Battle School

REJOICE!!!

The Battle School Video you are all waiting to see just one more time has come at last!

Yes, I just put it up on YouTube Tonight, and now it is on my Blog for you viewing pleasure. I hope you all enjoy watching it over and over.

In case you dont know. I put this video together to announce the start of the new theme I was doing with the Children's Sunday School. I Call it "Battle School". Basically, It is teaching the children of the church to become a part of the Army of God. I believe in radical, active Christianity. This world is dying. Every day, things get worse and worse. And you know what? It's our fault. In the beginning, God created for us a perfect world, and He put us in charge of it. So what did we do with it. We did the intelligent thing and handed it over to Satan. Good move on our part. Jesus came to set us free from that ownership. We belong to Him now. He died for us; all He asks is that we live for Him in return. Our mission is simple. Take back this world for the Kingdom of Heaven.

But Tim, that makes you just like the terrorists. Do you want to destroy other faiths and religions? Are you saying that you have declared war on anyone who doesn't believe like you do...?

Simply...No.

2Cor 10:3-5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

This is not a physical war. It is a spiritual war. And I am not at war with any person. I am at war with the devil and the powers of darkness. I am at war with the attitudes and actions that cause this race to die and rot from the inside out. I need not tear down other religions or belief systems. I will simply life "In a Manner Worthy of the Calling in which I am Called". I will be a light, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. I will be the proof to the world of the reality and existence of God and the Work of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit. It is time Christianity stepped out of the shadows and did the same. Stop being some religion, some social club and do what Jesus called you to do. It is time to stop being passive. Quit kicking the Sinners out of church because you dont like being associated with them. The sinners, those who have spiritual and emotional and even physical problems and addictions belong at church, just as much as the sick belong at a hospital and fat people BELONG at the gym. [BTW, I BELONG at the gym, actually i just got back from there.]

Just watch this, I didnt make it for the children. I made it for the parents. The children are ready for this, They are the generation this is already fighting this battle whether they like it or not.

Watch this and tell others about it and the message is gives. Its time to change the world...





_______
We're Taking Over the World
We're the Alien Youth
We're Gonna Change the World
We're the Alien Youth

"Earth Invasion"

One man, one mission
One plot to save the world
Reclaim all races
And embrace our destiny

Changing history when the colliding comes
Where will you run
Come with us if you want to live

Join us in the army that's arising
The truth invades your mind
Every day the Kingdom is advancing
The earth invasion has just begun

Without a sound, without fear
It attacks the heart and soul
To rule all life and display His government

Join us in the army that's arising
The truth invades your mind
Every day the Kingdom is advancing
The earth invasion has just begun
Join us in the army that's arising
The truth invades your mind
Every day the Kingdom is advancing
The earth invasion has just begun

The earth's frustration
To be whole again
We'll see a nation
Living without sin

The earth invasion
One man, one mission
One plot to save the world

Join us in the army that's arising
The truth invades your mind
Every day the Kingdom is advancing
The earth invasion has just begun


[ www.azlyrics.com ]

><>
Seek First, Walk Worthy, Remain Faithful...Even unto Death.

News from My Verse

Story #1:

The First thing you all should know is that I was given a shout out from Tee Morris, Author of Podcasting for Dummies and Morevi: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana, on his podcast, The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy.

It came about because I entered an art contest for his podcast to design a new logo and come up with a new tag line. Before you get all antsy, no I did not win. Which is strange because I was the only one that entered. But I understand why he didnt use it. Without anything else to compare it against, it wouldnt really say anything about my victory. I would have won out of default. I wouldn't have wanted that, and honestly I didnt think my design was better than his current one.

I don't really need to promote Tee, being the emperor of all self-promotion...or at least the arch-duke, [I think Mister Mack Jangin...sorry Jack Mangin, author of Sperical Tomi, would out rank him.] I'm going to do it anyway.
Go see Tee Morris HERE

And Here are my pictures that I entered...



First Try, With my first Lame tag line



Second Try, With a Better Tag Line



Just The Logo



The Logo With Inverted colors

Story #2:

This Last Weekend, I became a Certified Belief Therapist. I took a Three Day 12 hour day class, that taught me a whole load of junk about therapy and counseling. So Now I can charge and I actually know what I am doing when I counsel. So If you are looking for some therapy and you don't want all that psycho-bable, I am more than happy to help.

Story #3:

I have begun writing on my novel that I have been putting off for about ...hmm...ever! Keep checking this blog and look on the right side bar to see my progress. It is slow going, but I hope to work on it when ever I can. If you see me online [My AIM SN is "Major Aeron"], ask me how things are going.

Story #4:

I have started scripting the podcast that I hope to start up this year. It is a radio play. Sort of MST3K mixed with H2G2. After I get the first 5 episodes written then we will start production. I am still trying to learn all of this podcasting stuff. I know how it works, but getting the right programs is difficult. I don't really like Audacity, and I am thinking I might just go ahead and buy a Mac to put all of this stuff on, because my laptop is quickly running out of room on my hard drive.

If anyone has any experience or just skill at audio production, I would love to here from you. I will also need help in creating graphics for the blog that will get put up for it. I am currently trying to work with Macromedia Flash to come up with a shot of all of my characters, [originally this was going to be a flash animation show.] but I could use some expertise. I am a good artist on paper, the computer is a bit different. I have a small group of people helping me, [we call ourselves Guerrilla Productions or Guerrilla Media, I haven't decided which] but if you want to help email me at AeronA01 [at] gmail [dot] com.

Stay shiny everyone,

Si-jin,

-Tim

Memories

It seems such a cruel way to deal with a sick animal...

Doesn't it seem that way; I mean it's what we do to criminals. But what else are we supposed to do, Let him suffer? As much as it hurts me to know that Shadow died today, as much as my heart is broken and I am torn apart inside, It would have been much worse to seen him disintegrate into nothing. To see him in pain would have magnified my own. It is good that I didnt get a chance to see him get really really sick. Those aren't the type of memories I want to have.

I am glad that I got to spend his last two days on this earth playing with him and spending time with him. I took him for a long walk thursday night. I let him run and smell anything and everything he wanted. I played with him, gave him as many treats as he wanted and rubbed his belly and scratched behind his eyes until he got tired of it. We wrestled and played with his bones and I talked to him as he just looked at me. I stayed up late past midnight just so I could lay down next to him as he fell asleep in his bed that I had brought into my room from the kitchen. We had moved it out of my room in the first place because he couldnt control his bodily functions, but at that moment I didnt care. I wanted him to be with me his last night. Needless to say, he didnt sleep in his bed that night. He slept at the side of my bed just like he always has.

Today when I went to work and it turned 845, I broke. I tears flowed and I couldnt stop them. Then the phone rang at my job and I had to shove all of my emotions back inside. I almost didnt come home tonight. I didnt want to face the fact that he wouldnt be there to greet my like he always did, waiting at the front door for me to come home, sniffing my legs to see where I had been.

I cant imagine how my parents are feeling. They took him to the Vets. They were with him when he went. They stayed by his side. I couldnt have done that. I'm not that strong. When they left to go to the friday night coffee shop thing at our church, I finally was able to let more of it out. I feel like it would be wrong to let it all out. I need to mourn. I need to take my time. When I cry, it feel like I cant breathe and it feels as if a cacophony is stirring just below the surface. There is a release I just cant get past. Maybe I should yell. I think that might let it out. To go out in the middle of the woods and scream for a while and maybe knock a few trees down.

I have decided to keep his bed in my room, at least for a while. Those of you who know a thing or two about therapy would tell me that that isnt good for me. That it is some sort of act of non-acceptance. Well, guess what, It is...So deal with it. I'm keeping his collar harness and even his bones. Shadow was one of my closest friends. He was a part of our family, and I will do my best to remember the good times and the great memories we made together. A few times today I thought I heard his collar jingling. That probably will still happen years from now. I still smell him in the house. It will probably grow fainter by the day, but God gifted me with a very sensative nose. I should still be able to smell him for a long time to come.

Farwell my friend, You were the best Bat-Dog a guy could have. You watched over me and my family at night and you listened to me when no one else did. You never argued with me and all you ever asked of me was that I love you. I hope I gave you a good life. They say all dogs go to heaven...I'll see you there, buddy. The Shadow has stepped into the light and is no more, but a memory. But a good memory and a lasting memory.

Treasure Every Moment You Have, Because Before You Know It, That Moment Passes. Live Without Regret, Don't Waste Time In Doing The Things You Know You Ought To Be Doing. Do It Now, Live Now. Joy Can Be Found, All That Is Required Is That You Look For It.

Seek Him While He May Be Found.

Xei-xei, Thank you for your prayers,

Si-jin, Stay Shiny,

-Tim

Sad News

Hi Everyone,

I usually try to keep this blog on the light side of things, with plenty of humor and try to keep a positive attitude on things.

But this post promises to be anything but humorous and positive. Tomorrow, at 8:45, my parents will be taking my dog, Shadow, to the Vet's to put him to sleep. I have had this dog for close to 8 years now. We took him in as an obviously abused stray dog who had one day shown up at a friend's house. We have had at least 4 other dogs in our time, but Shadow has been the best that we have ever had. He has been a very docile and playful dog all his life.

I realize I haven't yet told you WHY we are putting him down. Simply, He has cancer, the fastest growing cancer there is. It is in his nose in an inopperable location. We could either do what we are doing or we could pay 17,000 dollars for Chemotherapy that would prolong his life for a month. The Vet says that as it stands now he has at most 3 months, and it will be only a liberal 2 weeks until his personality changes, he goes blind, and a whole host of other problems. So we decided that before he goes into to much pain, [he is already lossing some of his coordination and he seems to be getting mor confused about his surroundings] we would put him down.

I can't explain to you how much this hurts. I have cried myself to sleep more than a few times, and I know that doesn't sound to manly but give me a break, I'm losing a member of my family here. I don't know how I am supposed to deal with all of this. He has slept in my room for the entire time that we've had him and we have gronw very close. I don't want to lose my dog, and I don't want to see him in pain.

If you pray, I ask that you pray for me. Pray for strength, pray for comfort.

Thank you.

-Tim

Shiny Breakfast

You know what I realized recently. Every Morning, I wake up and have myself a green tea or a milk and a delicious Fruity Oaty Bar. Unfortunately, I dont become a crazy ninja person and beat the snot out of everyone around me...

oh well...this will just have to do...

Enjoy!



Stay shiny

EDIT:

I had to disable this video because it was getting kind of aggrivating to have it play every time you loaded up the page. If you want to see it or put it on your website let me know and I will give you the code. Until this this will remain broken.

Evolution

Okay, chickens,

New one for ya today...

This one brought to you today by Heather West, Ms. 99 Problems,

BTW, It is totally Airwolf...

Watch it.

Too Much Information!

More than you ever knew or even wanted to know, but you're getting it anyway...

Deal with it...

highlight to see my scores:

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||| 26% Stability |||||||||||||| 60% Orderliness |||||||||||||| 60% Accommodation |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Interdependence |||||||||||||||| 70% Intellectual |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Mystical |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Artistic |||||||||||||||||| 76% Religious |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Hedonism || 10% Materialism |||||| 30% Narcissism || 10% Adventurousness |||||||||||||||| 63% Work ethic |||||||||||| 50% Self absorbed |||| 16% Conflict seeking |||||||||||||||| 63% Need to dominate |||||||||| 36% Romantic |||||||||||| 43% Avoidant |||||| 23% Anti-authority || 10% Wealth |||||| 23% Dependency |||||||||| 36% Change averse |||| 16% Cautiousness |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Individuality |||||||||||||||| 63% Sexuality |||||||||||| 50% Peter pan complex |||||||||||||| 56% Physical security |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Physical Fitness || 10% Histrionic || 10% Paranoia |||||||||||||| 56% Vanity |||| 16% Hypersensitivity |||||| 30% Female cliche |||||| 23%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

A Whole Lot of Keefe

Ah...Remember this one...

From MST3K
Cave Dwellers

Which Superhero am I? Isn't it Obvious...

Your results:
You are Batman

Batman 90% Catwoman 70% Robin 70% Green Lantern 70% Supergirl 60% Hulk 60% Superman 60% Spider-Man 50% Iron Man 50% Wonder Woman 40% The Flash 40%

You are dark, love gadgets and have vowed to help the innocent not suffer the pain you have endured.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

An Unlikely Hero,

Warning! this video will make you cry if you have any kind of heart at all.

I ran across this one at http://gvod.blogspot.com
and yes, I cried too.

Videogame Revenge

Yeah, twice in a row, I show a video. Get over it!

Watch this, it's totally Airwolf. Like Snakes on a Plane sort of Airwolf...

Really!

Duel of the Highschool Students. With F/X

Okay guys, I know I've had a lack of content lately, but this I just had to put up here. If you know me, you know that this is definately my kind of thing. Watch it, it rocks.




and I'm gonna try to put more stuff up.

Btw, I first found this on http://bestvideosfromyoutube.blogspot.com/
check that site out and find more cool videos.

So long and thanks for all the fish,

Stay shiny,

Tim

Update on my Reading

Ok, so how 'bout a nice update on what I've been up to in the "input" department.

I finished Brave Men Run by Matthew Wayne Selznick

By The Way, He left a comment on the previous post! I go from a readership of absolute zero to having a published author reading the Chronicle...that is so totally Airwolf. Hopefully, he'll read more than just the posts about him and I'll have what they call in the "Industry" an "Audience" [Please use "quote fingers" everytime I write " " those.] However, until "Mr. Selznick" is hooked, I will continue to put something about him in every post so that "The Chronicle" continually appears in his "Vanity Google Searches".

So...Speaking of Brave Men Run [buy the book]...[here] or at Amazon, but if you get it from Lulu, "Matthew" [did you do the fingers?] gets more money...Support the Author!...

Brave Men Run is a great story. One of the best I've read. It sounds like the stories my brother and I used to make up when we were kids. Listening to the genesis of this story on The Writing Show podcast [the Self-Publishing Episode] sparked alot of innovation in my own writing. Just creating a world and then start writing in it. I have been doing that recently and it has really ramped up the amount of writing that I have been doing. I have sort of lax lately and now I'm writing more than I have before.

Other Reading...
I'm still in the Middle of...
Podcasting for Dummies by Evo Terra and Tee Morris
Global Frequency (vol. 1 Planet Ablaze) by Warren Ellis
Those Left Behind (Serenity/Firefly) by Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews
And huriedly finishing
Cartomancy by Michael A. Stackpole

That's it for today...

Oh and check my new Blog - Those Set Apart (The Nazyir Chronicles)
and just to let you "ALL" know, I have a knew job [listening to the bomb drop]. I'll post more about it later.

Have a totally Airwolf day and stay shiny!

My Reading List for 2006 [NEW]

Okay, I admit, I can't even follow my own reading list. So I had this great and wonderful idea that should solve all my problems.

I'm not going to make a list...

Then why, you ask, is this post call "My Reading List for 2006"? Well, it's because I am making a list. Now before you go and have an anurism, let me explain. I will only be making a list of what I have already read. Since I can't follow my list for anything and I keep getting new books that I absolutely have to read now, what follows will only be of the stuff that I've read so far. Please, the door is still open for you to suggest some good books to me [along with a brief summary of why I should read it], but then again, the reason I haven't got a ton of suggestions [only one so far] is probably because no one reads this blog at all. Actually that is kind of freeing, because that means I can write anything I want an no one will know or care.

HaHa, I'm gonna start posting on how I really feel about all my friends...

OH! yeah, the list...here goes...this is what I've read since the beginning of the year:

1. Fire on the Horizon by Winkie Pratney
2. Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln by James C. Humes
3. A Secret Atlas by Michael A. Stackpole
4. Tom Corven by Paul Story
5. Duel of the Fates by Jack Mangan
6. Lessons From a Geek Fu Master by Mur Lafferty
7. The Pocket and the Pendant by Mark Jeffery
8. Earthcore by Scott Sigler
9. Ancestor by Scott Sigler


Currently Reading:

Podcasting for Dummies by Tee Morris and Evo Terra
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Brave Men Run by Matthew Wayne Selznick
Smith Wigglesworth Devotional

I will update this as Necessary...then again probably not, SINCE NO ONE READS THIS!!!

Why do I even try....

Updated Reading List

Here is a quick update on my reading list so far this year. I am sort of keeping on track.
I have read 6 books so far, and we are nearing the end of the 7th week so I am catching up.
It wasn't but a few weeks ago, I only had two books read and I was beginning the month of February. Thank God for Podiobooks.

Legend:
Read
In Queue

1. Fire on the Horizon by Winkie Pratney
2. Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln by James C. Humes
3. A Secret Atlas by Michael A. Stackpole
4. Tom Corven by Paul Story
5. Duel of the Fates by Jack Mangan
6. Lessons From a Geek Fu Master by Mur Lafferty
7. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
8. The 360 degree Leader by John C. Maxwell
9. Hart's Hope by Orson Scott Card
10. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
11. Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
12. Cartomancy by Michael A. Stackpole
13. The Ultimate Core by Winkie Pratney
14. Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card
15. The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leaders Day by John C. Maxwell
16. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
17. Stories of Strength by Jenna Glatzer
18. A Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
19. Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler
20. Awakening the Hero Within by Carol S. Pearson
21. Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward
22. The Hero Within by Carol S. Pearson
23. The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl by Tim Pratt
24. Smith Wigglesworth Devotional [All Year]
25. The Writer's Idea Workshop [All Year]
26. The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks
27. Storyteller by Kate Wilhelm [buy]
28. Speculations on Speculation by James Gunn [buy]
29. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J.K. Rowling
30. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
31. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
32. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
33. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
34. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [buy]
35. Splinter Cell: Operation Barracuda by David Michaels [buy]


--
So long and thanks for all the fish!

Semper Fidelis
Semper Vigilantis
Deus Ex Nobis
--
Fight the Flood!

My Reading List for 2006

Well, Its January, and as most of you know, I read...alot. I try to read 52 books a year, and I think That I may have reached that number Last year, but I didn't keep good enough records in order to be sure.

So this year I am posting my Reading list on my Blog, so that I can have a public record and the rest of you can see me do it this year too.

So far this list in incomplete, but as I add more books to it and finish others, I will update the list so you can keep up with my progress.

So without further Adue, here it is.

Tim's 2006 Reading List:

1. Fire on the Horizon by Winkie Pratney - Finished 1/10
2. Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln by James C. Humes - Finished 1/28
3. A Secret Atlas by Michael A. Stackpole - Reading
4. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
5. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
6. Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
7. The Ultimate Core by Winkie Pratney
8. Devil Take the Youngest by Winkie Pratney
9. Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card
10. The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leaders Day by John C. Maxwell
11. The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork by John C. Maxwell
12. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
13. Stories of Strength by Jenna Glatzer
14. The 360 degree Leader by John C. Maxwell
15. A Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
16. Awakening the Hero Within by Carol S. Pearson
17. The Hero Within by Carol S. Pearson
18. Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler
19. Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward
20. Smith Wigglesworth Devotional [All Year]
21. The Writer's Idea Workshop [All Year]
22. Storyteller by Kate Wilhelm [buy]
23. Speculations on Speculation by James Gunn [buy]
24. Hart's Hope by Orson Scott Card [buy]
25. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J.K. Rowling
26. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
27. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K . Rowling
28. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
29. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
30. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [buy]
31. Splinter Cell: Operation Barracuda by David Michaels [buy]

This List is not necessarily in order of how I will read them, because I don't exactly like to read two books by the same author in a row; but as the order changes, I will change the list to reflect that.

Some of these books, I have yet to purchase. Those are indicated by the word "BUY" in brackets next to the title and author.

Also, this list is not a complete list of 52, so if you have suggestion on a book you think I should read, please let me know.
Just leave me a comment with the Title, Author, and a reason why you think I should read it, and I will look into it.

And If you have a comment on this list, tell me what you think.

Thanks,
--
So long and thanks for all the fish!
Visit my blog @ http://thechroniclesof.blogspot.com
Semper Fidelis
Semper Vigilantis
Deus Ex Nobis
--
Fight the Flood!

Who Am I?

Warning, This post bares my soul. If you don't want to see the flesh ripped away to reveal my beating heart, don't read on. And please, please, cover the children's eyes. My God, don't risk the chance of fracturing their phsyche on account of me.

The Chronicle...

The Chronicle of ME....

So,…
I'm a Writer. Big deal, right? Well, it might give you some insight into figuring out who I am. Strangely, up until recently this was a wholly repulsive concept to me. I didn't want anyone to be able to figure me out. I figured that as long as I could figure anyone out, as long as I had the unique ability and found pleasure in watching people and finding out what went on in their heads, that I had the advantage over other people. I thought that if people really knew me then, number one, they had the advantage on me and I lost my ability to have the upper hand and never be surprised by anyone's actions and always be able to exert a certain amount of control over the people around me; and number two, that if they knew me, really knew me, then they wouldn't like me. I was afraid that if I opened up to people, then I became vulnerable to them and they would find out about the parts of me that I don't like.

That wouldn't be so terrible except I think of myself as a crazy person. I am a manic-depressive, schizophrenic, obsessive compulsive.

Let me stop here and say, please don't stop reading now. This thing really does get better and I am not really all that moody.

Okay, back to the action. Let's define why I would classify myself like that and why exactly, I am not on medication. I am a strong person. I can control my emotions, usually! Pain is only a motivator; Hardship is reason to move forward; Sickness is to be weathered. But even Superman has his Kryptonite. Mine is depression. It paralyzes me. If not for Jesus, I would not have made it thus far.

I also talk to myself, all the time. I have conversations with myself on a course of action. I talk to my friends, in my head; and since I know most of them so well, I can predict what they will say. I talk to the different sides of my personality, which can be broken down into a few parts. First there is Tim. This is me, the intelligent, creative, and logical side. This is the part that controls me. This is the part of me that watches people, the classic "Observer" personality. On either side I have my other two parts, Tod and Timmy.

Yes, they have names…Shut up! Can we continue?
Thank you.

Tod is my Strong side. He is driven. His humor is dark and cutting. He is Prideful and Selfish. He is loud and outgoing. He likes to fight and argue, and he gets angry extremely easy. To be honest, I fear him. I fear him take the controlling roll. He's intimidating. He's cold, calculating, and bold. Unfortunately, when I keep him pushed back, I keep away his good qualities.

Timmy is my inner child. Selfless and shy, he's everything I love about myself. He wants to be a hero. He believes in Magic and Wonder. He looks for doorways to another world around every corner, in every painting, and inside any closet [they call them Wardrobes in the UK].
He is loyal, Loves his friends and family and would die for them in a heart beat. He is non-confrontational in most situations. He makes corny jokes and longs to write the story of every person he sees. He wonders what people in the car next to him are doing, why they are driving, where they are going. He is more creative than the base "me" will ever hope to be. He sees ability in everyone, the inner seed of some special power buried there since the dawn of time. He is afraid of being hurt, and he doesn't have much of a backbone, but he likes to make people happy. He is completely random and has no attention span, but he loves to laugh. He likes change. He hates when things get stale and boring.

These three go everywhere together. And they fight, constantly! They hardly ever agree. One's a monster, one's a wide-eyed child, and one's an old professor, beyond his years. Behind my inner control center, the villain and the hero fight for position, and for my attention. I've gotten good at blocking them out over the years, but occasionally they won't be denied. Sometimes Tod pops out like a vampire needing to feed, and it's Timmy who has to deal with what he has done. Two sides of a Coin.

Unfortunately, those aren't my only problems. I am an obsessive compulsive. At work, if everything is not absolutely strait and orderly and logical, I will go nuts. Everything has to face the same way; every "t" crossed and every "I" dotted. I am like Monk, except not that bad.

Okay, so back to the beginning. I am a writer. I believe that there is an interesting story to be told in everyone. That is why I try so hard to get inside everyone's head. I like to get to know people. Not just in a superficial, "So, what do you do for a living?" sort of way. I want to know the story. Each person is the Hero in their own story. I want to find those heroes and make sure it ends with a happily-ever-after.

Heroes.

I wish I was one. There is not one thing I want more. More importantly, I want to die a hero. I want to sacrifice myself for someone else. But talk is cheap and I hate when I find myself being selfish. I wish I was rich sometimes, because then I could buy stuff for people, give everyone of my friends what they want. I am a generous person. The trick in that is to be generous without acting generous or else people will take advantage of you. Once again, two sides. And it seems you need both.

I wish I could fly. If I could have one super power that would be it. To fly, unaided above the clouds and through, the freedom of it, entrances me. I believe one day I will. I will meet Him in the air.

Faith

I believe that this world, and how we perceive it, is not all there is. I believe that the human race is capable of more than what is thought of as normal and logical, here. Not in an afterlife, but right here; right now. I belief magic exist. It is locked in our imagination. My Father is the Creator. And I am His son. That is why I love to create. But I believe that we are more in His image than that. We have power. Hidden away, locked deep inside of us, pushed down so far we've forgotten even where the door might be.

I believe there is power inside of me. I feel it. I know it is there. Sometimes, when my adrenaline is pumping, I feel it bubbling right below the surface. But there is a disconnect somewhere along the chain. Maybe one day, it will surface.

I believe I was born to be a Warrior. I can feel that in me too. He is the one to access that power. I believe that the only way to fully release that Warrior Within is to reconcile the different parts of me. Timmy is my pure side, and Tim is the side of me that is at present changing. Tod is the side of me yet to be reconciled. He is the left over remnants from my former life, but he is not to be cut out. He is a part of me that is still unredeemed fully. His personality is still needed. Is anger should be focused on my true enemy; his boldness and confidence need to be found in my Father. His backbone is needed in me. He is my Dark part, yes. But he is necessary to the fight.

* * *

I have been a Christian for Twenty years on November 2005. I got saved when I was four, and it wasn't until January 1st 2006 that I came to know God in the way that I have now. The funny thing is, I don't at all feel as if I have lost time. It came when God wanted it to. And it came in an unusual way.

For the last year and a half, I have been working on a Children's Church Program called Battle School. The Premise is this: If the Church is the Army of God, then we need to teach our children to fight. [Ps. 87:5-11, Ps. 144:1] I believe that they, us [I was born in '81, from the 80's through the present is part of the same generation], are a generation of Warriors. It is in our video games, our movies, our culture, our nature. We were meant to fight. The violence in our culture is no coincidence. We are born Warriors. And we are under attack. Abortion, Child suicide, Child abuse and murder, Just like Moses and Jesus, the king of this world wants to kill the ones who bring with them freedom. We have the fire inside of us. We are the revival generation. I want to train them to fight the war that they are already on the front lines of and when they are trained, I will join them in the field.

So, I was supposed to start on January 1st but God postponed my plans. I wondered why. Soon, I came to the conclusion that, I couldn't teach something that I didn't live. I couldn't call for this type of radical Christianity, this dangerous obedience, this complete service to God and His call, and not reflect those things in my own life.

Being saved for 20 years, I heard it all. I heard that you are supposed to be in love with God. I felt that sometimes, but all the time? No. Enough to make me want to read the word everyday? No. In truth, I didn't seek Him first. Until I came to a place where nothing else mattered to me, but My God, My Lord, and my service to Him, I couldn't teach this properly. So I decided that if it had to be done, it had to be done now! And then I proceeded to have a wholly unremarkable experience. Under the hunger pangs of not eating in the last 12 hours, I knelt on the ground like a knight with one knee and one fist placed on the ground and my head bowed.

I told God that I was through living my life. I gave it all up. I said that I put my life in His hands and told Him to tear me down and build me back again as the person He wanted. I chose to serve Him. There was no Thunder, no Lightening, and no booming voice from the sky. I went on with my day and chose to fast for the entirety of the next week. During the course of the next week, He broke me. I cried every night at work as He showed me another part of who He was and that is not something I usually do. I gave Him everything and in return He gave me everything I always wanted. I am satisfied. I am content. I am driven and consumed. I am His servant, His Warrior, His child.

When you give yourself to His light, you see yourself truly defined instead of hidden in the shadows. Your path is clear now instead of dark and obstructed. I have a Purpose and Identity. I have had experiences in the Past. I've been to Bible College. I have heard the Audible Voice of God. I have felt His raw emotion and the mantle of His Spirit fall on me. But this…this isn't a feeling. It's life.

That side of me isn't gone; he's not even fully repaired, but he belongs to my Father. My three sides are closer to becoming one. They move with one purpose and do a lot less fighting.

I am a writer. I am a scribe. The words are not mine, they come from another source. I can take no credit for the beauty found within and I want none. Who can stand in His glory?

So who am I. I'm His…


--
So long and thanks for all the fish!

Semper Fidelis
Semper Vigilantis
Deus Ex Nobis
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Fight the Flood!

Edit REQUIRED

Hello everyone,

I would like everyone to know that I made a huge mistake! Please go and read my post entitled "The Ten Commandments of Movie Watching". It wasn't originally mine and I failed to give proper credit. As a writer myself, I know how I would feel if some one had done this to me. Please read the post again and visit the link to the blog One Stack Mind located in the sidebar of this blog. Thanks and again I apoligize to Robin for the lack of credit.

There was some great links from One Stack Mind about how to give credit: HERE
But since I didn't understand most of that post because I have HADD (Html Attention Deficiet Disorder) I decided to not screw up anything else.

Here is the link to the Updated post.

And here is the link to ONE STACK MIND's specific post that I ignorantly plagerized.

And here is the link for you all to read of Robin's feelings on what I did.

And be sure to visit OneStackMind as often as you can, it really is a great blog.

Who is He?

Hovering over Lake Ponchatrain, He waits, scanning the murky waters of the 40 mile wide lake. His mind wanders under the surface, searching for those who have been washed out of the city. Urgency is not his main concern. For these he searches for, it is already too late. This is his purgatory, his sentence. It only took him a day to push the water out of the city and help the National Guard build a temporary seawall. That job was a neccessity; this is what he came here to do. To take the dead, those he could not save, and give them the respect they deserve.

Edward grew up in New Orleans. Middle child in a family of eleven. He grew up in the 9th ward, but managed to escape the chains of poverty and get into the shipping business. His job for the past 24 years, has been on the water of the Mississippi. He is the captain of a tug boat currently anchored near the center of Lake Ponchatrain. His mission here is to maintain the barges that have become the platform for the dead that are pulled out of the lake. His eyes are fixed on the man floating 100 feet above the water. His concentration is shattered by a question from his second mate.

"How long has he been at this?"

"Two days," He answered.

"How long each day?"

He gave the young man next to him a quizical look. "He hasn't stopped"

"Wow, what is he going..."

The old black man raised his hand as the flying man suddenly dropped out of the sky and fell into the water. A plum of water spat up from the surface, at least half as high as he had been flying.

"He has a routine, He waits till he "senses" a body, then he drops into the water and carries them here. I lay down the body bag, and he puts them in it. Yesterday, He pulled out a woman who could have been my Grandmother. She wasnt, but she looked like her. He put her down and sat there five minutes weeping over her."

"I don't get it, doesn't he have, whatsitcalled, tele-...tele-kintectis?"

"Tele-kinesis, the ability to move things with your mind. Yes, why?"

"Well," the second mate tried to organize his thoughts. "Why doesn't he just lift them out of the water with his mind?"

"I don't know. Maybe he wants to be more hands on." The captain paused, "Imagine how you would feel if you got all these incredible powers just a day to late to help save lives in the greatest natural disaster to hit the mainland United States."

"Wow, Thats, that's unreal." he paused, "Do you know who "he" is?"

"Nope, I know he's from this area and he just got his powers, but that's all. I aint got no clue as to his name, and right now, I dont care. He's doing his part, just like the rest of us. I aint gonna bother him." He stopped to lay down another body bag just as the man shot out of the water.

He landed with more grace than a man his size should have. He was dripping with water; his boots water logged and his shirt was clinging to his chest. He held the latest body close to his own as if trying to keep it warm. It was the body of a thin black boy no older than 10 years. He slowly lowered it onto the bag and took his time zipping it up around it. He looked up and met the eyes of the two boat workers. There were no words to say. They just nodded in return and he shot off into the air. His work wasn't done yet. He still had to search the city and the surrounding areas for the rest.

A step back and he looked up into the air. He bent his knees and shot himself up into the air.
------

I had this dream last night. This is what I wish I could do. I feel so useless. I just ran and left everyone else to their fate. What kind of hero is that? What am I supposed to do?

Highlights of My Week.

Hey everyone,
Well the last few days have been interesting to say the least. I have spent since Sunday night here in memphis at a nice hotel called whispering woods. We (My Parents, David, His Parents and Me) watched all the news reports from the tv, talked to others from our state and other states who had suffered greater losses than ours, we have seen God provide for us on everyside. From the miraculous meeting of David's parents and sister, causing us to find this hotel and get the last room available, to provision for free lunches and dinners. We have met new and interesting people. People we have been able to minister to, and people who have been able to minister to us. The Bible says that the Lord works everything for the good of them that love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. At the very least, this seeming tragedy has opened my eyes to how big the body of Christ is. Our church may be splintered all across the United States, But we still have family everywhere we go. Just last night, we decided to attend this free dinner that this Baptist church was hosting for hurricane refugees, and we met some great people. I spent most of the night talking with the Assistant Youth pastor, Charlie, about everything from where we lived and what we were expecting to go home to to what we liked to do with our spare time to which college football teams we liked (Go Blue, Wolverines Rule). Not only did they feed us, but they prayed for us, offered to board us free of charge, offered finacial help, medical help. We were awe struck as to what these people were willing to do for people they didnt even know. I was supposed to Fly up to Michigan, but with the LA Airport out of commision for commercial flights, that ceased to be an option. I was thinking about driving up to Michigan in my Focus, but #1 I doubt my car could handle 1000mile trip and back, and #2 that would only be the case if i was going to live there for a while and get a job there, but luckily it looks like things will be back to some bit of normality and i will be able to go back to Sam's soon after i come back from my regularly schedualed Vacation. Eventually we decided that i would fly out of memphis, but the return flight was also slated for Memphis, so If, as we had planned, let someone take my car back home; I would have no way to get back home. So it was decided that since i was to leave tomorrow (Sept. 3rd) while everyone else was leaving Friday, because that was as long as we could keep the hotel room, I A) needed a place to stay for one night and B) needed someplace safe to leave my car for two and a half weeks, and C) I needed someone to bring me to the Memphis Airport and pick me up on the 18th. So last night at the free dinner, they told us that they were also having a free lunch the next day. So after we checked out of the hotel we went to the Church that had been so kind to us before. It wasnt long before we were swamped with some of the same people we had met the night before, asking us if we needed any more assistance. We told them my need and in minutes we had a place for me to stay, a safe place to put my car (the Church is situated right next to the local police station and they hand cuff anyone who is out and about after a certain time and look like they are snooping around in the parking lot.), and someone to take me to and pick me up at the airport. I am just amazed at God's provision. I cannot imagine making it without His help and the help of the Body of Christ.
So, Tomorrow I leave for another mission field in Michigan to go and stay with my family there. I am confident that I will find the same provision from God as I have seen already. And I also hope that I can show the same love and servant hood to those up north as I have recieved. I want my Family to be able to see what Christianity really is and if nothing else be a witness of Christ love and service to the world.
In Conclusion, I leave you with this. Be a servant to whomever you come in contact with. It shouldnt have taken the worst natural disaster on American soil, to shake the church into doing its job. If we are really supposed to be "Consumed" with Christ and His work, then we shouldnt treat church like a social club, or an interest we have that we list on "Friendster". We should live it 24/7. And i know alot of us know this, but how often to we live it. Even those of you who are in full time ministry, Do we really live CONSUMED with the cause of Christ? Are we His Army? Are We that commited? Do we live as a servant everyday of our lives? Do you see yourself as a branch, attached to the vine? We shouldnt be worried about were our ministry is going or how it is going to be accomplished in our lives. All of our dreams and hopes were given to us by God and it is His job, The Vines job to carry them out. We are only meant to bear the fruit, not cause the fruit to grow. So be a servent. Live completely unselfishly. We dont have to worry about this world, because God is in Control. I am calling out to you, be truly consumed with Him. Serve until the end of you. Care only for His work and He will care for you. Be the Soldier you were born, even created to be. Be confident in the fact that you are empowered by God to do these things. You are empowered by God to do all things. We are His Children, and He will not deny us our needs. God has a plan and a purpose for this catastrophe and for each and every persons life. Dont be someone who only becomes the on fire Christian during the Sept. 11ths and Hurricane Katrina's that come along. Be that everyday of your life. Push yourself to you limits. Find out were you end. The Bible says that WE can do all things through God. So there should be no difference between where you end and Christ begins. Find out where he can take you, if you give everything. i guarentee that you will be surprised. I dont believe that raising people from the dead is the greatest miracle that can be achieved on earth. Where are the people walking on Water. Where are those Superhuman people that We Christians are supposed to be. God hasnt changed. We are here in an age when we can no longer be ordinary people. We have to rise to the level that we were meant to be at. We were meant to be extraordinary.
Thank you for your time. I hope all of you are safe. I am praying for all of you.

-Timothy O'Donnell

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><> So long and thanks for all the fish!
Visit my blog @ http://thechroniclesof.blogspot.com
Semper Fidelis
Semper Vigilantis
Deus Ex Nobis

Aftermath of Katrina

Hey guys, i found this blog that has alot of info on our part of Louisiana. It has a listing of parish of the conditions and road passability.

Also, you can go to wwltv.com for a host of information about conditions around your house.

I will post more when I have time.

So long and thanks for all the fish (and debris, power outages, flooding, and so on)!!

Running from the Storm

Well, these past few days have been quite the adventure. First boarding up the windows and packing up everything we could, to fleeing to a safe location in Hammond, then seeing Katrina intensify to legendary status and again running for our lives in the face of this world ending Hurricane.

Though it all, I have had my parents and my friend, David, with me to keep me sane. We have driven hundreds of miles in order to find a place to stay. Fortunately we got the hook up with David's parent who managed to find a hotel at a golf resort, and through communicating with them, we managed to snag the last room. This place is great. It is just outside of Memphis, with all the amenities of a big City. the hotel has a pool, a sauna, a lounge, internet access (Which is how i am writing to you right now.). I am rejoicing in the small vacation, and through it all, i really only missed 1 day of work so far. I go on real vacation to michigan on the 4th so hopefully i will be able to go, not knowing whether or not the airport will be up and operational.

So, in conclusion, I am ok, most of my family is ok, (We dont know if my little sister is were she says she is or not.) Most of my friends are out of harms way (Pray for Kyle who is still in the midst of the storm, but by all accounts, seems to be faring well. Our properties are on our minds, as to whether or not we will come home to bad damage. We are also wondering whether or not our church is in good condition.

I will update as necessary!

So long and thanks for all the fish...

Semper Fidelis
Semper Vigilantis
Deus Ex Nobis