Sometimes

A few weeks ago I planned a birthday party for a few friends and myself. The day before the party I had a couple friends call me and tell me that I should not have the party because they were worried about me and that I was too focused on the party and not on my walk with God.

In the early 2000’s I had the three different motorcycles. All were crotch rockets and fast. I learned to do a few tricks like, pop wheelies, ride stoppies, ride with no hands, and such.

One night, like many nights before, one of my crazy friends had a party. I show up to his house on my motorcycle driving in the party while riding on the gas tank. No big deal to me but to them not so much. Now I have been told that I am a 250 lb liver. I drink tequila like water and can consume more than my fair share of beer. Am I telling you this to brag or start a drinking contest? No. I know when to say when, especially when riding my motorcycle. After drinking all night I was ready to leave. I did my goodbyes and climbed on my motorcycle when my buddies stopped me. Their persistence fueled my anger and I was about to fight two of my best friends because they wouldn’t let me leave.

Both of these stories are similar because I can be riding high on life and not really know what is down the road. During the birthday party, I could have had too much to drink and allowed things to get out of hand. I could have said or done something that I would have regretted in the morning. With the motorcycle ride home, I could have dropped the bike, run into a tree or gotten pulled over.

Sometimes good friends help you stay in check and sometimes good friends keep you in check. Sometimes you may not know you are close to disaster and sometimes you know you are in the deep end but don’t know how or when to stop.

Next time someone is trying to stop you from doing something, stop and listen. They are seeing things from a different angle and maybe see something you don’t. Sometimes they know better or sometimes they are just worried about you.

So You Learn

A good friend of mine was telling me about this ex-employee he had and always had problems with. Then he was telling me that this always happened to him, he would give someone a chance and they would walk all over him. I was talking to a different friend about how she couldn’t meet the right guy and how guys were always treating her poorly. Both of these people were talking about completely different people but coincidently were always get the same result.

God doesn’t want you to fail! God wants you to be happy!! God does put all kinds of people in your life for you to learn from. Some are good and some are bad. If bad things are always happening to you, over and over you’re not learning anything! We are put here on earth to serve God. If you’re unhappy you won’t be a very good servant. Yes you might get done what God wants you to get done but your not going to be very happy doing it!

How to do this? If you do fail learn everything you can from it and move on. Don’t be a debbie downer or frank the frowner. Be accountable. If you screw something up, fess up to it! Always read between the lines. We live in a society that loves to play all kinds of games. I don’t care who you are everyone plays one game or another. Yes the guy maybe able to make you laugh or do something that someone else can’t do or tell you everything you want to hear or buy you the moon or maybe he’s one of the lucky ones and doesn’t have to say anything at all. Just stands their and looks good! Use your discernment ladies it goes a long way. Guys start by using your head and I’m talking about the head on your shoulders. Also as much as we like to think, you can’t save them all!

A Better Idea

Men do have one less rib than women and are physically stronger most of the time. Also men listen to reason and don’t just have to be right all the time but… Men smell like rotten paint when they’re stinky and dirty. Women still smell like flowers just flowers that have been in the dirt awhile. Men can have curves, but women have curves that make sense and are nice to look at! Men can have babies but we need women to have them. A man can give you a go to hell look but a woman can give one of those too! She can also give a come here and its going to be great look as well. A drunk man can say “how you doing” and everyone looks at him weird. A drunken woman can say the same thing and nobody looks at her funny! A man can close a business deal with a handshake, but so can a woman. She can also do it with a meaningless wink and a smile! A man buys a car for below sticker price. A woman can buy a car below sticker price plus get a bunch of rebates and free lifetime oil changes. A man can run a marathon with a broken leg; a woman can do the same thing and not be complaining the entire race. Women need a GPS, a map and a cell phone just in case. Men know how to get anywhere in the world by themselves, heck we are the freaking GPS! This explains why women are always on time.

Don't Stop Believin'

Unfortunately, this blog has nothing to do with that song... but I am a small town boy. I needed some stuff for my house; I asked and got exactly what I asked for. I needed a computer; I asked and got a laptop. I wanted to start reading more books about God; I asked and got “Experiencing God”. All these things I just mentioned were free.



A few days later, while reading the book and listening to the radio, I was reading about people having a hard time following God, because He sometimes asks you to do things that are crazy. I had not finished that sentence and a Salvation Army commercial came on the radio and said “donate your trucks, cars, boats or rv’s”. These opportunities have popped up in the past and I’ve always pushed it off to as a coincidence. So after talking to a few close and wise friends I donated my car. Did it scare me? Yes! I had no idea when or if I would get a replacement vehicle.



Fast forward 4 weeks later. A young couple calls me and says "Here’s our car, do whatever you'd like with it.” Do I trust and believe in God? You bet I do!



Now I’m not telling you that this is what you have to do to get in good with God. I do know that I feel closer to Him and amazing things have happened to me Here are a few things I do:



1. Seek God. What that means is read the Bible. I try to read it everyday. I downloaded the YouVersion app (available for many devices) and follow the Life Journal Reading Plan. I have it set to the Message because it is the easiest to read and understand.

2. Seek fellowship. Don’t just go to church and check the box. Get involved with what’s going on. If your church says they don’t need your help with anything at all, go to a different church or call, text, email, tweet, facebook or foursquare me. Send smoke signals if you have to!

3. Most important trust and believe in God. If He asks you to do something, do it! If it makes too much sense, ask another believer that has done something crazy for God, that’s what I did!



Remember God rewards you when you step out on faith rather than live in fear, but you have to wait on what He tells you to do first!

Crashed

I was asked, by a reporter if I was a finagler. No, I am not. What I have done is, learn how to read people by body movements and actions. As well as pay attention to my surroundings and always be prepared-thanks mom and dad.

I have always been adventurous. As a kid, I would go on hikes/bike rides within a few of miles of my house and always show up late back to my house. Boy, did my butt pay for it when I got home. I would usually find somewhere to go or something to get into. While I was doing it I was scared, but I think that’s why I did it. I've always enjoyed the thrill of talking/meeting someone, doing something, being somewhere you are not supposed to be/doing. In the past and now it has been pretty ladies and different businesses that has given me the same rush.

Here recently, in March of 2010 I went to sxsw and met all kinds of good folks. I got into all kinds of parties and different venues. Yes I was pointed in the right direction and was introduced to the right people but most parties and venues I was on my own to get into. I ate and was drinking by eleven o’clock in the morning the entire week for free. I took a hundred bucks with me and came back with seven dollars . I saw four different keynotes. Too bad three of them were talking about something I have no idea about and still don’t.

I got into the pressroom where I almost got busted because I was trying not to laugh out loud. While everyone was blogging/writing for their website or paper, I was checking my email and Facebook. I may have even gotten a massage in the pressroom!

So I guessing you’re asking yourself, how can I do this? You can, all you have to do is ask for what you want and don't forget to smile big and have a great time!

Swag

The thing about getting something for free is, it’s free I know, surprise surprise. At the recent 2010 sxsw I went to, I got forty one t-shirts, five water bottles, four bags, sixteen pins, five writing pens, four packs of cigaweeds, two pouches of smoking tobacco, two towels, six baseball caps, rolling papers,(I don’t know why the caps or tobacco or rolling papers I don’t wear caps or smoke) a tattoo sleeve that I have tricked my mom and brother with( I have been disowned by my mom and now I’m a bigger hero to brother) I have lost count on how many monster energy drinks, protein energy bars and stickers I have received. I you ever see a guy at B&N with a bunch of stickers with one @chocov sticker on his laptop that’s me. A few people I know have been asking me for tips on swag. (I even got an invite for a tech conference in June).So here’s a few tips! The thing about swag is, it’s free people just ask for it! Don’t be a beggar, no one likes a beggar. Be very nice,(like patrick swayze said in the movie roadhouse…the only thing is that there will not be a time for you not to be nice). Listen to what any and everyone has to say. Who knows you just might need the product they are trying to sell you. Treat everyone with respect and dignity this isn’t boyz in the hood or prison. Treat them like you would want to be treated it’s in the bible. Keep a great attitude. If someone says no, it’s OK. It will be alright you didn’t want to be advertizing their product in the first place. If they say no and you really want a yes, come back later and talk to someone else in that booth. Kind of like what you did with your parents. Last but not least if they don’t have your size don’t worry about it take one anyways give it to your mom or dad or brother or sister someone. What might happen is that person will see you the next day and a new shipment may have come in with your correct size. If you were nice and pleasant!

NERDS

I recently went to sxswi (you would know this if you follow me on twitter, facebook or foursquare). I saw/met a lot of smart folks, like Erika Lehmann, Justine Ezarik, Megan Strout, Pete Cashmore, Larry Chiang, Robert Scoble, Saul Colt and others (and yes, I felt like Ogre) What you didn’t know, is that all of them were cool and friendly unlike the stereotypical people that everyone (non-technical) else seems to think. I asked politely for a picture and without hesitation they said "yes"! I would love to return next year to sxsw to see who else I can meet and converse with.