Friendships That Come & Go Along The Way

Lauren Abraham was a person who I met during my teenage years. After meeting, we were intimate for a little while, but decided to be friends. She was always kiddish, positive, and had a cute, yet annoying baby voice. She use to annoy me (lol)

She was 23 years old when Hurricane Sandy of October 2012 took her away from this physical life. Lauren, thank you for the memories, the laughs, and the annoying voice. I wish I made time for us to hang out the last time I was in NYC; however, I am thankful that our paths have crossed.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is within us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire. He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

A Neighborhood Kid Asked Me For Food

(This is a real story I got in an e-mail) A Neighborhood Kid Asked Me For Food The kabobs were done, and I called the kids in for dinner. As they each came running to the house, suddenly I heard these words: “Hey can I have some of your food? I’m really hungry.” I looked up a bit surprised. A young boy who had recently started playing with our sons was looking at me from across the fence. My first thought was that he was just messing around, so I sort of brushed him off and said, “Hey, what if we do hamburgers one night next week and you can come eat with us?” “Oh, ok…”, he said and rejoined the small circle of other boys riding their bikes in the alley behind our house. We don’t live in any kind of upscale neighborhood, but it’s also not in the poorest area either. Pretty average I guess, but not somewhere I expected to have that kind of conversation. As we began eating, I couldn’t shake the idea that maybe the kid wasn’t messing around…maybe he really did need some food. I asked my wife what she thought, and of course she said by all means let’s feed him, so I went back outside to get the whole story… “Hey Benjamin, you told me you were hungry…are you not going home to eat dinner with your family?” I asked. “Nope, I actually haven’t eaten anything all day.” “What? Why?” “Well, my parents are at work, my brother just stays in his room, and we don’t really have any food in the house that’s easy to fix…so I just didn’t eat anything. We hardly ever eat together anyway.” To be honest, this was a conversation I’d never envisioned having with a child who lived in my own neighborhood, but he told me his story as if this was just the way his life had always been. “Ok, Benjamin, why don’t you come on over, and I’ll fix you a plate…we’ve got plenty of food.” “Really?! Alright!” He leapt the fence, bounded up the steps, and plopped down with our older sons at the back porch table as if he’d eaten there a hundred times. I’m the most imperfect person I know…I screw up all the time, and fall flat on my face over and over when it comes to living, husbanding, and parenting well. One particular area I’m working on is picking up on the little hints my wife, kids, or other people drop when they have a need. The whispered cries for help. I’m not sure what Benjamin’s whole story is…or that I’ll ever know. What I do want to ensure is that there’s always room for the Benjamins of life at our table. (Whether they need food, a safe place, or just a listening ear.) In the simplest way possible, this post is just about keeping our ear to the ground so we don’t miss what’s happening around us. Often we’ll avoid taking a risk of helping someone simply because we’re not sure their entire story is legit. Fair enough. But we must remember that while they’re responsible for how they live, so are we. Generosity is never wasted. There are Benjamins all around us all the time…let’s make sure we always invite them to pull up a chair.

1 Peter 2:21-25

This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.

He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.

They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls. (The Message)

Back in the Dayz Moment

Back in the Dayz





You're a 90s kid if, you remember watching...
-Kenan and Kel
-Doug
-Pinky and the Brain
-AAAAAAAH Real Monsters!
-Rocko's Modern Life
-Animaniacs
-Courage the Cowardly Dog
-Hey Arnold
-Clarissa Explains it All
-The Simpsons
-The Fresh Prince of Bel air
-Nickelodeon Slime Time
-Family Feud

You've ever ended a sentence with the word PSYCHE!
You just cant resist finishing this: "In west Philadelphia born and raised...

You remember:
-Step by Step
-Family Matters
-Dinosaurs
-Boy Meets World

You remember when it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.

When everything was settled by:

-rock paper scissors or
-bubble gum bubble gum in a dish

When kickball was something you did everyday!! and you played on the monkey bars and knew at least one kid who broke their arm falling off of it...

You used to listen to the radio all day long just to record your FAVORITE song of ALL time on a tape.

You remember when Super Nintendo became popular.

You always wanted to send in a tape to Americas Funniest Home Videos . . . but never taped anything funny.

You remember watching:
-The Magic School Bus
-Wishbone
-Reading Rainbow
-Ghostwriter on PBS

You remember when Yo-Yos were cool.

And you played with Gak, Silly Putty and Sticky Tack that you stole from the teachers walls.

You remember eating Warheads and Smarties

You remember watching:
-The 1st Batman
-Aladdin
-Ninja Turtles
-Ghost Busters
-X-Men

You remember Ring Pops!!!

If you remember when every thing was "da BOMB!"

You remember boom boxes vs. CD players

You had at least one Tamagotchi, GigaPet, or Nano and brought it everywhere u went

You watched the original cartoons of
-Rugrats
-Wild Thornberrys
-Power Rangers (with the Green ranger)
-Rocket Power
-Transformers

All your school supplies were Lisa Frank or Five Star brand

If you collected:
-Beanie Babies
-Pokemon cards (the original 150)
-Coins with the states on them
-Carebears
-Silver dollars, which were cool to have

Everyone watched the WB

If you even know what an original Walkman is..

You know the Macarena by heart

"Talk to the hand". . .enough said.

You went to McDonald's to play in the play place

Before the MySpace/Facebook/Twitter frenzy...

Before the Internet & text messaging...

Before Sidekicks & iPods ...

Before PlayStation3 or X-BOX 360...

Before Spongebob...

When light up sneakers were cool and you had spiral spring shoelaces

When you rented VHS tapes, not DVDs

When gas was $1.

When we recorded stuff on VCR

You had slap bracelets!

You actually played outside until it was dark!
Way back-before we realized all this would eventually disappear...

God Saves Even When We Think We're UnSaveable

Saints aren't born saved, just like homosexuals aren't born gay. We all make choices. What is your choice?
P.S. said with love

Just a thought - Change

Whatever circumstances you are dealing with in life, be careful not to be stagnant in the pit of complaining. Rejoice in the freedom to make a change ~ The Young Sheeion

Ms. Regina L. Osborne

I can definitely be a JERK, but she on the other hand is:

A. Adorable
B. Beautiful
C. Caring
D. Dorkish :) - especially with those glasses
E. Elegant
F. Friendly (too friendly)
G. GREAT @ cooking
H. Happy (when I'm behaving)
I. Imperfect, but perfect for me :)
J. Joke-KILLER
K. Kind
L. Lucky to have me (JOKING - Its the other way around)
M. Merriment (merry)
N. Nation Builder (and a great one!)
O. Outstanding
P. Pure
Q. Quick-witted
R. Respectable
S. Supportive
T. Tolerant but she still hits me :(
U. Uniquely formed by God
V. VERY annoying :)
W. Welcoming
X. Xeric
Y. Young-hearted
Z. Zealous for Christ

Why would she be committed to a guy like me? Why would she love a person like me?
Why would she support a guy like me?

Well, all I can say is "... I thank God..."

I love you Regina L. Osborne!

(whether I'm a jerk or not :)

~ The Young Sheeion

Riding through the Storm

Smile through the storm, be peaceful through the pain, love when your low, and worship Him even when your weary! ~ The Young Sheeion

God doesn't make any mistakes

Poem by Russell Kelfer


You are who you are for a reason.

You're part of an intricate plan.

You're a precious and perfect unique design,

Called God's special woman or man.



You look like you look for a reason.

Our God made no mistake.

He knit you together within the womb,

You're just what He wanted to make.



The parents you had were the ones he chose,

And no matter how you may feel,

They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,

And they bear the Master's seal.



No, that trauma you faced was not easy.

And God wept that it hurt you so;

But it was allowed to shape your heart

So that into his likeness you'd grow.



You are who you are for a reason,

You've been formed by the Master's rod.

You are who you are, beloved,

Because there is a God!