It's Been A While

I know that I, Josiah, have a tendency to be offensive, and this will be no different.

I recently read an article about someone who was going to boycott Halloween because of the candy. She had family members who developed type 2 diabetes in their lives and didn’t want her children to be ingesting large amounts of candy due to the holiday. I have a few problems with that theory, and they will be mentioned within this paper.

Boycotting a holiday because of you not wanting your children to ingest a large quantity of candy is ridiculous. Growing up, we would often do something Halloween related and we wouldn’t have the candy daily. The parent is in control in regards to his/her children, so the amount of candy a child ingests is completely up to you, not the child. You can do one piece a day, or every other day, or once a week.

Boycotting due to unhealthy eating should require you to also boycott: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Valentine’s Day, Birthdays, any holiday/event that includes ingesting a large amount of food or any candy/cake.

While we are on the unhealthy eating topic, one should also boycott: Fast food (McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc.), Carbonated beverages (Regular - lots of sugar/high fructose corn syrup; Diet usually has aspartame/Sucralose), Red meat (often has a high amount of fat, and is okay in moderate use…as in once a week or less), Fish (often contains mercury), Any meat that has steroids, dairy (studies have shown calcium deficiencies are actually due to larger consumptions of milk), alcohol (except, perhaps, ONE SMALL glass of red wine a day), processed foods, most frozen foods, anything with preservatives in it, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, OTC drugs as well as prescription drugs,  etc.

To spin off that, let’s continue with other products that should be avoided: Shampoo/Conditioner (as long as they say for external use only they aren’t good for you. Because, no matter what, some of it will be absorbed through your skin), Lotions, hair driers, gels, soap (though benefits outweigh risks on that one), sanitizer, facial cleansers/lotions, shave cream/aftershave, etc.

One thing that needs to also be taken into consideration when talking about type 2 diabetes is lack of exercise. Diet and exercise are effective methods of preventing type 2 diabetes. That being said, one should also boycott: escalators, moving sidewalks, elevators, watching TV without walking on treadmill or stationary bike, driving when the distance is close enough to walk or ride a bike…etc.

This list could easily go on, but it would take me all day to write and would be too boring to read (may be too late for that one). It just irritates me that someone would blame all of their family’s type 2 diabetes on sugar and deprive the possibility of one holiday due to it. My children love halloween, and we monitor how much candy they are allowed to eat. 

There are many factors involved in type 2 diabetes. The two main ones I found? Diet AND exercise. Which means, you need to eat healthy AND make sure you get exercise. Walking to the fridge for a refill doesn’t count. One needs to get their heart rate up for at least 30 minutes daily. If you can’t leave your house, there are plenty of things to do at home to workout. The dreaded jumping jacks, pushups, sit ups/crunches, apps that give you a workout to do, etc.

This may seem that I’m ranting over something that doesn’t matter, but it does. Why in America are we so afraid to offend anyone that we blame anything negative on something that is out of our control? 

I’m fat! 

-Society: It’s not your fault. It’s in your genes; It’s not your fault, it’s McDonald’s for making their food so good that you supersize everything.

My child is fat!

-Society: It’s not the parents’ fault for feeding your children unhealthy food or having them sit in front of the TV all day, it’s sugar. It’s McDonald’s…

I have a beer gut!

-Society: It’s not your fault. It’s in your genes (Yes, researchers found a “fat ab gene” that they blame for the beer gut)

I don’t have rippling muscles - I don’t work out enough (my action). I don’t have a six pack - I don’t exercise my abs daily, just every other day (my action). My triglycerides were high - I didn’t eat enough fresh fruit and veggies (my fault). I don’t do enough cardio (my fault)…

How about people start taking responsibilities for their actions? Why don’t people accept the blame for their choices? Is that really too much to ask? 

Had to Vent Regarding "Intelligence"

Throughout my life thus far, I have traveled all over the US and the world. One thing that I have discovered is that there tend to be three main types of people (as always, there are variations and those who don't fall in these categories). There are those who are intelligent; those who think they are intelligent; and those who know they are not intelligent.

Within those three categories, I get along best with the first and third. A few years ago, I worked with a woman who would be considered by the world to be unintelligent. She knew she didn't have what the world considers to be intelligence and was okay with it. When she came across phrases or words that she wasn't sure what they meant, she would ask. The words and phrases were usually ministry based (I was going to seminary), so I usually knew the answers.

The second category tends to drive me crazy. When I am in a setting where I hear, constantly, about how someone "has brains," yet constantly misuses simple grammar, it tends to bring question about said "brains." I am not saying that I'm the smartest person in the world, not even close, but I don't go around announcing how brilliant I am because I have a degree and half of a masters (which I will finish when I get back from training). :) Even though I may be proud of the fact that I have worked toward my education, it's not something I'm going to use as a claim for my intelligence (or "brains").

I tend to wonder if people in this category are the ones that I see broadcasting their ignorance. When you use hard curse words to add "color" to your sentences, it proves the point that you aren't that bright. The English language has so many options of words that those filler words broadcast that you aren't a bright individual. Don't get me wrong, I understand when someone is angry those words may come out and be used in that setting. It happens. But when those words are used once a sentence (or more), it's showing how unintelligent you really are.

What's even more tragic, is people are using social media to broadcast their lack of intelligence. I can't even go through the news feed on Facebook without running across someone using extreme profanity, as well as horrific spelling errors.

Are we, as a nation, dumbing down our society? What use is it to make everyone feel good about themselves? In the real world, outside the US, someone wins and someone loses. There's no trophy for losing. There are no pats on the back for trying. I get so frustrated that we decide that people need to get trophies for merely participating in an event. Really? When I was a kid, you got a trophy if you were within the top three positions--First, Second or Third.

As I move forward with my life, if I am given a trophy, or award, for merely participating and not being in the top three, I will immediately give it back, or burn it or throw it away.

The Life.

I want to live to die. Not too long ago, I had a revelation in regards to life. No matter what we do, how many facelifts, botox, makeup, age-defying stuff, working out, eating right, etc., we're gonna die. Death is inevitable. What am I doing with my time on earth? If I measure my actions to eternity and what it will mean then, what really matters?

It's so easy to get caught up in the daily routines. Work, family, children, school, sports, music, acting, etc. The moment when I am confronted to sin, tempted, my action then is what matters. God gives me the power to walk away, so what do I do when I'm tempted? If I take the moment to think of eternal consequence (good or bad), I think that it would be easier to walk away. Considering that we aren't tempted with things that are of no interest to us, it's never truly easy to just walk away. Sometimes it's easy to just entertain the idea for a moment, but you need to run.

The moments in life when it's been the hardest for me is when I decide that I won't act on the temptation, I'll just think about the "what ifs" and then I won't be sinning. How long can one play with fire before getting burned. But if you grab water and douse that flame and walk away you won't get burned. The power of Christ can put out any flame the adversary brings to you.

There was a time in my life when my wife and I were having a rough time in our marriage. When I was at work, I would constantly be bombarded with things that we said in arguments and bringing up arguments that had never happened. I would often entertain these thoughts and when I saw her, I would be angry from all these events (I'd say that at least half of them were from arguments that never occurred, other than in my mind). This would cause more friction and we'd be worse off than we were before.

There came a point when I was sick of this and needed to get away from it. I would say out loud, if I was working by myself, "Lord Jesus take captive my thoughts," whenever these thoughts would bombard me. After having to do this nearly incessantly for a few days, they weakened. I didn't crumble to those thoughts like I had before. The power of Christ's name can bring the enemy to his knees.

The adversary would then bring up more temptations and whatnot, but if I continued to pray to Christ for help and pray daily, He would give the power to overcome. In His Name is power. God spoke the Universe into existence. There really is more power in the Word and in verbal language than we tend to give credit for.

Advise my dad would often give me is this: If you are doing the right thing, you will be under attack. If you aren't a challenge to the adversary, why would he waste time attacking you. Not saying that the luke-warm have perfect lives, they are merely easy targets. The real strength will be used attacking the righteous. If Christ is in our lives, we have more strength than we tend to believe. We can change the world if we truly wanted to.

I know my calling and I'm moving toward it. I'm not going to allow myself to be turned to the left or right away from what God wants me to do.

Lord Jesus, I pray that You will give me the strength to not stray from Your direction in my life. Please fill me with Your Presence and guide my thoughts and words throughout today. Thank You for Your sacrifice. Please help me to live for eternity. I pray for Your continued direction and guidance. I love You, Lord.

Being "Cool"

Ever notice how often people attempt throughout their lives to be "cool." In grade school it's...um...bringing your own lunch, or having certain friends...or perhaps wearing the best clothing. It's been a long time since I've been that young, so it's hard to remember.

In middle school, we start heading towards dating and self-discovery. So, we want to look good and we want to be popular. This really brings one into high school...in high school, these continue. To be cool, you have to have the perfect body, have money, have friends, go to the best parties, being in the right circle of friends.

In college, it's more about friends and dressing right, really. I mean, the need for the perfect body may continue or begin. This one also brings the control aspect. You control your life. For some people, the perfect grades and whatnot. If one didn't party in high school, there is a great chance they'd party in college. Some people even smoke to be cool. You go clubbing, dancing, whatever you can to be "cool."

In my life, my effort was often trying to be perfectly dressed with the perfect body and the perfect friends. Moving as much as we did, I had to look for the right people to be my friends. I would, in high school, often date my way into the right circles. In college, it was still about keeping myself in shape and being "different." This really looked like whatever I wanted it to at different times. I was at the right parties and the right events. Making appearances as often as possible, or necessary.

I continued to do my best to look great and dress right for my girlfriend and wife. Then the coolness I had continued until June 30th, 2009. Although my lack of coolness may not be declared for quite a few years, it came to my realization that I can no longer be cool once I'm a parent. My journey of coolness has ended. I now dress my kids first, worrying about my own clothing little or none. I wear stuff now that I wouldn't be caught dead in my younger years...and it doesn't bother me. It just hits me every so often that I'm not "cool" anymore. I don't strive for it, I don't try to be. I now will dress like a parent, not like a single or married man.

This isn't griping about being a parent, I love it. It's just the realization that with aging comes changes and this happens to be one of them. I'm not cool anymore, but I'm okay with that. :) I'm fine with my lack of coolness. It's just weird to think about. :)

Display of True Power

During Sunday School today, we discussed forgiveness. The Roman soldier who said, "Surely this is the Son of God," came into our discussion. One thing hit me when we were talking about it. Back in those days, Romans went to great lengths within the temples to mimic powers. They would use boulders and such to create earthquakes and thunder, they would use different smoke methods to make it appear the god was angry...all sorts of techniques were used to create the illusion of power. More than likely, the Roman soldier knew about these methods and knew that the "powers" of these gods were within their temples. He witnessed the earthquakes and powerful storms that came upon Christ's death and he knew these were not mimicked acts of nature. These earthquakes and storms were the real thing. They were not limited to the confines of a temple, they were out in the open with the world as a witness to them.

It's kind of cool to think about. It never crossed my mind that God, once again, decided to show His supreme power over those of the time (reminds me of Pharaoh and the plagues). :)

Coffee Ain't Strong Enough...

Sometimes it seems that the older I get, the more I need sleep (and coincidentally, the less I get). Along with that, caffeine (my name is Josiah and I'm addicted to caffeine) just doesn't seem to work like it did in the past. I can have coffee first thing in the morning, then an energy drink and be dragging after lunch (barely make it through class). What is this nonsense? I remember when I was working on my first bachelor's degree, I would have 2+ energy drinks a day, not to mention caffeine at meals, too.

I have to say that being a parent is a wonderful endeavor. The issue in dealing with parenting and this topic is that children are draining!! No matter how many times I toss my son in the air, or let him tackle me or chase him around, he doesn't get tired. My energy is pretty much gone after about ten minutes and all that's happened to him is that he's fired up for ten more!!! I know that I'm aging, but I'm not that old, darnit! I'm only 27! Having kids is tough! Not just all the new experiences, but the fact that they seem to have an endless supply of energy...where does it come from?! I wanna know so I can tap into some for myself!

Regardless of the falling affect of coffee on me, I will not give it up anytime soon. It's just too darn good for that! Maybe I'll get sick soon, so I can't have anything but water to drink and then when I return to coffee, it'll wire me for hours, who knows? And...speaking of getting wired, that five hour energy stuff doesn't work for me. I figured I'd try it out...yeah, didn't do a thing. I had to drink an energy drink just to last through the morning because it was as if I hadn't had anything.

So...here I am, an old man...with one child with an unrelenting amount of energy...and soon both of them will have this energy. I'm not sure I'm ready for that. I'll be even older then, and, well, maybe they'll create a way to have caffeine shot directly into the bloodstream or something by then so I'll be able to manage...or find something that works even better, who knows? :) Gotta go, the young one is hungry...

Parenting

I must say, the flaws of the human never seem to reach fruition within ones self until one is a parent. I won't deny that I have had many problems and have done my share of sins and stupid stuff (would've said "things" but I have no intention of rhyming on here). :) But, how it affects someone is different. Here I have two beautiful sons and I fear every error I make. I may not make the same choices in a lot of areas that my parents did (for my own reasons); I make plenty of choices of my own that make me upset.

It's hard to describe, but it seems that I always viewed my parents as super-human. I know that they made mistakes, but they were always more than human, for some odd reason. It's like they were on a pedestal. This is something that I still struggle with today, but I'm much better. It's not like they did everything right and we never had problems, it was just that they...I don't know how to explain it.

Anyway, as a parent myself, I don't view myself like that, at all. I see all the mistakes I'm making and it tears me apart sometimes. Recently, while trying to grab one kid who wouldn't listen to me, I bumped the youngest one's head (of whom I was holding). It startled him and he started to cry. That was a tough night. I dragged the one who was in trouble out of the room and rocked the other one back to sleep. Then, when my wife was back in the living room, I had to leave. I was so upset with myself for the whole situation. I had never been careless enough to bump the head of either of the children on anything. And the other one got in trouble and he may or may not have realized that he was doing wrong...though he probably did.

It's so much easier to beat yourself up for mistakes when you are a parent and these mistakes are made to/around your children. I know mine are probably too young to remember this when they get older, but that doesn't lift the burden. Sometimes, I wish that there was a way to do everything right, but I know there isn't. I now understand what my mom and dad say when they talk about their mistakes. But what every parent should know is that most children don't remember those...I remember the good times with my family and some of the difficult, but not in the way they do. I know that when we have struggles and arguments, it'll be harder on me than the boys. It's hard now...

My only hope from all this is that when I look back when the boys are all grown up and moved out, I will be able to see all the positives and less negatives... :)