Time to update, seeing as how this week alone it looks liek I have 28 footprints, yes I'm alive.

Well, I no longer work at UPS. There were some things that happened there that made me question the safety of my being there. Also my mom broke down and asked me to quit. I hate to quit, and I actually miss some of my friends on the belt. But the stress of dealing with my dad being gone, and other things just proved too much for her. So they said we'll pay your gas, pay your insurance, all your bills, and stuff, all you have to do is stay home and finish school. I was like, I can do that! So I did, lol. I have had to work to stay in shape after leaving UPS. I didn't do anything for like 2-3 weeks after I left, then I got back into working out, excercising more. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm where I'm somewhat happy, can see the progress.

In other news I'm thinking about college in Australia, no seriously, lol! There is a college in Sydney that is just perfect for me, so I'm looking very forward to seeing where that goes. GOODBYE USA! But its in Hashem's hands, I'm waiting to see where he takes me. It may be Sydney, it may be right here for college, or it may be somewhere else, but its getting close to crunch time, time to see whats gonna go down, excited!

I need to go, but I hope it won't be long before i have things to update about, that'd be nice. Leave me some comments, lemme know y'all are still alive. Or has myspace stolen away my friends?

And after a 12 hour international flight, a 2 and 1/2 hour layover in NJ, a 3 hour domestic flight, and a 4 and a 1/2 hour ride home from the airport, I make it back to my house at about 3:30 am the other morning from...ISRAEL!

It was such an awesome trip. I got hit with the title of bus captain, which meant taking headcounts on the bus, but all my other jobs were really outside the bus. Making sure the people didn't get sperated, and they did, it is scary when you see adults acting like kids in a grocery store. Constantly stopping, or walking off, or getting left behind. It wouldn't be so bad if the group didn't have to stop to find them, but we did, which would make us late to the next site. It was all I could do to keep from blowing up a couple of times. On a happy note, I met with an Israeli rock band while I was there. I have been listening to them for a couple of years now, and asked if I could get a cd while I was in Israel. They said of course, but then I told them I'd need about 4-5 because I have friends who wanted some. Th next thing I know they ask me to be their distributor in Texas. I think I'm one of maybe two or three people they have in the states. So they sent me home with some posters and about ten cds. I'm making 33% profit on album sales, sweetness! They told me they talked to a record label in Poland about signing with them, and the label said they have four other bands already and would like to sign them, their only thing was distribution, at that point the band said that they knew lots of people in Israel, plus they now have a guy in Texas (mwah) who is doing stuff, so I may get the chance to distribute for four other bands now too! I'm very excited about this. They also said that they would like to tour over here sometime, and would like for me to help set it up. I'd probably be going on the road for that, which I have no problems with, I love travel. Maybe I can talk them into traveling Europe first though....yeah, that'd be sweet!

I have to go back to work today, but thtas ok, Friday is just around the corner. Besides, my arms have been deprived of their workout the past few weeks. I'm actually looking forward to work, I miss all my people there.

I need to go do some stuff before I go to work, but later on today I"ll add some more stuff for y'all to chew on. TTYL!

-James

Hey there folks!!!

Well time for an update, I actually feel like updating today. What you don't know is that this is the third time I have done this, I have gotten a sentence down, then decided to do something else, talk about ADD major, lol. BUT, never the less, here I am!

Ok, work has been decent. Since peak season (holiday season) is over, its suppose to be easier, its not, its just more stuffed into a shorter amount of time. But I'm enjoying it, I'm getting into shape, I can now pick 140 pound packages, and move them by myself, GO ME!!! Long story on that, ask me sometime, wanna keep my post short and sweet, you understand.

Letta me see, I'm in the middle of reading several books right now as well. Both by praise and worship leaders I love listening to and am highly encouraged by. One book is talking about finding God's purpose for your life, and let me just digress for a second, thank goodness there is help for this. I have been dealing with this a lot lately. I have an idea of what I want to do with my life, the same most people have. I'll finish school, soon, soon indeed! Then go to college, get a good job, get married, start a family, get a mortgage and live happily ever after. But what I'm constantly struck by again and again is the fact that I have a passion for something, I love music, and I love playing music that brings God glory. I love how my heart melts to Him during praise and worship times both with a group and on my own. And I love seeing that in others. All I want to do with my life is His will, and you know, I think that could be my calling. Or maybe it would be teaching as my father has done all my life, teaching about different spiritual matters, speaking in churches, and congregations, and to groups all over the country, and helping them with their walk in life with God. Maybe its both. But I have been in much prayer over this here recently, and now I'm at the point of making the ownership commitment. Is it going to be me guiding my life in where I go and what I do? Will I follow my plan for life? Or will I follow God's will, whatever it be? Will I follow His will wherever it leads me? This is quite the no brainer folks, I'm following God. Now I'm just waiting for that mighty hand of His to land upside my head here sometime soon with the directions to make this all work. All that I can say is that life ain't no easy bake oven no more, nowadays if things are not dealt with carefully, they burn. Mom and dad aren't sitting there with a fire extinguisher either. So, its time to read the directions carefully, read them again, and get ready to make something good. (Editors note: I hope you have enjoyed this small passage on cooking and food. I find it highly amusing that I could relate building ones life properly to cooking things. And here is the something funny, I'm quite hungry, oh how my mind works.)

The other book deals with habits. Breaking the habits that have been constructed in our spiritual life that keep us in one place. I have been in tears laughing at some of the examples given, and it has really made me think on some other things.

So in short, upon the conclusion of each book I'll write a review telling you all to go and buy them, read them, and be blessed by them as soon as possible.

I'm going back home to Israel soon. I cannot wait. I'm going to have to bring another suitcase back with me just for all that stuff I am bringing back for people. I'm going to bring Dmitry, my wonderful russian supervisor back a bottle of Yarden wine from the Golan heights, I can assure you me and him could have a lot of  fun sipping that over a game of chess. I'll bring my other supervisor back a bull whip, he could really use one. Or maybe just a portable fire extinguisher, one of these days he will spontanesouly combust, I wouldn't want anyone getting hurt. Plus I have for lots of other friends to buy stuff for, I ain't forgot about y'all. Bring back Holy land treasures for all my groups of friends. Its gonna be a lot. And I'm going to take so many pictures, I talk way too much about different people and places for me to not take pictures. And then I'm going to indulge on the best food that side of the earth. The fruit, the breads, the tea, the cofee, the meats, the meals, the spices, oh my goodness, I'm going to need another suitcase. Because some of this stuff guys, I have to bring back and let y'all try, those of you who live close enough to me to try it. I couldn't explain it you, so I'll just bring it back to you.

Well thats all. Keep me in prayer, I have things going on right now that are very hard to deal with right now, and being put in the position I'm in, it feels scary, very scary. I'm kinda' having to step into the role of male figure in the house since my dad is gone so much now, and its extremely tough, he left a lot of stuff for me to deal with, and no one wants to help. On that note, I leave y'all.....

Have a great shabbat guys (and gals)!

Shabbat shalom

-James

And its the weekend!!!!

FINALLY!!! Its the weekend, and I can just chill out. This past week has really been hard on me. I finally started my actual work last friday. From monday-thursday of last week I had classes tell me how to do all the stuff, then they would let me go to minor stuff out in the warehouse. Well friday I met my trainer for the week, and he was there to teach me to build walls with the packages, what to do with this, what to do with that, yada yada. He was also there to help me keep the flow steady, having two loaders in that trailer in the back up in the package shoot very minimal. But today, I was on my own, yesterday was my last day with my trainer. So today I was responsible for keeping the flow stedy in my trailer. And to explain this,  there is a sorter up about 20 feet in the air and he is the one pulling packages off the belt, and putting them onto the belts that bring the packages to our trailers, so he diesa this for about 6 trailers. And if one of the trailers isn't moving fast enough the shoot going to their trailer gets backed up very quickly, and makes the sorter very angry, and makes his job hard. Needless to say though, I did just fine today on my own, I think I just might be able to work for UPS for awhile and tolerate it. Throughout this week I have had to continue to tell myself the reason I haven't quit is one, because I hate quitting, and two, all the benfits and whatnot will make my life a lot easier when I decide to move out, it will start helping me get my life together. It has been very hard, but I'm going to keep going.

Also guys please keep me in your prayers, I'm going through a lot of very tough stuff right. I am doing a great deal of spiritual warfare, getting rid of things that should have been gotten rid of a long time ago, but I just let it build up. God has helped me so much this last few weeks, and He hasn't stopped, and He won't, but I still have some distance to go. And again, a dear friend of mine really needs prayer as well, please pray that God help them through as He is helping me.

I went to the doctor today and got my heart checked out. I'd like to see if I have the same problem my father has. So they did an EKG on me, and I have another appointment on monday. The condition is one the somewhat mimics a heart attack. Its not fatal, but it really hurts bad. So please pray that everything goes well.

Alright guys thats it, I love your comments by the way, everyone, keep them coming, lets me know I'm not alone in here, lol.

Love you guys,

*FFP*

Currently Listening 9 By Damien Rice The Animals Were Gone see related

By the grace of God

It never ceases to amaze me how God will speak to me. In my times of pain, confusion, or times of just complete foolishness, He will look at my heart, and examine every point. He will hear every sadness and woe, and see my pain and confusion. And its not as if He tells me point blank, He always does it in a way that I know is meant for me to hear. Example. I was at my synagogue on Saturday, and I was really hurting concerning some very important things going on in my life. And I prayed that God help me, that He speak wisdom to me, and to let me know it'll all be ok. I then went back into service to listen to the message, ended up catching the last 15-20 minutes of it. And the speaker to close said, "Here are several  things to know. 1. If your in sin, get out. It is gonna hit the fan soon and you'll be hurt. 2. If your already hurting, does God have your attention yet??? He is there telling you that He is here to help, He isn't gonna just let you fall, but that your heart has made a promise, you have amde a promise, and He will hold you to it. He will take you back time after time as you fall again and again, but you must have faith, and keep seeking Him." Given my memory its just a para phrase, but I got the key points in there. The effect of the words he said tore through and put a smile on my face that I couldn't control. I knew everything was gonna be ok.

I was forced to see yet again, while I'm not a disgusting, immoral, ungodly heathen, that I have not walked as I should. In my actions, in my care for my relationship with those close to me, and in my day to day life. I have not walked with Him. He has blessed me so greatly with my family, and given me some of the closest friends one could have, and still because I did not act with the most care that I could, I have found myself in pain. Seperation, hurt, confusion, and while I didn't walk with Him, He walked with me, and followed me down the path just long enough for me to trip and fall, and He is now carrying me back to the road. To find forgiveness and have that belonging is something I wish not to ever be without again. its a scary place out there. I can't not be with Him every single second and be ok. I need Him.

So guys please continue to keep me in your prayers. I can use all the prayer I can. As can a very dear friend of mine. Pray for them too.

In other news. I start a new job this week with UPS. I'm working the warehouse loading and unloading the trucks. I have to be able to lift boxes weighing 70+ pounds over my head, and move between 750 - 1300 packages per hour if I am unloading, and 300 - 800 packages an hour if I'm loading.. Most packages are 55 pounds or below, but some can get rather heavy. If I'm loading I'm having a constant flow of packages coming, and I have to read and scan every label to make sure it is suppose to be on that truck. And if it isn't then I need to put it back into sorting. I got some really great hours too. I'm working from 10am - 4pm, monday through friday. The lady who did the interview said I had more paperwork to do online, agreeing to numerous company policies, as well as give tax information. She said to come in tuesday, and we'd get everything signed, and she would put me on the list for day sort, and that they were gonna try to get me hired as soon as possible. The benefits are amazing, not to mention they help pay for school. And they pay really well too. So I'm very excited about that.

I'm going to go do some stuff, leave me some comments guys!

*FFP*