Not sure where this came from...

What's so hard about simplicity?  Why is it that we MUST over-complicate everything?  How difficult is it to live according to what you say you believe?  For example:  why is it that Christians say they believe certain things and end up not doing those things?  I mean, I know it's hard--and I'm definitely not perfect--but some Christians act like they're not even trying.  Also, people who like to call themselves "free thinkers" who believe that there are no absolute truths in the universe and that whatever you believe is OK--why are they so darn adamant about telling me that I'm an idiot for believing in God?  I mean, if nothing matters, then how could it possibly matter what I believe, especially if you go around preaching that whatever you believe is "truth to you'  (this the sound of me vomiting).  It just makes it look like they really don't believe that it's OK to believe whatever you want.  It must be OK as long as it doesn't bug them--or here's the key--make them feel CONVICTED.  Nobody likes to think about the possibility of being accountable to something other and greater than themselves.  The way I see it, there are two types of people: those who believe in God, and those who believe in God but have convinced themselves that there isn't one.  They've had to CONVINCE themselves that there isn't a God and they do anything and everything to make themselves feel good and unaccountable to anything but their "heart."  They HAVE to have some idea that there is something greater.  If someone really believed that there was no God, that would mean that nothing meant anything.  If nothing meant anything, they might as well just kill themselves right away and get the pointless nonsense over with.  No amount of happiness or suffering would ever change anybody for the better because ultimately there is NO POINT!!!  I think that just the fact that the people who say there's no point to anything don't kill themselves (the majority don't anyway) shows that THEY'RE LYING TO THEMSELVES!!!

Back to Christians, though.  What's so stinking hard about realizing that life's not about us?  How could it be?  God, by definition, is the only TRUE reality.  He's the only One that TRULY matters.  We only have worth because we look like Him (made in His image) and He told us we matter to Him!  Can we stop living like life's about us and our happiness?  Can we just knock it off and live in such a way that we're obedient to Him no matter what pain or uncertainty we think we'll have to go through?  Why do we refuse to acknowledge that God by His very essence is in control and that He has the ability to take care of our ridiculous problems?  My goodness, he created the UNIVERSE!!!  We haven't even been able to figure out the majority of who we are and where we came from scientifically speaking and HE MADE IT ALL!  HELLOOOOOO????!!!!????!!!!!

I'll make it, I promise...   Believe it or not, I'm not an angry person.

Opening at The Cul-de-Shaq!!!

NOTICE: Any GUY who needs a place to live sometime after August 21st, there is an opening at my house, 2013 Bretton Place Toledo, OH 43606, which is right next to the University of Toledo.  It's perfect for anyone going to UT.  Please email me at reidme77@gmail.com if you are interested and I will give you more details.  Pass this message along to anyone you know that might be in need of a place to stay.  Thanks!

Help?

Dilemma:

Once again, something is calling for my money.  Money that I'm trying to save for my wedding.  Blast it all.  I have a toothache.  I know I need to see the dentist since it's been YEARS but I know that I probably need a root canal and everything and I'm not enthusiastic about potentially needing to spend $2000 on my mouth.  Blast it all.

Tell me what you all think of this:  http://pcdentalplan.com/default.asp

I don't want to take a line of credit with the dentist, but what else can I do?  If anyone has any insight, I would be VERY glad to hear how I can get my mouth fixed with minimal cost.  Chalk this up on the list of super expensive things that need to be done since something bad is about to happen and I'm going to have to spend an arm and a leg.  Other members of this list: Health Insurance (yup, if I break my arm I might not be able to afford to get married...) and Car Repairs (never know when the thing's going to just quit on me).

I feel a little stressed about it, not gonna lie.

I know God will provide, though.  Sometimes learning to trust Him isn't fun... 

Garage Sales

SO, garage sale-ing the past 2 weekends has given me a new perspective on "stuff."  I realized just how much "stuff" we have as Americans and how little of it really means anything.  I looked only at my table of paperback novels that were priced at 25 cents a piece and realized that books cost something like $10 at minimum when they're new.  Almost guaranteed, 95% of those books were purchased new, so that table full probably cost around $500.  There I was, sitting in my plastic lawn chair in the hot late-June sun selling them for 25 cents each, hoping to get around $10 for the whole table of them.  And that was just the books...

Living in a small bedroom with all my "stuff" for almost a year now has taught me what the bare essentials are for living.  It was worse than a dorm room in so many ways (nothing to do with roomies).  I stack bookshelves 2 high, put all TV/entertainment equipment on top of my dresser, and use a futon (in couch form) for my bed.  I get a whole lot of "stuff" into that little room.  It has made me slowly get rid of "stuff" here and there to make room.  I have seen that I don't really need all of it.  Or any of it.

It has made me realize JUST how much money I have spent (wasted) on pointless "stuff."  What if I would have saved it?  I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be "holy" or something, but what if I would have spent all that on missions?  I wouldn't have student loan debt, for sure, and there would be a little less hunger in the world.  But I sacrificed it for "stuff."  "Stuff," I might add, that's going for a special deal: 5 for $1!!!

check this out:  http://www.xanga.com/dana_kae

it's dana's xanga.  serves her right.  and I could have been mean...