NEW MACBOOK Pro 2009

Hello Blog-Buddies!

I wanted to introduce you to my new toy. I did not get this for Christmas, instead I had to pick this bad boy up on my own dime, but it's still a Happy Christmas present.

Ladies & Gentlemen - I'd like to introduce you to my new Apple Macbook Pro. She's a beauty, eh? Now, I am not one for pretentious products, but my previous laptop Gateway M-6824 crashed and burned. The OS completely stopped working and my internal hard drive disk was obliterated. Rather than continue barking about the Microsoft PC - I decided to venture into the world of Apple.

My overall impression? WOW! I don't know how to do everything on it yet, but I'm liking what I see and know now. As time progresses, I will keep you all posted on my mastery of the Apple but if it turns out to be a sweet device - I will let you know.

I'm pretty pumped about this little sexy beast and if you would like to have my previous model - I will be happy to send it to you, just let me know. I really want to give it to someone who wants/needs one. I'm not too keen on selling it because there are many folks that cannot afford one and if I can give one away - I would be happy to send it over.

So, from me to you - peace out girl scout.

Mike

Holiday Cheer 2009

2, 4, 6, 8
'tis the time to liberate

Go Christmas!
Go Hanukkah!
Go Kwanzaa!
Go Solstice!

Go classic tree,
Go plastic tree,
Go plant a tree,
Go without a tree

You 86-the-rules,
You do what just feels right
Happy Do Whatever-You-Wantica
And to all a CHEERY Night!

A New Beginning

Greetings Citizens:

This past week the US celebrated Thanksgiving. As I sat around with my small intimate family and neighbors, I became extremely grateful for all their love and support. Everyone has confusion in their lives, we all come with all this baggage, but this was a time to forget all the wrongs and be thankful for what we have.

I am grateful for my family, my friends, my beliefs, my ownership, the love that was shared. These are for those in my past, present, and future - we all are in this world together to learn and grow.

A New Beginning dawned at the time I woke up and ejected all the despair and EMBRACED this amazing life we've been given.

WAKE UP EVERYBODY, NO MORE SLEEPING IN BED. NO MORE BACKWARD THINKING, TIME FOR THINKING AHEAD.

We are here, we are alive, we are to make this day and everyday a better day! With sincerity, love, and humanity - I Love you!

Mike

Forgive Me Father

Heavenly Father who art in Heaven

Every now and then You test us with some challenging obstacles. I know these are ways You confirm our commitment to Your work.

The past few weeks I have been tested. Today, I concede. I admitted I am not as strong as Job, not as humble as Abraham, and not as Christ like as You want me to be.

I've tried to be strong and continue as I thought was right, but You made me realize that I need help. I am not as superior as I thought I was. I am no better than the smartest man or the poorest man.

HEAR my Cry for help, Lord I have forsaken you with pride with greed with vanity. Salvage me for I am broken, guilty of sin, and shamed before you. Forgive me Father for I have disappointed You and tarnished my soul.

I ask You to fix me, correct my wicked ways, and bring me back to your grace. I ask You to see my humility and know I am sincere. I want You to bless me.

Make me Worthy To You!!!

Meteor Shower

I can finally see,
That you're right there beside me,
I am not my own,
For I have been made new
Please don't let me go,
I desperately need you

I am not my own,
For I have been made new
Please don't let me go,
I desperately need you

- Owl City

Whatever these lyrics mean to you is how Owl City (AKA Adam Young) intended you to get from such his great melody and beautifully arranged words.

We are all here to experience a common human existence, so when you see a friend, a neighbor, a family member, a stranger - show them love and let them know how much you appreciate them for sharing this life with you.

Love - that's the way! Welcome it more into your life...it's awesome!!!

Help Me Understand

Greeting Citizens!

This may seem a little below the line by some and may be construed as cynical, but Help me understand the purpose of the following organizations:

1. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for a Cure
   
2. Light the Night Lymphoma/Leukemia Foundation for a Cure
   
3. Susan G. Komen, Breast Cancer Research Foundation for a Cure
   
4. Robert Packard Center for ALS Research Foundation for a Cure
   
5. Multiple Sclerosis: Hope Through Research Foundation for a Cure
   

These are some examples of charitable foundations seeking money, your time for volunteering, and your compassion.

By no means am I discrediting their efforts but at what point do we ask, "Where the hell is our Return on Investment?" Do you know the last illness that was cured?

In business we are taught the importance of ROI in order to get more investors, but are we seeing anything that is offering any positive returns? A few more days of life after these organizations have seen huge investments...unacceptable. Where is the accountability?

I am now subscribing to helping organizations that I see results and positive strides forward. So before you fork over that $20 bill, know the organization that you are funding.

Looking Through You

Good Sunday Evening:

I wanted to express my excitement to everyone who enjoys to hear the positive side of life. With the complete understanding of our own individual challenges, there is so much more to our existence than just I...when walking down the street I see you, I hear your heart crying for affection, I see your soul longing for an absolution, and I see your smile masking the pain.

As I look at my fellow people caring their heavy burdens, I feel your sorrow and stress. I, too experience the same emotions when I feel overwhelmed and confused.

When I was a child, I'd look at the moon and wonder WHY ME? Why was I given this life to live on Earth. The answer was right in front of me all the time - I was sent here for you! I am here to ease your frustrations, I am here to offer help to all of God's creation. By no means do I believe I am Jesus, but I feel we all were given our lives to do His work.

A friend who I value dearly said to me, God created us to prove to all existence Now and Forever, that something given Free Will would still choose Him. Ironically, my mom said that to me as well with a plaque that read, "If I'd have to choose life all over again, I would still choose you!"

I ask you to look inside yourself, the GLORY OF GOD within ALL OF US and feel him bless you. Allow Him to breathe into your life and carry your pain, He's genuinely incredible!

The only thing He's asked me to share with you is LOVE! Would you give your son to forgive those who've forsaken you? Unconditional love He has for us is contagious and share it openly and freely with everyone you meet.

May Peace, Happiness, and Love fill your hearts and mind. That is the glory of God - now and forever, Amen!

With a little help from my friends

Talent is here with a great Beatles classic....



This is passion that consumes and is genuine.

Words

I have a life experience and lesson learned to share:

Words are meaningless and cannot accurately define you, your actions are the true testimony.

Mike

Don't Just Sit There - Get Involved & Do Something

Hello & Good Morning!

Today is a new day, a fresh start, a great blessing because we woke up. With this newly identified freedom to live another day - what can you and I do to make the world a better place?

John Mayer has a song titled, "Waiting On the World to Change" and I know that if I sit and wait rather than participate in the change - a change will never happen.

So I challenge you to do your part today and help to make a change the world needs. I'll keep you posted on what changes I employed to help my friends, family, self, and the world we call home.

Do You Believe in the Divine Messengers?

Hello Universe!

It's Mike and I am going to share an awesome story of good will, God's divine love, and the messengers He sends.

This evening, I went to the grocery store to pick up some food for the house and I walked past a group of young guys who were in the store. As I walked by, I looked one of them in the eyes and continued to the produce section.

About 5 minutes later, I proceed to the check out and attempt to buy my groceries. After the total was presented, I reached in my pocket and searched for my bankcard. OH NO! I left it in the car! I ask the store attendant if I may run to my car and grab my card and he was cool with it.

As I dart to the car, two guys from the group I walked past 7-minutes earlier approached me outside and began telling me they are in a Christian young group. In a bit of a hurry, I continued to the car and asked the guys to walk with me.

At first, I thought they were going to ask me for money or something, then as they continued talking I felt comfortable enough to to listen to them as I unlocked the car to grab my credit card. The two guys started praying for me asking God to bless me, my family, and people at work. One of the boys told me that God told him for me to continue doing what I'm doing and to reach and minister to the people at work.

I shook the hands of both boys and thanked them. I reinforced my pleasure for their mission and asked God to Bless them as they had asked for Him to bless me too. When one of the boys asked my name, I shared it - he said, "Michael, huh? That's why God shines his light so brightly on you."

After paying for my groceries and walking out the store I actively searched for the group of boys and could not find them anywhere. It took me less than 1 minute and they were all gone.

So back to the question, do you believe in divine messengers (i.e. angels)? Well, today, I met two of them. By-the-way, this was the second time today that someone asked God to bless me.

God is AWESOME and I continue to pray and beg for others to see His Glory because my peace is Jesus and He can be yours too if you just ask Him to.

I was there as I always still cared

In our darkest hour, in my deepest despair
will you still care, will you be there?

Through my trials and my tribulations
through our doubts and frustrations

in my violence and my turbulence
through my fear and my confessions

in my anguish and my pain
through my joy and my sorrow

in the promise of another tomorrow

I will never let you part, for you're always in my heart.

Gone Too Soon

This was a song written and performed by the King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson (08-29-1958, 06-25-2009). May you rest in peace and may God be dazzled by your amazing talents and welcome you into His kingdom.

You were a real inspiration and often times saw the parallelisms between your life and mine.

A tribute to a Global Icon!

Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

Insignifigance

This evening, I had a fortunate opportunity to learn something new about myself. In life, I may complain about how badly my job can suck, or that I got a speeding ticket, or I should be paid more money, but today, this very moment I was shown the error in my ways.

You don't make as much money as you think you should - BIG DEAL!
You don't have the kind of car your neighbor owns - SO WHAT!
You weren't given the best clothes as a child - AND YOUR POINT IS WHAT?

Tonight - all my selfish thoughts and worthless stories mean nothing at all. If you have a job, be grateful! If you have good health, be excited! If you have money to buy food, clothes, or "necessities", you are fortunate.

I saw a single mother without medical insurance dying of cancer. She had become ill, was laid off for her job because of her inability to work. Her insurance canceled, her unemployment paying for food for her two children, and her bed body slowly wasting away.

Now that I have seen this, I have no time to complain any longer - this is what my mission in life is, not to be rich and famous but be the real hero - the person who offers and provides help in their time of need.

Forgive me Father for I have sinned before thee. Help me have the strength to face fear, death, pain, suffering, and cruelty without judgment, but with an open heart offering myself to do Your work! As I am Your servant here to keep Your children safe & show them the Glory that is You!

I WAS REBORN WHEN I WAS BROKEN

The past few days have been a test of my faith and belief. I've been beat down, stressed out, over worked, feeling hopeless and empty. At times I felt like I was on top of the world, but today the world was on top of me.

Last night I asked God for help and today, He turned all things around.

Some my call me superstitious or crazy, but God gives me peace. I realized I do fall short of being worthy, filled with pride - thinking the spotlight is shining on me. In my darkest hour, with my deepest despair - He was there.

I had to remember I am not worthy of His glory, but God still loves me. Today was the best day of my life. Recalling my humility and crying out for help - Acknowledging I ain't good enough, he showed me love and what it's all about.

Thank you God - thank you Jesus for listening to my prayers. I raised my hands and voice to express my excitement how He blesses you because He blessed me too!

Star Fades & Vanishes

Today is Ash Wednesday...a day of humility and repentance. Today signifies a day when we are reminded that we were created from dust and dust will will once again become.

This meaning came all too loudly recalling the situation of my faith and a call from a friend that a previous owner/manager passed away this morning. As I type this entry and reflect on all the great times I had at Valentine Video (trying to payback student loans) I recalled some awfully funny adventures. We had some zany customers, wacky staff members, and terribly late evenings closing up the shop. Those experiences nor the man who made my reality be forgotten.

Although his star has faded and vanished from visible sight, his legacy will continue on and on. Today, I realized and was reminded that we are never promised tomorrow and each day we are alive we are given the chance to learn something new and amazing...we are expected to make a positive difference in our neighbors lives.

Yes, I am still upbeat, Yes, I am still excited, and Yes, I am still moving forward...

We must CELEBRATE OUR LIFE! We must CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT! We must Celebrate everything - the challenges, the struggles, the laughter, the tears, celebrate the fact that you can still experience this vast array of amazing emotions.

Our buddy Charlie was there for us when we were not sure why. Everything in he did or touched influenced everyone he met. This is the glorious facet of life. Because of Charlie - I can say that I put my education to work, I saw real life business practices, I experienced the weight of a small business owner, and I was part of a Kansas City legacy.

In 10-years, when I again recall the fun at the store - I will smile because I am a product of the experiences I learned from someone I worked with, people I believed in, a local store that I participated - in my neighborhood!

Thanks Charlie - Now and forever, you will always be a blessing to me.

You Can Change the World

You can change the world,
-But, I can't do it by myself

You can touch the sky
-It's gonna take somebody's help

You're the chosen ones
-I'm gonna need some kind of sign

If we all try at the same time tonight...


We can change the world
There will be no more wars
And when God calls
He will answer all our prays!!!

SHOW THE WORLD!
Try with me!

Happy New Year!

Bienvenido a 2009!

What are you going to achieve this year? What are the results you would like to see? What are going to do today to prepare yourself for tomorrow?

Now is your chance -make your goals your reality!

I'm out like shout....