New Beginnings

I believe in Divine Appointment with everything in me.

Divine Appointment (noun) def: a meeting appointed by God in order to benefit His children. To make a connection on the level of the Holy Spirit through a meeting that can only be explained through God.

(Yeah, I wrote that definition, but it looks pretty professional doesn't it?)

While these things seem to come few and far between for me, I believe that I had one of these Divine Appointments on Saturday. Working at the bux steaming tons and tons of sugar-free, nonfat lattes, I had a chance to talk to another barista from Parkside named Ryan. Obviously, this already throws everyone and their mom off, and even though I'm getting off track from my story, we both act the same in manner of speech and hobbies. We got to talking while I was making drinks, when he mentioned that he was from California. I got pretty excited and mentioned how Liz and I have been dying to go Redding California to worship at Bethel Church. (ok here's where it gets a bit hard to connect, but here we go):

Ryan G: You go to church?

me: Yeah, but the praise and worship is a bit stale. I love the pastors and they're rich in the spirit, but I need a good worship group.

RG: You believe in the gifts of the spirit.

Me: Yeah, I believe it's completely essential as a Christian

RG: You gotta come to my church tomorrow man, you'd love it.

After writing this long and complicated map, I received what really looked like a treasure map on how to reach the church. I gotta say, this church is a 25 minute drive. But wow, it was totally worth it.

When we got there, the floor was completely open for worship. I mean I had 20 feet in front of me to spread my arms wide for God. It was extremely refreshing and exciting to be a part of a church that had people my age in it. I have so much to say about how amazing the church is, but I gotta keep this short. After the service, Ryan invited us to he and his wife (Christa)'s place. When Liz and I arrived at Ryan's house, the place was full of love. Normally, I don't do well in groups where I don't know anyone. However, the place immediately felt open, warm, inviting. You could tell just from walking in that the house was full of LOVE.

Skip hilarious conversations, Ben & Jerry's, and OCD talks.

Yesterday, Ryan and I hung out again for the better part of the night. After praying and being open about our past lives and whatnot, we came upon the struggles of my relationship. I asked him to be my accountability partner. We prayed. I called Liz, and we met up with her back at my place.

After prayer and talking, Ryan really took the reins and became a strong friend and accountability partner. He emphasized the want for the both of us to succeed in our marriage and the necessity on exiting this season with grace and peace in order to walk into our future the same. Hence, Liz and I aren't spending the night together anymore. We want this to work and we want to be held accountable for our actions in a loving, God-centered environment. Ryan and Christa have become that answer. They've opened their hearts and home to us just to see us prosper.

These past few days have become a whirlwind of change for the both of us, and it was all because I mentioned how I wanted to go to California with Liz for our honeymoon. Because of one single conversation, Liz and I are able to retake our relationship into a spirit-filled environment & live in peace; guided by a Godly couple. I now it sounds a bit quick and odd, but it has been only through the power of the Holy Spirit that have I come to this point. Liz and I both asked God and He delivered His answer First Class Express. I'm so thankful for His love and the great friends and future that He provided.

It's the Card That Builds the Man

I've decided to start taking control of what is lain before me, while the whole Law school thing becomes a reality. So in the beginning, there was a prospective business card, and it was somewhat minimalist, but still good:


What do you think? Jenny told me to make it a red card, enlarge the birds and make the lettering/birds white. I think it'll really spice up the card and make it pop even more. The only thing that is definitely changing is the e-mail address; I now have the same e-mail, but in gmail form! I'm doing this for many reasons:

1) The first being that it's a ton easier for when I meet new people to immediately get connected with me without there being any hard, awkward "what was that guy's name again?"

2) Since bagging my first normal/regular writing column, I've decided that I can capitalize on the situation even more by telling my local church or independent newspapers that if they need some extra writing, I'm their man. The card makes me even more official.

3) It looks cool. I mean seriously, how many friends do you know that pulls out a business card and hands it to you in order to hang out the next day:

"Hey man, we should hang out soon!"

I flash out the card and hand him one.

"Yeah man no prob, just e-mail me and we can set something up." [End Scene].

It may sound elitist, but come on! This is a sweet idea!

4) [Bonus!!!] The actual main reason for this is for when I go into interviews (while mid law-school applications) for a cool new job. I'll seem more "professional". Here's to hoping that this works out the way I want it to...

Failing to Look= Pancaked Student

While I'd like to think that the world revolves around me, it most certainly does not. In fact, life tends to have a way of rubbing that fact in quite true.

I am a proud biker. I have all the accoutrement:

1) A Chrome Messenger Bag

2) Built-by-my-own-two-hands Fixed Gear Bicycle

3) Jeans with one of the pant legs rolled up

I am one with the biking culture. In essence, I communicate with the green ideal of riding a bike wayyy before driving my car. However, the one day that I decide to drop Liz off with my VW, I end up almost hitting one of my brethren. While I don't condone idiot driving, and every reader here has heard this line before, it really was NOT my fault. Allow me to illustrate a picture for you:

After dropping off the hotness that is my future bride, I commence to drive down Floyd Ave. Every Richmond-er realizes the potential harm in driving down this street because of the constant flow of students. After passing through the main slew of frenzy that is a rebellious teenager, I came upon a five way stop intersection.

-It became my turn to go.

-I did the whole "I'm going to slowly nudge my car out just to make everyone knows it is my turn" maneuver.

-As I roll steadily forward, a biker (with headphones) screeches in front of my hood, brakes immediately and then commences to tell me to "drive better". I'm sorry dude, I didn't realise that you were coming at 30 miles an hour AND not stop like the 50 other vehicles (yes, you Are considered a vehicle in the state of Virginia).

It just frustrates me when I try to be respectful of the road and the drivers around me when I ride, and I get the short end of the stick when I'm on the other side. Reasons like this are why people tend to treat bikers like trash regardless of how they treat the road.

I just wish I could talk to the guy in a respectful manner and try to see his logic. I'm not even mad, I just need perspective.

Have No Fear!

It feels wonderful to know that amidst the storm, everything will be OK.

-Tests/papers will be finished, and there will be no more of them for another year!

-I will work for Starbucks for the next year as a Shift Supervisor. I know, kinda crappy, but I am still pursuing the whole Law school dream!

-I am also doing some freelance writing for any newspaper that wants me to write for them! As of now, I am a writer for the Richmond Peace Education Center. Hopefully, I can add to my portfolio and make it even more marketable. While this just seems like a hobby, it will be nice to make some side cash on it someday. Right now though, it is just a way to keep my writing to its fullest potential.

-While I don't know where Liz and I will be living in the DC area, I do know that it will be wonderfully decorated. Plus, can you say "Liz and Ryan food specials"?

These things become both a bit scary and extremely exciting. I find it amazing how easy life can be once you give all of your stresses to God, and know that whatever happens during the next year, I don't have to fear because of Jeremiah 29:11. I'll stand on that, rather than holding on to my apprehensions, any day.

My life has become this really crummy "Super-Hero Situation". Do you remember the cartoons from the fifties, or the Superman comic books? You always had some huge problem, like a villain bringing havoc to the Metropolitan Bank. He would walk in, yell some horribly written line "Everyone on the ground, and nobody gets hurt!", and then the people would panic. Chaos ensues, and then from the bottom left-hand corner of the comic panel, a woman in distress yells the ever-famous line: "What are we to do?!".

BAM!

Out of nowhere comes some spandex-laden Super-Hero to the rescue. Cue the smoke. Cue the thankful looks from the victim's faces. Tears fall. Then comes his repetitive line: "Have no fear! [insert crappy Super Hero name here, like FlyBoy] is here!"

Fight follows, with the Super Hero victorious and the villain tied up with a rope coil that wasn't anywhere in the vicinity 20 minutes ago.

"My Hero!" Cue a kiss, key to the city, etc...

This type of constant, over-used story is reminiscent of what God does for every time I feel that I can't handle the current situation anymore. Oddly enough, that crappy song "Jesus Take the Wheel" becomes pertinent to my musing. Nonetheless, Jesus is my superhero, and I can sometimes be that whiny guy cowering on the floor waiting for Him to come, which He always had. And when He hasn't, it has been so I can learn something, and then I grow stronger. The metaphors are getting tangled together, so I'll stop here.

We Few, We Happy Few!

Today in my Shakespeare class, we went over Henry V. This is pretty much the most manly of all Shakespeare plays that I have read so far.

I only wish that young boys were introduced to it in High School, rather than Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet. This play has youthful frivolity, French mockery, the Battle of Agincourt, and a true sense of Honor! Seriously, these themes are the types that every guy in my neighborhood wanted to emulate when we were playing in the streets.

Many people recognize the speech that King Henry gives dubbed the St. Crispin speech. You know, the one where he says "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers." Its intention was to rouse the English who were outnumbered and technologically at a disadvantage. Shakespeare seems to posit the belief that it was King Harry's ability to spurn on the men of England to fight that allowed them to win the battle of Agincourt. However, in a historical perspective, it was because every Frenchman wanted a piece of the English and got tangled up in a muddy mess in the middle of the field. What would one do during the Middle Ages if you saw that happen? Shoot a storm of arrows over, and over, and over again. It never ceased to amaze me just how easily the French could have won this battle had they had the discipline that the English did.

Speaking of the Battle of Agincourt, did you know that this is where we get the lore of the beloved "middle finger" manoeuvre? In order to keep the French from using their archers ever again, the English cut their precious middle fingers off (the finger that is crucial in pulling the bowstrings). So as a sign that they still had theirs, the Brits would flick off the French as a form of bragging. Pretty cool, huh?

The Lord is Risen!

I have always loved Easter. Now that Christ is fully involved in my life, I feel that it is even more pertinent to enjoy the holiday.

I'm sitting on my back porch with Liz eating my Turkey burger creation (Soy sauce, ground Turkey, Gorgonzola cheese) and reading Archbishop Desmond Tutu's No Future Without Forgiveness. Now that I have completed my paper on they guy, I have sooo much to say about how phenomenal this guy has become. He became the head for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; a sort of court-like atmosphere for victims of apartheid. The way Tutu describes it is imagine you were the family member of someone who was raped and then killed during the time of apartheid, without there being any justice. You now, after the shedding of the old South African government, had the chance to bring your case to the courts and talk of your suffering and injustice. The perpetrators would come and share their part of their story. So far, it sounds like a normal would-be court situation. However, the kicker is that the victims or the victim's family had the chance to publicly forgive their attackers and give them absolution!

This action has had huge impact on how quickly the past wounds of South Africa have been healed. Only through the teachings of Christ could something like this happened, and I feel that it is fully blessed and beautiful. About a year ago in my South African history class, I had the opportunity to see some recorded trials, and their after effects. A man tried for beating three blacks during a raid, sought out the three families and asked for forgiveness and peace. Not only did the family forgive him, they witnessed to him and he accepted Christ on the spot! Now, he lives next door to the family and helps cook during holidays! Phenomenal! I mean, wow!

Thumbs up South Africa for such a cool idea!

Back to my Easter musings (I tend to go off the track sometimes). Walking home I got to pass over 20 Dogwoods! I love these trees, and every time I think about them (and Grandaddy) I can't help but think that every house I own WILL have one of these trees in the front yard. They're not just gorgeous, but the spring wouldn't be the same for me without them. This Easter marks the first time I have celebrated a holiday without any member of my family (except for Liz). While I love my family and am a huge family type of guy, it was kinda nice. I was able to go to church with Liz and now relax to the sounds of amazing praise and worship. I think people take advantage of this holiday to make it a Diet Coke version of Christmas without looking toward the true reason for this:

Yes, Christ did get crucified on a cross on Golgotha hill. And yes, he did rise from the grave three days later. I believe that with everything in me, and it amazes me that people have been killed because of one simple belief. I guess some things just can't be fathomed easily.

But I'm thankful for the victory that was achieved on the cross, and today is the perfect day to be reminded how beautiful His creation is.

The Things that Remind Me of You!

While watching this bunch of people throw random crap and try to take pictures of it, I'll write about my favorite time of the year: Spring!

I totally love this time of year, where the flowers are the most beautiful and when the wind blows it isn't biting at all. The Dogwood trees in front of my place are in full bloom and I can't help but think of Granddaddy whenever I see them. He always had Dogwood saplings randomly growing in his yard somewhere, so I always had one wherever I lived (granted that has only been two places, but still). I recently visited the trailer park where I used to live and found the proud Dogwood at over 20 feet tall acting as a giant over the home of my childhood. Unfortunately, the one from the house of my adolescence was taken out by hurricane Isabel. Now, wherever I am, I tend to find them and think of my Grandfather holding my chin, giggling it just a bit and making the coolest Donald Duck voice as he did it. I miss the guy, I hope he's doing alright in heaven.

Actually, come to think of it, many random things make me think of certain people for legitimate reasons...

Cardinals and Blue Jays: Grandma Matthews, because she loves birds and these two are everywhere in her backyard. Plus, everywhere perfectly placed throughout her house. But I think they also represent her personality: an air of regal-ness and a sense of a free spirit. Also Milanos, because she still gives me a pack whenever I come to visit her.

McDonald's Chicken McNuggets: Melinda, because of the first time I met her, we connected over our favorite thing from McDonald's. She could have said anything else, and it wouldn't have mattered, but the fact that we shared a weird taste bud, made me very happy. I can't help but get some and think of her when I do.

Books in general: My mother of course. At a very early age, she has always encouraged me to free myself from the rainy day and go to a different world. I blame her for my broad imagination, child-like nature, and my English degree that I'm about to receive.

Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies and Libraries: Grandma Hollabaugh. She used to put the cookies in the freezer and share a sleeve of them with me and a tall glass of milk. Those were great times. When I got a bit older and I helped her babysit, we used to go to the library ALL the time. It was here that I learned that you didn't have to pay to read a book, that there were places that loaned them out for free! Plus, they had really cool documentaries (I recommend Bill Nye the Science Guy).

Rivers, Daisies, Finding Nemo & Kaleidoscopes: My Liz. I chose rivers because the first time I took her hiking, we forded a nice size river 8 times going to the campsite and 8 times coming back. It was March, the river was deep, and the river was 45 degrees. This equals a not so happy Liz, but an extremely cool story. Daisies and Finding Nemo, because these are her favorite flowers and movie, respectively. There's not a week that goes by that we don't talk in whale speak, or act like Crush the Turtle. And finally, I chose kaleidoscopes because of her "favorite gift". When we first started dating, we were walking around the Barnes and Noble when I handed her a small brass kaleidoscope. I told her it was hers because she was a dreamer and this would help her dream more. Needless to say, even after her handmade engagement ring, she still thinks the kaleidoscope is her fave gift. I love her, because she loves the small things in our life together.

Hemingway & Submarines: My Grandpa Hollabaugh. In most of his pictures from his final years in the Navy, I can't help but think of the sheer correlation you can make in look between him and Ernest Hemingway. It's uncanny. I also think of him when I see pics of subs, because of his cool stories of being a sonar in the Navy. He's a cool G-pa, and he's where I think I get my sarcasm from.

Chess: I think of my Dad whenever I play a chess game or when I see a cool handmade chess set. I remember times when I was a kid, when all Dad and I would do would be play Chess on his hand carved set. It didn't matter who won; we would always reset the pieces and start over again and again. It was kinda cool to see me slowly start to be beat him more and more as I got older. The things I learned playing chess and the things I learned from Dad while playing Chess have helped me in life tremendously. I now can no longer make a decision without playing different results in my head quickly. Plus, since I've been working on this whole Lawyer ordeal, the game helps with my logic. I can't stop playing it online!

There are many things that remind me of certain people. I'll probably end up writing others as the year progresses, but right now, this blog is already 10 times longer than I expected! Oh well, this is an easy way for people to know that I sometimes remember some of the smallest details of my life with them. I love you all so very much!