Your Welcome

Your wishes have been granted fellow readers! I linked each post with the name of the writer. So now if you have a favorite author you can just click on his name and read each of his posts, without having to search our entire blog.

Also, everyone is now allowed to comment. You do not have to be a follower of the blog or have a g-mail account. I changed the setting so anonymous readers can leave a comment. Feel free to leave your name, but we're not pressuring you to.

Hope you enjoy the new settings!

---Joe---

Gentlemen Lesson #3

What's going on with me? I haven't had a gentlemen's lesson since forever! It must be the crazy weather we've been having. Snow, rain, 80 degree weather, all in the last month.

Ok gentlemen, it's time to step up your game and 'wow' everyone out there. This lesson is focusing on giving up your seat when someone is looking for a seat or who looks uncomfortable standing up. I know this is going to take some sacrafice--standing on your own two feet for who knows how long! It can really take a toll on you. Of course I'm kidding! Partake in a little physical activity and let someone else enjoy the relaxation of sitting down on a comfy chair or couch.

There are some situations where you should not give up your seat, however. Let's say you're having a conversation with someone on a couch. Don't give up your seat and be rude to the other person who you were just talking to.

Once you have given up your seat try to act as cool and comfortable as possible. If you look awkward and uneasy people will notice since you have now become the center of attenion. Make it seem like you actually enjoy standing (even if you don't). Lean up against a pole or wall, talk with other standers, start an aerobic exercise, whatever it takes to remind other people in the room that you have no objection to standing.

I garauntee that your good deed will not go unnoticed. No one will probably ever say it to your face but everyone in the room will be thinking how nice and considerent you are for standing. This is especially true when giving up your seat to a grandparent. They'll go up to your parents and tell them how you are such a nice young man. They might even give you a quarter. A WHOLE QUARTER!!! So keep your eyes open for the opportunities, keep your legs in shape, and stand.
---Joe---

Footsteps

It's apparent that we shakers are becoming huge fans of C.S. Lewis. His ideas on Christianity are simple thoughts, spun around to create a deeper meaning and understanding of how we live as Christians.

Lewis masterfully created The Screwtape Letters--an insightful series of letters, written from a high end demon to his young cousin apprentice, on how to defer a young human man from God. The letters reveal our own faults as Christians through the eyes of those who try to lead us toward sin. In a particular letter, Lewis writes "He [God] wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles."

We're not perfect!

How lucky are we to have a God who knows we have faults yet still loves and cherishes us with all his heart? We sin everyday but God loves us if we realize our sin and repent towards him for forgiveness. Our goal should be to work hard each and everyday to realize our sin and find solutions to try and resolve our sins. There are going to be times where we stumble and fall but I know that God will help raise us up if we are WILLING to put forth 100% of our efforts and devote our entire lives to our Savior.
---Joe---

Nap Time

When I was a kid I use to hate naps with a passion. The thought of sleeping, when there were so many adventures and games, angered me beyond belief. I would just lay down in my bed and make it my priority to not sleep just in spite of my parents. I sure showed them ;)

But as a kid I had nothing to worry about: no job, no financial burdens, no school worries. These things my not affect you right away but day after day they just continue to add more and more weight on to your shoulders. But I realized that if you lay down the weight no longer rests on your shoulders but on a comfy bed or couch. With all these hectic ideas flushing into my life I need some sort of get-away from reality. Those envious moments of rest allow your body and mind to recharge to take on each day with as much purpose as the next. So when you're feeling like life is just too much at the moment, turn off that phone, take those socks off, curl up with that homemade blanky and let your heavy eyelids droop down into sleep. Take a nap......you deserve it.
---Joe---

Guys

Today at lunch I reaffirmed the hypothesis that guys are the coolest people ever! I struggled to catch my breathe, from laughing so hard, when one of my friends karate chopped a plate full of applesauce. I don't know where the idea came from but I'm sure glad the event played out the way it did. Of course applesauce exploded everywhere which added to the enjoyment.

I guarantee that every female reader is rolling her eyes right now.

I'm sorry ladies but hanging out with the guys is a million times more fun without a female influence. I always wondered where male stereotypes came from but I'm starting to realize now that they come from our true actions.

So if you're feeling gloomy just follow the trail of applesauce towards some fun. We'll be waiting for you.
---Joe---

Thanks!

This post is dedicated to the friends who are there for you NO MATTER WHAT!

I just got back from the worst track meet in history. It was about 45 degrees and a drizzling rain that just made life miserable. I was optimistic at first, thinking to myself that I could just suffer through the cold and still have a good showing. But optimism flew in the wind as I received a 12.5 inch bloody mess on my right shin (yes i actually measured it), gladly given from a deeply disturbed hurdle. It definitely made me feel better when a few of my friends had to scream to everyone at the meet to "watch out for the injured kid!" and "Hey everyone! Look at this kid's leg!". My scraped up shin was a perfect symbol for how the day went. I had terrible times in the 2 hurdle events and terrible distances in the 2 jumping events.

And then I got home and was quick to realize I had a true friend there for me no matter how bad I did or how depressed I was.

I was at home, sulking in my sorrow for a couple of hours and sure enough she texted me to cheer me up. We both talked about how bad our day of sports were but the difference between us was that I was still sulking and she tried nonstop to cheer me up. Her positive words and good heart inspired me to get off my butt and write this blog to simply say, thank you. "Thank you" is a term thrown around pretty loosely these days but this one has a ton of meaning. I know I make fun at her for not being able to stir hot chocolate but she has so much skill in everything she does that it just makes everyone else look foolish. I'm thankful that I get to wake up everyday and see her and I believe that God has huge plans for her. I just can't wait to see her live up to His plan. Friends are out there whether you see them or not.......sometimes you just have to open your eyes.
---Joe---

Some People

Every time I step into work (Papa Murphy's) I recall the story involving a women, her coupon, and a scared group of workers.

It was the usual busy night. Things are moving smooth and fast, everyone is working hard until this stubborn woman walks through the door. We had a younger girl working on the "call-in" register and she was new at the time. This older women walks up to the register and I see the 2 of them start to talk and the women is getting frustrated and mad for some reason. So I take it upon myself to handle the situation because the young employee is looking frightened and doesn't know what to do. I walk up to the register and politely ask if everything is all right and the women starts freaking out because she can't use a 2 dollar coupon. The coupon has nothing to do with the pizza she ordered so I tell her that she won't be able to use the coupon, but that is not what she wanted to hear.

She continued to rant and spaz so I just decided to let her use the coupon but that wasn't enough for her because now she wants a free pizza because of HER "inconvenience". She demands to speak with our manager so I go and get our manager and the woman once again begins to scream and create a scene. At this point I'm curled up in the feedle position in the corner because this woman is actually scaring the poop out of me. Everyone at this time has completely stopped what they're doing. No one is moving, no one is talking, everyone is just watching this crazy lady. Finally the scene ends with the woman throwing the coupon in my manager's face and storming out the door (without her pizza). I can't believe what I just saw!

We tend to overreact sometimes but this woman raised the bar a bit too high. I know that when we are frustrated the hardest thing to do is treat people with respect, but nearly 100% of the time your respect with return with greater value. I guarantee that your display of respect is going to influence all those around you who witness it. If we continue to show each other respect and kindness "than one day the whole human family is going to live in peace." Keep your mind sharp and your coupons even sharper.
---Joe---

I Love Being A Kid

I realized today that there isn't much difference between a 5 year old girl and a couple of 18 year old guys when it comes to playing in a McDonald's Playplace. Then it dawned on me that I never want to grow up. I am becoming more and more nervous about being an adult because I look at some grown-ups and I know for a fact that I don't want to grow up to be like them. This short post is just a reminder for all adults to take a blast from the past and relive those childhood memories: play in the sand, drink a juicebox, eat some crayons, even wear a diaper (think twice before "using" it). When you're a kid everything just seems easier, and I think we all could benefit from having some "easy" moments every once in awhile. Stay away from the brown crayons though because there's something fishy about those.
---Joe---

Fragile

How fragile life is yet we continue to fail at appreciating the ultimate gift of life given by God. Today I listened to stories, from friends, about how they witnessed the tragic death of a 6 year old girl who drowned in a Holiday jacuzzi on Sunday. At that moment I realized how little my problems are. These little issues are prohibiting us from living the way we should. I complain and complain and complain--for what? To make myself feel better? To draw attention towards myself? The selfishness we exert blocks the beautiful light of our hearts. So if you see me sometime scream in my face about how ignorant and egocentric I am, because it's all true!! Embarrass me so I change the way I act, because I'm beginning to become disgusted with some of my actions and habits. So apart from screaming at me, try and actually live these upcoming days. Smell the grass, make some friends, touch Sam Olson's head, bake some home-made cookies (then share with me), and experience the undiscovered. Live today for yesterday is the past. And don't forget to breathe!!!
---Joe---

Rug Burn

The gymnasium at my former elementary school is one of a kind. It had the "envious" floor covered in carpet. Don't ask me why but for some reason they decided to cover the entire floor in grey carpet. So one day I stood on top of the beloved carpet with my brand new sweat pants. I'm the youngest of 4 kids so I was constantly receiving hand-me-downs. But not this pair. I cherished these pants more than chocolate milk (and I LOVE! chocolate milk).

But of course what happens in the first 10 minutes of gym class? I slide on my knee and burn a huge hole in my beautiful, cherished, PERFECT PANTS!!! UGH! But it took 8 years and an ice bath with a friend to realize that the carpet resembles a friendship. Friends are there for support and look out for you when you fall. Of course there are going to be times when you fall and burn your knee. Friends aren't perfect so don't expect them to be. Friends will burn your knees and ruin your pants (wait.........what?), but a true friendship will have you coming back for more no matter how much blood is spilt. So pull up your sweatpants and start running cause it's time to make friends. Keep it real readers :)
---Joe---

Just Breathe

Every single day we hear sound after sound, leaving nothing but chaos in our heads. How about we take a few minutes everyday to just sit in complete silence? Turn off the t.v., turn off the computer, stop that 8-track player, and put a muzzle over that dog. I'm talking about absolute silence. Take a seat in your favorite chair or lie down. Rest your hands at your side and let your eyes slowly droop to a close. Do you hear that? It's the sound of your breathing. The sound of life in its simplest form. Let your troubles subside for the next few minutes because right now it's all about you. Feel your blood flow from your heart down to your toes and up to the top of your head. Take this time to sit in the presence of the Holy Spirit and feel the love of God rush over your entire body. Life is tough but remember that at the end of the day...............just breathe.
---Joe---

Gentlemen Lesson #2

Hey guys, take out those pencils and paper cause it's time for another gentlemen lesson. I hope last lesson encouraged you to hold that door open just a little longer but now it's time to move on to a new topic.

Senioritis has already plagued myself so this lesson it going to be very difficult for me. A sure way to get a "thank you" is to pick up some one's dropped item. Whether that be a pen, a notebook, an assortment of jellybeans, or even the person them self. I know the last thing you want to do is bend over 3 feet and pick up an object that's not yours but you'll be surprised by the positive reactions.

Let's say you're in a crowded hallway and someone drops a folder containing hundreds of pieces of paper. Don't just walk by and stare at them. You should be right by that person's side before the paper even hits the ground! We've all been embarrassed by dropping something (Connor and his camera) and knowing that everyone is watching us makes the situation 10 times worse. So by helping that person it shows that you're looking out for them. I can assure you that your kindness and thoughtfulness will diminish their embarrassment as if it never happened.

How many times have we seen a book slip off a desk and not helped? How many times have we seen a friend slip and not be there to help? When will we start lifting them up? It's time we start treating everyone with the dignity and respect they deserve. It all starts with a gesture. "And if we do these things the whole human family is going to live in peace."
(Quote from retired priest: Father Al)

Gentleman Lesson #1

As Connor mentioned in his last post--it's a rare sight to see a male be respectable and kind towards a random female. So I think this blog will become a textbook for the basics of becoming a "gentleman". Not very many hold this title so hopefully many of us will learn the secret ways of the gentlemen (including myself).
This lesson will focus on the concept of holding a door open. Sounds simple enough but how many times do we open a door and not glance behind us to see if someone is behind us? We might hold the door open a couple of times, just to cover the guilt, but why don't we try and hold the door open every time we see someone within reasonable distance to the door. You could even take it one step farther and open the door and let the other human walk through before yourself! If they take it upon themselves to say "thank you" don't just stand there like an idiot! Stand there like an idiot and respond to their words :) Say "your welcome" or "no problem". Who knows, this could even start up a conversation!!! But we'll work on conversations another day.
We are always looking for a big moment that we can use to impress others, but most of the time it's the simplest moments that can turn some one's day around. Take advantage of those moments. Keep those doors open as well as your hearts and respect all those around you. Also remember that as we try to become better people and live out God's word than hopefully one day He will open his doors and let us walk through to a place of unimaginable peace and happiness!
---Joe---

Manure Man!

Most of us would do just about anything to not be caught by the cops. Whether that be running for your life, bribing the cops with money and chocolate, or keeping a litter of puppies hostage while demanding your freedom. However, none of those compare to what Thomas Hovis did while eluding from police. The suspect was wanted for drug charges and he had previously spent 15 years in prison for murder.
The police knew that Thomas was trapped inside of his barn but when they entered they were dismayed at his nonexistence. Turns out all they had to do was follow the smell. They looked down into a vat where liquid fecal matter was collected and saw the top of Mr. Hovis' head. By fecal matter I simply mean "POOP"! I'm not talking about a little turd somewhere on a farm. I'm talking about an industrial sized container of liquid poop.
Unlike others, I admire Mr. Hovis. If he is willing to be covered head to toe in poop than I think we should just let him run free :). So if your day is feeling a bit crappy just think of Thomas Hovis and hopefully a smile will spread across your face.
---Joe---

Ignorance Is Bliss

Hey everyone! My name is Joe and i guess I'm the 3rd captain of this crazy blogging ship. Like my comrades I love any type of competition. I can't imagine a day where I don't play or listen to music. Jesus Christ plays a huge role in my life as I try to follow in his footsteps. I recently learned that I need to pull others along so they can follow in his steps as well (easier said than done).
All four of us see this world for what it truly is and not the sugar coated version--which is why this blog is going to be quite fun. I bring to the table lots of questions about people and their actions. Most of the time I see the funny side of these type of people but I'm sure there will be just as many serious posts as there are funny posts.
Can't wait to get started and I hope you all enjoy!
---Joe---