It refers to whatever is going on.  The situation, emotion, person, day, year, life, death–it.  Came refers to the past tense of come.  For example, the emotion came.  To is in relation to what the it is going to do.  It came to…to do what?  Pass.  Pass refers to leaving or finally ending.  Sometimes it is a revolution.  Happiness came today, then left, then came back.  But, eventually it will pass again.  The only nice thing about this pass is that you can feel it.  When a car passes, it passes by.  Everything we experience (situations and emotions, at least) pass through us.  The year that brings the day that brings with it the situation that causes a reflex of emotion all runs through us and then passes.  It just doesn’t pass by.  It is there to create an experience and make us smarter, stronger, maybe weaker, maybe dumber.  It challenges us.  It tears us apart and makes us either stay torn down or build back up with a more powerful foundation.  Have you sat down and thought about what it means for things to come to pass?

Think about your friends from high school.  Think about your first love.  Think about your first car.  Now think about what you have now.  Guess what?  The pattern will follow.  What you have will become what you once had.  All things just go away.  There are goods and bads to this.  Sometimes it is terrible.  Grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, loved ones, friends, good emotions, good jobs, money–it all comes and goes.  It came to pass.  Sometimes it is good.  Pain (emotional and physical), hard situations, death, hatred, being lost, sin–it comes and goes.  It came to pass.  Sometimes it isn’t that deep.  A good meal, favorite tv show, a good song (although now a days they’re played 40 times a day so these may never seem to get to pass; but they do).  Whatever it is.  I promise you it will come to pass.

Now, it seems like this is a sad, woe is me writing.  But, if you’ve made it this far, then I assure you this is a feel good writing.  You will see that now.  Remember, sure things come to pass.  But, it is for a reason.  If terrible situations end, then it is obvious that “it came to pass” is good.  No more bad stuff for a bit (remember, most things do come back and then pass again…and again…and again).  But what about the good things?  Sure, your first car.  Dang it.  I loved that old Ford Truck.  When you went 70 on the expressway…you knew it!  My first love.  Oh yes, I lost her.  But, I know exactly what kind of inner (ok and outer…she was hott!) beauty I want.  If a girl cannot match up to her, then I know she isn’t worth it.  My high school friends and college friends–only got a few of those left.  Hanging out with a great friend tonight actually–we are going to see 300.  And guess who it is?  My partner!  Casey.  Please keep your cell phones on.  We only get one call.  But as these people or things come to pass, they leave one thing behind–memories.  If you cry or smile with these memories, even if you miss that person or thing, it is still good.  To be able to feel like that, that means you truly lived during that time.  It means something.  My friends, nothing is ever in vain if you don’t want it to be.  This blog will come to pass shortly, but hopefully it gets you thinking.  I know, as is the case now, sometimes my writing becomes thin and choppy near the end.  It’s usually because I run short on time and get distracted.  Right now I am chilling out with my dad, and he wants to watch Harry Potter.  He’s yelling for me now. 

I write these entries for a few reasons, release some emotions, entertain, educate, and most importantly, to get you thinking.  I want you to walk away from the blog and think, ”Man, Lewis was right.”  or ”He is crazy.  I don’t believe that way.”  “I wouldn’t handle the situation that way.”  “That was funny, I can share with some friends now.”  “I wish he would have written about this, too.  I still have some questions.”  That would be great!  I hope that these blogs raise questions in you.  Ask me my opinion.  Find them out yourself.  Argue with me (not in a defensive or mean way.  I love conversation and if you raise a good argument, you may get me thinking a different way.  I hope you can do that for me–especially if I do it for you.  It is only courtesy to realize this is my blog and my truth and my beliefs.  But, I am open to hear other suggestions and thoughts and will always be open to change!  Don’t be afraid to say what you feel.  I do.)  Whatever it is, just let me know.  The only thing I want you to do is to always learn and think.  Einstein said if you stop learning, you stop living.  Well, in my opinion, this is the smartest thing ever said.  When you think about things, you learn.  You learn some new knowledge about the world–or hopefully, even better, about yourself and your beliefs. 

Ok, I gotta go.  Dad is getting angry.  If he starts Harry Potter without me, this argument will be a big one.  The only good news–it will come to pass.   

Oustide I can look and see the dreary day that is coming to an end.  The sky is grey and every now and again you can see a snowflake make its way to the ground for what is its last ride.  People pass by bundled up, awaiting spring break to be here.  But for now, being stuck in this midwest town, the cold and windy day encircles the bodies of those clinging tight to a scarf, walking in close proximity to one another to feel the warmth.  Inside, I am baking.  But, I have a luxury those on the outside of my mind do not.  I know my thoughts.  My music plays lightly in the background while a fan that bounces around hot air interrupts the melody of music.  My mind has taken a turn to anger and I am trying everything in my power to control it.  You see, today was the day that cemented my freedom from this dreadful place.  

I have made amazing friends at the place I shall refer to as “Hitler’s Palace”.  Some I will take with me to the very grave.  They make me a better person.  Yet, when I find myself alone my thoughts sometimes turn to the hatred of an individual who, even without him recognizing it, has gotten his payback.  I am part of the ”terrible” program here, and it has been the worst two years of my life.  My reward will be rendered useless in just a few short years, yet something inside of me refuses to leave.  I want what is to be my first advanced “reward.”  The only problem is that, unlike alot of ”warriors” here, I have to earn it all on my own.  The person who is supposed to be my number one supporter refuses to give me a shred of help.  Everytime I go to him I hear the same BS response, “This is your baby.  I am not going to hold your hand.”  Well, I don’t want anyone to hold my hand, but I would’ve liked some advising and guidance.  Instead, I was thrown to the sharks and made to swim as fast as I can. 

A part of our ”training” here at Hilter’s Palace is a presentation once a year to the entire Palace.  The first time I spoke to the Palace (warriors and workers), I was attacked.  My ”number one supporter” was no-where to be found.  He had made an excuse and missed it.  A person who is supposed to be there for help if I am stumped on questions was at home pretending to work.  He knew we had nothing; a truth I had not yet recognized.  After being ripped apart by the workers, I was ready to quit.  But he showed up, conveniently just as I had finished, and gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.  Discouraged, I talked to other people, warriors and workers from our Palace and other palaces, who gave me advice.   However, the person I was to lean on was rarely to be found.  I was discouraged and tempted to quit.  But I was afraid to.  He had struck a bit of fear in me.  This being a rarity, I did not know how to respond.  I had all but given up.  After a while, I was so far behind on my work that he called me into his office and threatened to stop me from “earning my reward and freedom.”  The nerve of this guy.  But, that kick in the pants was what I needed.  I got back on track, but our relationship was too far gone–at least in my eyes.  I knew my next move.  Use him for what I need and prove him wrong. 

In the mean time, we had a new edition to our group.  This young man was nice and promising.  Smart guy.  He was everything the number one supporter wanted: he was me with one added detail–he was in a relationship.  Now this may not make sense, but love is the number one thing that makes you respectable in the eyes of the number one supporter.  This is really where things became cruel.  But, I still managed.  I got what I needed from him and in just a few short weeks, I will be in the next stage of my life.

Just last ”training term” I was to give my second presentation.  Again, he was not there.  That was ok this time though.  I know more about my work than anyone on this ”site of palaces” does.  I would put my knowledge against the people who created this program that my reward is on.  Circumstances led to my presentation being cancelled.  I was kinda upset–ready to kick @$$ and take names this time.  But as I said, he wasn’t there anyway to see me achieve greatness while making sure he did not get any credit.  Let’s fast forward.  Enter my co-warrior’s presentation.  Guess who was there?  That’s right–the person who is supposed to be my number one supporter. 

Let’s take a minute to pause: I refrain from calling the number one supporter a man because in my eyes he has no idea what a man is.  He never was nor will he ever be one.

Now, our number one supporter actually runs the ”training sessions” we are supposed to present in, so he is supposed to be there.  But, there were numerous times he was not and made my co-warrior take over his duties.  Imagine, a warrior having to fill in for his number one supporter.  Pretty pathetic but a reality.  However, he made sure he was there this time.  When my co-warrior was through, the barrage of questions came.  He answered ok but he had support.  Everytime my co-warrior stumbled he was picked up by the person I refer to as the number one supporter.  While I was left to die on my presentations, the vultures in this palace ripping out my eyeballs and raping me as I screamed bloody murder, the co-warrior was taken in and given shelter–protected from the beasts that were dying to be unchained and feast.  This kind of unreasonable treatment has not gone unnoticed though.  People see the situation.  The only problem is that fellow warriors don’t have much of a say.  But their support and kind and sympathetic words and actions keep me going. 

I will not pretend that I am completely innocent in this.  However, I come from a family of strong, independent people.  We make things work.  Never give up.  Always bettering ourselves.  But, if you “shit” on us, it is over.  You only get one time to mess up.  Then it is over and we, I, will never let it happen again.  Oh there is room for forgiveness civility, but I remember what happened so that I can avoid the situation entirely and never allow it to rise up again.  I have created distance from the person who is supposed to be my number one supporter.  I wait for this thing to come to a head, but I tell you, that will be a grave mistake on his part.  I disgust myself with the ill feelings I have towards him.  But at the same time, I must thank him.  His lack of advising and uselessness as a human being has made me stronger, smarter, and more independent.  I can find what and who I need to help me all on my own.  I have become self-reliant.  I will not give him the credit that he made me this way, but his worthless actions as an advisor have sharpened my skills.  I will ”earn my reward and freedom” without his help–and I will make it known that I worked basically all on my own.  My satisfaction is in the fact that him and I have one thing in common; at the end of this semester, neither of us will be at Hitler’s Palace.  He is getting let go and I am earning my reward and freedom. 

The nuclear incident at Chernobyl is something that I really didn’t learn about until the last couple of years when the guys at The Means posted a link to a photo journal of Chernobyl in the present. Now, 20 years after an explosion in Nuclear Reactor #4, citizens in the area are still feeling the effects of the radiation.

I invite you to take a look at the aftermath of a nuclear meltdown.

 www.kiddofspeed.com

http://www.pixelpress.org/chernobyl

The best tricks in life are the ones that we pull off right in front of your face and you miss it.  We know we did something amazing.  Yet, the only question you can ask yourself is “did that really just happen?”  The secret is that what you believe is an illusion is real, and what you believe is real is only an illusion.  What most people miss is that we are all intertwined in one way or another.  We are connected.  Do me a favor.  Using two different numbers, odd numbers…think of a number between 1 and…50.  Got it?  Good. 

As  humans, we have an ability to feel each other out no matter what.  Think about it for a second.  I don’t care if you think about your best friend, your significant other…or a man or woman in Pakistan or in the deepest darkest jungles of this planet.  You know what their facial expressions mean.  A smile is a smile.  A laugh is a laugh.  It means happiness.  Tears, frowning, yelling…depending on the mood, they’re easy to figure out too.  We are all connected in one way or another.  By the way, I think your number was 37.

We are all connected by what seems to be magic.  But honestly, we are connected by much more.  Things in life are representations of what we all know.  I bet there aren’t too many people on the planet who don’t know what a deck of cards is.  Do you know the wonder of a deck of cards?  Check this out!  A deck is evenly divided into red and black cards, analagous with day and night.  There are 52 cards, and 52 weeks in our year.  Four suits of cards and four seasons in our year.  13 cards per suit–you guessed it, 13 lunar cycles in a year.  Finally, if we make a Jack=11, Queen=12, and King=13, the cards add up to 365.  Cards are phenomenal.  They are living, breathing organisms.  Take out a deck now.  Feel them in your hands.  I want to do something for you.  Start off by shuffling your cards.  Now, I want you to make 3 piles of 7 cards each, face down.  Square the piles.  You won’t need the other cards.  These 21 cards are special.  You chose them for a reason.  Now, pick a pile in front of you, anyone you would like.  Cut to a card.  See that card?  Remember it.  Now, place the cards you have in your hand on either of the other 2 piles.  Cut some cards from the other piles and put them on top of the pile with your card.  Go ahead and put the rest of the cards on top of the pile with your card in it.  Got it?  You should have one pile with the 21 magical cards, still face down.  Ok.  Now pick them up and deal out 3 cards, turning them face up, in a row from this pile.  Now, deal a second row on top of your first row, slightly overlapping.  Keep doing this until all cards are dealt.  You should have 3 columns of face-up cards (7 in each column).  Let’s pick your card. 

Think of your card and give it to me.  Ok.  Here we go.  I don’t think your card is in column one whatsoever.  Just remove that column.  Your card also isn’t either of the top 2 cards in column 2.  Get rid of them.  There is no way it is the bottom 4 cards in column 3, remove them.  OK.  Let’s think some more.  I got it!  It is not the bottom card of the second column.  Get rid of it.  It also isn’t any of the top 3 cards in coulmn 3.  Forget about it!  Now, if we eliminated correctly, we have 4 cards left.  It isn’t the top 2.  Remove them.  2 cards to go.  And guess what?  You know the answer and so do I.  It isn’t the bottom card.  If I am right, 20 cards are face down next to your original card.

 Ok, so we see how magic can be fun.  It can be done anywhere.  I’m not even sure what time you are reading this.  But, if you are doing my trick above, you and I are connected.  I picked your card, and didn’t even know you were here reading this.  Want to know the secret?  Well my friend, at one time I did too.  I discovered it, and went from there.  But remember, if you are willing to become obsessed with secrets, you must follow through.  Our code is secrecy.  Don’t tell anyone how you do the tricks you do.  You become nothing.  This rings true in life and your endeavors as well.  No one wants to know everything about you.  Even if they say they do.  Always keep a bit of mystery in your life.  It is entertaining, and well worth it.  Until we meet again, ladies and gentlemen.  Are you watching closely?

When I was just about to leave Pikeville, I was pretty depressed.  I went out walking with my cousin three days before I was to move away.  We visited our favorite spot, an old train graveyard.  We would climb up in the old train cars and start little fires if it was cold, or just chill out there and talk about stuff–usually cooties and the factthat at that age I would rather kiss a dog on the nose than a girl on the cheek.  During this particular trip, we ran across something that was strange to both of us–something we had never seen before.  It was a huge hole.  I am not talking about big, I am talking about a monstrosity so deep that we could not see the bottom.  Not being that smart of a kid (and still not that smart of a young man) I thought it was probably that Grand Canyon I always read about on barnyard walls.  I picked up a rock and threw it down the hole but nothing happened.  We listened and never heard it hit the bottom.  Since we couldn’t see the bottom, that was all we had.  Chad, my cousin, picked up an even larger rock and tossed it down.  Listening…listening…listening…nothing!  What the hell was this thing?  After a few attempts with the same result, we found this massive railroad tye.  We figured why not.  Last shot.  It took both of us to carry it back to the bottomless pit.  With one gigantic heave (on the count of 3…wait wait…throw on three…or one, two, three then throw?  throw on three.  got it!), we tossed this thing down the hole.  Waiting…waiting…all of a sudden! Something happened we did not expect.  After a second or two, a goat came running by and just jumped down the hole.  We still never heard a thud or anything, but this was completely puzzling.  After a few glances back and forth between the hole and each other, we decided to walk away and just forget about it.  Let’s go to the pond and swim.  Ok.

We turned on our heels and headed away for the pond.  Just as we got over the small hill to jump the fence to the pond, we ran across an old codger I will never forget.  He was about 6 feet tall, gray hair, slight hunch, fake right eye, and slicked back gray hair.  He had tan skin, wore a short sleeve blue pocket t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, faded blue jeans with the legs rolled slightly, and black shoes.  He was a good lookin’ gent–the kind you see working the garden.  Strong even though he had that hunch.  Anyway, he looked at my cousin and I, and I will never forget the conversation that ensued.

Man: Hey youins seen a goat round here?

Chad: Nope, we haven’t seen one, sir.

Lewis: Wait, that ain’t so.  We saw one a few minutes ago.  He ran right by us and jumped down that hole, he did, mister.

Man: Ran down a hole? 

Chad: That’s right, mister.  Just ran and jumped right down it!

Man: Where was this hole?

Lewis: Over yonder (thumbed over to the other side of the small hill).

Man: Strange.  Well, nope, anyway.  That one wouldn’t have been mine.  Mine couldn’t have gotten that far.  He was tied to a railroad tye…

So, let us talk about a big question.  How can we call ourselves Christians when we do things that are not Christian-like?  The answer is simple, but the concept is difficult.  The Bible (I refer to the Bible because I believe that it is God’s word.  We do not worship the Bible, but it is written by the divinity of God and is His rules; His love letter, and rest assured, it is flawless) tells us that once saved, always saved.  No man can pluck you from the hand of the Father.  Sounds kind of strange doesn’t it?  I mean, that literally means you can accept Christ into your heart, and then live a sinner’s life and still go to Heaven.  But, let’s be honest.  If you accept Christ, you accept Him and His entire teachings.  He tells us how to live.  Wouldn’t it make sense to follow His guidance?  If we do that, then that means even though we can live a sinner’s life, we wouldn’t want to because we know the glory that awaits us if we don’t.  You can feel Christ tug at your heart when you do things you should not be doing.  People call it a conscience, but come on.  You know that a higher power is pulling at your soul.  Where do you think our knowledge of right and wrong comes from even if we have not been taught it?  Christ is there.  I know it is hard to be a Christian and still live in this world.  When drinking, partying, and sex are so prevalent, the temptation is intense.  When you avoid these things, they are victories.  God doesn’t tell you to avoid these things because He is boring, He is looking out for your well-being.  Drinking kills any inhibitions we have.  Sex is a sacred act reserved for two people who vow to become one (marriage).  If God thinks that sex is sacred, shouldn’t we?  I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal, and I could write numerous times about sex and marriage, but this is a small insight to it.   All of these things of the world are fun and feel good.  Sex is healthy.  But, like all things of health, there is a time and place for it.  Anyway, this is not a sex talk; it is about a walk in faith.  I just want to caution against immediate gratification and sin compared to winning a victory for Christ and your faith.  I think it will feel better in the long run. 

Continuing with the same idea, I hope this relates to some of you.  We all call God the Father.  The reason we do this is because He says that He is our Heavenly Father.  So, I hope that we all understand that we can live a life of sin, truly believe Christ is our Savior, get into Heaven, and live an eternity of peace and happiness; but we don’t do that because we want to be a living testimony of what Christ can do in our lives.  I think of it this way: My dad is amazing.  He even honored me by giving me his name.  He fell in love with my mother, and they brought me into this world (their best decision ever!).  Sometimes, I upset my dad a lot.  I get angry, I mouth off to him, and I have even said some hurtful things.  In short, I broke a commandment and did not honor him.  But, to this day, I have an excellent, wonderful, loving relationship with him.  He is my rock and my number one supporter.  I have done things to him that is wrong, yet he still loves me and cares for me.  He has taken me back every single time I have disobeyed, angered, and hurt him.  Now, that is an earthly man.  He is strong and unwavering in his faith, but he is only human, and knows only a human love.  The King of kings, the Heavenly Father, the Creator of love (get that?  The CREATOR of love), surely knows more about love than any of us.  His is unconditional.  No matter what we do, He loves us.  If your earthly dad can love and forgive you, God can do one better.  He can forgive you, and forget what you have done.  He wipes the slate clean and we start fresh.  God knows something about love.  So, my non-Christian reader, be confident that Christians will make mistakes, stumble and fall, and we will hurt our Father.  But, He forgives us just as an earthly father would.  Christians, if you struggle with this, I do too.  But, I know in my heart this is what happens because the Bible tells me so.  Since the Bible is God’s words, that means God tells me so.  If you make a mistake and fall, get up, wipe yourself off, and tell your Father you are sorry.  But mean it.  Saying sorry should be followed by a look at character.  Where did I go wrong?  Here.  Ok, I will try my hardest to never do this again.  That is a sincere apology to God.

If you are afraid, or doubtful, about the Christian faith and who Christ is and what He can do for you, it is ok.  I am talking to everyone here; Christians and non-Christians.  If you are a Christian and have never doubted, then I don’t believe you are a Christian.  Re-evaluate your life.  Temptations are there for a reason.  Non-Christian friends, if you still doubt–no worries.  I hope this at least brings some thoughts into your mind about what Christ can do for you and what his love means.  It is unconditional, and it will never fail.  All you have to do is believe.  Give in a little.  If you feel any kind of tugging, or thinking, at all, please talk to a friend, a pastor, a priest, a stranger that is a Christian.  Hear their story.  I do NOT believe you can get to Heaven without knowing Christ as your Savior.  So, please, get to know Christ and come home with me.  I love you here; think about how much I will love you at our eternal home.  Get yourself into a good Bible-based church and listen to the Word of God.  Let it fill you.  Drink it in with a desire to know the truth.  It is there.  The Bible has never failed to be proven right.  If there are things that still have not been proven right in the Bible, just give it time.  In time, all things are revealed.  The Bible has stood the test of time. 

Friends, I encourage you to step out and be counted among the saints.  We are all seeking for the truth.  I believe that we try to concern ourselves with the facts and ignore the truth.  Do not fall into this way of thinking.  Christ is what we are all seeking.  You cannot find healing or a saving grace in anything of this world.  What does it prophet a man who has gained the world, but lost his soul?  My friends, the faith-walk is worth it.  You will stumble, you will fall.  You will doubt, fear, hate, and cry.  But, you will also be filled with the love of Christ, and He will show you the way.  He will show you why we truly wake up every morning and live our lives.  In this lost generation, there is a way, light and truth to follow; His name is Jesus Christ.  If you want to learn more, or need some guidance, talk to some friends.  Also, take a look at a devotional and a book called What Every Christian Ought to Know.  I think we will all benefit from these things.  Remember, God is still working on us all.  We will have troubles and worries, but we can lean on the cross and leave our troubles there.  Christ will help you and love you.  Think about it, and you have any questions, let me know.  I am always willing to give some more insight and tell you what I believe.  I do not know all of the answers, but I think I can help in our walk together.  I write this with love and the desire to see all of us become closer to God through Jesus Christ.  Until next time…

Now what about passion?  I have a passion for my life and to live it.  I love to say funny things, act upon impulses, and dream about…dreams.  I have goals and try to obtain them.  If I like something, I really like it.  I have strong feelings and thoughts, and I am not afraid to let it be known.  I don’t think any one should.  Stand for something.  If a better and more persuasive argument comes along, open your mind and see if you believe it enough to adapt it to your lifestyle.  You have to immerse yourself in culture and other people.  When you truly listen to the world around you, you find out how enjoyable it can be.  As a matter of fact, most times it will make you laugh.  Now we’ve come full circle on the only two emotions that matter.  Be passionate about your life, and you will enjoy it.  The more you enjoy life, the more you will find yourself laughing.  Nobody wants to hear your stories of woe.  Hell, today I even tried showing compassion to a friend and she threw it back in my face.  It just reiterated the fact that no other emotions are accepted like these two.  People love to argue a point and get deep into conversation about things they are passionate about.  Anyone, guy or girl, loves to laugh.  A simple joke done in good taste will lift someone’s spirits.  I heard that if you get a girl to laugh, you can get her to do just about anything.  Ladies, guys would love for you to make him laugh.  It is hard to find a witty girl quite honestly.  So, make everyone laugh.  That’s just the way to do it.  If not, then talk about something that really gets you passionate.  That’s fun too.

Listen to me.  Clear your mind.  Cross your legs, close your eyes, plug your nose, and fart.  Now that your mind is cleared, come back and read the take home message.  Laugh and enjoy the world around you.  Wonder and be amazed.  If you can’t do this, then you need to re-evaluate your life and what is truly important.  Prioritize.  If this works for you, and you want to add some more emotions, go ahead.  But I think you will find this is about all you need.  God wants you to open your heart to Him, and when you do that, He will show you how you live your life to the fullest.  He wants you to live it to the max.  I think the best way to do that is laugh, enjoy some culture and the people around you, and remember to pray and worship.  All the rest is in the bag.       

One thing that I have hated for years are psychics, more specifically, those who claim that they can communicate with the dead. John Edwards was hugely successfully by communicating with the dead for a while and others have made thousands with this practice. For years, people have come forward offering the tactics on how these psychics manipulate the people who are looking for more with their lost loved ones but that hasn’t stopped people from continuing to believe their lies.

The best part about this video is that the old, grizzled James Randi ripping Silvia Brown’s practices apart. Furthermore, he tells about how she skated her way out of a $1 million reward if she could prove that she was really psychic.

The Cast:  

Casey Koss– The King.  This guy was funny, witty, and unmotivated.  He was our unspoken leader of sorts.  He passed his classes and knows his role in life, sure.  But when it comes to a college guy, he was it.  Athletic, funny, kool, and could have any girl he wanted, but he was all about the guys and having fun.  The parties were in his (our) room.  Our pad was sweet and set up for drinking.  In a time of drunken cow-tipping, he had the caddle prod to gather the masses and cause some serious mischief.

Lewis Blevins–  Most Trusted Advisor to the King.  I was not at all part of the group, but I was accepted because I was crazy and funny.  I made hilarious jokes, slept with women for pure entertainment of others, and lived a wreckless lifestyle.  I knew everyone on campus.  I was hated by everyone, but I am the kinda guy you still had to hang out with if you were a guy, and hook up with if you were a girl.  But, I lost interest in that too.  I took on another role.  If I were bored and nothing was going on, and the King was unmotivated, I told him we should get our court jesters to do something and he would usually oblige.  It was fun.  We had a good working relationship, had fun as roommates, and it earned me a ticket to be accepted to the group…just not in it.

Andy Zerkel– Most High Priest.  This guy was hilarious.  He was funny, smart, and most of the time the voice of reason.  If I would take things too far, he would step in and get Casey to rule with an iron fist.  He was interested in fun and girls as well as being successful, but mostly booze (just like the rest of us).  But, he always was up for the best time possible.  He made sure nobody died, and when he wanted, he could pull some pretty hott girls too.  They all flocked to him.  He was a man’s man you know.  Loved Michigan football, hanging with the guys, and interested in girls but made them come second to us.  He kept us all out of jail.

Kent “Hollywood” Matzinger– Court Jester.  This guy was in charge of the entertainment.  He was lovesick and it made for good times.  All you needed was a bottle of booze and some girls and good times were to be  had.  He loved to destroy things or cause harm to himself to prove that he was a man.  It was his sort of mating dance for women and marking of territory for the guys.  The King and the Most High Priest always loved him and egged him on, but they also made sure he did not die.  They kept me in check when it came to our Court Jester.  I was willing to sacrifice this kids health for the hilarity that would ensue.  I get carried away, but that is my job.  The King and Priest were the men to keep me in check and make sure hwood did not pull a stunt that he could never return from.  Whether it was hitting on girls (and by that I mean staring at their boobs and asking them if they wanted to make out) or throwing vacuum cleaners downstairs, he was the koolest guy in the court.

Tim Kubu– Master of Mixing and Mingling.  This guy was amazing.  You talk about pulling ass.  He carried a hip flask filled with love potion (rum and coke; hence the mixing part…mixed drinks).  He would pull that boy out, take a swig, and the girls would know it was time.  He partied with us like there was no tomorrow.  He was funny, good-natured, the target of alot of jokes, provided delicious night time snacks, and full of so much love he usually got some of it on your leg.  We knew it was time to cut the master off when he started hugging the guys and pretending to come in for a kiss.  He never would do it, but it was his way of showing he was having the best time of his life–like we all were.  And man, he could pull some hott little tail with the best of them.  He was never without a girl.  They loved the short man.  And with well due cause–he was the master of mixing and mingling.

Jason Miller– Duke of Envy and Idol.  You would never meet someone as smooth as this guy.  The girls looked at him like he was the king of the planet.  And besides Casey, he was.  He loved to chill, watch some basketball, have some drinks, and just entertain the masses with his stunning personality and friendliness.  There wasn’t  a person he did not like and not a person that did not like him.  The prettiest girls adored him, and the koolest guys took notes from him.  He had the demeanor of a man who had no worries in the world.  Whatever happened, happened, and that was kool. 

Tim Gates– Supreme Commander of High Hatred.  This dude was straight up violent.  If he was one your side, he was sweet.  If he was mad at you, you might get a baseball bat upside your head.  I am pretty sure he made some of the court cry–but I am not at liberty to say exactly who.  Anyway, this guy was like a goblet of devestation and hatred ready to explode.  Him and the Duke of Envy and Idol had many spats, but they always managed to work it out.  All in all, he was awesome and really completed the group.

Other people were players too.  Guys like Josh and BC, they were never part of the group either, but they had their say every now and again.  They helped us party and cause problems, but were soon gone and back to their groups and cliques.  They were the dark horses of fun.  The girls upstair and across the way in Feeman Hall were the harem we loved.  You could always count for one of us to find one and mess around with them on a night of questing.  This just made the drama that much more hilarious.  The plot was all about our drunken quests.  We would booze it up, go cause some trouble, piss in the fountain or on the bathroom chair, and shamelessly flirt and torture the various girls around campus.  We were social misfits, but in a good way.  I think people wanted to be in with us–and maybe unbeknownst to them, the always were.  We liked everyone, and all were invited to drink and party in the Royal Drunken Headquarters of the King’s Questing Court. 

This is my tribute to the guys at AC.  Though I was not a part of the group completely, thanks for all the memories that I will forever have in my heart and mind.  Cheers men….cheers!

What is the intention and purpose of dating?  I don’t think dating even ever existed until recently.  Think about back when our grandparents were kids.  You ever hear about any of them dating multiple women?  Of course not.  You just heard of them courting a woman and then marrying them—girls busting out kids when they were still kids.  That just isn’t how it is nowadays.  We date plenty of girls and sleep around like crazy.  I just don’t know why.  What is the intention and purpose of dating?  I read this book called I Kissed Dating Goodbye.  It was really good.  It talked about not going out with a girl or a guy one on one so you wouldn’t be seen as a couple.  It talked about not going out to meet a girl/guy and liking them—just make friends with everyone you meet.  No intentions on meeting a person to hook up with, date, or even spend the rest of your life with.  Just let that latter part happen.  The guy who wrote it even wrote about never kissing anyone until he gets married.  Some of us may think it sounds crazy, but I think it sounds kind of noble and passionate.  This is a guy who is taking on an old school way of thinking (maybe to the extreme) and just doing his thing.  He was a Christian and devoted all of the time he could have been dating someone to his studies and to the Scriptures.  I think that if this works for you like it did for him, amazing and I support you 100%.  Then, on the flip side, there is the total opposite.  I’ve met people who thought it was their duty to have sex with every girl they have ever met.  I don’t know if this is such a good idea, but if it works for you, then well, you’re gonna be seen as a god in some people’s eyes, and a loser in others.  Either way, I won’t and don’t judge you.  It’s your lifestyle.  I just caution you that empty, meaningless make-out sessions, fondling, and sex lead to only creating more emptiness (in general).  So, either of the two ways of dating, or any in between, that you choose to live, just be careful. 

Anyway, what is the purpose of dating?  Why do people date?  Usually if you are attracted to someone, and you start dating right away, you find that you don’t really fit with each other—you aren’t compatible.  Also, most, if not all, people say that if you date a person that you were friends with first then that usually turns out to be the best relationships.  So, why would you meet someone and start dating them?  Shouldn’t you get to know them as friends, and then ask them out, and then marry them?  But with that comes so much confusion.  I think that no matter how well you know someone, once you start dating them it is a whole new ball game.  Also, some people change when you start dating them and if it is for the worse, who the heck wants to marry that person?  Then again, you marry someone because you love them.  If you truly love them, you love them unconditionally.  You are never jealous, hating, angry, but always supportive, trusting, truthful, and passionate.  Should you really be able to tell if someone loves you, and will love you in marriage, without dating or before you start dating? 

Man, as you can see I have no idea about dating.  I have dated lots of girls at certain points in my life.  At other points, I have sworn off women completely (not very fun or recommended in my opinion).  I just don’t get dating at all.  But I tell you what; I know who I would be dating right now if I had my choice.  And on thing I know for sure, this blog made no sense!  But since I spent so long writing it, you better believe it is going up and you are reading it.