th@talldude

Tattoos, Right Or Wrong?

Tattoos are all the rage amongst my age bracket, the under 30 group, and it can be a very sensitive subject.  Personally, I think some tattoos are 'cool.'  However, what I think doesn't matter, even though I will NEVER get one.  I gave it a lot of thought a few years ago when I got back from Iraq, it's kind of the thing to do amongst veterans, get a tattoo to commemorate your time overseas, but there was always something in the back of my head telling me it was wrong.  If you have one, I won't condemn you for it, that's not my place.  I might even compliment you on it.  However, even if I don't tell you to your face, and I know that you should know better, I will be very disappointed, because Biblically speaking, it's a sin, whether we want to admit it or not.

Actively Inactive, Reluctant To Change

I'm on a bit of a downer today, after the Lakers dealt my Spurs a heartbreaking loss last night.  So that may be part of the reason this post is happening.  It's a bit of a rant, but it's also something that's plaguing me.  This is going to hit on a few different, yet intertwined areas, before you reach the end.

Being without a steady job, I have a lot of time to think.  Having a lot of time to think, gives me a lot of time to network and explore new ideas more thoroughly.  Much of this networking has led me to new goals, like revitalizing my hometown and the area around it.  Many of those ideas have led me into discussions with a variety of people, to do a variety of things.  With a little more time on my hands, I've begun doing a lot of volunteer things, as well as more odd jobs than I would typically do.  Being a geek, and being heavily into all things on the web, I've discussed doing several different projects with people, most of which would have resulted in a little bit of cash for me.  However, to do these projects, I need these people to be actively active, as opposed to actively inactive.  I hope that people in the Small Town, USA you're from aren't like this.

We Buried Another Veteran Today

We buried another veteran today.  Otto Stern, age 86, of New Leipzig, ND.  It is unfortunate that we're family, he was my dad's uncle through marriage, and I still didn't realize so many of the things he did.  He was active in Church, a community promoter, and a volunteer fireman.  He was from another generation, perhaps our greatest generation, as Tom Brokaw famously wrote.  His generation worked hard, survived the depression, won wars, and were humble about it.  It was a very patriotic time, when our nation's young men were signing up in droves to go and 'fight the Germans.'  They came back heroes, and Otto was no exception, fighting in France and Germany, earning the Purple Heart in the process.  He was a real American hero, working hard, fighting for freedom, raising a family, and standing strong in his beliefs.

Don't Back Down, Stand Up!

As Christians, we need to do a better job of standing up for our beliefs.  We too often let ourselves be pushed around, saying we don't want to be intolerant, when all around us, people are being intolerant of us.  Standing your ground is not being intolerant, it's fighting for what you believe it.  People refusing to listen to other peoples ideas, however, is intolerant.  They don't have to like what we say, but they don't have to refuse to hear us either.

What Does God Think of Your Relationships?

What's the first thing you notice about someone of the opposite sex?  Is it their hair?  Their face? Lips?  Chest?  Butt?  Legs?  Smile?  Attitude?  I think we've all had someone catch our eye before, someone we'd like to get to know better, maybe even date, or perhaps marry one day.  But what drives us to the next stage of a relationship?  For far too many of us, it's not the right reason.

As a young, red blooded, American male, I can tell you the pressure is on ALL of us guys.  We grow up hearing stuff in the locker room, at the gym, practice, on the bus, hanging out, even watching movies.  You aren't really a 'man' until you 'hit that' on your most recent date.  As comedian Ron White said, “You see one woman naked, you wanna see the rest of 'em naked.” Unfortunately, most of the young men, even teenagers, have seen a naked girl before, either with the intention of it, or it just kind of happening, like in that last movie they watched.  However, some girls just make it too easy.  The girl walking around the beach in a string bikini, missing a few strings in places that should be covered;  the girl with the too tight shirt or pants; the girl willing to do anything if she thinks the guy will like her; even the girl who flirts with everybody, whether or not she intends to do anything beyond flirting.  But where's the mystery here?  Where has the romance gone?  Relationships are supposed to have a little mystery in them.

Baby Got Book

Dan "Southpaw" Smith's parody of 'Baby Got Back.' 

Love vs. Sex

This has floated around as a forward for awhile, so I'll share it with you here.

A teenage girl about 17 had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each share their various experiences of the past year.

She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone. She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.

As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it.

However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.

She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection.

Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped round her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.

When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station.

She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him.

She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.

When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.

The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her.

She asked if they would ask the man one question.

Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.

When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her."

Amazingly, whether you believe or not, you're never alone. Did you know that 98% of teenagers will not stand up for God?