Josh’s Random Non-Sense!

So I’ve noticed a major jump in page views on my counter there at the bottom recently. Not to mention the numerous amount of people that have told me that they hear about my disfortune.
Mission = accomplished.

So we’re out of school tomorrow … that’s … unexpected.

Today is me and Julie’s 4 month anniversary! So that’s four months down, infinity to go …
Yesterday we went out and saw Red Eye … it was a pretty good movie, I enjoyed it. Julie’s present was a 7 page letter … yes indeed …

I’m glad I get to sleep late tomorrow … how lovely!

I wish I could control my emotions … that would be very nice … very nice indeed.

okay, that’s enough boring mess for now …
-josh

I’m standing outside school talking to all sorts of people when I get a phone call from my mom. She tells me that because this new adminstration at our school sucks ass so much, I have to retake the frist semester of US History in order to get a “Honors Diploma.” Here’s the story that I wasn’t truly allowed to share … and now I don’t give a rat’s ass.

I failed the first semester of AP US History last year with a 68.4%. I found this out in the first week of the second semester. See, by Metro rules the teacher has to notify your parents if you are in danger of failing the class, in time for you to correct this. Mr. Artibee never contacted my parents about anything … ever. The only reason that I got a 68.4% is because he decided not to grade my DBQ (database question) documents that I presented to him on time (along with the rest of the class). This man is so unorganized and retarded that he claims that I never turned the in at all, and he also said the he remembers telling me that I needed to turn them into him. What’s funny about this is that I asked to him about the documents and we discussed them a little bit (before they were due!). Therefore, he’s a retard … and failed me because he’s an asshole. I recieved a 57% on both my 3rd six weeks and my semester exam. Coincidence? I think not. The first F’s that I have ever gotten on my report card … in my life! I tried to talk to him about it, but as many of my fellow AP US-ers can tell you … it’s quite pointless if he’s thinks he’s right.

I brought all of this information to Mr. Tinnon and he told me he would take care of it. Many letters were written between me and Mr. Tinnon, and Mr. Artibee and Mr. Tinnon. I never got a copy of these letters for my own record … which is quite frustrating. Mr. Tinnon was the intermediary for Mr. Artibee and I. Mr. Tinnon did nothing past these letters. I brought all of this attention to him back in January, at the end of school nothing was accomplished. My mom found this out and talked to Mr. Tinnon herself … and it never did he any good either. So then, she contacted Ralph Thompson down at the school board. She brought all of this information above to his attention so something would actually be done about this. Mr. Thompson made it sound like the grade would be changed … but a meeting with Mr. Thompson, Mr. Tinnon, Mr. Artibee, and my mom never happened. Why you ask? Because Mr. Artibee was very clever at avoiding them. He blamed it on soccer (when the season was over), and skipped on because he brought bagels to his students the day of the AP test (which is so low-down, because he knew he was going to do that for months … so why did he agree to a meeting on that day/time? cuz he’s an asshole, that’s why). My mom sat in the office for over an hour that morning, just to find out that she had taken a day off of work for no reason. So the school year ended, with absolutely nothing accomplished.

The day of orientation, my mom and I talk to Mr. Brown and Ms. Regan about all of this. We understand that the “ball had been dropped” in this situation, but I expect people to hold to their agreements. After all the explanations had come out … and they searched for Mr. Artibee’s 1st semester exams (which had never been turned it … which is absolutely against Metro rules … meaning he shouldn’t have received his last paycheck). They told us that because of all of that, that once they discussed this with Ms. Edwards they would do an Administrative grade change. And because of that, I wasn’t allowed to discuss this situation with anyone … which I did not do (see I hold up to my agreements). Mr. Brown also told me that I was “first on the list for a meeting with Ms. Edwards.” And did that ever happen? HELL NO!

So back to the phone call today … my mom tells me that Ms. Edwards said that nothing would be done because it happened last year. I was like WTF!?! everyone from last year is gone, and they were lazy shitheads in the first place … they did nothing, that’s why we’re here now! So my mom got in touch with the man that took Ralph Thompson’s position at the school board (yes, he too left his position … like everyone else), and he said that because it happened last year … and he knew nothing about it beforehand … nothing would be done to override Ms. Edwards’ stupid-ass decision.

So now I get to take the first semester of US History instead of having my study hall right before my two AP classes … good decision Ms. Edwards! …jerk!

so spread the word … this new administration can just leave! As if you didn’t already know that … this is just icing on the cake.

:’(
-josh

So as I’m about to get on the interstate today, I get a call from Kristen. She tells me that Christie’s car has broken down on the interstate right by the Harding Place exit. So I made my way down there and there she was on the side of the road waiting for me. So I pull over and manuver myself into the ditch so our hoods are right next to each other, hook up the jumper cables and wait a good while, then watch her car die about 30 feet from where we were standing. And luckily (note the sarcasm), there was a guardrail right there beside her this time, meaning I didn’t have room to get next to her to jump her again. So Kristen and I pushed the car up the hill, while Christie was steering. It was quite the workout to say the very, very least. We get her past the guardrail enough for me to get my car next to hers again, and I hook up the cables once more. This time I let her battery charge for about 20 mintues … and then we give it a whirl. She had to cross FIVE lanes of traffic to get across to the closest parking lot. We time the traffic just right, then I unhook the cables, close the hood … and she makes a run for it. Well she actually made it … suprisingly enough! And our 1.5 hour fun had come to an end. She parked her car at the Waffle House … we wait outside for her mom’s boyfriend to show up to take care of the car business … and then got tired of waiting and went inside, where Kristen realized she had the craving for a waffle. Thus she ate a waffle, and it was good.
Tomorrow is Thursday … meaning today is Wednesday … meaning only two days left until the weekend! … and Saturday tennis practice … woo hoo (note the sarcasm once again).

That is all,
-josh

PS. It has been said that the little boxes around the smiley faces are … strange … I’m trying to figure out where it is in the massive amount of code to get rid of that … hopefully when I get one of my own computers back up and working I’ll be able to figure it out! So there!

embarrassment.

Okay, so here is part 2 out of 5 of my Religious Topics to be discussed. Once again I must say that in now way am I trying to preach to anyone here, I’m in no position to preach to anyone, becasue of lot of these problems are my own. Most of this stuff has been put on my heart for a logn time now, while a little bit has been inspired by some of my friends and their current problems. So, before you start … go get a snack and something to drink … cuz this will be a long ride! If you have any comments or arguements or agreements with anything here please let me know. I need discussion with others to fulfill my eagerness on these topics … I just have to know what others feel about this stuff … so help a guy out and start reading/commenting!

with loverly love,
-joshie boy

PS. Read me other post from today plz … scroll down a little while past this massive post to see it … THANK YOUUUU!

1 Corinthians 7: 3, 5, 10-11, 39-40
3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wide, and likewise the wife to her husband.
5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of you lack of self-control.
Verse 3 is saying that husbands and wives both have responsibilities to one another. In my opinion these include (but are not limited to): loving each other indefinitely/uncontrollably, keeping each other on the path to God, relying on the other for help/advice, and create a wonderful life with one another with complete happiness. Verse 5 is saying that spouses should not deprive each other of sex (or just love in general, depending on how you look into it) except by “mutual consent,” but only to devote themselves to prayer. It then goes to say that if you do not follow this (not “be together” for a while and not to pray …) Satan will try and tempt you with others, to cause lust … or even more. So, be faithful and true to your spouse … and for God’s sake have sex! (cuz that’s what it says!) Well, you could also see it as for God’s sake don’t have sex, but only for a short time … then by all means, for God’s sake have sex!

10A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
39A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is — and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
I forget who’s talking here, I want to say it’s Paul … but I’m not entirely sure …
But Paul is saying that husbands and wives mustn’t separate from each other … and if they so happen to separate, they must not marry other people … but they can remarry and come back together. Verse 39 brings about the whole “until death do us part” in the wedding vows. That’s pretty much self-explanatory. Paul believes that if your spouse dies you can remarry, but he feels it better just to stay a widow than to marry again.

Mark 10: 9, 11-12
9Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” 11”Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
As verse 39 just said, “a woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives” … verse 9 here says for spouses to not separate what God has made as one. If one gets married in a church, then they are married by either a priest or preacher … both under God’s authority … they call God into the marriage, thus God is the one joining them together (into one). So if it takes a priest/preacher + God to marry someone, then how can a lawyer or judge pull them apart? Answer: they can’t. Legally, on Earth, they can … but I don’t believe God ever sees the divorce as what we do. I believe He just sees a marriage without love, respect, or any more trying to keep it together for any reason. So if one isn’t truly divorced in God’ eyes … then how can one get married marry in God’s eyes? That’s what I call bigamy! Verse 11 Goes on to say that if anyone divorces their spouse, then remarries another ends up committing adultery against that person (which goes back to the whole thing about divorce not being seen in God’s eyes other than legal, Earthly separation … not Godly/holy separation). So every time this new couple has sex … they commit adultery again and again and again …

Matthew 5: 27-33
27”You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If you right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of you body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of you body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
31“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become and adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.” 33Again, you have heard that it was said to people long ago, “Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.”
Basically, do not lust. Because if you do … you might as well have already had sex with the person in God’s eyes. Regardless of the manner of lusting … it’s all the same to God. If it’s just desiring over someone at school (more than just to be in their company …), or pornography … the Bible says it’s better to lose your eye than to go to hell. Also, this is where I argue against masturbation (well, here’s one of the many passages I’ve come across about this topic), verse 30 says that “if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to lose one part than all of you to hell.” I read that as ‘do not act on these lustful, adultering images/fantasies you’re having … with your right hand, if you know what I mean. I understand this is a bit of a gross topic, but it is addressed in the Bible … and I’m adding it to this current topic for connivance sake. I’ve been asked many times to explain why I think it’s wrong to masturbate … and here’s just one good reason!

So … today was our first day (and last, first day) back to school … as SENIORS!
I thought I had a pretty good locker placement by the guidance offices … but Ms. Hunter accidentally gave out the wrong lockers … so I had to get a new one in the narrowest part of the main hallway (as did Julie and Kaylah, and I’m sure many others) … that’s the only place I didn’t want my first tall locker … *sigh*
All is well though …
Gonna start bringing my camera to school again … taking random pictures and whatnot …

AP Phyiscs = poopie … I mean I’ll do well and all cuz I was in regular Physics last year … but I’m the only senior in my class period … and the juniors kept asking why I was in there … I was like “SHUTUP!” lol

First half of the day = hard … cuz I have English, AP Physics, and AP Calculas … but the second half is a breeze with Art, PE, and Engineering.
Oh, and my engineering team is in the top 37 to get a 10,000 dollar schollarship for our class for our engineering projects (only 15 will get schollarships). We’re the only ones that have gotten that far this time … I hope we end up getting it … cuz that would be AWESOME!

Well … I’m running out of interesting things to say … and getting a little tired of typing … so yeah … see yall tomorrow (woo hoo)!

despues de tarde,
-joshua tomas clayton

FIRST OF ALL, I don’t want to sound like I am preaching to anyone. I am in NO POSTION to preach to others, I have enough to worry about myself. A lot of this stuff includes things that have been pressed on my heart lately … and this is one way of attempting to change my thoughts about things. But some of this is directed at certain people. I will make no mention of who these people are, because I feel these passages can apply to any and all that are willing to search their hearts and minds for the truth. This is only Part 1 of my religious posts, I have 4 more waiting to be read too … so read this … let me know what you think (because that’s a major reason for posting it here … to get feedback to help me understand) … and don’t get offended PLEASE!
Oh and let me know when you are ready for the next topic of my discussion … remember there are 4 more!

Suffering & Judgment

Matthew 20: 17-19
17Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
At a church camp about 5 years ago, this theory was brought up: after taking of the sins of everyone in the past, present, and future, Jesus had to suffer for these sins (like going to hell for us all). It says that “On the third day he will be raised to life,” and in theory Jesus spent those three days in hell paying for our sins. This was God’s design all along; that if you sin, you have to pay for it in hell for an eternity. Jesus spent those three days in hell, so we would have the chance to spend our eternity in heaven. I believe this to be true. It seems to make the verse where Jesus says, “My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me?” make more sense. Because hell is complete separation from God, thus being forsaken … Jesus knew what suffering was awaiting him.

Matthew 25: 31-
31”When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, and he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you have me something to eat, I was thirsty and you have me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invited you in, or needing cloths and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
There is a song by Cake called “Sheep go to Heaven, Goats go to Hell.” I knew that I had heard that in the Bible somewhere before, but was never really sure where and the significance of it. By no means do I consider Cake a “Christian band” because of this song, but I do enjoy the alliteration. In other parts of the Bible, and in sermons I’ve heard, Christians are referred to as the flock of sheep and Jesus as the Shepard. This makes that whole analogy make so much more sense. Now the question is … which are you?

Revelation 20: 11-15
11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Does verse 13 refer to Limbo? I don’t really understand the whole significance of limbo, or for that matter what it exactly entails … but from what I do know … it kind of sounds like verse 13 is calling for those in limbo to be judged again when Jesus returns. And this passage also gives me the impression that one does not go up to heaven when they die. It sounds like you die, then Death will give you to Jesus on the second coming … and then from there you are judged according, but not before? I don’t know. This passage confuses me a lot … please let me know what you think about it.

Job
The book of Job reads like a detective story in which the readers know far more than the central characters. The very first chapter answers Job’s main question: He had done nothing to deserve such suffering. We, the readers, know that, but nobody tells Job and his friends.
Unknown to him, Job was involved in a cosmic test, a contest proposed in heaven but staged on earth. In this extreme test of faith, the best man on earth suffered the worst calamities. Satan had claimed that people like Job love God only because of the good things he provides. Remove those good things, Satan challenged, and Job’s faith would melt away along with his riches and health.
God’s reputation was on the line. Would Job continue to trust him, even while his life was falling apart? This is the crucial question of the book: Would Job turn against God?
Job’s wife mocked him, “Are you still holding on to you integrity? Curse God and die!” (2:9). His friends were even crueler: They argued that Job was being punished, that he fully deserved the tragedies crashing into his life. For his part, Job struggled to do what seemed impossible: to keep on believing in a loving, fair God even through all the evidence pointed against such as God.
So if you ever feel like you’re being tested by God or Satan … and you feel as though you are about to lose hope, or you think that it is unfair and question God’s plan … think of Job. Maybe God sees you as a strong follower and worthy of being tested by Satan, showing Satan that there are true believers in this day and age … making your faith stronger … and Satan’s tie to you weaker and weaker. (oh and proving that God has faith in believers as well as believers having faith in Him.)

2 Thessalonians 1: 6-10
6God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
Verse 6 tells us not to seek vengeance ourselves; that God knows who has done what wrongs and what punishment is worthy of their crimes. The ultimate punishment for those who do you wrong is them going to hell. I don’t mean to sound like it’s okay to wish someone to hell … that’s a sin in itself I’m sure. But let God handle the wrongs that others commit against you, for his punishments come without grief and unfairness. When Christ comes back again, make sure that you aren’t one of those that are gong to receive “everlasting destruction” …

Sincerely,
Josh

Come and see my wonderful and not-so-wonderful senior pic proofs! here’s the one that i’m told is that bestest of the all!

the rest are at my picture site

-joshie boy

The religious update that I had promised about 2 weeks ago is about half done. I’ve finished typing up all of verses, now just to add my commentary. I think I’ll post it in parts/topics rather than all at once, because without commentary it’s about 5 pages long. So, I hope you’ve got an open mind to my views and are ready for some reading!

By the way: If you read this, please leave a comment. I want to know who all comes here. THANKS!

until next time,
-JaySee

Scorpio (Wed. 8/3):
Forgiving and forgetting aren’t the most natural actions for you — while you’re unswervingly loyal to those you love, you can also be unyielding as rock to those you think have done you wrong. In the end, though, who does it help to hold onto a grudge? And is the hurt you’re holding onto really worth it? Instead, try letting go of your grievance just a little bit at a time and see what happens. You might actually want to let go of all of it.

If you knew what all had happened yesterday, I’m sure you would be surprised by how much today’s horoscope for me has hit the nail right on the head.