The One, The Original. My Mommy.

"She opens up my bedroom door,
She's waking me up soon.
"i'm turning on the light" she warns.
It's the little things that you do.
She's the one that start's my day..
My dear mom... my comforter,
My friend forever.
When life's right or wrong,
She is also my laughter,
Yet my sholuder to cry on.

My mom is my super hero
My mom is my world ...

All out of gas no place to go
She knows just what i'll say
She turns and laughs and opens up
Her purse
And gives enough for the week
She didn't have to give but she did
It's just the kind of woman she is
Love, she is love
My dear mom...

My mom is my super hero
My mom is my world...

Love is an action that she shows me often.
Even when it's not in her kisses
Blessed with a mom who puts herself after her children.
It dosen't get much better than priceless
Priceless

My mom is my super hero
My mom is my world..."
-She Is, Between The Trees


One person in my life who I honestly do not give enough credit to in my life is my mother. So I decided that it was time to do another blog on people who have affected and changed my life and who better to write about than my own mother? Mother numero uno. The one who started it all. The big cheese. The bees knees. My mommy.

Me and mothers journey together started on August 28, 1990. That just so happens to be my birthday(what a coincidence!). Not only was this day, kind of important for me, you know being brought into this world and all, but it also marked the day that my mother could start looking at me and saying, "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."- One of her favorite quotes. haha. No lets not take this day and make it a joke. My mother gave birth to her first son on August 28th, 1990 and I would say her life has forever been different. This was the day that started it all. The day she was accepted to her new job and new position. The day she became a mother.

And a mother she has been since that day and a good one at that. She has been a full time mom since then and still continues to being that the youngest of her 6 children is just about to turn 9 this year. So she has departed from the diapers completely and I'm sure she thanks God for that everyday. haha. But there was a time in her life where she was changing diapers more than she even breathed in one day. And she was always there for us. Always there when the diaper was soiled. Always there when the tears poured down our faces because of falling down. She was and has always been there for us.

My mom isn't only a mom though. She also is an amazing teacher who has impacted the lives of so many women in our churches. It amazes me still at 19 to hear women come up to my mom and thank her for all she has done in there lives. Or when they show up at our house with tears in their eyes, and mom was there for them. I'll never forget the presence of now Mrs. Carmen Cook and Joanna Harris in my house. At 10 years old having these young women at our house was always a treat. haha Not in that way though. They were some of the coolest people I had ever met at that time. Johanna worked for a record label named, Flickr Records, and always brought me cds when she came over that she had gotten from her work. She and Carmen were so cool, but I never realized why they were there. And now at 19 I remember that they were so present in my life for a little while and I realize why. They were there because they were some of mom's girls. Girls/women who came to mom with questions and mom always reached out to them with love and respect.

Joanna and Carmen are not the only 2 women my mother has had an impact on, believe me. Her class And God Made Woman, is amazing. I may get angry with her at times for not putting into book form yet, but then I have to realize it might not be her time yet. Or that might not even be her calling. I hope it is, because I know that she has such a gift in her teaching and her words have impacted so many, why not reach more? But I can't force a situation. I am not God. I do not know what His plan for her is. Only He knows. And I pray and know that God will lead my mom wherever she needs to go.

One thing about my mom that is so special is that she is the number one mom. Yes she holds the title. I have 3 moms, Mama number 1-My mom, the title holder. Mama number 2 is actually a position held by two people. Mrs. Kim Graves is my first 2nd mom. Mrs. Kim has been a huge part of my life since I was born, and I have always loved and cherished her. My second 2nd mom is Mrs. Lorrie Harden. Lorrie has been apart of my life for at least the last 8 years. Over the last 2 or 3 years though lorrie and I have really connected and she has been a huge part of my life as well. But the second mom's I love so much, but the love I have for number one is, as it should be, so much stronger. She is the title holder. I mean come on. haha.

I'll never forget all the hundreds of car rides I use to take with my mom and mrs. Kim when I was a kid. Financially we may have not been rich, but I would have never known. My mom always made us feel like we were worth millions. Its funny I hear the things people say they hate because its cheap or something but because that was some of my favorite stuff that I was raised on I love it. I really think my love for just driving and admiring the beauty that passes me, I got that from my mom. We use to just drive because gas was cheap back then. 98 cents when I was a kid. Isn't that nuts?! haha Also that cheap food that you get from Aldi's that you all may hate. I love that stuff. haha. Especially scalloped potatoes. Those are so good. haha. But I'm getting sidetracked here. All this to say, my mother always made us kids feel like we were worth so much. There were not days that passed by that I would look at coop and say, hey are we poor? Never. We always thought we were rich, and we were. To have the love and affection of a mother who cares is worth so much more than money.

My mother has been through so much in her life. She had a rough childhood that honestly amazes me that she is even with me today. I admire her so much for her strength. My mom is one of the strongest people I know. Especially strong willed, but thats a different story. haha. But really, what she endured I can not imagine. How she took her terrible upbringing and transformed what she had gone through, amazes me. My mother was always there arms open and still is there arms open for me. And I know she always will be... unless I vote democrat. haha. just kidding.

Another part of my mother that all of you might not know is her rockstar stage. My mother was a singer for a good portion of her late teens into her 30's. She use to sing and dance at many dinner theaters and restaurants. She did this for years and then she met my dad. They dated, and then eventually got married and then a couple years into their marriage Essential Records asked them to form a wife and husband band for their label. They of course were not reluctant at all, being that they both love to perform, and my dad had just left the band he was in, Uthanda a couple years before. They toured all over the U.S. Sometimes bring me and coop along with them. I'll never forget watching my mom on stage singing in front of all those people. And then the earliest memory I think I can still remember is walking up on stage with my mom and dad and playing guitar with them. I got to experience that because my parents were rockstars. My parents were and are awesome. Yeah, we may give them crap now, and I may give my mom crap every time she brings up that she was a rockstar but this is my time to say it. My mother WAS a rockstar. And still is at times. I am so proud of my mom in all that she has done, even Dream of Eden. I still sing the lyrics to all their songs when I hear them and am truly amazed that my parents really did write great songs.

My mom is so special to me. At times I don't think she knows that. I don't think she'll ever fully understand all that has done for me. She has made me into the boy/man I am today. She is the passion and fire that is inside of me. All of passion I am for certain I get from my mother. Now the logic I probably get from my father, but the passion that's all her department. haha. I have her enormous teeth and my dads small jaw. I have my mothers love and passion and so many more of her characteristics. I am so much of her apart of her and she such a huge part of me. We are together in this walk called life. And I will never leave her side.

Even though I may be getting older mom, you need to know I'll always be your little boy standing next to you with my hand outstretched walking down this road with you. Yeah, sometimes I may pull away, sometimes I may get mad. Sometimes I may screw up and fall. But know that I am still and will always be your little boy. Though I may be getting close to being 20 years old this year, I will always love you and always rely on you for support. I thank you so much for everything you have done. For every boo boo that you mended. For every tear that you wiped. For every time you sat with me in your arms and told me of God's love for me and my brothers and sisters and for every moment we have ever shared. Yes, we have had a couple that I wish we didn't share. But most of the ones that I wish we didn't share are because I took the passion that you gave me(haha) and didn't control that very well. Now yes, there have been moments where you have done the same, but thats ok. Thats why we mesh. We are one in the same. We are a mother and son. We are the same. I am that little piece of you. And I hope that I will make you proud mom. I know that even if I do nothing in this life you will still love me the same and you still be there for me hold and rest my head on your shoulders, even though I have to bend down now to rest my head on your shoulders. haha. Mom you are the greatest and best woman who has entered my life. Thank you

Thank you for every breath you have breathed.

Thank you for loving me and the rest of our family the way you do.

Thank you for being my rock at those moments when I have slipped.

Thank you for being my mom.

And thanks a lot for making me cry at a bookfair, (Note to self no writing blogs at bookfairs anymore. haha)

I love you so much mom, and will always be there for you through the thick and thin, and I know you'll do the same for me.

Yeah, you may be crazy, but thats what I love about you. I'm crazy too, i'm your son. haha.

Thank you for being the person you are.

Thank you for being my one, my only.

Thank you for being my mommy.



Media Associated With This Post:
Song: She is...
Artist: Between The Trees
Album: The Story And The Song

All Pictures taken from my mothers facebook.

Community

So something that has been on my heart lately is community. Friends. Those you surround yourself with and their affect on you. Those we spend so much time with, or those we don't spend anytime with and their impact on us.

"Was losing all my friends
Was losing them to drinking and to driving
Was losing all my friends but I got them back

I am on the mend
At least now I can say that I am trying
And I hope you will forget things I still lack."
-Sowing Season(Yeah), Brand New

I have realized more and more over the last year that people are all that matter in this world. People are the only thing of value, the only thing of worth in this world are the people walking next to us. The guy next to you in the subway is more important than missing the new episode of Fox's new show. The girl who is crying on the park bench is more valuable than a 100 dollars. Why do you think we don't notice this? Why do you think we live in a world that is spent consuming instead of conversing?

Me and my dad were talking at a bookfair yesterday and we were talking about how my generation and society are really getting screwed up in the way that they are raised, and its true. Think about all the number one selling products in the U.S. right now. Think real hard. Ok, out of the 3 first things that came to mind I guarantee that 2 if not 3 of those things are products that are solely for you and your person pleasure. Like ipods or xbox360's. Think about it, these products are designed to have headphones plugged in so you can detach yourself from reality in a way for a little while, or so you can escape in Oblivion on xbox360 instead of living your life. Isn't this twisted? Believe me I'm not against Xbox or ipods, I have both. It just astonishes me to think that so much of our money and time are spent on things that are so selfish and self seeking. Why is this? Where's the disconnect? Why are the ipods selling so much more than footballs for boys to throw around with their dads? Why is this generation becoming a generation raised by television? Why are we all so involuntarily becoming inclusive?

When me and my dad were talking we talked also about how there are so many kids that don't really have the same relationship that me and my dad have. Me and my dad have an awesome and open relationship. I know that I can come to my dad about anything. And that may be the most valuable thing I have in my life. The wisdom of my dad when times get tough. There are so many of us out there who don't take advantage of this amazing gift we have. Guys God gave us dad's for a reason. A father is the closest thing we can relate God to. Even if you're dad left you when you were young it still affects your view of God. Donald Miller wrote in his latest release, Father Fiction, about how he viewed God for years like another kids dad. He's just this nice guy who will smile at you and try and include you, but he still doesn't love you like you are his own. I thought this was so powerful. It puts alot on our dads to really be great examples. Can you imagine the pressure of having your kids image of God scarred by your actions? I can't, but will have to one day when I have kids. I'm starting to get sidetracked, what I am trying to say is, we have these amazing men and women in our lives and we don't take advantage of them. Guys, take advantage of your dads if you have them. Why waste away your life without that awesome relationship? How can you expect to have an amazing relationship with God, if your not willing to try with your own biological father? Just sit and talk with them they will listen. Give it a try.

Another thing we talked about was just this amazing shift in communication. We have gone from a generation who the only way to communicate was by riding your horse or walking to your neighbors house to speak with them. Then we developed phones, but it still was personal because you were still having to speak, but now we are getting completely impersonal. Yeah, it may be you who is typing away on your phone keyboard, but a text is so impersonal. Kids are becoming two or three different people through these ways of communication. Through facebook or texting we are stripping away the art of conversing. Instead of actually walking up to someone and talking to them, we sit behind our computers or phones and type away a short version of a conversation into one little comment. Why? Why are we doing away with conversing? Again, I'm not against facebook or texting, but I am against what it is doing to people. It is making people unsocial in reality, but in the world wide web or behind their phone they find their confidence. And that is wrong. Kids are starting to form relationships through text messaging and facebook and that may be cute, but its not real. You don't see the real raw genuine person. You see the select things they think out to say before they send it. In reality, sometimes it gets ugly in conversations. Sometimes, you get in arguments and you can't just put away the phone, or close facebook. You actually have to deal with it. I wish more people would realize that we are slowly doing away with formal conversing. Maybe its just because I am somewhat of a social person, I enjoy personal conversations. Maybe thats why texting is good for me. Because sometimes I need to just know the answer fast, so i don't call someone up everytime I need something and get into a 30 minute convo. But even in typing that out, I think its a shame that I live my life in this sort of rush to finish things and deny myself and others the opportunity of maybe an amazing conversation...

All I know is this world we live in I'm staring to see is becoming inclusive. We all live our lives with our personal goals, our personal cars and houses. Our personal collections, our jobs and so on and so on. Where's the community? Wheres the fellowship? Do you have enough fellowship in your life? Do you spend enough of your time just in the presence of people and enjoying others? I really think at times that I get so focused on all that I have to do that I forget about that. And I think that's easy. And the hard part for me, is I do that at church sometimes. I'll get so focused on some video I have to shoot, or some task I have to do and I miss the kids who I love talking with, I miss chances to converse and be in fellowship because I'm so focused. I'm not saying don't be focused, or don't have goals, because you have to have those. But what I am saying is don't be so focused that you don't see the others around you.

Something that has been really awesome for me, is my friday or saturday night guy nights. Almost every weekend there is a bunch of guys all hanging out in my room just having fun. It seems like I need that at the end of my week. Just to be able to let go and just enjoy being a boy. Enjoy a stupid movie with my stupid friends/brothers. This community with these boys I realized this weekend really is a spiritual thing. It really is something that is spiritual. To be surrounded by other guys you can relate to who are trying to go through life just like you. We lean on each other for help when its needed. We need this fellowship. We need this time to just be boys and be together. We all need that, boys and girls. Adult or child. We need that time to just be in community with others.

Me and a leader from my church who I greatly respect, Carlos Zarate, went for a walk the other day and just talked. We really didn't do much, we literally sat in a car and then walked around centennial park a couple of times, but I can't tell you how much that meant to me. It was important to me to just have a time with Carlos where I wasn't criticizing something that I didn't agree with with the church. So we walked around and talked, and really even in that moment I realize there is something so spiritual in just conversing with others. Makes you realize that God places these people in your lives for a reason. Makes you realize again the worth of others. It put in perspective again that people really are all that matter in this world. Its not about how much money I made today. I'll get by, I always do. Or what I don't have. Its about those people you are for some reason in contact with. They are of so much value. Take advantage of them. Talk with all of those that you are surrounded by. They are in your lives for a reason.

I am just coming to the realization that I live so thirsty for Community with others.

And I think that I am doing well in quenching that thirst,

But are you?

Don't fall victim to the sales pitches.

Happiness can't be bought through something that you spend all the time alone with.

Reach out to those who surround us.

We are loved by the people we are around and by the God above us who wants us to be community with others.

The first church I think truly was established for Christians to be in unity together talking and doing life. I don't think church was designed to be this place that has clever messages and easy steps to remember that all start with R. At the heart of all of it, I think it was about the community amongst Christians, so that they could grow stronger together. We learn from each others mistakes, we grow so much faster that way. At the root of that first church I really do think it was about the community and the love they shared for God and His Son and His word. So why can't we do that? We can.

Lets strive to make our lives so much more personal.

Lets be in community like the first church. Lets not get jaded by the clever messages and think thats what its about.

Reach out and be in community with others.

The Night Calls For A Change.

"Here I am God, Send Me To The World."
-For Today.

I want to start off by saying there is so much that has happened over the last week or so that I have wanted to talk about but have chosen not to yet. I want to explore some of these areas further before verbally exploding about it on the internet. One of these issues, is Donald Miller's new book. I'll be writing a couple of blogs on the findings I have gotten out of "Father Fiction." Another topic is on what Mattie Montgomery, who I will talk about in this blog, about what he said and dive deep into the moving things he moved in me when I heard him. But I want to research all of these topics deeply and have a firm stance on these issues before writing about them. Because without a solid opinion... I have a weak blog post. All that to say, expect more blog posts, but know one of the reasons I haven't been posting every day, is because I am planning on doing a lot of research myself on these issues. But It's not like life does not go on without posts from Tanner Pemelton. haha. So on with this post already.

Last night Me, my brother Coop, and my brother from another mother Lane went to a show at the church The Anchor in Nashville. We had heard that Mattie Montgomery, the lead singer from a band we all love called For Today, was going to be speaking at this event. So needless to say we wanted to go since we heard about it last month. After a little bit of a struggle on my part, I was so exhausted and didn't really want to go to the show because I was so exhausted from the all nighter we attended the night before. But I knew the boys were excited about it and wanted to go, so of course I wasn't going to tell them no. So we got in the car and left.

We stopped at of course our normally food stop before or after concerts, Checkers on West End, and then headed to the church. The church is located on 3rd Ave south. Its a very small little church in the middle of a city. It really is just a spectacle in itself. So we walked in and found there was probably 25 people in the venue standing around waiting for the show to begin. People kept pouring in throughout the show but in the beginning there couldn't have been anymore than 30 of us. We were standing there talking when a man with long hair and shorts took the stage. He looked at all of us and smiled and said, "Hey guys gather up close up here. Lets be family."Even just writing that makes me feel so good. Because as I'll explain later, Family is the best way of describing my experience with these people that night. The man had to be at least 35 years old. Hair down to his shoulders and tattoos covered both of his calves.I liked this guy from the start. He kicked off the show but introducing the first act, Dependency (Myspace.com/dependencyhc), a local hardcore group. They started the night off well. The band was solid musically. They were tight and it just was that nice reminder of why you love hardcore music.

They finished their set and the band Hundredth (myspace.com/hundredth) took the stage. They kicked off heavy. From the first chord struck you knew this band was going to be as intense as they could be. And they were. They were so heavy, and so tight musically. Everyone in the crowd seem to just really be into the band. The floor up close to the stage was open and the hardcore dancers were beautifully flailing their arms, legs, and bodies with the movement of the music. I will say that I never have been a big fan of hardcore dancing. I have understood it, but it has never been for me. Moshing isn't my thing either though. I am a person who loves watching bands. I love watching a drummer play his instrument. I love watch the guitar players fingers flying across a fretboard. I love watching the intensity in the eyes of the lead singer. I don't like missing these aspects by dancing or moshing. I'm not one of those guys who hates it when people do it. I actually like it. It shows me that someone is into the show. But all that to explain, I saw probably the most amazing display of hardcore dancing during Hundredth's performance. I was watching the band as they moved toward a very heavy progression in the song, once they hit this breakdown, I looked to the pit and watched the kid next to me start to dance. Time slowed down. I watched him through his arms and legs on the left side of this body back as the guitar chord was struck and then very quickly the same action of the other side of his body with the next chord struck. It was like watching those Discovery Channel specials on frogs tongues shooting out to catch the fly. Its art. Its a beautiful display. In that moment I understood it. I appreciated it more.

Hundredth left the stage after an impressive set and then The Glorious Unseen (Myspace.com/thegloriousunseen), a WORSHIP band took the stage. Imagine the thoughts going through my mind at this point. Ok, hardcore show from the very beginning and now a worship band? Ok. So they took the stage, and within two or three songs, we were all singing the words they were broadcasting on the screen behind them with them. We were all in worship together in this moment. This room full of strangers, were all lifting their voices to the heavens. The fans who came for Hundredth and Dependency, and the guys who came just for the worship band. All of us under this roof worshiping together. I can't explain into words how powerful that moment was. After a couple great worship songs, Mattie Montgomery took the stage.

Mattie walked on stage and just started smiling. He looked out into the crowd and said so sincerely, "There's something different about tonight. I've been feeling this all day, in the bus up here, as I was writing this, I was feeling this feeling. Theres is a feeling in this air. I can feel it in this room now, I can feel the expectations for change. I can feel there will be change in hearts tonight." Normally, I am so skeptical by openings like that. I sit there and I go, Ok, you say that every night, get on with it. But I felt sincerity in the him and the room all around me. It was so weird but so awesome. He then smiled again, grabbed his Bible sat it on the music stand next to him and dived into his message for the night. He spoke on a couple things, but the main message I would say was on our personally journeys with God. Not the people we follow, the people we read, the people we follow on blogger or twitter, Our personal walk with God. I'm not going to dive straight into exactly the points he said in this post because what he said, was enough for at least 3 or 4 blog posts haha. But don't worry I'll compile it into one, one day, when I fully understand it all. God is still moving those words that were spoken last night through me.

Without diving into the message I will say the message was amazing. I have not ever heard anything like it in my life. It was saw raw, so honest, so genuine. He then told everyone to back up and make room in front of the stage. He then told us at that he was calling us to step to the front of the room if we felt that we wanted to make a difference in this world. If we wanted to stop living our lives in the roles of followers. We are all sons of God. We aren't just followers of the Son. We are sons ourselves. We matter in this world. You stepping forward is a public declaration to yourself and others that you want to live outside of what is expected of you in the church today. You want to push the boundaries, make people uncomfortable for Christ. Because, and this was one of my favorite quotes. "The Christ I know and Love, didn't make a lot of people feel comfortable."

So we did. A huge group of us gathered to the front of the stage and all bowed our heads. All of us somehow without being told too all laid our hands on each other. I laid my hand on lane next to me on my right and some guy I had never met before on my right. Once I did this I felt a hand land on my left shoulder and then another on my right. We were all there united and praying separately to the God we loved. Mattie began to pray over all of us, praying that we would have the courage and strength to do what we know we need to do in our lives. To chase the dreams that our hearts hold. Not to just succumb to what will make you money, but what you are passionate about. I started to cry. I was crying praying to God, that I wanted this relationship to be more personal that it has ever been before. Snot began to just drip from my nose to the concrete floor. I felt around and I wasn't the only one. The guy behind me was laying his head on my back and shaking. In the the back corner of the group I could hear a girl crying. I continued to pray. And then after I was finished praying about myself, and started praying for the group, i felt something that really shook me up. I felt and heard laney boy crying. I wasn't prepared for that. Lane is a person that I don't know that I have ever seen cry, he doesn't normally let his emotions out. Feeling his body trembling and his sniffling, just got me. I started to sob a little harder. After this long prayer we all started to disperse and go back into the room. The eyes in the room were all red, the snot was dripping from the nostrils of so many. Hugs started breaking out everywhere. We all just hugged and held each other for a long time. Our buddy Julian who was at the show walked over to us and gave us hugs and I think he put it best. "I think we just witnessed something very powerful guys." He then walked away. I kept just thinking about that, and I looked up and saw Lane talking to this kid I had not ever seen before. And it was apparent on Lanes face that he hadn't either. I later found out in the car ride home that the kid walked up to lane and told him that he felt that he needed to tell him that no matter what pain, and troubles you have gone through in your life, God still loves you the same, and no matter what has happened to you or that you have done, God will never look at you differently. You will always be his child that he loves. Anyone who knows lane knows this is a big deal. This is a message that Lane I think really needed to hear. It truly was a God moment.

So we all started to just come down off of this powerful moment. Our eyes started to dry and our snot has turned to crust. While all of the hugs and talk was going on the next band, White Collar Sideshow (Whitecollarsideshow.com), was setting up. On stage was a cage, two drum sets, and a bunch of props, or instruments. At the front of the room was a huge rusted hand saw with a little microphone attached to it. Next to one of the drum sets was a bunch of other little symbols and saws and auxiliary type percussion instruments.

All the lights went down and a man with a thin mustache top hat and coattails took the stage. He introduced himself and explained that this was his sideshow. This was a show that displayed passion. Lust. Life. He then asked us to take a seat on the ground. The show began with a video on the screen showing very disturbing images and loops of people talking. The band then kicked in. The band is just two amazingly talented drummers and a bass player. The bass player is known as the Faceless woman she wears a mask that dispicts a face with know emotion, no lips, just eyes. She also plays in the confides of her cage. The 1st drummer is known as The Pig, and he wears a pig mask while he plays. And the second drummer is Td Benton. And this was his sideshow.

I can definitely say that their performance was hands down one of the best musical performances I have ever seen live. They use video footage the whole time and use vocal loops the whole time. Between all of the songs TD Benton would come up to the mic and continue to tell this tale of pornography. The man in the pig mask would walk amongst the crowd while he told of his life and struggles. He later on told us that this whole sideshow came out of dreams that he dreamt about for 3 long years. All the videos and the music and the masks. All of it he wanted to portray on stage. The faceless woman, the pig, the leech, all of the characters are symbolic to his personal struggle with pornography and how it controlled his life. I could go on talking about this band for hours. All I can say is if you have ANY opportunity to go see them. Then Go. Go right now.

The night was incredible. The performances were incredible and the speaking was honestly as cooper put it in the car ride home. Life changing. And it may seem like I may have a personally bias or preference to Mattie Montgomery and thats the only reason we stepped up or were impacted by his message, but you've got to understand thats not true. I love him yes, but his message is what moved me, not the person speaking. But he wasn't the thing that bonded us all together that night. He wasn't what these kids were stepping up for. He wasn't who we all were worshipping together with during the Glorious Unseen. Mattie was one of us. The guys in all the bands. They were one of us. We were all their in love and admiration of our God and what he has called us to do.

We ended the night by all gathering up in a tight circle and the musicians encircling us and all of us just laying hands on each other and just praying. It was amazing. It was like this new formed family all sitting there praying after this amazing night, praying that we don't get scared when we leave this room. Praying we can be the christians we are called to be. After that prayer, the guy who opened up the show asked for a guy in the back to step forward. A guy with a cast and crutches made his way to the center of the room and we all laid hands on him and prayed for him and his recovery. It was awesome. All of us just praying to this God that we love, and praying that this guy who had a motorcycle accident would have a speedy recovery. Even though he didn't start to walk on his foot again after the hands left his body, it was so powerful and meaningful.

I really can not put into words the events of the night and give it justice. The night was so powerful. It truly did move all of us in that room. We all moved together for the better I would say. We started that night off as a group who loved music, but left that night realizing all of us our brothers and sisters. We were a family that didn't want to leave this wonderful atmosphere. And to me that is what church should be. This place you are gathered together and not wanting to leave. Wanting to just stay and worship our God together for hours.

We walked out those doors and made our way home. We talked in the car about our personal experiences and what we thought on the message. The general consensus in my car was that they were deeply moved. And I was so proud. I was so proud and happy to have shared that moment with my boys. And I made sure to tell them that.

"Lord Of Glory, Make us Worthy, To Possess Your Name.

Give Us A New Name, Call us your People, God. Give us our New Name.

Lord Of Glory, Make Us Worthy, To Possess Your Name."
-For Today

I thank you, God, for allowing me to witness that. To hear the message that was spoken, and to feel you move again. I felt that night was calling for change. The whole room did. And I thank you for allowing that change to happen. Please helps us all to meet the challenge that was asked of us. Please help all who are reading this now, to see You and realize its not about me and this blog, or about the pastor of the church they attend. Its about You and them. Thats all that matters. You and Your people are all that matter in this world. Help us to see that Lord. Thank you so much. Amen.



Media Associated With This Post:
Song: Isaiah(The Willing)
Artist: For Today
Album: Portraits

Song: Talmidim(The Servants)
Artist: For Today
Album: Portraits

Pictures all highjacked from Google Images.

Rest

All I ever wanted,
All I ever needed,
Is here in my arms.
Words are very unnecessary.
They can only do harm.
Enjoy the silence.
-Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode

I can honestly say this week has just been a very interesting and awesome week all in the same time. It wouldn't be a week that I would say that I did so much that I will always remember. I didn't climb a mountain. I didn't invent a hydrogen car. I didn't write a hit album. Looking back I don't know that I did anything super significant action wise. But this has been a week of just thinking. Residing in that safe yet so dangerous place in my mind.

I can honestly say I did not start this week off well at all. As I have been vocal about to many people, I've felt a little lost. Not lost because I am back home and not in Florida. Not lost because I lost a job or anything. Lost in my ambitions, I guess I would say, or lack of ambitions. On tuesday night I met up with my friend Jamie in nashville. We decided to meet and have a bite to eat around 9. Well... I was in a truck in nashville at 6:30 and didn't want to drive home and then drive back. So I parked the truck at the parking lot at Centennial Hospital and just put my headphones in. I just decided to walk. The tunes for that walk, La Dispute. I will admit, and not shamefully at all, I listened to the album, "Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair" 4 times that day. I couldn't get enough of it. So me and my best friend for the day, La Dispute went on a walk. We walked from Centennial Hospital which I thought was the safest place to park our business truck without chances of it getting stolen(Put that disclaimer in their for you mom and dad haha), and we walked to FYE on West End. And then continued to walk to 21st avenue where I walked on the sidewalks surrounding Vanderbuilts campus and of course, I stopped at Great Escape. Duh. haha.

But while I walked air drumming in the air till some little waisted little Vandy jogger, who me and La Dispute both knew, didn't need to be working out would pass by. And then as they passed, it was right back to the little tap on my pants leg that lead to full on arms flailing like an idiot, then the little waisted Vandy girl would jog by unexpectedly, catch me off guard, then I go right back. haha.

But as me La Dispute kept going I couldn't help but just walk and examine. Just watch the people passing me in the streets. The students behind the gates of the campus grounds of Vanderbuilt University. I was jealous. I was jealous of their goals. And of their perfect location. haha. I wish I could live on the Vandy campus. It is right in my favorite part of nashville. But location fell second to the ambitions and goals in the eyes of the little waisted Vandy jogger and the college guys walking the streets. They had something...

Thusday I spent the day talking with people and their problems. I came home just feeling so beat up. Just beat up in general. Its not the people who were talking to me that days fault, it was me. I wasn't in a good place. That night I laid in bed and You know that feeling when the lights go out and the friends go home and its just you and your thoughts. That moment when you just feel the real state of you? Yeah. That moment. I was in it, and I wasn't doing very well. I looked up at the ceiling. Me and God haven't been awesome the last few weeks. Not His fault, definitely mine, and my refusal to view problems. So I just prayed that night, "I'm done, God, I'm done with me avoiding you and spending my time questioning you and your existence. I'm done reading the text and being cynical in if its true or not. God please, forgive me, I am wrong. Forgive me. I'm done with this state." I then fell asleep with a better state of mind.

I woke up to a better day. A better state of mind. A better outlook, I think. That day I met with my 2nd 2nd mother, Lorrie Harden, and we had an awesome 2 1/2 hour breakfast/lunch at El Reys in Ashland City. It was just an awesome conversation. She pushed me. She pushed me to think about the future. She asked me a series of questions about what I love and my passions. And It really got me on the right path of thinking. It made me really start to open my eyes and just go, "Yeah, I can do that." She made me list what I thought I was good at, which is a hard thing to do when you strive to be humble. But even the humble should be able to tell you if they make a mean sandwich or not. haha. So we talked about my strengths and weaknesses. Where I'd like to be in 10 years. Where I don't want to be. We looked at so many different angles. The conversation really I think just kind of got me out the rut. I have looked at college at this pointless vessel that I'm riding for this so called "future family." But after the lunch I really looked at it like this place of opportunity. A place I can study the things I really love and pursue a career in something I love doing. It really was a big turn around for me. My mind starting viewing it that way a little bit at the end of the florida trip but this luncheon solidified it, so I want to thank the Graves family, my family, and the Harden family for getting me where I am today on that subject. And thanks especially to the awesome Bible study Mr. Jeff that taught me its ok to try, and for your coaching lessons lorrie, and for your love and awesome foundation that I can always rely on mom and dad.

So my mind has been kind of just been in a good place of solid thinking and really just a good place. Another thing that I really got out of this week was a sermon I listened to on my ipod. (I never do this by the way, don't think I am some scholarly kid or anything.) It was a sermon by Rob Bell about the Sabbath. And it really just sunk in with me. It was a lot about how we should live as christians and one of the main points he talked on in Week 1 of the 7 week series was remembering the Sabbath. I think that is one thing that I just nod my head and go yea I do that. But then I realize, well I drove to Crosspoint North this morning at 6 am. Then drove home, then drove my boys around, then drove lane to his house, and had a meeting at 5:30. So today I had to just say, no I can't go to the leaders meeting. I need rest.

That is something that is so hard for me to do. I don't take a lot of time to just say No to something for the sake of rest. If someone is depending on me, or asks me to something I feel obliged to be there, or do that thing. I feel bad for missing the leaders dinner tonight, but at the same time, I feel good. That sounds terrible, sorry George, Debbie, and Jehan and Carlos. But it is a big deal for me to actually just say no and lay down. So thats what I did. I laid down and watch a movie with my boys and napped a little. It was awesome.

So after a week of alot of thinking and La Dispute, and a lot more Brand New. I realized, something we need, or at least I need. Is that rest. That time to slow down. That time to just drive with the windows down with Brand News "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me," playing and just being lost in thought. Sometimes you need to just not let the next task take over your mind set. As Rob Bell put in that sermon I listened to. Be in the moment. He talked about going to dinner with a person one night and when the waiter came to the table, the man said, "Take our drink orders now and we'll order the food in an hour." Rob Bell said everyone freaked out at first, but then he had goosebumps, realizing this man really cared. He really wanted to just sit and talk. Cell phones off, fully focused in on that moment. Fully there. He then went on to say we need to just worry about the worries of that day and be done. Don't think of yesterdays mistakes or tomorrows tasks. Focus on todays and when they are done, rest. Rest.

And rest, I am training myself to do. It's not worth living this life with my blood pressure high as ever, worrying about stuff that in the long run doesn't matter. Rest. Instead of sitting in the car and freaking out about how I am going to finish that video thats due wednesday, I am going to enjoy the weather and the radio. I can't make that video in that moment, so why worry about it? And then when I get home I'll work on it, and when its done. Its done. And I will rest. Not worry about the next video. I will pour myself a glass of orange juice, (Like i am about to do right now) and say job well done. Now rest.




Media Associated With This Post:
Song: Such Small Hands
Artist: La Dispute
Album:Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair

Song: Jesus
Artist: Brand New
Album: The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me

All Picture Highjacked From Google Images

Question Everything

"Jesus Christ, I’m alone again,
So what did you do those three days you were dead?
Because this problem is gonna last,
More than the weekend.

Jesus Christ, I’m not scared to die,
But I’m a little bit scared of what comes after.
Do I get the gold chariot?
Or do I float through the ceiling?

Or do I divide and pull apart?
Cause my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark .
This ship went down in sight of land
And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?"
-Jesus by Brand New


Today I was driving back from our Not-So-Legit-Used-Tire-Place on Dickerson pike, and texting one of my buddies from church. He was talking to me about how hard life has just been on him lately and expressing his anger in not being able to reach perfection. We kept talking and discussing stuff going on and then I said to him, "It sounds like you are trying to take on this life on your own." He told me that he was. I then said man you got to ask questions. Would you be anywhere today if you hadn't asked your dad questions your whole life? He then responded to me with, "I don't ask my dad questions...."

That really just struck me. I was speechless. When I look back on my life and the life I have today I realize I am so blessed. I am so blessed to have such a relationship with both of parents that I can asked them questions endlessly. When he told me that he doesn't really have a close relationship with his dad and that he doesn't involve his dad in his life because "its not his business," that really just struck me.

I then asked him well what do you do with questions about God? He said that he had been raised to believe to just shut up and accept it. It's disrespectful to question. I couldn't disagree more...

Questions are GREAT!

Questions show that you are paying attention

Questions show that you care

Questions deepen you in your faith

So many people have been raised to think this concept of questions are disrespectful. But it just isn't true. I'll even go as far as to say that doubt in the existence of God isn't even disrespectful.

Recently I have been going through a rough patch in my journey/relationship with God. I've just been very cynical and doubtful on God and the Bible. Yes, I just said that, the guy who has written so many of these blog posts has been question God. But really, stop thinking I can't believe that and shaking your head and look in the mirror.

So have you.

We all doubt. We all go through doubt in our faith. Thats part of the faith! It wouldn't be faith in something if we didn't have a little bit of doubt. Thats what separates faith and knowing. I have faith in my Lord and Savior. I have faith that He exists, I have Faith that I will see Him when I die and go to heaven. But that isn't knowing. I know that when I take a drink of pepsi that it will taste great. I know that if pour water on my head my hair will get wet. Those are things that we know are concrete. We don't doubt that because we have seen the outcome. What we have to realize is that in this equation of life. We are the water being poured onto the head. We haven't reached the end point. We haven't gotten to heaven to see God and if He is real or not. So we can't write it off as a definite yet. We can't say that we full heartedly know for a Fact that God even exists.

But thats where faith steps in. We believe that God did create this world that we live in. We believe that His son Jesus did die for our sins. We believe that when we die we will be reunited with God and His Son Jesus Christ.

Doubts are a bad thing, they are just another part of the process and journey with your faith.

But back to questions. Questions are truly a good thing.

There have been so many times that I have truly just questioned God and His word and His actions and things that have happened in my own life.

I can remember questioning

"God, why are you killing my little brother? Why have you allowed Carters kidneys to fail?"

"God, why do I get to be born and live in America, and be born into a christian home, and others don't?

"God why does life suck so bad right now?"

"God, do homosexuals go to heaven?"

"God, how can christians who act so terribly go to heaven and people who don't know you but are better people in my opinion don't?"

These questions demand answers. We want answers the second they leave our lips. But thats the thing with God, He doesn't answer verbally. He doesn't answer right away(All the time). He doesn't function in our time.

Now I will say that if you are truly questioning things and are really looking for an answer than there is something that you have to do. Research. Research. Research.

Grab your Bible and just start reading. There have been many times that I have questioned things and those questions and the process of looking for those answers in His word truly have brought me closer to Him.

You can't just question and expect and answer to boom out of the clouds. We do not have the convenience of God talking to us like he did the Jews at the bottom of Mt. Sinai. I wish we could though! We cannot just question and then do nothing about it. For resolution and answers to your questions you have to realize you can't just shut yourself off. You will solve nothing. Dive deep into the word and see what you get from the things you read. Sometimes you may get a simple answer to your questions.

"God am I the only one who feels this way?"

And then you read Psalms and you see Davids cry to God and how he feels so alone but trusts that God is there.

But then sometimes you have questions that I don't know that I can say that the Bible answers.

"Is it wrong for me to get a tattoo?"

You may read the excerpt from Leviticus 19 that says do not mark thy body with tattoos or ink. But if you really research that you would find that the tattoos that were used back in the day that that was written was markings to the false gods. And also if you read the verse right before that, It says "You shall not round off the side growth of your head or beard." I am no scholar and I'm not saying that God's word doesn't apply to all of us. But I don't know that some of these old laws still stand today. But even me saying that makes me question. I will research my thoughts on that as well.But still you may find yourself scratching your head saying, "Ok, God says don't get a tattoo, but the tattoo that they had back then were different, but it still says..." or you may be that guy, "Umm... I trim my beard. Theres no way thats wrong... right?...." haha. Sometimes we are left sitting there with our mouths open and shaking our heads.

When you find yourself in those times, what I would say to do is pray. Pray. Pray. Pray.

Pray and seek guidance from people you truly admire and respect their opinions on things.

My dad once told me that he had longer hair when he was in his 20's and he read somewhere in the Bible that it was wrong to have long hair, so he went to a pastor he really loved and respected and asked him about it. The pastor just looked at him and laughed. "Bret you and your hair is fine. Don't worry anymore. haha" And my dad felt relieved about it.

Don't be afraid to ask people things. Don't be afraid to reach out. Don't be afraid to question.

Question everything.

That may really freak some people out when they read that. If you are one of those people, then just disregard I said that, But if you want to find yourself really trying to figure out your God and Savior and really dive in deep into your faith. Question everything.

But continue to research and pray, and seek guidance. Do not question irresponsibly and expect a good outcome. I even now have so many questions for God but I'm not doing anything about it. I'm not praying about it. I'm not spending time in His word. And I'm not talking to people about it. And I can honestly tell you. I'M GETTING NOWHERE.

Nothing gets answered when I do nothing to try and find an answer. And maybe in my situation or your situation even, we don't want an answer because we don't want anything to change. But realize we won't get an answer without a want for an answer and proper research into the matter.

Question. Question. Question.

Question everything.

There is nothing wrong with questioning.

I know that I would not stand here today without questions.

I know that I would not be able to do things without questions.

"Dad how do you tie your shoes?"

"Dad who is God?"

"Dad how do you play guitar?"

"Dad do you think this is wrong?"

"Mom what do you think about what Pete said?"

"Mom how do I cook this?"

So many questions were answered and have taught me how to most of the things that I do now so easily. But little things like tying my shoes started with a question. Then I got an answer that involved bunnies running down holes and junk like that and now I tie my shoes so easily.

What is so different about my questions to my dad, and the questions to my God, Abba, Father. What is so different?

Nothing.

Except that God isn't kneeling down in front of me showing me how to tie my shoes.

That job he left to our fathers.

The only thing that is different is God isn't here with me in person to just answer my questions the second I ask them.

With God I have to research my questions. And at times that frustrates me that I have to work towards my questions. But in the times that I have, it has really paid off.

So just as we sit in the car with our dads just asking him question and after question do the same with God. Thats how I like to think of my questions with God. God behind the wheel of the car and me being the 5 year old staring out the window completely amazed and perplexed by the world around me. "God, why aren't you here with me on earth?" "Because son, I am not like you. I created you. I am not of earth, I created it." "God, why did you make me imperfect?" "Because I created you with a need. A need for me. If I made you imperfect you wouldn't need me would you buddy?" Then he keeps one hand on the wheel looks at me and ruffles my hair.

That is how I view questions.

There is no disrespect. Its bonding. Me and God just trying to understand the world I live in, and that He created, and growing closer together through the questions.

So again I'll say it again, repeating myself like a broken record.

Question everything.

Question everything and look to God, His word, and people around you and look for answers.

It isn't wrong at all to question.

Enjoy the questions if you can.


Just remember. We are all 5 year olds driving in this car, or walking in this land called life and God's sitting there with us, wanting to help us with all of our questions. So ask. Ask away. And when you get that question, feel the smile and ruffle of the hair that God leaves us with.

Ask.

Ask away.



*Note about the song. I really struggled with deciding to post this song or not. The lyrical content is truly amazing, but can be taken two ways. It is a song, that you should look up the lyrics and decide for yourself what you think he is saying by it. I have come to the conclusion that I think its a conversation between him and God and at the end he is saying I'm scared I will fail you. I am scared I will nail you up on that cross. I'm scared I'll fail you.

Such a powerful song.

Media Associated With This Post:
Song: Jesus
Artist: Brand New
Album: The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me

All photos highjacked from Google images.

My Name Is...

Most of you know me by the name Tanner Pemelton.

But I go by so many other names as well. Some good and some bad.

"Bookfair guy."

"Mr. Turkey Bacon"(Subway)

"Mike" (Derek Selby)

"Bret's Son"

"Brother of 5"

"That Guy Who Flipped Off That Other Guy On The Interstate"

"Diana's Son"

"That Guy From Charge"

"Youth Leader"

"Video Guy"

"That Guy With The Foul Mouth."

"That Kid from The Show"

"Tanita"

"Cooper's Brother"

"Carter's Brother"

"Tucker's Brother"

"Molly's Brother"

"Emma's Brother"

"That Music Guy"

"That Guy Who Talked to his mom disrespectfully at Wal-Mart."

"That Guy Whose ALWAYS at Mckays"

Needless to say there are many names that I am called. Many terms that are used to describe me to someone. Many different views of just me. This is just to list a FEW of the thousands there are I am sure.

And this isn't just me. This is everyone. Everyone is known like this.

Yeah, you're name maybe _________ but not everyone who comes in contact with you knows your name. They may know you as your parents kid. Or by something that you guys talked about one time. We stick names and situations to faces. Like you may remember me as that guy who writes blogs. And thats ok. If you're reading this now, I'll take the time to tell you, yes, my name is tanner. haha.

The reason I even thought of writing about this was the other day after going to pay off the government 180 dollars so they wouldn't incarcerate me in their fine prison establishments for speeding, I decided to stop at subway and grab some lunch. So I walked in the 5 dollars I still had to my name, well 5.50 to be exact(Just enough!), and ordered my sandwich. I have been going to this subway since I was probably 12 years old. I use to walk from my house to this subway and eat lunch there all the time. So after so many visits the owners and workers there just started smiling when I walked in and they'd look at me and say, "Turkey with bacon?" I'd smile back and nod. When I was in there the other day a new worker took my order but I had to stray away from my blessed turkey bacon because I had to stick to the limited choices in the $5 footlongs. I got up to the register and the young guy who has worked there since I started going there looked at the wrapped sub then at me and asked, "Turkey bacon?" I couldn't help but just smile back at him. I started laughing and then told him, "no no, I'm a broke college kid now. haha Its just a chicken breast sandwich."

It just really moved me. As stupid and lame as it may be to some of you. That guy for some reason still remembers my order. Everytime I go in that store I make sure to talk with him and see how he is doing. How life is. If he was going to our friend Magan Bradleys wedding. How college and his career is going. We meet in that moment. In the exchange of him making my sandwich and me ordering it, in that exchange we interact. We meet in that moment and we meet as two equal humans, two equal guys and just talk. And that is it for us. We meet in that exchange and are true and genuine. I know him as subway guy and he knows me as Mr. Turkey Bacon.

What impact are you making on the people that you interact with everyday?

I think it is fair to say that in 1 day.

1 Single day.

You come into contact with at least 100 people.

Yes, 100 people sounds drastic at first but think about it. You wake up and you see you're family, that may be 1 person that may be 7 people. Then you get in your car and you stop at the gas station to get some coffee. In that simple caffeine fix you are in contact with 12 people. The 2 cashiers and the 10 other caffeine addicts standing their with their fix of choice in hand, wether it be coffee or pepsi. Then you get on the interstate and you get stuck in traffic. In that moment of traffic you are seen and noticed by at least 3 people who are driving but bored out of their mind and people watching. Then you get to work or school. Throughout your day you are in contact with at least 50 people. Wether it be your coworkers or you classmates(if its classmates then you are probably in contact with WAY more than 50). Then you get in your car to head home. On your way home your wife tells you to pick up dinner. So you walk into your local grocery store that you visit so often you and you buy a rotisserie chicken, salad and pepsi. While doing this in the checkout line, you are joined by 20 other people who are patiently and impatiently waiting for the one sales clerk to check you out. You finally come home and crash for the day.

At the end of your normally day, you encounter so many people.

Some of you may say, you say that I am in contact with 50 people at work or schools, but you're wrong I only talk to one person there. Yes, but you are surrounded by 49 other people who are watching you. Who wether you like it or not are sharing a moment with you, and probably putting something to your name. Like that guy whose always making copies. Or that guy whose always by the water fountain. You are in contact with at least 50 people a day.

How will you act in that moment?

People are watching you and sizing you up to an extent. How do you act in that moment?

When you think all eyes are off, think again. Look around. You are surrounded, unless you are in your house. Some many views on you are taking place. How are you acting? Are you doing your character any good? Are you doing things that you want to be stuck to you as a person?

Events and names stick to your face wether you like it or not. If someone were to be driving on the interstate and he passed me and cut me off on accident, then he looked in his rear view mirror to see my full face and then a certain finger/hand gesture fly out of my drivers side window, that would be stuck to my face. That would be what is recognized for me with that person. As that same driver who cut me off is walking in the mall and sees me walking an aisle away from him, he would think, "Thats that guy who flipped me off." That would be the name that is attributed to me.

I think that is one thing that I do not think about enough, or at all really. I don't realize that I am not in this world by myself. It isn't just my story being written at this moment. Billions of stories/lives are taking place at the exact same time-As Donald Miller would say.

I need to start really watching what falls out of my mouth more often. Yeah, I am not going to get into a discussion about profanity but there are times that I would say it is appropriate and definitely not appropriate. Like take for instance I am standing in a line for a movie with my buddies and lane makes fun of cooper for something but its kind of funny so I look at him and smile shaking my head and call him an "Ass." Yeah, that might have been fine if it was behind closed doors in my house. But what I failed to realize was the little kid behind us who is waiting in line to see the new disney movie.He hears that word fall out of my mouth and then looks up at his mom and she just shakes her head. I in that moment have disgraced myself and given myself yet again another bad title. Another bad name stuck to my face. When waiting in line for popcorn that kid would then point to me and tell his dad, thats the kid who say the "A" word daddy. He would then pick him up and say that's not appropriate is it buddy? He would then shake his head and his daddy would hug him.

I would have created a name for myself that I wouldn't be proud of.

Are you creating names for yourself that you aren't proud of?

I normally don't like writing stuff that takes you outside of the writing and asks questions directly to the reader. It makes me feel like I am trying to be like some motivational speaker or something, or make myself feel like I am some kind of higher being or something. But really don't take it like that. I think we all need to asks ourselves that. I think we all need to realize the way we act. The way we are being viewed.

Wether you are Mr. Turkey Bacon

Or that kid who said the A word,

You're being evaluated.

And we need to realize that. We need realize we are not alone in this world, and free to do what we want without consequence.

And sadly that consequence, is a bad name. A bad reputation. A bad characteristic stuck to us.

I just realized in my interaction with That Subway Guy that I have made an impact with this guy. I hope it is a good one. The nice thing is that I know its a good one with him. I know its a good one with the young college kid who works at China Star that I inhabit so frequently and talk with all the time. But what I don't know is if my impact is good with the people who I come in contact with EVERYDAY and don't realize it.

That guy behind me at the gas station. What did he stick to me? Did he write me off as jerk because I was a smart aleck to the clerk out of my grumpiness and need for caffeine?

Did the cashier at Food Lion think I was impatient and heartless because I impatiently slammed my money down and stormed out of the store after she rung me up?

Did that guy from school think good or bad about me when I said I didn't want to cheat off his test?

There are so many characteristics being equated to us.

I know that for me, Mr. Subway Guy made me realize there are other eyes, other opinions out there other than the people I am close with. And I hope and pray they are good impressions and not bad. I'm going to do my best, to try and make a good impact and impression on the people that I come in contact with for even just a few seconds. Wether its the customer I ring up at a bookfair, or a lady who dropped a bag out of her car. I will try my best to make the best impression. I will smile at the woman at the bookfair, tell her, her total and then smile and genuinely tell her to have a good day. And the old lady in the parking lot. I will pickup her bag and smile to her and leave. I want to leave the best impression.

We are called to be Christ-like and I truly think that if we focus on the way we treat others around us and realize there are other eyes and ears watching us, we will be able to focus on making that Christ-like reflection. We will be able to have good names and events attributed to our faces.

So open your ears and eyes to the other sets of ears and eyes who are watching and listening to you in your everyday life.

Realize this world doesn't revolve around you.

Create good names and events to be stuck to your face.

And If a bad one gets stuck to your face always remember as 30 Seconds To Mars put it, you can always,

"Start Again,
With A Brand New Name."

Create good names and attributes for yourself.

Media Associated With This Post:
Song: Capricorn(A Brand New Name)
Artist: 30 Seconds To Mars
Album: 30 Seconds To Mars

All pictures highjacked from Google images