A Nice Reminder

"What shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Romans 8:31

Chillin

It has been a really chill day...

It's nice to just sit back and relax with the person you love and not have to worry about tests and agendas...

Ashley and I today went to the city and walked around Harn Homestead (it was freezing!) and she showed me around the place. I am really excited, I think its a great place...can't wait!

Afterwards we went to Cuppies and Joe's (we got there and a whole school bus of kids were dropped off, but they were kind and let us go on ahead of them). Good coffee. Strong. Cupcakes, eh they are okay. Its only because we have been spoiled...Hey Cupcake in Austin...amazing.

And so now were both just hanging out...were gonna do some cheap cooking later and put in a movie.

God is definitely good to those who love Him.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

"O Jack"

I have been scatter brained today...so if this all appears random like Mendel's 1st Law...then so be it.

Last night, I was reading Mere Christianity (I read it often). And stumbled upon the chapter "Christian Marriage". (You would think an individual would become immune to a writer's diction, and style...but I can never quite tap out of the brilliance of C.S. Lewis. If he wasn't in Heaven...we would have been great friends here.)

Well, I've seen the Notebook more times than I have wanted. Titanic too. (O Jack). I've seen the little Disney films (I am disturbed my some people's notions that Disney Movies are equivalent to Christian Morals and Christ; and are actually in some cases more encouraged than Scripture. O Disney.)
And whats the theme here?!                                       

"And they lived happily ever after. The End."

Okay seriously...have we not been conditioned into believing this? Isn't the notion....We shall be in love forever. A constant...overwhelming state of Euphoric Love. Never ending...

O dear how dumb is this?! Has anyone tried to actually love someone?! Its near insanity at times. And near cosmic bliss at times as well. Why is it so up and down?!

O I forgot its a feeling... and so did Hollywood.

The constant theme of every "engagement book" (Man I love those two words) is that the feeling of euphoric love doesn't last...Can we please go deeper?

The reason it doens't last is because we never killed the First Thrill at all. "Only something that truly lives has died." Love that never continues is love that never died. We want to hold onto that First Thrill. "O First Thrill where did you?" "O First Thrill come entertain me?!!" "O First Thrill I wanted you to be love".

Instead..."O First Thrill you were amazing...and thank you...but is time for you to go now. Second Thrill awaits".

I will try to relate this to my life post-baseball. Do you think I would be miserable right now if I still held onto baseball as my Thrill? (What kinda question is that Tim, we know you did love the game.) My point exactly...I let that Thrill die.

 Can we look at the vows please?

From this day forward,

For better or for worse,

For richer,

For poorer,

In sickness and

In health,

Until

Death do us part.

Did Snow White write those? I think not. O God help us.

Defining Moments

I met a man in the airport two years back. That same man happened to sit beside me on the plane. That same man happened to be a pastor. And that same man I never saw again...and probably never will. But I will never forget what he told me..."In our life, there will be defining moments, they will either make or break us".

Ashley and I were sitting down for lunch Friday. And I asked her a question, "Why Marriage?"
"I mean, have you ever asked yourself that, Why Marriage?" I said. And a moment of silence followed, by a moment of defining...with watery eyes, she said "Well, God's love".

I look back, and see how God's Sovereign Hand has been all over my life. From the times of destruction and despair, to the times of healing and new found life. Defining moments all around. How do I know God is real? I have experienced Him... Ashley said it best this weekend after church, "There is nothing like seeing a grown man cry, and in the same sentence say, "I know it because its real". (A man gave his testimony over being healed from a neck injury, very moving and emotional indeed).
What atheist can tell this man any different? What stubborn pharisee can tell this man any different? What secular man can tell this man any different?  None. Nobody. Why?

Because he experienced it.

Whats the connection Tim?  Without a doubt I know...Ashely Hart is a God-given defining moment.

Moment by moment.

 Day by Day.

Year by Year.

Until we both finally fade away...

 (If that was mushy...good. Because I've been hard clay before...that stuff ain't mold able. See Jeremiah 18. Peace homes.)

A Stubborn Sandwich?

A Stubborn Sandwich? Where do you get those?!

Well they aren't at Lubys or on the $5.00 Foot long menu at Subway either...at least not yet, you never know with Lubys (despite their best efforts NOT to include hair on their products).

In all the "engagement books" I have a growing consensus...that there is something missing. (Really?)

Its called the topic of Pride.

Pride is the number one poison in every relationship. Because when two individuals come together to live and love...both each other's Pride is in competition. For Competition is Pride...

             "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more
             of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich,
            or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud
            of being richer, cleverer, or better-looking than the others.
           If everyone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking
           there would be nothing to be proud about. It is the comparison
           that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest.
          Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone."
                                                        - C.S. Lewis on "The Great Sin"

Therefore when two fallen creatures, both deeply poisoned with Pride by the Fall...come to together as "one"...must always be in prayer each day....simple, yet profound..."Father, Show me how to love!"

I don't know much...but I know whats inside of me. Therefore I don't have to look far...to realize just how sinful we all are. (Take it or leave it but heres a poem I wrote. Enjoy)

“Did anyone eat their daily stubborn sandwich?”

Yum it tastes good…so rich.

“Oh hey Pride, did you want to come on in?

I think there is room in the Selfish den.”

Why thank you thank you,

I do I do;

I will try not to moan and groan

But you know Me I am hard as stone.

“Well that’s just years of practice,

Never giving into all that “die to self” racket.”

Yes that would hurt,

And I prefer staying clean from all that white dirt.

“Yes yes,

Only You think the best.

Well hope you enjoy your stay,

Win! Win! Win! Whatever may!”

Thank you thank you,

I do… I do. 

Can I get an Amen?!?!

Last night, I was reading and stumbled upon a proverb that made me stop, exhale, and want to swim in it's Truth. All men can connect with these two verses more so than any marital book available:

"There are three things that are too amazing for me,
            four that I do not understand:
                      the way of an eagle in the sky,
                          the way of a snake on a rock,
                               the way of a ship on the high seas,
                                         and the way of a man with a maiden." - Proverbs 30:18-19

Can I get an Amen?!?!

(Amen. Hallelujah. Glory.)

Now I don't want to condone ignorance...okay men cause that would be easy to say "well I guess we won't ever understand them, so what's the use in trying". Okay no...that is ignorance. And ignorance will get you a hollow relationship, with stoical ideals passed down from generations of ignorance. (Trust me I grew up in the south and am currently living in West Texas...mmk.) These verses, talk of a Reality. Men will never fully understand women.

I am relieved to know though that I will never fully understand Ashley Hart; relieved to know though that I can still pursue her, come to know more of her, and grow to understand her.

(Am I anywhere close? NO... I still pee on the seat and complain about shopping at the mall)

Different:

While doing genetics I took a break...and I read a little more of my engagement book "What Every Husband Should Know" by Jack Taylor, and while sitting there on the "pot" aka the toilet I found something so refreshing....We are all uniquely different.

Not just men and women, but you and me in general. (duh Tim)

but.. Lately it seems as if I have been feeling a weight of being "accepted"; but the ironic thing is, what am I trying to be? No two men are alike in feature, genetics, and personality. Then why is there this "air" that pollutes us to try and be somebody we aren't? It is robbing us of our freedom...This "air" forms chains...it forms walls...it kills any such thing called Genuine Love. The insecurity of this age (caused by the excessive impluse of materialism and consumerism, aka "coolism") is a broken cistern that we keep drinking from. This group that group, this group that group...all formulated by a "false air" of "thats what I am suppossed to be". And chasing the false wind we fall down; and forget who we are.

I am Tim Kriegel...who are you?

"But by the grace of God I am what I am..." (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Dancing Soreness

Whenever did sweating while playing a video game become even a thought? I remember being a "blueberry" sized kid playing Mario Kart on the 64...did I sweat? Are you kidding...I ate cheese-its and listened to some Nelly with my boi Matt Whitman.
 But now however, (mature as I am) I dance. Just Dance 2 I do. I bought it because Ashley and I get bored with the mundane TV watching (I would rather read, she would rather watch TV) so we create this thing called "Compromise". Yeah I think it might be a lost art, because we didn't realize that even being so young, being so "in love", and being so "drawn together" that "little foxes" would come try to ruin this love vineyard. (Holla at ya boi Solomon).
So we "Compromised" and played some Just Dance 2. And my butt is sore (both of them) and my foot I think I sprained. (Give me a break). But it was rather nice, to receive some "High 5's" on our dancing abilities, go on a walk afterwards, and then feel "guilt-free" afterwards eating at our favorite place in town , The Beehive. The soreness was worth it indeed.
With all the silliness aside I realize now another "soreness" that can arise....the "soreness" of an unapologetic heart. (Remember the engagement books?) My last chapters of both of my books are over "Apologizing". And I admit, I really didn't think too much of the chapters (duh you say "I am sorry" and everything gets better, come on Einstein enlighten me). I thought.
But now I see at times, my lack of extending the "sorry". Ok yeah lets "Compromise"... and were doing something together (check), but something still inside me wants it my way, my time, my, my, my ,my, my. Wow...

You don't realize how selfish you are, until you have been with someone you love....even more so...

You don't realize how selfish you are...until you try not to be.

Crippled Feet

I write poetry from time to time. Some men don't, some men do...and I don't think you are "less of a man" if you do or don't. I just want to use my talents for Him...

We stare; and never ask, why?

For It would take up too much time;

All around you look and you see crippled feet,

Barely making a sound as they walk to a dead beat;

Lame cries die out by the noisy gongs

Desperately being desperate for too long;

Love was never intended to sparkle with valentine cards

As they aimlessly are thrown to the junkyard dogs;

It was meant to heal,

It was meant to be real;

From the pulpit we preach

But what is the use if it never hits the streets?

As the tears roll down from humanity

They wait for us to come to Reality;

Genuine love, where art thou?

It would seem you are too lofty now

Crippled feet pass you by

We stare; and never ask, why?

A Pre-marital Prime Minister

Due to the recent decision to be engaged to Ashley Hart. I have been reading "engagement" books.

"You didn't read the baby books, dude you shouldv'e read the baby books" - Knocked Up.

And that about sums it up.

 If there are unlimited resources for such a thing as "pre-marital counseling" why not engage? (no pun intended) By the time I am done reading, practicing, and studying these books, I feel as if to start my own book titled "The 6th love language: A Pre-Marital Prime Minister". And then the 7th language: And then the 8th love language. And pretty soon I would continue to create so many love languages that a whole other language was born. Ok seriously...I really have learned quite alot in so little a time; for man's problem is we are good at what we put time into...unfortunately it is video games and sports and careers. So for a week I have been "engaging" in this thing called marriage. Here are the themes: Euphoric feelings dont last; communication is pivotal, which requires men to listen; There will be conflict; Selfishness must die; Sacrifice and compromise are a must; It takes work; Never segregate, always be together; And all from this derives the biblical purpose of being 'one flesh'; Clean the toilet; Did I say teamwork already?; Dont give in to absenteeism; Do not fight over baubles such as TV, computer, and the rest; Did I say Unity already? And the list could go on....so for the most important part what did I really learn this week? SELFISH PURSUITS MUST GO...IT IS NO LONGER "I"...BUT "WE". Hope you enjoyed; the Pre-Marital Prime Minister signing off. Chao.

Blogging...with a silent B?

I have been jogging. But never have I been blogging.
One time in a far away galaxy there was this thing called paper and pen.
But blogging came along and ruined that fad.
I have never worn spandex. I am glad that isnt a pre-requisite.