Untotaled: Stepping 56 (August 26th, 1970) Weighting… February 28, 2015

 Jonathots Daily Blog

(2517)

(Transcript)

I was two minutes late.

For some reason I had scheduled an appointment with the preacher’s wife to talk about my dilemma. The plans I had made with my girlfriend–for her to fly in on her birthday, August 25th–apparently went awry. Well, at least, there was no girlfriend.

I was freaked out.

I had actually been freaked out for the whole five weeks while I was waiting for her to escape. I was so upset that my older brother, who was normally fairly unaware of my living condition, or even breathing, decided to step in and offer his gold Malibu for me to use to go on a date. He had souped it up (with as much as he knew about soup).

I had no desire to be with a girl but I did want to drive the car.

There was a young lady in Centerburg, Ohio, who kept bugging me to go on a date, so I thought there would be no harm in doing so.

It was a disaster.

I couldn’t stop thinking about my girlfriend, and she kept promoting herself like a car salesman at the end of the month trying to make quota.

So when the 25th came and went, I was desperate to talk to someone, and Larissa (as she insisted we call her), the pastor’s wife, was available.

I explained to her about our plan, as much as I was able to be forthcoming. I could not tell her about the pregnancy–that would have created so many problems that I would never have been able to get out of her office.

At the end of my sharing, she moved out from behind her desk, sat next to me on the couch and patted my hand. She said the following:

“Sometimes, Jonathan, we have to understand that not everybody knows our true value, and even though it hurts a whole lot, we have to let them go because they’re just not the right one. The one God has chosen for us.”

Well, folks, I was only eighteen years old, but I was pretty sure that God wasn’t choosing my female preferences, and if He was, I wasn’t particularly interested in His input.

I was courtly and mannerly to Larissa, but I walked out of the meeting more frustrated and confused than ever before.

There was only one thing left to do.

I made a secret phone call to the University of Arizona to find out when freshman Rush Week was, and discovered that it began on September 4th.

I also found out that a student standby airline ticket was $50 one way. I convinced my mother to give me $60. That gave me money for a one-way ticket to Tucson, Arizona, five dollars to eat, and five dollars for a motel room.

It was the most ridiculous plan ever devised by man.

But I was in all the way.

Next stop … Tucson.

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G-Poppers… February 27, 2015

 Jonathots Daily Blog

(2516)

G-Pop couldn’t find his grandson.

The birthday party for the little fella had been over for nearly an hour and the boy was nowhere in sight. Slipping into the garage to throw away a bag of trash, G-Pop spotted the birthday kid squished against the wall, tucked in behind a garbage can .

He was crying.

“What’s wrong?” asked G-Pop.

Grandson: Nothing. Just want to be alone.

G-Pop: On your birthday?

Grandson: (releasing a heaving sob) The kids are dumb!

(Fresh tears)

G-Pop: They gave you great gifts.

Grandson: I don’t care. They are dumb.

(G-Pop paused, giving the lad some time to think and space to breathe.)

G-Pop: They must be pretty smart. They like you.

Grandson: I don’t want to talk about it.

G-Pop: Well…how long are you going to live out here behind the trash? I’m only asking because I’m wondering if I should bring your toys and toothbrush.

(The grandson smiled and then giggled.)

G-Pop: Can you tell me what’s wrong?

Grandson: G-Pop, they called you fat.

G-Pop: Your friends?

Grandson: Yeah. The dummies.

G-Pop: They’re right. I am fat.

Grandson: No, you’re not!

G-Pop: Fatter than you.

Grandson: Well…yeah.

G-Pop: Fatter than your dad.

Grandson: I guess.

G-Pop: Fatter than President Obama.

Grandson: Yeah, he’s real thin.

G-Pop: I’m not.

Grandson: It’s still mean.

G-Pop: Well, it’s not a compliment. It could be an insult. But then again, it just might be the truth. You see, son, if I get a compliment, it’s nice but it doesn’t last very long. If I’m insulted it only means something if the person saying it matters to me. But the truth–it can make me free.

(G-Pop gave his grandson a big hug.)

G-Pop: I hope my weakness didn’t embarrass you with your friends.

Grandson: You never embarrass me. You are G-Pop.

The two buddies headed back into the house.

It was going to be just fine.

 

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Three Ways To Build Your Faith… February 26, 2015

 Jonathots Daily Blog

(2515)

Our faith is usually drained by being punctured by some sort of disappointment.

It centers on three different styles:

A. “I am disappointed by people”

B. “I am disappointed by the response I am receiving.”

C. “I am disappointed by my progress.”

These disappointments take root in us because we ask a trio of foolish questions:

• Why aren’t people nicer?
• Why don’t people accept me for who I am?
• Why are things moving so slowly?

Honestly, the answer to all three of these questions is, “That’s the way it was created and that’s the way it was meant to be.”

So until you tune yourself to the hum of the Universe, you will find yourself singing off-key.

Here are three ways to build your faith:

1. Stop needing, requiring or requesting the approval of other human beings.

They are going to be very busy with their own concerns. It does not make them selfish–it makes them focused and human.

2. Don’t try so hard.

The truth is, our “game face” should exude a peaceful joy. Sweating, frowning, grunting, groaning, bitching or sometimes even praying is a sign of a loss of confidence in what God has provided for us along with a belief that we “just don’t have enough.”

I have a simple philosophy: when it starts getting difficult, I take a break and re-think the process.

3. Set small goals.

This gives you a chance to celebrate as you go along instead of waiting for one huge graduation day to put on your cap and gown.

Thinking big might work if “big” was actually available to us. What is available to us is the present opportunity, how well we enjoy it, and how well we execute it.

The best way to overcome disappointment is to refuse to light the fire that sets it in motion–and that fire is easy to recognize: it’s when we begin to believe that things should be different.

Once you convince yourself of that, your faith begins to seep away, God seems a myth and the people you meet are just waiting to prove that they’re jerks.

 

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PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant… February 25, 2015

 

Jonathots Daily Blog

(2514)

Turnaround

Every fall comes from a trip

All my trips happen in the Fall

Laughter is a medicine

I am medically cleared to laugh

Ask and it shall be given

‘Tis a given that I will ask

God bless America, my home

Home is when America is a blessing for God

Cross that bridge when I get to it

Getting to the bridge is often the cross I get

I fell in love

Love fell on me

In the beginning, God created

Creating a beginning is God

Coming to my senses

My coming is sensible

All men are created equal

Equal men are all created

Don’t give up the fight

The fight is, don’t give up

Save myself for the right person

The right person helps me save myself

Terrorism kills people

Real people kill terrorism

For God so loved the world

The world loved … and there was God 

 

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Cracked 5… February 24, 2015

 

Jonathots Daily Blog

(2513)

Reasons Basketball Will Never Be as Popular as Football

A. In basketball, if you knock somebody down, it’s called a foul. In football, it’s proclaimed a “great hit.”

B. It’s too easy to bounce the ball. No pointy ends and over-inflated.

C. Basketball = sissy short pants.

D. No rain, sleet, gusts, mud, ice, wind chill, hurricanes or sunstroke.

E. Too Tall … like the Jones guy.

 

 

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The Alphabet of Us: L is for Love… February 23, 2015

Jonathots Daily Blog

(2512)

All human beings possess a heart, soul, mind and strength. Nothing of any true significance can be achieved unless this is understood.

Love is marginalized and trivialized–so much so that I almost decided not to include it in our “alphabet of us.”

This is because we think love is an emotion. It isn’t.

When considering faith, hope and love, the latter is always proclaimed the greatest. Why is that?

Because hope loses its energy and faith is often overcome by doubt. But love is a decision confirmed through endurance.

Let me give you the best definition I have for love:

Love is an abiding confidence which is so secure that it is able to manifest itself through a nourishing humility.

It grants us a balance of self-worth and self-awareness. Here are the three states which initiate love:

1. I am not better than anyone else.

The insecurity of superiority is what creates loneliness.

2. I am not alone.

For after all, when loneliness arrives, it can be a terrifying state of mind, which welcomes fear into our lives.

3. I am not afraid.

And if fear is forbidden to live within us, love is given room to breathe.

True love is not being given much of a chance nowadays because our society is tormented by a contention that we’re better than one another.

• It makes us lonely.

It generates “us against them.” And then we become convinced that there’s much to be afraid of from enemies who surround us.

I strike a blow against terrorism every day by believing that I am not better than anyone else. This causes me to realize that the planet does not belong to me, my kin or my nation.

• I am not alone.

And because I’m not alone, and I am joined by eight billion fellow human beings who are equally as intelligent and confused.

• I am not afraid.

Love is not the answer; it is the ongoing question.

And the question is simple: “Do I realize I’m on a journey which will only be completed when I reach the end?”

 

 

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Jesonian: 19 Things That Jesus Never Specifically Said… February 22, 2015

Jonathots Daily Blog

(2511)

 

1. Let’s go heal some lepers.

2. Neither do I condemn you–feel free to sin some more.

3. Everyone should be Jewish.

4. Let’s find hungry people and feed them.

5. Please stop trying to bear fruit.

6. We can eliminate poverty.

7. I support abortion rights.

8. Jews are better than Gentiles.

9. I’m really glad I’m dying for the sins of the world.

10. Let’s just agree to disagree.

11. I came to create disciples who would serve me.

12. The United States is exceptional.

13. People are born with talent.

14. Relax. It’s not your fault.

15. Life is run by your destiny.

16. I appreciate Judas for betraying me.

17. Family is everything.

18. Use the scriptures to judge people.

19. I love you.

Jesus was a person.

He had a mission. His goal was to deliver a lifestyle message to massage the human heart to feel again. Once enlivened, we are to use our emotions to be merciful and industrious instead of fussy and religious.

All of us–including me–need to cease using Jesus as the mouthpiece of our agenda.

He came into the world to teach people to take personal responsibility as they celebrate daily being born again.

 

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