love your enemies

So, as much as I try not to be. I am a pretty judgmental person. I don’t ever judge people based on their worth. I never think I am better than others, or that they are less of a person than me. However, I do judge them based on how ‘cool’ I think they are. When I say ‘cool’ it has nothing to do with popularity or reputation. It does have everything to do with whether or not I could see myself hanging out with them.

I am currently in Nashville TN. I am sick as a dog. I have been puking all day and peeing where you normally don’t pee. My theory is that a girl named “liz” has a voodoo doll of me and she is torturing me constantly. The thing that really upsets me is that I am sure her voodoo doll has more of a receding hairline than I do. Anyway, I digress.

There is this man who lived, named Jesus. I also happen to believe this guy died for my sins and that his way of living life is the best way possible, that is why I want to live my life like him. He is often misquoted or ill-represented, but one of his more famous quotes is “love your enemy.” Like I said, I am currently in Nashville on a trip with the prestigious university that employs me. I was not excited about going because the cast list of those coming was less than stellar. In particular the guy I was going to room with. I thought it would be less than the best circumstance. I pretty much thought this guy was crazy and I judged him. Sure enough, as I do, I got to know him and he is actually pretty amazing. First he is a Guinness drinker and I don’t think I have ever met a Guinness drinker that I have not liked. I myself am not a Guinness drinker, so I don’t know what that means. I also found out that he is a war vet, and despite certain churches stances on our troops and supporting them, it happens that this warrants the utmost respect from me.

When you get to know someone, you are starting a process of loving them. and if you really love people, then when you get to know someone it is certainly hard to see them as your enemy.

Love your enemy.

If you can do this, then your list of enemies should be growing shorter everyday.

Movie Updates

Prince Caspian


Watched a lot of movies in the last few days, heres the scoops:

*****5 Stars.
I honestly didnt know what i was going to think of this movie, since it wasnt my favorite from the book set. but this movie was absolutely beautiful. beautiful. i sat there in the theater by myself (yes i am lame and see movies by myself) and balled my eyes out and repented to Jesus. I loved it. It was very well done.

Iron Man



*****5 Stars
Really, i dont love everything. i dont always give out 5 stars, but yet again, another hit. the best thing about Iron Man that sets it apart from other Super Hero films is that you care more about the plot line and the character development then you do about seeing Iron Man fly around. it gave me a new found respect for R.D.J.---you leave this movie wanting to be Tony Stark.


Zoom



*1/2 Stars
I know what your asking. either a) why the crap did you watch this movie, or b) did you honestly expect more? the answer is yes, i expected a heck of a lot more from this movie. i loved Skyhigh, and i loved Galaxy Quest, so i thought this could certainly be comparable. i was so so wrong. this was a horrible movie. even taking it for what it was, a silly, superhero, childrens movie, it was still very bad. it was bad acting, bad story, bad one liners by Tim Allen. dont waste your time here


There Will Be Blood



**** 4 Stars!

i know, what kind of movie watcher am i that i would just now come around to watching this. its been a long time coming. first, D.D.L. is always always amazing. his ability to control and own an onscreen character is amazing. I thought this movie was great. it kept me entertained and anticipating the next moment the entire time. although i still need to process what exactly it was about and why it was made....it was a good good watching experience.


No Country For Old Men



***1-2 Stars.

I really thought this movie was going to be much better than it was, based on recommendations. dont get me wrong, it was really good. it kept me awake from midnight to 2. i just havent figured out yet what exactly i think. but it was a really really good watch.

Vincenzo

here is a new painting i am working on for a friend. he is Vincenzo. he is a lifesized italian man form Venice, he is a Gondola driver or steerer or paddler and he rocks at it. he is also very skinny. i realized that i havent really done my art in a long time. it was very refreshing to listen to music and have some fun painting.

thanks america, look what you did to me....

so i get into work this morning. go through my morning routine which consists of checking conquer club, checking my outlook, checking my bloglines, checking my youtube video that has now surpassed 100 thousand viewers, THEN check my yahoo. this morning, this is what i saw:



i see this, death toll over 22,000! over 22,000!-- i see this. i READ this with my own two eyes. then i immediately click on my inbox because i need check my email. wow. i didnt even care till after i thought about the fact that i bypassed news about the deaths of 22,000 people so that i could check my stupid email. this is crazy. why am i so callous to this? it hurts to know that this can happen to me.

in other news:

i found two new favorite things in Cincy to love.

minutes away from my house is finlay market:






you go and there are lots of people, buying all sorts of things. there are old Italian men throwing fruit around, bagging thins, talking over each other. it was great. if you come to cincy, go there, its a great experience. its just another one of those things that is sort of like the Alabama Fish Bar downtown that makes me feel like this is a big city. its one of those places that movie scenes come from.

the other is black talk radio. i am from Va Beach and the radio there is amazing. i have not found anything good here. people are like, listen to 700 WLW, but every time i turn to it, its sports. then they say, ooo Bob and Tom, they rock. they dont, they suck. but i finally found it, 1230 The Buzz



i am not black, so i am not sure if i am supposed to be listening (because there is apparently a New World Order that consist of me and my kind that is bringing the African American nation down, how come nobody told me?) but its funny and great and i like listening.

thats it for now.

making me look good...

the other day we had a meeting with someone who is going to be on our Management Team at LCC. it was really good. i actually took a friend with me who will also be attending LCC. Jason, who is my partner on this journey, usually always comes to meetings of clout such as these. however, he could not make it. so here i am sitting in Frisch's with a my friend waiting to talk to this guy. here is how our conversation went:
me- i wish jason were here
friend- why
me- because jason always picks up the tab for things like this
friend- you should probably pick up the tab
me- yeah i know, but, i dont even know if i can pay for myself
friend- it would really look good if you pick up the tab
me- i know....i know.....but, oh well, im not.
----we eat, we talk, its great, bill comes------
friend- one check please
----friend picks up the tab for all of us-----
later on
me- thanks for paying for that
friend- thats what i am here for, i am here to make you look good.

"i am here to make you look good"

that phrase stuck with me all day and has been haunting my thoughts, in a good way. i realized that most of the people in my life are there and they have taken up the job of "making me look good." where would i be without these people? its totally the job of everyone i work with. its totally the job of my wife. and most of my friends. i am nothing without the people around me. nothing.

thats why the church is beautiful.

thanks friends for making this guy look good.
you will really never know how much i appreciate and love all of you.