Weblog
Thursday, 16 July 2009
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A vacation
Dear friends,
I have missed you, but I was on a self-imposed Xanga hiatus. I've been busy lately and needed to be able to focus on some things. Therefore, I intentionally cut back my online time, and specifically, my Xanga time. But, my life is slowing down, so expect me to be back... soon.
Sincerely,
The ZJiff
Monday, 08 June 2009
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Saintvi's Birthday Party
Well friends, I'm off to the Xanga-party of one of my favorite Xangans, Saintvi. This is what I'll be wearing:
And this is my present for you, my friend... I got a good deal on it:
Happy Birthday!!!
Oh, good, my date showed up! Here she is!
Be nice to her.
Thursday, 04 June 2009
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I'm with you, John Mayer
In Cincinnati, which is relatively close to where I live, a 19 year old girl was killed on Monday, along with her 9 month old son and a 3 year old girl she was babysitting. The particular district of the city in which she was killed is known as Over-The-Rhine, which is nationally famous for the levels of violence that occur there, and for white cops killing black people (which is another post in and of itself.) The 19 year old's ex-boyfriend allegedly shot all three, after also allegedly raping the girl the day before, and feloniously assaulting (shooting) the father of the 9 month old a couple weeks before. The suspect, whose name doesn't deserve mentioning on this blog, is in jail facing felonious assault charges. The 19 year old was planning on moving to Tennessee soon to escape this man, who had apparently been stalking her for some time.
If the suspect has done all he has been alleged to have done, then I don't think there's any question that the (insert your own term here) deserves to fry. But that isn't what I want to discuss or debate.
A lot has been made on the local talk radio shows about the area in which this happened. OTR is very much a poor, urban, African-American neighborhood. People have made many links, most undeservedly so, about how those things were all part of the equation that caused this to happen. But I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret. You don't kill three people cause you're black. You don't kill three people because you live in a certain neighborhood.You don't kill three people because you're poor. The reason you kill three people is because YOU'RE AN EVIL PERSON. This man, and I use the term loosely, allegedly was upset at how this girl had treated him, and wanted revenge. Nothing about his environment caused this, it was because the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.
This brings me to the title of this post, One of John Mayer's most famous songs is "Waiting on the World to Change." I, too, am waiting on the world to change. I'm waiting for a day when these kind of evil deeds no longer happen, where people don't live in fear. As a Christian, I believe that day will only happen when Christ comes back, banishes evil, and sets up his kingdom on earth. Not until then will our world be a great place to live. So I'm waiting; waiting on the world to change.
Thoughts?
Monday, 01 June 2009
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A Heartless Act, or Why the World Hates Us
I am decidedly pro-life when it comes to the matter of abortion. I believe that every human being who is conceived has the right to live life if God intends. That is my position, that is where I stand, and I won't change that. I realize others have other views and I respect their right to them, even if I think they're wrong.
However, I can't respect what has happened in Kansas on Sunday. For those of you living under a rock, Dr. George Tiller, the noted late-term abortion doctor who had an office in Wichita, was gunned down at a church service. The suspect in custody has been noted for his fanatical stance on anti-abortion issues.
I can not support the work that Dr. Tiller has been doing for the last 20+ years. He has been responsible for the death of thousands of unborn children. That is very wrong, and can't be backed up by Scripture. However, that does not give the suspect the right to take the life of another man.
One of the main problems I have is that the religious groups out there, for the most part, have not taken a hard lind and denounced utterly this despicable act. I've read, seen, and heard many Christians who I honor and respect basically offering a verbal slap while saying that the suspect got what he deserved. The question that I have is this for those people: Have you forgotten who you were before you accepted Jesus as your Savior? I Corinthians says "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were." I would add to that list things like abortion doctors and other sins, many of which I have committed myself. The key is in the next passage: "BUT YOU WERE WASHED, YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, YOU WERE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD." (emphasis mine) You know what has kept some of us Christians from doing things that people like Dr. Tiller have done? God's grace in our lives. That's it. Who knows what I would have been, had it not been for the grace of God.
The other problem I have is that I have heard some say that the suspect was carrying out God's will against Dr. Tiller. To those people I say: Read the Bible again, and get a glimpse of what it says. All over the Bible it says, "Vengeance is mine. I will repay." From Deuteronomy through the Epistles, God commands us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute you, etc. If someone was really trying to do God's will with Dr. Tiller, he should have taken him out for coffee. Things like this are what pervert the world's understanding of Christianity.
There's no reason for this senseless violence to happen. Whenever a life is taken, it is a horrible tragedy, whether it is an unborn child or a 50 year old man. May God help us to realize that all life is precious and sacred in his eyes.
Monday, 25 May 2009
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Happy Memorial Day
Arlington - Trace Adkins
I never thought that this is where I'd settle down,
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown,
They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men, for a job well done,
There's a big white house sits on a hill just up the road,
The man inside he cried the day they brought me home,
They folded up a flag and told my mom and dad, we're proud of your son
[Chorus:]
And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones, I made it to Arlington
I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight,
We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay,
And when we finally found that cross,
He said, "son this is what it cost to keep us free" Now here I am,
A thousand stones away from him,
He recognized me on the first day I came in,
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.
[Repeat Chorus]
And everytime I hear twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home to us
We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done,
We can rest in peace, 'cause we are the chosen ones,
We made it to arlington, yea dust to dust,
Don't cry for us, we made it to Arlington
