Honor, Love, Respect

Honor, Love, Respect

UNC Marching Band, Cheerleaders, Dancers, and Football Team photo courtesy of IG: Wynstagrams_Power2thePixel 

People make mistakes, bad decisions, and a whole host of other wrongful acts. When a person does the wrong thing some people will never forget it. An apology can be made, and those same people just won't let go of how they perceive that wrong doing, even if they are just as wrong, or (brace yourself), even if they started the wrongful act. Forgiveness is an act of respect, self-respect. Self-respect in the sense that the one forgiving is respectful enough to forgive, respectful enough to accept the disrespectful wishes of the person who doesn't forgive, and lacks character enough to be what they claim to be (a good, or caring person). They can't be wrong, so respect their wish, if they can't be wrong, they can at least be what they choose... miserable, disrespectful, and alone, very alone. Alone on an early death bed, alone in a rest home, alone... 

For the people who face the music at the end of the game win or lose, and do so to honor those that they love, and even some they don't, much love and respect to you. The art form of love and honor are lost forms, lost forms waiting on the one innovator to come along and introduce them in a flavorful, new way. 

Lord let the innovation and revival begin with me. For those I've wronged, or had a difficult time forgiving. Lord please forgive me now, and allow me to forgive now as well. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," why is it on us first? Because we always expect our child to know better and do as its taught, to do the right thing. God is more deserving of being honored as a Father than me, and He expects us (me) to do the right thing. Therefore, on us again (me again), let us (me)... "forgive those that trespass against us," too. 

Until the next time go love on somebody! Peace, blessings, and joy... that real PB&J! 

#BlackLivesMatter vs. #AllLivesMatter II

Burnsville Town Centre (Mass Choir)

The #BlackLivesMatter (BLM) movement isn't a movement meant to attempt to denounce the fact that #AllLivesMatter. Unfortunately, all voices that speak out against BLM attempt to denounce their movement. Rather than jump on a bandwagon, and join the ignorance, why not listen, learn, and then look long into the matter, and speak lovingly?

First things first; I'd like to address the selfish naysayer's mentality. The selfish naysayers react based on their own fear, their own hate, and their own stereotype. A selfish naysayer isn't the rational debater that has studied with due diligence. The selfish naysayer simply sees a movement, or an action, and jumps in head first with the selfish, "what about me?!" They are worse than the spoiled only child. "Look at me, look at me," then gets upset when everyone else looks momentarily to assist the child next to it that's lets fortunate, and comes out of an abusive home. Well for the record it's not about me, it's not about you, it's about us. I don't exclude you, why exclude me?  BLM isn't "meant" to take away from #AllLivesMatter (ALM), or for that matter any other lives that matter. Rather than go out kicking, and screaming about how wrong BLM is why not include them in ALM? That's what the BLM is about. Not exclusion, but to be included and recognized. Therefore, why not support ALM or even #BlueLivesMatter? I'll tell you why you can but need to do so carefully, because then someone says, "What about #RedLivesMatter," and someone else in my Native American tribe becomes offended. Then what? All I ask is that you don't jump on the hate bandwagon. 

News flash... not everyone in brown skin hates everyone in skin that's different to theirs. I can, and will speak from experience on that one. Not everyone in brown skin feels that everyone with a different skin tone hates them based on their skin tone either. I also speak from experience on that one. 

To conclude this segment let's look at the rainbow of matters. Different is not so bad. How would an all black rainbow look after a rain? How about an all white rainbow? Do I recognize difference? Of course. Difference/uniqueness is beautiful. Do I see a reason to hate because of identity in difference? No. Most of my friends that have very racist tendencies (not necessarily racist just have a few tendencies), will say that they don't see color. Which I dare say isn't true, or it wouldn't be mentioned in the first place. However, one of my friends of non-color, but color (contradictorily speaking based on her Native American Indian ancestry), once explained that she most definitely recognized color. She spoke of the rainbow. She loves rainbows. "What is a rainbow without color L," she asks me? She was absolutely correct! What is a rainbow without ROYBGIV?! I don't want my favorite color in the rainbow excluded when I look at Gods' promise. However, I also do not see the rainbow being as beautiful with only violet in it. Would I dismantle the rainbow, or the movement? No. Just for the record this is not a LGBT message either, it's about the #LivesThatMatter Movement. I'm not saying that the lives in the LGBT community don't matter either. I am saying we can talk about the oranges after we wrap up the apples. 

Thanks and blessings.

#BlackLivesMatter vs. #AllLivesMatter

                  My spiritual brother

It's sad that most religious or race relations discussions transition into arguments, that eventually become a matter of disagreement. Disagreement then becomes the focus of who's right, and who's wrong rather than an agreement of any kind. At that point most all hope, and compromise, or even agreeing to disagree or banished. Hopefully the disagreeing doesn't lead to acts of belligerence, but instead creates a desire, or a drive that would lead the parties involved to hold an open mind in order to discover a rational way of resolving the matter. 

This blog is to discuss the topic of "Black Lives Matter," or referred to as (BLM), for the remainder of this blog. This blog will discuss why it is the movement began, why the movement is meant for good, and why others see that it is not. It is imperative to stay focused, and remain on topic. No one likes confusion, and it is just as unfair as it is impractical to compare apples to oranges. 

Again, this is a discussion that invites critical thinking in the area that says; #BlackLivesMatter (BLM). Critical thinking that shows both sides. Why is it that some see that BLM is so repugnant to some people that those same people attempt by any means necessary to refute it. It will also demonstrate how the BLM movement is critically important to some communities more so than others. 

I will begin with a question:

Does the BLM movement negatively affect those opposing it? If so how? 

Remember, please stay on topic... no apples and oranges, and please, please, please... think before you speak. 

Peace, blessings, and joy... That real PB&J

Where Are You Getting Your Info?

Where Are You Getting Your Info?

Would you ask a Yamaha fanatic about whether the Honda is faster than the Yamaha? Would you ask a finance manager if you can afford the faster Yamaha, when he hasn't had anyone in his office for a month? Would you ask the sales person which bike is the baddest, when he's led every potential buyer to the one bike in the corner covered in dust? If you answered yes to any of those please reread this paragraph.

Would you ask Fox News, CBS, NBC, or NPR about which candidate to vote for? Would you ask anyone that badmouths every candidate in a particular party without even knowing who they are, who to vote for? On that note, I am a bit let down by Franklin Graham now. Ben Carson is not perfect, but I don't see him being any less a Christian than either of the Presidents Bush. I know that sounds funky, but those of you with smarts will get it. Now Franklin Graham is saying he will not endorse a Republican, and that voters should vote for the person that represents Christian values the most. Mr. Carson has his biography and movie based on his life in Christian book stores started by Mr. Graham's father and he will not endorse him. Hmmmm... And then there's the Madonna of candidates, "Drop the Bush," Jeb we all know who you are, where you come from, and who's now not admitting to follow. 

Would you ask a person down and out, that's barely making it, or not even making it to help you figure out your finances? Wait Tyler Perry has a "movie," "The Family That Preys," with a former financial expert advising a single grandmother about her investments doesn't he? That's your one exception, if that one applies, even. Moving right along...

Are you looking for a new church? Would you ask an atheist to assist you with that? Would you ask a protestant about a mosque, or a kingdom hall to attend, or vice-versa? Have you tried the spirit to see that its true? (I John 4:1-5) Pick a version of the Holy Bible, it'll all bring you to the truth if you seek it. Because if you seek His guidance and not an unreliable source, you'll find the proper answer. Find your source, and then you'll find your answer.

Would you seek a person that has no life, messes in the lives of everyone else because of it, to help you find your place in life? I think these are all very valid questions. I am looking for a rational nation to not look to take our country back, but instead to take it forward!

Until then... I'll be riding my R1 as an independent to the polls, and as a Christian to the open air meeting on the mountain soon if any of you care to join me.

Three Cities, Three Weeks, Three Part Blog

The walk through practices can say just as much about a team as one in full pads. You can see the swagger, or lack of in walk through practices.  

This session displayed younger players that were humble, and some veteran players that looked like they could care less. 

Veteran linemen looked disgruntled, while the younger linemen looked concerned, not anxiety ridden, but definitely concerned. The backers were the typical  smiling faces that most are. So there's no confusion they're not friendly smiling faces, but rather menacing smiling faces that translate to say, "Welcome to Hades, my names Satan, and I'll be roasting your buns all day today... order 25 up!" The corners and db's were relaxed and having fun, laughing among themselves stretching and walking through drills. They did so until practice began to wind down. 

A few rookie linebackers signed (mandatory) autographs after practice, while a few other up coming players stayed after to enjoy the fans. Jalen Collins the former LSU standout was one such player, and gracious enough to stay after for a bit. It has been rumored that Jalen had a few woes in his collegiate days, and that his camp was not his strongest showing. However, I feel based on his character, that Jalen is confident, and happy, and will be a round for a while. 

Closing on the coaches corner. Coach Quinn wore his "all business face," only being chummy with one person that he knew from his prior coaching experience. They looked poised to have a great year in camp and started the season off that way. What's happened, or is happening since? Time has told and will continue to tell. 

50 Shades of Brown

One of the most serene places on earth is in the timbers find. I walk the grassy trail until the walk is my climb. Then when the climb is finished I've found my spot. Yes, that one where it's warm and gets hot. Where the rock is cool, and often damp, where only the sun has dared to tramp. The sun has never shone in such a way as today. My thoughts are left here, my mind is clear. As the sun caresses my brown skin, the wind whispers in my ear, other than the chickadee, she is all I hear. This is my spot, it was made just for me. Where my skin goes from caramelized cane, to a deeper hue of butter pecan underneath the Spruce Pine tree. This is my spot my 50 is brown, if you seek my Father, you might catch me around. 

Three Cities, Three Weeks, Three NFL Camps II

Part two brings the Lexus TravIS300 to a halt in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Home to Atlanta's Dirty Bird Training Camp. As I had mentioned in the first of my NFL Training Camp blogs, we're in the South visiting camps. The southern region of the finest nation in the world, and home to footballs, Falcons Nation. 

This blog, like the first, will also cover culture, cuisine, and gridiron craziness. I'll give you a look at an NFL following from a birds eye view. A Falcons view to be exact. 

Culture: 

Southern Hospitality; where the rainbow meets the sun, where manners are a way of life, and it's all instilled in a Southerner before they learn to walk.

 

 

The Falcons culture was much like the culture found in Redskins territory. A nicely collaborative gathering of ethnic diversity where the only language spoken was "Dirty Bird!" One thing different was that there didn't appear to be as many women at the Falcons training camp, but there seemed to be more couples. Regardless of the single female populous, people were friendly enough, and no rival fans bothered showing up at Flowery Branch. 

The day that I chose to attend was a gorgeous, mid eighties type of day. The sun had shone brightly all morning, but was not overbearing. The event was well planned, and organizers prepared to make this a memorable occasion for its fans. Trolleys transported people from the lot to the gate, which also helped with keeping the day as cool as possible. However, just in case it was a bit too hot still, and people needed a proper distraction from the heat, the facility greeted all of their supporters with sprinklers, and the teams motto at the front gate, "Rise Up!"

First things first... Food, and drink! No rain to put a damper on this camp, so folks looked for drinks over food, and organizers had it covered. $1.00 water, or Gatorade! GoTravvy was already liking this training camp. Cue the commercial voice, "but wait, there's more!" Not only was the Falcon faithful blessed with a 20 oz. dranky drank for a buck, but flame kissed burgers, with all the trimmings were only a dollar to match! It's worth the trip just to get the yard burger and drink. 

 The food was very reasonable, the souvenirs on the other hand, well let's just say that the NFL is proud of its gear. $40 and up for a t-shirt is not the way to go if you're an everyday average Joe. But the staff was friendly. So you're paying a great deal for service with a smile. 

Go Travvy has camera, will travel. 

More pics, and players to come.