It was one year ago that I said goodbye to my friend Orie Wenger. I’ve been thinking about writing a post about my feelings of the moment when he left, and it’s taken me a year for my emotions to calm down enough to write something worthy enough to be tied to his name, so here it goes.

The first time I attended Mt. Zion Christian Fellowship was on Easter 2003. It was the first time I had been to church in nearly 9 years. My girlfriend at the time and her family attended and invited me to come. I absolutely fell in love with the church and the service. Afterward, once my girlfriend’s family was assured that I actually enjoyed myself and wasn’t freaked out by the service, her mother mentioned to me that the pastor was missing a finger on his left hand. Now, I did what any normal person would do, the very next Sunday, I went back and the entire service was trying to see if I could see his hand.

Some time later, Orie took over teaching the high school ministry and that was really the first time I got to know him personally. Let me tell you, I honestly think that man enjoyed making people uncomfortable for their own good. One night at church, he had everyone break into partners and they were going to pray over each other. Now, I had only been going to church for a year and didn’t really know anyone very well and I still wasn’t comfortable with outwardly religious display. Everyone partnered up and I ended up the odd man out. Guess who became my partner… that’s right, Orie. The first thing he asked me to do was to pray over him. I was so scared, but I did it. Afterward, I really felt a trust and connection to the man.

Through the years I got closer to the people that worked at the church and would spend most of my free time during the day hanging out there and helping with anything I could. I would always see Orie come out of his office walking down the hallway and if he was happy, he was always singing or saying “al-le-lu-ya”! If he wasn’t in a good mood, he would hum, and you knew to keep out of his way. But no matter his mood, when he would pass me or see me, he was just say “Ste-Vaan”. I miss hearing that.

Fast forward to Lydia and I. Around the start of 2006, Lydia and I started becoming close friends and so I was around her house and dad more. I got to know Orie on many new levels, some I bet that most people never did. I sweated with the man. I bled with the man. I got splinters from his porch. I helped him pour concrete. I helped him build things. He was my friend.

When he announced that he was sick with cancer, I was scared but I never lost faith and hope. Every day, I woke up and prayed for him and spoke healing over him. I knew without a doubt that the cancer would go away, I never once thought otherwise. In the end, his cancer was gone, he went home whole.

I can’t believe that it has been a whole year already. It has gone by so fast, but every day has gone by too slow as well. The pain is still fresh and so is the memory. I will never forget Orie. Some people called him Pastor. Some called him brother. Some called him son. Some called him Papa. I called him friend. He was my friend, one of the very best that I have ever had and my life will never be the same for having known him. I miss you, friend.

My fellow Americans.  I invite you to join me in burning our nations most treasured document, the United States Constitution.  This document doesn’t really serve a purpose anymore.  It is really more of a show piece now than anything else.

When the constitution was first written, it was meant as a guide for the governing bodies of these United States to establish our liberties and the scope of their responsibility and power.  With the corruption in today’s politicians and our judicial system, the constitution may as well be burned, for it no longer serves its purpose.

Perhaps I should explain my conclusion…

A while back, a good friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer and was told the doctors could offer him no medical help to save his life.  Being a religious man, he chose a path of natural and spiritual healing.  He met with a doctor specializing in homeopathic medicine and within 2 months, the cancer has receeded to stage 1 and still shrinking.

Now most would call that a success story.  Some would call it a miracle.  Others would call it luck.  But whatever you would call it personally, the fact is that he chose a path, and he is being healed.

What does this have to do with burning the constitution?  Well, today (5/15/09) a Minnesota judge ruled that a 13 year old boy must undergo chemotherapy against his and his parents wishes.

The boy was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was told he would have a 90% chance of survival with chemo.  Granted, most of us would take that path with those odds, but he and his family chose to take a more naturalistic approach because of religious beliefs.

The court has stated that the boy has been “medically neglected” by his parents and that he is unable to understand the consequences.  The judge wrote that the boy has “rudimentary understanding at best of the risks and benefits of chemotherapy. … he does not believe he is ill currently. The fact is that he is very ill currently.”  Now, my friend didn’t believe the cancer was his, or that he was sick…the reason being that sickness is not from God, and that cancer is not a natural part of the body, therefore it does not belong there or to you.  Imagine if my friend had been forced to undergo chemotherapy because the courts said he was incapable of making a sound decision because of extreme emotional distress in the face of “certain death”.  Imagine if you make a decision one day about what is best for you, but the court orders that you are incapable of deciding what’s best for you, that they need to step in and tell you what’s best for you.

I love when “doctors”, “politicians”, and “government” tells us “facts”.  They believe that the world operates on a “what you see is what you get” basis.  I bet none of them have bought used car (before they got where they are now) without getting it checked out first.  Sometimes things happen that we can’t explain or that don’t adhear to our “facts”.  This “judge” who is supposed to uphold the constitution and the LAW has squashed not only this family’s but all American’s first amendment right, the freedom of religion.  By this single act, this “judge” is telling this family that their religious beliefs are invalid and that the government can raise our families and make our decisions better than we can.  He is also setting a precedence to destroy all American’s constitutional rights.

That is why I ask you to join me in burning the constitution.  Let it die by our hands rather than theirs!

**original news story located here.

**notes: quotations used for “judge”, “politician” and “government” because that’s what their position is called, but they are not fulfilling the duties of that position.

“Knowing” stars Nicolas Cage who plays a professor at M.I.T. and a single father.  His son comes across a piece of paper that was buried in a time capsule 50 years earlier at his elementary school that contains “random” numbers.  When Nic figures out that the numbers aren’t random and that they have predicted with complete accuracy all of the major disasters in the last 50 years with 3 yet to come true, he tries to warn the authorities to no avail.  So what does Nic, but of course take matters into his own hands.  As the events unfold, you learn of a deeper plot that involves the daughter and granddaughter of the woman who originally wrote the piece of paper, and how the “whisperers” tie in.  It’s a story with twists and turns, action and suspense, and a few moments that will make you jump.

I enjoyed the movie, but I was left slightly disappointed and unsure about how I felt after I left the theater.  I loved the suspense, the non stop heart pounding, the action, and the emotion.  I didn’t like the unnecessary graphic deaths though, and the ending kinda didn’t sell me but it fit so I guess it was ok.

All in all, it was a pretty good movie and I would actually see it again, just not in theaters.  So my official opinion is that I recommend the movie, but I still only give it a 3.5/5.

I haven’t even been playing Halo 3 online for a month yet, and it already holds extreme significance to me.

To me, Halo is more than just a game.  I loved the actual story of the game, but the multiplayer is what has me really hooked.  I have a busy life.  I work 45 minutes from home, so I have to wake up and go to bed earlier than if I worked near by, therefore shortening my day by an hour and a half.  Because of the shorter day, I get less time with my girlfriend, in turn I have less of a drive to leave her and hang out with guy friends.  That’s where Halo comes in.

I’ve experienced extreme fun, relaxation, and friendship all while playing a simple video game online.  I get home late at night, and I’m past the point of wanting to go hang out with people.  I don’t drink, so I can’t go “grab a beer” with my guy friends (I also hate bars).  So when I jump online, and we just chat about things not even Halo related and we encourage each other, it rejuvenates me.

I’m not a big “trash talker”, I don’t “Tea-bag”, I hate listening to trash talking, I don’t like being super competative, I’m just there to have fun, and that’s what most of my friends are there to do as well.  It’s great to hear “good job Steven” as apposed to “I’ve got a higher rank than you”.  Halo has become my safe haven, my personal outlet, my quite place.

So really, Halo is more than just a game to me, it’s a place for me to hang out and have fun with my friends.  That’s what Halo means to me.

*note:  hopefully the post didn’t sound too much like a high school english essay .

The Wheelman.  The unsung hero of the Halo universe.  These fearless and devoted soldiers drive head first ignoring danger while performing insane acrobatic manouvers at high speed, all while their teammate takes the glory.  To these forgotten heros, I salute you.  Without you, my job would be far more difficult.  

The choose particular Wheelman I choose to honor is Gr1mfx.  He has shown me the joy of being a gunner.  I have learned the hard way that putting your life in someone elses hands is not normally a wise thing.  Other drivers I have experienced have always gotten me killed quickly.  Whether it be by rolling the Warthog, slamming head on into a rock, or just stopping in the middle of a fight, every other driver has contributed or caused to a quick death.  

Every good Wheelman will have his own style, and I’ve learned that I best like the style of not dying.  Gr1m maintains constant motion and communicates enemy position to the gunner.  While riding with Gr1m, I don’t have to worry about being shot by targeted enemy fire.  It’s quite a delight to be able to spend all of your concentration on one enemy and if another happens to warrant immediate attention, your driver is looking out for you.  If you win, he wins.  I’ve seen games where Gr1m will go without any kills.  He sacrafices his stats for the greater of the team/teammate.  

So to you Wheelman Gr1mfx, I salute you and I offer you my thanks.  Here’s to many more missions with you at the helm.  To Gr1m!

I just recently got an XBox 360 and have slowly been building up my game base.  I’ve been a fan of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises for years, and have always had to mooch off of friends convincing them to play it again, until now.  On September 9th, 2009 Harmonix and MTV Games will release the newest edition in the Rock Band franchise, The Beatles!

The Beatles have always been my favorite band of all time, followed by AC/DC, so let’s just say that in September, I’ll be having a RockBandgasm.  The details are few as of right now, but what I do know is that the game will follow the entire career of The Beatles, showcasing songs from all of their albums (although it’s highly improbable that their entire collection will be featured).  Also being introduced will be a few new unnamed peripheral “instruments” used by The Beatles on various albums.  The game will be available for software only for $59.99, The Beatles:Rock Band stand alone guitars for $99.99, and a limited edition premium bundle for $249.99.  The Beatles: Rock Band will launch for the 360, PS3, and the Wii.

I am personally stoked about this release and am already planning on purchasing the limited edition premium bundle.

For more information, check out the Press Release.