Are discipline and passion mutually exclusive?

Can you be so disciplined in a relationship, refusing sexual intercourse, without killing the passion necessary, for some people, that gauges whether someone wants to be together for a lifetime? In today's world, with divorce rates so high, is the pleasure seeking quotient also so high, as to make one's decision based solely one sexual compatability, even if it is taken at the beginning of a relationship, without eyes on the horizon on what dreams may come? What role does faith and belief that the one you're with will get better at loving you, or are people so jaded and selfish that they can't wait for something like marriage before they start learning to truly enjoy learning to love one another in what essentially is the beginning of the next level of intimacy? For me, it must be something I feel, and while I believe discipline, and waiting for something makes it much better, I don't believe that discipline and passion are mutually exclusive, because we are dynamic creatures, we humans. The trick is finding someone that loves to dance just as much as you do (or as little) and then playing music you both enjoy and can spend time together appreciating. There must always be more, and I feel patience, and true care, reap the greatest rewards regarding real and lasting intimacy, and that's way better than sex that suffers because it peaked too early in a relationship, or was the sole basis for wanting to be with someone (i.e. what they can do for you) That's my take - what's yours?

The Art of Getting Back Up...

Okay. So all men, or people, reach and fall, reach and fall; it's the nature of learning. The trick is, for me anyways, to not allow myself to stay focused on the ground, as if I belong there. While my feet may be firmly planted there, in me is the desire to climb, and climb high. I must not let the fear of falling trick me into believing the ground is where I belong, for I surely we be in it soon enough.

People you encounter in life...

The people I encounter in my life are no accident, no coincidence. Everyone is placed, right when and where they are supposed to be, so that we may learn from and help one another. Always our will determines whether or not we make the most of the opportunity provided us. Fear, resentment, insecurity, any number of iniquities or lack of trust in the Designer of events, can spoil or waste or cause us to attempt again at learning or being a miracle in someone else's life and also our own. Think of God as the ultimate producer, writer and director, and your own eyes to the world as the movie event that is your life, laid out before you as your school of the spirit. It is entertaining, sometimes scary, but, for those paying attention and approaching with faith that there is something progressive and good to absorb and grow from, a satisfying experience can be had. Better than the best Hollywood has to offer, God wastes nothing in the making of the movie called your life. Try not to sleep through it, and appreciate the other movie goers in the theater with you, for, while their experience may be somewhat different, they are looking for a great experience too.

Finding Peace in a violent world

Finding peace in a violent world is not so much about running and hiding, but more about peace making. So many times in my life, I have been in situations where the choice was difficult, and scary, but fighting fire with fire just burns things. Coming at others with love, when they are filled with hate, distrust and fear, makes you vulnerable, but at the same time, it's in the eyes; someone, somehow, can see it - and, even though you risk all, you offer them in earnest a way they can get through such a horrible and frightening situation by leading the way to peace. It is something you must choose to carry with you, and I believe everyone, even if it is the size of a mustard seed ;^) is aware of that piece of peace within they wish to embrace and long to live with again. How do you function as a peacemaker in such war torn times? Have you given up and raised the white flag, either to peace or war. The battle is won, one person, one situation, at a time. God bless us all and show us the way to be a blessing to each other, because we are all we've got.

Tell the world about a song that makes you feel

There are so many... Creed's My Sacrifice, John Denver's Rocky Mountain High... so many that speak of the journey we all take... Queen's Who Wants to Live Forever... what's something that speaks to your heart and spirit?

The Things That Time Won't Forget

Now I behave as though God is watching, intently with interest, like someone watching a television show rooting for the reluctant hero to fulfill his destiny and become what he is supposed to become. I now realize how my decisions either stack up in my favor or against me regarding judgement day, and, understanding this, I focus my efforts on making the right decisions regarding the things that time won't forget.