FRIENDSHIP

Today, I learned about friendship. In literature class (ugh) we talked about the characters in Julius Caesar. We discussed how Brutus made friends with the wrong people. Instead of hanging around those with the same virtues: honor, loyalty, service, etc., he chose to be with friends who had a bad influence on him. They pressured him into betraying one of his closest friends (killing him).

It reminded me of the situations we face every day. We all have friends, but how many of them are good for us? It's like eating food. The bad stuff usually tastes better than the good stuff. But eat enough of the junk food and eventually you become sick. The problem is, you can't stop eating it. You've become addicted to it, and it has become natural to eat it.

I have many friends. Five I consider to be my best friends. Two of them are part of The Three Musketeers, and the others live in Minnesota. They are the healthy food. Most of my other friends also fit into the healthy food category. I have several that I consider the "in between group". While not necessarily healthy, they aren't exactly junk food either. They aren't my first choice to hang out with, but I will if they're the only ones around. Then I have three friends who make the junk food list. I don't really go searching for them, but I willingly hang out with them some of the time despite how they've influenced me. Now, I'm not saying that they're bad people. I've known them long enough to know that they are capable of doing good things. Unfortunately, most of the time they talk about things that shouldn't be talked about, have bad attitudes toward school, and don't seems to try very hard. I must say that recently, I've seen one of them get a little "healthier". But they still have a ways to go.

The issue is whether or not to be friends with them. Having known them for many years, it's hard to imagine to just stop being with them. Part of me thinks that I'm now mature enough to resist their bad influences, but many times I have failed to do so. Another part says that I can affect them the way they affect me, only in a good way. Perhaps if I show them how beneficial it is to work hard, study hard, and do the right thing, then they'll change. Then I read the Bible it seems like the only choice I have is to end my relationship with them.
Here's a list of Bible verses to support this:
Proverbs 12:26
Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs 24:1,2
1 Corinthians 15:33

There are others, but these are the ones I choose. They all talk about choosing friends wisely and that junk food friends will affect your behavior. OOPS. Notice however, that the Bible just said not to associate yourself with them. It didn't say I couldn't try to improve their behavior. In fact, God loves it when we try to help others do what's right.

Right now, I think I'm going to slowly start to limit my contact with them. I'll do things like sit with someone else at lunch (if possible), don't hang around between classes with them, and don't stick around when they start talking about what class/teacher/homework assignment/person they don't like. At the same time, I need to increase by level of good behavior. I need to make sure that I have a positive influence on the junk food friends, but also on others lest they start to treat me like junk food.

Sorry about my rambling. I just felt like this was important to say. Hope you have a great weekend!

MUTAZALLIJ

That word is the Arabic word for "skier". So you can probably guess what I'm going to do. No, you're wrong. I'm not going to dance a waltz while eating Jello atop a pile of books and sing "Jesus loves me". I'm going skiing (tomorrow).

I love skiing. I love the wind in my face as I rush downhill. I love the adrenaline rush. I love the physical exertion. I love laughing as my friends fall down. I even love falling down myself. It seems like every time I fall I get better. This is true of many aspects of life. It's easy to fall and get discouraged. We give up because we think, "Why get up just to fall down. It hurts!" So we just leave ours skis behind and go inside. But what we need to remember is that we don't have to get up and continue on our own. God is always there to give us a push and get us back to the top of the slope.

Where was I? Oh right, skiing. I'm going with my two other buddies. That's right: The Three Musketeers are going skiing! The ski poles are so fun to fight duels with. Ever tried fighting for your life while trying not to fall? I have. Unfortunately, the slope usually ends before the conflict is resolved.

I figure that I'm in the intermediate range. I can do all the easy and medium slopes, plus one hard slope.

Today, my school work load is pretty light. And when I say pretty light, I mean "AHHHHHHH!" I have so much work to do. So I must leave now. Please stop screaming. Throwing tantrums won't keep me on the computer.

PAGING

Today, I was a page. No, not a page as in the medieval boy who served and later became a squire, then a knight. As much as I wish I was that kind of page, instead I was the kind that runs errands for Indiana representatives. I categorized and alphabetized letters, carried a heavy box for ten minutes, delivered a couple messages during a session, and on the odd occasion, sat down and rested. The only thing that made it bearable was having my friends there.

Tonight, I will rest up for tomorrow's school day. Hopefully, I can watch The Matrix on TV. This is the first night I've managed to find it playing at a reasonable time, 8-11 pm, and on a day that I can afford to stay up a little late. Of course, this seems contradictory to my desire to rest up, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Today reminded me that it is important to pray for our leaders. Their job is very important to this nation. I hope that God helps them make wise decisions (like don't allow abortion).

final word: are you wondering where that post L,L,L (take a guess what this means) is? I have sent an email to my youth pastor, asking him for his format. Unable to create my own version, I have resorted to asking the person I first heard it from.

VIVA LA REVALUCION!!

So, yesterday, we stayed home and did nothing. Well, mostly. I did go shopping to buy a new pair of jeans (finally), go to the book store (I bought Saving Private Ryan which is an amazing WWII movie, and a Star Wars guide to droids), go to Office Depot, Aldis, and then go to Papa Murphy's to pick up a couple pizzas. Other than that, I stayed home and rewrote history.

Let me explain: there's and awesome game called Empire Total War. It's a turn based strategy game. You get to run your empire and control your units in battle. Jealous already aren't you? Currently, the British (me) have defeated the Americans in the War for Independence, conquered all of North and South America, defeated the ruling empires in India, and destroyed France, Spain, Italy, and a host of other nations. Tally ho mate!

Today, I went to Sunday school as usual. Devin still is at church. However, those that are against the vote we had last Sunday gathered at an office building and we talked about a new church. So far, we are called "Spirit of Joy Church". There are a bunch of issues to discuss and vote on, so it'll be a while until we are settled down. I'm pumped though. God is doing some cool stuff right now. His plan is starting to show. My title comes from a thought I had. Going to the meeting, I felt like it was a rebellion. I almost stood up and yelled, "Viva la revalucion!" But I didn't. Because that would be immature. And I wouldn't dare do anything immature (wink wink).

I saw the Colts win last night. Pretty awesome. We had them beat since the beginning. Totally called it.

MY BAD

So, apparently Frank Sinatra didn't write that stupid song that says it's a wonderful world. My bad. I still don't like the song or Franky boy.

TODAY

Again, this isn't the promised post. I am having trouble gathering my thoughts and writing a coherent and well written post.

Today was Monday. I, unlike most people, like Mondays. Here's why:
On Monday, I have my two favorite classes (physics and drama).
On Monday I don't have any classes with my mom, which is a nice change.
On Monday, I get a hot lunch, not sandwhiches or left overs, which is what I've gotten lately.
On Monday I get recess. I play Ultimate BasketFoot. It's a mix between Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, and Football. Totally awesome.

Classes went well. In drama, we started watching the movie of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I have to also learn a line from the Frank Sinatra song, "Blue Moon". His music really isn't my favorite (it is NOT a wonderful world). Plus, I am not the singing type, so having to sing this line all by myself is not cool. Oh well. It's drama, you just have to get used to doing hard and awkward things.

Tonight, I may or may not have BSF class (Bible Study Fellowship). My dad is sick, so probably not. The name is misleading though. There is no fellowship part except for the last day of class when we get soda and snacks.

I won't bother telling you what the next post is.

TRUTH

First off, I owe you readers an apology. I said that my next post would be LUNATIC, LIAR, OR LORD. Obviously it isn't. This is because something important has come to my attention and I feel a need to talk about it.
At my church, and many other Lutheran churches like it, we are voting on whether to stay with the Lutheran organization called ELCA. It is kind of the head of the Lutheran church. We've been discussing whether to leave because they have decided to allow homosexual people to be pastors. They used a long phrase instead of the word homosexual, obviously to try and not make it seem like a bad thing. The meaning doesn't change though. They are still going to allow pastors who are blatantly sinning to be leaders of the church. They are following the dark side (or the scotch tape side, same thing).

Often, people searching for truth find God, because only He has the real thing. His word, the Bible, is the only truth there is. While there are some certain parts that can be interpreted differently, most of it is straight forwards: This is wrong, this is right. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees.

In the Bible, it is clearly stated in the Old Testament that homosexuality is wrong, no ifs, ands, or buts. The ELCA has said that "We should all love each other" and "Well, what they think is right is fine. We can each interpret the Bible differently. So if they think it is okay to be homosexual, then we shouldn't deny them that." While the loving each other part is true, the other part was left out. Part of loving one another is holding each other accountable for their sins. We should love those who are homosexual, but we shouldn't tell them that what they do is okay. What the ELCA is saying is called relativism. It means that each person has their own set of right and wrong standards. This is not what God wants us to do. He tells us to be "In the world, but not of it." The ELCA and those that agree with them are changing the truth. God did not intend for His truth to be changed. The ELCA has allowed itself to be corrupted by world views and beliefs about what truth is.

Because of this, our church is split. We had a 64.8% vote to leave the ELCA. That's 1.2% (15-20 people) away from being able to do so. While I was not able to vote and thus not in the room, it apparently was very emotional. People were handing in their church keys immediately, and for many, this is the last time the would be there. Our youth pastor has said that he will leave, though not right away. Without him, our youth program will fall apart and I doubt that it will ever be as good as it was. Also, our main pastor will probably leave at some point. Once those two are gone, so are we. I believe in following the Truth (capital T). Our church has left the Truth, so I think it is the right decision to leave the church. Our church will never be the same because many people who supported the church with donations, ministries, and service are leaving.

Before I finish (darn it, I wrote a long post! so much for my New Years Resolution), I want to say that I believe God is still working. In fact, he is probably working very hard. Throughout the Bible, God has shown that he uses bad situations for good, and that he has a plan for everything and everyone. Perhaps this will end up doing something good for the church. What that good thing is, I don't know. Only God does, which is why I trust him. Pray hard for the church, the ELCA, our pastors, and our family.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE REAL TRUTH!!

Next Post (hopefully): LUNATIC, LIAR, OR LORD

A HISTORY LESSON

It's been so long since my last post, I feel like I'm giving you a history lesson. I'll try to make it short (to follow my New Years Resolution):
I saw Sherlock Holmes in theaters. It was a very good movie. It had pretty much everything: action, adventure, romance, comedy, and of course, mystery. I'd give it an eight out of ten.
I went to a New Years Eve sleepover at one of the Three Musketeers's house. We played games on the Wii and watched Iron Man at 2:00 am, then Aliens vs. Predators at 8:00 am. I also had to dodge a group of adults armed with sill string. Who knew that my drama teacher could be so scary outside of class.

Then, for three days, my parents went to North (or South?) Carolina to see a wedding. Becky went to a friends house. So me and Caleb were alone. We watched movies and played video games the whole time. Well, I guess not the whole time. We did have the occasional Nerf war with our babysitter, who came over at night. I lost Nerf War I and Nerf War II, but won Nerf War III. Nerf War IV I'll call a draw, because I tied for first but wasn't able to finish.

Then School started Monday (deep, heavy sigh filled with regret and despair). Actually, it wasn't that bad. I got an A+ on my physics semester final.
Something good that happened was that I got a good role in the upcoming play for drama class (led by that scary teacher I mentioned earlier). This time, she was armed with scripts, not silly string. The play is called Go Joe. It's a play about a group of kids putting on the play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I am (drum roll) the kid who plays Pharaoh. If you didn't know, Pharaoh is an Elvis character. Guess I'll have to bust out some hip swinging moves.

Next Post: LIAR, LUNATIC, OR LORD