tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post2131881434843946075..comments2023-05-26T07:41:53.109-05:00Comments on Afterthoughts On A Whirlwind Journey: Reflections on My Life: Part IIUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post-1070788027823198452009-06-24T01:47:52.520-05:002009-06-24T01:47:52.520-05:00Sweeney, thanks for sharing that. I'm glad I&...Sweeney, thanks for sharing that. I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes reading. :)<br /><br />Rik, I think you make a good point. I'll try not to do that. Part of this post was just my way of trying to tell young people who may read it, not to do as I did, because I do have many regrets in my life. Another thing is just that I was reminded lately of some good times from my past that I'd forgotten about. I don't really want to ponder on those things though. And I do realize that whatever happened in my past may have needed to happen so that God could bring me to a better place. I have been hopeful about my future lately. I can sort of see God taking me in a really good direction, and that's something to feel great about and to really be focusing on.<br /><br />And thanks for reminding me of that quote. It's one of my favorite from the bible.<br /><br />Love you, too, my friend. :)Brendonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18248268499428066786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post-75084105164655319932009-06-23T07:19:00.329-05:002009-06-23T07:19:00.329-05:00My middle school experience (A long time ago in a ...My middle school experience (A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....) was quite violent and totally insane. The first 2 years of high school were awkward but by my junior year I had found my niche.<br /><br />There is one thing I would like you to be careful of and that is to not be either overly nostalgic about the past ("those were the good ol' days...") or preoccupied with regret ("I wish I would/would not have done such and such..."). We are to learn from the past but not attempt to live there.<br /><br />My life is better now than it has ever been - physically, financially, emotionally, socially, spiritually... and yet I have also been through the most difficult times for the past two years. Through this the Lord is bearing great fruit in me and only now am I beginning to see how it all makes sense and how it all has a purpose.<br /><br />"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11<br /><br /><br />Bro, you know I love ya. <br /><br />RikErikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01618960202550806181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post-85269438552560964022009-06-22T17:53:07.529-05:002009-06-22T17:53:07.529-05:00I can't help but smile when I read the first p...I can't help but smile when I read the first part of this blog. I had a completely different middle school experience, I was not popular, I had no friends, but my love of reading started then too. Even though my life was not great, I have good memories because of the books i remember reading at that point in my life.Alechttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974251664288973938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post-77619486795147201462009-06-22T02:47:11.499-05:002009-06-22T02:47:11.499-05:00This has been a really good day. I'm up late ...This has been a really good day. I'm up late right now, getting ready to go to bed, and I couldn't have thought of a better way for this day to come to an end. Thanks, Jennypo. :)Brendonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18248268499428066786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post-10412746213024191952009-06-22T02:06:09.928-05:002009-06-22T02:06:09.928-05:00I came across this quote when I was a miserably in...I came across this quote when I was a miserably insecure teenager:<br />"The secret to being loved is to be lovely; the secret to being lovely is to love." <br /><br />Satan always wants to fool us into thinking that it's something else that needs to change - but love is the real transformation we need. Everything else is just variety.<br /><br />You are the kind of man I can respect, Brandon - and a big part of who you are comes from the hurt you've had. "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." (Ecclesiastes 7:8)jennypohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08885906238155398438noreply@blogger.com