First Day Jitters

Wow...the first day of school came and went. Kids don't arrive until Wednesday. I saw so many familiar faces and so many excited teachers. It was fun being back in school...I know I used the word fun. But I like my job and the people I work with most of the time. In fact, I have taught at almost every building in Mason....I know almost all the teachers. It is kind of cool. Everyone knows me, so I kind of feel important....even though I am just a High School art teacher. :o)

But it is like the first day of school..."so what did you do this summer?" The most common question from those that haven't seen you in three months. I talked about Germany and was surprised that so many people knew about it from other people...and wanted to hear all about it. It was so cool to see God working in the public schools. After the typical welcome back to school first day activities we broke down into buildings for school briefings and meetings. The high school teachers had an ice breaker that the principals made....it was a cross word puzzle that we had to complete in groups of five. Each person's last name was a word in the puzzle. The clue for each name was something that they had done over the summer....they had it down that I went on a mission trip to Germany....I was shocked that they remembered...and that was how they had described me. It got better when we left to our departments...because one of the principal's asked "so did you grow alot spiritually from the mission trip?...Did it make you have a closer relationship with God?...it is so good that I can talk about this with you at school" I couldn't believe it! How awesome!

Cleaning the House

For those of you that know me...you know that this is a big deal. First of all...I hate cleaning...at least by myself that is. When I was little, my sister and I use to the clean the house for my mom. It was how we made an allowance. We would dust, pick up stuff, clean the rooms, vaccum, take out the trash, mow the yard, clean up doggy doodoo...the whole nine yards. It was kind of fun when we did it. For some reason we would fight over who got to dust and vaccum...it was kind of wierd. I usually won being the oldest....I would con her into doing something else. Each chore was assigned a certain $$$ value and I would always try to take the high $$$ chores. I always cut the grass...because that paid ten dallors...I was daddy warbucks after I cut the grass...just rollin' in dough....of course it always took me several hours to do. She and I loved to clean for some reason.

Now it is different. I am by myself with four pets...and hard wood floors. The vaccum really only works upstairs, I have to use a regular broom. No one to share the chores with makes for a lot of work for me. I have had some help cleaning...thanks Yi. But what happened to the fun that it use to be when I was kid?

Ish Concert

I went to the Jackson County Fair last night to watch the Riverview band "Ish" play. They were really good. There were actually a lot of people there considering it was a "fair" stage. It would've been cooler if they had gotten to play on the mainstage....in fact I think they were better than the pre-show for Switchfoot. I bought a set of tickets from Noel...they were sweet seats....2nd row dead center. I felt kind of out of place though with all of the screaming teenage girls surrounding us. Oh ya...forgot to mention....HMB was there with me...we had met up at the "Ish" concert coincidentally. Hadn't seen her in over two weeks...it was nice to catch up a little. But anyways....the concert was good. After the concert HMB and I went around to see the sights the fair...eat some fair grub....and see the animals. Oh ya...FYI...it is not cool to tell your friend to "watch out" as they step in cow crap...and then laugh at them. Man...I will find my revenge on that one...you just wait. But it was a good time...

After walking around waiting for the concert to begin...we finally went to see Switchfoot. I only knew about four of the songs...but they were really good. We were crammed into folding chairs...and had to crawl over a guy with crutches to sit down for the concert. The preband was still playing...not bad...but like I said before..."Ish" was a lot better. The weather was really muggy though....so we skipped out after they played the three songs we really knew well. So I guess we heard 8 songs or so...(random thought: can you start and end a sentence with a the word "so"?....well I just did :P) I thought about the concert...and the fun I had hanging with HMB....walked back to my car and left. Went to bed and had some crazy dreams about the president being attack in the middle east...and then woke up this morning.

Angry and Mad

I have been trying to spend a lot of time lately just contemplating life and trying to listen for God's direction....through prayer and reading my bible. What I can't stand is all of the slack I take from friends and family when I get questions about my life that only God really knows. For instance...

"Joey, when are you ever going to get married?"
"How come you haven't found a girlfriend?"
"How come you are not more active in finding someone to date?"
"Why do you spend so much time praying and reading your bible?"
"When is your car going to run again?"...had to throw that one in there....
"How come you are so busy?"
The list is really long...but you kind of get the idea....these are all things that piss me off!

While it is totally true...almost every single friend I have is married, having kids, or intently "dating" someone, my time needs to be spent seeking God for him to move me....not for me to try and move him!

First, let me just say...I haven't dated anyone in nearly a year. For some that might not seem like that long of time....but for me....it has seemed like an eternity based on the circumstances I have been through....and for friends and relatives...I guess they see me coming up on 27 and are worried. Well let me put the worries to rest! GOD IS IN CONTROL PEOPLE! I haven't dated anyone because I don't feel God has place the right person in my life....I spend a lot of time praying and reading the Bible so I can find out more about God and his purpose for me....I am busy because if I wasn't I would probably go insane and become a hermit on some mountain top talking to wild animals.....wait....maybe that last part is coming fulfilled with all of the pets that inhabit my residence. Just kidding....but seriously....People wonder why I get worked up about things like this....it's because they are always constantly bothering me with the same frickin' questions....which I don't have the answers to!!!! Simply reitterated....GOD IS IN CONTROL PEOPLE! If God wants me to get married....then I don't have much choice....if he doesn't...then I will just wait for him. Sounds like a sound thing to do.

While my car is nearly running again...and I am doing well on the outside....inside I am frustrated. I do want God to put someone in my life, but I don't want to be in control of that situation....I always screw it up! He needs to heal me and guide me spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I am giving God time to change me and prepare me so when I do meet someone...I will be ready...mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and willingly. So the next person that ask's me "Joey....why...." I might just explode...and deck them in the face! Or more likely just say "Hey...God is in control...that is good enough for me!"

So if there is anyone out there who still reads this....pray for this for me....please. ;o)

So I might be a slum Lord...

Ok...I have been thinking of ways to make extra money and have it be steady income. Well a good friend of mine sells and buys real estate and has made enough money so he really doesn't need to work...it supplys him with enough to live on and fund his full time ministry...he can just live off of the income from the properties he owns...but he still works. This same guy is one of my closest Christians friends and a mentor to me in many ways. So I asked him if he could show me how to manage properties and if he thought it would be a good investment for me...

He told me that I should absolutely get into owning rentals if I could afford it. He told me to start with just one or two...and grow slowly. I found the perfect place. It happens to be in Charlotte, and it is next door to one of my closest friends. Eric told me about it and said I should buy it...coincidence that I would have these two conversations within a short period of a week....I think not. I have been praying about it for a long while now...and maybe God is showing me a smart way of investing my income. My house I live in has been a good investment...so why not try to get another one...and let other people pay me to live in it...right? Eric has even agreed to be the super...since he lives right next door and knows a lot about plumbing, electrical, etc. I think it is a good idea.

I discussed the plan with Chuck...my Christian friend...and he agreed it was a good and smart buy. We went through it today...and I wrote an offer. If it gets accepted...I will then own a house and a three unit rental property officially making me a land lord. I am excited and nervous. This is a big risk chance I am taking....so anyone who reads this...please pray for me to be financially smart....

Waves of an Ocean

The ups and downs of life remind me of waves of an ocean. I mean...Have you ever seen the waves....They never cease...Always slowly washing away the shore with their constant monotonous pounding. Life is like that. If you have something that you try to push out of mind...something you just don't want to deal with...something you just want to block out of your thoughts....it begins to act like small ripples at first and eventually becomes the ocean of relentless waves. It will surface unexpectedly...creeping in at the most inconvienent times...Like when you are just about to fall asleep. Some might call it conscience...others over active emotions. Maybe it has to do with both. Maybe neither. Sometimes the emotions overtake you and you are left feeling sad and lonely...mad at the way the cards have fallen.

But then comes the light...at least it does for me. A warming sensation that there is still someone who loves you...even if other people may not. He knows you by name...has seen every mistake and success you have ever had....and love you despite it all. He has paid the price for every horrible thing you have done, are about to do, or will do for the rest of you days on Earth. He is like the Lighthouse and peir....protecting you from being totally washed away from the taunts of Satan telling you that you are no good, no one loves you, you aren't good enough, you are a failure, no one could forgive you from that!, etc. The truth of the matter is...despite these fleeting emotions...God is in control...if you will let him be. He wants the best for you...even if you don't agree with what the "best" is. Letting go is hard...especially when you are scared of what you might lose by letting go. But even if I stumble and fall...he will be there to pick me back up and love me. Sometimes he just needs to move you a little. Check out the lyrics from the band FFH....it describes how it feels to need God to move and show you things will be ok.

I can't find the words to pray, I'm a little down today
Can You help me, Can You hold me?
I feel a million miles away, And I don't know what to say

Can You hear me anyway?
What I need is for You to reach out Your hand
You have taught me no matter what You'd understand

CHOURUS:
Lord move in the way, that I've never seen before
Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door
I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore
So Lord move (move), or move me.
END CHOURUS

I've looked every where to find a simple peace of mind
But, I can't find nothing on my own
So I gotta leave myself behind, take up this cross of mine
Give away everything I hold onto
Lord I know the only way is through this
But Lord, I know I need You to help me do this

CHOURUS
Lord move in the way, that I've never seen before
Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door
I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore
So Lord move (move), or move me.

Out of this place of complacency
To a place of fellowship with Thee'
Cause I am weak, but Lord, You are so strong
And You know it's been way too long It's been way too long

Lord move in the way, that I've never seen before
Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door
I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore
So Lord move (move)...,CHOURUS