Isaiah J Roberts

Just a couple things. Or a few. What’s the difference anyway? Two or three… Or four, or more!

So I realized a few things tonight. First, I really do not like almonds in my chocolate bars. Second, I absolutely LOVE english toffee in my chocolate bars. Third, no Symphony bars I have ever found have only english toffee. So I must suffer through the almonds. :(

Ok, on to the real point(or two) of this post. =]

I was writing an email to a dear friend of mine, and I mentioned a few struggles I’ve been having. As I wrote the email, I realized two very important things. First, it’s best not to leave your chapstick too close to a lit candle, and second, that God is NOT strongest when we are weak. I seem to hear that a lot, that God is content to watch us up until a certain point, at which time He jumps in and picks us up. Sorry to break the news to you, but He doesn’t do that. Instead, He walks beside us, daily offering all of His Perfect Love and Might to us. But when we think we’re doing ok, we like to push Him away. It’s when we are weak that we finally allow our barriers to fall down, and accept His help. Isn’t that kinda backwards? Why do we wait until we have nothing left to ask for His help? Maybe we should be on our knees daily thanking Him, and accepting His gifts. 

Then another thought came to me. So often people complain about growing up(or maybe it’s just me. I do it. A lot). But think about it. There are what, 7 billion people on this planet right now? And there have been a lot before… You know, 5-7 thousand years we’ve been around, and so far, people have kept on growing up and becoming men and women. What different for us? Oh right. No one is standing there saying “Buck up and be a man.” That applies to you girls too. I’m pretty sure. 

You see, back before we had political correctness, and hundreds of self help books lining bookstore shelves, people weren’t afraid to actually talk sense to kids. You could tell a kid “Suck it up” when they were whining, and didn’t get criticism from the woman the next aisle over(this actually happened). You could raise your kids to be responsible and not expect everything to be given to them, and not be afraid of people telling you how badly you were sacking their childhood. In short, you could raise men and women, not boys and girl. Why can’t we do that now? Here’s a hint: Start telling yourself to buck up and deal with it.

Izzy

Love… It’s not an option folks.

Love… It’s not an option. Nor is it a feeling. So often people see love as just that; a feeling that comes and goes, when in reality it’s a decision. When I say I love someone, it’s because I’ve made the *decision* to love them, regardless of their behavior or decisions, right or wrong. But, what about those others, those I haven’t decided to love? Are they any less deserving than those close to me? No. Everyone deserves to be treated the same way I treat my family, the same way I treat my friends, the same way I treat my coworkers, the same way I treat my customers. Respect, Love, Kindness. There is no other option.

Izzy

Captain’s log. January 5, 2010, In The Year Of Our Lord.

I closely examined the fluid reservoir in my clutch master cylinder. It appears fully full. In other words, I can find no leaks.

Also, I am newly assigned to daily prep. This came as a shock to the old prep cook. Nor the most pleasant start to the AM.

I finished The Lost Hero. Impatient for sequel.

I find television shows annoying and wasteful of time I could better spend A) Eating, B) Sleeping, or C) Working.

In other news, I discovered that it is supremely disconcerting, not to mention aggravating for your most powerful device to be a first Gen iPod Touch. The iMac G3 is beautiful, but I require a bit more… Even a simple netbook would suffice. Two weeks… :-)

I desperately want a nook. I would adore to keep a lot of books on it and read them in between my numerous split shifts. Sigh… Birthday gift anyone?

Now, I fear I must away. Sleep is calling… And it’s voice is quite compelling. Not to mention sweet, inticing, beautiful, and sleepy.

Farewell! Izzy

American Soldier

Today is Veterans Day. The day when citizens across the great United States of America pause and remember those who served their country. Those who have given their lives to ensure freedom and hope for this fair country. Those who continue to protect us from threats, both within our Nation, and without. God bless our protectors, God bless our Armed Forces, and God Bless the USA!

In response to some friends loss of confidence in voting & Democracy

True, God did not set up democracy as His ideal of governance of the people. He selected leaders to carry His people through. They were to ultimately rely in GOD for their leadership, not on man.

Sadly, we live in a fallen world. A theocracy is essentially impossible with the state of man in these days. If we tried that, it would simply degrade into anarchy.

Democracy is quite simply the best(or should I say, least worst?) government system in the world. There is no other like ours in the world. I would agree that the system is not perfect, but it’s as close as we are likely to get. 

I have worked at the polls, and can tell you firsthand that there are very strict rules about how it should be done, and counting fraud is (usually) impossible. Most of the counting is done by computers, with only bad(wrinkled, folded, un-readable by the computer) ballots being counted by hand.

When it comes to majority rule, thats simply the best system we can come up with. Being ruled by minority(oligarchy) would be worse, don’t you think? Instead, we find what MORE people find best, and follow that. Sure, it’s not *great*, but at least it brings interesting debates to the forefront.

To sum up, I believe it is every citizens right and *duty* to vote. Regardless of one’s opinion of “The System”, it is still necessary to reach politicians with your vote. For some, it becomes one of the only ways to get through to them(though I’m lucky to have conservative legislators, senators, and representatives who actually listen to those they represent).

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

The only thing necessary for America to fall is the failure of good people to vote.

Izzy

Clarence Lee from Tennessee! Or, the dangers of modern advertisements.

Clarence Lee from Tennessee

Loved the commercials he saw on TV.

He watched with wide believing eyes

And bought everything they advertised-

Cream to make his skin feel better,

Spray to make his hair look wetter,

Bleach to make his white things whiter,

Stylish jeans to fit much tighter.

Toothpaste for his cavities,

Powder for his doggie’s fleas,

Purple mouthwash for his breath,

Deodorant to stop his sweat.

He bought each cereal they presented,

Bought each game that they invented.

Then one day he looked and saw

“A brand-new Maw,a better Paw!

New, improved in every way-

Hurry, order yours today!”

So, of course our little Clarence

Sent off for two brand-new parents.

The new ones came in the morning mail,

The old ones he sold at a garage sale.

and now they all are doing fine:

his new folks treat his sweet and kind,

his old ones work in an old coal mine.

so if your Maw and Paw are mean

and make you eat your lima beans

and make you wash and make you wait

and never let you stay up late

and cream and scold and preach and pout,

that simply means their wearing out.