Ever had that day when you know if someone does one more little thing that irks you off, you are going to just flip out? Like a volcano of emotions about to erupt on the pedestrians climbing its base. Dealing with the trite can be easy at first, but as time moves along, it almost feels like its too hard to contain.
I feel like I've been disrespected too many times, and it's time for vengeance. Well, that's a terrible idea on my part because there are many things that are pointless to get angry about: people who cut in front of you, the guy who chews too loud, rogue unicorns, the guy who holds the pound key on your phone for a really long time, that person who doesn't respond even though they've answered the last 3 you've sent, and the like.
Sure, it'd be easy to just whack them upside the head for doing something that's annoying, but there's many things in my life that I know annoy others with. Getting upset over little things won't get you far in life, but it will give you a black eye (not from experience).
So don't throw a hissy fit when your co-worker, roommate, or student group member does something (alot) that gets under your skin. You wanna know why? Because Jesus could've punched about 300 Pharisees in the face during ministry, but restraint. Being a Christian is about becoming more like Jesus; game, set, match. Better yet, heap burning coals upon their heads by baking them something delicious. That's what the Bible says to do.
Tonight at my Men's Soccer game in Lincoln Park, there was a brawl. Pretty legit. The dude on the other team got upset because my teammate fouled him. The dude got up in my teammate's face, so my teammate pushed him back. The guy came back angrier and looked like he was going to punch my teammate, so my teammate literally beat him to the punch and clocked him square in the nose. Then the all hell broke loose. Before I knew it, there was a pile of grown men fighting each other. Of course I was throwing down too. When I say throwing down, I mean I was watching from a distance because I was on the other side of the field when it happened. Needless to say, I would've back my teammates had anything escalated more.
This whole ordeal got me thinking about what I would fight for and what's worth it. I'm a super scrappy player, but rarely, and by rarely I mean spider monkey rarely, will you see me get mad at someone, especially mad enough to fight. But let's say some guy punched a girl, we'll just say they don't call me "Furious Fists" for no reason.
For me to fight someone I would have to be angry. Really angry. Though that doesn't happen often, there should be somethings that we should be willing to fight for. Jesus fought for the Father when He flipped the money changers tables for desecrating the Temple. Holiness and justice are the things we should be willing to fight for. To fight for something doesn't necessarily mean throw punches, but it does mean we need to stand up for it. If someone started cursing God's name, should that provoke anger within us, or do we passively let it happen without a second thought? I'm not saying we should jack that guy up in the nose, but show God some respect and let the guy know who he's really cursing. I mean seriously, "if God is for us, who can be against us." Who is going to mess with God Almighty? Stand up for things you love: God, family, friends, teammates. Things that matter. Don't go kicking a guy in the gut for making fun of Apple computers. There's a time and a place.
So next time you are out and about, and you hear someone telling lies about God, your family, or friends, stick up for them. Because love isn't about sitting back and having everyone like you. Love is an action and actions mean doing something. So stand up for your friends, even when they are not around.
Today was Dave and Sara's wedding. It was fantastic. The wedding was outdoors in a beautiful area behind a mansion in Joliet, IL. The wedding itself was put together beautifully and everything went smoothly. Both Dave and Sara cried at least a little bit when they were up there. Dave looked so happy just about all the time.
The reception was in the mansion which was pretty sweet. The mansion looked like an old southern plantation farm house. Pretty neat design. The reception was a ton of fun, a great break from working this summer. Dancing, laughing, picture taking. You know, all that jazz. We got to see a couple of old friends that we hadn't seen since school got out. Overall solid day. Although Thad's dancing didn't make it any better, but luckily Kyle was there to make up for it.
Giving college kids bird seed may not have been the best idea, but again, it was fun. This was my first wedding this summer, so this has gotten me really excited about my brother's wedding in September (of which I'm the best man). Weddings are a ton of fun now that I'm older, when you're a kid, you don't really care. Well, only 2 weeks until preseason and school. w00t.
Last night there was a really serious fire in Jenkins Hall. What seemed like 30 firetrucks and ambulances were there. The news report said there was over 200 firecrew and paramedics.
Tyler and I were coming back from a late night run to McDonalds when we saw a bunch of firetrucks an ambulances going north up Clark. When we got to LaSalle we saw they were at Jenkins, so we went up there to check it out.
When we got there we were talking to some of the students and most of them didn't expect it to be as serious as it turned out to be. Rumor was that a meteor hit Jenkins Hall, but that theory was quickly quenched...like the fire. Turns out it was an electrical fire.
Pray for Moody for cleanup, finances, and the work power to get Jenkins back up and running. The cleanup crews have been working since 3:30 this morning and still aren't done. I put up a few pictures and videos on Facebook, so check it out.
Stop being Sam and start becoming like Jesus. That's what God told me today. That's why He had me work the Legacy Conference which this afternoon I was dreading because I was unbelievably tired.
Francis Chan spoke tonight from what seemed the very mind of God. God used his words to speak exactly what I needed to hear. The phrase that really convicted me was, "Don't let reputation become more important than character." I lie to people. I act like I know what I'm talking about only to get that person to like me. I do this in everything from music to movies to favorite authors. I could honestly have no idea what I'm talking about, but in order to gain your friendship I will lie and tell you so half-baked lie that seems OK in my mind.
I've grown up hearing the phrase "just be yourself." The problem isn't necessarily reputation for me, but identity crisis. Yes, the horrid question, "Who am I?" When I'm around certain people, I change my personality to fit in. What bothers me most about this is that I feel like I'm lying to people about who I really am, but in reality I didn't know who I was. Francis Chan answer that question from God's Word tonight. It says in Philippians that was need to be imitators of Christ and that's when it hit me. We aren't supposed to "be ourself;" we are supposed to be like Christ. It's not about finding our identity, because if we are in Christ, He is our identity. He's my identity.
My fear of dislike from other people isn't solved by finding out who I really am, but understanding that my identity is in Christ. With that being said, Francis Chan also said that Christians under persecution are closer to God than any other time. So, I need to expect people to not like me because I'm in Christ. Luke 21:17 says, "You will be hated by all for my name's sake." If I don't have any enemies, it means I'm doing something wrong. Romans says that the Gospel is an offense and a stumbling block. I need opposition to trust God more.
In the end, God taught me a lot tonight. This was something I really needed to hear. I need to stop trying to become myself and start becoming like Christ. I don't need to lie anymore because in Him my identity lies.
This last weekend I watched three chick-flicks. Am I embarrassed? A little bit. I mean for the most part chick-flicks all end the same way, so basically I watched the same movie three times. The point is that there needs to be a new genre of movies that is a romantic, manly, funny, action-packed throw down. Am I asking for too much? Probably. But here is a suggestion on how these movies could look like.
Will Ferrell plays a fun loving FBI agent who always has the office laughing, but when it comes to crime, he packs a punch. During one of his jobs he meets a beautiful woman, Liv Tyler, who breaks his heart when she turns out to be an undercover FBI agent. When they both find out about each other's job, Will finds out that she's not interested in him, she's just doing her job, he runs away to New Zealand. Instead of them getting together at the end, Will meets another beautiful woman in New Zealand, and they live happily ever after. Include many explosions, guns, and car chases.
Today, I had the first coffee of the summer. What does that mean for me? I'm tired.
Summer is supposed to be a time where a student gets to relax from all his school work and just get away. While I have been able to relax from school work, I haven't really been able to get away. I'be been working on campus since school got out, and I'm actually waking up earlier than I did during the school year.
I know what you are saying, "Welcome to the real world, Sam." Well, the real world sucks, at least during the summer time. During the school year, my mind gets burnt out but right now my body is burnt out. I'm physically tired, yet I'm ready for school to start.
I think this is a mixture of my poor social life right now and the excitement I have for this next semester. Seriously, I'm pumped for school. There's going to be soccer, Greek, friends whose lives have changed over the summer, and a whole array of surprises.
Right now I'm beating my body to a pulp by training for soccer and working 40 hours a week, but come Autumn, I'll be glad I did it. As far as mental readiness, all I've really done this summer mentally is watch LOST with Spencer, which is pretty mentally straining, but I think I'm going to start working on Green today. It should be a good start for next semester.
Tonight, I'm eating at the Wallace household which I'm pumped for. Spencer is gone this weekend which means no LOST for me. If anybody has some ideas of what I should do with my time leave me a comment. I always open to new ideas. Also, follow me on twitter if you have one. I generally yave some funny thoughts throughout the day that I put on there. @samis_1991
I feel like I've been disrespected too many times, and it's time for vengeance. Well, that's a terrible idea on my part because there are many things that are pointless to get angry about: people who cut in front of you, the guy who chews too loud, rogue unicorns, the guy who holds the pound key on your phone for a really long time, that person who doesn't respond even though they've answered the last 3 you've sent, and the like.
