Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
Anyone who gets to know me well will find out there’s not much sports I get into or not many teams I get into. I have my favorite sports teams in all of the major sports, but I don’t watch many games, I just follow standings unless it’s the playoffs or Superbowl or World Series or something. And not any sport I like to watch as much as basketball and not really any team I really get into like the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. I’ve been a fan since I was 10! I’ve been waiting years to get a championship! They’ve gone far and into the playoffs many years and have had great teams but never got that lucrative championship! Been to the finals twice in their history! Last year they went really far into the playoffs without one of their stars Amare Stoudemire a lot further then anyone expected or predicted! This year they have all their stars from last year and more stars, this year their even a better deeper team and a lot better defensively! They’ve been on a role many times this year! They only seem to stink up when Steve Nash their point guard and star is injured, they need him, his assists and his team play jut helps majorly! Which might make him get a third year in a row MVP this year! This year really might be their year! Come playoff time I’m really going to watch, pay attention and get excited!
I grew up in Phoenix being that I moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in July you might think I can’t watch many games like I used to because in Phoenix a local UPN channel KUTP 45 carries a lot of games, but that is not been the case! I get Direct TV and get the NBA package! Of course I still get busy and can’t watch all the time but come playoff time! I read this on the web posted February 5th, yeah that’s what I’m talking about!
Suns Believe They Can Run All The Way To The Finals
The numbers are staggering. Two winning streaks of at least 15 games. A 20-1 record against the Eastern Conference. An 8½-game lead in the Pacific Division. A winning percentage of .800.
By any measure, the Phoenix Suns are blazing a trail through the 2006-07 season that few teams have ever traversed.
But as daunting as the arrival of Steve Nash and his running partners are in an opponent’s locker room, the challenge the Suns face in graduating from regular-season carnival act to NBA champion is equally onerous. For all that the Suns have dazzled under coach Mike D’Antoni’s European-flavored run-and-gun system — leading the league in scoring for the third consecutive season, winning at a pace that could secure homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs for the second time in three years — Phoenix has to prove its style can win in June. Indeed, the past two seasons have seen the Suns stopped in the conference finals by the Spurs and Mavericks, respectively. Further, the recent body of NBA evidence doesn’t lead one to conclude titles are won with flash.
Over the last three campaigns, defense has won the day. The Pistons of 2003-04 and the Spurs of ‘04-05 each led the league in scoring defense en route to the trophy, while last season’s Heat team was second in that category in the playoffs.
D’Antoni, now in his fourth season in the desert, believes a win in the Finals isn’t a matter of style as much as timing.
“Two years ago the geniuses said this system wouldn’t work through December,” D’Antoni said. “Then [after a 62-win regular season] it was, ‘It’s definitely not going to work in the playoffs,’ and that Memphis would sweep us. Well, we swept them. Then it was, ‘It’s not going to work against Dallas.’ Well, we beat them 4-2. Then it was, ‘It won’t work the next year without Amaré [Stoudemire]‘. Well, it did work. So now until we win the Finals, it will be, ‘Well, it doesn’t work in the Finals.’
“Give me a break. It doesn’t work in the Finals because there are other great teams and other great players. If we hit the right shots and get lucky, we can win it all.”
Every champion needs its steppingstone, every Bulls needs its Pistons. But the Suns face a conference with a host of accomplished rivals — three alone in Texas — every bit as talented as D’Antoni’s group. And unlike an entire conference of Eastern teams too bogged down by its own inconsistent play to slow down the Suns, the West’s likely playoff participants know this Phoenix team like a next-door neighbor. And if this season’s results are any measure, it appears they want the lawn mower back; the Suns entered Thursday’s matchup with San Antonio a combined 0-6 against the Mavs, Spurs, Jazz and Lakers.
Truth be told, though, all but one of the losses came in the opening weeks of the season, when Phoenix was getting reacquainted with Stoudemire after the 24-year-old big man missed all but three games in ‘05-06 while recuperating from microfracture knee surgery. His presence, and return to playing 31 minutes a game, has given Phoenix a boost defensively, helping the Suns rank 13th in the league in defensive field-goal percentage, an improvement from 17th last season. That growth has been obscured, though, by the Suns’ fast pace, which provides both teams more chances to score, and hence, more points.
“Our goal is to play a little bit better defense than the team we’re playing,” D’Antoni said during the Suns’ recent trip to New York. “If we score more points than them, then that means that we played better defense, and we’re doing it a lot of the time. … We don’t have strength in a lot of places and we don’t overpower people defensively, but if you watch [us] skating around, [we] are playing good team defense.”
With perhaps the best defensive team of D’Antoni’s tenure, a 36-9 start, Stoudemire’s return to good health and the sublime play of two-time MVP Nash, the championship window has never seemed more open in Phoenix.
“We want to win it now; that was our goal coming into the season,” said Raja Bell, Nash’s backcourt mate. “We understand we were real close last year minus an injury or two. [But] there’s always a little luck that goes into it, so if it’s not your year, it’s not your year.”
Just how many years this Phoenix unit has, though, is in question, as Nash reaches further into his mid-30s — with a notoriously balky back. A rotation that is effectively only eight deep doesn’t figure to help ease the burden on Nash or his teammates. Nonetheless, Nash, who hasn’t missed more than seven games since the ‘00-01 season, doesn’t seem concerned.
“We feel like there’s no reason we can’t be a great team next year,” Nash said. “[But] we aren’t looking at the future. We’re looking at this year, not because of any window but because of the opportunity in front of us. … The return of Amare has helped combined with having a better understanding of what we’re trying to do and when we’re at our best.”
For a club that averages 111.6 points, the Suns are at their best not merely because they run. Heck, even the woebegone Grizzlies run nowadays. But when the Suns take off, they do so with five players who average better than 15 points. They do so shooting 50 percent as a team. And they do so averaging more assists than any team in the NBA.
“[Our success] doesn’t have anything to do with the system,” D’Antoni said. “We have the personnel to fit this type of style. …With Steve, and Amare and Shawn [Marion], we’re able to go back to a fast-breaking, more wide-open kind of game that everybody played in the ’70s and ’80s. That system worked because everybody played it. Nobody plays this way [anymore].”
And should this attack — which strives to shoot with 14 clicks left on the shot clock while forcing an opponent to decide whether to stick to its defensive principles or try to outshoot the Suns — falter again this year, D’Antoni is ready to retool the best way he knows how.
“We’ll just speed it up.”
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Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
I felt like doing another useless poll! lol
The Most Personal Quiz, Ever.
1. Who were you with last night?
church family, I had church service last night
2. What woke you up this morning?
My darn roommate!
3. Where are you?
My bedroom
4. Is tomorrow going to be a good day?
Maybe
5. Did you kiss or hug anyone today?
No
8. When’s the last time you cried?
Today with God
__The PAST round__
10. Ever thrown up in public?
Yes
11. What activities did you do while in school?
Went to class!
Clubs/Teams: None
12. What’s [who] on your mind RIGHT NOW?
That’s a secret.
__The FUTURE round__
13. would you take a bullet for anyone?
yes
14. Where would you like to live?
Same state Ohio but more in the country in a big house with a big yard
15. What kind of home would you like?
Quite and peaceful and clean
16. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I am grown up
17. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Married, 3 kids, large worldwide business and ministry
18. Do you want to get married?
YES! Definitely!
__The MYSPACE round__
20.) do you like myspace?
Yes
21.) do you like anyone on your top?
No
22.) do you comment the person you like alot?
No
23. who was the last person that left you a comment?
CyberRev?
24. Are you good friends with this person?
No
25. How often do you log in to myspace?
Daily
27. Do you like candy necklaces?:
Sometimes.
28. When was the last time you fell over or ran into something?
I don’t remember
29. Do you listen to music every day?
yes!!!!!!!!!!!
30. Do you still go trick or treating?
no
31. What was the last thing you ate?:
rice and chicken
32. Are you a fast typer?:
Yes
34. What are you doing tonight?:
working on my Myspace’s
35. Whats your type of SODA?
Dr Pepper, Pepsi, Cherry Coke
36. Have you ever moved?
Yes even to a different state, Ohio is way better then Arizona any day!
37. Have you ever won an award? What for?
Yes
38. Do you do any sports?
Bowling and pool/billiards are my best! lol
39. What do you want to do right now?
Seriously? Go on a date! lol
40. Are you listening to music right now?
Yes
41. Do you like someone?:
Yes
42. Do you like Dr. Phil or Oprah better?:
Oprah
43. How many days til your birthday?
Exactly? Not sure! but 3 months! May 9th!
44. When were you the saddest in your whole life?:
When I was 16 and had serious depression!
46. Do you use EBay to buy or sell?
Both
47. What makes you pissed off?
liars, gossips, people who bear false witness
49. What song makes you cry?
The ending song to the movie Pay it Forward of course the movie scene is probably partly why!
50. What song makes you happy?
Lots!
51. What do you like to listen to before you go to bed?
Silence
52. Do you have a job?
Yes!
53. What does Your CD player have in it right now?
Nothing I use my Ipod most!
54. If you were a crayon what color would you be?
lol I don’t know a blue one
55. What makes you happy?
To be loved and appreciated and complimented
56. Did you have a good day?
So far, no.
57. What’s the next CD you’re gonna get?
Not sure! Looking to buy the rare college release Frail demos on Ebay then I’ll have literally all of their CDs!
[appearance]
[Hair Color:] blonde
[Eye Color:] hazel (blue-green)
[Piercings:] 0
[Tattoos:] 0
[wearing right now: ] black dress shirt, black dress pants
[What song are you listening to?] An old 80s song I ant to be a clone by Steve Taylor
[What taste is in your mouth?] chicken
[How are you?] right now? Annoyed at my roommate
[Get motion sickness?] Yes
[Have a bad habit?] Yes
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Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
What does the bible say about friendships and choosing friends?
Proverbs 12:26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
This verse tells us to choose our friends very carefully. You should never forget this basic fundamental verse! Notice this verse is specifically telling us that if we do not choose our friends carefully in this life, that we could end up choosing the wrong type of people to become friends with and they can then end up leading us astray from God and with what He wants to do with our lives. Many of God’s people have lost their calls in Him because they chose to hang out with the wrong type of people or the wrong crowd.
The benefits of choosing good Godly friends:
Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Proverbs 19:27 Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 20:18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
Proverbs 24:5 A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;
Once you turn the will of your life over to God for Him to fully handle, He will make sure that you get matched up with the right kind of people that you can become true Godly friends with, who will bring you up instead of down!
You should seek God for every area of your life including your friendships!
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
This next verse is extremely fascinating as it tells us that two friends can help sharpen each other up as iron sharpens iron. A true Godly friend can help keep you sharp in the Spirit, let you know when you are getting too far off track, help you get through and make sense of some of the downswings that can occur in your walk, confirm and help bear witness when you are on the right track, give you pep talks when needed, and help keep you in the game when you start to get too mad and too frustrated when things do not go your way.
You each serve to help keep each other up in the Lord so that you both can continue to stay on the straight and narrow road that God now has you set up on. You can also help each other out if one starts to be tempted to do something they should not be engaging in. Here is the verse:
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
A true Godly friend will always be honest and straight forward with you. You cannot help keep each other up and sharp in the Lord unless you are both willing to be totally honest with one another.
These next seven verses will tell us not to be yoked together with unbelievers, foolish men, dogs, evil workers, those who are disorderly, reckless, contentious and always causing trouble and strife.
There is one verse in particular that tells us that “evil company corrupts good habits.” This verse perfectly shows us what can happen to any of your children if they start hanging out with the wrong type of people.
Here are 7 good verses telling us to stay on our side of the fence, and to stay away from all of the bad apples who have no desire for God or anything that He stands for.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 14:6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
Romans 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us.
All of these verses are giving us major warnings that we are to stay away from all of the bad apples in this life who will do nothing but try and bring us down to their lower way of living in this life. Many Christians have had their lives totally ruined and destroyed as a result of marrying the wrong people or choosing the wrong kinds of friends to hang out with.
I’m not totally against being friends with non-Christians or sinners! Jesus was friends of sinners, and if we’re not friends with them they probably won’t listen to us and therefore we won’t be lights to them!
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
I think we need to make good judgment and use good discernment: are we strong enough in the area that this sinner sins that they won’t bring us down and instead we will bring them up? This I think is a major important question to answer to ourselves! I believe as far as friendships and people put in our path to help and be a light to and minister to can be set up by God if we diligently seek Him and His will for His life! And pray and read His word and seek His face! I know I’ve had certain friendships God ordained just by how much they helped me and blessed me! Those are the best kind of friendships! And we need people in our life! We’re made for companionship and fellowship. God knew it was not good for man/Adam to be alone, and I think this was not just as far as a mate but people and friendships as a whole! Besides our mates should be our friends as well!
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Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
I was bored, I did a survey! I’m working on a few blogs!
The Letter A
Are you available: I’m single. Available? Not really!
What is your age: 26
What annoys you: Gossips, liars, people that bear false witness, betrayers, backstabers
The Letter B
Do you live in a big house: No right now an apartment. I want to buy a home soon though.
When is your birthday: May 9th
Who is your best friend: Jesus
The Letter C
What’s your favorite candy: Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cups
Who’s your crush: No answer
When was the last time you cried: I don’t remember unless we’re talking with God then the other day.
The Letter D
Do you daydream: Yes
What’s your favorite kind of dog: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds, Siberian Huskys, Rottweilers, St. Barnards, German Shepherds, Basenjis, etc.
What day of the week is it: Wednesday
The Letter E
How do you like your eggs: Never! I hate eggs!
Have you ever been in the emergency room: Yes
What’s the easiest thing ever to do: Walk
The Letter F
Have you ever flown in a plane: Yes many times!
Do you use fly swatters: No
Have you ever used a foghorn: No
The Letter G
Do you chew gum: Rarely
Are you a giver or a taker: More of a giver.
Do you like gummy candies: Rarely
The Letter H
How are you?: Good
What’s your height?: 6′3″
What color is your hair?: Blond
The Letter I
What’s your favorite ice cream?: Mint Chocolate Chip and Cookies n Cream
Have you ever ice skated?: No, sounds like fun!
Do you play an instrument?: Piano and guitar, want to take up saxaphone and violin
The Letter J
What’s your favorite jelly bean?: buttered popcorn flavored jelly beans!
Have you ever heard a really hilarious joke?: Yes, of course!
Do you wear jewelry?: I wear a True Love Waits 14kt gold ring
The Letter K
Who do you want to kill?: No one!
Do you want kids?: Yes! Natural born and adopted! I truthfully want a son and daughter, but I more would love to have a daughter first!
Where did you have kindergarten?: Sunrise Elementary, Phoenix, Arizona
Letter L
Are you laid back?: Yes
Do you lie?: Rarely if ever.
Ever been in love?: Yes
The Letter M
What’s your favorite movie?: All-time: Pay it Forward!
Do you still watch Disney movies?: Yes
Do you like mangos?: Yes
The Letter N
Do you have a nickname?: Yes, Gerg, and Gregarious by my mom
What’s your favorite number?: 9
Do you prefer night over day?: No
The Letter O
What’s your one wish?: Ain’t tellin’
Are you an only child?: No, two older brothers, last year I got my first sister-in-law
Do you wish this was over?: No
The Letter P
Whats one fear are you most paranoid about?: Going to jail for being framed!
What’s a personality trait you look for in the opposite sex?: Trust, Loyalty, Humor
The Letter Q
Are you quick to judge people?: No
Do you think you’re always right?: No
Do you watch reality TV?: Not really! I don’t watch a lot of tv to begin with! No time!
The Letter S
Do you prefer sun or rain? Sun
Do you like snow?: Usually but I’m pretty sick of it now!Playing in it is fun. Shoveling or driving in it is not!
What’s your favorite season?: Summer
The Letter T
What time is it? 3:45am lol
What time did you wake up?: Midnight
When was the last time you slept in a tent?: Awhile ago!
The Letter U
Are you wearing underwear?: Of course!
The Letter V
What’s the worst veggie?: Spinach!
Where do you want to go on vacation?: Israel or Australia!
Where was your last family vacation to?: Family vacation? Can’t remember?
The Letter W
What’s your worst habit?: Biting my nails when nervous
Where do you live?: Cincinnati, Ohio
The Letter X
Have you ever had an x-ray?: Yes
Have you seen the X Games?: On t.v.!
Do you own a xylophone?: No
The Letter Y
Do you like the color yellow?: It’s okay
What year were you born in?: 1980
What’s one thing you yearn for?: true love!
The Letter Z
What’s your zodiac sign?: Taurus
Do you believe in the zodiac?: No, I think it’s got pagan roots! I trust in the Word of God!
What’s your favorite zoo animal? Penguin
Posted in General, My Life | No Comments »
Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
rent
2. Where’s the best place to eat a romantic dinner?
Lots of places
3.Whens the last time you puked from drinking?
Never
4. When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar?
Never
5. Name of your 2nd grade teacher
At the time she was Mrs. Miller she got remarried
6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Sleeping
7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Fireman
8. How many colleges did you attend?
I’m currently attending my third correspondence bible courses online!
9. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?
I’m not wearing a shirt
10. GAS PRICES First thought?
Thieves!
12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
It didn’t yet, I can’t sleep
13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
I want the week to fly by!
14. What chore do you despise?
scrubbing toilets!
15. If you didn’t have to work, would you volunteer at an art gallery?
No
16. Get up early or sleep in?
sleep in!
17. What is your favorite cartoon character?
Bart Simpson
20. Favorite NON sexual thing to do at night with a girl/guy
Hang-out, talk, laugh and joke
21. A secret that you wouldn’t mind everyone knowing?
I don’t have any!
22. Are you planning on remaining in your current field?
Yes and no
23. If you are not married, do you see yourself married in the next 5 years?
Yes! Definitely!
24. Your favorite lunch meat?
None!
25. What do you get every time you go into a Wal-Mart?
Everytime? It varies!
26. Beach or lake?
Beaches are better!
27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?
lol No marriage was created by God and one of the most awesome beautiful things you will ever do in your life! If not the most awesome!
28. Who do you stalk on MySpace?
lol Nobody!
29. Favorite guilty pleasure?
lol I don’t know chocolate?
30. Favorite movie you wouldn’t want anyone to find out about?
None
31. What’s “your” drink?
Alcohol is disgusting. Dr Pepper or Pepsi!
Non alcoholic:
Dr Pepper or Pepsi
32. Cowboys or Indians?
Neither
33. Cops or Robbers?
Cops! lol
34. Do you cheer for the bad guy?
lol No!
35. What Hollywood star do you think resembles you best?
Sadly Leonardo di Caprio, because I get him the most, then second I get Matt Damon, now I can live with Mr. Damon!
36. If you had to pick one, which cast member of Lost would you be?
lol Um? I think John Locke
37. What do you want when you are sick?
To sleep!
38. Who from high school would you like to run into?
Nobody!
39. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
Klove
42. Norm or Cliff?
Neither! Cheers was boring!
43. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons??
Both!
44. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Trusting when I shouldn’t have!
45. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
No.
46. If you could get away with it, whom would you kill?
Nobody
47. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Any well-known Christian band or singer!
48. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
Yes
49. Last book you read for real?
The bible
50. Do you have a teddy bear?
No
51. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
in my truck
52. Somewhere in California you’ve never been and would like to go?
I’ve only been to Southern California, so anywhere in the northern part!
53. Number of texts in a day?
zero
54. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?
Relationship
55. Pencil or pen?
Both it depends on the intended purpose
56. How many jobs have you had?
too many
57. Where do you see yourself in 10 years
Married, at least 2-3 kids, in a house, a massive worldwide ministry and business
FIRST REAL BEST FRIEND: I guess Vance
FIRST SCHOOL: Sunrise Elementary School
FIRST CELL PHONE: It was a Sprint
FIRST FUNERAL: Believe it or not I’ve never been to one, I was supposed to go my great-grandmother’s, but my stupid dad wen on his own while my mom and my brother and I took off school and were waiting for him and a ride to go together at the house! That’s my dad for you!
FIRST PET: Probably my cat Thunder
FIRST BIG TRIP: San Diego, California and Anaheim, California, the zoo and Sea World and Disneyland too when I was about 8-10.
FIRST FIGHT: I don’t remember
FIRST CELEBRITY CRUSH: Meg Ryan
FIRST TIME OUT OF THE COUNTRY? Mexico when I was 20
FIRST JOB: selling newspaper subscriptions door-to-door
FIRST MYSPACE FRIEND: Tom! lol
*EVERYONE HAS THEIR LASTS*
LAST PERSON YOU HUGGED: Don’t remember
LAST CAR RIDE: Ride? Don’t remember?
LAST TIME YOU CRIED? With God yesterday!
LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED: I think the Poseidon Adventure!
LAST FOOD YOU ATE: McDonald’s chicken nuggets, large fries and a drink
LAST ITEM BOUGHT: Above, McDonald’s
LAST SHIRT WORN: Blue polo shirt
LAST PHONE CALL: Steven
LAST TEXT MESSAGE: I don’t text message on my cellphone
LAST THING YOU TOUCHED: The keyboard
LAST FUNERAL: Like I said I’ve believe it or not never been to one!
LAST TIME AT THE MALL: Today, I work part-time at one!
LAST TIME YOU WERE EXCITED FOR SOMETHING: Yesterday!
LAST PERSON YOU SAW: My roommate
LAST THING YOU DRANK: Arrowhead water
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Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
I’ve seen this awesome statue of Jesus on the Interstate going north from Cincinnati to Dayton. I don’t go up that way much, but I just found a link about it on the web. So, I thought I’d share. I think it is awesome! Next time I go up that way I’ll snap a picture I’ll have a camera with me!
This picture does not do it justice!
Read a little bit about it here!
Posted in Bible, General | No Comments »
Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
I was wondering the origins and history of Valentine’s Day so I looked it up and then I thought I’d share it with you! Very interesting!
There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine’s Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine”. Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.
In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800’s and now the date is very commercialised. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.
The History of Saint Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.
The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.
Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.
The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine’s Day for the celebration of this new feaSt. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.
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St. Valentine’s Story
Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn’t like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn’t the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.
Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn’t going to support that law!
Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favourite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies — secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.
One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.
I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.
One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, “Love from your Valentine.”
I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine’s Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh — because they know that love can’t be beaten!
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Valentine Traditions
Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentine’s Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was:
Good morning to you, valentine;
Curl your locks as I do mine —
Two before and three behind.
Good morning to you, valentine.
In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, “You unlock my heart!”
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.
In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him.
Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.
A love seat is a wide chair. It was first made to seat one woman and her wide dress. Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections, often in an S-shape. In this way, a couple could sit together — but not too closely!
Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.
Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have.
If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.
Source!
Those of you may not know but being that I was born and raised in Arizona (the capital and largest city, Phoenix), I know an interesting fact… February 14th is also Arizona’s statehood date, on February 14th, 1912 Arizona became the 48th state admitted to the union!
Source: http://www.pictureframes.co.uk/pages/saint_valentine.htm
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Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
1. What are your initials? GWL
2. Name someone with the same birthday as you: singer Billy Joel, actress Candace Burgen (from Murphy Brown), and the actress who played the mother in the Wonder Years, I forget her name?
3. Where was your first kiss? Never had one on the lips, only cheeks
4. For or against same sex marriage? Against
5. Are you homophobic? No
6. Are you bisexual? lol No!
7. Do you believe in God? Yes! Is that a surprise? lol Come on! Everyone knows that about me! I even know God!
8. How many U.S states have you been to? Arkansas, Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma (the worse state of them ll! lol) Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas
9. How many of the U.S states have you lived in? 2, Arid-zone-ah! and OH-HI-OH! lol
10. Have you ever lived outside the U.S? No
11. Name something you like physically about yourself: My muscles, nice 6-pack and biceps and chest now lol
12. Something non-physical you like about yourself? My heart and love for God which makes my heart and love for people, you get the other one with the first one if it is truthful!
13. Whats your mom’s first name? Julie
14. What is your dream car? I drive it believe it or not!: blue Chevy Silverado HD pickup truck! I don’t want a sports car for fear of being stolen always though I might test drive one at a car lot acting like I’m buying it or I might rent one, like a lamborguini or ferrari that would rock!
15. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? Australia and Israel are tied for number one choice, also New Zealand and Italy are way up there! Even England or France or Germany or anywhere in Europe or anywhere in the Caribbean would be nice!
16. Have you ever had someone of the opposite sex sleep over? Yeah in another room!
17. Do you download music? Sometimes but rarely I save my own bought CDs on my Harddrive
18. How many illegal things have you done? Jaywalking and Loitering and Littering is about it! Man I’m a hardened criminal! lol
19. Where would you want to go on a first date? Out to dinner at a nice restaurant and maybe miniature golf, bowling or a movie afterwards!
20. Would you date the person who posted this before you? lol No, it was a dude!
21. Has anyone ever sang or played for you personally? No
22. Ever been kissed under fireworks? No, sounds nice, though!
23. Do you like president Bush? Yes and No, he is protecting our country and the world and doing a lot more good then people give him credit for! You be in his shoes president of the USA and have all of the world’s problems with terrorism, Muslim countries, etc today! See how easy it is! But, I also believe as far as personality and intellect he is not even close to being a good president! And he has made plenty of bad decisions especially with Israel!
24. Have you ever bungee jumped? No, the Purple People Bridge above the Ohio River is where I might try it, if I got enough nerve!
25.Have you ever white water rafted? No, I always wanted to in the Colorado River of the Grand Canyon in my home state of Arid-Zone-ah!
26. Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you? lol Yes! A lot of older women love me! But, 10 years older is too much! For some reason I either have much older women liking me or teenage girls liking me and I can’t do either for taste or legalities! lol
27. Have you met a real redneck? lol I live really close to Kentucky! lol j/k!
28. Are you racist? No, to me racism is hating another race, which I do not, I love all people and would consider dating or marrying any race, female that is though! lol Any race, not any sex! I do notice differences in personalities and the way people talk and such in the different races!
29. What song are you listening to right now? None
30. What is your current favorite song? Your Love Is Better Than Life by the Newsboys it has a nice hip tune to it and good lyrics!
31. What was the last movie you watched?
I watched Superman, Mission Impossible 3 and The Poseidon Adventure all in the same weekend! Which one was last? I think Poseidon!
32. Where was the last place you went besides your house? Work!
33. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone elses property? lol No!
34. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? No
35. What really turns you on? lol *blushes* Personality: Makes me laugh, a love and heart for God and people, Body: I don’t want to sound like a pervert, but women and men both notice, if they don’t they’re lying. I’m not talking about lusting either! Slightly chubby, big breasts but not too big! Okay, I’m being really honest! *blushes*
39. What’s the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Honestly (and you know it is now! lol) Personality!
36. What do you usually order from Starbucks? Pop, I hate coffee it’s nasty!
37. Say something totally random about yourself: lol Smart
38. Do you have an ipod? Darn right! 60 GB black video Ipod! It rocks the llama!
39. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? Yes I get Leonardo di Caprio the most, followed by Matt Damon the second most!
40. Do you have braces? No and never did
41. Are you comfortable with your height? Yeah! Women love tall guys and I stand at 6′3″ it’s not really tall, but it is tall!
42. do you speak any other language other than English? I speak quite a bit almost fluent Spanish, but reading and writing it is a different story! I speak fluent American Sign Language! Beautiful language! I am learning Italian now! And have been learning Biblical Hebrew for almost a year now!
43. Have you ever ridden in a limo? You bet! It’s awesome! Only twice though!
44. Has anyone you were really close to passed away? Yes, my great-grandmother was the hardest it was when I was a kid! Still one of my favorite photos was when I was a kid with her! Most of my family is in the occult or just religious and wants nothing to do with me for my faith, but God told me recently she was a believer and prayed for me! I knew even when I was a kid there was something different about her! And I teared up when I heard that from God!
45. Do you watch MTV? lol No, because I’m not dumb! lol Sorry but most shows on there are dumb!
46. What’s something that really annoys you? People that betray you and backstab you and gossip about you and bare false witness about you, or steal from you, when they have no right and you never did anything to them to begin with!
47. What are some things you really like? Jesus, girls, Christian music, art, guitar, piano, Myspace, the Bible, trucks, Italian and Mexican food, Chinese food, Southern cooking, junk food, food, oh and did I say food! lol, the languages of French, Italian and Greek! Pretty! Australian accents, New Zealand accents, friends, people as long as they’re real, good “meat” preaching sermons! Traveling! Pool/Billiards, Swimming, Bowling, Drawing, Painting, Cooking, Writing! Juggling, Unicycling and Yo-Yos
48. Do you like Michael Jackson? lol I loved his music when I was a kid (in the 80s when he was popular) I still think he has talent, but wow! I pray for him! But, too much cosmetic surgery, even if he isn’t “sleeping” with kids, he needs to stop sleeping in the same beds with kids (which he admits to) who are not his own! And he is just TOO weird!
49. Can u dance? Some kinds yes!
50. Have you ever surfed? No, but it sounds like fun!
51. Do you know how to pump gas? lol Yes! I better! I don’t always have someone with me in my truck!
52. What’s the latest you have ever stayed out? All night!
53. Have you ever thought that you were honestly going to die? Yes like 3 times!
54. Were you ever rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? Yes, twice
55. Have you ever been dared to do something you didn’t want to? Yes and I never did it! Dare means nothing to me! lol
56. Where do you want to live? Same state Ohio, same area near Cincinnati or possibly near Dayton or Columbus, but in a nice big house with a nice big yard in front, the house has to be somewhat outside the city in the country but not too far, with my future wife and kids!
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Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Greg
I’m like excited I got Matt Damon people have told me that before! Women think he’s like sex hot! lol
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Friday, April 9th, 2010 by Greg
lol Not only does he play opera music, but it is the same CD every single day! I’m like can we please have at least a day away from the opera music? Please? I can go to my room and ignore it to a point or I could leave the house, but if I hear that opera one more time, I’m going to scream. lol I hate opera music, can’t you tell? lol Any CD even my favorites I get sick of if I hear it everyday! I have so many CDs for a reason, I get tired of the same old same old.
Posted in General, Music, My Life | No Comments »
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