Me and Mixers

A short entry on my experience at the Shenango Leadership Mixer at the Chestnut Street Cafe in Sharon. The mixer was for all current and past graduates of the Shenango Valley Leadership program. My sponsor from work came with me. He can work the networking scene with ease, though. I ask him before heading in, "Are there going to be any people my age there?" I didn't expect there to be anyone my age, but I asked anyway. So when I get there, most of the people are 15-20 years older than me and standing around drinking beer at the bar. Let's just say I am naturally uncomfortable in situations with large groups of people that I am unfamiliar with. Put me in one-on-one situations or small group settings with people that I know and I do quite well. I am sure there are many reasons for me feeling uncomfortable: having faced alot of ridicule from kids during my days in public school, just being naturally reserved, not having alot in common with the non-Christian world, etc. After hanging up my coat and heading back into the center of the room, that's when I had one of those moments where time just seems to stand still. You know, when you get that feeling that everyone is looking at you and only you. After heading on over to the hors d' oeuvres table, I knew I was out of "escape plans". LOL. I knew I was going to have to make a move fast. So I think to myself, "I am just going to go and talk to the first person that looks as terrified as I feel right now." It's funny because all of this craziness is going on inside my head and not even an entire minute has passed in real time. I did find someone who looked pretty frightened and was able to just sit down and talk (and act like I knew what I was doing). Whew, what a relief! Things were ok shortly after that, though, because I found someone that I knew while interning at Wheatland Tube during summers off from college. From that one person I was able to meet up with other people from Wheatland Tube who knew my dad. So it wasn't too bad after that. After all of this, I am now completely sure that I have some form of SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder). LOL. Peace out and catch ya later.

Flowers, Chocolate, and All That Jazz...

In light of my last entry on Valentine’s Day, this week I set out to discuss all the positives and enjoyable things that come with dating. Here’s my list of personal favorites:

• Late night weekend conversations on the telephone
• Getting dressed up and spending a night out on the town—catching a show and some dinner
• Talking for hours at restaurants
• Opening doors for her (and all other forms of chivalry required of guys in relationships)
• Going for walks (in a park, at the mall, or at the beach—lol)
• Doing devotions together (whether a devotional book or just a Bible study—always good to talk about those sort of things)
• Buying her something really expensive and seeing the look on her face when she opens it (like a child on Christmas Day—lol, a great thing)
• Spending time with her family
• Telling stories of when we were younger, looking at old photo albums, and sharing memories
• Creating for her a stable and comfortable dating relationship in which she truly knows how much she is cared for

If any more come to mind, I’ll make sure to list them here.

What has been going on with me? I am currently managing all the work that has been thrown my way during tax season. It seems like it should be about April 1st by now, but February isn’t even over yet. I haven’t received a lot of individual returns so far this year, but I have been busy working on corporations. The firm has also asked me to participate in the Shenango Valley Leadership Conference (a series of sessions running through May that include debates, discussions, and projects for me to complete on a variety of topics). I’ll have to let you know how that turns out. For the final project we are making a presentation to the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce board in the First National Bank of Pennsylvania conference room. There is actually a graduation ceremony at the end of all of this as well. Kind of sounds like “The Apprentice” if you ask me. Hopefully I won’t be hearing the words, “You’re Fired!”. LOL. Now that this is on my mind, I’ll have to fill you in on my experience at the Shenango Valley Leadership Conference mixer for all past and current graduates of the program last Wednesday. I crack myself up sometimes. Look for that post shortly.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Well everyone, Happy Valentine's Day!
While my friend Jana at Circleville Bible College is being hit on today by guys galore, I figured I would take this time to answer her question on what people think of dating and relationships. It would seem like a fitting day to have such a discussion and since I haven't touched that subject yet on my Blogger, then here we go.
I don't really care which way people decide to date--casually or seriously. Two people can structure the deal however they want. I prefer dating seriously (as in "You are going to see me and I am going to see you for as long as this works"). There has to be some certainty as to where the relationship is going and I feel dating seriously does that. Call it off whenever you feel the need to do so. Plus, I want commitment. I don't apologize for wanting commitment in a relationship. I am completely willing to be committed myself (imagine that: a guy who actually wants to be committed! LOL). I understand that commitment can scare certain girls away (just like it does guys) and being friends is ok for a time, but after a while if you aren't ready to be committed to someone, then you probably should reconsider your readiness to handle marriage (or even dating seriously). So handle the manner in which you date however you wish. I don't really think that is the major issue.
The major issue is what you look for in a guy/girl. I am shocked at the "Christian world" on two levels (and I am speaking in generalizations here). Obviously the most important factor is the other person's spiritual walk with the Lord, whether they have integrity, seek to serve and honor God in all they do, etc. Sorry for the cliche here, but "it's a heart thing". By no means do I consider myself an expert, but I feel you can get a good sense as to how legitimate someone is in their spiritual walk just by talking with them on two or three ocassions. There are people who will fool you, but again there are always exceptions to the rule. I feel that the problem with guys is that there honestly are not enough spiritually strong ones out there for Christian women to enter into a relationship with. I am a guy, but I will not make excuses for my kind. As a whole, we have really failed in being men of God and servants of Christ. Our priorities are out of whack (turned toward ourselves) and living the Christian life rarely takes first importance in our lives. I am not talking about having a passive personality here either. My attitude, for example, is generally passive and laid back, but I don't consider myself "spiritually passive" (if that is what you want to call it) at all. As for Christian women, what is the major issue they face? I just feel that they don't make good decisions regarding guys (whether it's going out with ones they shouldn't be going out with or turning down ones that they should be dating). Now I know the biggest response I get from girls here is: Who are you to say who I should or shouldn't date. I won't comment on that here simply because I think the results speak for themselves. I don't know if girls make bad choices because there aren't enough good guys out there to make good decisions on or whether society leads them to base their decisions on other things (like looks, popularity, money, intelligence, etc). Your guess is as good as mine. I do think both of these problems are interrelated, though (not enough good guys and girls making poor decisions).
I don't know how else to explain the current state of things. I think it speaks poorly of the Church today. I think regarding relationships we (the Church) are in many instances as weak as the rest of the world (divorce rates are about the same). How else can you explain this? If anyone has any ideas or thoughts, please let me know. If you would like me to elaborate on my views on dating/relationships, let me know that as well.
Hit up www.geocities.com/billswebsite to read a paper I wrote on dating in college. Don't worry, I still have some hope in Christian relationships (maybe I'll talk about positives/desires in dating relationships in my next post). Talk to ya later. God bless. Peace.

Who Said Accountants Aren't Creative?

You know how often times someone you meet reminds you of another person. Well, I am posting some photos below to let you know who certain Waynesburg people actually remind me of. I think you'll be pretty convinced by some. If not, just work with me here.

Julianne Cole looks like (and probably sings as well as) Christine Glass--wife of "God of Wonders" songwriter Marc Byrd. She just needs to get that hair crimped! 

If Lindsay Lohan ever needed a double on the hit movie "The Parent Trap", I know she wouldn't have a difficult time finding one...LOL.

Matt White and Dr. Timothy Wooster ("Dr. Woota"), ENC chemistry professor. Not only are they both very intelligent, but they look alike and have similar personalities. Insane. 

Liz Humble and Brittany Snow (Meg Pryor) of American Dreams fame.
You'd be surprised at how much similar they looked when Brittany was
younger. Yeah, just a blonde Liz...LOL.

Some Classic CCM

Gotta love this one by Twila Paris (heard it for the first time in a while when the Pittsburgh District IMPACT team came to our church last Sunday night):

Lately I've been winning battles left and right,
But even winners can get wounded in the fight.
People say that I'm amazing -- strong beyond my years.
But they don't see inside of me, I'm hiding all the tears.

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.
I drop my sword and cry for just a while.
Deep inside this armour -- the warrior is a child.

Unafraid because His armour is the best.
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.
People say that I'm amazing -- never face retreat.
But they don't see the enemies that lay me at His feet.

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.
I drop my sword and look up for a smile.
'Cause deep inside this armour...

Deep inside this armour...
Deep inside this armour...
The warrior is a child.