It's time.

I'm going to start a band.

Fun.

In the silence,

David.

Hello!

...to my friends in Dallas, TX and Memphis, TN. I'm not sure who's be visiting my blog from there, but if you'd let me know that would be great! I just wonder these things, that's all.

I don't have anything interesting to say. Sorry. Better luck next time.

In the silence,

David.

Top Friends.

So in writing this, I am assuming(dangerous...I know...) that most of you have either myspace or facebook. If you do, then you know of the evil "top friends" concept.

Yes, evil.

Here are my thoughts on this topic.

First and foremost, some nerd out there needs to buckle down and make a program or something that cycles your top friends each day. Yeah, I have friends that are closer than other. That's a given. But I don't want peoples' feelings to be hurt because they are #6 and so-and-so is #4. Who really cares? Youre one of my top friends. I don't like to rank my friends from favorite to least favorite. If I didn't like you, then you wouldn't be my friend at all!

So here's my disclaimer on all of this:

Just because you're not at a certain "number" on my top friends does not mean I value you as a friend. If you complain, you're finished. :)

I'll catch up with you guys later.

"Nighty whitey." haha.

...and as a side-note, Phil Laeger is an old man.

In the silence,

David.

Dream big.

So tonight a very neat person I know asked me, "are you a dreamer or a realist?"

I must say, that's one of the most challenging questions that has been posed to me in a good while. At first, I had no idea what to say, because I think I see myself as sort of being both.

So that's how I answered.

But I don't think that's a cop-out answer. That's the truth. I really am both. I know what I want in life. I can see how I want things and how I see things clearly. That doesn't mean that everything will always happen like I want. In fact, more often then not, it probably won't. I have found that my wants aren't necessarily always what's best for me. But then, sometimes, they are. So while I can see what could happen I see what is going on at the present. I see the situations I am in and what's going on in my life for what it is. I don't try to fool myself as to what reality is, but if you don't dream, and sometimes dream big, what's the point? Where does one's drive or ambition come from without dreaming or desiring in life? It seems to me that a life without dreams and hopes is a pointless, lost life. I don't know...I just don't think you should ever be content. There's always more in life. You know?

So that's my answer I suppose. You can disagree. I don't care. You're not me. :)

In the silence,

David.

Suggestions.

I liked the question that I was asked the other night. It gave me something to think about that I may not have otherwise.

Here's what I want you to do, friends. Give me ideas to write on. If you have something that you've been thinking about or just something that you think could spark a good bloggin', that would be great. I've been on sort of a block these past couple of days and I'm suckin'.

If I can think of some fun stuff I write I'll do that to, but I think this will be fun and I'd like to try it.

Oh...and you should listen to a song called "bubbly" by a girl named Colbie Caillat. It's kind of like a Norah Jones with a pop sound. That may not make sense, but it will if you hear it. She's got a sweet voice.

Oh...and leave me some comments so I know who's reading and all. I like to see stuff from you guys.

Okay. That's all. Take care.

In the silence,

David.

One of those days.

So today was one of those days...you know the ones I am talking about.

Just one of those days that's not bad, but not great either. Nothing really big happens, but it wasn't necessarily boring, either. I think I like those days...sometimes...

I'm really more of an active person I think. I don't like boring people -- people that just like to sit around and do nothing. I don't mind sitting around, but I'd rather sit with friends. I'm not fond of being alone. I love being around people. It pleases me. I love just sitting and having conversations with people. One of my favorite things is to hang out at a coffee house...not really a starbucks or anything...well I hate starbucks but that's another story...but more so a small independent place. I like to sit outside with a good cup of coffee and just talk. Any conversation is good...sports, life, religion, the world...anything really. I just love socializing. That would have been nice today. But today was good...

...you know...just one of those days...

In the silence,

David.

Let me know what breaks your heart...

Last night a good friend of mine, Kris, posed the following question to me -- "What breaks your heart man?"

Hm.

People.

All kinds of people though. I'm really a very sympathetic and empathetic person. I see people hurting and it makes me hurt. It's almost as though I can feel what they feel sometimes. For example, if I see an old person eating alone at a restaurant it kills me. I don't know why, it just does. I'm a sucker for people who stand in the streets asking for money. I don't give them money, but I always offer to bring them food or I plan ahead if I know I'll see them. I just can't stand when people hurt and suffer. Whether it be mentally, socially, physically, emothionally, siritually -- it doesn't matter. I find that I often times put everyone else before me and care more about their outcome than my own. I am not sure if that crosses the line from being a caring person and having a good quality to something bad, but it's how I am.

I think that's sorta what I was touching on last night. I never want other people to hurt, like when I say something honest, so I beat around the bush. So that's where this whole thing with me being more open stems from sorta. I just need to stop caring so much. Not all the time...I still care and always will. But sometimes, well, you know.

In the silence,

David.

In saying that...

I really do think that people are good.

No, I don't hate the world and think that all Christians are fake and evil. I love Christianity -- the concept. I love God. I love that He loves endlessly. I just get disappointed, that's all. I get sad when people don't live up to their potential. I said that to someone one time and she said, "well that's a terrible thing to say. Who are you to say what someone's potential is? You're being judgemental."

Okay. If you say so.

But I'm really not.

I'm just saying that you KNOW that some people can do more. You know that when someone says they love God but when they have an opportunity to talk about Him they cower away that they missed a shot. Or I guess that they have already reached their potential and it doesn't include witnessing. Right...

So I just wish people were more real. Less scared.

I was talking to my lovely cousin Rebecca tonight and I told her I'm going to make an honest effort to be more like I want other people to be. We'll all fall short...I know I will. But I'm gonna try. Isn't that the first step? I am going to start by being more hoenst with people. I don't mean that I am a pathological liar...I really can't stand when people lie. But I'm not going to dress stuff up to make people happy anymore. I'm gonna be more open...say what I feel. Not that I want people to be hurt by what I say but that I all too often leave a conversation upset because I didn't say all I needed or wanted to. I don't wanna do that anymore. I want to get my two cents in. I want to be understood. If that's not cool for you, well, maybe you won't wanna talk to me? Haha I don't know.

I'm just saying.

In the silence,

David.

Burn.

So, it's been a while. No?

Yes.

But I'm back, and this time I really will stay with this.

Promise...

So where do i even start? This summer -- peru -- wow. Absolutely amazing. I don't know what to say about it really. Most of you have already heard me talk about it and I'm exhausted from doing so. I'm just exhausted in general I think. Everything is finally caching up with me. But yeah, the summer was amazing. God totally rocked my world...from having prophetic visions to praying in the spirit to prophetic prayer at TYI...man God is good.

And TYI? Wow...again. The perfect end to the perfect experience. There's just nothing like being in an environment of love, passion, devotion, and worship for a mighty and worthy God. More that worthy. How do we even give back? Where do we even start to repay and ever-giving, ever-loving, all-powerful and all-forgiving God?

Love. That's how.

I've learned that love is key. Not just being "in love" with your wife, husband, whatever you have...but loving. You have to love people. At TYI Captain Marion Platt spoke of loving others. He talked about loving the last, the lost and the least. The bible says that if we don't love, we can't receive love. That without loving others, we don't fully understand love.

Loving others isn't my problem, though. Loving Christians is.

Christians let me down...so, so much. At least with others I don't really expect them to act better, be respectful, be honest and be real. I expect them to have faults. I expect them to fall short. When they do, I'm not surprised. Whether it's living a life of sin or just rejecting God, I expect it. (now stay with me...a point is coming...) With Christians, I expect them to be real people. I don't expect them to fake their way through life. I don't expect them to lead people on, to lie, to deceive, to hate...or do I? The lines are so blurred now. We(Christians) should stand out, no? I think that when we can't even tell the difference between ourselves and "people of the world" - "others" around us that's a problem. I trust others more. Others understand. Others don't judge because they don't think they are more "holy" than I am or that talking to people about me will better their popularity in the gossip rings of the army. I don't just mean me spefically, I am just using that...

But others -- I feel comfortable with them. They are more accepting. They don't judge me. They don't say "how dare you do that" or "hey guess what so-and-so told me." They listen. They offer advice.

And Christians? I've found that all too often it's the opposite. It's, "I can't believe you'd do something like that" or "how do you call yourself a Christian with that in your past?" Well how do you call yourself a Christian and judge me? How do you call yourself a Christian and not accept people and love them regardless of their faults? How do you let your own pride and vanity get in the way of prayer and understanding for another child of God? Get real.

I've been let down by a lot of Christians. The people in my life that have hurt me most or betrayed me most are "Christians." That disappoints me. Some people would say "well you can't expect more of them -- they're just people and they make mistakes." Shouldn't expect more? Like hell I shouldn't. I'm sorry but that's rediculous. We should hold each other to a higher standard. Not that we're better than the "others" but we sure better live up to our call from God and commitment to Him. Don't you dare call yourself a Christian and then lie, betray, gossip and mislead. Don't you call yourself a good person and act like an angel when you lie to your boyfriend or girlfriend about what's really going on. Don't proclaim your faith to me one minute and then call me while you're drunk the next. Don't tell me you love God and then prove you love the world more. Don't act like my friend and lead me on just because you're bored with what's going on in your life. I don't want phonies...I don't want fake Christians. I want real people. God wants real people. I'm not saying I'm perfect...God knows I'm not. But I'll own up to what I've done. I've done it before and I'll do it again. I know when I fall short and I'll admit it. But don't lie to yourself to the point where you don't even know what's true anymore. That's sad. You're killing yourself...you are.

I don't know how my post got to that but, well, surprise. It did.

Here's what I'm thinking right now...actually my mind is racing so much right now I don't even know. I don't even have the attention span to read what I just wrote so i have no idea if it makes sense or if I ever made a point.

I just moved to Atlanta, and it's stressing me out. I need a job and I need to stay in the Word and I need to stay pressing forward. Please keep me in prayer for those things mainly. I think everything else will follow.

...Oh and if you can pray that my future wife wakes up and finds me that would be great too... :)

I have missed this. I'll do it more for sure.

Sorry that was so long. Thanks for reading.

In the silence,

David.