We All Need Love

Truth

avandeventer — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:31:57 +0000

‘All of my life in every season You are still God I have a reason to sing I have a reason to worship…”

A word on prayer…

avandeventer — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:09:21 +0000

Prayer is perplexing; not because it’s difficult or scary. The perplexity lies in how complicated humans make it out to be. I don’t understand why we do it but we do.

Prayer is conversation with God. Therefore it should be simple, natural and drama-free. And yet, because humans are so good at complicating and over dramatizing everything, so many people are weirded out by the idea of prayer. I have yet to encounter someone who couldn’t participate in conversation in some fashion or another. Therefore you won’t be able to convince me there are people who aren’t capable of praying.

Let me be perfectly clear that praying does not require long, flowery, lofty verbage. Just talk. Or you can write if you’re weirded out by talking to someone you can’t see. But if you had an imaginary friend as kid, you spoke out loud to them, right? So taking to God is similar to talking to the imaginary friend that walked through your childhood years with you. Except that God isn’t something we made up.

It’s so perplexing because it’s so easily done and yet we don’t. Whether consistently or at all. This is another one of those “I recognize that I’m terrible at it so I’ll address it in a blog” things.

If you’re squirming while you’re reading this, maybe you have to pee. Or maybe, you know exactly what I’m talking about because this is something you need to look at in your own life. Even if the squirming is bladder related, I would encourage you to think about the role of prayer in your life anyway. It won’t hurt you to at least think about it.

Why are fast food places slow?

avandeventer — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:47:32 +0000

Do you know the thing I find most distressing about “fast food” restaurants? It’s not the greasiness of the foods that are served and then subsequently consumed. Although that can be distressing if you think about it, over and over.
No…the thing I find most distressing is the fact that it is called “fast” and therefore should be ordered, made and handed to the paying customer in minutes. Not 12 minutes in line, 6 minutes explaining your order that should only take 2 minutes (unless you’re a parent ordering for a flock of hungry kids) and then 7 or more minutes waiting for your food to be put together on a tray or in a bag. That’s not fast.
You would think in New England where the only thing that happens slowly is the end of winter, fast food restaurants would live up to their name. Apparently that’s too much to ask.
See what happens when I have lack of creative thoughts for my book. I complain about something so minor as the length of time it should take to order and receive your food in fast food joints. Help me!

Damn I hate writer’s block!

avandeventer — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:13:30 +0000

Writer’s block makes me want to throw a hissy fit. Not a little one either. More like one the size of, oh I don’t know, Russia?! Yeah, sure sounds good.
What’s the big deal about this latest bout of writer’s block…my book is still no where near done! And guess what…it’s coming up on 4 years since I decided to start the thing. Good grief.
So maybe the hissy fit I need to throw should be the size of all of Europe and not just Russia?! Yeah…maybe. Or maybe bigger. I don’t know. Maybe while I wait for the block to break I can heap blog after whiny blog on you poor people. Sound good to you? Really? Okay. Great!
Considering how long it’s taking me to write this book, I often wonder how long it takes different well known and well read authors to complete their works. How do they kick their writer’s block in the teeth? Do they read books, blog, rant and rave? Take walks and look for something inspirational to smack them in the face? Meet with others and talk it out? Talk to themselves? Maybe talk to a cup of coffee. Yes I know, I’m being silly now.
Me…well if this damn block doesn’t break soon, I will be reading a book. Actually, either way, I’ll have a book on what to do to break the block in my head. Thanks Mom!
If you have any suggestions for me…go for it. I’m clearly in no position to turn any of them down. Honestly if you’ve read any of what I have written so far in the book and have a suggestion for where I should go next…share that too!

Where, what, how were you when…

avandeventer — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:20:55 +0000

Where were you? What were you doing? How old were you? (Maybe not so much for anyone older than 30, now or then.) How did you feel?
Just some of the questions undoubtedly asked as this, the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in NYC, DC and PA, is upon us today.
Ten years is a long time not to forget an outfit. And yet, I don’t forget. But what that outfit was on that day has no bearing on anything else I might share.
I was a sophomore in high school. Sitting in the most torturous of classes, Algebra. Just itching for it to be over. I don’t remember the specifics of it all, but someone must have known from a class before because other students were starting to beg the teacher to please let us turn on the tv. (What’s with cranky old ladies teaching math anyway?) Eventually she relented.
What I saw…well I would have given anything to just “return to normal”, especially if normal meant none of what was happening that day, happened. Yes even if it meant getting back to Algebra. But since that was not an option I watched the tv as living history unfolded right in front of us on the screen.
Most of the rest of the school day is a blur. I think for most of the day that remained, tv’s were on and lessons were put on hold. All I know for sure is that instead of actually having gym class, we were in the cafeteria. I guess as a safety precaution. Not knowing if more things were going to happen. So I wrote long note after long note to a few different friends. And I’m pretty sure the tv’s were on still.
One of the most significant things about the effects of the 9/11 attacks I remember was being disappointed that the German exchange students were possibly not going to be able to come. They were supposed to arrive on September 13, 2001. Naturally the immediate thought was don’t come. But they wanted to come, we wanted them to come, so they came six months later.
If you’ve ever at least set foot in the doors of a high school for a brief time, you know they are filled with lots of chatter. All day from first bell to last. Discussions of upcoming plans, football games, the ever present high school drama and occasionally talk of things discussed in class spill out into the hallways. No matter the high school. But on that day, at West High School, the conversations were stopped. And I’m pretty sure that even in a school with over 2,000 students at that time, you could have heard a pin drop. National tragedy can do that though.
I was a 15, almost 16 year old, sophomore that day. And I was in Algebra wanting to be a dream. A really bad dream.

Not Open for Changing My Mind

avandeventer — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:27:35 +0000

Forgive me but I have some close minded opinions to get off my chest. Actually it’s just one. In regard to a pretty “hot” topic.
Gay marriage should not be a consideration. Anywhere. Ever. Marriage in its original intention was meant for man and woman. Not for two men, nor two women. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” (Ephesians 5:31) That’s just not what I was taught and have learned God intended marriage to be. Yet we’re in this cycle of life where equality for everyone now includes the right for gay marriages to occur.
Equality for everyone is a joke. How about instead of being worried about legalizing same-sex marriages we put that energy and those efforts toward fighting something else. Something that for people all throughout this country is hard reality. Things like poverty, slavery and abuse. And don’t give me crap about not being able to marry a same sex partner being hard reality. I’m pretty sure no one has ever died as a direct result. Nor do I think anyone ever will.
Sure there is some semblance of irony in the paragraph above. I knew it when I was typing it but sometimes you have to prey on the ironic to make a significant point. To make people stop focusing on the petty and hone in on the important.
Let me be perfectly clear about something, I am not at all okay with legalizing same-sex marriage but that doesn’t mean I don’t associate with people who are gay. I just don’t agree with their choices. Does that mean I’m going to take my Bible and smack them in the head with it? Not a chance. That sort of action and attitude doesn’t get a person anywhere.
As I wrap this up I just wanted to say I’m disappnointed in the six states (NH, NY, MA, CT, IA and VT) and the nation’s capitol for feeling it necessary that same sex couples be allowed to marry. Maybe some day we’ll go back to same-sex marriages being illegal nationwide. Maybe. Hey, a girl can dream, right? Actually I can do more than dream. I can pray and I’m going to ask those who feel so inclined, please join me.

No one is unlovable

avandeventer — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:07:14 +0000

I have an extremely hard time referring to anyone as being unlovable. Even my least favorite people. Or people who are guilty of disturbing acts. Just because I am not someone’s biggest fan, for whatever reason, doesn’t make them unlovable. We all have people we aren’t crazy about in our lives. But they are lovable to someone, somewhere.   Most importantly they are loved by God, even if they don’t love God in return.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:11
Suggesting that a particular “kind” of person is unlovable, is despicable. I mean, seriously, Jesus loved all kinds of “terrible” people. People who were detested in their communities, by their families for their actions and sometimes even the type of job they held. In spite of all that, when their families and communities didn’t love them, Jesus did. We now should be striving to do our best to love all people regardless of their actions, jobs or what have you.
We love because he first loved us. – 1 John 4:19
If we are going to follow the example given us in Jesus, we need to love everybody. Whether they piss us off or not. In those times when they hurt us.   When we just don’t feel like it…we need to heap exorbitant amounts of love on those people. Because, like it or not, that’s what Jesus taught us to do.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:46-48
I’m not sitting here trying to convince anyone to love the bad habits, criminal acts or addictions people in our lives carry around with them. I am however saying, that despite those things, as people they are not unlovable. The name for this blog is “We All Need Love” for a reason. That reason is truth.   And the truth is we all need love.
Hopefully you’re not fooled into thinking that I have this whole loving everybody concept mastered. Let me be straight with you, I definitely don’t though I do try. The problem with that is that Jesus didn’t say “try to love people” he said to just do it.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. – Matthew 5:44

I can’t take the glitz and glamor!

avandeventer — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:02:13 +0000

I knew this day would come. What day? The one when Hollywood take the “no strings attached” sex so-called thrill and turned it into a movie. By all means, let’s please glamorize this ridiculous notion that no strings sex is an okay thing. No wonder people don’t seem to want to be bothered with commitment. Not if they can go out and have sex…no strings attached.
The whole idea about this movie irritates me almost to the point of intrigue. There’s a part of me that wants to see it because I want to know the whole story. Then there is the part of me that is just disgusted by the whole thing. And in light of that feeling, I don’t want to spend any time or money in support of the movie.
Maybe I’m not getting the right impressions from the commercials I’ve seen so far. Maybe there really is more to the story then they are letting on. But from them it seems as if the story is saying forget commitment, forget your emotions and while you’re at it, run over your heart with a few 18-wheelers. A little excessive? Maybe. But oh well.
I personally cannot fathom being perfectly content to having sex just to say that it happened. I am far too emotional a human. And furthermore, I am confident that such an act would ruin me. Even if I didn’t think so, I still wouldn’t do it just to “do it”. That just sounds stupid.
Oh I totally just remembered something that is more messed up about the movie. The story isn’t wrapped around two strangers but two best friends. It’s bad enough people go out and engage in sexual behaviors with strangers. But to subject your best friend to that drama? That baggage? Disgraceful. The fact that people allow themselves to be treated this way by strangers and their supposed to be “best friends”? Unfathomably disappointing.
I’m not really sure why I’m so shocked that society could be so disappointing. At such a high level. It happens all the time. I guess I was just hoping that people would safeguard their hearts and their bodies so much better. Oh well, no such luck I guess.
Just to be clear, none of the things I have said are meant to be a dig toward anyone I know. but if you felt one, I’m sorry.

I’m sorry but it’s racist…

avandeventer — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 06:02:58 +0000

For the life of me I cannot figure out why blacks, along with other minorities, aren’t astounded by the so-called “need” for the Rooney Rule in the NFL. As far as my understanding of this rule goes, I would be livid with its existence. Why? Because it only demands non-caucasian folks are considered for positions in “high places” in the sport such as head coach or management. It does nothing to guarantee them a true shot based on qualifications. Which could actually be far exceeding any caucasian candidate for the same position.
What’s the big deal? Why the sudden outburst in opposition to this rule. Because I heard stuff about on SportsCenter over and over today. And was reminded how ridiculous it is. How it would be deemed “racist” for a rule in similar stature to be in existence in favor of caucasians. But that apparently it’s okay to have this rule for minorites? Are you kidding? That’s ridiculous.
Not to mention how really no one of any minority should need some “rule” in the favor to be considered for jobs in “high places”. Besides, it’s not like the rule’s existence guarantees a job for minorities in those big spots. Just an opportunity to be considered. Which if you’re a human being with the right qualifications, skin color be damned, exists for you anyway! And if in my thinking this way I’m wrong, this world…this country…is more messed up then I ever could have imagined.
Skin color should never matter. If someone is qualified for a particular job, they should certainly get a fair shake at it. Whether black, white, red, yellow, brown, purple or heck even striped! I really wish CEO’s and presidents and owners would interview people with blindfolds on and pick the best man…or woman…for the job. Based on what they hear and not the color of the skin!
As far as I know, there are no such rules in place in any other sports like the Rooney Rule. And I’m glad for it too. If those sports can get survive without a ridiculous racially-sensitive rule, why can’t football? Please explain this to me because obviously, I don’t get it.
Equality does not nor should not require a need for ridiculous rules accommodating to race. Demanding such a rule takes away the true equal opportunity that should be measured by qualifications of a man or woman. Not the color of their skin.
Moral of my rant is this…throw the damn Rooney Rule out the proverbial window.

Pray for him too!

avandeventer — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 04:47:43 +0000

Today in Arizona, a 22-year-old guy had his mind made up to cause chaos, tragedy and ultimately death. Well young man, you succeeded I am sad to say. Do not be concerned that I am going to call you a monster and tear you down for it. However, don’t expect me to jump for joy or congratulate you either.
Some people might wish death on this young man for his actions today. Maybe they feel justified in their thinking. Empowered by spewing their hatred of his acts on him as a person. Bad idea. Did anyone ever stop to consider it’s attitudes like that that cause this kind of terrible shit to happen in the first place?
I learned as a kid that there is no such thing as monsters so calling this young man a “monster” would deem him out of existence. And clearly, he exists. And honestly from what I’ve heard or read of today’s occurrence his existence is one that needs praying for.
Obviously I’m not saying the victims and their families aren’t in need of prayer too because they certainly are. But what I wanna know is why do people always say they’re praying for victims, victims’ families and never the person or people who caused the in the first place? Don’t people understand that prayer is a powerful tool that not only seeks physical healing for the physically sick but mental, emotional and spiritual healing for those lost, hurt, broken, stuck, turned around and forgotten? And yes even the so-called “monsters” need Jesus.
Maybe this guy doesn’t care about government, the sanctity of human life or anything at all. But that does not diminish his need for prayer. So please, just think about that before you spout off about what a “monster” he is. I’m not saying it’ll make you his equal but certainly that attitude is of no use to helping those who need it.