2016 has seen the last breath drawn by icons such as Prince (57), Muhammad Ali (74), and on Christmas day, George Michael (53).  May their souls rest in peace.  Last night the apocalyptic movie, 2012, was playing on TV.  Its premise was based on the forecast predicted by the Mayans.  In the movie, the earth's core was affected by solar radiation through some cosmic planetary alignment that caused catastrophic events to occur such as earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.  In some of the scenes, we can see characters holding signs reading "The end is near, repent"...

The end is technically near all mortals as humans only live about 80 to 90 yrs on this planet.  After our deaths, the earth will continue to spin and life goes on.  Our egos are concerned with our attachments to the earth.  It is something to contemplate.  The moment of our death is unbeknownst to us; therefore, it is up to us to make the remaining moments we have count.  As children, we are often unaware of our own mortality.  This is one of the gifts of youth as we are busy experiencing the beauty and novelty of life instead of worrying about the consequences of death.  As we age, we become stubborn and more set in our ways.  Change and mental plasticity become difficult as ascribed in the age-old saying, "you can't teach an old dog, new tricks".

For some, life brings everything one could hope to want and yet their happiness or satisfaction eludes them.  This is mostly attributed to the mental state of the individual.  Their attitude is in need of some adjustment.  The good news is that our attitudes can change the instant we decide we want something strong enough...

"Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

I believe that genuine happiness is easier found by those who can be happy without the fancy things in life.  Poor in spirit refers to those who are simple and down to earth.  In fact this saying is derived from God who, by the Holy Spirit, deigned to become a mortal human born in a manger.  Humility and simplicity are the keys to being happy.  This way one can keep an even keel (and a level head) on the waves of emotion that affect us all.

This is not to say that one must actually give away their prized possessions (but respect be to those who can).  In order to achieve a worthy goal, a sacrifice must be made.  If someone wishes to lose weight for their health, they must sacrifice the portion of their diet that causes them to stay where they are and spend time and energy into exercises that build their bodies.  If one wishes to strengthen their minds, then they must sacrifice time and effort through learning and education.  If one desires to strengthen their spirit, then they must sacrifice time and effort in prayer, meditation, sincere repentance, and practicing a clear conscience.

We don't need to wait until the end of the world to be happy.  Life is too short to live in fear and insecurity.

The good news is that we each have until we draw our last breath to release ourselves from our glass prisons of fear, guilt, and insecurity.  It is on us to find our path, to have faith in ourselves and our plan, and finally to sincerely commit to walking it.  Whoever has ears, let them hear...

During the Christmas break my father (who will turn 75 this May) went looking for a new vehicle. We spent an afternoon driving to various dealerships looking at all manner of cars, trucks, and SUV's. It's truly amazing to see the market price differential that exists between such similar vehicles. I've come to believe that people drive their "egos". When they want whatever they want, they must be willing to pay the price demanded by such a vehicle.

This is what I observed:

• Dealerships are packed towards the end of December with consumers vying for year end bargains.
• Used vehicles tend to offer the best values by far as long as they have been well maintained with little to no signs of wear and tear.
  
• Dealerships with the longest track record of vehicle reliability can command a much higher premium as past performance is a good predictor of future reliability.
• If trading another vehicle in, it is best to wash, vacuum, repair, or correct any defects that might reduce dealer appraisal.
• When negotiating, be prepared to walk away. Things like necessity, affordability, and desire may affect your decision.

Purchasing a vehicle is a lot like making any long term commitment such as buying a house, making an investment, or getting into a relationship.  We all have criteria that fall into the categories of needs and wants. Some make commitments early, some late, and others don't commit at all. Some choices depreciate faster than others, some retain their value for a long time. Some selections are dependable, while others are high maintenance (your mileage may vary). Features such as reliability, low maintenance, and attractiveness must be carefully measured as all three would be nice, but we are lucky to find two (balance in ALL three categories is incredibly rare).

It's best to take one's time when selecting a long term commitment. Saving up and paying cash gives one incredible confidence and bargaining posture (it's like getting into shape). It takes time and effort to save which puts things into perspective when it comes time to spend. Those who spend quickly or leverage debt often place their desires before their needs which can turn out to be an expensive lesson down the road. Do your homework, don't give in to pressure, and when you are ready all will fall into place.

Ultimately, my father was able to secure a good deal and drive home in something he will be happy with for the rest of his life.

"The Greatest Trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

― The Usual Suspects

There was a time when dinosaurs ruled the world.  They experienced 175 million of years of unchecked prosperity, until a cataclysmic meteor struck the earth somewhere near the Gulf of Mexico about 65 million years ago.  The asteroid was roughly 6 miles wide as compared to the Earth's 8,000 mile girth (the is Moon is 2,000).  A comparatively tiny rock hurtling through space was enough to extinguish an entire planetary ecosystem, which we pretty much accept as scientific fact today...

Whenever I have the opportunity to fly, I like to stare out of the window and see the earth from up above.  It amazes me to see neat rows of buildings, homes, and plots of land, all intricately connected by highways and roads with tiny ant-like cars creeping along.  These meticulously cultivated formations radiate from each city center and seem to ripple on for dozens of miles.  Comedian Joe Rogan describes the city of Los Angeles like a petri dish of toxic bacteria from the air.  Anyone who has witnessed the growth of bacteria on a petri dish knows that it does bear a striking resemblance to developing cities, complete with pollution and eventual resource depletion.

Many holy books and manuscripts contain stories of mass extinction such as Noah's Ark, Sodom, Gomorrah, and more recently Pompeii.  The book of Revelations even alludes to the 'End of Days'.  I think the probability of another cataclysmic asteroid is possible, like an injection of penicillin onto a bacterial culture growing on a large petri dish.

There are both 'good' and 'bad' micro organisms that can either cause injury or aid in the coexistence of life.  Such organisms exist within human beings.  The good bacteria on our skin help to regulate pH levels, others within our digestive system help to break down food into building blocks that can be used to fight infection and boost our immunity.  Our bodies are hosts to colonies of both good and bad micro organisms much like the earth is host to plants, animals, and humans.  Sometimes imbalances can occur where harmful micro organisms grow out of control and begin to harm the host.  If left unchecked, these harmful parasites can eventually kill their host by depleting energy and resources.  The key to maintaining overall health is to maintain balance.  When the corrupt micro organisms consume the healthy ones to the point of no return, then sickness and death are sure to follow.

My mother used to accuse my brother and I of having stomach worms that would "dance" when we ate too much candy (we never actually had worms).  It still makes me laugh just thinking about it; however, she was on to something...

Besides the colonies of bacteria that live on and in all parts of our bodies, we are drastically affected by their 'cravings' and needs.  Our bodies crave sugar when yeast cells within our digestive tract grow out of balance.  These micro organisms seemingly 'hijack' our minds and bodies to act in their interests.  These barely visible microscopic 'beings' have an incredible influence over an amazingly advanced creature such as a human being.  By eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining proper hygiene, one can improve their host ecosystem and overall well being.  One can take control of their 'cravings' and channel their energies into accomplishing what their minds truly desire instead of being a victim to their parasitic demons.

After developing a healthy balance between body and mind, I think it bears mentioning that humans are vulnerable to spiritual corruption as well.  While many people might argue that spiritual health is not as important as mind and body, I believe ALL three of them are as necessary as the legs of a stool.  There are poisons in this world that corrupt our spirit and change our ordinary behavior into perversions of ourselves.  Basically these poisons can turn into addictions that cause us to deviate from the path we truly wish to follow.  Sex, drugs, and alcohol have often made the list, but these are really just symptoms of a deeper spiritual corruption.  The church references the seven deadly sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride as the gateways to spiritual decline.  I believe sin can be defined as anything that turns us away from God and feeds the parasitic demons within.

When I was young, my older brother would often introduce me to new superheroes.  I discovered The Force, supermen, super robots, ninjas, and basically the characteristics that make a hero heroic.  We celebrate heroes in almost every culture because they embody a courageous Spirit.  One hero that changed time itself whose influence is seen every day from buildings to billboards and tiny pieces of jewelry is Jesus Christ.  Nearly every soul on this planet recognizes His name.  As a rational thinking person, I would apply a lens of skepticism over ideas that I wished to challenge, including religion.  Under this lens, I could appreciate the social benefits of belonging to each religious community.  I could see and understand the need for a moral compass especially in ancient times when basic education was lacking.  I can see the reason behind organized religion and I've felt the presence of spirituality so I cannot deny another persons faith in God.  I tend to draw the line when I see religion used as a tool to manipulate people into sin such as war, vanity, pride, prejudice, injustice, and abuse.  I think this happens as a result of human politics which seems to be an innate component of our nature.

Jesus (originally Yeshua or Joshua today) embodies the antidote to our human corruption.  Of all the characters in heroic stories or religious doctrine, He perfectly exhibits heroism.  As a writer, I've studied the traits of character development and I've read hundreds of books where the hero of each novel seems to embody the same Spirit.  Still, while applying the lens of skepticism to the holy books I've read, no one compares to the character of Christ.  He is the perfect superhero.  The scriptures about Him were written years after his death and ascension by his followers.

A literary technique that I found used by Miguel de Cervantes was in writing his lovable-fool protagonist, Don Quixote, as a vessel to speak out against the church, the crusades, and atrocities like the Spanish Inquisition.  Cervantes was able to speak his mind against powerful authorities and influence readers while embedding his message in the hilarious antics of a wacky errant knight.  The most conspicuous message I took away was whether or not Don Quixote was dealing with reality, he had rock solid faith in God and in himself, which made his courage real in the face of danger (imagined or not).  I can relate to his mindset each time I step into the boxing ring or ride my motorcycle.  I feel the fear and doubt that I may incur harm yet I've learned to manage this by believing in myself and my God given abilities.  Christ was able to accomplish amazing feats: turning water into wine, walking on water, calming the sea, dispelling the clouds, healing the sick, feeding thousands of poor souls, restoring vision to the blind, hearing to the deaf, the ability to speak to the mute, healing the paralyzed, driving out demon spirits, reading people's minds and hearts, prophecy, and raising the dead back to life.  As a character, His gifts were truly sublime!

"I assure you that if you believe and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I have done.  And not only this, but you will even be able to say to this hill, 'Get up and throw yourself in the sea,' and it will.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
― Matthew 21:21

The defining moment of literary heroes is when they are matched against an enemy force of unimaginable terror yet remain faithful on their mission to rescue or protect their loved one(s) from being harmed.  This is what separates Christ from other religious or literary figures.  He didn't have super strength like Hercules, Samson, or Superman; He was vulnerable to pain and suffering.  He willingly entered into a trap set by religious authorities and Roman courts only to be beaten, whipped, and crucified (a barbaric practice of the Romans to punish those who threatened the State in such a manner as to severely discourage anyone from following suit).  He spoke of the upcoming events to his disciples the nights before he was betrayed but they could not understand as they knew something big was fast approaching.

During that time in Jerusalem there was the celebration of Passover, which is the Jewish festivity of their liberation by God from the Pharaoh in Egypt around 1300 BC.  During this celebration, the people of Jerusalem had begun to hear about Jesus and his miracles and were heralding Him as their prophesied Messiah.  This threatened the Jewish high priests and their comfortable lifestyles as Christ spoke out against their hypocritical ways of public piety while private practice of lust and greed.  The corrupt high priests made a deal with one of the disciples to betray Jesus as they believed that if He truly was the Messiah that he would be able to save Himself.  As Jesus divined, He knew the manner in which he was to be betrayed and still proceeded without fighting into the hands of his persecutors.

In the old days it was religious custom to offer animal sacrifices to God in gratitude for life.  The passover feast celebrates the freedom granted to the Jewish slaves in Egypt who Moses instructed to mark their doors with the blood of a sacrificial lamb to signal the Spirit of Death to passover their household when the final plague occurred before Pharaoh would concede to letting the slaves go.  Jesus made cryptic comments at the Last Supper where he took bread and wine, gave a prayer of thanks and offered it to his disciples,

"this is my blood which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
― Matthew 26:28

The events leading to His capture, death, and resurrection are well known or can easily be read about, but the unusual part (barring His resurrection) is that ALL of the Roman Governors (except for Pontius Pilate as historical State evidence) and Jewish High Priests have long since been dead and forgotten whilst His story lives on.  In fact there is more literary evidence to suggest the existence of Jesus Christ having lived and walked on this Earth than that of Julius Caesar.  From a skeptics perspective, no mortal literary master has created such a hero the likes of which Shakespeare, Homer, Cervantes, or Dumas can boast.

His influence which began with a grassroots following of poor uneducated fishermen has literally changed the face of the earth almost 2,000 years later and is STILL happening today!  His message was that Nothing is impossible for God and with a little faith we too can share in the Kingdom our Heavenly Father has prepared for us.  Like the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, Christ impacted the earth to conquer spiritual death.  Whether you choose to believe or not, His life, message, and example is the antidote to infidelity or lack of faith in ALL things physical, emotional, and spiritual.  He came to expose and excise the cancer of sin so that we may have a share in the Divine Kingdom.

"I came to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already kindled!  I have a baptism to receive, and how distressed I am until it is over!  Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the world? No, not peace, but division;"
― Luke 12:51

While not exactly relevant to the story, it is worth noting that I resemble a cartoon villain or children's magician by sporting a "van dyke" goatee and long hair, complete with curled mustache...

This morning I woke up after a dream in which I had a strange conversation with a childhood friend.  The details began to evaporate as soon as I got out of bed to check the time.  I've begun sleeping without a clock in the room to prevent distractions and have restful sleep.  I was shocked to find that time had elapsed into late morning as I had committed to attend a Saturday afternoon sparring session at my boxing gym.  I had my morning tea and read the weekend scriptures to see what the Universe had to say.  I arrived at the gym a little after I had planned and got my boxing fix for the weekend.  Afterwards I decided to get something to eat as I was craving "Chick-fil-a" (My favorite fast food chain that claims to have invented the chicken sandwich).  As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed how packed the line was despite being mid afternoon.  "These franchises must be a gold mine", I thought to myself as I walked in.  I washed my hands, ordered my food, and said my prayers before devouring my meal.

Austin is home to a large homeless population.  Seeing people with signs asking for food or money is common.  A middle aged couple sitting at a table next to me was loudly discussing a man holding a sign begging for food outside.  The woman was large and plump with a shrieking whiny voice.  She shrilled on about how the beggar made her sick and how she noticed that he got out of a "new van" with his family to beg for food.  The beggar appeared to be middle eastern with two small children and a wife that may have been pregnant (It sort of reminded me of Joseph and Mary searching for an inn).  While their van did have new license tags, it was a used model from a decade past.

I tried to eat in peace but was unable to tune out the cacophony beside me.  I looked on and saw the man begging with a sign asking for help to feed his family in between traffic from the restaurant and a Starbucks coffee shop.  Eventually the manager from the Starbucks asked the begging family to leave their corner and as they walked back to their van, I noticed a man in a pick-up truck speaking to them.  The shrill-voiced woman spewed hateful remarks onto her effete and equally plump husband about how shameless beggars make her sick, when suddenly the beggar family walked into the restaurant.  They were accompanied by the man in the pick-up truck who bought the family lunch and an ice-cream cone for himself.

I was happy to witness such an act of compassion in the midst of the Christmas season where such acts of humility and love are on display in movies, television, and songs, yet rarely seen in real life.  The spirit of the season is more pronounced in the winter where the days are short, the weather is cold, and people are absorbed in their own business.  I wanted to tell the shrill woman to "shut up", but opted to casually observe instead.  As I went to get a refill of  water I noticed how people stare at my unusual beard and long hair which always makes me happy, especially with children (as they always seem to get the joke).  On my way back from the counter I caught the attention of the little girl whose father was begging fifteen minutes before and now eating his meal.  She must have been 5yrs old (a year younger than my niece).  She gave me such a look of curiosity that when I smiled and winked at her, she returned a blushing smile (as children often do) with french fries in her hand.

I always wonder what children must think when they see such a strange character as myself.  Adults usually refrain from eye contact, some women stare, others smile, but most children are genuinely happy.  I hope that little girl and her baby brother have a nice Christmas, but I know that it won't be the feel good kind they sell to us at the store or on television.

The Spirit of Christmas or Christ for that matter is in our hearts.  It lives when we see ourselves in others and empathize with compassion.  The Kingdom is both simultaneously here and in another dimension.  It exists when someone sees God begging to feed his family and stops to do something about it.  It ceases to exist when we complain, pass judgment, or ignore our fellow man.  As I drove home, the words to "O Holy Night" resounded in my mind.  I felt emotions of sadness and joy well up inside for which I cannot describe...

Later on in the evening some friends had invited me out to a "tacky sweater" pub crawl on 6th street.  I showed up (dressed normal) a little early and decided to people watch as I walked along the street.  I walked until I found a street corner on Trinity and 6th that offered the best views.  A few homeless people approached me and asked for spare change.  I smiled and wished them well.  Sadly, I witnessed a former boxer (an older Native American gentleman) who I used to see at the gym walking from the homeless shelter up the road.  I called to him as he walked by me and shook his hand.  He told me that he had fallen upon hard times and medical bills had taken their toll on him.  He didn't want me to know that he was staying at the shelter so I let him be.  He was quite upset as someone had stolen some of his belongings.  This was once a happy older man.  Strangely, another fellow boxer pulled up beside me on the road in a patrol car, rolled his window down and said, "Hi".  He is a police officer; we bumped fists and off he went to "fight crime".

I watched as droves of young people with typical tacky sweaters all dressed to out-flash their neighbor walked past or ignored the homeless begging or asking to be acknowledged.  I felt bad that there was such a disparity of wealth and dignity that there were poor, cold, and homeless right beside the children of the wealthy wearing purposely shabby clothing as a joke.

Regardless if a person appears poor or not, begging for food has got to be difficult.  It takes a lot of humility to ask for such help especially in front of one's wife or children.  Only God knows why we're here, but it can't be so that we can step over the bodies of the less fortunate in order to secure a slightly better footing for ourselves.  History has recorded instances of demonic possession, which could have been misdiagnosed mental disorders; however, the opposite must certainly be possible where the Holy Spirit is capable of taking possesion of a body in order to do good.  I believe that all humans share a soul, a part of the Divine.  That means accepting the idea that regardless of gender, race, religion, orientation, and wealth... All humans could be facets of the same Divine being.  It's a complicated thought or feeling.  The minute I try to put it into words, it begins to fade like waking from a dream.


"Do not complain, brothers, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates."
― James 5:9