Skeptics (blown) Away! - Round 2

Round 2

Skeptic: You just imagined it!

Trent: That’s strange, I imagined being called to a life that (at the time) I despised, twice.

(Editor's Note: One more in the series - coming next week! Read Round 1.)

Trajectory Shift

What I am about to say is very, very serious: it, quite literally, will affect everything.

I’m talking about callings. I’m focusing on what God wants me to do with my life (I know that sounds somewhat cliché, I apologize for not coming up with a better way to say it). I believe that I have been called to a particular duty.

Preface

I want to be the first to say that I’ve always felt a little irritated when other young people said they were, “called to preach” or, “called to foreign missions” (this was not true of respectable adults or relatives). I’m not sure why this offended me, but I think I thought they were being holier-than-thou, as if the only thing in the world one could be called to was preaching or the mission field. I also thought it was all too simple. They had it easy. They knew what they were supposed to do, they also knew that I didn’t and were rubbing it in my face, at least that was my impression. Pride doesn’t always make sense.

I hope that I make this already overhyped announcement in a way that doesn’t offend you. I know God has a plan for you. You may be called to something boring like me, or it may be something grand like running for President. His ways are not our ways. Sometimes what we least except is what He wants. Also, God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Just because your calling is to the lost souls in Haiti, doesn’t mean you are more important, or more loved, or more worthy, than the clerk at Wal-Mart.

Beginning

I had the idea once after reading the autobiography of W.A. Criswell that I would make a good preacher. My sister immediately pointed out the searing truth that nothing could be further from the truth. If you have ever met me you already are laughing at the idea, it really is, from a human perspective, immensely absurd.

But…God’s ways are not mans ways.

Around that time I was nagged by the sense that God might be calling me to preach. I dislike nagging, so I pushed it off. The idea that God was calling me persisted.

Finally, I told God, “Sure, I’ll preach”.

That was easy, I thought, now I won’t be bugged by that.

Preach? Sure. Be a preacher? Now that was a different matter entirely. I mean really, the Bible commands us to preach the gospel. I know I’m supposed to do that anyway. I can agree to that.

Climax

Some stuff came up, as stuff will always do, and I forgot all about it, but God didn’t.

It’s one thing to agree to do something you were planning on or something you thought about doing – at the time you were thinking about doing it, it’s another to agree to someone else’s seemingly ludicrous plan.

I’ve been called to preach, and be a preacher.

I could try to question and define away till I get every iota of what God actually means by that, but I have a feeling it’s better if I don’t know. God will show me when I need to know.

I finally said to God: “I’ll do it”.

It’s already shifting my trajectory.

Where I’ll end up I don’t know, but who’ll be with me, ah… that’s for sure!

David Barton and I

Wow, what a scary facial expression (I think I was trying trying to smile...)! I'm glad David Barton didn't get a copy!

Patriot Academy, August 2009

Photo by: David Personius

Breaking Anouncment: I Won!

Surprise!

I just learned that I won a bookmark contest!

Yes, I know some of you have moved on to higher things... but I would like to remind you that I will be receiving the prize money not you! : )

Uniquely, the contest was supposed to be an art competition, yet I took first place - the world is full of paradoxes...

- Trent Williams, Award Winning Bookmark Artist

Reappearance (Escape from Kidnappers Part 1):

I disappeared from the blogosphere months ago, kidnapped by some of the most dangerous and deadly villains in history. Recently I was able to break free from my captors. I am writing from an undisclosed location in the US. My time is limited. The technology my captors possess enables them to track my location if I access the internet for more than fifteen minutes.

I hope this message finds all of you safe (not fleeing from lethal desperados). I also hope you are not as pressed for time as I am.

My progress this year has been restricted… I will give you an update soon (exactly when is not appropriate to say – for health reasons).

I hope you are all studying the wise men and the shepherds. Their approach to God’s commands helped them become the inspirational, instructional, and influential men we read about each year.

I hope to give you a closer view of these characters in God’s marvelous story… but for now I must run…

May each of you have a merry and blessed Christmas,

-You Know Who

First Time Voting!

I voted because of the beaches. An amendment to the Texas Constitution would make it a constitutional right to access public beaches, not just a right, a constitutional right. That's right folks, a constitutional right.

Proposition 9: "The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico."

Wouldn't you want a constitutional right to access beaches (even if they were already privately owned)? Actually I voted against the proposition (did I mention we already have an "Open Beaches Act"?), how much of a right do we need to make visiting the beach?

This first time voter was elated to cast a vote creating measures that will lower property tax!

Proposition 2: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property's value as a residence homestead."

Proposition 3: "The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes."

First time voting, but not the last!

- Trent

P.S. I just realized I missed posting in the month of October completely! I beg your forgiveness.

PPS. Unfortunately I wasn't able to organize a rally against government health care because of some things that came up (too bad).

Rally for Health (Say "No!" to Government 'Care' )

This is the project I am thinking about....

A rally (similar to the tea parties) that starts with protest and ends with a prayer meeting for anyone interested. Included would be speakers and a sign judging competition...

Need:

Sound System

Meeting Area

Water

Church (for prayer meeting

Estimated length: 3 hrs.

Speeches - 2 hrs.

Prayer - as long as people want to go.

I'll let y'all know if I pull off the planning. You won't be left out or not invited - I promise.

- Trent

P.S. - Hey what about an online rally!

I'm Back!

Arrived in Texas last Sunday (the 13th). Unfortunately is wasn't as brown as I had expected, due to rain.

Things I learned from the trip:

1. Postcards are expensive.

2. People are weird no matter where you go (not referring to relatives)...

3. People are concerned about this country no matter where you go... some are even doing something about it.

4. Fill a van to capacity including four kids under four years old and you get one wild ride!

Unable to post at length... working on projects.

-Trent

Wedding Dress Photo!

This is way overdue...

The 2009 Grand Champion in Sewing:

This is the wedding dress I, with long suffering instruction from my expert seamstress sisters, was able to enter in the Bell County Youth Fair where it netted the highest award possible in the sewing category.

For those of you who have been waiting for this photo since February...

You can advertise on my blog for two months at no cost! : )

Thanks for waiting,

-Trent

P.S. Did I mention the dress is for sale?

(Editors Note: Read the story of my first impression on hearing I had won Grand Champion at the 2009 Bell County Youth Fair: Wedding Dress Wins! - also includes contact info.)

Back From Patriot Academy

Patriot Academy 2009 was phenomenal!

If you are interested in politics, or are confused by government, Patriot Academy is the place for you.

Update

I have some good news and some even better news...

1. My bill (ending no-fault divorce in Texas) passed!

2. Michael Bullock won the race for Speaker of the House!

I ran for Speaker, learned a lot, and did a whole lot better than my first few attempts at campaigning. In the end I lost, but it was a outstanding experience.

I rank my race as:

Terrible

Respectable

Out-Of-This-World

Chicago Bound!

Well, I'm headed to "Obama-land" or what used to be it.

When: This Saturday

What for: An in depth Bible study (that's it in simplified sort of way)

How: By plane

I won't be blogging until I get back.

But when I do...

I'll let you know how it went and all the hilarious predicaments I got myself into.

Till then,

-Trent

P.S. I'm hoping to get back to actively blogging when I come back. Right now I'm down with the flu (it's better than being "gone with the wind") which is possibly THE flu, yep, swine flu (possibly).

Mistakes (lessons from a magic show)

"The lack of avoidable mistakes is the lack of positive assumption" - Trent Williams, 2009.

This I know, mistakes will happen, no matter what you expect. That's why you should "Expect the worst. Prepare for the worst." (another quote I have deceived myself into believing is possibly original).

I was painfully reminded of this truth at my annual children's magic show (which this year was a clown and magic show). I have believed time and time again that certain things can be done without practice, it isn't true. Other assumptions that I have briefly entertained are that the right words will magically come into my mouth at the right time for the right situation, that hecklers don't exist, that all children are mostly good, and that the little details (like what the clowns will do and when) will fall into place, you guessed it, magically (automatically).

Moral:

Minimize assumptions, the positive ones that is. Dreaming is only five times better than doing when you do what you have dreamt.

Back again (for a little while at least),

- Trent

Paused, But Not Forsaken

A magic show in the making... 

A book in the plotting...

A blog that I'm neglecting...

That's what I'm currently doing, that and I'm thinking about leaving the Conservatives. More on that later...

But know this: you are not forgotten!

- Trent

Plodding on, more slowly than surely.

Camping in the Rain!

The forecast says "Scattered Thunder Storms", every day of our planned camping trip. I say "Rain? Ahhhhh!!!!! Not AGAIN!!" (Please don't ask, I've had many bad experiences).

I'm praying for deliverance from arranging and rearranging tarps, stakes (to hold the tarps down), and poles (to keep the tarps in desired positions) as the seconds boom louder than the thunder and my worried perspiring soaks faster than the light rain falling around me.

The next blog post will be delayed until Monday, May 4th.

So, until next time this is,

-Your Friendly Neighborhood Trent Williams.

Confessions of an Excuse-Making Soda Addict

From the author of "Presumptual":

You may remember that my "new years resolution" was to, above other things, quit soda (or pop, coke, or soda water as it is sometimes referred to as, but really isn't).

To make a short story long...

I DID IT! I QUIT SODA!

Except... for the five soda's I've had since the resolution was made. You see I haven't quite figured out how to tell my employer and he keeps giving soda at break time and the other two times I, well...

Rules about resolution making:

1. Resolutions Require Exceptions (the more the merrier)

Exceptions to My Soda Quiting Resolution:

A. If someone doesn't know about your resolution and they have already bought/poured some soda for you and you think it would cause them pain for you to not drink the soda (or if it happens to be Root Bear - my personal favorite), drink the soda.

B. If there is nothing else to drink and you are about to become dehydrated to the point of death.

C. If someone forces you to drink the stuff at gun point.

D. If someone else will be killed or caused physical pain on the even that you do not drink some soda.

E. Seltzer Water (used in pretty much in all of the non-alcoholic punches in existence) is not considered by Trent Williams to be soda (even though the major ingredient is carbonated water).

I hope you enjoy insanity and zaniness, er I mean, creativity -yeah thats what it is: creativity - as much as I do (If not let me know and I'll go back to those "lovely" intellectual articles.)

Your Friendly Neighborhood Trent Williams

Sunday School Teacher Extraordinaire

Recently, I acquired a Sunday school. I now teach the Jr. High class at our church. Adding Sunday School teacher to my list of things I do, not learning, not almost, not one day, no, Sunday school teacher I am. Yes it’s amazing, now I can strut my stuff and puff out my chest: I AM A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER!

Also…

Since its Jr. High, I’m practically the youth pastor of the church! my storytelling style is unsurpassed*, my charm irresistible**, my teaching ability is undeniable, well at least the fact that it needs HUGE improvement is.

*definitely “un” something… **I may be stretching it a little, but its pretty much fact : )

No, the only “Sunday School Teacher Extraordinaire” is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke with power and authority; I sound worse than Mr. Obama with a malfunctioning teleprompter! Jesus drew crowds of thousands to hear him speak and see his miracles; the only miracle that happens in my class is that we get most of the way through the lesson before the time is up.

Oh, I almost forgot, the best part about the last two Sundays? My one and only pupil actually showed up!

"Presumtual"

Raking leaves for my neighbor proved one thing: I'm a wimp. No, this didn't come as a surprise and no, no one else was surprised either. One good thing did come of it though: my endurance level reminded me of my presumptuousness. 

"This ought to take me, oh, about 2 hrs."* 

Guess what? I'm still working on those leaves, and it's only been a couple weeks! Alright there has been some rain, sickness, and... 

*I actually didn't give my neighbor an estimate, but it would have been close to "2 or 3 days" which is nowhere close to what's actually happened.

At least to myself, I have, in the past, made all sorts of commitments. Like my "grandiose" magic show, even my daily scheduling runs into serious trouble when it's time, or I should when it isn't time, to carry out these plans. This whole WilliamsForRep thing runs into serious trouble as well. How do I know if I will become a State Representative? Only God knows and only by his grace will I get anywhere at all. I don't honestly know what tomorrow holds, but I do know that God is in control and he has something probably a whole lot better than politics in store for me (and you too!)!

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.  

James 4:13-15

Blogathon: Countdown to the Big One Eight!

My birthday is march 4th. I'm real excited about it. I'm always sick. 

O.k., I don't think I was sick on my 5th, 6th, or 11th birthdays, but I certainly was last year, and the year before that, and... So here I am, one week from my birthday, writing with a pile of tissues next to the keyboard and a headache from staying awake with a fever half the night. Please pray that I will recover in time for the bang up celebration (I don't mean to be selfish, It's just, well...)

To show how excited I am, I have decided to post every day from now till my birthday.  

You don't have to spend a lot on me, but if you feel so led you may park any donations outside my house (e-mail me for directions). 

Remember: It's only one week from today! 

-Trent 

7 (or 6 depending on how you count it) days to 18

Just in: WEDDING DRESS WINS!

Today we received the word.  I was invited. We went.

"Your son won Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion for clothing" the voice on the phone informed my mother. 

"Both?" my surprised mother queried. 

"Yes, isn't that great!" came the reply.

Mom got off the telephone and told us all. We looked around in bewilderment. I had entered a few other items in different categories in the clothing division but they hadn't been in the "top dog" lane. The wedding dress was our best effort at taking the highest clothing prize of the fair and we were relieved to make it, but what was this about an additional Reserve Grand Champion award? 

"It must have been the hat" I piped up, referring to a smocked beret that I had made as well. 

With half of us doubting what had really been said on the phone (I personally thought that there had been a miscommunication and that I had won Reserve Grand Champ only, for the gown) Our family arrived early to see for sure what had happened. Sure enough, the smocked hat had indeed bested other more time consuming and elaborate pieces to take the esteemed place of Reserve Grand Champion. Right there hanging for all to see was the simple white gown with a sign labelling it the top winner. 

(I don't want to mislead anyone here. There are several other categories that received Grand Champion Prizes, e.g. wood working, art etc. Also, there are two awards, for people who send in many many clothing items to compete for a separate "big shot" prize.)

I also netted a Reserve Grand Champion for a box I had decorated with egg shells. This was a huge shock as it had to beat out everything in creative arts (which includes a lot of neat items in the recycled craft category, which can be pretty big stuff.). That was a total shocker. I hadn't even liked the box. I had thought that it would very fortunate if it got first or second in the decorated boxes category. We then got to attend the awards ceremony (what the lady on the phone invited us to) and celebrate with all the other winners (and losers too). 

I must praise and thank my sisters for all the time they sacrificed to oversee the projects and repeat again and again: "Trent, your going to have to take that out and put it back in right". All the rest of the honor goes to God. He is very good and without him I never would have had the patience and perseverance to get through.

If you ever need to make a wedding dress get Him on board and you'll be amazed at the the outcome!

P.S. The wedding dress is for sale retailing at $600. With mention of this blog we will give a special reduced price (we are willing to negotiate). If you know anyone getting married that or thinking about getting married that may be interested in buying the dress (they will need to have or obtain a 25 inch waist as well) email me at williamsforrep@yahoo.com. Or call: (254) 985-9260. More info with the rest of the measurements will be posted along with a picture soon.

 

 

Extra! Read all about it!

Important news flash:

I just finished sewing a wedding dress. 

(You may need to reread the previous sentence.) Yes, that's right, a wedding dress. No, I'm not getting married (at least not any time soon), and no, no one in my family is either, but all 19 buttons are on, and the 18 inch long zipper is in (and it works). I am so glad it's all over. Actually it wasn't that big of a deal, the dress is pretty simple and the one on one coaching is the only reason it ever happened (my older sisters should get all the credit). I just dropped it off at the County Youth Fair (4-H, FFA, and local schools all compete in one pretty good sized fair) with a lot of apprehension (lets hope it doesn't get ruined, oh, and I wouldn't mind if it placed well!). 

This means I have more time to upgrade the blog a little and hopefully get back to regular posting (I hear those groans!).

New Attractions:

A Blog Roll with the bloggers (all post on politics, at least a little) I know.  

And... 

The article Sister Constitutionalist? will be out probably this weekend so... 

See ya' next time!

Trent