New Train

Ok, so I lost that train of thought... it's been a few days, and I just can't get back into that same space. It'll come back, tho - I'm sure of it.

After talking about the oddities of the whole "Dating Game", my roommate and I decided that it would be just as good if we adopted a son. There are 4 of us guys living together in a smallish house, and we all have differing schedules; so, I'm sure we could pull it off. This whole idea came about out of frustration w. women, but the desire to be fathers.... so, here's the solution.
Tho, should any of us ever marry, we'd probably have the world's most dysfunctional family. The boy would have 4 dads, whom would have split custody, and one Mom who'd have to be at least slightly odd to fall in love w. a guy who's fathering an adopted child w. 3 other men. When that happens, we were thinking of moving into a duplex, or maybe buying some land, and just building houses as the need arose. Could you imagine it? This little commune of 4 couples all sharing one son!!
I told you I was odd!!!

But, if we did go ahead w. this adoption idea, our dateless days would be numbered! Chicks would eat up the whole 'single dad' bit... until they found out we weren't really single dads :-s
Yeah... sometimes I even shake my head at myself. Demented, isn't it!?

But, you know what? This is the core of possibility thinking.... "What if?" I mean, sure it's completely daft to be thinking about 4 20-something guys adopting a kid; but, what if we did? I mean, anything is really possible. I believe it's good practice to use your imagination to create different 'realities' for your future. It gives you the ability to plan and to visualize what you want to do when you begin a project. It's good practice in goal-setting and planning.
Go ahead, give it a try.... it doesn't really matter how insane your idea is, just play it out in your imagination. Remember how you did that, then, when you have a project, goal or plan that you want to accomplish, do the same thing. Make a mental movie of how it's going to turn out - picture yourself succeeding. Try to stick w. the plan, but don't be totally dismayed if it doesn't turn out exactly as you pictured it - things rarely do at first.
But, the more we learn in life, the better we'll be able to direct these mental movies, and the better we'll be able to build our own futures. Read that book - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People... good stuff.

OK, I'm done gabbin for a bit.... Food for Thought!

J

Making an old thing new

I'm sitting here listening to Bon Jovi's "This Left Feels Right" album, where they've given a new sound some of the best songs they've done over the years. Most of them are great - I love the recreativity.

It reminds me of something Jesus said to some people who asked him why He and His dudes weren't doing things the same way the other religious ppl of the time. His response was, "You don't pour new wine into an old wineskin..."
Basically, He was saying that He's taking the old way of doing things, and making it new. You can't do the new thing in the old system, or both will suffer - or be destroyed.... basically, they can't coexist, the old and new are incompatible. It's not so incompatible, tho, that there can't be any interaction... you can keep a new wineskin on the same shelf as an old one.
It's like Bon Jovi - they don't have to stick w. this new sound for ever now. They can keep the "Left" album on the shelf w. the others.
You can have the new expression in the same city, area as the old one... but, they won't be able to be expressed at the same time and place.

I find that a lot w. church. I go to a church that is pretty different from others, in some ways. But, I'm still an odd one there. I keep most of my 'theologies' to myself there. There are only a couple of friends from church that I share some of these 'extreme' thoughts w. It' s not time to discuss the fact that Time may not exist, or that I'm not sure if "unsaved people" are going to hell. Tho, topics like that definitely make for some great discussion w. open-minded people. Most ppl just shut down to ideas that challenge the current 'reality'.
Living life w. an attitude of "what if" is great - especially, if you can ask, "what if I'm wrong?" That's got to be one of the toughest questions for most ppl in NA to ask - we seem to think we've got it all figured out. But, there's so much to life, we'll likely never understand it all. I have begun moving ahead of life trying to find Truth, and seeing that things I was sure were true, were in fact not complete, or even completely wrong!
Listen to God more, I'm sure you'll find the same. When we shut-up long enough to actually listen (to anyone!) it's amazing what you can learn. It's OK to be lead, we really don't have to figure it all out on our own.

Dang! Wish I could keep typing, but I've got to head out.

I'll be back, and hopefully jump back on this train of thought.

When's the right time to move forward?

You ever seemingly have so many choices to make at one time. Some you know you should move ahead on; others you know should wait on; yet, endlessly more you have no idea which way to turn.

It seems the most confusing choice in life has to do with Love. I thought I had it all figured out almost 4 years ago; but, here I am, just as single as I was on my 12th birthday (a lot more than 4 yrs ago :-D). I have a strong belief in what I hear from God - I wouldn't call myself an oracle or a prophet (yet), but I've heard quite right many times... except when it comes to love - or so it seems.
I think I'm sitting in the right place right now, as hard as it is. It's kind of fun being single again, tho. I'm finding that old feeling again - feeling quite confident and comfortable in who I am. When there isn't that special lady at your side all of the time, you get to know yourself pretty good. I'm also reading some good books....
I always recommend some good deep study of the Good Book. You'll find all of life's answers there - and I do mean all. If you're not satisfied, look harder... study harder... open your mind and heart to the One who can teach your heart how to live. Every other book only adds revelation to what we learn from this great Word.
One of these other books that I am currently forging thru is Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. A must read for anyone interested in growing in their own self-awareness, and working toward becoming the best person you can.

So, back to wondering when to move ahead - especially with this Love thing. There is this lovely woman I am interested in. I've known her for quite a while, and know her quite well, but she's a little cool toward me. I know I could crack thru that shell w. just a little persistence, and my charming whit (did I mention that I'm hott, to boot! :-D). But, one of the greatest Songs ever written has a line that says not to arouse love before her time. I could really see things going all the way with this fair maiden, so I don't really want to get things rolling before we're both ready.
I'm inclined to wait... be my irresistible self, and wait for her to make the move. I know it will come, but I may be waiting a while. In the mean time, do I keep an eye out for the other "Miss Right", if indeed she does exist; or, do I keep it cool and just bide my time for this fish?

As the rest of life goes on, I seem to seek God about other things... I've not inquired of Him about my love life in a while. It seems the last time I did that, He told me one thing... didn't tell her anything, then told us two different things at the same time. I'm not saying He's vindictive and likes to see us frustrated, nor am I saying we misheard. What I do know is that He knows the end of time right from the beginning - He's got everything figured out, and I'm just stuck in this very finite time and space. No matter how much I think I've got life figured out - He's always vastly more right than I.

So, here I go... along in life. I'm actually quite used to not knowing anymore. It's fun, frustrating, curious, and hopeful. Life is Good - I'm sure of it.

Hello All!

I found this place while checking out the members section of a discussion forum I frequent. One of my friends listed her site there - she's a Blogger. Now I am too! Thanks, Ali.

I haven't figured out how to drive traffic to this site yet... how will my friends & family find my odd ponderings, and add their own. I guess I'll add it to my email sig, and share it w. ppl on the discussion forums.

If anyone's around, I welcome you to my odd ponderings. I warn you now... I am a thinker - I consider myself a Christian, but many other Christians would view my thoughts as heresy! I don't believe in a shallow existence, tho silliness is required from time to time... just to keep life from becoming burdensome.

Feel free to post comments anytime. I'll be back w. more ponderings :-)