Catching Up Is Hard To Do...

Yeah, I know....the line is actually, 'Breaking up is hard to do', but with the way I go, not actually doing a meaningful entry that often, catching up really IS hard to do! ^_^

Anyway, let's see, where to begin... I passed me Delaware License Tests and now have my License to sell Health & Accident and Life Insurance in Delaware. Now I just need to apply for my PA license, take my company training, and I'm ready to work! Hoowah!

On another random note, I've been reading the Rurouni Kenshin manga and finally caught up, finishing Vol. 17 today. And, even better news, the Jinchuu Arc, which covers quite a bit of Kenshin's past and was never animated, save for a bit in the Reflections OAV, begins next month. I can't wait!

I've been on a drawing kick lately. Save for some of my OCs from my 'Tales from the Fringe' fanfic series I've been drawing and planning out, I've done realistic portraits of Aayla Secure, twi'lek Jedi, and Chancellor Palpatine. I've also done a realistic rendition of Ekria, a computer expert and Jedi Padawan in the 'Reversal of Fortune' and 'Evasive Action' webcomics on Hyperspace over at Starwars.com (I've been doing the 7-day free trial and read the comics), an FMA comic as a present for Sarah's birthday, a superhero I've been playing on COH and another I've been trying to draw without much success, and tonight hope to do a picture of Sesshomaru from Inu Yasha as gift to help cheer up my friend Tam. I'm also planning to eventually do a picture of Jinenji and Jaken, two other characters from Inu Yasha, eventually. I'll have to post some of them on here sometime.

Oh, and speaking of Tam, I've added her new blog to my links on the side. I suggested her starting one as an outlet for... therapeutic venting... when noone's around, and so far she's listening. She and I met through a Star Wars RP, which seems to have died, and have become quite good friends since then.

Also, having spoken of Sarah a few lines up, last Saturday was her 23rd Birthday! I'll say it again, for posterity....Happy Birthday, Sarah! ^____^ Now I just need to hear from you a little more often and I'll be happy. Oh well, hope everything's going well with you and your cousins in Hawaii.

Something else that just came to mind, if anyone who wanders through here, whether you know me or not, have something you would like prayed for, just leave a response and let me know! I'll help out anyway I can. ^_^

Hmmm...has anyone else heard of the anime 'Naruto'? It's rather big over at CAA and the anime community in general. It's a ninja-based series, it looks like it balances between the serious and the light hearted and the character designs look quite interesting. At first when I saw it, I wasn't overly impressed, but now my interest is starting to grow. The dubbed anime comes out next month on Toonami (edits abound, undoubtedly) and about 7 volumes of the manga are out, so maybe I'll check it out.

On a random note, if you watch the dub of Inu Yasha, you know they throw the word 'demon' around alot. From what I've picked up from conversations I've seen over at CAA, the word in the Japanese is 'youkai', which is more of a mythical creature and not a demon as associated with Christianity. If we were referring to the more spiritual demons, I think the word to use would be 'oni', though even then a Japanese oni I don't think is the same as a Christian 'demon.' Anyway, I'm positive on the 'youkai' part (assuming I spelled the word right), but don't necessarily take my word on the rest since I'm slightly unsure. Anyway, if anyone of you out there might have been interested in the show but were turned off with 'demons' as sometimes nice and acting as heroes, rest assured that they're not actual demons. If you don't have too many problems with Greek mythology, then you shouldn't have a problem with Inu Yasha. There IS brought up the issue of reincarnation, but it is just a television show. Anyway, I'll put it this way, if you feel nervous about all of this and don't think you should watch it, DON'T. If you're alright with it, go right ahead. Personally, the 'reincarnation' is wierd in the show....the one girl is supposed the reincarnation of this one priestess, yet the same priestess' spirit is still wandering around as a character. Wierd, no?
Anyway, I didn't like the show at first when I was younger in my faith, but as I've learned more I don't have too much of a problem now. It's just a TV show, after all, and I take it with about as much seriousness as Star Wars or a fairy tale, as far as reality goes. Like I said before, though, if you feel like watching the show will cause you to stumble spiritually or become tempted in some way, DON'T WATCH IT!

Another thing I've been reflecting on, in the day or so after I got my license, I was surprised to see how much I could see God's hand working in the events around me. That's not to say He wasn't working there before, but I got too distracted on other things to take notice of his work. In my life, I've seen alot of things that have worked out in just such a way that I know it has to be guidance and work of God moving in my life. My friends, my brothers and sisters, remember this... as you go through life, when things get dark, when life gets hard, and when your concentration gets locked on the worries and concerns of life, trust and know that God is working. He is and always will be there. Nothing happens without his know and, though things might not be the best right now, he's using the situations you go through to shape, to mold, and to prepare you for the future. God loves you unconditionally, no matter what we've done, is always waiting with open arms. Hear and go to Him and trust that he is always there.

Hmm....I think that's just about everything for now. My mom just went out to get us some Ice Cream (and me something to drink), and in 30 minutes or so we'll be doing devotions, so I best get off. Until next time, folks, take care and God bless!

~R. Zion
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Bible.com's Verse For The Day: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. (2 Peter 2:9 KJV)

My Quote for this Entry: "Why should I put my life in peril? It's because you should open your eyes to the truth" ~Kenshin Himura, Episode 16 (apparently)