it's a long post... deal with it

A good friend of Molly and I recently wrote on their site that they were having a hard time with some worldly issues that came up a little while back. A few phone calls later, I found out that it was another case of keeping up with the Jones’s, only in their case, they couldn’t keep up. There was a family that my friends knew pretty well that put a lot more emphasis on the ‘stuff’ that they had acquired in life rather than the relationships with people they held. They weren’t intentionally bragging to hurt anyone’s feelings, but it was very apparent that they wanted to make sure that every glamorous part of their lives were seen by others.

Personally, I’m getting very tired of the ignorance and stupidity of certain individuals in this world. And I can relate to my friend on a very personal level as well. Ever since Molly and I were married, there has been an individual in our lives that constantly asks me how much I make, or what we spent on our van, or when we were planning on buying a new notebook. (As if the one we have now isn’t doing its job). When I was growing up my mom used to always tell me that my dad didn’t care about money. I couldn’t understand this very well at the time; but I understand it now. Putting food on the table is so much more important to me than what Tiger Woods made last year. Giving my children a place to sleep at night holds a lot more value than whether or not they’re sleeping in multi-million dollar home in Aspen. And knowing that my wife can drive from point A to point B in a car with a working heater is much more of a concern to me than whether or not the vehicle is a Honda or Toyota. For some people, (such as my friends’ friend, or the individual in my own life), these simplicities will never be enough. It’s almost as if they can’t decide which master to serve… God or money.

It’s almost as if some people are so concerned about money that they can’t stand it when someone else acquires something that they don’t have. Why is it that people have to be so persistent in keeping up with the Jones’s? Since when did having your needs met take the back seat to credit cards, bank loans and massive mortgages? It upsets me to no end when I have to constantly explain to the ignorant that money, in and of itself, doesn’t define a person, nor does it bring a need for embarrassment when there’s a lack of.

To my dear friend: You need to understand that no matter how much crap others acquire to make themselves feel like the ‘arrived’, they will NEVER compare to you and your family. Yours is the life most should be envious of. With Jesus Christ at the center is truly the only important thing in this life. Don’t forget it!

To our family and friends: I hope you never let yourself get sucked into this ridiculous rat race that most find themselves in. Even in a recession, retailers are still preying on the stupid and naïve individuals to spend just a little more… don’t fall for it.

To my parents: Your example has meant more than words can express. Even the fact that, whether you’re visiting us, or we’re visiting you, a temple trip with Molly is a priority, is worth more to us than you will ever know

And to the rest of the world, with your ignorance, stupidity, cruelness, in humility and pride… you, my friend, can go to hell!


I think Joshua said it best when speaking to Israel:

Choose ye this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.