The Decline of Marriage, Family, and Community

Today, I was in my English class and we were going over the short stories that we were supposed to read for today. My English class is broken up into three themes: Dignity, Loyalty/fidelity, and Men and Women. We just arrived on the third theme, Men and Women. The short stories, The Yellow Wallpaper and Story of an Hour, are both set back when women had very little rights or voice in society. While the stories didn't exactly bore me to death, they aren't the reason for this post.

What is the reason for this post is the discussion that the short stories brought about. We started discussing marriage and its importance to everyone. The class has about twenty students in it, and most of them said that marriage wasn't important. Most of the students in the class were raised by one parent or by parents that were divorced, or, by parents that weren't married. The general consensus was that it doesn't matter who raises a child, just that they are brought up right. It doesn't matter if the parents are married or not, or are gay and adopted a child. Marriage, is only important in taxes. 

I feel at a loss for words. This was laid so heavily on my heart that I find a lack of words to explain how important this is to me. I believe that the next generation and the generation after that will be the most lost of every other generation in America. The next generation, and even my generation, is straying farther and farther away from community and how we were supposed to live. They are becoming more "independent" and no longer value family and relationships as they should. These kids that rush into relationships that quickly form then dissipate, it's not a healthy lifestyle. Kids are no longer taught that maintaining relationships is even worth it. Most are taught that if a relationship isn't going your way, you can get out of it. That if you don't like the way the relationship is progressing, you can quickly and easily get out of it to find something "better". The next generation believes that they can simply "unfriend" someone. I believe that marriage is a God-given thing that should be treasured. Jesus said that what God has put together, we should not take apart. People have lost direction and are confused by too much noise. Noisy is the world we live in! And I wish it were quieter. 

This has become so heavy on my heart and I pray so intensely for my generation and the ones after.

Black Ops -- Expectations

I've been doing a lot of research concerning this game. The hype is outrageous. I've seen some previews of the multiplayer and so far sees like a winner. I've also read some of the perks. The perks is what I'm excited about. The entire perk system seems much more balanced and customizable than in Modern Warfare 2. There is no more Stopping Power, which basically frees up Tier 2. All of the perks seem like they would be handy at some point or another in a match. They graphics also have a very crisp look to them. I've been highly disappointed with the current trend of games lately. The seems to like these bulky almost unreal people that populate these games. I much prefer the crisp, sharp graphics of olden games.Here are some videos:

• Multiplayer Customization
• Perk Analysis
• Multiplayer Teaser
• Multiplayer Teaser Trailer Analysis

I am very excited to see how they managed to balance all of these additions and changes in the gameplay. Of course, don't expect a perfect game from launch, as most people do. Patches will come out and fix game-breaking issues.

The Love of Christians

I am in awe of God at this moment. I have a friend who is over in Keiv, Ukraine, with stage 9 malaria. He is running out of medication and unable to touch his father who is outside the hospital. Why am I in awe of God you ask? Because of the response people have given in light of his circumstance.

Trevor is on an 11 month, 11 country mission trip. When he fell ill, his family was notified. There was an emergency prayer meeting at my church where around 200 people came and prayed for him. Then this past Wednesday we had another prayer meeting for him where about 250 people showed up to pray for him. The Joy.fm was also contacted and they put a link on their page for people to donate to help this young man out. The cost is $96,100 to bring him to a hospital in Miama, FL. We've raised over $54,000 now. People have been praying all over the nation as church members contact relatives out of state and are contacting other churches to pray for my good friend.

People have been praying earnestly and in full faith to heal him. On Facebook there have been literally a ton of posts about Trevor with postings of scripture and encouragement to help others pray for him.

I've never met such people who would drop what they are doing for someone, simply because it is God thing to do. I see the love of God reflected in all of them, especially the people who don't know Trevor or my church at all and yet are praying for him and donating. That is love and that is a God thing. This is how the church should function, and this is what people need to see, no, experience. When the church earnestly directs all it's attention and full effort for a single person is what everyone needs to see. It moves you. It moves me, to see others care so deeply about each other. I see others loving Trevor as much as they love themselves.

This uncommon love for another, unrelated individual is not something a "normal" person has. Not many people would drop what they are doing to go and comfort or try to save someone they don't know.

Representative of UFC

That's right folks! I may be a representative for UFC at my college, College of Central Florida. I was looking around their site and saw that they were looking for college age students to be representatives of UFC to promote the UFC brand. They required that I give a reason as to why they should pick me to represent them with 250 words or less. So I did and gave them all my contact information. They really want someone who is connected to current trends and who is outspoken.

Also, if you get chosen, you can get some free stuff, which is pretty tight. Free stuff is always cool, but being a UFC rep will be like a dream come true for me, I wouldn't need the free stuff to be happy. So I am hoping and praying I get chosen to represent CF because I believe I can do an excellent job at it.

So all yall, support me in this! UFC is amazing. It has the top fighters in the world and is just an incredible organization.

I'm also doing the UFC Fantasy. I hope I win most of my votes. I've been into UFC for quite a while so I think I can pick out a winner when I see one.

I guess I'll start my job early, even if I don't have the position yet (I may not get it), I'm still going to promote UFC because it is just that awesome. So everyone who's reading this, GO WATCH UFC!!
Fantasy UFC
UFC Schedule

Also, feel free to post any comments! You don't have to sign up for anything, just post something!

Day 2 at CF

Aiight. So it's Day 2, Friday, and it just might be my worst school day. Why you ask? Because when I get out of class at 4:30, there is no ping pong and no food. AND the student lounge is closed. So I'm sitting here in the cafeteria typing this. Class got out a little early today. I should be doing my homework, but I'm too overcome at not being able to play ping pong or get food on Fridays.

So math class. The teacher is alright. His mom is African and his father is Italian. He lived in Paris for many years of his life, so he has that French accent. The room doesn't have comfy chairs though. Actually there's no padding at all, just a plain ole' chair. So that stinks. But, he seems like a decent enough teacher, so I think I'll live.

We do get 2 breaks though, so that's pretty tight.

Eh, it's hot and muggy outside. I guess it rained while I was in class. So I suppose I'll stay in here and get my homework done.

Central Florida College -- First Day

CF is pretty cool. First day was a blast. I got there a little early, but I just stayed in the building where my first class was. First class, Humanities. Not bad. It sounded like it had some interesting things in it, sounds like it goes a little deeper than other classes. Instructor, not bad. The room is completely full with about 90 students. BUT, you get to sit in nice comfy chairs.

So, my class ended at 11:50, and I had until 2:35 until my next class, World Civilizations I. I was hungry, like always, so I went to the cafeteria. Let me tell you, they have some GOOD food compared to high school. Like they had hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, pizza, wraps, salads, you name it. So I got myself a chicken basket. Then I found my once-upon-a-time co-worker, Mr. Mark. He used to work out in the yard at Sparr Building & Farm Supply, where I work. He left to become a forest ranger.

Anyway, after eating, I saw some kids playin' ping pong. So I played that for over an hour or so. Then I just chilled and enjoyed the freedom of being able to go wherever I wanted. It felt kind of weird being able to take my iPod out and my laptop, and listen to my iPod and play on my computer. You just can't do that in high school.

Then it was time for my second class. Geez how I'm going to hate this class. Even though I only meet once a week (it's a hybrid course), the instructor is horrible. We spent the better part of the class helping him work his computer. Anyway, the class sounds interesting enough. I'm a HUGE geek for ancient civilizations like the Romans and especially the Greeks. I'm really interested in learning more about them. But I saw that in the beginning we would be studying Evolution, which he calls "prehistory". To put it simple, Evolution is a belief. I feel so badly that I want to go to a Christian college. I believe so strongly in God and his Word that it pains me to be forced to learn all of this stuff just for a grade. I'd really love to go to a Christian school that doesn't just have preaching degrees, like a degree in physical therapy, the field I'm interested in.

But one cool thing about the class is that it has weekly discussions online. The instructor will post a question and we must answer, or respond to another person's post. That is something I absolutely love. I had an online teacher a few years ago, I forget what subject. But there was this extended answer question on a test that I had to answer. The teacher said he had never given full points to anyone for that question. He stated that I gave one of the best answers to the question he had seen thus far.

Anyway. I love debating and having intellectual dialogs with other people. I am a Global Moderator on an online forum called Chaos Coalition. I have debated and "spoke" with many intellectual people who have asked many difficult questions. It certainly sharpened my skills in debating and having a conversation purely with text.

Overall, I'm pretty excited still. I have a math class Friday for 3 hours that I'm not looking forward to, but I think I'll still love going to CF the remainder that I'm there. 

Relation of Martial Arts and Christianity

I've been thinking a lot on how Martial Arts and Christianity can build on each other. I want to teach martial arts at my church, and a few people at my work are interested in lessons as well. I love my karate deeply. I love my God deeply. So how can karate help make you a stronger Christian?

Discipline is an almost obvious one. It takes great endurance and hard work to become excellent at martial arts. You have to discipline yourself so that you remain in good physical shape and flexibility. You can get nowhere if you don't try your hardest and force your body to do things it obviously does not want to do. Christianity calls us to go further than we want to go. It requires much effort if you want to become like Christ.

The mindset is another example of how karate and Christianity are linked. It almost takes a special kind of person to be really good at karate instead of just ok. I cannot stand it when a high ranking martial artist does not try his hardest, and I can tell. Martial Arts is the type of "activity" that requires full dedication. Christianity is the same way. It is not meant for the faint of heart. It does not want lukewarm "members". That's not what martial arts is about and it's not what Christianity is about.

Physical training is of some value. Martial Arts can train you to know your own body. Christianity transforms you to become Christ-like.