The smile of a Father

This past Saturday, my lady an I finalized the progress of commitment to one another and we became married! I cannot begin to describe the roller coaster of emotion involved in the process. Between the food, the clothes, the invites, the decorations, the timeline, phone calls, emails, and the like. Side note too, We catered ninety percent of it, and decorated almost all of it ourselves. So ya, stress!

But everything went over so well. So awesome too! I was never once nervous about the fact of being married. I was very excited for that. I have no problem being in front of people either so there was no real stress there. My two biggest worries were in this order; 1.) Make sure the Bride is happy, excited, and stress free, 2.) Do not screw up the Pumpkin Pasta. That was the headliner in the three main dishes, and it was a modified recipe my lady designed and I was bulk making it for an estimated one hundred people. Plus I made a side order specifically for a friend of mine who is allergic to onions. But I wanted him to eat some, so I batched it!

Once it all went down, it went smooth, clean, no stress, no fights, and everyone loved the food. They Loved my bride! They enjoyed the music, the drinking, the atmosphere. It was a success!

But I am not writing so much to recap what most of my readers will already know or soon know about our wedding. I am actually wanting to write about the goodness of God! Now of all the things I could relate to God through weddings and marriage, I am going to dodge really. I am actually wanting to just write about this conversation I had with my dad while we stood in the back of the festivities and talked.

It was about an hour into the dancing. Food was almost all gone. Everyone was starting to get their bodies moving. Drinks go round. I came out from the back, grabbed a beer and began to wonder. I stopped in the back to just watch what was happening. At that point my dad walked over and stood with me. I am pretty sure I gave him a huge hug. Told him THANK YOU, for maybe the tenth time and smiled. Told him again that I really liked his outfit, (classic gentleman slacks and shoes, with a gentleman's vest and tie, salmon color button up t.) We stood for a minute and just talked about small stuff. But then I smiled real big and he looked at me in wonder. So when I saw his expression I began to tell him what was on my mind.

As I looked around again I told em how awesome it was to have all of our guests there. How interesting it was to see such cultured people from such unique backgrounds and stories. At one table was some members of my family, and my ladies sister and mother with their significant others. Another table was my ladies dad's side of the family including her little brother. Then as you scan the other seven tables, I noticed we had them seated in specific groups. Totally un-intentional. At three tables were the members of Modified k9 Family and Rise Above Team. At another table was friends who also own animal related businesses. At a different table was the people we knew from the tattoo shop, and a final table was our friends from the Vegan culture. Also business owners.

I then began to tell him the story about when my lady and I relocated here. After being her for a year or so we decided to open up our own company. An Art and Advocacy Group that would use it's talents in art's and animals, and volunteering to reach out to it's community. This eventually grew, and the animals became their own identity in Pit Bulls. And Modified k9 was born. So there we were, two late twenty somethings with a new baby boy and that was about it. After thinking about it for a bit, and doing some brainstorming and thinking, we made "it" a part of both business plans. The "it" I am talking about, Family!

My ladies family mostly lives in New Jersey with the exception of her mom. My family is scattered. Mainly living in Florida and Rhode Island, with a brother in Chicago. So we did not have any family really around us, and as everyone knows, Family keeps you in check. Family is what keeps you grounded, and Family is where we belong.

So after telling my dad about all the table collectives, I told him what was so cool, was that we could have rearranged any of them, and almost all of them would still know each other. Nothing would be awkward. I told him how it was so awesome to look around the room and see Family. Not just blood, but loving choice Family. People that live life with us. People that help us. People we help. People with purpose, mission, and culture that we can both learn and teach one another. At any given time we could call on any of them and they us, and we would be there the best we could to do almost anything for one another. And I smiled again! As did he. He gave me that proud dad smile again, that he has given to me plenty of times before.

Being a dad, I understand that look. To see your child learn, succeed, achieve, and just be what they are supposed to be is one of the greatest gifts of parenthood. I love seeing my son learn something new, and get excited about it, and show me what he learned right then as he learns it! I believe my dad was thinking that right then as I was explaining. I believe he was seeing my past fall off of me and my future form in front of me, quite literally. My mom was the same way at multiple occasions that night as well. Stopping to hug me and my lady and tell us how proud she was, and how excited she was. As a matter of fact wise, I believe we were stopped by everyone of our family and friends that night. I joked all day while seeing the pre wedding social network posts. I said it felt like the world was ending for us all and our wedding was the final going out  with a bang!

But I say all this for something much heavier than my satisfaction. I say all this because as I continue to recap it all, I cannot help but think about how amazing God really is. In all of the garbage, and all of the good, and all of the middle areas, He alone is ALWAYS good to me. To Us. All of us!

My lady and I made it a point to try and create a Family atmosphere in all that we do. We aim to have unconditional love to all those we can provide it too. We fall short at times. But we are only humans, dealing with temptation and selfishness as we strive to be one with our God. To be holy for Him. But we were not always in line with Him. Truthfully, we were more at times, living on the wide path. The comfortable; "I got this, I know what I am doing" sort of path. Not really ever praying, or confirming with Him what it is He wants us to do. Just kind of using our knowledge and skills and doing what we knew.

But through all the stuff that we did, and were a part of, He still blessed us with so much. So many opportunities, people, places, lives and just everything. He knew our hearts in all their purity, even when we shoveled trash on top of them, and accepted the general populations way of life instead of His. He knew we wanted a Family, and we wanted to share our gifts, our stories, or culture, our lives. All of these in which He blessed us with. And in wanting all of these things, it lined us up in His will. Even if we were not conscious of it. And like a Loving Father, He blessed us beyond words.

He gave me blood family. He gave me a family of friends. He gave me a wife and a son. He gave us successful businesses. He gave us His world. He gave us His Son. All of this we have accepted with the understanding that it in His Glory and Name. We accept it. We believe it. Everyday, we do our best to Live it. I would do just about anything for all of those who were there to celebrate with us this past weekend. I will also do whatever I can for all of those who were not there this past weekend, regardless if I know you or not.

And as my dad did with me at my wedding, and as I do to my son when he tells me stuff, I believe God smiles down on us now with that proud Father smile. We are where He wants us, and He saw that it was good!

Spoken Word

*a spirit lead writing by: Derek Zielinski

Holy is the name of God,
Greatness abounds in He that carries this name.
King of Kings & Lord of Lords.
To the highest honor we praise.
Sacrifice our worship in times of need,
to praise the Holy One of Israel.
For You are Holy in power and righteousness,
lift your name on high oh God.
Your sons & daughters salute you,
with a holy kiss, I bow to Your thrown.
In the Heaven's and the Earth,
I see Your Glory filled masterpiece.
Through He it was created.
I shall pray this prayer.

No longer for He is forsaken,
placed on the highest of high.
The One and Only,
Jesus.
The beginning of all that is, was and were to come.
Before Him,
with honor, pride and humility,
That He is our King.

Among men He was nothing,
but a prophet and a pauper.
A King of Kings shackled to a cross,
to die a death no one had seen before.
Nor shall they ever see again.
For He was among many,
Bore the sins of the world,
and in each strike of the reed
He called out your name.

"Jezebel" He cries
"Your hearts have forsaken Me,
You turned your backs to Me,
as if I never existed.
But I do exist, both here and now,
before your eyes you have seen,
the miracles on a day to day basis.
It is I who created the light
that shines in you.
It is I that fueled the strength.
The power to overcome."

Both Heaven and Earth bow down at your thrown
and cry out "Holy is the Lord."
You came to the cross in wicked hand.
By our feet you were thrown.
We trampled You.
We spit on You.
In a trashcan sort of way,
we tossed You aside.
Forgive us Lord.
For we know not what we do.
For we have been mislead
by those before us.
Nurture our souls Jesus
and forgive us,
our Faith is weak,
and we do not know fully Your name.

You are the King on the thrown.
You are the Savior on most high,
and the One we are to adore.
Believe in us,
we need You.
Now more than ever.
A King to take His thrown
and lead the new army of believers.

The King of Kings is returning.
To claim His Crown
from the one who stole it.
In words and actions,
he seized his opportunity
and perverted the minds of the pure.
The self righteous have remained kings
in the land of false rulers.
Those who need not, less they have not.
Kings who sit on thrones of money
and garbage.

Thieves and Criminals
He is returning
Crooks and Crooked Ones
He is returning
Rejoice Jerusalem
and all of it's followers,
For your King is returning.
He is coming to make you whole,
Second nature to none.
He will make your pathways straight
and narrow is the road to find Him.
Believe in Him,
and the One who sent Him.
For the spirit is a strong Guidance.

You shall believe in your days to come
that this is to be true:
"You will turn your backs in hate, with hate.
For my followers have failed to connect,"
says the Lord,
"But be sure,
I will raise up this new generation of radicals,
to which you have never seen.
Those who will love and understand,
as I do.
Think and Praise,
as I do.
Be one with Me, as I am with you.
Be with you all of My days
as I am with you,
forever and ever Amen." 

The King is with you in Spirit,
Believe.

Maranatha

It's an amazing path in which we all have set our feet on. The indestructible design we call Earth. Mother Earth to some. But for most she is merely a planet to which we feed our starving hearts and lungs everyday. Fed with the blood soaked soils of our past transgressions, heaped in piles among each other. We see the error of our ways and we walk blindly aside them, with no recollection of the damage we have done. We breath in the smoke of our forefathers and describe it as healthy. A new tradition.

A false priesthood has been set in place. Now a panel of judges has risen up among all of you. All of us. We proclaim the name of Jesus in our hearts and in our lungs. But the majority stand idly by, with their hands in their pockets and their fingers in the air. Hallelujah is once said in the perverse manor of church praise to a message that satisfies the sole. The sole of what I ask? Of Man? Neh! It satisfies the root of evil. The self declaration of the gospels of so and so, and the evil that is spewed in them. The self centered hallelujah that echos out the chest of the man with no problems in the world because "Jesus has taken care of them." Or so he thinks. He sits mighty on his pedestal in the kingdom of money, fame and power. He is known among his peers as hatred. One that perks up when the higher ups come around and yields a knife as they pass.

The hatred among the saints in the church can be counted as indescribable. A number so rich and heavy, and laden with sin, that no mere mortal could ever bear the weight of its selfishness and greed. The presumption that all take on one, and not one took on all. The mistakes of man, to think that we can make a difference all by our self, and without assistance of a supernatural beings. Someone who has spanned time, and glory has been set in his hands. He is justified in every action and reaction that takes place. He is the one, and the only, that will ever stand at the top. His name is Jesus.

A man of men, a soldier of God. The one on the front line from the beginning of time, He loved us so much, He came to live among us, and then die! Only to show us that we will live again with Him through His Resurrection from the grave, if we choose.

Be set on your own errors and ways, and live for yourself. You evildoers do no good to the planet. You rape, pillage and plunder it all for your own glory, and the self glorification of the god you call yourself. Human man has no place in heaven if all he thinks of is what he needs most in life. What we need most in life is Jesus. The One and only. The proclamation has been set, and the invitations have been giving. The story has been told again and again and all of those who hear it will be forever changed. Because it is in that moment of desperation and loneliness that you need to grasp on to something. And the wicked ways on the world will not satisfy forever. Only the right hand of the Holy One will do. So reach out and grab Him.

You live among yourselves preaching the gospels of righteousness yet you show no example of it. You lie, cheat and steal from others. You proclaim faith in the Holy One of God, yet you speak as if you never met Him. Because you never have! You sacrifice nothing.

For nothing is sacred to you, not even your life!

From the beginning the only thing man cared about was himself. Even in the beginning when he walked side by side with the Lord. He was alone. No one forgave him for his sins because there was no sin. It did not exist yet. But then the fall came and all was forgiven, but was left with a curse. Til this day there has been but one way to lift this curse.

The Resurrection of Christ.

But no one believes in it. In a culture so soaked in self image and me purpose, how do you teach one to be submissive and take on the attitude of a servant. One who does the work of other or for others with hopes that he may win someone over. To proclaim the gospels, and to see the hearts of many change. Be one with his creator in a relationship that will never die. Ever.

Til the end comes, you will see the terrified rise up in the middle of the lame, and those laden with sin will be all around them. They do not know their sins, for no one has told them the error of their ways. So preach the good news and spread the word. For He is coming soon and there will be no way out. There will come a day when the hearts of many will change so rapidly there will be no keeping up with it. Like the sound of rushing waves, you will here the Son of Man return and capture the hearts of many.

Only to be judged once more, shall you return to the error of your previous ways. Be still and wait on God to come. Be alert and open your heart to His image. And clean your eyes, for they are the window of your soul, and unless you see Jesus coming in the distance at that time, you will lose yourself in the smoke and be amongst the soles who are taken to the underground and cast out of the eternal wonder that will be heaven. Amen.

*Soles is used on purpose instead of Souls. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:25-26

Make Me New, Again and Again

My Faith has been getting stirred up. I am in a position of transition now and I am thrown for a loop. I have never committed to anything 100% percent in my life. It wasn't until recently, and I mean maybe 1 and a half years recently, that I have been adjusting that. And on the front line I am trying to place my commitment to my faith in Jesus.

I look at my life until this point sometimes and realize the majority of it was me walking paths that I thought were fit. I chased things that made me comfortable, or things that helped me fit in. My job has been guided by social acceptance for almost 6 years. Last year I came to this understanding. My whole outlook at what I do and why I do it has changed a lot. My relationships with woman were never up to any standard. They were more like whatever it is that is between friends and a relationship without calling it anything. I had the desire to want them, the desire to love them. But my actions never matched on a consistent level.

Somewhere around 8 or 9 years ago, while I was living in the south, I came to find myself headed into the church. Not by my personal decision of wanting to be there. I was more or less going there because the person I was with wanted to go with their family so I joined. Little did I know the works that were about to be done in me. Fast forward this scene about 6-8 months or so, of steady attendance, and listening, and you find me standing up in front of the church body with a fair amount of others, crying my eyes out and not knowing why. I wasn't really thinking of anything except that I wanted change, and I needed it, and the offer was set there for me to accept it. So I did. I let my voice be moved by whatever it was that was inside me and not be moved from my brains stand point. I accepted Jesus and His sacrifice for me.

But I cannot say that was the ultimate change around. Although I accepted my new renewed way of living. I had to educate myself on it. I never grew up in a church. Nor did I care to before that point. So for the next 4 years it was an up and down and back and forth process of studying and understanding and trying to figure out what it was I needed too do. Through it all, I still, NEVER gave in 100%. I studied on my time, I prayed on my time, I thanked him on my time. Half hearted, and half witted. Ignorance at best.

I ran through a 2 year backslide after that. I slowly became an alcoholic again, and a womanizer, and an all around jerk. In the beginning of my downfall, it was hard inside. The guilt of knowing what I was doing was not what was expected of me was hard. Physically sickening. Seriously. But as I pushed away from Jesus and more to what I wanted to do too fit in, it got easier you could say. At least it seemed that way.

Then I met someone, who like me, was on her way out of a sort of relationship and just doing whatever. We talked here and there online. Then our online turned to phone calls. Then in no time we had met in person, spent some time together and decided, Let's move in, move away, and start something new. So we did. We packed up, found a place, moved in. Had a lil boy, started some businesses, and aimed to create a family atmosphere to surround ourselves in. And for the most part, it was working.

All of this time, minus a few conversations here and there, my Faith was remotely stagnant. I would talk about it when prompted but never really was moved too. Never really prayed. Never read or studied. Never really did much but chase what I thought I needed to survive and succeed. I had some awesome opportunities open at times when I was in position to rise up. I was given a lot of responsibly both at work and at home, and I failed. Terribly. I made great money, I was able to buy whatever we needed almost whenever. We were for the most part doing well. Then, reality hits.

I based all of my life decisions on what it was I was doing. I never once gave God what is due to Him. I was not living a life that matched my testimony, let alone matched what it is that is expected of me.

Fast forward through the failures that almost destroyed EVERYTHING. As well as the recovery process. (Read about that HERE .) I find myself standing side by side with this wonderfully strong woman! She has been so much support and love for me. I have a son who is so awesome I cannot even write it all down. I have two successful businesses we both run. I have a family that rolls almost 100 deep, and I can count on them just about anytime I would need them as they would need me. My personal business and arts are slowly dragging its way out of the mud. Our network is building as are our connections. And all of this is absolutely related to my God.

8 years ago or so, I left my old self on an alter in Georgia, and I told Jesus I wanted the life He had for me, and I was going to do my best to live for Him from that day on. Guess what, I lied! I didn't know I lied, but I understand that now. And it may not have so much been a lie, as it may have been and weak promise. Today, I am more free feeling than I have been ever. I have found some professional council that helps me both with addictive habits as well as faith based truths and life. I re-declared to God in front of a family of close to 500 plus, that I would live for Him, on the day I was Baptized. I was also blessed to share that moment with the woman I love! I love reading His scriptures. I love learning more about the awesome things He has done for us throughout time. I am now learning to commit to the things He has given me, instead of figuring out what I believe is best, and running with that.

I look back sometimes and see a lot of the opportunity in my life where I could have made the decision to choose Him over me, and so much more Life would have taken place. I see now, He has blessed me so much. Everything I have that I love is because of Him. And I do not deserve any of it. I have been terrible at portraying the person He expects me to be.

The name Jesus has power. Say it anywhere and someone will react. May be bad, may be good, sometimes it's indifferent. So repeat it. Just the name, JESUS. There is power in it because that was the design. One name, to rule, above all other names ever thought of, or created. Say any name there is in a crowd, and none of them will ever compare to the reactive power of Jesus.

I accepted Him, and His love for me because I was out of options. I thought I controlled my environments, I controlled my lifeline, I controlled my outcomes. In reality, the only thing I control is my decision. And if I am fully committed to this Faith, to this Life, that decision should already be made every time. I choose Him. We are not an accident. We are not born of monkeys. We are not evolution fish. We are creatures that are designed specifically, and formed by an Artist. This world, is not an accident. It didn't just happen. It is not an finite number of happy accidents. Everything around us is designed individually, and designed to work together. It doesn't just happen.

Look around. Take things apart. Look deeper than the surface and see. This world was created for us. And all we have done since is destroy it. Ignore the designer. Tell Him that we have a better plan. Then we live selfishly, and with greed. And we destroy.

That is not what He is about. That is no what I am about. Because He lives through me, every time I surrender myself and my agenda. That is the hardest part. Surrender . . . But when you finally understand Love and Grace, and how it works, You chase it, and do your best to give into it always. So that we may be forever connected, and He can be seen through us.

My Faith is being stirred up, because I asked Jesus to guide me, and to teach me to be fearless, and in that awakening, my body fights back. But I have to press on, and aim for 100% always, so that His love can be seen, heard, felt and experienced by everyone, everywhere, forever. AMEN.

If so, you will find yourself fighting God

Shortly after Jesus was put to death by the Roman's via request of the Religious Jews and Leaders, The Apostles connected with the Spirit that was to come. They began to tell the story of the One who came to set them free, and how it was done. They spoke with fire and truth. They were Fearless!

Just as much as they spoke, they were persecuted. Sometimes to the point of death, or close too it. Many times, they were ordered to "Discontinue, shut up, go away, face imprisonment or severe discipline." And yet they marched on, and did as they were commissioned by the Spirit of Truth.

One of my favorite accounts of such things appears in the book of Acts. It is a vivid reminder to me, and for my family. No matter how down we get about the things that are coming against us, or being thrown in our way, We together, as well as individually, must focus our attention to Him first. Then, stay the path He set before us. Continue our mission, and only change when prompted. In doing so, we face all the opposition and defense from the enemies, as well as those who take no form of Salvation. But instead take their faith in themselves and themselves only. Calling us out as, 'Stupid', 'Weak', and things the like.

The passage comes from The Book of Acts. Ch.5 (v.27-39)

Summarized; Some of the Apostles, lead by (Simon) Peter, were found back in the temple courts preaching the name of Jesus Christ, immediately after they were freed from prison by the Lord. They were then taken in front of the Sanhedrin to be disciplined, and asked to give an account of their actions, then they were scolded and questioned, "We gave you strict order to never preach that Name here anymore, and yet, you continue to fill the area with the teachings of this Name. Are you trying to hold us accountable for this Man's Blood?"

To which Peter replies; " We MUST obey God over man. You had Jesus murdered and put to death on a cross, but yet the God of all, raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, and put Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, with hopes of bringing Israel to repentance and forgiveness of their sins. We (the apostles) were witnesses to this, as was the Holy Spirit, that God gives to all of those who obey Him."

It was not too long after these words escaped Peter's mouth, that all of those who were in range that heard him became furious. Instantly wanting to put them to death. But before anyone could act on these emotions, a well respected and honored man in the courts, and a teacher of the laws stood and addressed all of those in the room. He asked that Peter and his men be placed outside the room. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin;

"Men of Israel, be careful about what you plan to do to these men. A while back, a man name Theadus rose up to a position of attention, claiming to be someone of importance. Then close to four hundred men rallied against him and killed him. His followers scattered. Then again, a man named Judas rose up during the  days of census. He lead a revolt only to be killed as well, and all of his followers scattered."

*Now at this time I would guess that he had the full attention of the Sanhedrin. He continues;

"I give you this advice about these men, Let them go. Leave them alone. If what they are doing is based on human origin, their activities will fail and they will be destroyed. BUT, if what these men are doing is in fact from God, you will not be able to stop them. And in your attempts to do so, you will only find yourself in a fight with God."  

Now this is where I celebrate in my Spirit. Because I know that if I surrender to His plans for my life. If I stop trying to make things happen on my own, and allow myself to be used as He see fit, and let Him lead the way, or follow Him where He takes me, I will not be stopped. We will not be stopped. He will not be stopped. No matter how hard you try. Less I give up, or give in to any other way, His way in my life will ALWAYS go on.

Now this does not come with freedom of being un-touched or un-threatened. Shortly after being addressed by this teacher of the law, the Sanhedrin had Peter and the others brought back into the room. They gave them the same strict orders to; "Leave here, and Never speak about Jesus anywhere near here again."  Then, they proceeded to beat them severely to get their point across.

This is where some who struggle would give up, and say it's not worth it. I pray that I may one day have the Faith and Joy in Jesus as these Apostles did. They immediately left the room after being beaten, and they began Rejoicing, and Singing because they had been counted worthy enough to suffer disgrace for His name. And in doing so, THEY CONTINUED TO SPEAK HIS NAME. They continued to preach the good news, and follow the path they were given. Never once considering the threats of the higher authority of man.

So every time I feel like the walls are collapsing around me and my life. I try to step back and pray. I ask Jesus to forgive me, and give me strength for my struggle, and to show me the path He has me on, and the direction He would have me go. Remind me that what I am doing and what I am pursuing is in fact what HE has me chasing.

If what you are doing in your life is based on the gifts that were given to you, check yourself real quick. Are you using these gifts for good purpose? Or are you using them for selfish capital? (This does not mean making a living with your gifts is bad. This means consuming all you make for yourself only) Is what you are doing with your gifts advancing the movement of the Body? Or are you not using your gifts at all? If you are in fact using them, and allowing them to minister to others; If you are on a mission that is God ordained, Keep going. Stay strong. Keep your faith! You may have to suffer through the attacks, the verbal assault, the humiliation, disrespect and hate. But only because He was hated first. And is still hated today. We represent Him. We are His weapons and His tools against the darkness that is ever growing. His plan is to rescue those who are looking for a way out of the darkness. Those who see the Light on the pathway, and Believe.

I have experienced some major grace and favor over the passed year. I try to praise God for being so Awesome to me and my Family. We felt surrounded at times, by enemies and people who were set on destroying us, and our lives. But He protected us, and showed us the way through. He aloud us to see the path, and motivated us to keep going. And although we did not come out unscathed, we came out alive, and better than when we went in. It is so refreshing to know that all we are, and have been going through , He has never left us. Even in the times I didn't feel like He was around, He was. He was Silent. And watching. Making sure that we give the glory to Him, and seek His way, and not our own. Glory to God. I am Forever in debt. Amen.

Observations and Such

I have been researching lately. Working on compiling some backdrop and information about the "Why's," to the way I live and what I do for a living. Through out it all, I can't help but notice the rise in hatred towards my Faith. And I call it my Faith for the simple reason that is what it is. But to the outside reader I would have to refer to it as "Religion." Because to the outside reader, that is usually what it is known as.

About a week ago I began researching Scripture references from the Bible that seem to gravitate around the taboo subject of Tattoos and Faith. I also dove into watching some videos both on YouTube and Vimeo. After about three or four hours of watching and reading, I had to put the computer away. I became extremely overwhelmed with information. I will not state that it is all good, nor is it all bad. It is just information for the project I am working on.

For the most part I became kind of irritated with what I was taking in. Lines after Lines of "Biblical" justification on why the writers opinion was in fact "Truth," and not opinion. Video after video of arguments both Pro and Anti Tattoo. Along with personal opinion told to listeners as "Fact." For me, I could not wrap my mind around most of them. I tried to see it from the standpoint that they had taken on it. but I could not grasp it. For the most part, while I was reading and watching or listening, I could not help but notice that almost all of the opinions being given, or the "facts" that were being presented, were based on what I have been calling Punchline Scriptures. Wordings, or sentences, or phrases that have been taken out of context to be used to support the opinion or belief of ones self. This happens all of the time in the world. Both Secular, and Biblical studies seem to use this technique to justify the "Why's" on whether or not they believe or do not believe.

Now I am not trying to take the conversation in a wrong direction. I do in fact believe that there are phrases, and sentences and wording in Scripture that are to be taken as they are written. But more times than not I am seeing the justification scripture being misused. A lot of times there is so much more around that one line that needed to be taken into account. There is so much more to the overall story that needed to be read and taken into account, to make said line of scripture understandable. 

Another thing I see that has become trendy lately seems to be the image of an upside down cross. It has become a normal fixture in Artwork and Tattoos. So I was interested in finding out why this was. Just a few years back, it became trendy again to add Swastikas back into Artworks as well. But before you could get all bent out of shape, you would have to research the persons reason for the use. Most of the time, Swastikas to my understanding are symbols of peace, well being and luck. It just so happens that negative meanings came about because of the Nazi Adoption of it, and I believe a lot of people do not know the other meaning.

So as I looked around and heard some commentary about the more frequent upside down crosses appearance, I came to find out a broken down, simplified meaning. They say it is used to represent the term, "I am unworthy." I actually found it rather interesting when I came across one young persons blog that had the simple image of a standard blackened straight cross, upside down, and a small write up underneath it. It read something like "This is not an Anti Religious symbol, It means that I am unworthy. Peter was hung on an upside down cross and he said it was because he was unworthy. So get a life you Judgmental @$$%*!&."

Now if I may offer an insight about the matter. I can see the idea of an upside down cross being a symbol of "unworthiness." But to my understanding of the story of the Apostle Peter's death, Peter was a direct follower of Jesus. After Jesus was put to death, Peter struggled to understand most of what had happened. Why he followed him, and how was he going to live now. Then once he came to understanding it all, he began to build, and teach, and love other as his Faith told him too. Like many of the other Apostles, Peter was beaten, spit on, laughed at, ignored, thrown out of towns, rejected, and overall discredited by many. He was thrown in prison on many different accounts, simply for not listening to authority when they told him to shut his mouth and stop talking about Jesus. The final time in prison was when we find the idea of the upside down cross. Peter, like apostles before him, was sentenced to death. But to my understanding, (and I apologize for my ignorance,) Peter was the only one who was sent to Crucifixion. So with the understanding of the Faith he had in Jesus. And the importance of Why and How he died, Peter opted for a cross that was upside down. Because he deemed himself "Unworthy" to die in the same manor as Jesus. He knew he was not even on the same level as Jesus was.

So Peter's upside down cross was his Choice to show honor to Jesus and not be put to death in the same manor. He was openly testifying that he is "Unworthy" to die in the same way Jesus did. Because by Faith, Jesus was the last to put to Death for Sin (as instructed in religious law of the old testament,) and return to show there is life after (physical) death, and through belief in Him and this sacrifice, we too could live with Him.

Now to anyone that uses the upside down cross in their Artwork, Tattoos, or any other thing in their life. It will come to no surprise that many people look at it as a disrespect to their Faith beliefs. As most likely did Eastern Religions when Hitler took on the symbol of the Swastika and perverted it for his own reasons.

The cross serves as a symbol of sacrifice to Christian belief. And when it is turned upside down it comes across disrespectful. Even if the meaning of "Unworthiness" is added to the picture. I believe flipping anything upside down, be it religious symbols, flags, logos, whatever it is, will always come across strongly, and most of the time will come across disrespectful. If that is the Goal, then it will be achieved. But if there is a deeper meaning that one attaches to it, let it be known openly. But there will most likely be backlash from the radicals. I do not in anyway condone the backlash. Just be prepared for those who forgot how to love first.

To finish this write up off, I would like to refer to something I recently read in the book; "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. Don was sitting in on some classes on a college campus in Oregon, when he made friends with some other Christian Believers. Christianity was frowned upon on this canvas by the way. During an annual weekend festival thrown on the campus, Don, along with the crew of five other believers set up a homemade confessional. They dressed as monks, and set up a sign that said "Confessional." But there mission was not to take confessions from students. Their mission was to give them. They were going to apologize to all of those willing to step inside the booth, for previous things like the Crusades, and Most Televangalism, and stuff like that. After a while, they actually had some interested students take part. As they entered, they saw one of them sitting there in a monk outfit. They would ask, "So you wanna have me confess my sins I guess huh?" To which they heard a polite "No." then after a few confusing moments, they would state something like this;

" I want to confess to you. I want to tell you that I have Failed. I have failed you, and many other by not representing Jesus as I should. I am called to serve and to Love others first, before myself, but I tend to put my own agenda and my own schedule first instead. I also would like to apologize on behalf of all of those before me. Those who claim to be a Christian and a follower of Jesus, but as well have used this belief to back their own agendas, and their own ways of life. Using Scripture to justify their actions, as well as their judgmental ways. Using their version of Jesus to back their Ministry. I too have unfortunately done this to some extent. And I was to say I am sorry. "

In a world where we squish everything down into snippets of 150 characters or less, we lose focus on the whole story sometimes. We shouldn't be quick to slam the Scriptures into the faces of those around us. Be it follower of Jesus or not. Scripture did not say, "Go around and tell everyone the wrong they are doing, and then tell them to get right with Jesus." From my understanding it says, Love God first and foremost, and thank him for all he does. Then, Love everyone else as you would love yourself. Serve them and their needs, and you will be satisfied. You will then be serving God.

Whether you use Punchline Scriptures for your own justified lifestyle, or you use images of upside down crosses to testify your unworthiness to be a believer, I am still going to do my best to love ya! And I am sorry I have not been doing this in the first place.

Dominion: The Shooting Field

I have struggled to think of how to start off this blog post. There are so many things that I want to include in it, and so many points that I believe once readers reach them, they will hit the "x" on the tab and not read through. I also hope I can do justice and summarize the information I have taken in without making it sound too weak or to over baring. So I guess I will just go to it.

I am currently reading the book; "Dominion" by Matthew Skully. This past Friday night, I started the second chapter and could not stop until I finished it. The content of this chapter legitimately had me irritated so much inside I had a hard time trying to sleep that night.

In this chapter Skully talks about his visit to the Safari Club International's Convention in Reno, Nevada. A gathering that occurs annually. Some press is aloud in, but is extremely looked into by the coordinators of the event. You may understand why in a few. Skully did not opp for a press pass, instead went as a hunter interested in membership.

The Safari Club International is a Members Only Club of Hunter's. But not Hunter's like many understand them. These are Big Game Hunters. But not Big Game Hunters like you are imagining them. I challenge you to step your thought process higher. Think BIG GAME hunting. What do you imagine? Moose? Buffalo? Bison? How about Elephant! Rhino! Giraffe! Lion! Cheetah! Start imagining these, and you are starting out in the realm of these so called "Hunters."

Upon walking into the convention hall, he estimates there is about 18 rows stretching sixty yards a piece, spread out over three hundred thousand square feet of space. With over three thousand guides and outfitters serving some thirteen thousand visitors. Different "Safari" Hunts for sale. Guns, Weaponry, Jewelry, Videos, Books, Clothing, and Uncountable amounts of stuffed, fluffed, and posed Taxidermy. EVERY ANIMAL POSSIBLE! EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK. Name some sort of animal that is in the wild or the woods that can be shot at with a bullet, a bow, or a sling, and you will probably see it there. Stuffed Giraffes sit in the auction room. More exotic birds than you can count stare you in the face while you browse the pamphlets at the counters. A giant African Elephant's Head watches over you as you browse the "Safari's" for sale in the aisle dubbed "Elephant Walk." A Baboon stuffed and posed by a Lodge table, wearing a hat and Game Warden Uniform. Polar Bears, Leopards, Hyenas, Moose, Wolves, all on display. One aisle's booth even has two stuffed and posed Bald Eagles. This convention room floor has put a price on the heads of some of natures most beautiful creatures, and there is at least one of all of them there for you to look at. Considered "Big Trophies."

Maybe a full size animal is not for you, well what about some of these glorious items? A Giraffe skin day planner for $189. A Zebra Skin purse $149. An Impala skin gun case for $249. How bout a Giraffe skin rug for a couple hundred? Or a Cape Buffalo Hide Golf Bag starting at a Thousand Dollars?

Are you getting a vibe yet?

While parading around the floor and deeply searching each booth without being overwhelmed, Skully stops here and there to observe videos that are playing. One video he records watching briefly, "With Deadly Intent." One of three video's deemed "The Classics." The jacket to the video reads; "You're right there to see four dramatic brain shots. See how a .500 Nitro Express stops a raging bull's charge at ten steps!" For anyone like me who is unfamiliar, the .500 Nitro Express is an Elephant Gun that is currently the low boy on the market. When this book was written, it had just been upgraded to a .600 with .700 in production and a .800 in the works. Short run down of the film description; These "Hunters" come up on two female elephants bookending a calf, and the bull (male elephant) charges the hunters vehicle to try and scare them away. After some short time he charges straight at the vehicle, then the "Hunters" do what they do, and there lies the description of Four Brain Shots.

To all of those interested here at the convention, they too could have an African experience like this and many others for a certain price. Packages can start as low as $1500 for a Giraffe hunt, and top off somewhere near $250,000 for a White Rhino hunt (only one of the many endangered or soon to be endangered species on the list of hunts.) Custom Packages are available depending on the extent of what you may be looking for. You can add shipping of your "trophy," plus stuffing and delivery to your estate.

Maybe Big Game hunting is not your thing. You like to keep it classic, like deer, elk, moose and the like. No worries. There are many Hunting Lodges here to suit your needs. And by suit your needs, you will not believe what they have. For starters, there is no real need to worry about loosing your prize. Almost all of these Lodges have completely fenced in property. So even if you happen to fire a shot, and your trophy runs off, you will find it eventually. They also offer you the exact sizes and specified quality you are looking for. Antler size, weight, colors. All of these can be met on a stocked yard. With quality feed that is high in protein and scientifically engineered to create top notch trophies. Further more, they can reduce the doe crop in the yard and increase the amounts of Bucks through "Proper Harvesting." In Texas, one Ranch offers a two thousand foot high fence all around the land. They also offer deer that are engineered under the "Texas Scientific Breeder Program." One Lodge owner describes the experience to be like shopping for a new car. You pick out what you want, you buy it. You shoot it. You take it home. Prices starting in the low $1200's.

Are you a Hunter at Heart, but just can't seem to find the time to get out there as much as you like. No worries there either. With the trapping programs, and the zoo buy outs, they can bring the hunting to you. This really happens. Whatever you are looking to hunt, you can get it. Call up the Companies that offer this. Tell them what you are looking for. Pay your deposits. Then when they receive your animal, you head out to meet them at a determined location. The hunter is placed on a raised podium in the open, while the trappers "release" the animal some couple hundred yards away. Then when the animal appears in your sights, FIRE AWAY! Make the kill, pay for your trophy, and away you go.

Maybe the skeet shooting approach is not your type. You still enjoy the classic, in the woods feel of the hunt. That can be arranged. With guarantee. The program you hire, will head out into the woods and set up two stands. One in one spot with a bag like contraption below it, and some "X" amount of yards away will be another with a camouflage tent atop. The idea? Keep the feed tent out for a while and allow it to draw in the trophy. Let it feed on the Scientific Feed placed in there that is promised to bring top results. Then when the animal has become accustomed to eating from the bag, bring in the "hunter." Have them wait it out a while, and when the one they like shows up! There ya have it, your Trophy! Guaranteed! Kill it, pay for it, take it home.

Still with me? There's more!

Not only does the convention provide you with all of these kill options, (some I did not get into, like the Grand Slam, the Big Five, and the Big Five Special to name a few,) They also hold an Awards Banquet! What are they rewarding? Damn near everything you can think of. There is a Record Book for S.C.I. described to be the size of a Manhattan Directory. In it is a list of winners covering somewhere around twenty nine categories of achievements with hundreds of sub categories. All of them receiving some sort of award. Then there are the Inner Circles, where your entry is based on the sheer volume and raw numbers of kills. Having seven or eight different species can get you into the Copper Level. Next is Bronze at a dozen species of trophy animals. Silver carries weight of ten animals in ten species. Gold Members weigh in at a dozen or more trophy animals. Finally you can reach Diamond Level, with a minimal grand total of seventy-six different creatures slain.

By the time you receive all of the Safari Club Awards in all of the Categories, collecting the highest honor of all, "Crowning Achievement Award," one would have a collected kill count of minimum required Three Hundred and Twenty Two Animals! None of them to be the same. Think it is unreachable? Think again. One man has received the "Intercontinental Award," and his total sits at Three Hundred and Sixty Nine Animals. To add insult to injury, these numbers do not even add in the number of animals that were shot and wounded, or shot and never found.

In the year this book was researched, Skully says there were Five Hundred and Three different Awards given. The title names alone are something to dwell on: South Pacific Estate Taken! Diana the Huntress Award! Ibex of the World! African Big Five! Gazelles of the World! African 29! Grand Slam Wild Sheep! Diamond Grand Slam! Champions of the World! Wild Pigs and Peccaries of the World! And a rather flattering McElroy! An award that was given to a guy for his One hundred and Forty plus Record-Class animals from seventeen African countries including his 11 Grand Slams, 273 different hunts on six different continents, and Three Hundred and Sixty Nine Species! Too top it all off, there is a Hall of Fame as well! Swallow that!

With an American membership following of 32,000 people, each averages eight to ten kills a year. That puts a Grand Total of 320,000 animals killed! Yearly! That does not even cover the grand total of almost One Million members worldwide.

Now for the cherry on the top!

After all this information, not to mention the tid bits I left out concerning commentary and detailed description of kills and safaris from "Hunters," Trackers, Former Presidents of the USA, Celebrity Members, and SCI Leaders. After all of this I want to deliver the final thing that really got my insides cooking. You Ready?

Dwell in this for a few minutes, Safari Club International is a 501(C)3 Charitable Non-Profit Organization!

All the Safaris, the equipment, the travels, the taxidermy, the shipping, the jewelry, the clothing, the feed, the science, the research, the awards, the dinners, the convention . . . tax write off!

How you ask? Through deeds they deem "Charitable." Like the Sensory Safari Hunting Program. Where they take visually disabled, and blind people out on Safari. To show them what it is like to be a hunter. Also, all of the African Safaris are used to fund third world minor cities. Each hunt has a price tag. A portion of that price tag is given to the Cities and Countries to which they will be conducting their safari on. They also have a Museum Program as well. Turn a section of your home into a "museum" to display your "Trophies," and make sure that it is in your will that they are to be given back to SCI upon your death. Or donate them to a restaurant, bar, school or museum. These just some of the small deeds of the SCI Conservation Hunter.

Conservation?

That's right. SCI and it's members believe themselves to be Conservationists. They do what they do as a means to control populations of species. They keep the more valuable animals like Elephants, and Rhinos, and Bald Eagles, and Polar Bears from being victims to Poachers, and Ivory Hunters and the like by being the first to take them out. All the while, paying a hefty amount of money to the local areas hospitals, schools and public service buildings. Kind of like a big (Charity?) Payout to keep there mouths shut. But not only is it about saving them from poachers and ivory killers. It is also about keeping people safe as well. SCI says that these animals are a danger to the smaller cities and towns. The residents are not safe when there are Big Game animals located near their homes. So to solve the matter, they lower the number of these animals in that area, by taking them out.

Final Thoughts

I really wish I could cover A LOT more than I did here. Please remember, this is only a review on one chapter. And the way it is written, half the information. This book is so rich with information it can be overwhelming.

The people that you hear speaking in this book almost seem to brag about the kills they get. How exhilarating it is to take down an Elephant, or a Rhino. How they never go down on the first try. But yet, how they feel a bit of remorse after the kill. Only to do it all over again. The way they brag about the sizes of each kill, or how many kills they have. They make it all sound like it is completely normal to be this way. To take out nature one by one for the thrill of it all. For no better reason than the simple act of entertainment and dominance.

What these people do is absolutely disgusting to me. The disconnect in there systems is horrifying. Not to mention the fact, that some of the people interviewed, as well as some of the speakers openly believe that what they are doing is Godly. That Jesus himself approves of what they are doing. The Christian Sportsmen Fellowship had a breakfast the weekend Skully attended. They opened with a prayer that asks Jesus to occupy the throne of their life, and to help them change their pursuits. Also to purify their heart from all unrighteousness.

Now I am Christian, and I understand that not one man anywhere is perfect, nor will we ever be. But I truly feel sad for these guys and girls who take part in this Social Club and believe that what they are doing is in fact God Ordained. I do not believe this for one bit at all.This book is titled "Dominion." Taken from the scripture, in which God gives Man dominion over all the land animals, birds of the air, and creatures of the sea. This assignment was given to man to take care of, and watch over, and do right by. Not take advantage of, put a price on, entertain yourself with.

After reading this chapter, the only thing that rang in my head for the next few hours, was the part of scripture that Jesus spoke, when he said; There will come a day when these people approach me and say "Lord, Lord, Look at all the great things we have done in your name." And I will turn to them and say "I do not know you. Depart from me you evildoers."

I do not believe it is always the obvious things that society sees to be the reason Jesus said these words. Things like Addiction, Thievery, Greed, Lust, Etc. Although very distracting and sinful in their nature. I believe it is the things that have to do with the planet, and the inhabitants that he just might be talking about. The Earth and the way we treat it. The animals and the way we treat them. And Our fellow brothers and sisters, and the way we treat each other.

Love each other and treat each other as if to treat yourself. Take care of this creation, and all of the Life that is in it. It is our responsibility.

Forks Over Knives: My Review

Recently some friends of ours gifted us a certificate too Amazon.com. It just so happened that My Lady and I were diving into another wave of information searching on certain matters. Topics about Vegan Lifestyle, Vegan Recipe, Animal Welfare, Factory Farming and things of the like. The search for this information actually began about 2 years ago when our son was born. In short, we wanted to know what it was we were giving him, seeing as though food now just does not seem like food when we were kids. It has since escalated to wanting to know not just the What's, but the How's and the Why's of our lifestyle choice.

So with our Gift, I ordered two books and this DVD. We looked it up online to check out the reviews, and see the trailers. Read the websites information, and decided to add it to our collection.

I love this Documentary! If I had to rate it on a 10 scale. I would give it a 9. The only reason for a 9 being that I wish the extras menu was a little thicker with content and information. Don't get me wrong, it is still full of some Awesome goodies. I personally just would have liked to see some more.

Forks over Knives is not what you would think as far as Documentaries about Plant Based Eating. A lot of times, people automatically jump to the ethical and mistreatment of animals. The slaughterhouse side of things. This one, although it mentions it briefly, does not stick on that. It hits from the angles that were actually what got me interested in this lifestyle. It hits from the health standpoints as well as the scientific studies standpoints. The fact that the Western Diet has put almost everyone who participates in it into the realm of obesity. Also putting them at risk for so many diseases.

One half of the story line follows two Doctors. Both born into a Dairy Farm Family, both rank high in their field, and both walked a similar path in medicine, just from two different angles, both about to discover information and factual evidence, that would change their lives as well as many others.

Doctor Colin Campbell from Cornell University, started doing studies on the effects of diets consisting of high animal proteins and low animal proteins in the 60's. Finding out that the effects of animal proteins on the human system is disastrous, and will lead to severe problems. This was motivated by his previous information he gathered in the Phillipines. The higher class children who had regular access to animal based proteins in their diets were coming down with severe diseases quicker and more frequently than the poverty children they were their to feed.

Doctor Caldwell Esselstyn from the Cleveland Clinic was one of the leads on the Breast Cancer Task Force. After treating many patients, he would go through research and find that the cancers he was treating was rarely found in many parts of the world, where their diets consisted of minimal to no animal based foods. Both Doctors then began to do some deep research that would produce some ground breaking studies.

Campbell took over a study started many years before him. Titled "The China Study," it was a project that researched 2 years worth of information. They were studying the number of deaths in the whole country of China, and paired that info with the reasons for the deaths. They would eventually find out that the large number of deaths were due to Cancer, Heart Disease, and Diabetes. The areas with these rates were of higher population, and had adapted more of the Western Diet of Eating. The other parts of the country where the deaths were more natural, had not. They had of diet of Plant based whole foods, and little to no Animal at all.

Esselstyn began researching the areas where Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases were least known or unknown, and found out what their lifestyle and diet habits were like. He too then found that these areas were living on a Plant Based Whole Food diet. He returned home and began a test with Volunteers, and information provided by other Doctors on these volunteers. These people were labeled "Terminal," with so many heart issues, they were not expected to survive for more than a few more years. People with Quadruple Bypass Surgeries, Heart Attacks and Strokes. Near Death People.

The other part of the Story covers the lives of three different people:

Joey, a Landscaper diagnosed with High Blood Pressure and Type 2 Diabetes, was taking 9 different meds a day, equaling $150 a month.

San'Dera, a mom of five and receptionist at a diabetes clinic, diagnosed with diabetes herself as well as hyper tension.

And the Narrator, who unfortunately I do not remember his name right now, ha! But he too had a check up and found out he had High cholesterol, High Blood pressure and High Expansion in his Arteries. He was knocking on the door for a heart attack.

All three of these people were followed as they Participated in a 12 week program. To give up their ways of eating, and use food as a healing medicine. They would eat only Plant Based Whole Foods. NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS, of any kind. The results at the end of the 12 weeks are nothing short of motivational and amazing. The meds they were on, gone. The Blood Pressure, normal. The diabetes, reversed and/or in remission.

Other short parts in the film include Gene Baur, Founder of Farm Sanctuary, who speaks openly about what he does. Mac Danzig, MMA Ultimate Fighter. Holds multiple world titles, and has been vegan for many years, long before he was a champion fighter. Rip Esselstyn, Son of Doctor Esselstyn, and Texas FireFighter, All American Swimmer, and Professional Triathlon Athlete. Talks about the advantages of plant based diets, and how it saved the life of one of his co workers. Along with some other people from Doctor Esselstyn's study groups, and their stories of overcoming fatal disease and heart falures, these stories will do nothing short but inspire you.

This is only a small amount of all the goods that are in this film. So many scientific facts about our body and what we are doing to it, simply based on what we eat.

I HIGHLY recommend this film to Everyone! I do this from a standpoint for Health and Nutrition. Not just Animal Welfare. What we put in our stomachs is Directly related to the problems our system is having.

This Documentary is Not an over the top film. It is put together very well, and is very understandable, as well as very relative to our times.

Imagine for a second, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease and so many other issues like Arthritis, Joint Pain, Osteoporosis, and more, all disappear simply because you made the switch from eating a high Animal Protein Diet, to a Simple and Understandable Plant Based Whole Foods Diet. You can eat as much as you want, and still be healthy. You eat as much as you want, and reverse disease. You become more energetic. You sleep better. You think clearer. All because your body is not struggling to fight off disease, and breakdown complex foods.

Please watch this film, then when it is done, make your choice.

Along the Way

I had recently replicated a self challenge program from an Artist I look up to and draw influence from. For the last few years that I have been following his work, he has times when he posted sequential works of art, day after day, for a certain amount of days. He would place them together online and title the folder (X) in (X). And Every time he posted something new, he showed progression.

A few months back, I was watching his seminar on dvd. In it, he mentions Why he would challenge himself with these projects, and how he got started on them. It all came about when he was entered into an art show by his mom. She told the gallery that he made wildlife art, which at the time was not one hundred percent true. But in light of opportunity, he decided to do what he could to try and get a place in the show. He had two paintings already done. The gallery wanted at least five. So he decided his best bet was to paint more than they asked for, and let them decide on the ones they would like to hang. So he painted one painting a day, until he had the total he needed. Then sent them off to be decided upon. So goes the beginning of what would become a common practice for him. (X)Paintings in (X)Days.

Why did he continue to do this regularly each year? Not only does something like this force you to create. But it also teaches you discipline, progression, structure, and style. It also helps you to increase your professional portfolio. So at the end of last year I did just that. The number was 35. Because when I decided to try it, there were 35 days until the end of the year.

So there it was. 35 Drawings in 35 Days. I have to say, it was an experience for sure. Each time I would draw something, I felt my confidence grow. I made a rule that I could only use both real life references, or self taken photo references. I did use other photo references sometimes when doing commission works. But either way, it was fun, and not only was I creating something everyday, but I was contributing to my overall body of work, and increasing my portfolio as a professional artist.

After finishing all of the drawings, I received a few messages, as well as had some personal encounters with friends and followers of mine. They felt motivated by my project. A friend of mine is now currently aiming to learn bass lines to one complete song per month, as well as write some of his own bass riffs when available. A photographer I know, who is also a Client of mine and volunteer for My Lady and I's Companies is currently on a project to shoot at least One Artistic HDR Photograph a day for the month of January. Another person I know, a Professional Calligraphy Artist, is setting out to complete One Finished Works each weekend for the rest of the year I believe. These are a few that I personally know of.

When I heard all of this I was very much excited. I took an idea from someone who has been an Inspiration to me, and turned it into a challenge for myself, and in turn inspired people who follow me to do their own personal challenges. All in the name of growing as an Artist, and sharing inspiration with others.

To anyone reading this that may be inspired by my works, I want to say Thank You! As followers of my work, I am motivated by you and your stories as much as you may be inspired by mine. Find your outlet, keep progressing, keep growing. Share your creations with everyone you can. Even if sometimes you do not believe it is as good as it could be. Someone, Somewhere may get inspired by it!

A Revalation

"Isn't it funny sometimes how, we find ourselves living, like the way we said we'd never live." A line from a song called Teach the World, by a band called Boxelder from South Florida.

Interesting enough, I believe this line is just as much as a positive, as it can be a negative. I look at it with new eyes now a days. I am not anywhere near what I would have thought about say five years ago. Let alone ten years ago. But for instants, let's put it back ten years just for fun.

Ten years ago, I would have been twenty years old. At this stage in my life I was working as a short order line cook, and kitchen lead in a sports bar and restaurant. The menu was consistent with most sports bars you may be familiar with; Pizza, Wings, Ribs, Steaks, Burgers and the like. I worked six days a week, total of fifty five hours. Prepping, Cooking, Drinking and Socializing every day. All of my meals were out and about. Rarely ever eating at home, less it was laundry day. In which case I had some of mom's home meals. Usually Steak and Potatoes kinda meals. This was life as I knew it, and in my head there was no changes going to ever happen. Unless it was to go higher up in the kitchen to kitchen manager, or restaurant owner.

Take it forward to Present Day. I am now labeled as a pure vegetarian, or vegan by some. This choice for me was made recently. But for the last two years I was more conscious about what I ate than ever before. I was a Pescetarian, Or someone who is mainly vegetarian but still eats seafood. My Lady and I just recently made the final switch to pure, for a few reasons. The number one reason for me was health. I come from a family line who carries heart diseases and complications. Also a few of my close family members have been diagnosed or have died due to cancer, and other life threatening diseases. I have a Son now, and when My Lady and I began researching what it was we were giving him in his foods and drinks. What was in his medications and what was in his recommended vaccinations. We were actually aggravated. We realized we too were taking in all this garbage. So we started our venture to become a Pure Vegetarian Household.

We read a bunch of books, and watched many hours of documentaries and educational films and shorts. It all kept adding up and making more sense as we went further into it. The movies became more graphic. The speeches became stronger, and more factual and were backed up by miles of research and education. Now, I want to keep soaking up more and study more myself, personally, so that I too may be a teacher of this way. Why? Because participating in a Plant Based Diet Saves us, and Cures us from disease and early deaths. The facts are there and the proof has been documented by many different sources, doctors, independent study groups, etc.

I am also interested in studying more in my Faith, and Scripture to see what it says about this type of living. From brief overviews and write ups I have seen and read about, I understand that Biblical Diets were based around plants and seeds and nuts. Meat was eaten by many. Usually fish. But such meats like Cattle, Sheep, Quail, and other domesticated farm animals were in fact eaten. To my understanding though, it was not a regular affair such as we do now. Not to mention the quality of the meat that was eaten compared to the garbage that is at the markets now. Meat was usually consumed either during a Celebration or Feast to which the "Fatty Calf" was prepared, or meat was prepared after a Sacrifice for Cleansing of Sin.

My Lady and I were talking the other night, and she had mentioned something in a animal video she caught and how disgusting, and sad it was. Somehow it triggered a thought process in my brain. When we post videos, or mention write ups, or books about Animal Cruelty, Animal Welfare, Factory Farming, Dairy Farming, Vegan-ism, or subjects of the like; The first comments I guarantee most people would come up with would be " Oh I cannot watch this," or " Why would you share this, I cannot hear that/ see that/ know that." We share because it is the WHERE and the HOW. There are not too many people anymore who want to actually know HOW their food is made. They just want to eat it and enjoy the final product. But what if most people were forced to oversee the whole process?

In the old testament, To become cleansed of your sins, you were required to bring a Sacrifice to the alter. More times than not, this was the best of the best of your flock. Be it any of the animals listed above. For some families this was a food crop of some sort, but in most cases documented, an animal. Having seen the videos and undercover documentaries I have, paired with the studies I have read, or heard spoken about these times, I cannot see this task as being something easy in any way. Animals in these times were a sign of wealth and prosperity. They were used in trading, or bartering for other materials, goods, or flocks. Even sometimes given as gifts in exchange for daughters hands in marriage. Beyond that, the animals were usually taken care of by the Family. The Fathers, Sons, and Grandsons. Generations of the Family were required to watch over the flocks. Make sure they were healthy, fed, and well cared for. Thus making them to be almost the equivalent of today's domesticated cats, dogs and birds. So when it came time for one to cleanse themselves and their family from sin, they were commanded to take the best they had. That means taking the healthiest, the archetype the bloodline, the leader of the pack. Walking it to the Synagogue or the Alter; presenting it to God in Prayer and Preparation; and then sacrificing the animal in a designated, kosher way ordered by God.

Now the conversation with my lady went in a sour direction for a moment here. With good understanding too. Like she mentioned to me, this sounds cult like. But like many other examples of scripture that people give, WITHOUT all the other context around it, an the whole story, it will not make total sense.

So again with this understanding of the sacrifice, I could not see this being an easy task. I myself cannot personally visualize myself taking the life of anyone or any animal, especially by my own hand. After watching the heartless Slaughter done to animals in these Factory Farms and Slaughter Houses, this process makes total sense as being classified as Sacrifice. They were taking a life, but it was also taking away their income, and chances to make more of that breeding line. The animal did not just get aimlessly murdered though. They were also commended to prepare it in a certain way that was acceptable, and respectful to God. Then it was served. Leftovers were given to those in need. the bones and skins used to cloth and provide tools for the families, as well as those in need. (* Again, all of the details may not be as in depth or as surface as they could be. This understanding is from my personal readings and studies, in accordance to my memory. I aim to dive deeper into this.)

My Point?

We as a society are disconnected. The pointless Slaughter of Farm Animals, and Wild Animals for human Consumption and Selfish Decoration is beyond belief. The abundance of these products are not only clogging up our society, but is also destroying our environment, our bodies, our brains and connection to one another. There are absolutely NO health benefits of eating or consuming animals or animal products. I believe in the days of Sacrifice for Sins, we understood that animals were part of the planet, just as we are. They were designed to live on the land with us, and enjoy this life. Taking their life was a hard thing to do. We knew it was our fault for not living as we should, and that these animals would have to die because of this. (*I personally believe it was not in vane either, I believe God replaced them plentifully back into the Earth.)

Not much now is so different from that. Billions of documented animals are dying or being forced to produce bodily fluids for Human Consumption & Decoration. We are not living as we should, and these animals are dying for us because of it. But now, there is no cleansing of sins for their deaths. (This ended with the Sacrifice of Jesus according to Christian Faith.) So now these animals are dying simply from our greed. All of it hidden under the misconception that it is normal, and good for our health.

To say we cannot watch the videos, To say we cannot read the books, To say we cannot hear the sounds, is as if to say " I do not care about Myself. I do not care about the Animals. I do not care about Our Children. I do not care about our Future. I do not care about our Environment. I do not care to know where it comes from, or how it effects any of these things. I just want to taste it. No matter what the Cost!"

*I know some people who read this will be aggravated, I am talking about some "Sensative" topics. Faith and Food. But understand, this is the lifestyle I choose. The lifestyle I continually learn more about. The lifestyle I wish to share with anyone willing to listen. So if you have any questions, or advice, or if you just wanna call me a jerk and a know-it-all knows nothing, feel free to email me!

zerekdielinski@hotmail.com