Wednesday, July 02, 2008

I had to change the date because I am writing this after midnight, even though as far as I am concerned it's still Wednesday.

It's hard to believe that today marked one year since I was standing on the battlefields of historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with my three wonderful friends Danny, Jonathan and Marti.  You might recall that I described it as "the perfect day", and in many ways it really was for me. I'm thankful that relationships were strengthened and memories were created. I sent out a text to each of them reminding them of this anniversary, and Danny replies back telling me that he just happened to have been at Gettysburg at that very moment!!!  I thought that was too funny. I sent back another text and asked him if Jonathan and Marti were there too, you know, in case they were having like, a reunion without me or something, but he said no, so I felt better!

I hope you three know that I will forever be grateful to you for sharing that day with me. You will each be forever in my heart as friends.

With Love,

-Richard.

I've been working on a teaching that I want to share, but I have been having trouble finding the Bible passage that I need for it. If any of you might know where it is located, I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know. I just got done sending this to someone that I have had the opportunity to meet via the Web.

You see, after Xanga, I love to read about the goings on within the auto industry by way of a website called "The Truth About Cars" http://thetruthaboutcars.com. Part of what makes it so interesting to me is that people can comment after each story. It was there that I discovered a guy named Brendan, and found a link attached to his user name. It took me to this incredible site he helps run called "ZA Magazine" http://zamagazine.org. You see, Brendan and his friends are Christians and the site was created to be, well, I'll quote them here...

WHAT IS ZA?

If you clicked on the About page with the purpose of determining
what ZA is, then you’ve played right into my hands, and I support you
for it! You see, this site is all about seeking the truth, and you’re
seeking the truth of the name of this site! Get it?

Anyways.

Z and A are the initials of a Greek phrase “zatei aletheia” (zay-tay
a-lay-thee-a) - seek truth. Zatei Aletheia is a mouthful and tough to
remember, so it got shortened. The only thing that I ask is that you
don’t try to say ZA as a word…”zaaaaaa.” Come on now.

The goal of Zatei Aletheia Magazine is to share truths in a humble,
passionate, loving, and relevant way so that when you read this site
your relationship with God is affected.

So far it's been a huge blessing to me, and I encourage each of you to have a look at it!!!

Now, on to what I have been working on.

These are my thoughts in regards to what's going on here in the US, and how I believe that we are witnessing what could very well be, the end of days before the Second Coming.

"I don't have all my ideas together as of yet, mainly because I cannot
remember where in the Bible the passage is that I need. I thought it
was in Revelation, but after pouring through it I realized that it must
be an Old Testament prophesy.

You see, the subject that's on my
heart has to deal with end times, and while I'm not real big on
teaching on it, mainly because I'm still learning it myself, I still
feel the need to share it because it seems as if ever since 9/11 I'm
seeing prophesy being fulfilled right before my eyes.

Remember,
these are just thoughts and commentaries on how I'm viewing the world
around me, and how I fear that as Christians, we don't have a whole lot
of time left to spread the Gospel.

Have you ever noticed that
America is never mentioned directly in the Bible? The only place that
most biblical scholars believe that America is mentioned is in the
passage that I cannot remember, but it reads along the lines of
referring to the lion and her young cubs. Most scholars believe that
the lion refers to Great Britain, and the young cubs are the offshoots
and territories that belong or have belonged to them. America was
originally formed by the British. Anyways, what that passage is
referring to is that those nations in the end times will be pretty much
powerless.

I'm of the belief that 9/11 was when the countdown
began to the end times. Up until that point, the United States was the
most powerful nation in the world, and life was pretty good. That day,
we lost our innocence, and the world became a little darker. Fast
forward to today, our economy is falling apart, we have lost the
respect of a lot of other nations, and our greatest industry, the auto
industry is about to collapse. In many ways, our country, and Michigan
in particular, has become so dependent on the auto industry that if it
does indeed go under, so many other parts of the country will collapse
with it. With our doomed economy will come desperation, and I have this
deep feeling that the next president will probably, for lack of a
better term, sell us out, probably to the EU. The US will lose both
it's independence and it's relevance, and many of our freedoms and
liberties will be gone. From there I really feel that it will only be a
matter of time before Jesus will have to return."

My purpose in sharing this is not to receive praise, but to create awareness in others, and hopefully encourage others to step up and be that witness to the world around us.

Through all of this I say to God be the glory.

Thoughts???

Love Always,
-Richard.

It's sad to think that today I had to put on one of my winter shirts. Between the cold weather and all the storms, this summer has been, well, non-existent up here!

My laptop is at death's door, so I can't go uptown to load pics on here, so you're just going to have to believe me when I tell you that I've had a few lovely days the past couple of weeks.

Last Saturday I traveled to Lansing, Michigan to attend the Oldsmobile Homecoming car show. You all know how much I love all things Olds, so I had to go! And you know what??? I had a BLAST!!! All those lovely Oldsmobiles, from the very first 1901 Curved Dash Runabout, to the newest one at the show, which just happened to be mine!!! You see, my car was built one month before the very last Olds was built, and I was able to determine that mine was in fact, the newest one at the show, so it was fun! Oh, and the weather that day was absolutely perfect!!!

On a different note, I think I have mentioned that I have been teaching a Sunday School class at church, a group of nine and ten year olds. It's funny to think that I have never felt called to do such a thing, and I certainly don't feel qualified, but yet for some reason the kids seem to love me. Please know that I don't do it for my glory or edification, but for God. My reward comes in the form of listening to the kids recite back to me what they learned last week, and then tell me how they each want to grow in their walk with God. And, when some of them come up and hug me, well, it sure means a lot.

I have been asked to give this class up and teach the group of kids below this class. I've had them the past two weeks in with my kids because the teacher is sick. I haven't minded having them at all, and if I had it my way I'd just keep the class combined and keep them all. But they won't let me. I told two of the boys tonight-right after they both ran up to me and gave me a big hug. It was kind of funny to watch their reaction, because they both, as if on cue, pretended to pass out from shock upon hearing the news!!! I told them that no matter what, I would be there for them. 

Next Sunday we are going to do one more combined class so I can tell the rest of the kids and prepare everybody for the change. I'm sure going to miss those kids, they're my babies!!!

And lastly, Tuesday marked seventeen years since I got saved. It's hard to believe it's been so long ago!!! (Remember, I was still a young teen, I'm not THAT old!!!) Despite all the horrible things I have found myself involved in over the years, God as always been faithful to me, and for that I praise Him!!!

Well, that's all I have for tonight. I all is well with each of you. Remember, I love you all bunches!!!

Your Friend,

-Richard.

Today finds me here once again, being thankful that I can be grateful to God for yet another year of life. It's funny that every year since I was about ten, I always find myself feeling somewhat ill at ease during the first half of the day, but then by evening I'm okay. I guess it's because one's birthday is when you find yourself having to come a little more face to face with the reality of life.

I had the day off, and I enjoyed it! I had to put the Oldsmobile in the shop to have a little paint work done on it before I leave this Friday to head to Lansing, MI to attend the Oldsmobile Homecoming rally on Saturday. The dealer gave me an Impala to drive, so I took off to Bay City for a little while. The weather was perfect, so I decided to just spend the day enjoying life, and praising God for all He has done for me. My mom made me a wonderful white cake with white frosting (my favorite), and we had lasagna for dinner before I headed off to church, where we got to hear from a future missionary to Haiti. It was a wonderful day!!!

With Love To You All,
Your Friend,
-Richard.

Hello again...

I am in much need of prayer. You see, a couple of potential job opportunities have been shown to me, and both would require me to move to a different part of the state. One though, would at least let me be close to family (It's in Ypsilanti) and would more than double my income. But more than anything else, I want God's will to be done.

Thanks.

Your Friend,
-Richard.

For some reason tonight I am sitting here trying to decide what to do for my vacation this year. My vacation got moved to early August. Thanks to the unacceptable cost of gas, and my already meager little trip fund, I have to find something to do that I can afford!!! One requirement is that I must cross out of Michigan, for my sanity's sake!!! I had been toying with the idea of going to Illinois, but let's face it, for some reason my heart keeps going back to Pennsylvania. In a way I wish I could go to Tennessee and see family, but it's just too far. But back to PA. Truth be told, I'm dying to go back to Chambersburg and see Marti, Danny and Jonathan. Perhaps take in Gettysburg again. But if gas prices don't slow down then I'm going to have to find something closer to the western side of the state. Might any of you know of any great places to visit there??? And, might any of you want to meet up with me there???

Love Always,
-Richard.

Yesterday I was sitting in on a Bible study at my Chiropractor's office (Yes, I said my Chiropractor's office!) and his mom made a comment that really stuck out in my mind. She was talking about gold, and how that when the goldsmith is working on on the gold and refining it, that he can tell when it's ready because he can see his reflection in the molten gold.  This is similar to how God views us. He is constantly at work in our lives, refining us and growing us, and He doesn't stop until He can see Himself reflected in us!!! Deep stuff, wouldn't you say???

-Richard.

Tonight Jeffrey (my pastor's son) and I took a ride into town. Our reason for going was because Jeffrey is giving the message next Sunday at church, and he wants to use some video footage in the sermon, featuring responses from the community when asked what "Christian" means to them. We started out at the Wal Mart, which is like, the mall here, everybody goes there. We got a couple of nice responses from some nice people that I do banking for, but then we were practically thrown out for having a video camera on their property!!!. The female managers were rather rude to us, despite my asking to see where the rules were stating that we did not have the right to do such. Finally the assistant manager, a guy, came up and talked to us and calmly explained their policies on such matters. I thanked him for his explaining things to us in a calm matter, and them we left and headed for downtown. We live in a tourist trap town, so we figured it wouldn't be that hard to find people. Boy were we wrong!!! It seemed as if the people saw us coming and ran!!! We got to talk to a few people, and while we got some good responses, most wouldn't have anything to do with the video camera I was holding.

Jeffrey was quite discouraged, but it showed me what I already knew, that we live in a sin-sick and dying world. A world that wants nothing to do with the things of God.

If only people would wake up and realize that we don't seem to have a lot of time left.

As you all know I live in Michigan, AKA the "World's Motor Capital", so I like to keep up with what's going on in the auto industry. The past couple of years I have been reading a lot of things that combined with what I know about Bible prophecy have caused me to see how I really believe that the U.S. as a nation is going to lose power and relevance as we race closer and closer to the Rapture. Let me explain why...

There is a passage in the Bible, and forgive me for not posting it here. I thought it was in Revelation, but after just having read the whole book, I can't find it. But anyways, this passage talks about, well, basically how the United States will be but a tiny and weak nation by then. I mean, have you ever noticed that there is no mention of the US in the Bible???

Now, I've said all that to say this, which is, what I think.

As of right now, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are in some of the biggest financial troubles that we have ever scene. Added to the top of that is the skyrocketing price of oil. People are fast learning that those huge trucks and SUV's just aren't all that practical anymore.

Things are so bad that in all seriousness there is a very real possibility that by the end of the year, one, if not all, of the Big Three, could be no more.

Along with losing Detroit, would come wide spread panic, and before you know it, our country is a huge financial mess, and the only way to fix it is to bring in outside help. And I just can't help but think that  whomever would come would have it plotted to take over America!!!

So why am I telling you all of this??? Because we can't waste time just talking about this, we have to do something, we have to show the people the way, and be what God want's us to be, so that people will want to come to Him.

I love you all...
-Richard.

EDIT:  When I originally wrote this I was extremely tired, and I just re-read it and realized that some of it made no sense!!! I do apologize for that!!!

Last night while I was lying in bed, crying myself to sleep over Casey's situation, it dawned on me, the irony of my life. You see, for several years my struggle was something that I never gave too much thought to, because I just viewed it as a small something that I liked checking out. In other words, it wasn't something that I thought was "a part of me".

I knew that when I came to xangaland that I was searching for comfort and help, but, and here's where the irony begins...I discovered when I arrived here that I have met people that have become such dear friends to me, people that I can't imagine life without knowing, people that I have come to love dearly. It's all ironic in that had I never had to deal with this struggle in my life, I would have never met you all. It's ironic in that I wish I never had to deal with SSA, but if I hadn't had to, I would have never known any of you.

It's ironic that last year, July 2nd, was one of the best days of my life, because it was on that day that I met for the first time, a certain three people, and those three people were EXACTLY how I imagined them to be, and I instantly loved them dearly. It was also on that day, as I walked with them through the historic battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that I realized that my struggle and involvement in SSA was real, because if it wasn't, I would not have been there. That really hit me hard, though I didn't let it show to Daniel, Jonathan and Marti.  I couldn't, because it was one of my greatest days ever.

If it wasn't a reality in my life, I wouldn't be considering going to Chicago this summer to visit Dumont, should he move from Texas. He too has become a wonderful friend to me. I miss him terribly here in xangaland.

Part of me really longs to return to PA and see my friends there again, but with gas being so high, I'll be lucky to make it to the state line this year.

Oh, another ironic thing about last year, while I was staying in Chambersburg, I felt such a wonderful feeling of peace there, in that it felt like a safe place from SSA, at least for me. I visited a lovely little church while there, and well, I just had a great time there.

Again, if it weren't for my facing the reality of SSA, I wouldn't have ever made it there.

Isn't it something how God can take something that was so bad and turn it around into something so amazingly beautiful and wonderful???

Ironic? Perhaps, but thankfully, the good has far outweighed the bad, and for that I praise God!!!

I love you all so much!!!

Your Friend,
-Richard.

I would really appreciate it.

Courtesy of one of you, I found Casey's "newest" blog on here. I decided to have a look, but not write, for fear of well, I don't know. Anyways, I read it, and truth be told, I am shocked and horrified beyond words. I mean seriously, I'm still sitting here shaking from the shock. I guess what I am hoping for is that one of you who might still communicate with him will tell him that his "long lost cousin" (a joke we shared because we have the same last name) still cares about him and his family, and, perhaps most importantly, through all of this, I believe I have found just what I needed to help be a reminder to me to keep myself in check when it comes to resisting such behavior.

I may still have to deal with the emotional issues of all of this, but I don't want to have to deal with the dangers of the other side of it. I've done enough and potentially put myself at enough risk in times past, but thankfully, I am okay, and I really don't want anything to happen to me.

Notice that I didn't protect this post, because well, I just needed it to be known that despite everything, I cannot, and will not, give up. I love life too much, and beyond even that, I love God far too much! I've came too far to turn back now, so I'm not.

With Love To All Of You,
Your Friend,
-Richard.