Coffee

Near the end of my junior year in high school, a discussion with my father planted the seed of an 

idea within me. People find missionary work in other countries necessary; however, in this current 

age, the youth of America require immediate attention so America does not become an atheistic 

nation. I developed the concept for Narrow Way Coffee with the intent of confronting teens in an

environment where they lower their guard and do not attempt to display themselves as stronger

Christians. Confronting teens outside of the Church makes them vulnerable and softens their hearts. 

               I decided on a coffee shop because I worked for Dunkin' Donuts during my junior year and 

discovered youth drink coffee earlier than past generations and utilize coffee shops as social outlets. 

The conception of Narrow Way Coffee grew from my interest in business and my desire to grow 

closer to God. My preconceived notion that the conditions where the Bible is taught aught to be 

changed solidified itself after a conversation I had with a guest at the Keeter Center. He is a retired 

church minister of thirty years. He told me "the gospels do not change; however, the way we present 

them, desperately needs to". The gospels, whether told in a church or in a small business, do not 

change. The sincerity of the congregation, and in unusual cases, the pastors or the person ministering 

radically changes depending on location. The buildings that people refer to as churches affect the 

teachings of the Bible in a negative way. When a congregation expects people to act Christ-like in 

church, people don the persona of "a good Christian" and lie to themselves and those around them. 

The time to change where the podium stands draws nearer as the country retreats further from God's 

glory.

January 13, 2015

Under the Apple Tree

By: C. Jason M.

     Somewhere beyond the mountains, a small village was on the verge of slumber. Every house was dark, and outside, you could hear the soft pitter-patter of rain on clay roofs. In the center of the village, one candle shone into the darkness from the window of a single tavern. I walked through the night in the rain and knocked softly on the door. It opened, and a man, tall and thin with deep-set coal black eyes and musty red hair, stood in the doorway.
     "Come in," he said. He stepped aside and took my cloak. Inside the tavern, it was warm and comfortable. A fire burned to the right, where four men sat, one of which was speaking animatedly. I took a seat by the wall closest to the fire.
     "What can I get for you, sir?" the innkeeper asked.
     I sat there for a moment in silence, looking deep into the flames of the flickering fire in the hearth. "Just some bread with cheese and a mug of elderberry cordial," I said.
     The innkeeper turned to the bar and returned shortly with a wooden bowl of bread and cheese and a wooden cup filled with the deep red drink. I sat eating in silence, but couldn't ignore the story teller. He was just finishing a well-known tale of a girl who was taken by a ranger to a mysterious forest, and supposedly, she had been seen wandering those very woods, searching for her way home.
     "Now, with the hour peaking right, I shall tell a tale handed down through my family," the speaker said in a hushed tone. I turned slightly in their direction to better see the four men. The speaker noticed. "You there, come join us. You look weary and a good story may do you well."
     I took my food and sat in the circle by the fire. The speaker was a wild-eyed man of many seasons, his hair reaching past his shoulders. "This tale is no myth as the past fable. This one is as real as the very storm beyond these very walls. It took place hundreds of years ago, in a land far across the eastern sea known as Delgor..."
     The night was quiet, but this quiet was filled with a sound no tongue could describe...

     "Hey, hey, hey. I surrender!" Aarik sat with his back to a wall and a sword to his chest. Kari stood over him, victorious once again.
     "That makes the score seven to nothing," she said, smiling. She removed the blade and helped Aarik to stand.
     It was a warm summer afternoon. The two friends sat back to back under an apple tree in the center of the garden. Aarik took a bite from an apple above him and handed it to Kari. They grew up together, coming from similar lifestyles. Both lost their parents in the war against the forces of the Serpent of Old. Ever since then, they dedicated their lives to defeating them, and ending this war of pain and loss.
     "Hey, Kari, you know, I'm astonished it's been twelve years already since we made that pact."
     Kari leaned her head on Aarik's shoulder. "Yeah, and look at how much we've grown. I'll come of age tomorrow, so once that happens, we can get the captain's approval, and we'll be ready to head out next week." She closed her eyes, letting her blond and brown hair fall around her shoulder.
     Aarik lifted his nose and took a long, deep breath, filling his lungs with a fresh, warm breeze. He took one last bite from the apple and tossed the core to the side. There was silence between them. A silence filled with the chirping of birds, the howl of the high winds above, and the rustling of leaves on the cobblestone. The silence was broken by the ringing of the temple bells.
     "Oh, no. Is it already time?" Aarik sat bolt upright and looked toward the sound.
     Kari looked the same way before turning to Aarik. "You should go. Don't want to be late, do you?"
     Aarik nodded. He had just been accepted as a part of the temple, so when he wasn't training, he was accomplishing his duties there. Kari kissed him on the cheek before he bolted off toward the sound of the the still tolling bells. The suns were setting to the north and south. Kari looked up to the rays of light colliding like two sides in a battle. One red and one yellow. Indeed, they had grown a great deal since then. Aarik had grown into a very handsome young man. And coming of age didn't only mean that they'd be able to go to war, but also that if Aarik were to ask for her hand, she could accept. Their long-awaited chance to join the front lines was drawing nearer.
     "I will protect you! I swear it!" She got up to go home, but before she departed the cover of the tree, she reached out toward the temple. Then, lowering her hand, she went from that place.

     The next morning, Kari and Aarik met by the same tree before going to their commander to receive the O.K. to fight on the front lines.
     "At last," Kari started, "we can finally have our chance out there."
     Aarik tossed her a small loaf of bread with dew cream spread on top. "I can only imagine what it must be like out there, in the midst of battle."
     Kari nudged him playfully. "What is this? Is Aarik Carrier getting scared?"
     He smiled sheepishly. "Not at all. How could I when I've got you to watch my back? Anyway, it's almost time for our audience with the Captain. Let's hurry!" The two strode to the Captain's quarters.

     It was now around supper time. Aarik and Kari walked out of the room. Kari was wearing a smile that would put the Prince of Lies himself to shame. Aarik had more of a timid smile.
     "Oh, Aarik, we've finally done it! It's only one week until we leave for the front lines."
     Aarik held the papers with the Captain's seal on them. In his other hand, he held four talents the Captain had given them to use to prepare before their departure.
     "Hey, Kari, what do you say we go get something to eat from the Smoldering Dragon to celebrate? I'll use one of my talents to pay for the two of us."
     Kari's eyes sparkled like the stars. "That'd be lovely!" She smiled again. "You go on ahead and save a spot. I need to go feed Kaitlyn first. She's been in that stable for too long."
     Aarik agreed and went on his way after Kari had given him the traditional kiss on his cheek. She turned to go and walked out the big double doors that left the facility.

     Later that night, long after the moons Den and Nir had reached their highest points, Kari and Aarik were by the apple tree once again. Hand in hand, they kept the chill at bay with Aarik's cloak around them both.
     "I'll not see you tomorrow, shall I?" Kari asked.
     Aarik looked to the stars. "I'm afraid not. I'll be at the temple till late with my studies."
     She moved closer to him. "What a shame," Kari said after a time. "Did you hear that the Princess's lady-in-waiting fell ill to a virus? I heard a new lady is being searched for immediately. Seeing as how the Princess is now with child."
     Aarik rested his head on hers. "I wonder who it could be."
     Kari lay down, resting her head on Aarik's lap. "What does it matter? We shall be gone long before they pick a new one."
     Aarik closed his eyes with his back to the tree. Their lives would change so much in just one week's time. Aarik had to be brave for her. How could he not be scared? The night went on after they had departed from each other's company, and after the wind of autumn tore the first leaf from that apple tree.

     The next afternoon, Kari was wandering the city streets, looking at shops and talking to familiar faces.
     "You there! Girl." Two men in formal wear of the courts approached her.
     "Yes? May I help you?" Kari asked.
     "You are, as of now, the only candidate left to be the Princess's new lady-in-waiting, on the grounds that you have no family to claim you. You are to come with us immediately."
     Kari was shocked! Her? A lady-in-waiting for the very Princess of Delgor herself? "Bu...but I am a part of the royal army. I'm to go to the front lines six days from now."
     The two guards stood beside her and escorted her to the palace. "Orders are orders. You must come with us."
     Kari struggled to free herself. "I can't go! I have to stay by my friend's side! I have to be there to protect him!" Her struggles were to no avail. "Fine," she said finally. "But promise me you'll watch out for him during the war. Make sure Aarik comes home safe."
     The guards looked at each other for a moment. "You have our word; he will come home safely!"

     The day came when Aarik was waiting for Kari by the apple tree before they were to leave with the army. When she didn't show up, he turned to the tree and chiseled out their code on the base of the trunk. 'Grow as the apple tree does. Healthy, strong, in the light, and bearer of fruit.' Then he turned to the gate and was gone. The tree sat there, its green leaves fading slowly to a light brown color. An apple fell from the tree and rolled to the side, discarded by its former home.

     Months passed. Seasons changed. Kari sat at the window overlooking the eastern hills. She saw the trees die as summer passed to fall, then as fall passed to winter. The trees were covered in a heavy blanket of snow, and the hills danced with radiance from the sunlight striking the layer of white. As she was looking over the sunset, she saw the glimmer of metal in the snow. A helmet. The troops were coming over the hills toward the city gates! In an instant, she was gone from the room, and was seen dashing as fast as she could toward the courtyard. As the gate opened, she stood there looking for Aarik. One by one, soldiers passed by her, but not one of them was Aarik. As she continued to search, she saw one of the two guards who had taken her with them many months ago.
     "Where is Aarik?!" she yelled, making the guard lower his eyes; he suddenly looked weak.
     "H-he is gone...the front lines got flanked. A majority of us fell, but I saw him fighting in the midst of fallen warriors from both sides. The stench of blood filled the air, and I thought I saw a tear roll from his eyes, but it had started to rain, so I couldn't tell. He was shot with an arrow in the chest. Then his ankles were cut by an enemy blade. He fell to his knees, then landed face down, driving the arrow completely through his heart. I'm sorry...I couldn't keep my word." The guard trudged past her, weeping.
     Kari stood in a state of shock, tears building up in her eyes at the news of her lifelong friend falling without her there. She walked through the gates, following the footprints of the returning soldiers. Behind her in the courtyard, the apple tree stood, barren of life--a silent sentinel forever watching the gate for the return of two friends who spent their time under it...

     The old man stopped talking. The fire was low, and the rain had ceased. I noticed most of the other listeners had gone to sleep, except for the bartender and me.
     "What happened to the girl?" I asked.
     The old man looked at me, then to the candle on the window. "She never returned. Some think she wandered around in the cold until she froze. Some believe she went to the battlegrounds to find any trace of where Aarik had been buried, or at least his remains. But if you go to where the front lines stood, you can sometimes see two specters standing back to back with swords drawn."
     I looked at the ground in thought. "Have you ever seen them?"
     The man stood up and stretched, gathered his belongings in a bag, and walked to the door. Before he opened it, he spoke, still facing the door. "Aye, I have."
     I called out after him as he walked out on the path. "Why do you tell this story?"
     The man turned to me, and he suddenly looked older for a moment. "They couldn't save Aarik, and ultimately lost Kari because of it. I will, however, not let their memories die away. No, sir. Not this time." He turned again toward the path and began to walk.
     As I watched him fade into the distance, I saw an emblem on his bag. The emblem of the royal guard.

05032020

THE ADVENT OF THE WRITER

It's been five whole years since last I wrote. Many things have happened. In the fall of 2015, I was admitted to the hospital for clinical depression, having suicidal thoughts and tendencies. I left the college of my dreams (fall 2015), only to return a semester later (fall 2016) and leave once again (spring 2017). I met a woman in college who I fell deeply in love with (fall 2016 through spring 2017). I changed directions and pursued trade school, with a focus on automotive mechanics (fall 2017). I dated the woman of my dreams for a significant time before proposing in the fall of 2018; then, by the summer of 2019, I married my best friend. 

It is now the spring of 2020. The return of the '20s has sure been...something. Most notably, as you all know, the world has been struck by a disease that will be forever known as Covid-19, or "the rona". My feelings on how bad this disease is is irrelevant, but even several months after people became aware of Covid-19, a heavy majority of humanity is still deathly afraid (literally) of this disease. Fear and panic has gripped the hearts of the people and has destroyed what sense of community and oneness we had. We, as a nation, are still wrestling with whether or not life should continue as it was before the disease hit, or if panic should be a new norm. It's still up in the air.

Anyway, so much has happened since I last wrote, but I started watching a show where the main character is an aspiring writer of romance novels, but is struggling to find a foothold. The relevant topic here is that I just want to get back into blogging more. It's comforting to me to be able to share my thoughts to people who might be interested. So, without any further delay, my next post next week will be about salvation and beliefs between denominations of the same religion. I was speaking with my wife on the subject and it got me thinking about the people who I know who are the topic of the discussion and how their views differ from my own (and boy, do I have differing views on some topics with people...but that's a whole different discussion for another post). As always, if you're reading this and want to say hi, or even encourage me to continue writing, please say so in the comments below. Any and all support helps. Till next time, friends.

Seeking What?

Searching...

It happens every now and then, I find myself searching for something to fill an emptiness that I feel in the midst of everything going on in my life. Friends, hours at work, a position at the college of my dreams, the relationship I've read about, written stories of, and dreamed about, and even the increase of my net worth. Through all of these wishes and dreams, I haven't lost sight of what truly matters: growing in my relationship with my Creator, my Lord, my Savior, my Friend, and my God.

So why am I still searching? Personally, I think it sums up to this: for nearly 21 years, I have fallen, failed, disobeyed, ran from, hid, and lied to and from everyone and everything in my life. Things get better as I continue in my walk with God, but there is always a lingering want in the back of my mind at at the bottom of my heart. People say God has "predestined" if you will, a person for each and every living person on earth to possibly live out their lives together. I myself am not sure how accurate that belief is; however, that person is who I am searching for. Even though this search may yield fruitless results, it's as the saying goes, "you will miss every single shot that you don't take."

A good friend of mine told me that it isn't wrong to have feelings for more than one girl at a time. To this day, I still struggle with that thought. How can I say I have meaningful feelings for someone if those same "meaningful feelings" are towards another person at the same time? Doesn't that simply make my feelings shallow and unfounded? Also, adultery is defined as "voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse." So by definition, having feelings for someone who is dating another can't be labeled as adultery because one: they aren't married and two: unless the lustful thoughts come into mind when looking at said woman intrude into your thoughts, voluntary sexual intercourse does not happen. These arguments are weak and uneducated, but that's what growth is for. Learning answers to questions that you may not have had the correct answers for in the first place.

Now the matter of lust is a bit different. Lust is defined as "very strong sexual desire". A pure relationship before marriage has and should have nothing to do with sex. Having feelings for a person who is dating doesn't automatically make you lustful. Again, envy is also different. "A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck" or "desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else)." A person is not a quality, possession, or attribute of anyone, especially when only dating. Can someone show envy for another person's girlfriend/boyfriend, even though neither person is the other's possession? People are not and should not be labeled as possessions. Before marriage, a person belongs to their parents and God. Until then, one person's girlfriend is not, at the same time, their possession.

Now, here's my struggle. I have had these feelings for people who are already in relationships with someone; not showing any signs and restraining myself from bringing them up. When I make a friend, it starts at loyalty. I have chosen to become one's friend, and that sets a bond between the two of us. Sometimes, as that bond grows, admiration begins to form. Admiration blossoms into feelings, feelings into whatever goes beyond that. Love is not an accurate word I don't believe since this word has become far to over-used and abused throughout the years. The Bible clearly states what love is, and for each and every one of my friends, I love them. But loving my friends and loving someone truly special to me sometimes becomes difficult to discern the differences between. Regardless, I press onward, searching for that person whom I will come to love more deeply than I have any other one of my friends. I may have already met her, I might not have. That's what makes God such a beautiful mystery. Our lives are not set in stone. Having free will, we can carve our own relationships as we see fit.

What do you all think? Any questions or comments are welcome in the comment section below.

What is Love?

I ask myself, "What is love?"

Many thoughts have provoked this question, and I turned to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 for inspiration:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (ESV)

God is love, so this definition of love shows a fraction of God's character to us; however, it is not just applicable to God only. We can apply this idea to how we love each other and ourselves. Couples say "I love you" or "Love you, too, babe" all the time, and I sometimes wonder about their basis of saying it. Here's a scenario: the campus dance is coming up, and a friend asks you to be their "date" for the dance. You agree to go, and the two of you make plans for before, during, and after the dance. The afternoon before the dance, your friend says: 1) "Hey, I decided not to go because I have a ton of homework that I shouldn't put off," or 2) "I know I asked you to go, but someone else asked me and I felt really bad for them, so I decided to go with them instead." This person is your friend, but they changed the plan that the two of you had come up with together, and you made drastic changes to your schedule that week in order to make it to the dance.

Most people would be something above furious or distraught, but you love them. Not in the previously mentioned sense of the word, but in the Christian definition. Being angry at your friend for any reason does not show the love described in 1 Corinthians. In addition to the scenario, just think about all the times you went back on a promise or skipped out on plans with a friend or group of friends, all for your own gain, be it justified or not. Hypocrisy has never been anything but taboo throughout history.

Unconditional love is one of the rarest aspects of life that can be found, next to unquestioning faith and purity in relationships. If one of our goals as Christians is to become more Christ-like, then the love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is a great place to start our journey.

What are your thoughts? Leave them in the comment section below.

Combating Thoughts

Due to a three-day endeavor during the week of November 10th through the 13th, I have come to realize a great deal of things. One of which being that my problems could always be worse. The people I was with those three days all had it worse than I did. Secondly, I have been taught that no emotional reaction to a situation comes without a provoking thought. Our brains process situations at a tremendous speed that is generally overlooked and creates the misconception that situations, circumstances, and events cause emotions, where in reality, it is the thought that races in our minds that create the emotions. Have you ever been cut off while driving and gotten so angry that you just lose it? Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't the fact that you got cut off that made you mad, it was that being cut off caused you to think, "That guy/girl is such a jerk. I am mad! He could have killed me!" etc., and those dissected thoughts are what caused your emotional reaction of anger or rage (road rage, to be specific). When we become aware of this fact, it becomes possible to control our emotions previously believed to be uncontrollable. Thirdly, my coffee shop dream outweighs most other thoughts in my mind. A thought that would put me in a situation where I would become unable to start Narrow Way would be fought off by my strong desire to one day make that dream into a reality. Your mind will fight itself. It's like an immune system: an alien, infectious, or damaging thought is placed in our brain. In reaction to that, our brain sends positive, supportive, and good thoughts to combat the bad thought(s). Our brain protects itself without our knowledge.

A secret to controlling your thoughts is something psychologists call the three step process: 1) Is the thought based on fact? 2) Will the thought help me do what I want to? and 3) Does the thought make me feel the way I want to feel? If any of these question's answers come out as no, the thought is a bad thought and needs to be changed or discarded. I write this entry specifically to three people in my life that I know could use the advice as much as I did. The Bible says in Psalm 18:16-20, "He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me." Our God is not one to leave us alone in our struggles. Many times I have lost sight of that fact, and many times He has brought me back to the narrow way.

I want to reach out to all those hurting in one way or another, giving them some tools to help fight the negative thoughts in their minds so that they can understand how to create only the emotions they want to feel instead of being controlled by their emotions. Thank you all for reading. I will continue to write more than I have been. God bless.

07062015

"As the Night Went On"

     Left hanging, I decided to go to a familiar atmosphere located only a few blocks from my home. As I entered the door, a friendly acquaintance welcomed me and offered my regular seat. I declined, of course, my normal seat requiring a second awareness in order to feel comfortable in that particular spot. In exchange, I picked up the vacant corner booth near the road. 

     I may have encroached a boundary not meant for me to cross. And against an awareness that has gone through major turmoil, at that. My fear of distancing friends from myself creeps from my subconscious to my waking mind even as I write this entry. It's a mere fifty-five minutes until a new day beckons. 

     I stayed about an hour, ate my meal, and drank my coffee. After paying for the meal, I went out to my car and proceeded to drive aimlessly around town; finally, I decided to go home, finished with the night's disappointments. After I got home, dressed for the night, and climbed in bed, I got a call from that awareness, informing me as to why they didn't show up. 

     I would like to believe myself to be a loyal friend, but sometimes, that's just not true. I wrongly assumed the situation behind my friend's back. Man, do I feel like an idiot tonight--and after a promise to be friends for as long as life will allow it. I couldn't ask for a better friend, only to be a better one myself. 

     If you're reading this, keep this in mind always: people have lives. You're not the center of the world, and people have to work through their own problems. Just remain loyal to your friends, and they will remain loyal to you in exchange, if they are true friends.

Thanks for reading. Please leave comments below if you want.