Happy Easter!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter. This holiday has become one of the most bittersweet days of the year. While it is certainly the most important, it saddens me in some ways that we don't take the time more often to truly dwell on the significance of this day. May Christ bring peace and joy to all of you for another year.

Not only is he very much risen, but he's very much alive, and very much active in our lives!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a wonderful thing to celebrate!

An Additional Meme

I was reading an excellent political blog on grace (link included) and decided that I needed to add something to my list of meme's. It's important enough that I wanted to share it with you all as well, as it may be the most difficult of characteristics to follow.

14. Forgive regularly and freely, allowing the worst of grievances to be accompanied with grace and dignity.

While I may not agree with EVERYTHING the author said, I do agree with most of it. Forgiveness in my opinion can be one of the biggest character builders we can learn. When we forgive, we emulate Christ's character in it's ultimate form. That is the sole purpose of his existence, and if we are to be Christ like, than that should be our purpose as well. It would be easy to bombard you with bible verses on the subject, but I'll leave you with this one.

"Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32

That verse sums up perfectly what we should strive for. I reflect on the times in my life when I needed grace the most and received it. I think of possibly the one thing I regret most in life over the rest, and when I think of the man who forgave me it makes me want to weep. His forgiveness makes it possible for me to hold my head up high on a daily basis. While I may never see this man again, he will forever and always be one of the most Godly and respected people I have ever met. His influence on a 15 year old boy will never be forgotten, and God will reward him eternally for his character.

Hopefully you have experienced on a personal level grace of this magnitude. While human forgiveness is sometimes rare, God's grace abounds and is limitless. He has forgiven you for the sins you've committed, and the ones you will commit tomorrow.

This is my additional meme, and I wanted to share.

"Life Meme's" or "The Man I Want To Be"

I wish I could say I was clever enough to come up with these on my own, but I'm not this articulate. Plus it wouldn't exactly go with my meme's. As I was reading last night I came across a list of traits that the author thought a "man" should display. This closely mirrors my heart and conscience's desire and I wanted to share them. I have printed them out under the title "The Man I Want to Be" and posted them above my computer monitor at work as a reminder of who I am striving to become. I would encourage anyone to use these, or create their own and share.

1. Prays, recognizing that his duty is to God first and above all things.
2. Is articulate, communicating his thoughts and opinions intelligently and respectfully.
3. Respects women, directly through honorable discourse and chaste living, and indirectly by his thoughts.
4. Defends the innocent, especially children and unborn life.
5. Is not addicted, whether to alcohol, pornography, or entertainment, and therefore is truly free.
6. Is healthy, actively maintaining physical fitness and a proper diet.
7. Holds convictions supported by reason and truth.
8. Is courageous, unafraid to defend truth in all circumstances.
9. Educates himself, not for the sake of accumulating factual knowledge, but for advancement in wisdom.
10. Works hard, acknowledging that time is a gift to be used wisely.
11. Sacrifices his needs for the sake of others.
12. Is charitable, recognizing that nothing is truly his own.
13. Is humble, possessing an honesty that doesn't tolerate deception, and a gratitude without envy.