The PhotoShop Sermon

This isn't the type of blog you think you're going to be reading… So, break in the edge of your seat because you're going to need it! Hmmm… Just kidding, but symbolism is a wonderful thing.

PhotoShop. I've recently learned how to use this wonderful program. It was simple enough to figure out. You start out with a basic picture. Ok? Then you may want to add effects, brighten it up, or crop it to a different shape or smaller. But PhotoShop does something unique. You never actually edit or change the original photo you are working with. You use what is called a layer. You may add a brightness layer to brighten or darken the picture. So you add the layer and adjust to the perfect lighting. Easy enough, right? Then, later if you change your mind and want to undo your change you just have to delete the layer or take it off.
To crop a pic you actually have to alter the original. That was one thing that couldn't be covered up with a layer. So if you want to cut the picture into pieces you can do that, but if you change your mind later, it's harder to undo your changes. Instead of deleting a layer you have to click the undo button a bunch or start completely over.

Why am I telling you this, you ask?
Those instructions I just gave you parallel our lives perfectly. When we look in the mirror, we don't like what we see. We're all guilty of this. Am I telling ladies not to wear make-up? Not at all. That's not the alterations I'm talking about. We all wear masks. You know what I'm saying… People are constantly molding their actions and attitudes to the people and situations that surround them. They turn their back on people one day and come back the next. Just like adding a layer and taking it off/deleting it. You take off one layer to add another!

And then there's the crop function. We often live our lives temerariously. Our generation is getting worse and worse. What do they need? Jesus. They need a savior. We are cutting our lives up with different sins. We crop the picture of our lives with lust, porn, drugs, alcohol, pride, jealousy, etc... Only the game of life isn't like PhotoShop. There's no undo button to click multiple times until we're happy again. BUT. There is the other option: Start over. Jesus is the only way to do this, though. Repentance. You must repent, ask for forgiveness from our Savior, and be baptized.

What I wrote here was not pointed at any one person. If anyone, I point it at myself. I'm guilty often of being fake. But that's not what I want to talk about now.
If you are reading this and are confused or want to talk… Contact me in someway. I would be more than happy to talk/message/email/text with you. If I can help you in anyway, I want to!
Don't hesitate to comment me or message me. If you want to talk, call me! If you don't have my cell number message me on here and I'll be more than happy to provide you with it. If you already have it… Text me! I'd be happier than…Well I'd be happy to chat about this. And my e-mail is (jordan45_08@hotmail.com)… If you think what I wrote here makes absolutely no sense and I'm a complete idiot: I understand where you're coming from too! I want to hear from you too!!!

I want to leave you with this one single thought: Jesus is the only way to eternal life. We have to drop our layers, masks, and sins. We have to follow Him absolutely.

The Lissom Mind

I have had a puzzle blog written and ready to go publish for quite some time. Since before Christmas vacation. I just, for some reason chose to post it today. Don't ask me why...
Anyway your job:
You have to translate my code with the given information. I truly only need you to tell me what the first sentence says, but read it all... It is quite epic! Good luck.
The game starts now. Oh! Don't forget to playfair!!! NO CHEATING.

Safety can be a bad thing…
Depending on your standing.

PAT earns you extra!

OL is, in my opinion, the most fun.

60-79 are good numbers…

Marshall University and the Titans

F O T B A
L C D E H
I K M N P
Q R S T U
V W X Y Z

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LUI - Living Under the Influence

Sorry if this isn’t what you were expecting, but it’s a full-fledged, down-to-earth, honest idea of…well mine. Here’s an excerpt from a book I’ve been writing in my head the last couple of days. Don’t be looking for it in bookstores ever. It has already dissipated from my mind. That’s why this is an excerpt.

The walls were white. No… Maybe a dull gray, but it was very close to white. There were some very randomly placed mangy loveseats in the far corner. The floor was carpeted. Yellow and spongy.
“Where is he?” a boy questioned, standing in the doorway of the room peering over the tops of the heads of people standing in front of him.
“Who knows,” came the feminine reply of a shorter girl.
“Hey! Are you in here?” bellowed a rounder fellow wearing a baseball cap.
Silence was his answer. The group crept further into the room, peering around at the windowless walls and lightless ceiling. The door slammed shut suddenly and made the whole lot of them jump. They turned back around and continued their trek closer to the couches. A fireplace came into view behind the furniture and after several more steps, the logs filling its hearth burst into flames.
“Hello,” came a heavily accented voice behind them.
They all jumped again, a recurring action throughout their quest.
“Where did you come from?” the sole female interrogated.
“I was over there,” the young man said while pointing back towards the doorway, which had vanished and taking its place was a wooden rocking chair. The accent placed his allegiance for England—or France maybe—but definitely European.
“So what’s the plan?” This from the first questioning boy. His face was pointed, his brow furrowed.
“No plans. Here take a seat.”
Immediately they were in the center of the of the skanky couch cluster.
“What the heck?” exclaimed the hoodie adorned boy.

There were five of them total in the group. Six if you counted the European Accent.

“Is there a problem?” European Accent asked.
“How did we get right here without moving?” Hoodie Boy fired back.
All he received was a questioning stare.
“Sit.”
And they all sat. They talked plenty, about nothing in general. A lot of time passed, but they all continued to converse. Their chattery went un-interrupted until there was a sound from far off. It sounded like something pounding on wood. They all stared into the dark, far corner of the room. The sound grew more noticeable. It was like someone was knocking on a door.

Haiku.

Haiku. Japanese poetry. Simple and to the point. But vague all the same…

Tires roll on rocks
Stop in front of the steeple
My heart is laid bare

Unbelievable
I’m finally free from this
Can’t thank you enough

Can’t think or compute
I just want to be at ease
What’s holding me back?

It’s simplicity
Knowing you’re there all the time
Right there behind me

God speaks.

So I’ve just recently learned to listen and live. As dumb as that sounds it is completely honest… You know how you hear those outrageous stories of people killing other people because ‘God spoke to them and told them to do it?’ First off, don’t worry! I’m right there with you thinking: ‘That’s crazy!!!’ But. What about the general idea of God speaking to us? Does he? Well here’s my experience with this…:

For over three years now I have struggled with a particular sin that just seemed to plague my life. Yeah, to the innocent bystander my life seemed whole, perfect. Believe me it was no such thing! I felt two-faced and unworthy of God’s love. I sought the help and guidance of an old friend and mentor. I sought answers. I was just looking for a quick fix and was informed over and over that there was no such thing. But the idea of no quick fix didn’t penetrate my brain. I must have been being pretty dense! Now back to my original story of God speaking to me…

Let me first say that: No I didn’t have this stunning vision with an angel and Jesus. Nor did I hear voices in my head. There was nothing special about this particular situation. It all started this past Monday. I was having the stereotypical Monday: a bad day. I felt groggy and disconnected. First hour I had my college classes which basically is just sitting in a computer lab on my laptop and working. Well of course I was already having a bad day so I was just sitting and staring at my screen. Finally, after a half hour was zoning out I shook myself from my stupor and decided I might as well go to the library and talk with other friends I knew were in there. So I asked to be dismissed and left.

I walked in the library and just a few of my friends were sitting at the tables looking at newspapers and talking. I sat down and started talking just as the teacher who had dismissed me walked in the door and said, “This isn’t social hour! You’re supposed to be getting a book to read, Jordan!” I jumped up and snatched the first book within reach and replied, “I am!” He smiled knowingly and walked out. I looked at the book I had grabbed: Right Behind You, by Gail Giles. I started reading the 292 page book and didn’t stop until I had finished it. And what did I find? I found the main character had a problem that paralleled that of my own sin. And by the end of the story Kip/Wade (the main character) finally figured out the answer to his problem.

You see Kip/Wade did something terrible in the past and couldn’t live with himself. He couldn’t forgive himself nor live with the shame or guilt, and so he would continually hurt himself. And at the end of the book he finally realized that he didn’t need to forgive himself. He just needed to understand that was has been done is done. He needed to simply live with the memory rather than to try to cover it up and forget it. The final words of the book are what hit it home for me:
“’I’m here,” she said. ‘Standing right behind you.’”

I couldn’t believe it. That conclusion of the climax just smacked me in the face. I didn’t need to try to forget my sin and cover up my past like Wade. I just simply needed to shut up, listen to God, and live with it, and God is right there with me. He has my back. Knowing what has happened in the past is my best weapon to prevent it from happening over and over like before. After my totally un-dramatic realization it literally felt like a huge burden was taken off me. Like I was finally free.

Trust me: God speaks. We just don’t always listen. He puts these random and totally great ideas in the back of our mind; we just have to bring them to the surface.

Do you know me?

Do you know me? You do?! Interesting… Ok, you’ve just heard of me right? No?... So you really think you know me then? Interesting… Well here’s something for you:

Top ten things you didn’t know about me.
10) I plan what I wear the next day before I go to bed every night.
9) I wish, more than anything in the world, that I could learn how to play the guitar.
8) I care very much for my closest friends, but…
7) I’m luckier than the average person, trust me.
6) Any conversation I have, I plan in my head days before I actually have it with an actual person.
5) I only have one earthly person I truly trust.
4) I have my own personal library that I keep hidden away in my bedroom.
3) I can bake a mean quiche.
2) Everything I do is carefully planned out. And if something changes out of my control then I improvise. Watch closely… You don’t want to miss the show.
1) I have mild to severe insomnia and I don’t sleep most nights out of the week. What do I do with that extra time? Think.

So did you know me?
Just as I thought…