes me the most is his ability to stay disciplined and focused on the goal at hand. In the episode this most came clear to me, he was poisoned by the Riddler, or maybe the Penguin. Anyway, this toxin caused him to go crazy and do what he would otherwise NOT do. He attacked Robin and Batgirl, and was serving the will of the villain.
Then, after much pleading on behalf of his sidekicks, he stopped fighting them, and the struggle internalized. All of a sudden, he began to fight off the effects of the poison. And soon, he was free.
How it resonated within me was as an equation of sin and discipline in my Christian life. I'm a fallen creature that is sinful. I fall to temptation to do things I don't want to do (this is biblical, by the way), and have a hard time doing the things I want to do. I need to be like Batman, and fight the temptation to do what I shouldn't, and instead do what I know (deep down, beyond all the temptations) I ought to do.
If you get nothing out of this, please know that we can beat temptation and sin. Not on our own, but with the grace of God, but sin and tempation can be beaten.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
