JohnMassie.com

I think my title expresses it all… More details to come in the future… IF you REALLY have to know, then ask me off of Xanga and I’ll let you know.

OFF TO CELEBRATE,
- J -

Yesterday as I was walking down the hall this thought came to mind:
“People’s personal judgement of a person is not based on who you really or truly are, but the image you paint of yourself for people to perceive.”

In other words, if you’re being judged for someone you aren’t, then you’re not showing who you truly are to the others. You should never be two people; one person when people meet you and another when they get to “know” you or get “close” to you. When people get to “know” you it should only it should only be them experiencing deeper qualities of the traits that they observed when they first met you…

Well, that or people like the person they meet and didn’t like the person they got to know. Which is why many people don’t have close friends, because when people get that close, they don’t like what they find, because again, a person was playing two people.

Just some food for thought…
- J -

Many times in the church we talk about how the world ridicules Christians, but rarely do we talk about “Christians” ridiculing Christians. Over the last few weeks and/or month or so a lot has changed and sometimes I feel alone in this stand for living a true Christian life. Many times I use music to define my feelings because I can relate so well.

Tonight as I returned home from playing tennis I put in a Third Day CD I got for Christmas a few years back. I got to the last track as I was approaching Grove City and felt that it describes how I feel the best. Take a look at the lyrics…

I Will Hold My Head High
Third Day

Sometimes the night starts closing in
And I’ve lost my way home again
I’m running out of places I can turn
Enemies on every side
Not a friend around for miles
That’s the time it really starts to hurt

Beat me up and drag me down
I’ll never be afraid

I will hold my head high
Lift my hands to the sky
Rise above all who try to bring me down
I will hold my head high

I know you said it’d be okay
Sometimes I question just the same
I wonder if my problems are too small
Then I look back and realize
All your pain and sacrifice
Oh and how you suffered for us all

Beat me up and drag me down
I’ll never be afraid

Beat me up and drag me down
And lock me in or keep me out
Whatever they may throw at me
I’ll turn into a song for you

Just some thoughts put to music. If you have the CD it is a good song to stop and listen to. Every night I pray for some real Christian friends that truly know what it means to know God that I can hang out with. Someone who appreciates life and knows what life is really about. It’s not all about me… It’s all about God.

Many times my good friend Hope and I discuss the fact that we lack real Christian friends. Well, that and friends who are level headed and grown up. I’ve come to find new found respect for my old adult friends and mature young friends. Call me old, I don’t really care. I’ve gotten old and and gotten old fashioned. It’s helped my relationship with God, and that’s all I really care about.

All I have to say to the “others” is this…

“It’s a shame, oh it’s a shame
That you are throwing your whole life away
It’s a shame, oh it’s a shame
I wonder if you’re ever going to change
It’s a shame…

What do you want
Do you even know
And is it worth the pain
We all have to endure “
- From Third Day “It’s a Shame”

There’s my new thoughtful post for the evening. If you haven’t read the last one, take a read… it’s pretty controversial and deep.

God Bless and Good Night,
- J -

Well, I’m going to be “gutsy” and post a deep religious article. Unlike many, I’m not afraid to “step on people’s toes” and if you don’t like it, then don’t read it. These are the beliefs that I believe in and how I was raised. For you non-Christians that read the blog, feel free to brows through this article, but this is manly focused for those who bear the name Christian. So there’s your friendly disclaimer, now… onto the good stuff.

So tonight as I drove on my way to a friend’s house, I was singing along to 104.9 The River (the local Christian radio station, for all you out-of-towners). A MercyMe song came on called, “Goodbye Self”. This was an interesting song that somewhat inspired me to write this, or at least got me thinking.

It seems the more and more Christians I come in contact with have a very laxed attitude about the whole “living a Christian life”. It’s like now Christianity is something of a social status and it’s something you “do” so you get your golden ticket into heaven, but while you’re on this earth you’re going to do everything that isn’t stated in the ten commandments. So you figure if you don’t break one of them, you’re golden. Oh, and if you slip and break one, you’ll just ask for forgiveness and it’s all great.

I feel inspired by God to speak on some subjects and I have full intention of backing all my points with scripture, which if you’re anything of a Christian you should believe in God’s word. You know, that book He’s left you here to read and apply to your life. So let’s begin, shall we.

Lets begin with drinking. Now, I know this is a huge topic and I know many churches are beginning to accept this. Let’s look at this from a completely humanistic point of view. First, has anyone heard of MADD? How about AA?

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, an organization who works to keep drunk drivers off the street. Now, I’m sure you’re all reading this going, “I’m a drinking Christian who doesn’t get drunk.” Great, but what happens if you made a “mistake” as we all do in our lives (because we are human and “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” –Romans 3:23) and you do get drunk and what if you get in a car and what if you kill someone. Now, how would you witness to someone? Would you say, “I was at a Christian drinking event, got drunk and killed someone”. So, wait, doesn’t the ten commandments say “Thou Shout Not KILL?” How would you feel if you were told that a Christian Drunk Driver killed your child? That doesn’t give the church or Christianity a very good image, now does it.

Then we have AA; Alcoholics Anonymous. A wonderful organization that helps alcoholics recover. Now, lets say that a new member in your church who just became a Christian is one who is struggling to work through AA, because Alcohol is ruining his life. Then you convince him to go out with you and your friends to a Bible study followed by going to the bar. Then you tell him that “well, one just won’t hurt.” He’s an alcoholic, one is all it takes. Then he becomes drunk and ends up getting pulled over, gets a DUI and is fined. When he sobers up, what is he going to think of you his “Christian Friend” who just ruined all that time at AA. Sure, it was his free will to choose to drink, but you as the friend tempted him, and held his hand, so to speak, all along the way. I believe it says in scripture, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” – Romans 14:21. Then later on in the New Testament we see, “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” – I Corinthians 8:13. Now in this passage they’re discussing eating the food given to idols. Obviously stone idols can’t digest food so the food was offered to the people. It was a lesson that said that the people of the church should not eat the meat, not because it was bad, but because that was causing their brothers that just entered the faith to “stumble”. So I believe this can apply to drinking, if it causes someone to fall, then we shouldn’t do it. There it is in black and white.

Now lets look at smoking and drugs. I believe it is wrong for Christians on both accounts. Why you may ask, well… if this world, which is far from “good” puts a surgeons general warning on them, that should tell you something. When it causes babies to be born with low birth weights, defects, kills and causes cancer… I don’t think that we’re obeying the command we’re given in I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Well, how are you honoring God with your body by destroying it? I guess this would also apply to my previous point because alcohol is shown to have many negative effects on your health.

Let’s begin the next point, language. You know all those words they omit from G and PG rated movies… commonly known as four letter words. Yes, surprise, IT’S WRONG TOO. I’m sure I’ll get a few fired up on this one, but let’s go to the Bible, shall we?
Ephesians 4:22-24…
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

And
Ephesians 4:29
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

While we’re at it, let’s look at a simple phrase that took off during the mid-90s…
“WWJD – What Would Jesus Do?”

Now, please tell me with a straight and honest face you think Jesus would look at you and say, “You are a F****** piece of S***”. If you can honestly tell me that you think Jesus would say that, then I’ll honestly pray for you, just for that. Now, I’m sure you’re sitting here and your eyes bugged out and on the floor at the thought of Jesus saying that, because I think we’d all agree… HE WOULDN’T. So, if we are to be like Jesus… wouldn’t that constitute leaving behind the language too?

Now, the scripture that wraps all this up together…
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
If I am a Christian and the “world” sees that I do not conform because I don’t smoke, drink, have premarital sex, and curse… then I believe that would qualify in no longer conforming to the pattern of this world.

You know, it says something when people of other faiths and people who aren’t even Christians respect the fact that you don’t curse, drink, smoke and have sex before marriage, and your fellow “brother and sisters” in Christ can’t do the same, there is something wrong.

I know by now that I’ve disagreed with many churches out there and I’m sure I could have enough pastors get on here and “lift some scripture” to disprove my points, but this is what I believe, what I understand when I read the Bible, and what I chose to live by. Like I said before, either read it, accept it and do what may with the information, or don’t read it and leave…

So, if you leave comments, please keep them on the topic, any off topics will be deleted. Also, if you read this, and have a Xanga, just leave a simple comment so I know who stopped by to read it. Even if it says, “read”, that would be great. As always feel free to speak your opinion about the post and what not, I’ll respond accordingly.

Thanks for reading. Good night all.

Saved by God’s Grace,
- J -

So tonight it’s cloudy, but warmer so I can sit outside in shorts, tee shirt and no shoes without the fleece blanket. I purchased some new music off of the iTunes music store in hopes to inspire me. I figure I might as well post what I really feel on Xanga.

I think for one of the first times since moving out did I feel “alone”. You know, sometimes you just want a hug or to go sit across from another human being and it’s kind of hard to do that when there is no one else in the house. I just watched some TV and learned to work through the feelings. I was then constantly reminded that I’m never truly “alone” for God is always there. Which, that thought in itself, brought me some fulfilment and peace.

I must say that I’m very much so LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEEKEND. This has been a LONG week and I’m done. I just want to go and do stuff that I want to do this weekend. Maybe go play some more tennis, haha.

I watched the news tonight and was listening to the story of the missing OSU student. See, that is exactly why I didn’t want to live the “typical college life”. The parties, clubbing, drinking, smoking, etc… it’s all fun until someone get hurts or worse, turns up missing. I’m just fine living my suburbian lifestyle even at the age of 19. I may not have a lot of 18-20 year old friends, but I have just as much fun with the ones who are 30+ as I would with any 18-20 year old. Now, there are those exceptions, but they are far and few between.

Well, bed calls.

Nighty
- J -

Good evening readers. On such a beautiful night as this I couldn’t pass up the chance at writing a Xanga entry before bed as I unwind on the deck. Sure, it is only 56 degrees outside, but I have my trusty Ohio State University fleece blanket and I’m all set. Again, all I hear is the sound of the running water behind my house, which has to be THEE MOST therapeutic thing ever. I just feel so relaxed after I sit outside for a bit.

Let’s go over today… Work, was well… work. For details call or write me personally. After work I headed on home, changed clothes and gave my friend KG a call. We met up at Target and did some shopping, which was quite fun. Then as we’re walking around the store I comment that I’ve never played tennis as we stroll past the sporting goods isle. KG get’s this GREAT idea that we’re going to buy tennis rackets and go play tonight after dinner and shopping. So we pick that stuff up and a bunch of other clearance items and head for the checkout.

Now we head out for a cheap dinner. We end up at this cool little Greek place off of Henderson and I get to try/eat my first Gyro… Yum. So I had a good and very cheap dinner which was awesome. Then we headed out and went over to TJ Max and More for some more shopping. Then after that whole trip we decided that Rita’s Frozen Custard and Italian Ice looks good… so we go there. I get a vanilla custard / mango italian ice mix. It was QUITE good. Then we head back and get my car.

Now, keep in mind, when I went tonight I wasn’t expecting to be playing tennis at 10:00 PM. So I’m wearing a polo, some shorts and flip flops. So still, we head over and play tennis (for me the first time and KG it’s been a while) so we attempt this very sadly and laugh ourselves to death because we had no clue what we were doing… It was good fun though.

Then we headed back to her house where her man eating dog Buzz wanted to go for a walk so we walked around her neighborhood for about 30 minutes or so. All in all, a very good evening.

Now, here I sit breathing in this wonderful, fresh, brisk air and trying to melt away the stress and anxiety of the day. I think I’m going to pack it up for the evening and go to bed as it’s almost midnight and 6:30 comes pretty early.

God Bless,
- J -

So, Hope came over tonight to hang out and showed up all dressed up. So then we decided to find some place for dinner and I looked like a bum so I found a black polo to match my shorts. Just thought I would trow up a picture since I never post pictures of people I hang out with.

Well, Easter was great! I really enjoyed it. My family came over and had dinner with me at my house. Good fun. Well, going to get off here and hang out with Hope.

Later,
- J -

Honestly, there is nothing cooler than sitting on your deck, listening to the creek, wearing shorts and tee shirt, and breathing in the clean fresh air. Sure, there’s the quiet hum and whispers of cars driving down the roads around my house and the dull hum of the freeway in the far far off distance, but here, in my spot, it’s peaceful. I guess for those of you few readers who don’t know where I grew up, it doesn’t make too much sense why I would consider this peaceful. I grew up on the outskirts of downtown Columbus in an area called Linden. Typically it’s where a majority of rape, shootings, home invasions, drug busts, drunk driving, and other not-so-nice things take place and end up on the news. I grew up never flinching at the sound of a gun going off outside, yelling and screaming, the sound of cars racing and crashing, the smell of a illegal and sometimes dangerous fire, and all other sorts of things. To live where I live now where the loudest thing I hear is the neighbors dog yapping playfully at passer bys or a group of children riding their bikes in front of my house or one of the locals in the area shouting a hello as I clean my garage… it’s pretty much a 180 for me.

I am sure by now the neighbors are wondering if the new dude has lost his mind as I’m sitting out here with my feet propped up on another plastic deck chair. Then you see the glow of the laptop screen and keyboard as my hands poetically move across the keyboard telling this tale of mine. Shear madness is what they’re thinking, but I never did claim to be the normal type.

I mean, even the air is different. The smell of clean, fresh air is just amazing. I can smell the water from the creek and just the different smells of people burning firewood, ahh… it reminds me of the lake and camp. I’m so used to air being so tainted with the smell of filth and trash, it was the norm for me.

So, the neighbors are outside now, and I’m trying not to laugh since it seems they’re lighting something with a candle lighter. I’ve evidentially sparked something in people to come outside and enjoy this wondrous night. (Pun was intended there for all you close readers). So I look over and they have an outdoor fireplace, can we say JEALOUS. I WANT ONE. Well, maybe if the wind blows my way I can smell it burning and reminisce in my mind about the lake and camping and the days of church camp.

I guess my picture of peace outside tonight could mirror my life. I might have a lot of stuff around me, but in my place, God’s given me peace. I don’t worry about tomorrow, my next meal, how the bills will get paid, how I will get to work, how I will do work, because I leave it in God’s hands, and He’s never failed me. Sure sometimes it will penetrate my inner peace, but it never completely takes it over and it quickly comes back.

Well, since I’m rambling on and on because I’m enjoying the deck too much to go inside I might as well share my feelings. I’m humbled, honored and very grateful for all that God has blessed me with. I wake up every morning and not only thank God that I have life, health and what not, but also for all that He’s entrusted to me. Things come up and somehow it’s amazing how the money’s always in my account. Whether it be some over time, grant money, random checks, random side jobs, who knows… God always provides.

I think about people who haven’t given their all to God and wonder how they make it through the day sometimes. God is what keeps me together and what keeps me going. If I didn’t have God in my life, I don’t think I’d be able to survive.

Ever think about random people? I miss my friend AD. For whatever reason he’s been in my thoughts more than usual, hopefully he’s doing well and nothings wrong. A few other old friends have passed across my mind this week and I hope they’re all ok. I don’t get to see a lot of my friends because of distance and time… sadly. I miss each and every one of them.

So I made the decision to leave the church I was attending. I just don’t know what happened, they were doing pretty good and then it seemed like it all went to pot. So I’m back praying and back seeking where God wants me now. I know there is a church somewhere around here who needs someone like me. Hopefully one who’s been praying for someone like me and looking for someone like me. I trust God will lead me, and I as always, will follow.

Well, that’s about it for tonight. I’m going to work on some more stuff outside here before I go in. It’s too nice to be inside.

Good Night,
- J -

So, I know I haven’t posted in a while, life’s been keeping me busy. So I got the window fixed on the car, figured out what was wrong with the brakes and got to see some good friends of mine. I surprised some good friends of mine and just show up at their church. Now, keep in mind that their church is over an hour and half from my house… so it was quite the surprise.

Then lets see what else I’ve done this week. Monday I fixed my boss’s dad’s computer, saw my manager’s new house and visited with my family. Tuesday I had to fly to school because I had a test and 270 South on the West Side was a parking lot so I took the back back way there. Thankfully I was only 9 minutes late, so I was able to still take the test! I only missed on question on my quiz so I got an A .

Afterwards Hope came over and we hung out for a bit. Then I went to bed and got up for work today. I worked, and that brings me to now… sitting in the office looking out the window as I type.

Well, work, it sucks. People are not acting their age and it’s ridiculous. There is no place for that kind of crap in the workplace and I have very little patience for it. I just don’t even want to discuss it.

I HAVE A THREE DAY WEEKEND! Can you see I’m excited? It is already JAM PACKED full of crap to do. I’m excited to work outside and get this yard of mine landscaped. I also will be happy to get the rest of the house “in order”.

So that’s what’s going on right now. I have to go now and cook dinner and RELAX.

Later,
- J -

Today was a nice day. I slept in and then worked on the two cars. Afterwards I went up home and visited with the family and did some laundry. Then I went to Giant Eagle and did some shopping for the house. Aftewards came home, cooked dinner, and watched “The Office” Season One on DVD. Pretty funny stuff.

Tomorrow I will be going to Bainbridge to get the Grand Am looked at. I’m going to surprise an old friend of mine and go to his church tomorrow. So I’m sure the look on his face will be pretty pirceless. Afterwards I’m going to have the car looked at. Then visit with my friend JR from work and his family. It’ll be pretty fun.

Well, gotta get up early tomorrow.

Night all,
 - J -