Lately, while surfing the internet at Gamerzz, I've been listening to 97.5 FM The Oasis. The Oasis is a Christian radio station. If you don't live in the S.L.C. area you can listen to them online at www.975oasis.com. They play a lot of the same music that K-LOVE plays and some that they don't. I really like listening to The Oasis.
I am promoting a New Year's Eve Lock-In (LAN Party) at Gamerzz in Taylorsville. This will be the first time in a long time that I won't be working Security on New Year's Eve. Check out the Gamerzz website for more info.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Merry Christmas, My Friend
Merry Christmas, My Friend
by Corporal James M. Schmidt
‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live.
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps.”
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn’t want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said “Carry on, Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all secure.”
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
©Copyright circa 1991 by James M. Schmidt
(As printed in the December 1991 issue
of the USMC magazine, Leatherneck)
Thanks to Snopes.com for the correct version
and author of the poem.
Click here for the for the MP3 audio version
of "Merry Christmas, My Friend",
titled "Soldier's Silent Night".
Thanks to BlackFive for the audio link.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
NotVeryBright
A few months ago, back when I was working at Club Exchange, I was on the highway going to a friend's house when I saw a car on the side of the highway with it's hazard lights on. I almost always pull over and help people on the side of the road unless I am on the way to work with no time to spare. I pulled over and the guy that was driving the car had run out of gas (I'll call him OutOfGas). I offered to give him a ride so he could get some gas. He accepted my offer so we got in my car (the one that's totaled now) and got off of the highway at the next exit.
We went to a Chevron gas station just off of the highway but when we walked up to the door the employee was locking the door and taping a sign to the door that said they would be temporarily closed while he did paperwork for the last shift (I guess he was working a double). We waited for about 10 minutes or so and then the cashier started counting change. I thought it might be a while longer before he was going to re-open so I suggested that we go to a different gas station. We got in my car and headed north on State Street.
We went to a Phillips 66 and I went in to get a snack and a drink while he pumped the gas using his credit card (he had brought his gas can with him). I got myself a snack and a drink and sat them on the counter. Then I decided to get my friend a drink. As I was getting my friend's drink a drunk guy (I'll call him NotVeryBright) came up to the counter and tried to buy cigarettes for his underage brother. As I came back up to the counter with my friend's drink one of the cashiers (there was 2 of them) was telling NotVeryBright that if his brother didn't have I.D. then he couldn't buy cigarettes for him. NotVeryBright said he knew the cashier's manager and said he would tell her about him tomorrow. The smartest thing that NotVeryBright could have done at this point was to leave but, as you will see, he wasn't very bright.
NotVeryBright continued to harass the cashier. I told him that we didn't want any drama and he should just go home. I was wearing sandals, shorts, and my Security shirt from when I did Security for Shoutfest when I was working as a Manny in Virginia last year. He noticed that I was wearing a Security shirt so he said something like, "Why don't you bring you're Security a$$ outside and we'll handle this." I told him that he should just leave. His brother agreed with me and encouraged him to leave. He didn't listen. Then the cashier got on the phone and called the police.
This is the point in the story where a smart person would have just left. As you will see, NotVeryBright was not smart. NotVeryBright moved towards the gap in the counter where he could get to the cashier. I stepped up to him and told him that he needed to leave now. He once again proved that he is not very smart by spitting in my face. I would rather be punched in the face than have someone spit in my face. I grabbed him, spun him around, put him in a sleeper hold, lifted him off of the ground, and then took him to the ground. His brother moved towards me and I told him to back up and he did. NotVeryBright must not have realized that he was being handled because he said that he was going to "get me". At this point I was sitting on his back and had one of his arms locked up. To help him realize that he was in no position to be threatening anyone, I slapped him in his face. He continued to talk trash so I spit in his face (I know that, as a Christian, I should not have slapped him and spit in his face and have since asked God to forgive me).
After a few minutes, NotVeryBright settled down so I started to get up. As I ws starting to get up, NotVeryBright started wrestling with me. I got him in a headlock but because I was in sandles I lost my balance and fell on my butt. We both got up and NotVeryBright wanted to shake hands. I told him to get out of the store. Then the police showed up. One of the cops told NotVeryBright to come outside. Another cop got my story and the cashier's story. It turned out that NotVeryBright had 3 warants so he went to jail. That's why I can not understand why he provoked me after the cashier was already on the phone with the police. The cashiers thanked me.
OutOfGas had come in when NotVeryBright started getting stupid. One of the cops gave him a ride back to his car while I filled out my statement. After I got done with my statement I went to my friend's house.
In the past 2 weeks I've seen a couple of movies and read a couple of books. I saw Apocalypto and Charlotte's Web. I want to see The Nativity Story, The Pursuit of Happyness, Home of the Brave, The Good Shepherd, & Children of Men. I finished reading A Gentleman's Game. I also read For One More Day by Mitch Albom, author of The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I'm currently reading The Modern Bodyguard by Peter Consterdine. I still need to finish The Search for Significance. I read the first part of the book but I need to do the workbook included in the last part of the book.
We went to a Chevron gas station just off of the highway but when we walked up to the door the employee was locking the door and taping a sign to the door that said they would be temporarily closed while he did paperwork for the last shift (I guess he was working a double). We waited for about 10 minutes or so and then the cashier started counting change. I thought it might be a while longer before he was going to re-open so I suggested that we go to a different gas station. We got in my car and headed north on State Street.
We went to a Phillips 66 and I went in to get a snack and a drink while he pumped the gas using his credit card (he had brought his gas can with him). I got myself a snack and a drink and sat them on the counter. Then I decided to get my friend a drink. As I was getting my friend's drink a drunk guy (I'll call him NotVeryBright) came up to the counter and tried to buy cigarettes for his underage brother. As I came back up to the counter with my friend's drink one of the cashiers (there was 2 of them) was telling NotVeryBright that if his brother didn't have I.D. then he couldn't buy cigarettes for him. NotVeryBright said he knew the cashier's manager and said he would tell her about him tomorrow. The smartest thing that NotVeryBright could have done at this point was to leave but, as you will see, he wasn't very bright.
NotVeryBright continued to harass the cashier. I told him that we didn't want any drama and he should just go home. I was wearing sandals, shorts, and my Security shirt from when I did Security for Shoutfest when I was working as a Manny in Virginia last year. He noticed that I was wearing a Security shirt so he said something like, "Why don't you bring you're Security a$$ outside and we'll handle this." I told him that he should just leave. His brother agreed with me and encouraged him to leave. He didn't listen. Then the cashier got on the phone and called the police.
This is the point in the story where a smart person would have just left. As you will see, NotVeryBright was not smart. NotVeryBright moved towards the gap in the counter where he could get to the cashier. I stepped up to him and told him that he needed to leave now. He once again proved that he is not very smart by spitting in my face. I would rather be punched in the face than have someone spit in my face. I grabbed him, spun him around, put him in a sleeper hold, lifted him off of the ground, and then took him to the ground. His brother moved towards me and I told him to back up and he did. NotVeryBright must not have realized that he was being handled because he said that he was going to "get me". At this point I was sitting on his back and had one of his arms locked up. To help him realize that he was in no position to be threatening anyone, I slapped him in his face. He continued to talk trash so I spit in his face (I know that, as a Christian, I should not have slapped him and spit in his face and have since asked God to forgive me).
After a few minutes, NotVeryBright settled down so I started to get up. As I ws starting to get up, NotVeryBright started wrestling with me. I got him in a headlock but because I was in sandles I lost my balance and fell on my butt. We both got up and NotVeryBright wanted to shake hands. I told him to get out of the store. Then the police showed up. One of the cops told NotVeryBright to come outside. Another cop got my story and the cashier's story. It turned out that NotVeryBright had 3 warants so he went to jail. That's why I can not understand why he provoked me after the cashier was already on the phone with the police. The cashiers thanked me.
OutOfGas had come in when NotVeryBright started getting stupid. One of the cops gave him a ride back to his car while I filled out my statement. After I got done with my statement I went to my friend's house.
In the past 2 weeks I've seen a couple of movies and read a couple of books. I saw Apocalypto and Charlotte's Web. I want to see The Nativity Story, The Pursuit of Happyness, Home of the Brave, The Good Shepherd, & Children of Men. I finished reading A Gentleman's Game. I also read For One More Day by Mitch Albom, author of The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I'm currently reading The Modern Bodyguard by Peter Consterdine. I still need to finish The Search for Significance. I read the first part of the book but I need to do the workbook included in the last part of the book.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Christian Crew Counter-Strike: Source
I've been playing Counter-Strike for a few years now, ever since I worked at GoodGame, an online gaming center in downtown Salt Lake City. I've been playing Counter-Strike: Source, the latest version of Counter-Strike, ever since it came out in October of 2004. I've had a problem with cursing for a long time now. As a Christian I strive to not curse and I tend to curse the most when playing Counter-Strike: Source. One of the ways that I thought I could cut back on my cursing is to play on a Christian Counter-Strike: Source server where cursing is not allowed. I also wanted to play my favorite game with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
A couple of months ago, when I started going to Gamerzz in Taylorsville, I found the Christian Crew's Counter-Strike: Source servers. They have several different types of Counter-Strike: Source servers: a regular server - The Fish [BIG], a custom map server - The Fish [Custom], two GunGame servers - The Fish [GunGame] & The Fish [GunGame2], an AWP (sniper rifle) server - The Fish [AWP], a Zombie server - The Fish [Zombie], a Deathmatch server - The Fish [Deathmatch], a Surf-Deathmatch server - The Fish [Surf-DM], and a beginner server - The Fish [Beginner]. They also have two Half-Life 2: Deathmatch servers: a SourceForts server - The Fish [SourceForts], and a regular Half-Life 2: Deathmatch server - The Fish [HL2DM]. I play on The Fish [BIG] most of the time. Every once in a while I'll play on The Fish [GunGame] or The Fish [GunGame2].
Shortly after I started playing on The Fish servers I applied to be a member of the Christian Crew clan. Members of the Christian Crew clan have the Christian Crew tag (it is the fish symbol <>< with the letters "CC" in the middle of it*) in front of their online name. In front of my online name, Guardian Spirit, I was allowed to put the tag for a Christian Crew applicant which has an "A" in place of the "CC" in the Christian Crew tag. After playing for about 1 month I was promoted to probationary status. Instead of the applicant tag, I now have a probationary tag which has a "P" in place of the "CC" in the Christian Crew tag. In a few months I will (God willing) be a full fledged Christian Crew clan member and will have the Christian Crew tag. I thank God for the Christian Crew!
*I tried to type out the Christian Crew tag but it looks like html code so I was unable to show it without messing up this blog post. To see what the Christian Crew tag looks like go to their website - www.christiancs.com.
A couple of months ago, when I started going to Gamerzz in Taylorsville, I found the Christian Crew's Counter-Strike: Source servers. They have several different types of Counter-Strike: Source servers: a regular server - The Fish [BIG], a custom map server - The Fish [Custom], two GunGame servers - The Fish [GunGame] & The Fish [GunGame2], an AWP (sniper rifle) server - The Fish [AWP], a Zombie server - The Fish [Zombie], a Deathmatch server - The Fish [Deathmatch], a Surf-Deathmatch server - The Fish [Surf-DM], and a beginner server - The Fish [Beginner]. They also have two Half-Life 2: Deathmatch servers: a SourceForts server - The Fish [SourceForts], and a regular Half-Life 2: Deathmatch server - The Fish [HL2DM]. I play on The Fish [BIG] most of the time. Every once in a while I'll play on The Fish [GunGame] or The Fish [GunGame2].
Shortly after I started playing on The Fish servers I applied to be a member of the Christian Crew clan. Members of the Christian Crew clan have the Christian Crew tag (it is the fish symbol <>< with the letters "CC" in the middle of it*) in front of their online name. In front of my online name, Guardian Spirit, I was allowed to put the tag for a Christian Crew applicant which has an "A" in place of the "CC" in the Christian Crew tag. After playing for about 1 month I was promoted to probationary status. Instead of the applicant tag, I now have a probationary tag which has a "P" in place of the "CC" in the Christian Crew tag. In a few months I will (God willing) be a full fledged Christian Crew clan member and will have the Christian Crew tag. I thank God for the Christian Crew!
*I tried to type out the Christian Crew tag but it looks like html code so I was unable to show it without messing up this blog post. To see what the Christian Crew tag looks like go to their website - www.christiancs.com.
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