My upstairs

His scandoulous grace

2010-01-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

I feel stained red
these scars life deep
Lord I am undeserving
your scandalous grace
yet again saving
My scars and pain only
a thread to His quilt
he holds my own heartaches
asking then to what scars
was I holding
..
mere memories
as He now clearly encompasses
all Our scars and pains
to outspread this quilt of love
showing me the inner longing
is not of this world
telling me so softly
you are my child
through this mystery
true sacrifice
true unconditional love
my faith will remain
only to grasp a tiny drop
of the Spirit's omniscience
so very thankful
to be apart of this grace
I have come to know and believe
as tears now wiped on my sleeve.

----
really just had to put and wrestle some words down as I was reading about St. Francis. which helped inspire this...

2010

2010-01-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

Just trying to get used to typing 2010 really, amazing to think of all the major events during the past ten years, some have left just as abruptly as they came, others changed the settings indefinitely such as Hurricane Katrina, or 9/11. Remember the anthrax scares, Hussein executed, U.S in war(s) and still are, The first African American elected President, UNC wins NCAA championship :) the tallest building in the world is now in Dubai. And many others. Although honestly I was hoping for flying cars maybe next decade. With the new year coming it also means recovering from the holiday craze. I try and keep a humble heart at my household and with those I love. And challenge myself to be selfless. It can prove to be a bit difficult with so many folks in one household. As well as being selfless is an evolving act revealing a newness to each day and at times I feel a day behind.. But surrounded by lots of family also means there are a lot of opportunities to lend a hand. Sometimes I get the response like " no I'm fine I don't need any help" And I noticed it's much more difficult to allow others to help me when I was doing things over the holidays. And it stems from a more selfish act. I noticed that instead of me taking a tiny bit more time to allow someone to lend a hand and explain to them what I was doing I was saying "no I'm fine". Like washing the dishes, instead of simply telling a person where the dishes go and how you like them put up and so forth the dominating response is "No no I got it." I realized I was being more selfish by doing "things" myself than allowing another person to lend a hand.

So the unselfish act is to accept help, and this will be a work in progress for me.

Veterans Day

2009-11-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

happy Veterans day.. It is important to take time today and throughout our busy daily routine to give thanks and respect for those who give their all for our country. Whether you believe the war now is just or not makes no difference. Today is a day to honor those who've bravely decided to protect the beliefs and values and the land we so freely walk on day in and day out.

Although I disagree with several aspects of our military and governments relations the men and women of our services demand respect from citizens.

Our souls have not wept in Vain

2009-11-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

"Great truths are dearly bought, the common truths, Such as we give and take from day to day, Come in the common walk of easy life, Blown by the careless wind across our way

Great truths are greatly won, not found by chance, Not wafted on the breath of summer dream; But grasped in the great struggle of our soul, Hard buffeting with adverse wind and stream

But in a day of conflict, fear, and grief, When the strong hand of God, put forth in might, Plows up the subsoil of our stagnant heart, And brings the imprisoned truth seed to light.

wrung from the troubled spirit, in hard hours Of weakness, solitude and times in pain, Truth springs like a harvest from the well-plowed field, And our soul feels it has not wept in vain."

this writing is from Streams in Deserts

This has such a meaning for all I believe in knowing the real truth is only found through
grinding in our trials and understanding the ambiguities of life. There is a reason we are called to praise Jesus in the midst of our stormy tribulations.

the evil addiction

2009-10-21T12:55:00.001-07:00

As people whom consume more resources than the top other 3 countries combined Americans have created many little addictions. There was a professor once who could not go much longer than 20 minutes without using afrin a nasal spray. He simply became addicted to it. But their are a lot of harmless or semi harmless ones out there: harry potter books, shoes, having sunglasses, funny shirts "in case of emergency break dance" (my fav.), sodas, checking emails, having two pens at all times, Sports, twitters...and so many more...but one of the most evil of them all is Chapstick. I believe it might be harder to quit than cigarettes. Chapstick has become the devil and now that it is winter the devil looks and feels so moist and tastes pretty good and I just can't stop thinking about usuing chapstick. I am going on a week now without using chapstick, and I want to rub my whole face in coca butter right now..

Is chapstick addiction a real thing or is this in my head?

So the more you moisturize your mouth, the drier it gets -- sending you back into the vicious cycle of slathering on the balm.

the battery

2009-10-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

at points in my life my faith becomes stronger through just being able to withstand the waves of life, like the battery walls at Charleston, SC. As I try to live an honest life, wanting to walk with God I am often beaten down because of my own failures or frustrations. For I can never fully obtain this perfect life here I know but lets just say I usually learn the important lessons the hard way. over and over again.

but gold is only purified through fire.

To have faith-- when you are down and out, when your wall has been battered, when you can barley stand it..And to have this faith...well is to live life with this faith. It may become so difficult when you are face to face with yet another wave of life. But through these turbulent times our faith begins to grow strong. In Hebrews, Ch.11 starts out " The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living." (message)

There are a lot of things that make life worth living but the foundation is this trust this faith, to walk each step with this upon your consciousness. And when the waves come I am convenced even then I am being polished.

battered down

help me see not my flesh
but whats inside,
grabbing anything within reach
hungry for the turn of a new day
winds are threatening all that
stands beneath
Lord throw me the line...
deep breathes and understanding
the crashing waves pounding
my body weary
I'm buried alive
barely standing against anything
As I want to run from it all
Waiting the toughest action
of all to hear
yet it is the only voice telling
me he's near,
Just wait.....

2009-09-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

Heres an older one

"my turn to listen"

when to listen, when to speak, walk
and knowing went to rest
decisions shaping the unknown
yet future is certain to unveil in
which the fashion could turn
which course my heart burns
the flesh in toe
without question bits of time to ask
for a direction of action,
act with full intention of kindness
letting no falsehood or character change
my eyes for they are set.
overlooking distractions hoping
it is a clear coast from my viewpoint
which is.
my vantage point is of no use
for there is not a clear cut path of less traveled
which leads to the tree of wisdom,
each step is unknowing
based on faith, ripples of choice felt across the oceans
of lives fighting through the waves of turbulence.
one tells me actions meant so much
I smile
knowing the heart must fully be immersed
in this kindness provoking the eyes of
desire.
never having the knowledge
of which sunset is last
Must walk with whole heart ed intentions
of seeing this
world as being alive connected
by a translucent chain of events.
always open my eyes and ears, for the sights
and sounds transcend the hearts and desires
of the masses none
of which can fall on deaf ears.
Today I stand still and listen for it is my turn

1-7-09

2009-09-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

We buy it. use it for a time
thought in our own mind
to bring us happiness or enhance ourselves
thinking oh how this will help with that
the description says it does this, we infer only facts
owning this -matter- engulfs our head
then its ours...the hunt now dead
the possessing process out of control
the addiction to please now unfolds
for the realization a short time after
I am not any happier
with the --matter-- I have found
a lustful merry go round
a cycle I have lived
knowing now whats what and whos whos
I better think twice before getting those shoes.

Sometimes we get caught up in the chasing of our possessions or matters. Its easy to loose sight of what we think will make us happier and what we know will make us happier.. Shoes is one of the places I see this personally. The fact is I told myself I would run for a month before buying these awesome running shoes, which help the foot and back and la la la the works you know. And thinking about this I see that if I have to make such promises maybe I need to reevaluate the importance of this matter..or thing or in my case shoe..I am ashamed at how materialistic this is for me. but I see it in many parts of our culture

2009-09-15T21:56:00.000-07:00

I enjoy writing, it helps put feelings into words and lifting them up off my mind to anyone and everyone. Sometimes I gain a new perspective after reading my thoughts which is helpful as well.
although I am shy especially about sharing it, I figure those of you I care about will be the only few who read it so you can't ridicule me too bad ;)..and someone I care deeply about told me to use it more often.
so here goes nothing..

"tangled in mine"
--------------
giving it all up
the worries the fears
the smiles the heavy tears
my wants my desires
letting them all burn in the fire
even my gifts my blessings
must be handed over too
to the only one I know is true
it makes no sense,
my fibers want to hoard
keep all the good and bad
wraped around me, a choking chord
but its mine all mine
my faults my bad
i like to think
I can work out all my kinks
and make it, really succeed
in my triumphs and when I bleed
I am seeing more clearly now
this rooted greed
now wrapped so very tight
I struggle and strain to
become free.
my knife now
becomes words on my knees
and I thank God
for taking my all
I can no longer take my own call
even though it is no logic
I tell you..I've had it
with keeping my good and bad
being free is the only choice I had.

Wine to Water

2009-09-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

This new organization is based here in Boone, I am proud to announce...

check out http://winetowater.org/

"Many of the wars of this [20th] century
were about oil, but the wars of the next century
will be about water."
–Former World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin

Rock in your shoe

2009-09-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a rock in your shoe. But it seemed to not be annoying enough to actually take the short time to untie the shoe and shake the rock out. For one reason or another I simply continue my steps with a slight bother. Knowing when I eventually sit down to rest I will take the rock out but until my travels are over. No way I am taking the time. I think life can sometimes have these little hindrances that we skim over so as to not waist time. Mine recently was a actual mattress. I've been living on an airbed for several months until about 3 weeks ago. And taking the resources I had to get this rock out was SO VERY worth it. You see I don't really mind a air mattress until I would wake up. A brief period of stretching the back out and I am on the way to take on the day.

All I mean is it might be better to stop, and shake that rock out now.

Soccer is like church. Many attend, few understand

2009-09-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

as I was going to sleep I was watching a program that claimed the KKK was backed by the bible..shesh how far from the real truth has certain cultures become in our world...... Has our own church strayed from the real truth of the gospel..something so simple yet so hard to ingrain in our nature, to love our neighbors as ourselves. This was the answer to the question "what is the number one thing I can do to be a God loving person. a person with God's spirit within me." I feel like our churches have really sided with the verses claiming we are saved by faith alone...but what about the works..

"you have faith; I have deeds" show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.- James 2:18

this has been a debate for years but is crucial to understanding of course works alone will not save us but faith is demonstrated through works...take money for example, where the pipeline of someones treasures goes, so you will find what he/she desires or deeds. Simply replace he/she with the your Church. I am ashamed to see the results of some..

-Makind wants glory. We want health. We want wealth. We want happiness. We want all our felt needs met, all our little human itches scratched. We want a painless life. We want the crown without the cross. We want the gain without the pain. We want the words of Christ's salvation to be easy. ---John Macarthur

this is the "American dream" something that is not the dream of Christ's children..for we must kill this dream. this is the materialistic dream that blocks US children from seeing God's dream for us...this is the complete opposite dream for which we were built..
_______________________________

this is the new dream..the dream we must violently strive for because it is the reverse our human nature.

-But seek frist his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mat 6:33

sometimes I would like to ask God why he allwos poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it."

"well, why don't you ask Him"

"becuase I am afraid He would ask me the same question."

I think for me here it is important to understand our faith is essential to being "saved" but our works is what makes our faith tangeble for others. something we are called to do..something our faith brings out in us something our Churches sometimes have not brought much attention to.

war of another type

2009-09-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

So I was in a conversation with a good friend of mine the other day about how little we hear about the two wars America is in with Iraq and Afghanistan going on about 7 years now. The total number of human lives lost is in one way to measure the severity of any war. So when I read this statistic it highlighted itself to me. ---in our world. our generation each week AIDS takes more than ten times as many lives as the United States lost in the first five year of the war in Iraq.
(UNAIDS- report on the global AIDS Epidemic.)

however statistics are can a great tool to understanding the different areas needed to take more insight. EXCEPT..... I hate statistics..the class was way too tough.
BUT really STATISTICS about issues of poverty really fog up the human heart; it results in the power of a human life equivalent to a number. it cheapens their worth by every sense of the statistic..This is why statistics are very dangerous.

Not having Clean water is actually the biggest killer in all the world.-- As many as five million people die every year of water-related illnesses.

so I ponder this as I just brushed my teeth so very easily

-the severity of our global wars based on humanitarian measures is NOT violence.

"although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." Helen Keller

2009-09-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

About Me

2009-09-02T07:15:00.001-07:00

I grew up in Greensboro, NC. A great place to grow up, a good mix between parks and lots of land and city landscape. Currently I am attending Appalachian, studying in the College of Business in Hospitality and Tourism. We will see where that goes. I am working At Blowing Rock Country Club. Traveling, Fishing, Hiking, My doberman, and trying to live a pure, honest life are a few of my passions. I am one of five so I grew up having to share and compromise all the time. I had a passion for working with autism as well. Snowboarding, soccer/watching soccer, walking up and down in the rivers, fishing, are a few of the hobbies I enjoy here in the high country. I've now been a resident in Boone for six years. personally I hate blogs and feel too many people are talking too much these days and not doing enough. North Carlina's motto translates to be rather than to seem. A theme also found in scriptures. Word Cup 2012 South Africa enough said.

resume

2009-09-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

Douglas Lee Arrington 1 Seven Oaks Ct. Greensboro, NC 27410 336-207-7908 arringtondl@appstate.edu
OBJECTIVE
	Obtain a the Corporate Director of Human Resources at Provenance hotels.
SKILLS PROFILE
	· Managerial experience with planning and serving in a large catering company · Knowledge of and experience with corporate mailroom procedures · Experience with lodging customers · Experience in handling confidential paperwork · Ability to control a set staff and perform the objective needed · Great human resources skills and enjoy pleasing clients
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
	Gadabouts Catering	2005-2007
	Green Park Inn Blowing Rock, NC · Prepare for banquet events and loading all the equipment necessary. · Successfully complete all jobs by time requested. · Learned about the processes of serving 300+ events
	waiter	2007-2008
	Six Pence. Blowing Rock, NC · Took orders, served restaurant patrons, and bartended. ·
	Internship	2009-present
	BRCC. Blowing Rock, NC · Served as a bartender for one of the most prestigious country clubs in North Carolina. · Managed several functions at the country Club including a wedding for 225.
EDUCATION
	Diploma		2003
	Grimsley High School, Greensboro, NC