Alone In the Dark

i had new person comment on one of my posts the other day about being back in the real word.

It was reassuring. I may be back in the real world but God is with me too.

As I bounced over to her blog, Supernatural Christian, I read the following post Called "Be Assured". In it she speaks of her sensitivity to evil in the world, and other people.

She is an awesome writer and a bit trippy.

Anyway I digress.

Tonight at work I snuck out to get a break from the hustle and bustle of closing the restaurant.

To be honest, I had to have a smoke. (Just keeping it real, yes I still struggle with the nicotine fiend.)

So I am sitting out there, and one of the guys comes out and pulls his car up close to where I am sitting. Now I am tired, my feet are hurting like a hammer whose seen to much action, and this jumps out after turning his stereo up loud so I can here the song that has been running in his head all day.

This cat is a good guy at work, does his job, doesn't gripe too much and he's an admitted bi-sexual. He's got that underground disco/techno lifestyle going. and for those familiar with it, you will understand what I am talking about.

I spent a lot of time in my past drinking and drugging in all kinds of bars: gay, straight, country, etc. Each one has their own subculture, of druggies and drunks.

So all of a sudden this trashy song starts blaring, thump, thump, thump. Bass and high-hat tripping right along. This guys starts lip-synching the lyrics to impress me with this song.

To be honest, I have heard worse, and at one time in my life I probably would have thought the song hilarious. However, all of a sudden my blood ran cold with fear and anxiety.

In my mind I started praying for the Spirit of the Lord, and it came to me that I needed to get myself back inside.

So I told the guy, I gotta get back and finish cleaning up, and rather abruptly went back inside.

On the drive home I thought about what had happened, and I thought about Given55's blogpost.

There was an evil presence floating around that moment, that second, this guy pulled up and cranked out his music.

It really freaked me out. I struggle with my own garbage and sin every day. But thank God I have the Holy Spirit inside, protecting me, admonishing me, saving me.

This guy didn't have that, he had something else, and in that moment I felt it.

Pray for this guy who I'll call Joe. (generic enough?)

Larry

Blast From the Past

You know, they say the past will always catch up with you. What goes around comes around.

They tell you to be careful what you put on the internet because it may, cost you job.

Little did I know a secret documentary I made in the late 80's with my best friend Michael Wilson would one day find the light of day.

We took off of a journey of epic proportions. In search of the ultimate big-foot, Elvis Presley.

Did we find him?

You decide.





Larry

Welcome to the Real World

Oh, My, Gosh.

I am back in the real world.

It seems I have led quite the sheltered life these last few years. I have been so wrapped up in Church and Celebrate Recovery, School and working at a church that I have forgotten how twisted the world really is.

Now that school is out I am working at a popular Mexican food restaurant here in Tyler.

My first day on the job, and almost every word from my co-workers is a plethora of F-bombs and worse.

My trainer and several others are openly gay. Tales of drinking bouts and sexual conquests seem to be the topic of conversation almost all of the time.

I cannot help but be reminded of my old life before coming back to Jesus. I also have to be careful, because when I get tired my old language, and way of thinking seem to bubble to the surface.

This is how Paul must have felt around the Corinthians.

It is ok though. When asked by the Pharisees why he was hanging around the dregs of society, Jesus told them that the healthy don't need a doctor, the sick do.

I have to figure out how to be a witness.

What a slippery slope eh?

I have been really studying how to be in the world but not of it.

I remember how empty my life was when I lived like there was no tomorrow.

I can't help but think the same for my co-workers.

Please pray for God to open doors for me to share.

And to keep me safe.

Larry

Miracles Do Happen!

I have to give thanks to Jesus!

I finished my math yesterday!

HOOOORAAYYYYY!!!

I have a few papers to write, and take one more final.

My first year of school will be finished!

I could not have done it without Him!

Praise to my Lord and Savior!

Thank God!

More coming soon.



Larry

Love

How do we show love today?

What does it mean to love?

Is it giving a man on the corner with a sign ten-dollars? Is it saying prayers with your child before bedtime?

Could it be a teacher going way above and behond the call of duty to help their student?

Of course the answer is all of the above.

My math professor's name is Dr. Judy Taylor. She teaches my college algebra class.

Patience of a saint this woman.

We speak of Job's patience and how he suffered however, he never had to teach older students how to factor.

In a previous post I wrote about destroying my computer in frustration.

She's the only reason I haven't.

Love you Dr. Judy

Larry

White Knuckle Rafting

I have a confession to make.

I have really blown it this year.

Between school, life, and my own recalcitrant nature, I have completely let my recovery fall by the wayside like a hitch-hiker dissapating in the rearview mirror.

Lack of program + not being a part of something greater than myself has left me bailing water from a cardboard boat in the middle of some giant rapids.

My reaction to life in most cases is panic. And I have found myself hiding from me and my God in an attempt to somehow make it right. Of course this does nothing but worsen the problem.

Life is hidden with rocky shoals and I have done nothing less than chunked my paddle overboard. My knuckles seem to be permanently white.

I have finally recognized this and am taking steps (get it "steps") to rectify where I have gone wrong.

Anyone have a tow-rope?

I know who does.

Larry

Go Speed Go

If I close my eyes for a moment I can stir a childhood memory.

Spinning music, an opening song and Speed Racer racing around the track in the venerable Mach Five. Other racers try to take him out but only succeed in flipping themselves over the guard rail and into oblivion.

Speed contended with such enemies as the car acrobatic team, the mammoth car made of gold, and some nasty arabs in the great desert race.

I remember every function and sound effect as if I were watching it right now.

How cool is this? They made it into a movie. Here is a link to the trailer.

This is going to be a good summer to eat a lot of popcorn I think.

Not only do we have the Speed Racer movie to look forward to but: Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, Forbidden City, starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li: Batman-The Dark Knight, Ironman, and last but not least the new Ben Stiller Movie Tropical Thunder.

Escapism seems to be the rule this summer. If we can afford to drive to the theatre.

Happy Viewing!

Larry