Guest Writer #3: TC

Guest Writer #1: SpeakingMyMind
Guest Writer #2: Letters To You

First off, I just really want to thank Rodmond for letting me use his blog and just express some of the things that have really been on my mind lately. I think ever since I have gone off to university I have just fallen so far away from god. He’s something that almost non-existant to me, someone that I talk about occasionally, but never truly experience myself. Something that really hit me, but something I always knew was what Jefferson Bethke said. Can you really say that you have a loving relationship with god, someone that you love and know, like your wife and your friends? In these recent weeks I have just been awoken by a lot of the messages and things that have surrounded me, however I still have one feet in the world. I want to get closer to god, I want to glorify him. However, at the same time I’m still so tempted by the things of this world, success, partying, pride, etc. I think that one thing that was just really awoken my thirst for god, is this one girl. I don’t know her all that well, and I just recently met her at a party. I thought she was so cute, and that I would love to meet her. However, later on I found out that she is a Christian, and is one that is actually committed to Christ. Here I am drinking and doing things that may not be pleasing to god, and here is a godly women that seeks Christ. I think that really showed me that if I ever wanted to get into a relationship with her, or another god seeking women, I really need to evaluate myself first. I need to change a lot of my ways and prepare myself to be the right man. Because when the time comes, and god has blessed me with the person that I will spend the rest of my life, I want to be ready, I want to be able to “love my wife like Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” –Ephesians 5:22-33. I want to grow in Christ together with her, rather than making her stumble. I want to be the godly man that god envisioned in the scriptures. Someone that can keep his heart pure in times of temptations, has integrity, works hard, devotes himself to god, and never give up. I want be the man that she can grow together in Christ with.

-TC

The Future Is...

This picture really puts things into perspective...I'm in my senior year...and I'm staying back one year before I graduate...but damn, this is intense...seeing my friends getting ready to graduate, taking their grad pics...oh man

Pet Peeves

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people spell my name wrong...especially when we're friends or you've known me for a long time LOL...or when you spell my name wrong on like msn or twitter or something when it's right in front of you...like actually. On the flip side, another one is pronouncing my name wrong lol...happened way too many times in high school lol. People have spelled my name so many different ways lol...Rodman, Redmond, Raymond, Rodmund...I've been called so many different names...Roger...Rodney...Raymond...Rod-man...like c'mon cuh...

Lloyd Banks - I Don't Deserve You feat. Jeremih

The Quiet Guy

This is more of a public service announcement lol...cuz I've been there and I've done that, so I know what it's like. Some will argue I'm still like that, but compared to before, I've come a long way. I don't consider myself a quiet guy, I consider myself a shy guy/reserved guy in certain environments and around certain people lol. But yeah, when I see people who are quiet or people who keep to themselves, don't approach anyone and no one approaches them...it reminds me of me...and I see myself in them...and because I know what it's like, I sorta know what they think. For me at least...when I was super quiet...I know I put up a front and I have this really mean face and demeanour, but secretly I wanted someone to approach me and I wanted someone to talk to me. I just didn't know how to show it or express myself. Because I've been there and done that and am somewhat over that phase...I really do wanna do my part to try to reach out to those who are quiet because I don't want them to have to go through the same things as me lol...but yeah, that's just my schpeal...I've realized my blog posts this month are under average...well not average cuz I don't know what the average is, but I mean I have less posts than the day of the month it is...meaning there's been like less than 1 post per day lol...

Big Sean - All Figured Out

My Happy Place

Your happy place is somewhere you go to...when you're scared, afraid, stressed, those kinds of things. I remember when I first watched Happy Gilmore and Happy goes to his happy place to relax and de-stress. I have a few happy places...but my OG happy place...something that always gives me peace, is really random. Okay, I remember in elementary school when I was like less than grade 4...we had this assembly and don't ask why...but they were showing us movies...so the first movie was called the Red Room...I forgot what it's about and what happened, but I remember it was scary as heckkkkk and I was freaking out for the longest time...and after that they showed this weird cartoon film...but it eased my mind. It was 2 frogs dressed in like suits and fancy clothes in this fancy banquet hall thing, chilling and eating cookies and drinking coffee and tea...and for some reason, that gave me peace. My happy place then and still sometimes is me chilling with those 2 well dressed frogs, eating cookies, drinking tea and coffee...I don't even know why, when I get scared...I close my eyes and honestly I still picture that sometimes...it's weird lol.

Embarrassing Elementary School Stories

So with Halloween being in a few days, thought I'd share with you guys a super embarrassing yet funny story. So first things first...I've NEVER dressed up as anything for Halloween...no joke..I've always went in regular clothes when I was a kid. While everyone was ninjas and fairies and cowboys and princesses, I was just this random kid going door to door getting candy lol. So in like grade 3 or 4....my teacher was like okay everyone wear your halloween costumes tomorrow and we'll take a class picture. So I had this sick idea of going as the guy from Scream with that black robe and sick mask...but first I had to ask my parents who were like NO...that's bad and it's expensive...my mom was like, here's a better idea, why don't you go dressed as your dad...you can borrow one of his shirts and just go dressed as him...LOOOOOOL. So the next morning, my dad gives me one of his shirts, which I still have to this day...and it's like down to me knees, the sleeves are like danging off my arms and I'm just wearing regular pants. So in my head, I'm like okay please tell me at least one other person didn't wear a costume or has something stupid on. I go to class...EVERYONE has a costume...girls are like cats, princesses, fairies...guys are like ninjas, doctors, monsters...and here I am looking like a damn fool with this oversized shirt. All my friends, random people, teachers all came to me going...why are you wearing a big shirt...and I'm like, I'm dressed as my dad for halloween...they all laughed at me so bad lol. So teacher's like okay all the girls let's take a picture with your costumes, they all look cute and stuff. All the guys now, they all have their costumes and here I am at the corner of the picture clearly visible with a stupid baggy shirt LOL...thanks dad, worst moment of life...the worst thing is I still have all those photos cuz they were in the yearbook LOL

From Me To You...

I'll never meet your expectations and I probably never will, and I'm slowly becoming okay with that. I'll never meet the expectations I put on myself because I think I have to please you or meet your standards and be someone I'm not, and I"m okay with that. I'll never be him, I'll never be in your eyes what you are to me, and I'm okay with that. I'll never be enough for you, you'll never view me the same as I view you, and I'm slowly accepting that you'll never care for me as much as I care about you...and I'm okay with that. You're going to find someone who cares about you as much as I do...hopefully more, but you'll reciprocate that feeling...and I'm okay with that. You're going to find a guy that's going to be and should be the most important man in your life and vice versa for me...and I'm okay with that. We have our own paths, obstacles and destinations that we gotta walk...and I'm okay with that. I'm slowly becoming numb to you as of late and you're just become another someone...and I'm okay with that. You have your life and I have mine, we're going to grow up, grow old and move on...and hopefully and surprisingly, I think I'm okay with that.

Love Hate Thing

2 am thoughts...

Embrace Your Struggle

I was reflecting like yesterday and two days ago...just about losing my macbook and my wallet in my second year and always failing 3 courses and stuff. It all started during bible study during fellowship on Friday...when we were talking about how when God lets you indulge in your desires, in things like money and stuff, it's not a good thing, it's a punishment, cuz those things become your master...and I was a slave to those things. I had never had a laptop before and my first laptop ends up being a macbook, something I like begged my parents fot, obv it's good, but I also wanted it moreso to show off and stuff...and my wallet, I had A LOT of money in there...don't even know why I kept so much...I'm talking bills on bills on bills...but yeah...God taking that away from me...was a reminder...was Him saying HEY,,,I'm still in control buddy...I gave you all these things and I can just as easily take it away. And we were going through this passage that talked about wives...submit to your husbands...husbands...love your wives...children, obey your parents...parents, don't provoke your kids...slaves, obey your master...masters, be fair to your slaves. So we were talking and the question came up of the 3 pairs mentioned...which do you relate to at the moment...and I started thinking about my life...and how I was and still am a lot of the times a slave...slave to earthly things...to materialistic things, to lust, to a lot of earthly things...that's when I started thinking about my macbook and stuff. And the next day I started thinking more...and this specific sermon came to mind, it was quite a while ago...but the pastor was talking about how sometimes things in your life will happen...that you just don't understand...it could be good things, bad things, devastating things...but things happen that are simply out of your control and you can't explain or understand it. And sometimes...you won't understand it till days, weeks, months or even years later...but all you need to hold onto is that God is in control, He has a plan and He has a reason for all of this. All you need to know is that this is happening in your life for a specific reason, God has placed you in this specific place and time, this specific obstacle or trial...for a specific reason...that you won't understand till later down the road. But when you do understand, you'll realize that it was all necessary...the pain, the struggle, the stress...in order for you to get to where you are right now. Looking back, I've been through a heck of a lot...failed courses, lost items, severe injuries, being down in my faith...but it has all led up to this point...to where I am right now...I'm not done yet, far from it...still have lots left to go in my walk with God...but I'm slowly learning to embrace my struggle,,,to know that God has placed these obstacles in my life for a reason...succeed or fail...I know it's for a reason, to learn, to grow, to mature...and to most of all become more like Christ...so that's just me...and how I'm accepting the fact that struggle, pain, trials, tests...are all apart of life, but they help you...and I'm doing my best to embrace it...and giving thanks to God in the process.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever youf ace trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything." - James 1:2-4

Shoutouts To You

My homie made a song a while ago in memory of this dude we went to high school with who passed away...RIP to you, wherever you are...but shoutouts to my homie, wherever YOU are...I miss you, I pray you're doing well...all the best brother.

God Is Always In Control

I've been really busy as of late and the stress has been piling up...been studying for midterms...got lots of things to plan for church...still working on the project for the blog and just a bunch of other things. But God is always in control and His timing is perfect...and here I am...my plate is slowly being cleared one thing at a time...just finished a midterm on Tuesday...one more on Thursday then got reading week the last week of October. Prepping for church is going well, got the ball rolling and it's still good and stuff, and yeah. Honestly tho, you don't know how excited I am for you guys to see the project that I'm working on...haven't done much physical work yet, but I have most of the details outlined and I just gotta get the ball rolling...can't wait man. On that note...can you believe it's already mid October...in 2 months and a bit, bam...the year's over...and by the time January rolls along, that's half the school year done too...time literally does fly. My mom is pretty set on going back to Singapore this summer for like 2 weeks to a month...I'm pretty excited to visit fam and chill with cousins...but at the same time I wanna do summer school and also play softball as well...so hopefully they don't conflict. But yeah, all the stress and whatnot...it just really helped remind me that God is always in control...and He uses stressful and hard times to change us, shape us and help us grow...and that's really encouraging. When your life is fine....that's when you should be worried, def something I keep reminding myself of.

What Happens In Jail...

I always laugh out loud every time I see this...

What Am I Thankful For...

Today's Thanksgiving...why not do one of these lol...

This weekend has just been really nice...aside from having a test tomorrow lol. Just being able to chill with friends and family, eat food, it's been really fun. I'm thankful for a lot of things...and the first if God...who always has and always is by my side through it all. I pray that I'll continue to grow and learn and mature...whether that means going through tough times or trials...I know my God is with me. I pray that I'll continue to grow in my walk with Him and understand and become a godly man. I'm thankful for my family...your family are the only people who've loved you since the beginning...literally since the beginning...and they're always there for you. My parents especially...I've mentioned it numerous times...but I'm so damn appreciative of everything they do, all the hard work, all the effort and tired and stressful nights they have...cuz they don't do it for themselves...they don't do it so they can go buy things for themselves...they do it to pay the bills, to put food on the table, to put clothes on my back...to make my life easier...I love them to death. I'm thankful for my friends...honestly where would I be without them...when i say friends...I mean all my friends...christian, non christian...you're all my fam...you're my support system...you build me up and you're there for me to say good job...or to say man that was stupid...and I thank you for that. I'm thankful to just be healthy and to be able to have an education...cuz some people are honestly not that fortunate...or some people are barely scraping by and I think about how lucky I am and how my parents pay for my school and stuff. I'm thankful that I'm still here...21 years later...I'm still healthy, I'm still growing, I'm still learning...I'm so thankful for that. But yeah...there's obv small things I'm thankful for as well...but like God, family, friends, school and health...pretty much sum it all up.

From The Heart: Changes Part 3

http://thebestyouneverheard.blogspot.ca/2012/11/from-heart-changes.html

http://thebestyouneverheard.blogspot.ca/2012/11/from-heart-changes-part-2.html

http://thebestyouneverheard.blogspot.ca/2012/12/changes-thats-just-way-it-is-things.html

http://thebestyouneverheard.blogspot.ca/2012/12/changes-thats-just-way-it-is-things_6002.html

I stumbled upon these 4 posts and I guess it struck a nerve in me you know. Lately I've been thinking a lot...about people I haven't seen in a while, people I haven't talked to in a while...people I was once close to and perhaps am not so close to anymore. Especially with this weekend being Thanksgiving...it's given me a lot of time to reflect. Instead of just going off on how I may not be close to certain people anymore and such...thought I'd just talk to you guys. I illustrated to my friend a few days ago...how I feel like me and this one friend, we used to be close, but we're not anymore, we still talk and can have a conversation...but things are different. Whether I changed or the other person changed, when we talk...when we chill, it's not the same. I didn't mean either of us changed in a negative way either. I felt like we both have the same destination, we're still the same people, we're still growing...but we're just growing in different directions, we just took different paths. And I think that's the case with a lot of my friends...we all have similar goals...whether that's finish school, start a family, move out...whatever...but we're taking different paths...so it seems like we're distant...but we're all heading to the same place. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that for certain people who I've been thinking a lot about...though things may be different right now...and we're on different paths...I have hope that our paths will cross if it's meant to be...and if or when our paths do cross...it'll be nice...cuz we'll both have changed and grown and matured as people.

170,000 HITS

Wow...just wow. I'm gonna skip the usual thank yous and oh my gosh I can't believe it and that kinda stuff. Honestly...this is just the beginning...I feel like I'm still just starting the race you know, this is like a stepping stone...I haven't reached the goals I've envisioned for this blog and I'm not satisfied with where this blog is at right now...I'm proud and thankful...but nowhere near satisfied...I have big dreams and goals for myself and this blog. So here's to another milestone...but here's to added motivation of wanting more...and wanting to do more. I told you there's a super special project under wraps that I hope to get out soon to you guys...and the best part is...it's all about, all for, and featuring YOU GUYS...when it comes out, it'll all make sense. But 170,000...what can I say but thank you...I may write the posts on this blog, but you visiting every day, every now and then, here and there, whenever you remember...that's what keeps me going...so until 200,000...thank you.

Old Habits Die Hard

I'm sorry lol...tomorrow's Monday...,meaning it's been pretty much a week with no posts lol my bad. But uh...it's been a pretty slow and dull week...just school literally, my back's been aching a lot, so I've been taking a break from working out and probs will continue this week since I got midterms to study for anyways. This weekend is thanksgiving weekend and it's been so nice...just seeing everyone come back from university and get to talk and catchup with them. After church today, we didn't have worship practice so my friend who goes to Queens invited me and a couple guys over to his house for a thanksgiving lunch...it was nice...me and 3 other close homies just chilling with his fam and stuff...definitely brought back some great memories. And just even at church it was nice to see everyone back and chilling and having fun and stuff. Interesting story though...I asked my friend to drive me this morning at like 8 ish...fell back asleep and woke up at like 9:30, which is when service starts...saw his text and a missed call, so I assumed he was on his way...got dressed and stuff, it was like 9:40 and he lives pretty close to me, so I was like it can't be taking him this long, so I'm like you on the way? And he called me and goes dude I'm here...I rang your doorbell and no one answered LOOOL cuz I was sleeping...so thankfully he came back and got me and we were both pretty late lol, my bad, thanks homie.

Super Special Crazy Awesome Top Secret Undercover Project

It has begun...December 15th...GET READY!!!

The Next Chapter Of This Blog...

Just been doing a lot of reflecting lately...and surprisingly a lot of reading old posts on this blog...yeah I've just been going through random pages from 2010 - 2012 and just looking at old posts lol...it's been a heck of a ride from 2009 till now...man. Just seeing that we're so close to 200,000 hits...it'll probs take us a few months seeing the average amount of views per month...but still, that's pretty sick...200,000...wow, I know that's a small number compared to things like how many followers celebrities have on twitter or how many views youtube videos have...but to me...200,000...is surreal...it's a dream come true...it's become my life...my hobby, my passion. And another things...in about 2 months...it'll be this blog's 4th anniversary...and I have a couple things in mind, nothing too fancy or crazy, but it'll be special hopefully. With 200,000 hits and the 4th anniversary right around the corner and this year coming to an end and me turning 22 next year...it's just got me thinking about life...and what a ride it's been...and of course what I plan on doing with this blog...who really knows lol...imagine if I'm married, have kids and I'm still blogging LOOOOL and like my wife and kids read what I secretly think LOL...oh man...but yeah I got a couple of ideas for the 4th anniversary, it should be interesting, thanks for sticking with me this far on this incredible and amazing journey.

The Wedding Singer Scene

Dear God

So today at fellowship, we had a chance to break off into groups and share a bit and just chill...one question that I really thought about was if you had a question for God, what would it be?

I used to always wanna ask God why do bad things happen...or more specifically why do bad things happen to good people while like criminals get set free or innocent people die...things like that you know. But I guess the context of my question was moreso like oh God I serve in church a lot, I do good things, why do bad things happen to me. And it's so ironic and my friend who was sharing something to me told me that God rewards those he loves...but he also disciplines those he loves. God uses trials and temptations and obstacles to teach us...so when we think we're failing or about to fall...know that God is teaching you, moulding you, chiselling you...to his likeness. My question then shifted to...what is my purpose in this life...or what is your plan for me God? What am I gonna do in the future? What am I gonna do after school? Am I going to find a job that's related to all this studying and reading I'm doing? What do you have planned for my family...my brother...,my aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives. Where and what am I going to be like in 5 years...10 years...will I have a stable job...a wife...a family. When or if I get married...what will my wife be like...have I met her already. There's all these things I want to know...about God's plan for me...and my future...but I know and I tell myself it's like reading the end of a novel before you even start it...you ruin the ending for yourself and yeah you can read the story and the character will go through all these tough times and trials, but you know they're going to be okay cuz you read the ending. I guess it's a constant reminder to myself that life is liek that....that it would be no fun and pointless to know the ending...all I know is that I'm going to be okay...and that God has a plan for me and it's going to be beautiful. But sometimes...things just get real frustrating...like my 2 biggest things are always what am I going to do in the future...and who is my future wife. I guess I'm just at that age where I'm thinking or should be thinking about those things After school what's going to happen...moving out, getting a job, supporting my parents, starting a family. And then a wife...a girl who I can see myself spending the rest of my life with...someone I can grow old with...someone I will grow in my walk with Christ, someone I will sacrifice for and put above myself...someone I will protect and love...I trust you God...you've never left me, you've never failed me...and I know you never will.

Friends Turned Strangers

I've just been thinking a lot lately...about people...specific individuals...who I was once and perhaps still am close to...but for some reason, I just feel distant from them, or we haven't talked in a while, or things just aren't the same. The people I'm thinking of are more along the lines of I was once close to them...and now...I'm not...things are just different, you know. It sucks...cuz I'll hang with these people, and we'll talk and stuff, but it's not the same as it was before. I'm just thinking of all the deep and heart to heart talks I would have with these people...all the night outs we had where we'd chill or something...it's just a downer, thinking of all the close friends who have become...well strangers...but yeah, don't even wanna get too much into this cuz it's saddening lol

Drake - Own It

Fast & The Furious...

Man...driving is awesome...just having that freedom to go wherever you want. Like today for example...went to church to play ball after visiting the hospital...then had this craving for mcdonalds drink and drove myself there, and the drive home was so relaxing...no traffic...soothing music, man it's nice. Just thought I'd share that with you...sorry I myself have been so slacks lately on blogging. I've been getting so caught up with asking people get guest write on my blog lol...there's been 2 so far...but I've asked like at least 4 people already who all said yes...so maybe I'll let people post once a week...but def not to the point where you guys don't even read my posts or it's more of them blogging than it is me lol...