Wednesday, October 4, 2000
11:06 PM, on the computer

I never thought a scraped elbow and a stiff hip would feel so good, but the phrase "blood, sweat, and tears" is making sense. I tried to do an ollie and well, my board left the ground but I didn't... WHOMP! Staring at the shredded mass of flesh on my elbow (don't let me fool you, it's about the size of a quarter) makes me feel like I've actually done something though, it's like a trophy kinda.

Well anyway aside from my first skateboarding injury in almost eight years, it's been a busy and eventful week!

My friend and local Evangelist Chris Owensby's been in town this week, if there's anyone that reads this that has an opportunity to see him GO SEE HIM!!!!! Well anyway we had the opportunity to fellowship Monday night and we talked a lot, and I tried to tell him my actual name (he calls me "Apostle") but he calls me Apostle anyway or just AJ, heh... well anyway we chewed the fat and talked about plans and shared ideas and just had a good time, I still felt a lil shy though but I guess it's just cause I felt well, shy. But we ate and talked and all that good stuff, and I bid him farewell and parted ways for the night.

A funny thing happened at Fred's Monday morning, and I know it's a bit out of sync switching from night to morning, but when have I cared? So as I was saying I went into work, and Ms Bishop had me scheduled to work until 8 so I asked her if I could get off at 7 so I could hear my friend preaching. She threw a hissy fit (Mississippi talk for you) and said "Well if you leave then I have to stay, so there's no point in you even being here..." and I said, "well ma'am, I hate to seem like a jerk (she said "you are...") but I serve the Lord before I serve Fred's." She started blabbing about how I never do anything and how I sit there with my hands in my pockets and how I don't get any freight out (a lie, I average two pallets a day on a good day) and talk to the ladies at the pharmacy all day (that I admit to, God bless those women). I said "well, I guess the best thing I should do is put in my notice for Thursday (she, it's going to be my last day." She said "no, today's your last day." I wanted to jump for joy honestly, but I said "I tried to have integrity about it, and I was going to work out my notice, but I guess it's going to be this way. I did want to leave on a good note because I do care about you and everyone here, so can we leave on a good note and a handshake?" I held out my hand and we shook, then I hugged everyone goodbye and left. My first act as an unemployed bum?

Back on the skateboard...

I went to church that night (I left my job for it, darn tootin' I'm going to be there!!) And I was late because I was going to pick up some kids to bring with me, so I didn't get to play the sax and I had to sit in the back (I hate sitting at the back, too...). Well Chris preached good, and he gave an altar call and when I was praying that no one leave without getting saved I heard that still, small voice say "There's a little girl behind you, tell her to come up with you..." At first I ignored it, but I thought about it and thought "Ah, what the hay?" I turned around and sure enough, there she was... I said "hey, want to go up?" She shook her head shyly then I remembered "Tell her to come up..." So I motioned and said, "C'mon, go with me!" And she looked excited and said "okay!" So she and I went up front and she found Jesus!!

If I had to lose my job for a girl to get saved, bring it on!!!

I was talking to one of the people that signed my guestbook recently (she's such a blessing, thank you Kaela!) and she mentioned her youth group, and I've had something on my heart lately so here goes. I know I'm not much older but I'm just a little irritated at people's perception of youth... "oh, they'll get used later if they stick with it..." That's a load of bull, all that produces is a "I can do whatever I want now, and I'll just get saved later then God will use me" mentality... that's the perfect opportunity for the devil to use a bullet or a drunk driver and take that kid out...... kids can get used NOW!! Look at Meshach, Shadrach, Abednigo, and Daniel... they were teenagers!

Y'know I was just thinking.... I think it'd be kinda neat if we still did burnt offerings... cause Jews in the OT had it made... every time someone sinned, they had a cookout! I know it was an act of obedience, but I wonder if there were any priests that saw someone bringing a cow and thought "oh good, I was wanting a hamburger..."