Let’s start a fire

Let’s start a fire

Let’s start a fire in the desert. 

Let’s make it big. 

Let’s drink, and sing and forget about this big bad world for just one night.

You can play guitar and I will bring a drum, while the rest of them just dance.

Let’s party like Christ himself was right there with us, in the flesh. 

There must have been those nights for him and his boys. 

A night to let loose. 

A night not to care. 

Just one night, and it would end with moment of clarity and peace.

Tired and content, we would watch the sun come up as the fire smouldered. 

We might not say a word as we cleaned up, but we would always have that one secret night that would bond us, even if we never saw each other again. 

The one night we would remember forever, and think of whenever we heard mention of the other, and smile.

As we drove home we we would know, not just in our heads but with every ounce of our being, that we are not alone in our struggles. 

That others saw in us the potential we had never seen in ourselves. 

That we could be free if we only chose to be. 

That we are loved as we are, and that we are capable of loving.

That no matter how it feels at times, we are in fact moving in the right direction and it’s all worth it, no matter how difficult it is or how it turns out, because it’s not about arriving, it’s about the journey.

Renewed, we would be overwhelmingly happy to come home and hug the ones we love like it was the first time all over again.

Let’s start a fire…for the rest of our lives.

d(-_-)b

Originally posted: Oct 24 2009 

[http://phreshwater1.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/lets-start-a-fire/]

Nothing More than Feelings

That we do not feel about things, the same way only says that we do not feel things in the same way, nothing more.

Patience before Patients

As was driving along this morning to work, I became irritated at another driver.

Which of course got me to thinking (as usual), so here's what I thought:

Perhaps the world would be a much better place for all, if our capacity for patience toward other people were based less on our perceived needs, and more on the potential needs of others.

Like I said, just thinking.

d(-_-)b

The Doctor is Out

I just got home from the party at my neighbor's down the alley.

WOW!

Totally epic party ...they had a super loud band, and a fire pit in the back yard where you could get super drunk and then talk and laugh really loudly.

Yeah, epic, at least that's how it sounded, super big, super loud, suuuuper loooong.

Totally epic party but people are always sad to see me go and I'll bet it won't be the same now that I've left.

It better not be at least.

I bet it would have been more fun to actually be there instead of just listening to it from my bedroom while I tossed and turned.

Then I could talk about that dick who came over and squashed all the fun instead of being the dick who squashed all the fun.

The Ease of one at the Expense of the Other

Matthew 20:1-16

New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”


 

So I was asked once what I thought the meaning of this parable was.

I replied that what I got from it was that God will do what he decides with his resources.

The response was that this was part of the lesson, but the other part of the lesson was that when someone employs another they are to pay that person a liveable wage. My inquirer noted that a denarius was a day's wage. 

A liveable wage.
The wage that each worker was paid at the end of the day.

Judging by the responses of those who had been there longest, this wasn't always the practice of employers. And that still seems to be the case today as well.

As I consider this, and contrast it to the experience of my own life, I also have to wonder how it is that employers feel justified, offering employment doing a job that requires a full time commitment, but doesn't feel any obligation in paying the person who would commit to doing that job a liveable wage?

How do they sleep at night? I suppose it is the benefit they receive from the burden of another, that they can afford comfort at the cost of another. 

The ease of one at the expense of the other.

I believe that Jesus saying that the poor would always be with us was never meant to imply that we should cease to be concerned for their suffering. Nor was it meant to offer assurance of an endless supply of cheap labor for those who would seek wealth at the expense of their welfare.

In considering all of this, I have to conclude that any employer that would not offer a liveable wage to its employees does not at all care about their people nearly as much as their profits. 

The failure to do so is simply the exploitation of labor for ill gotten luxuries.

Just as so many of my jobs have shown me, it is a very short span of time before the extra mile becomes the expected mile. Employees and employers, both feel at some level they deserve more and the other less, and each has discontent with the other when they expresses their version of fair.

More often though I have found the sentiment of business summed up in the message a friend of mine received when he asked the advice of his superior about an employee he had that was asking for and very deserving of a raise, but that there was no money in the budget to give him one.

The advise of my friend's superior?

"That's easy. You simply explain to him in no uncertain terms that most people are worth more than they are paid, but nearly as much as they think they are."

It's such a quandary and my heart should probably break for the rich... businesses want to make money and they need people to do it, but people cost money that must then be taken from the business. So what do they do?

That's easy too...

People are labor, and labor is a resource. To increase profits find or create cheaper resources. 

That's just good business. 
Right?

Perhaps this, among many other reasons is why I will never be rich.

d(-_-)b

Why

People who work in offices step outside to talk on their cell phones.

Why is this funny to me?

No Jaun's Laughing

In Mexico, carnival workers eat Carni-Asada

I'm a Sap, I Know

I think if a very pregnant lady with a big smile of contentment doesn't warm your heart probably nothing will.

Increasing the Volume 1030

From the 2001 album The 5th Exotic on the Tru Thoughts label.

One of my favorites by Quantic, but honestly there isn't a single bad track to be found on this, or any album really, at least that I've found.

Here's the video and a couple of more below:

Quantic - Time is the Enemy
http://youtu.be/nvUeo5sagkA

Quantic - Infinite Regression
http://youtu.be/w3jjZdyH6io

Quantic - Life in the rain
http://youtu.be/s0YJaOPC8I8

And here's the official site:
http://www.quantic.org/


By the way, when I post this stuff, it's because it's what I'm listening to at that very moment. 

There's a ton of great stuff out there. I don't have the market on it.

I've just found that I'm usually more likely to enjoy the music of others than they are to enjoy mine, so I just thought I'd share this stuff.

I love finding new music, maybe you do to?
Let's hope so.


Enjoy...or don't...whatever.
d(-_-)b

No bear left unpainted

Almost there

Just need to come up with a way to fit it on.

Oh, Brave Sir Robin

There are good number of things that Jesus didn't mention, at least that we have record of. (see John 21:25)

Believe it or not  there are quite a few "Christian" web sites and face book pages using this fact to indicate that by virtue of omission we then have permission.

What do you think?
Here's what I think.

I can find no rational logical that would lead me to conclude that there is divine blessing (permission) by virtue of omission  on any subject, from Jesus teachings and especially on issues that have been previously addressed in the Old Testament.

Let's be real, Jesus didn't mention a lot of things. It really only seems to indicate that what stood, still stands.

Yet we seem to want to pick and choose which teachings, or lack there of in this case, as we go along to support whatever it its we wish to be true and ignore the parts of the Bible which makes us uncomfortable or don't fit our sense of justice.

But then, what about Matthew 5:17 where Jesus says “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."

It seems to me Jesus is directly stating saying that the law, God's law, stands but that Jesus is the completion of it, no? Or are we perhaps suggesting that God changed his mind somewhere along the line about those things which are offensive to him?

There are a good number of questions that Jesus is noted as not having answered in his life. Does this mean that we are to answer for him since he did not? I don't think so.

Perhaps that Jesus doesn't mention any particular subject only means he knew he had 3 brief years of ministry and didn't want to waste time addressing subjects that people already knew about (or should have known). Things that, as mentioned, had already been addressed.

If we consider Jesus as an authority we must to then consider that he was a Jew and subscribed to Jewish law.

I certainly don't imagine that anyone would suggest that their authority to be greater than God's so should we say ,"Jesus never directly said for children to obey their parents, so do what you'd like kids."? Good luck raising those kids.

But this is exactly the same logic used by Satan in the garden by bringing doubt to the table on issues we already know the answers to.

For example, when he asks Eve "Did God really say you should not eat of any tree in the garden?" Of course God didn't say that and that is where the whole fall starts, by bringing into question that which was never said by God.

So, if permission by omission is your stance, you should be prepared to allow any number of evils to occur and know that you are not at all at liberty to address them because Jesus didn't.

Right?

Just thinking.

Embrace Your Failure

Increasing the Volume 1029

Here's a little Sunshine for your Monday...

Ethel Merman sings "Everything's Coming Up Roses"
Link: http://youtu.be/s62MrU8mHx4

Momma Rose
[Speaking] Finished? We're just beginning and there's no stopping us this time!

[Singing] I had a dream, a dream about you, baby.
It's gonna come true, baby.
They think that we're through, but baby,

You'll be swell! You'll be great!
Gonna have the whole world on the plate!
Starting here, starting now,
honey, everything's coming up roses!

Clear the decks! Clear the tracks!
You've got nothing to do but relax.
Blow a kiss. Take a bow.
Honey, everything's coming up roses!

Now's your inning. Stand the world on it's ear!
Set it spinning! That'll be just the beginning!
Curtain up! Light the lights!
You got nothing to hit but the heights!
You'll be swell. You'll be great.
I can tell. Just you wait.
That lucky star I talk about is due!
Honey, everything's coming up roses for me and for you!

You can do it, all you need is a hand.
We can do it, Mama is gonna see to it!
Curtain up! Light the lights!
We got nothing to hit but the heights!
I can tell, wait and see.
There's the bell! Follow me!
And nothing's gonna stop us 'til we're through!
Honey, everything's coming up roses and daffodils!
Everything's coming up sunshine and Santa Claus!
Everything's gonna be bright lights and lollipops!
Everything's coming up roses for me and for you!

Bye Bye Birdie - Put On A Happy Face
Link: http://youtu.be/pOgP3f3519I

Lyrics:
Gray skies are gonna clear up,
Put on a happy face;
Brush off the clouds and cheer up,
Put on a happy face.
Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy,
It's not your style;
You'll look so good that you'll be glad
Ya' decide to smile!
Pick out a pleasant outlook,
Stick out that noble chin;
Wipe off that "full of doubt" look,
Slap on a happy grin!
And spread sunshine all over the place,
Just put on a happy face!
Put on a happy face
Put on a happy face
And if you're feeling cross and bitterish
Don't sit and whine
Think of banana split and licorice
And you'll feel fine
I knew a girl so glooming
She'd never laugh or sing
She wouldn't listen to me
Now she's a mean old thing
So spread sunshine all over the place
Just put on a happy face
So, put on a happy face

True Love Waits

Oh sorry, I guess I spelled that wrong.

MixTape

The other day I found a pair of pants of mine from when I was in grade school.

Turns out they still had a PBJ in the pocket...

And I thought to myself, "Man, now that's some old school jam right there."

Right

Just because I'm right doesn't mean that I always have to prove it. Sometimes the extension of grace has required that I be content simply knowing what I know and leaving it at that.

Some people don't see it that way and that seems to work fine for them, but it doesn't make feel good at all when someone else is wrong.

I will say though, what does feel good  is to know that once in a while it is not I who am wrong.

Heck, I don't need to be right all the time, I just don't want to be wrong all the time.

Right 2

I think we need to focus a lot less time and energy on making sure that other people know they're wrong and why, so we can spend more of it on simply making sure that we're actually right and understanding why (or why not) that's the case.

This way we can ultimately focus more on solutions than we do on problems, and we can feel good because we are able to build people up rather than feeling good because we were able to tear them down.

Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later

Spent my whole growing up scrapping for what I wanted and needed, and I learned to figure out what I wanted was far different from what I needed as result.

I learned what it meant to be rejected by being rejected and so I learned the value of simply accepting someone.

I learned what it meant to go without if you wasted anything, by going without.

I learned how make things last and not to waste, because I knew when it was gone it was gone and that was it.

I learned the value of a dollar by having to work and save for what I needed and wanted. That no amount of asking was going to change answer because no amount of wishing can put money in the bank.

I also learned the value of smart spending by finding that buying cheap crap just means you're going to get cheap crap and you will spend that same amount but it twice as you would if you had just bought the right thing.

That it is better to wait for what you want, and to go without what I didn't need, and to live within my means.

I learned the value of work ethic because I knew what was on the line if didn't work.

I learned the love of a parent by experiencing a large lack of it, and trying to always remember what that felt like so that my own kids would not have to receive the same from me if I could help it.

All of these struggles and more have made me what I am today, and yet for some reason I work as hard as I can so that my children will not have experience the same.

I would not wish for my kids to experience much of my life, but sometimes, and it is strange I know, but I wonder if in some way I may be doing them a disservice that they have avoided so much of my life as well.

I hope not.

Eat Desert First

Friend of mine had this to say to me tonight when I had inquired about his meal this evening:

Ah, let's see Roberto... I have eaten too much today... currently have vegetables and chicken heating in the microwave... but had some cake prior to that ... I know that I should do dessert after the main course, but I tend to do dessert first sometimes in case I die before I am done with the meal...

I heard this as some rather good advice and here's how I replied:

I admire your foresight. You don't hear about people choking on cake, they choke on chicken bones all the time though.

I can't imagine my final thought being," Shoot, I guess I won't be eating that that cake."

Life is like desert, enjoy when it can be enjoyed.

Pray for Your Enemies

That doesn't mean Old Testament style, like "smite my enemies oh Lord.".

It will make you think the next time I say I'll pray for you though, won't it?

;)

Money It's a Hit 2

It's been said, and rightfully so, that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

However true that may be, I would also note that the desperation that comes from a lack of it doesn't put one in any better situation as far as moral quandaries about getting it goes.

Today's Project 2

Week so far it looks like no sheets are in danger of being cut up.

I couldn't be happier, but there's still plenty that could go wrong.

(cont)
6:07pm and the hardest parts are done. It certainly is lovely when things go right once in a while.

I'd Hit That

Trolling for Doll Hairs

When I was a kid this it's what we called trolling.