Thanks to Anna

Anna informed me that I was stuck with monologues if something didn't change in my settings. Now all of you can comment freely on my posts.
Thanks, Anna.

Yore Truly

Words of affirmation

This post is about my Dad and something he said that was truly encouraging and motivational.
But before I tell you what happened, I need to provide some background.

Are you familiar with a book called "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman? I read it a couple of years ago, and I learned that there are different ways that people express and receive love. The five languages that Chapman outlines are the following: Words of affirmation, physical touch, gift giving, quality time, and acts of service. The author expands freely on what those different languages look like and how to use them. One of his main points in the book is that each person has a certain love language that is important to them, one type of treatment they receive that spells out love to them very clearly. Each person also has a default love language or two that is naturally theirs to give. For instance, my mom is really into serving people, but what she likes to receive is quality time with me, words of affirmation and thanks for all the work she does. A close friend of mine really appreciates gifts. Another friend loves nothing more than to have me talk to him. They overlap, and their are certain aspects of each love language that can be considered in order to love people the best way that they understand.
'Nuff said. This is where it plugs into my life.
I've been looking for a job for .... about three weeks. I've not been very active about it. I spent more time on things like this blog and several useless and fleeting endeavors of which I won't bother you with the details. Some of the underlying reasons that I've been lazy about it are my insecurity about approaching potential employers that I don't know and of not being successful... -the first time.
It was then that I called my dad. We talked about stuff at home and family objectives, and then I was just honest with him about my general laziness about my job pursuit. I told him that I'd felt insecure about it for the said reasons, and he responded that I should "sell myself big" without being dishonest. He said to tell them that I would be prompt, that I have an extreme commitment to working hard, that I would often stay late to get the job done, that they would find me covering for others and filling the gaps. To hear my dad, who knows my negative tendencies more than most, describe that type of profile about me was a huge emotional lift. I felt more loved in that 30 seconds then I had in a hundred gifts received or in many service acts directed to me. That wasn't all. It was extremely motivational. I spent more time that day in proactive, confident job searching then I had in almost a week before. His words of praise of the good parts about me were drying up the emotional insecurities and freeing me to rise to my potential.
That's the power of active love correctly related and directed.
I don't doubt that dad stumbled upon that particular love language by chance, or even by divine inspiration, but I know that each of us could do great good in the lives of those we know and love if we specifically direct our actions of love to them in the ways that they understand.
Thanks Dad,

Yore Truly

Too Suave?

Ok, folks. This is something I've been wondering about for a while. I've read a lot and talked a lot to people about ethical issues surrounding romantic/platonic relationships. I've established many whys and wherefores for myself about abstinence, our Higher Power's design for sex/love, and modesty -for women. What I can't figure out very well is what modesty is for guys. I'll tell you what I'm looking for, and then you can feel very free to be honest with your feedback.
I've learned that men are visually oriented, that the female form is attractive not just artistically, but erotically too. So, if women do nothing more than alter the way they dress, they can drastically affect how easy or difficult it is for men who see them to keep their mind out of the gutter. (Yes, but it is still ultimately up to the man what he chooses to think about.)
What about the other way around? What things do men do that just make it really difficult for women to keep their feelings under control?
I'll bet that you guys can relate with me on this; one of my great relational insecurities is from the attraction / infatuation that girls have toward me. I know I cannot control women, but I also know that my actions (probably more than what I wear) affect how they think about me, how likeable I am, and what type of relationship they think that we have.
So help me out. What can I do to be relationally confident and still say very loudly and clearly that my relationship with a women is only platonic. Can I love a female peer in "brotherly love", and can I love a younger girl as a father without sending the wrong messages? If so, how?
I'm looking forward to your responses.
-Yore Truly

2nd attempt

First test worked, but it had some unwanted rhetorick at the end. Let's try this. Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3!

1st attempt

Just getting used to this blogging system.
Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3!
Yore Truly

1st ranting

Well, it is my pleasure to salute all of your faceless personalities for the first time. Who it is that will bother to look in and see what goes on in here is a mystery to me at this juncture, but it is a pleasure, just the same.

It is true that what I say has some relavance to the world, it's views, and the circumstances surrounding each of your lives, but I want to make it very clear that what I think is true is not all that important. God is great. I am small. May my words be few that speak of me and my importance, and may they be many that speak of Him and His greatness. I ask that each of you hold me to this resolve.

Thank You.
Yore Truly