Accept the Penalty

It's clear to most of us that having wisdom comes with realizing when and how to reveal knowledge.  Nobody really likes the statistician; even in sports conversations the dude who sounds like a box score gets ignored sooner or later.  And it's definitely not a bad thing to know a thing or two...or 200, but some things were meant to just be understood while others should be shared with a select few. Operating like this gives way to the paradoxical slogan 'being strong in humility'; and is the basis for Jesus Christ's "speck and plank" lesson (Matthew 7:3-5).

Mustard Seeds Save Lives

It's gotta be the right thing to do.  I mean, it's gotta be.  We come here every Sunday.  Mama seems to like it and everybody's here.  I wish Dad would come.  If he doesn't come it's not that important right?  Well, he never stopped me and Mama from coming so he must be cool with it.  Plus Mama told me if I wanna go down there it's fine with her.  We talked about it and I get it, I think.  So....they're gonna ask me do I believe Jesus died and rose; I believe that.  And that's it, right?  Grammie and Grandaddy down there too, so if anything happens I'm straight.  Wait...I do believe in Jesus, right?  And He did die for me?  Hold up...me?  Back in them days?  How did He know me back then?  And it was for my sins, right?  Is that for what Mama gets mad at me for?  He had to die for that?  Uhhh.....ok, I'm going down there.
                                                                                              - Terrance Jones, circa 1987

...And the Success of the Challenged (Repost)

This is a repost because for some reason this went to some of your spam boxes.

Earlier in the day, I was involved in an intense display of belief in God for who He is, what He says, and what He has accomplished on my behalf before I was born.  More subtle acts of this have carried on during the last five hours, and it has allowed me some opportunities to examine.  More recently, while talking with a friend I was asked about the images and occurrences of the industry I work in.  Pleasantly, the majority of his questions weren't referring to those who benefit from this industry with financial profit.  Instead, his interest hung on the welfare of the serviced men, women, and children in the mental and behavioral health field.  That interest cleared the way for me to share about a couple heroes of mine; and think.

...And the Success of the Challenged

Earlier in the day, I was involved in an intense display of belief in God for who He is, what He says, and what He has accomplished on my behalf before I was born.  More subtle acts of this have carried on during the last five hours, and it has allowed me some opportunities to examine.  More recently, while talking with a friend I was asked about the images and occurrences of the industry I work in.  Pleasantly, the majority of his questions weren't referring to those who benefit from this industry with financial profit.  Instead, his interest hung on the welfare of the serviced men, women, and children in the mental and behavioral health field.  That interest cleared the way for me to share about a couple heroes of mine; and think.

Perils of Middle Management

The road of profit for rural southern Virginia was once again my companion yesterday morning and evening.  In my late teens and 20s I've unwilling supported towns like Emporia and South Boston; but these days I have learned to walk with Highway 58, not against her.  She still gives way for bored and racist sheriffs to wield their authority from the cruisers they squeeze to get in and out of, but I've become wise.  No longer do I entertain the judges who are great-great grandsons of Confederate losers (no name calling, they did lose the war); instead 58 and I have an understanding--I need her, and she has rules of engagement.  So on a foggy morning drifting over Kerr Lake, I listened to the tabloid ESPN reporters smash Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.  At the end of my day, with a slight headache and darkness surrounding me, my vehicle, and our friend 58; I listened to a new set of ESPN professional gossipers bash Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.  After having my fill of the spectacle, I reached for silence and I thought to myself, poor middle managers.

Pass The Methadone

Nobody wants to be left out of the fun; and a fun-substitute only makes missing the fun even worse in most cases.  What's more of a disaster in the situation of the fun-substitute is when the fun is in the form of a tangible object.  I'm from the era where parents addressed the necessities of life before they handled the flimsy pleasures of a child.  When Starter coats hit the scene, my parents didn't hear my desire for the top-notch, shinny-nylon, Public Enemy endorsed jacket; they heard "Terrance wants a coat."  So instead of the L.A. Raiders (who was my team even then), Georgetown, University of Miami, or Oakland A's Starter, I got a Miami Game coat.  Being honest, the jacket was kinda hot, but it wasn't a Starter--therefore I missed out on the fun of having the in piece of cloth.  At the time, my spoiled self couldn't see that the coat served its purpose well and saved my parents money that undoubtedly helped pay for much more important things for me.  All I saw was that when I went to school, I wasn't one of the Starter jacket rockers.  Back then it was a huge deal, to the point I didn't even wear the coat that much.  Just a few short years later, however, I understood that I didn't miss out on a thing.  But who can convince a self-centered pre-teen that because you don't have what every hip-hop kid [seems] to have isn't that important?  I mean, it's almost as hard as convincing the mature, holy-rolling adult of the same thing.