No Pain - No Gain

So I have a new slogan!  I don't know if it is because Jordan has made fun of the old one, but I believe that I have adopted a new vision in my life.  "No Pain - No Gain" is my new motto.  I have recently found, and maybe because of Pastor's messages on Faith, that if things are to change in one's life, one must take a step of faith first.  With recent events and such, I have come to believe that things don't just happen because they are "planned", but that things happen because of how me decided on something. 

The best example is this: A man prayed to be saved from the rising floods.  A boat passed by and offered him a ride to higher ground.  He passed on the offer and stated, "Thank you, but God will save me for I have asked Him."  As the water rose, he climbed to his roof of his house.  A passing helicopter dropped a basket with a National Guard officer to help the man.  He once again refused the offer stating, "I have asked God to save me."  The man would later be sweeped away by the high waters and into heaven.  In heaven, the man found God and said, "I asked for help, why did you not save me?"  God replied, "I sent a boat and a helicopter.  I offered the way of escape, but you did not take action."

If we are to move forward in life, we must accept the challenge, take the step of faith, and see what God has in store.  I love how the Angels always said, "Do not be afraid...".  How true this is.  If we allowed fear of the unknown control our lives, where would be?  I know this, I have lived in fear of not trying something new.  I remember the year I played baseball.  I almost did not make the team because I was to afraid to play.  Fortunitly for me, a kid moved out of town opening a spot for me on a roster.  I loved playing and have never forgotten the memories from that one and only season I played.  Junior camp at the Wilds with Greg and others.  I will never forget how much fuss I gave my mom about not wanting to go.  After she made me go, I loved it.  I will never forget how great carried 4 kids to win a challenge or how I was assured of my salavation.  Heck, I even jumped off the rock with my camp leaders pushing and proding.  Those happen to be great examples of what happened when I answered the call and took that step to see where it went.  One in which I currently am not proud of would be my recent trip to Chick-fil-A corporate.  Offered an interview for project IF, but did not really wanna go.  Today, maybe after all I've learned, realized that I missed a great opportunity with the company I would love to join one day. 

Since that day, I have interview other places, been offered 2 jobs, and accepted one of them.  I normally would have rejected this opportunities, but after God put me into situations were I was uncomfortable, I took that step.  Call me crazy, but maybe today I realized that it's time for me to step up and be that guy.  I know I've said it before, but I really do wanna be that guy!  I wanna be successful, I wanna make people proud, and I want to proud in things that I'm able to accomplish.  Take myself seriously in life.  Have some confidence in myself.  It's funny that someone that I bearly know would offer me a job opportunity.  Even crazier that an operator that bairly knows me would suggest something so astonishing, something that I should have already known, and how it has left such an impact on my life.  Oh, heck, can't forget a rejection letter as well!   I mean, I didn't even ask her out and I was rejected!  I tried and it FAILED!  But that is ok, because, as Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. "  So, I'm ok with failure because it is failure that will help me be a success. 

I wanna be something great, but before that, as Teddy said, "Before one can be a leader, one must humble himself."  Humble, uncomfortable, confused, and with only place to turn is where I believe I find myself today.  No Todd, no real "future", no girl, no real success at work, and little success at school.  But I have a family, Christian friends, a church family, and a new boss.  After watching a movie last night in which I was very much disappointed in myself for watching.  I tossed and turned all night with images and thoughts in my head from it.  I regreted not reviewing it before going.  Those are the chances I do not want to take anymore.  I want to take a chance in the areas where I know I'm safe to be entering.  Psalm 37:5 "Commit they way unto the Lord, trust also in him."  Haven't really been commited, haven't really been pure of heart, of speech, or sound mind. Tomorrow is a new day at CFA and a new day to try to stand up for what I know I should be doing.  Only the supernatural can be fufilled if we do what we can.  God will not use us if we are not willing to step forward first and do all that we can do first.  Even if that means enduring some kind of pain, then I know there will be some kind of gain.

No Pain - No Gain

IF

Imagine your Future... that's right, I'm gonna be doing that this summer, but not with CFA.  The plan now is to take a trip along the south coast for a week.  Save up the cash now and it shouldn't be to hard to see that happen.

On another note... I have an interview at Cardinal Fitness on Friday at 6.  I'm going for a few part time hours since CFA can only get me about 28hours a week.  It will be good over the summer since I'll be able to work like 60 hours or something.  I'd like to pay off the 'stang ASAP.

Still single and still fly.  Don't mind it to much, but it would be nice to chat with that special someone every once and awhile.  I guess that is why God has given me good friends and girl friends at that . 

Playing bball twice a week, school full time, and working about 30 hours a week really isn't that hard to do.  I get alot of free time on the weekends, so Tim, Luke and I have been playing alot of Risk.  By the way, Luke is a cheater and this will be forever noted on this xanga

~Keep it Real~

A chip on a shoulder that is about to give way

I'm close to tippin' over the edge.  Chick-fil-A is all gone to the heck!  Todd is gone and things just haven't been the same when it come to the unity of the store.  Some said that Todd wasn't a good Operator, but truth be told, he had a back-bone and knew how to keep us together as a team.  I'm at sick of the attitudes, tired of waking up to another day of dreading going into work.  Sure, everyone hates me, but I don't really care anymore.  All I want is to be apart of the business again.  I can't take being tied down, sufficated in everyone's lies, drowning in disunity, and lost in all the confusion for power.  I still have a dream, but the path to the end is gonna change, if it hasn't changed already!  So I screwed up by crying a few times after I broke up with Steph and some other little petty things.  Is that really enough to destroy my image?  I guess it is for some...

I want Chick-fil-A for only three reasons; service, coaching, and mentorship.  I have none of these now.  I once had all of these, but they were taken away because some people just couldn't get along with me.  More like people didn't want to change.  Why is it that I'm the one that must always change to the mold of others?  Why can't there be a give and take?  Selfishness, disunity, and lack of goals has destroyed everything that I once loved.  I guess I'm the problem too......  HAHA thats a joke!  Let's just say that it doesn't seem that I'm apart of the Avon future plans.  OR, I don't wanna be apart of the direction of Avon. 

Every since high school I've always been look down on.  Always had to prove something to someone.  Always had work harder.  Always have had leaders look to me to take the lead or fulfill my potential.  I can name all of those that have believed/supported me: Mom and Dad, Mr. Baumer, JV Coach, and Todd.  Only my parents are left in that group of those that are still here.  Each saw/sees something in me that I don't see in myself.

Today, I'm gonna rise above the confusion and show all that I can be all that I can be.  Ironic that this is the Army's motto, especially since this seems to be the only place where honor is paid for and earned. 

I've tried everything for all of you.  I've changed.  Considered all of your ideas and thoughts.  Today is the day that I say, "Enough with the hate!  Enough, I'm my own man and I will have my last word"... when they come.