Employment Wish List

Here I am, sitting in Jacksonville, Florida in my hotel room ending the second Monday of my new job. Virginia Slims ain't got nuthin' on me. I've come a long way baby. Instead of boring you with what my role is (I'm still trying to fully understand), I'll start this two part blog and give you my unrealistic wishlist in a bad economy after I was laid off back in February: 1) Change careers - I've been laid off from group benefits underwriting three times. I wanted out of that industry. Changing careers is hard enough. Doing it in a bad economy is ridiculously hard. I didn't mind staying in the insurance industry, although I sure wouldn't mind getting OUT of it either. I remember reading multiple articles about dying industries, and benefits underwriting was in both. Not good for job prospects. 2) Work from home - At MetLife, I worked really hard and excelled from the moment I got there. Within that, I was afforded some perks that I'd never had before. I was assigned to some high profile projects and flourished most of the time I was there. The best perk? Working from home. Not only did I save lots on gas, there's lot of freedom in waking up and booting up the laptop, never getting out of my Disney shirt and underwear all day. (How's THAT visual??) So, going into my next job, I really, REALLY wanted to work from home. Mainly because of the gas thing. I spent nearly $5k on gas/tolls in a year working at my previous job. Plus the lost time in traffic. Once I had the taste of working from home, it killed me each day to make that drive... much less wear actual work clothes. 3) More Money - Let's face it. We are not altruistic workers. We don't even work for companies. We work for our families and ourselves. Companies benefit too, so they pay us. But, unless you own the company... your loyalty lies to your family. Therefore, we all want to make as much as we can. Because I'm human, I wanted more. 4) No more production - This is closely related to my first point, but part of underwriting, unfortunately, is that it's a production-based job. How many quotes did you do? What was your turn-around-time? What's your closing ratio? It became a job where I was just a human conveyor belt. Instead of producing widgets and cogs, I was producing quotes. The reason I've loved the project work I've been on is because it allowed me to exit that reality and bring something to the table no one else could: myself. I wanted that again. I wanted to feel important beyond how many cogs could I pump out a day. 5) No relocation - In the back of my mind, I feared the possibility of having to move to attain any one of these goals. During my job search, I saw plenty of jobs... but just couldn't get a bite in the area. It had me wondering if I'd have to consider moving... Austin? Houston? Out of state? I didn't want to, but I prepared myself for the potential. So... what did I end up with? I am no longer underwriting, but still in insurance. Working from home for more money in a job that allows me the freedom to create the role as I go... and I'm still in Corinth. I have so much I want to write, but like my last Pity Party blog, it would probably be more therapeutic rambling than anything. That'll be part 2. But, nevertheless... I am blessed.

Worst Part of Being Laid Off?

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Knowing I bring a lot to the table that a resume can’t capture. Resumes don’t capture teamwork, ability to learn quickly, fitting in to different cultures and environments or heart. And they sure don’t capture what you’re capable of… they only capture what you’ve done. And therein lies the most frustrating concern. How do you convince a prospective employer that you can do more than you have done? How do you persuade them that you are a rock star when it doesn’t fit on a piece of paper?

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Fearing that my wants and needs are about to get defined for me. We’ve been blessed to have been able to buy some pretty cool things. I wouldn’t consider anything extravagant because we work(ed) hard for what we have… and none of it have we stretched to afford. But as money gets tight, priorities illuminate and the superfluous things we have stand out. Anyone who knows me knows… I love my Camaro. I love most of the things we have and I feel that through some of the blessings we have, I may have become more materialistic than I ever expected. Not consciously… but when I think about where on the pecking order certain things lie, it’s a bit depressing to think what is really expendable. We’ve worked hard for what we have and to see some of those things possibly have to disappear pretty much sucks. Maybe they won’t. But (a) knowing they might hurts and (b) caring they might may hurt even more.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Weekends hold little meaning. TGIF? Why? Saturday feels the same as Tuesday does. Sleeping in a bit later is nice, but I’m not a late sleeper anyway, so I’m normally up around 7am most days anyway. I miss the joy of leaving work on Friday, knowing the weekend is here. Days run together and I’ve caught myself more than once looking at the calendar just to see what day it was. Very little differentiates each day from the next. That kind of sucks.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Fearing I won’t find a job making the money I was before. I’m trying to shift careers by leveraging my background into a new role. This isn’t the best job market obviously and ALSO trying to shift careers in the middle of it? I fear any kind of shift will mean a total reset to my salary. If I have to do that, then I need to determine what factors are most important. Here’s praying that at minimum there’s a middle ground in there somewhere.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Landing an interview only to not get the job. And even deeper than that? Having no idea why. I’ve had a hard time gaining traction and getting many interviews. Each one feels like a demeaning rainbow and I’m just hoping there’s a pot of gold at the end. When that stupid leprechaun hides it, I just want to ask, literally, why? I don’t want some generic, “We felt someone else was a better fit…” kind of answer. I really want to know if there’s something I could have done or said that would have changed the outcome. You never know what those you interview are looking for. What works with one may not with the other. That’s why I hate answering the well-intentioned question, “How’d the interview go?” There’s only one way to judge that answer and that’s with an eventual offer sheet. I’ve had many that went really well and didn’t get the job. I’ve had a few that didn’t feel like they went well and did. You just never know what the decision maker really wants… until you get the email saying, “Thanks but no thanks…” … if you get one at all. The same principle applies to a resume. What one person says you should do is the exact thing someone else says you should change. Job hunting is such a subjective process (obviously) that it’s very easy to get confused on what you should do because there are a million ways to do something right… and apparently two million ways to do them wrong.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Feeling like I’m letting my wife and family down. I do the best I can at my job for a number of reasons. As a man, the primary reason is to provide for my family. Yes, we are a two-income household, but I believe as a man it’s inherently my responsibility to provide the things we need… and honestly, the things we want. Life is rarely how you expect it to turn out, but I want my wife and daughter to have the things they want. I know we won’t have everything, but forgive me for feeling the luxuries I want us to have is a bad thing. I know in the grand scheme they aren’t priorities, but in a sense, they are to me because I know my family wants them.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Looking and looking and looking at job titles and descriptions so much they all look the same. And considering how few interviews I’ve had, they ooze the same futility. So, at times, yes… the “What’s the use?” poison does creep into my mind… especially when some online apps take nearly 20-30 minutes to complete… AFTER registering! Of the many things I’m looking forward to once this season in life ends is not having to look through these blasted things all day long.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Job descriptions that don’t list salary ranges. Look… I don’t want to waste their time and I sure don’t want to waste mine. Just list the salary range. If it’s not close (high or low) to what I’m looking for, that means fewer resumes to sift through for someone on the other end. I know a lot of that is keyword automated, but still… why waste both our time. And don’t get me started on the apps that require you to list a range but the job posting refuses to. “Commensurate with experience” is a cop-out, by the way.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Everyone asking how the job hunt is going. Don’t get me wrong… I appreciate the concern and would probably hate it more if people didn’t ask… but that’s just one of those questions/issues that gets tired and old to answer because the news never seems to change. Again… no fault to the person asking, but HAVING to answer that question is just a reminder to how much this sucks. But, hey… I’ll take concern over apathy. ;)

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

The strain on a marriage. You (I) go through so many emotions, sometimes literally within minutes of each other, that it makes being married to me tough. It’s not fair to Val for her not to know what mood I’ll be in… and then when I’m depressed, it often bleeds onto her mood. That’s just the natural state of marriage: You’re typically only as happy as the least happy person. So, knowing my mood brings her down stinks. I feel guilty for that. But then, when both of us are cranky/stressed, it just begins to snowball. I try to recognize when this happens so that I don’t create a double-whammy as much as possible. But, it’s hard. For anyone laid off, your spouse is/needs to be the best support for you. They must be. But, just putting her in that position just makes me feel sick.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Feeling like a loser. Seeing other friends who have it so well, doing so well, who had breaks go their way in their career and then looking at how mine has played out is frustrating. Makes me wonder if there’s no justice… or if I earned all this hardship by not doing something I should/could have. I know the reality is that no one has it as good as it looks from the outside… and that others look at us like I look at someone else… but I feel like I’ve done everything I could have to be successful and I’m not where I want to be. And worse, some of them ARE. Seeing other people do well and me struggle right now hurts. I’m happy for everyone doing well… but it’s just a reminder of what I’m dealing with.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Always feeling guilty when I’m NOT searching for a job. Look, finding a job right now is my number one priority. But, there’s just no way anyone can focus from wake-up/bedtime on the search. It’s maddening enough… and many days, there is nothing different out there from what you saw the day before. I have a process and methodically run through it. Just because it hasn’t worked doesn’t mean it’s a bad one… but I also acknowledge anything that could help, so I’m open to it. But, whether I’m watching the Rangers, playing on Xbox/PS3 or just decompressing, I can never really do it with a clear conscience. Not because I feel I’m cheating my search… but because I always feel I need to do more. But, if I don’t have the break, I’ll go mental.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Right now? Watching the Spurs and Heat in the NBA Finals and wishing both would lose.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Never feeling like this ‘time off’ provides any rest or relaxation. When I was working, there were always times I got burned out. I’d pray for some time off for a break. I haven’t been to the office in four months and not once have I felt mentally rested or relaxed. (Longer if you count the considerable time in the last few years I’ve had to deal with layoff potential.)

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Feeling like I’m not myself… and then having others confirm that I’m really not. I’ve been through this before. I’ll spare the long story (maybe another post), but having to go through this again was my worst nightmare. But, I don’t have the same spring in my step. I find myself viewing life through very jaded glasses. That’s not me. And if it really is me, then that’s just even more depressing. I like to make jokes, make people laugh and generally just be a fun guy to be around. I’m not that right now. I know it. And others have pointed it out. Sorry.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Watching my wife work hard and knowing she’s bearing a larger burden because I’m unemployed. Putting her in that position sucks. I’m sorry Val.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

The feeling of being alone. Val is doing all she can for me. Like anyone, we all have our good and bad days though. We both are dealing with this, but at the end of the day… she can’t hire me. I may not BE alone in this, but there are many times I feel it because I’m the one filling out the applications. I’m the one unemployed. It affects us all obviously, but I’m the one who has to fix it.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Feeling guilty for buying stuff. I can’t justify buying anything that’s not necessary. I want to buy the Harry Potter series for Jordyn, but can’t. I want to get Val a 3DS XL so she can play the new Animal Crossing, but can’t. Those are larger examples… but even just smaller, unnecessary purchases just can’t be made.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

The stress. Being laid off is stressful, obviously. Job hunting is stressful. Interviews are too. Everything I’ve mentioned is stressful. Being constantly enveloped by it all creates just a constant stream of stress. It’s unrelenting and vicious and always there.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Feeling like I shouldn’t feel this way. Feeling like this is all based from a lack of faith in God’s providence. For the first time, I feel like I’m just not faithful. Maybe I’ve known I haven’t been and that this is just the process of it slapping me in the face. This whole process reminds me of Job and the trials he went through (on a much smaller scale obviously.) Look, I’m not trying to overblow my situation. I know in the grand scheme that I have it much better than many/most. But that doesn’t make what I’m going through any less real or easier. I’m trying to keep the proper perspective. I guess I’m spoiled and this is my comeuppance. Who knows? I just know I need to keep praying for faith because I feel in short supply.

Want to know the worst part of being laid off?

Not knowing when it will end.

Parenting Call of Duty

Did you know this existed?

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp

What about this?

http://www.mpaa.org/ratings/what-each-rating-means

Why does the 2nd look more familiar? Maybe because you go to movies and recognize them?

If you recognize the first, then you play video games. And if you play video games... odds are you are in your 30s. Did you know the average age of a video game purchaser is 35? The average gamer is 30 years old and has been playing for 12 years?

I'll sprinkle some more facts in a bit, but the point is simple and premise is simpler: Video games are not just for kids and video games don't cause violence.

There have been no credible studies to support the notion than video games cause violence. That myth is perpetuated by people who don't know what video games actually are, who plays them or who they are made for. Video games (and violent ones at that) are linked to these atrocities because it's always easier to indict than to understand. Don't just take my word for it... look it up. There are NO causal links. To say the two are connected would fly in the face of highly educated doctors, lawyers, and Supreme Court findings.

I got my first computer when I was about eight years old. Santa brought me a Commodore VIC 20 and a 13" TV/monitor. I played Zork on the thing (for all you old school geeks.) I then played on a Commodore 64. I had friends who had Apple II's.

I then played the original NES. (Was the first person I knew to beat Mike Tyson's Punch-Out and the 2nd person I knew to beat Legend of Zelda.)
Then the Sega Genesis. My eventual wife would always kick my butt at Mortal Kombat.
Then the original Playstation.
Then the Playstation 2.
Then the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

I'm 38 years old. Been playing AT LEAST 30 years.

I've probably shot and killed nearly a million enemies. Some human. Some cyborgs. I've killed Ares, Zeus and every other Greek god. I've saved the world more times than it deserves and have also let alien civilizations die because stood in my way. Recently, I just killed a human trafficking leader in the South Pacific while slipping into a violence-induced haze and eventually came back from a descent into madness. Oh... and I took a flamethrower to a group of pigs. Bacon anyone?!

I've also cut my own finger off to rescue my son from a serial killer targeting children. I've beaten Tiger Woods in golf (who hasn't lately?) I've won 5 consecutive Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. (Call me up Jerry!) And I've killed countless zombies with pea shooting plants, venus fly traps and corn cob shooters.

I've shot nuns in the Wild West. Even set them on fire. Even put one on a train track and watched as the train turned her into a blood puddle just so I could add a new trophy to my PS3 profile. I shot my horse in the head as I was riding it, resulting in my being thrown about 50 yards forward... just to see if I could.

And you know what? I laughed. The game actually let me do that.

And I'm normal... ish. Well, at least I haven't committed mass murder in real life. Phew! Society sure dodged a bullet (pardon the pun) with me, huh?

I find it curious that every time one of these events occur, video games are on the short list of contributing factors.

Let's see... most of these murders involve men squarely in the video game demographic. That only makes sense because that is the wheelhouse demographic for who plays them. That's just like saying most shark attacks happen in the ocean. Well, yeah.... That makes sense.

I won't argue the fact that some people may be prone to greater influence. It's possible that while the games don't cause them to do anything, it might help set a mindset and desensitization to what they see. Which leads me to my next point...

Hey, did you know:

* 47% of all gamers are women?
* Women over the age of 18 comprise 30% of all gamers? Boys under 17 represent 18%
* 68% of all gamers are age 18 or older

Still think it's just a kid thing? If the core demographic for video games are that age... then many developers will gear their material TO that group. Common business sense.

But, let's keep going... if 68% are over 18... that means 32% are under 18. (See what I did there?)

Of that 32%... how many parents are educated enough to guide their kids' purchases? Of that group, how many even know the ESRB exists? Of THAT... how many actually research to find out what their kids want to play?

Folks... it's about parenting. I was in a Gamestop one time and a kid probably nine years old grabbed a Call of Duty game (rated M for violence, language and intensity) and gave it to his mom to buy. She looked at it like he handed her army soldiers from the grocery store and that was that.

The clerk didn't say anything to her about the content. (Should he have?)
She didn't even look at what the game contained.
She rubber stamp-purchased that game for little Johnny to shut him up.

As a parent, would you take your nine year old to see Full Metal Jacket? That's a 2 hour film (give or take) set during the Vietnam era. So, their exposure is fairly limited.
Call of Duty? By industry standards, it's a pretty short campaign at about 7 hours. And that's before any multiplayer exposure. Nearly 4 times the exposure in a video game meant for adults.

Call of Duty is not meant for kids.
Dead Space isn't meant for kids.
God of War isn't.
Battlefield isn't.
Mario Brothers is.

So... is the problem the video game or lack of parenting?

I'd argue lack of parenting results in more shootings than anything else combined.

Will Little Johnny turn out to be a mass murderer? Probably not. But who could argue he shouldn't be head-shotting bad guys and cussing up a storm while playing online?

Did you also know these same games are sold overseas? All over Europe, Japan, Africa... name it. And did you know violent crimes are significantly lower in those markets than they are in America? The link is in the background, mindset and upbringing. Not the video game.

The NRA wants to point to video games as a cause. Heck, the video game industry wants to point to gun ownership as a cause. Neither is right. Guns don't kill people and neither do video games.

Amazing how few people want to point to bad parenting as a cause.

Did you know 90% of the time a game is purchased by someone under 18 that a parent is there?

If your kids play games... research what they are playing and asking for. Get off Pinterest for a second. Turn off the football game. Educate yourselves on what they want and grow a backbone if you don't think it's appropriate for your kid.



http://www.theesa.com/facts/index.asp

Who's Stupid Now?

We are Americans and we have a fascination with stupid.

How else do you explain Honey Boo Boo?

Or Dorito-shell Tacos?

Or Spongebob Squarepants?

Or American Idol?

Or the Democratic Party?

Or thinking guns kill people instead of stupid, deranged and/or evil people?

Or states suing sperm donors to lesbian couples?

Or $10,000 rims on a $1,000 car?

Or having 15 kids out of wedlock and expecting someone 'to be accountable' other than yourself?

Or tucking your boobs into your shirt and going to Wal-Mart? (You know you've seen than pic...)

Or Jack-Ass movies? (I admit, I'm guilty...)

Or how we care about Tom Cruise weirding out on Oprah?

Or how we all assume homeless people are lazy alcoholics instead of maybe, JUST maybe assuming they are down on their luck?

Or how we we now seem to automatically assume the worst in people than the best? (Or maybe the worst in people IS the best?)

Or how a family will struggle to put food on a table, but pay thousands of dollars for season tickets? Or iPads? Or Playstations? Or Golf Memberships? Or Lottery tickets?

Or suing actual states for idiots breaking into schools and shooting children?

Or college professors who believe Sandy Hook is an elaborate hoax to further a political agenda*?

Or how we spend more time playing games, watching tv, playing golf, etc than we do with our families or at church? (That one hurt to write)

Or how many of us walk around in life with a chip on our shoulder, pointing at it, then getting mad when people notice it?

Or how we want to blame our past on our current decisions?

Or how our own laziness has overtaken our desire to work for what we want?
Or how our society has rubber-stamped that that is somehow ok?

Or how we think our kid's accomplishments are an extention of our own parenting ability?

Or how society tolerates anything except for holding firm to your beliefs? (If your beliefs aren't fluid and 'progressive', they aren't tolerable?)

Or how we know more about our favorite sports teams than we do our own jobs? Or Bible? Or spouse?

Or how we think we can treat people with disdain, but expect them to still treat us with respect?

Or how looking out for #1 means pushing down everyone else?

Or how many think if you don't support their cause, you must, by definition, be against it?

Or how Jerry Jones still thinks he can run the Cowboys?
Or how Josh Hamilton thinks the Rangers' fans treated him poorly because he quit on them?

Or how we think when someone you have a generally positive history with does something that hurt us, that's the 'real' them? (See? Assuming the worst in people...)

Or how our stubbornness gets in the way of our friendships?

Or how we can kick the idea of God out of our schools and society and wonder where He is when bad things happen?

Or how we blame God for bad things but don't thank Him for the good ones?

Or how we want to blame mental illness instead of personal decision?

Or how we want to medicate away our problems instead of dealing with them?

Or how we want to coddle our kids instead of empower them?

Or how we want to push social agenda in children's shows?

Or how Nicki Minaj is popular?

Or how we just can't freakin' be happy with what we have?

Or how we think we are always entitled to more? (Just because someone else has it?)

Or how forgiving and forgetting has been replaced by harboring and resenting?

We celebrate stupidity. We revel in dumb.

We really ARE the smartest generation of idiots in collective history.

We have more knowledge, but have less intelligence.

I think maybe my dad had it right a long time ago when I used a calculator on my math homework...

"That thing is gonna make you stupid..."

　

　

Use your voice!

I've gotten lots of feedback, good, bad and apparently really bad (my account was temporarily suspended somehow), on my take regarding this whole Chick-Fil-A thing... Enjoy my response on all this:

As odd as it sounds, I've actually held my tongue quite a bit on this whole Chick-Fil-A thing. I haven't shared my thoughts on gay marriage or even really what Chick-Fil-A said, although it's pretty obvious where I stand. Although, I actually have a slightly different take on it than anyone I've heard. I may or may not share that at some point.

The paramount issue to me though is our voice. Ever since I became aware of such things, I've heard (and seen) the Christian voice get pushed down. Every group can have a voice. Somehow, it's ok to be for/against most anything as long as it's 'progressive'. But increasingly, when a Christian speaks up for Christian values, the attacks come relentless and from all directions, sometimes even from other Christians.

The vast majority of anything I wrote on August 1 had more to do with the importance of a Christian voice speaking up and being heard than anything else. Arguing for/against gay marriage on Facebook is pointless. That's the social line in the sand and those on each side have no intention of crossing over. I had some good discussions that teetered on turning ugly. Thankfully, they didn't stay that way. But, as a born again Christian, it's time to take a stand for what I believe.

Being a Christian does not mean being walked over. And standing up for what you believe does not equal being combative. And disagreeing with people doesn't make you a bigot. It IS possible to have conversations with people you disagree with on issues you don't agree on. It may not always be fun... But, if it's done with mockery, hatred, condescension or distrust, then only damage gets done and Christ is put in a human light, not a Godly one.

As born again Christians, we are behind the 8-ball there, because so many will employ these tactics. But, if you slip (or conciously choose to) and argue as they do, you're no longer acting 'Christian', therefore you've just ruined your own credibility/testimony. We are held to a higher standard. In one way, we should be... but the repercussions of not meeting that standard 100% of the time are exaggerated and only confirm non-Christian belief about us.

Sadly, we've done more damage to our own cause than anyone else ever could. Then you have people doing things 'in the name of Christ' that are so detestable, of course there's a cult of personality going on. Unless you ARE one, the world doesn't have a good idea any more of what it means to be a Christian. And for the ones who actually are, our faith is measured by our imperfection instead of the one we say we follow (Christ.)

Many points sadden me about these issues, but what may bother me the most are Christians who don't recognize the importance of what's going on. Who refuse to understand how NOT speaking up and NOT standing up only neuters our voice. This isn't an issue about chicken and it goes far beyond constitutional free speech. To me, the largest issue is whether the Christian community will finally rise up, speak up and live up to our calling. A stand must be taken. If the rallying point for all this is a chicken sandwich, then so be it. History and eventual futures were forever changed by a burning bush. A tasty chicken sandwich might as well serve the same purpose.

But it must be done in love. It cannot be done by attacking others. That said, there IS a time to say enough is enough.

Our voice is important. You can't sit and gripe about God being taken out of the country if you're unwilling to recognize a clear opportunity to do something about it. If by speaking up, you fear you are driving a wedge between 'both sides', then that's rubbish. Speaking in hatred will expand that wedge, but come on people... THE TRUTH IS THE WEDGE!!!

Ever hear the saying "The truth hurts"? We all want to live in a world where there is no absolute truth, so it's ok for use to have different versions of it. Truth is not an opinion. They all aren't valid. To a born again Christian, the truth is what we've put faith in. We believe our eternity depends on that truth. If you want to accept versioned truth, then by definition, you automatically reject John 14:6 and Matthew 7:13. And if you're going to reject that, then what rationale do you use to accept John 3:16 or any other verse you think sounds nice?

Truth is black and white. In binary terms... 1 and 0. East and West. Light and Dark. One can't be the other. Just because society says that's an outdated concept doesn't make it so. And there's no reason to be ashamed of that. It may bring you attacks. But, don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in the face of them. Matthew 5:10 tells us we are blessed when persecuted. Take solace and be encouraged by that. If something is right, no amount of societal pressure should change that. The Bible is God's Word... Not majority rules.

I had a friend remind me of that and encourage me in that. Thank you, Clarissa. I'm tough skinned enough to dig my feet into the ground and not worry that others disagree... but her message to me was an absolute blessing and affirmation.

It's easy to be strong when you're not opposed. Strength reveals itself against opposition. Be strong and stay strong. Don't buckle because others have. And if you have, reach up and don't give up.

It is a Christian's duty to uphold, live and share the truth. It's not our duty to make sure people believe it. That's God's job. Those that don't believe it are of course going to be offended by it. Truth doesn't require anyone to believe it. It just is.

But just because someone is offended by what we believe does not mean we stop believing it or stop standing up for it. The issue to me isn't gay marriage. That's a symptom. A bullet point in a much larger conceptual discussion.

Look, I know my beliefs aren't going to convert a non-believer. I'm not dumb enough to think my Facebook ramblings are that powerful. What I DO hope, is that something I say, or the passion I say it with, will help relight a fire in someone to stand up unabashedly and use their Christian voice. I haven't bashed 'the other side'. I haven't attacked them. I support my side. If my unwavering support is by default an attack, then I can't change that since I don't see it that way.

I'm not perfect. Anyone reading this knows that and can point to a million times where I've proven my imperfection. But, the older I get, I begin to realize how important it is to be part of something larger than myself. I can no longer passively sit by and watch my God, my Christ, my faith get mocked and pretend it's not happening. The main reason the Christian voice has been minimized is because we've passively allowed it. We let others fight battles that have chipped away at Christian influence.

The temperature has slowly risen in the societal pond and now we're too weak to do anything about it. I say it's time we figure out how to change that. Through love. Through consistent Christian living. And through our voice.

I have other thoughts. They may come out at some time. But, if you are born again, don't let your voice be swallowed. Don't let it be marginalized. Don't be ashamed of it.

And if you like chicken sandwiches, I know a place...

Latham Springs - Part 9

I can't possibly touch on every group I had as a sponsor, so I'll hit on the few I remember most.

Honestly, I don't remember all my groups names. I bet if I DID, I'd remember more about them, so if you were with me at camp from 1995-2004, let me know our group name and I may remember enough to highlight your group. (BOS2 and UPS are upcoming).

Every group was special. Every week was special. Some groups just stand out to me for different reasons. Some personal, some situational.

Either way...

1994 – Vikings

Now, I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings here, but as a sponsor, I enjoyed every group I had in different ways. Really did. I saw God move in ways each year that was different from any year I’d been.  But, every sponsor has groups that stand out. Some reasons are good. Others aren’t. But, there are always those experiences that are a bit more extreme… ones you connect with a bit more than others.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to the 1995 8^th grade boys… The Vikings.

There is no simple way to describe these guys. But, before 1995, it was always the 7^th/8^th grade boys. That year? There were lots of moms of 7^th graders concerned that their first year boys had to be paired with a bunch of thugs.

I’m not lying.

This 8^th grade group had gangsters (one kid we tried and tried to convince to come ended up on death row, if I’m not mistaken), hoodlums, cut-ups and disrespectful jokers… and were all pretty much bad influences. And they were all big. These moms literally feared for their son’s safety. So, after enough concern, the 7^th/8^th grade boys became the 7^th grade boys and 8^th grade boys. (I don’t remember if the other groups split that year or the following year, but this was the start of that changed dynamic.)

The year prior I had been at camp with the 6^th grade boys.  After my experience there, two things were clear: I didn’t have a gift for 6^th graders… and they didn’t have a need for me.

But, my brother-in-law, Steve Gunter, was the dorm dad for this group I think. Rusty Averitt was in there too. They were the ‘heavy’… and I was the one to do all the Jr Sponsor grunt work. If there was ever a group that needed strong leadership, this was it. And you know what? That’s what they got.

I remember leading up to camp, I sat the group down and laid it out on the line for them…

There would be no second chances this week. If there was any hint of a reason to send anyone home, off they go. THIS is their only warning. See, I believe ‘troubled’ kids need one thing above all else… leadership. They need to know who’s boss, respect that boss… and know this guy has their back.

So, that’s what I did. I pulled no punches. Not only did I tell them there was zero tolerance for problems, but I also fed their burgeoning egos that this camp was scared of them. (Many were, lol). But, if they wanted to prove people wrong about them… to make a statement that says ‘We are more than what you think’, this was the best place to do it. Steve, Rusty and I were the ones to listen to. Allow us to take whatever heat you guys would take… you do as we ask, and I promise, you will shock this place.’

Any group I’ve been with knows me in this… I go full bore. I’m not one of those sponsors who looks at camp as a vacation. I’m there for a purpose. Just as a camper, I go all out as a sponsor… and with this group… I had to. It would fail if I didn’t. As good as Steve and Rusty were, this group needed someone a bit younger. They wouldn’t have responded to a generation gap. I was that bridge.

What helped is that some of these guys saw me when there were 6^th graders. I was still ‘that senior’ to many of them, so I had that to lean on. “Listen to me… I know camp. You guys are all competitive… you want to win? You want to shock people? I’ll get you there.”

I mentioned previously that my groups were some of the hardest working group ever. If there’s one group that rivaled us… these guys did… in 8^th grade… and years later.

From the beginning, I was on these guys. If they didn’t buy into the competition side of things, they were toast and the week was going to be rough. I knew this was an uber-competitive group, so I played that up like crazy. And they responded.

How do you get a bunch of so-called thugs wanting to win a Spirit Stick? Challenge their manhood. One of the best driving forces for people is the desire to prove doubters wrong. So, we made up some fun cheers and chants… and pounded them into the ground.

How could you possibly get guys this age interested in Clean Cabin? Convince them that CC is where Best Camp Group is worn or lost (which it is.) We weren’t just trying to ‘do well’. We were at the Super Bowl… we were there to win.

They bought in and sold out that week.

I’ll never forget the most amazing feat of effort I can recall came from this group. Once I knew Clean Cabin wasn’t going to be a problem… we decided to up the ante. Anyone can clean. That just requires effort and discipline. But, we needed to separate ourselves from the pack. Do things that had never been done before. At that time, originality was a judged criterion. Had to come up with something…

Shock and awe? George W got that concept from the Vikings.

I never intentionally broke rules at camp. I’m not about unfair advantages… but, if there ISN’T a rule? Well… you can’t break what’s not there. And it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission, right?

Groups got one hour to clean in and around their cabins… and decorate/organize/whatever. So, on Wednesday of that week, we got together and tried to come up with something no one had ever done before.

Someone: “Hey, why don’t we make a maze with the beds?”

Me: “Cool. Nice thinking… good idea. But, how are we going to clean around the maze? If it’s not clean, nothing else matters.

Someone Else: “Hey, I have an idea… let’s make a maze with the beds in the middle room…”

Me: “But the beds won’t turn the corner from our room to the big room. (We were in the barn, over by the pool.)”

Someone Else: “We’ll just have to take the bunk beds apart, remove a window, haul the beds out of the cabin entirely and then back through the window to the middle room.”

Me: “…… …… ….. Well, no one ever said we COULDN’T do that, I guess. You’d better hurry… I don’t want anyone late for worship.” (Which immediately followed Clean Cabin then.)

So, that’s exactly what they did. They cleaned the middle room,  disassembled the beds, creating an easy floor to clean in the cabin, cleaned the bathrooms, hung all their clothes In perfect unison, wrote a poem (I didn’t write it), left candy, carried all the bunks out the door, slid them in back through a window and then created a maze.

In an hour.

I didn’t help. I made sure things didn’t get carried away. (Funny, my definition of ‘carried away’, huh?)

This was nothing anyone up there had ever seen before. The Clean Cabin Crew had no idea what to say about this. They DID however allow everyone interested come in during free time and see what these guys had done.

Needless to say, the Vikings won CC that day.

I’ve seen groups work really hard. I’ve never seen anything like that before or since.

And this was from a bunch of thugs, malcontents and gangsters.

If they were so into it then, I knew they were ‘getting God’ too. The only way you don’t ‘get God’ at camp is if you are apathetic. Indifferent.

That wasn’t this group. Not then. Not now.

The Vikings ended up dominating camp that year. If there was ever an 8^th grade group to rival the Hillbillies, the Vikings did. I won’t say they’d have beaten us… but, I wouldn’t have wanted to face them to find out.

But, God moved in that cabin that week. Through these guys, he moved through the whole camp. The rejects that everyone was scared of led, won and showed they were capable of more than anyone imagined. Including themselves. I think, for many, that week changed a number of their lives. I know it did mine and many other sponsors.

Their performance humbled so many who thought they ‘had these guys figured out.’ I only talked about the competitive stuff, but God did some mighty things in the lives of this group.

They were willing. Willing to work. Willing to learn. Willing to listen. Willing to do what was necessary to prove people wrong. They shocked and awed everyone that week.

I don’t remember the name of the award (Servant’s Heart, maybe?), but Keith Smith and Todd Gaston created a new award this year to exemplify and honor what camp was about that week. The seniors didn’t get it. The juniors either. No, this new honor… higher than any other, came to The Vikings.

Latham Springs - Part 8

More miscellaneous Camp 'stuff'...

LUGGAGE

You get to Latham Springs... head to the Tabernacle for a 'Welcome to Camp' rally... head to the cafeteria for lunch. While at lunch, most people and groups are wandering about, not quite sure whether they should be throwing chants and cheers down or just eat. All the while... Brad McMullen and a few others (but ALWAYS Brad), is losing 12 pounds of sweat as the U-Haul goes cabin to cabin, dumping off luggage. I helped out one year when I was in shape. Stuck in the back of the U-Haul with no airflow, sifting through luggage for 300 people. That's no easy task. And Brad did it EVERY YEAR. So, while everyone was out having fun... Brad humbly served to make sure we all had our stuff. Thanks Brad! (Although I think I'm still missing a pillow from 10th grade!)

BASKETBALL COURT

Normally, the camp leader (Benny Proffitt, Randy Gressett, Keith Smith, Todd Gaston) would make sure to get out amongst the students and show they are accessible. Benny was very athletic and a thick, fit man. Randy? Dude was skinny like a pipe cleaner. Keith and Todd? Somewhere in the middle... and they LOVED to play basketball. Well... for basketball, there was one game in town, and that was outside the barn, along the road behind Swank Field. Keith and Todd were actually pretty good too. Well, that is until you fouled them. I'll spare the gory details, but let's just say their competitive nature came out time and time again on that court. They were usually facing each other... and it was pure comedy. Listening to them bark and whine on the court was legendary. To this day, I've never heard more whining on a basketball court than when those two were on it. But, it was one way they would connect with a lot of the guys in the youth group, and that helped their ministry. But, it sure elicited a lot of eyerolls on the court! lol

PUTT PUTT
Remember the stellar putt-putt course they built behind the Tabernacle? You don't? It was the one built with hollow piping on a cement slab... the one with no shade... the one where Jr High kids went to play something outside because they couldn't get into the basketball game or softball game. The one that never was brushed clean, so if you wanted to play, you had about 9 leaves per hole to either move or putt around. Hey, it was a nice try. :)

PING PONG

The other great outdoor hang-out? The ping-pong tables so warped from the heat, you could never count on a true bounce because the angle of the table may push the ball the opposite direction you think it should go. Some people were really good. Most weren't. My favorite game? Around the world where 6-7 people would play at once, rounding the table taking turns hitting. Miss and you're out. Last man standing wins. Amazing the ingenuity we had. Some of the coolest times at camp were around those tables, talking, flirting, getting cokes in the middle of the night and chatting, hoping for General Patton not to catch you... stepping on crunching June bugs and crickets. And... it was one of the most popular places to forget a Bible or camp schedule/devotional book. Good times.

ATOMIC SIT UPS

If you know, you know. If you don't, you don't want to.