This is not a pretty blog like many of my friend's work. But - it’s a blog. A journal of sorts. When I began writing it, I was married. I went through the painful process of divorce - and now am on the other side of it all. It’s really interesting (on a personal note) to look back into the past. I remember where I was and what I was doing when I wrote most of these. Of course, a few I don’t remember writing at all. Those are pretty cool too. But - wow - strange...
I compiled a list of my favorites. These were hard to choose, but I made an attempt. I started out with 10, but kept finding little nuggets - so I’d add a few here an there. I could have added more, but I held off. There are 15 total in the first batch - and 7 in the honorable mentions. I like more than that for sure, but these are a good batch for my first 100.
I was considering adding a few that were less than good (downright awful! - haha) - but didn’t want to waste your - or my - time. I tried to stay away from really recent ones too, but a few made the cut. If they weren’t so recent - I would have probably added a few more.
Anyway - if ya got time on your hands - maybe you’re bored - maybe you’re curious - click on the title of a blog - That’s a link to each individual entry. I also included some other blogs that I read at the very bottom.
Now off to write the next 100! (well - after a little break - of course - and re-imagining it all over again. ha!)
Hope all is well!
Jer
Good News to All - I originally wrote this for a Young Life Newsletter and got a pretty good response. In fact, someone said that I should write more often. That’s actually why I started this blog - from that encouragement. 100 entries later - I still think this is one of the best ones I’ve written. Short and to the point. Seize the Day - was my first actual “blog” entry. I was learning how to do navigate blogger - all that - and the topic was fitting. I was “seizing the day” by writing. Gosh - and such good memories of those days! This is more of a personal favorite because of all that. First blog - and great memories...
Fan Mail - One night, I randomly got a long message from someone I didn’t remember on Facebook. I was shocked. Completely shocked. This is that email and my response. Looking back - it’s HILARIOUS!! bahahaha.
Caught in the Act - Occasionally, I’ll read a story from the scriptures that I’ve read a million times - and something jumps out at me that I’d never seen before. Often, it’s a controversial idea that contradicts a popular view of God that I’ve heard from the pulpit - and it’s right there - within the scriptures. When I see it - I think, “how have I never seen this before???” I usually laugh. It happens quite often actually. Here’s one of those - I love this one...
Christian Values - I hate the term “Christian Values.” It has such awful connotations. Christian “ethics” often lead people in the wrong direction, it’s frustrating. So - I decided to write a play on words with this one - more about valuing others verses behavioral modification. I don’t really know why - but I really like this one too. God’s Judgment is another play on words that’s a pretty good... For What It’s Worth is another one that’s along those same lines...
Sucker Punch - I wrote this blog after I realized that my divorce was eminent. I wrote it as a reminder to me - that someone actually cares. I also wrote it as a reminder that life goes on. I didn’t directly talk about my divorce in the blog, but the last line is how I was feeling. And - yeah - this was that moment of knowing - the final nail in the coffin. Sucker Punch... The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly was another one of those difficult days - but it came out so hopeful. So good! I had edited it a super long time ago, but it didn’t publish - for whatever reason - so it’s my most recent blog. However, I wrote it over a year ago - two months before I signed for my divorce. ouch. I think I wrote this when I found out my I was going to sign the papers...
Sin Riddle - Someone inferred that I was going to hell because I thought the idea of “substitution” was a bit simplistic and misleading. I felt condemned and unaccepted. I’m going to hell? Gosh - and I’m even considered an “insider” - I’m in the faith community! Wow. How must “outsiders” feel? Helped me remember that feeling. Christian arrogance is ugly. I didn’t want to write this poem. I resisted - but it came out anyway. It’s my my response to those hurtful and condemning words. If you get all the references within it - it’s about the harshest critique I could give the state of our institutional church. It’s pretty harsh, but I’m goin‘ to hell anyway - so why not? haha. Not Knowing Any Different - is another poem I love that I wrote about ten years ago about a homeless shelter - it’s always convicting when I read it...
F’ing Earthquake - I’ve written quite a few memory blogs. This is one of the crazier ones. Well - gosh - that’s not totally true - I’ve definitely had some crazy stories on par with this one. But, still - it was far from normal. One sweet memory that I didn’t include was staying in San Luis Obispo after everything had settled, and calling my dad at his work - a radio station. Chuck, Bil, and I were interviewed live on the radio station back home about this crazy experience that we’d lived through. We didn’t include the story that I share in this blog - but the overall experience was quite memorable - on multiple levels. A Bad Moment of Profanity - is another fun memory that was pretty unbelievable.
Truth - I sat and listened to the sales pitch of an alter call at a Christian Conference and barely had the self control to not leave (let alone throw things). The talk was awful - and painted a picture of a very conditional love - and the speaker tied God to that idea. But worse. A young and innocent kid was sitting behind me and stood up wanting to receive an invitation to follow Jesus. A person in their group told the kid “Sit down! You shouldn’t stand up unless your actually serious about all this!” It was such an angry and mean voice - it caught me off guard. It was also a great picture of God’s love! haha. umm...no. I didn’t write about that incident, but I did write a little about that awful talk. Truth was the result.
What a Miss! - This one’s quite recent, but is intriguing to me. It’s so interesting when I say one thing, people conclude something completely different. Many people jump to conclusions. This is definitely a topic that’s been swimming around in my head a lot lately. On top of that - after a particular conclusion is made, then a person can get put into a category - a stereotype - of people. It’s really fascinating. I recently wrote about gay marriage - very tongue and cheek (no pun intended - haha) and suddenly everyone and their mom were making conclusions about what kind of christian I am - all of that. Some messaged me privately for fear of showing support. haha. Some had some serious questions or concerns. Soooooo interesting. I think people like to put other people into nice categories so they believe they can understand them - or can dismiss them if need be. I could go on with this idea - but - yeah - it’s where my mind been swimming lately. Very intriguing!
Perfection Problem - Sometimes I share my struggles about the writing process. When I began writing this blog - I was too critical about everything I wrote, and this led me to not finish anything. Or worse - I didn’t write at all. With this blog, I forced myself to write. I just put my thoughts out there - good, bad, or ugly. Even recently - I forced myself to write daily - for Lent. Talk about difficult! After you read this entry - you’ll see how truly difficult that would be for me. But, it’s gotten easier. And I’m slowly progressing. Slowly. But - there’s progress. Well - I hope, anyway.
Honorable Mentions
Take the Money or I’ll Blow Your F’ing Head Off - and Abandoning Father are a bit about the same thing. They’re about the frustration of Christian Dogma - the type that’s often sold from the pulpit or in “evangelism”. These only get honorable mentions because they’re both a bit too long (it’s difficult to condense these ideas) and they’re a bit argumentative. I know that Christianity isn’t an argument - but I hear such wacky crap from the pulpit that I want to throw chairs sometimes. These are also “inside the faith community” disagreements. I truly believe God is bigger and greater than our opinions - so there’s hope for all of us. Many people within the faith community would disagree with me about these ideas. Actually - most people would! haha. And many would think I was walking a road towards hell. But - I want truth, not dogma. God is greater than the marketing sales pitch He’s become in many Christian circles. I’m trying not to attack people - but ideas. Bad ideas. But people that hold onto bad ideas often get offended. Then - I get judged to eternal burning in hell. Amazing how loving Christians can be, don’t you think? haha.
I often write about death too. This is a tough subject. But - there’s hope in the midst of tragedy - at least in my experience. Here’s a few of my thoughts...
Lastly - some shout outs:
Donald Miller - I wouldn’t have started blogging had it not been for Donald Miller. His ideas are not always perfect - but he has some gems for sure. The book - “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” is one of my all time favorites - and introduced me to Bob Goff who wrote “Love Does” - another favorite. I don’t know Donald Miller - but I have a picture with him from a conference, and act like we’re best friends. haha
Here’s some friends that have blogs too - always like to give a shout out:
Austin Thomas - The first time I met Austin was on my Christmas Tree Lot adventure - that I actually write about in one of my earlier memory blogs. I haven’t written that part of the story yet - but it’s coming...
Trevor Ganz - I should have met Trevor a long time ago - but the timing wasn’t right because I moved. We met years later working in Young Life together. Good thoughts from him - he just doesn't write enough... haha
Heidi Redmond - I met Heidi when I worked at Sizzler - and she was this tiny little girl in a high chair. And I’d tell her and her family riddles in between cleaning up tables. She rocks... Her brother is a really good friend of mine and is featured in Super Hero Names - as well as many other future blogs.
Dane Johnson - I met Dane forever ago too. He’s an awesome musician and is in a great band called The Music Room. You can find links on his page. His sister and I used to sing songs way back in the day - another lifetime ago. I envy his traveling adventures...
Kyle Bryant - Oh - wow - I have some of my biggest laughs with Kyle. And he truly exemplifies living life to the fullest - Seizing the Day. Watch his TED talk - it’ll get you off your butt and into living a better life! Some of my sweetest memories are with Kyle. I look forward to riding bikes with him soon!
****If you have a blog that I’m unaware of - link to it on the comment section. I love adding new peeps to my list of morning reads!
Jeremy!!! I just found your blog b/c Of what you wrote on donald miller's storyline this week. How fun to find it...read quite a few and enjoyed them...keep it up my friend and see you soon
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