Hello,
Have you ever gone to bed thinking what does tomorrow bring? How does the future look...? Is it dark? bleak? Is there a big shining light at the end of the tunnel? Do you just want to turn around and go back the other way?
For me, it's the constant countdown running down to November 7, 2015... It is the day that I am about to be a husband... someone who cares for his wife just like a real husband should.
As a follower of Jesus Christ and his teachings. Jesus Christ taught us many things and Paul elaborated on those teachings in his epistles. Paul said: "Wives, submit to your husbands as you would the lord. He is the head of wife as Christ is the head of the church."
However... in continuing... Paul also states to the husbands: "Love your wife as you would love the LORD."
Joanna and I are going to have a traditional marriage. We both work, have lives, do the housework together, pay the bills, work hard, and we are going to make our marriage last even beyond our olden years together.
We are the last of our families to get married and it does come with some sadness to our mothers and fathers because... this is the last child they are sending out into the world. It is just such a big event.
---
Reality is setting in... I know I won't be the perfect husband but I know darn well I do my very best to be the best husband.
It's really weird to even saying that: "Husband..."
This coming from the guy who didn't think he was going to see the light of marriage... seeing friends see me get married to the one I am giving my heart to permanently...
I didn't think it would happen. I thought I was going to be a single man with no kids going into my 40s and living by myself.
But at 28 years old... I'm just 77 days away from giving my heart to Joanna.
Ever since I've been with Joanna, I've keep knowing more and more that I've made a great decision. I've made new friends, got rid of a lot of rubbish and fakers in my life, people who just want the handout... I've made some incredible strides at work by getting not one but two new jobs...
Changes were coming regardless. I fought hard for a new job and got it... Don't have to work my weekends anymore... I'm spending more time with the LORD in the church... I'm doing everything I can to make my life so much better.
Not to mention I bought a house on my own without any parental help... I purchased my honeymoon without any parental decisions... I'm learning how to do things on my own...
It's time for me to get up, be a man, and take charge of my life... That's exactly what I did.
---
I wrote a very special letter to Joanna that will be delivered on our wedding day in regards to how happy I am to be marrying someone so wonderful and right for me.
---
When I pledged marriage to Joanna with that engagement... Right there, I grew up. Bottom line... and she's been there for me through the best, worst, head-scratching, crazy, and outrageous of times.
And as I learned, it's my job to be there for the best, worst, head-scratching, crazy, and outrageous of times.
---
I pledge to be a good and very valued husband and I will be. I got God on my side and Jesus at the ready patting me on the back.
Brandon, a friend of mine, at Steve's party yesterday said:
"The nerves kick in about an hour before the wedding begins..."
---
~ Joshua
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
A realist Orioles fan...
Hello,
So the O's are having a stretch where they are once again, up and down and still in the run for the playoffs. As I've wanted to be a radio announcer since I was 14, isn't the rule: You have to be objective? And yes, I am being extremely objective and critical.
In 2014, the Orioles won the American League East, making a few band-aid moves, but it worked out because a lot of people didn't understand our strategy. We had a strength of our bullpen, a great D, and we lived and died by the home run. To build upon that great success, I was hoping Dan Duquette would use the money wisely enough to make some moves do so. Instead, he let Nick Markakis walk... he let Nelson Cruz go and he's having great success with Seattle... and now... the O's are up and down and don't know what to do. The O's once again sat on their hands, watched everyone else improve, and teams re-worked their strategies.
Fans say: "But we increased our payroll."
You increased payroll, ok. BUT WHAT IMPROVEMENTS DID YOU MAKE!?!?!? Dan Duquette, you were so distracted by the President and CEO job of the Toronto Blue Jays, that you didn't do a thing!
Folks, I am a Orioles Fan, but there's a thing called: Being a realist.
The pitching this year has let us down badly... We've turned a corner with our D after a questionable first half. We're still free swinging at the ball, just living and dying by the homerun. Might I also state that we also have NO MINOR LEAGUE TALENT younger than 24 READY to come up to the big leagues. We don't have any promising prospects at all! See, my feeling is, if they don't get into the major leagues by 25? They are a career minor leaguer... Our farm system is the OLDEST in professional baseball at 27.8.
Do you guys not understand that the farm system is barren and has no ready talent to come up. Hobgood.... huge bust... Bundy... not even close to being ready, he's oft injured and never ready to go. I gave him time, but I'm running out of patience with him.
I figured some of these guys we had doing really good right now were young and poised and ready to go... Nope, some of them are going into their 30s... Does that not speak any volumes?
I continue to say, we got a lot of questions on our team and understand, our future does not seem to be very bright as Dan Duquette has already stated: WE'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY.
YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO COMPETE AND CONTEND... You have to get the right talent to help the rookies grow up.
---
Fans, if we have enough to carry the team to the postseason. That's fantastic. But anything less than the World Series after being in the ALCS means the season was a failure.
Last year wasn't luck, it was just a lot of strengths we had finally come together.
---
I also ask Adam Jones to stop being such a pathetic prick. Look man, if you say you are the leader you so claim to be then you need to start acting like it and not being so arrogant and uncaring of where this team goes.
---
Losing Markakis was a huge mistake. He was the true leader of the team and spoke when spoken to. He spoke up when he had to. He was the true captain of the team and just did his job. He was very mild-mannered.
---
Fans,
Can you please hear me out? I'm being objective and a realist. I'm not sure if this team has enough left in the tank to get to the postseason... This team is on E... There's no minor league talent ready to come up to help the team... Fans, we may have to face it... there is nothing like in the tank. I hope we have something big come down the stretch, but I don't have a lot of hope for this year or next... Dan Duquette has made it clear that not much is changing next offseason in terms of spending.
Does that not ALARM YOU!? Seriously? Does that not make you a bit fearful about the team's future? This team has no ready prospects and the future is pretty dark.
This is why we need to spend and make signings... it starts this offseason.
~ Joshua
So the O's are having a stretch where they are once again, up and down and still in the run for the playoffs. As I've wanted to be a radio announcer since I was 14, isn't the rule: You have to be objective? And yes, I am being extremely objective and critical.
In 2014, the Orioles won the American League East, making a few band-aid moves, but it worked out because a lot of people didn't understand our strategy. We had a strength of our bullpen, a great D, and we lived and died by the home run. To build upon that great success, I was hoping Dan Duquette would use the money wisely enough to make some moves do so. Instead, he let Nick Markakis walk... he let Nelson Cruz go and he's having great success with Seattle... and now... the O's are up and down and don't know what to do. The O's once again sat on their hands, watched everyone else improve, and teams re-worked their strategies.
Fans say: "But we increased our payroll."
You increased payroll, ok. BUT WHAT IMPROVEMENTS DID YOU MAKE!?!?!? Dan Duquette, you were so distracted by the President and CEO job of the Toronto Blue Jays, that you didn't do a thing!
Folks, I am a Orioles Fan, but there's a thing called: Being a realist.
The pitching this year has let us down badly... We've turned a corner with our D after a questionable first half. We're still free swinging at the ball, just living and dying by the homerun. Might I also state that we also have NO MINOR LEAGUE TALENT younger than 24 READY to come up to the big leagues. We don't have any promising prospects at all! See, my feeling is, if they don't get into the major leagues by 25? They are a career minor leaguer... Our farm system is the OLDEST in professional baseball at 27.8.
Do you guys not understand that the farm system is barren and has no ready talent to come up. Hobgood.... huge bust... Bundy... not even close to being ready, he's oft injured and never ready to go. I gave him time, but I'm running out of patience with him.
I figured some of these guys we had doing really good right now were young and poised and ready to go... Nope, some of them are going into their 30s... Does that not speak any volumes?
I continue to say, we got a lot of questions on our team and understand, our future does not seem to be very bright as Dan Duquette has already stated: WE'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY.
YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO COMPETE AND CONTEND... You have to get the right talent to help the rookies grow up.
---
Fans, if we have enough to carry the team to the postseason. That's fantastic. But anything less than the World Series after being in the ALCS means the season was a failure.
Last year wasn't luck, it was just a lot of strengths we had finally come together.
---
I also ask Adam Jones to stop being such a pathetic prick. Look man, if you say you are the leader you so claim to be then you need to start acting like it and not being so arrogant and uncaring of where this team goes.
---
Losing Markakis was a huge mistake. He was the true leader of the team and spoke when spoken to. He spoke up when he had to. He was the true captain of the team and just did his job. He was very mild-mannered.
---
Fans,
Can you please hear me out? I'm being objective and a realist. I'm not sure if this team has enough left in the tank to get to the postseason... This team is on E... There's no minor league talent ready to come up to help the team... Fans, we may have to face it... there is nothing like in the tank. I hope we have something big come down the stretch, but I don't have a lot of hope for this year or next... Dan Duquette has made it clear that not much is changing next offseason in terms of spending.
Does that not ALARM YOU!? Seriously? Does that not make you a bit fearful about the team's future? This team has no ready prospects and the future is pretty dark.
This is why we need to spend and make signings... it starts this offseason.
~ Joshua
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Sunday Sermon: Fear
Good Evening,
Today in church was a discussion and talk about fear. We all have fears, even superheroes had fears, families have fears, and even Jesus had a fear.
Fear is an incredibly common thing among all the residents of the green Earth. We all have a fear of something.
For me, it's spiders and dogs... I've always had a huge fear of spiders and believe me if I see one on our trip to Cozumel... I'm turning myself around and saying: Uh... No.
My fear of dogs began when I was 2 years old and I was bit. My friend Megan P.'s dog bit me and that hurt. Thanks Megan.
But fear is something that comes with the integrity of our lives and how we play our cards down the road. Fear is something that comes natural with our lives and we're all going to have it.
Phobias come in all shapes and sizes:
Algophobia is the fear of pain.
Bibliophobia is the fear of books.
Catagelophobia is the fear of being ridiculed.
Cynophobia is the fear of dogs.
Doxophobia is the fear of opinions.
Kopophobia is the fear of fatigue.
There's over 40,000 listed phobias. Everyone's got one. Why not make Pittsaphobia... Fear of Pittsburgans... or Ohiaphobia... Fear of Ohioans... Or how about Baltimophobia... Fear of Baltimoreans.
Some you can just make up, some of real, or... some... just don't make sense.
----
Jesus himself, probably had a fear of being alone, that's why he always had his disciples with him as they were his followers.
----
But why am I talking about fear?
Fear is something we have to deal with everyday of our lives and not only that, it's part of who we are.... there are many pieces of us we won't necessarily understand but... fear is what we have to deal with day in and day out.
---
And Jesus, I pray that we can overcome our fears... Fears are difficult... Fears are painful... We either have the fear of seeing some crazy... or seeing a pickle... doesn't matter. Fears are tough... Help us all to overcome the fears and phobias of life each day.
Amen.
~ Joshua
Today in church was a discussion and talk about fear. We all have fears, even superheroes had fears, families have fears, and even Jesus had a fear.
Fear is an incredibly common thing among all the residents of the green Earth. We all have a fear of something.
For me, it's spiders and dogs... I've always had a huge fear of spiders and believe me if I see one on our trip to Cozumel... I'm turning myself around and saying: Uh... No.
My fear of dogs began when I was 2 years old and I was bit. My friend Megan P.'s dog bit me and that hurt. Thanks Megan.
But fear is something that comes with the integrity of our lives and how we play our cards down the road. Fear is something that comes natural with our lives and we're all going to have it.
Phobias come in all shapes and sizes:
Algophobia is the fear of pain.
Bibliophobia is the fear of books.
Catagelophobia is the fear of being ridiculed.
Cynophobia is the fear of dogs.
Doxophobia is the fear of opinions.
Kopophobia is the fear of fatigue.
There's over 40,000 listed phobias. Everyone's got one. Why not make Pittsaphobia... Fear of Pittsburgans... or Ohiaphobia... Fear of Ohioans... Or how about Baltimophobia... Fear of Baltimoreans.
Some you can just make up, some of real, or... some... just don't make sense.
----
Jesus himself, probably had a fear of being alone, that's why he always had his disciples with him as they were his followers.
----
But why am I talking about fear?
Fear is something we have to deal with everyday of our lives and not only that, it's part of who we are.... there are many pieces of us we won't necessarily understand but... fear is what we have to deal with day in and day out.
---
And Jesus, I pray that we can overcome our fears... Fears are difficult... Fears are painful... We either have the fear of seeing some crazy... or seeing a pickle... doesn't matter. Fears are tough... Help us all to overcome the fears and phobias of life each day.
Amen.
~ Joshua
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
End of movie theatres as we know it
Hello all,
Recently, we've seen 3 movie theatre shootings and a question lingering: Is this the end of movie theatres as well know it?
I'm thinking it may just be...
With the advent and dawn of REDBOX, NETFLIX, AMAZON PRIME, and other movie services and with the constant rises in movie ticket and food prices to keep up with profits... I think the decline of the movie theatre is officially here.
Attendance at movie theatres has declined steadily since the advent of movie streaming services. According to some sources, movie theatre attendance is down 20%. People are just not getting up to go to movies anymore nowadays.
January and February are the worst times for new releases due to people not having the money to even go.
People are also afraid of going due to the continued number of shootings going on in theatres. We saw the most major massacre in Colorado with the Century 16 shooting with James E. Holmes.
---
I personally believe this is the proverbial end for movie theatres.
~ Joshua
Recently, we've seen 3 movie theatre shootings and a question lingering: Is this the end of movie theatres as well know it?
I'm thinking it may just be...
With the advent and dawn of REDBOX, NETFLIX, AMAZON PRIME, and other movie services and with the constant rises in movie ticket and food prices to keep up with profits... I think the decline of the movie theatre is officially here.
Attendance at movie theatres has declined steadily since the advent of movie streaming services. According to some sources, movie theatre attendance is down 20%. People are just not getting up to go to movies anymore nowadays.
January and February are the worst times for new releases due to people not having the money to even go.
People are also afraid of going due to the continued number of shootings going on in theatres. We saw the most major massacre in Colorado with the Century 16 shooting with James E. Holmes.
---
I personally believe this is the proverbial end for movie theatres.
~ Joshua
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