Ale for the Soul

Wow!  Much to my surprise, I have not written in a month.  This is a brutal reminder how precious time is and how is it no respecter of person in the way it passes quickly by.  It is in such instances, regardless of the words spoken, my actions loudly proclaim my true priorities, along with how truly disciplined and diligent I may or may not be.  At the first of this month I was given notice by the landlord of his intention to have his family move into the house in which I reside.  So after three and a half years at the same place of residence, I am forced to uproot myself for a new "pad."  This is truly unsettling as I look for appropriate and affordable housing.  Thankfully I have found a place to stay temporarily, but I am still in need of a more permanent dwelling.  This is prompting thoughts of purchasing a house (home).  As with most changes and/or growth in life, this is for the better as it prevents stagnation.  In addition,...

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."  Malachi 3:10 NIV "For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills."  Psalm 50:10 Continually I am amazed at the blessings which flow from spiritual faithfulness and obedience.  Often I hear people say, "You gotta give it away in order to keep it."  This never made sense to me, especially as a selfish person of the human race.  As I struggle to make enough money to cover my financial obligations, while cutting expenditures and frivolous spending, one issue I've never compromised on is giving God the first-fruits (10%) of the income He provides me.  While I could apply that specified amount toward savings or debt retirement, the negative long-term implications far outweigh any positive ...

"I have visited the tip of Argentina the region named Tierra del Fuego ('land of fire') by Magellan's explorers, who noticed fires burning on shore.  The natives tending the fires, however, paid no attention to the great ships as they sailed through the straits.  Later, they explained that they had considered the ships an apparition, so different were they from anything seen before.  They lacked the experience, even the imagination, to decode evidence passing right before their eyes.  And we who built the skyscrapers in New York, who build today not just galleons but space stations and Hubble telescopes that peer to the very edge of the universe, what about us?  What are we missing?  What do we not see, for lack of imagination or faith?" Rumors of Another World What on Earth are We Missing? Philip Yancey

This previous Saturday, May 10, 2014, I graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from Tarrant County College.  I was blessed to have my mother, step-father, and brother present to watch the Commencement Ceremony.  In addition to graduating, Sunday was Mother's Day.  I couldn't think of a better gift to Mom than graduating with a college degree.  The activities on Saturday were three years in the making: an investment of time, diligent studying, and sacrifices of employment and finances.  In reality, the culmination of Saturday's graduation began long before my time as a student in Tarrant County College.  Upon graduating Yoakum High School in 1992, I enrolled in to the college of life.  Most people immediately attend college post-high school, but I didn't due to circumstances beyond my control.  In the end, this was a tremendous blessing as I would learn invaluable life lessons and experiences a ...

"I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle." "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be...

"How long have you lived?  I didn't ask you how long you have existed as a breathing, functioning member of the human race.  I wanted you to tell me how long you have been really alive." "It was with a heightened awareness, a hyper-intensive consciousness, that I held that moment far too wonderful to describe.  In a mystical way, I stepped outside of myself at that moment and reflected upon myself experiencing it...I would remember that moment, because I truly lived it." "When I stop to think about it, most of my life has been the meaningless passage of time between all too few moments when I have really been alive.  They play it safe and tiptoe through life with no aspiration other than to arrive at death safely." "Every once in a while, something happens that shakes people out of such a mundane existence and introduces them to the ecstasy that lies waiting with hidden potential to be discovered in everyday life." Carpe Diem Seize...

A little over one week ago, I received news from The University of Texas in Austin they denied my application for admission as a student to their prestigious school.  Apparently they are so prestigious, people with a flawless 4.0 grade point average can't get in either.  This was a devastating blow to my ego, and a slap in the face of the hard work I've put forth these previous three years earning my Associates Degree at Tarrant County College.  The intellectual and emotional turmoil raging in my head has been non-stop.  On Monday I shared with my "Friends of Bill" group what I have been dealing with over the past week.  The topic of the group discussion was 'Acceptance' and how it is so important to serenity, as well as to emotional and physical sobriety.  I knew if I didn't deal with the storm raging 'between my ears,' I would eventually pick up a drink in order to numb and not deal with the resentment and hurt plaguing my heart and soul.  As mo...