Concert Observations

For Caitlin's 30.... errr I mean 29th Birthday, we went to the Brothers of The Sun Concert at Bank of America Stadium to see Jake Owen, Grace Potter, Tim McGraw, and Kenny Chesney.

Just a few observations I made:

1) They make a killing on beer at concerts (And they could make more)

2) To stand up or not stand up? Generally to the few concerts I've been to, everyone stands up. That's common practice as I understand. There was a group of middle aged ladies in front of us who either had never been to a concert before, or the ones they have been to before, they sat. They made a fuss with the folks in front of them asking them to sit down. Naturally, they told them they were sorry and continued to stand. Eventually everyone stood up, but seriously? Stand up!

3) Even if you're not a fan of Kenny Chesney or Tim McGraw, they know how to put on a good concert.

4) There's always plenty of people watching entertainment while you wait.

5) I wore an App State shirt (shocking I know), and I had about 5 people either come up to me and high five me or shake my hand. It doesn't surprise me anymore.

6) Set change music? Apple Bottom Jeans, Country Grammar.....

7) Apparently I enjoy walking extra distances

8) Why I didn't go to more concerts when I was in high school or college is beyond me.

Attempting To Understand Differences

Over the last month or two, one thing we've heard all about all over facebook and twitter is about Amendment One. I very lightly advocated against amendment one. Mainly I just asked folks to be aware of what they were voting on before they went to the polls. Unfortunately, most people were not aware of what exactly they were voting on. It somehow turned into a gay marriage debate.

No matter where you stand on gay marriage, you could have still voted against this terrible piece of legislation. It wouldn't have meant anything against you personally. You can still not be in agreeance with someone and have voted against this amendment. This amendment may or may not have affected you personally, but all the same, it's not all about you (or me).

In my eyes (maybe I'm crazy), but allowing someone the same right as me to wed who I choose is exactly that, a right. I believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for everyone. It doesn't matter if someone isn't the same as me or doesn't believe in the same things I believe in. That is obsolete. You can still be strong in your Christian beliefs and want basic rights for everyone. Someone else's marriage, whether it be a straight or gay doesn't affect me. In other words, it's none of my business.

While I don't think government has a right to decide marriage, I also don't think churches should be forced to marry anyone they do not choose to marry. It's as simple as that. I have many different kinds of friends, and I love and respect each of them. That's the way I was raised. My entire life, I have always tried to treat people with love and respect because it's how I would like to be treated. This isn't a crazy concept, but accepting someone who might be different than you is hard for some folks to do. I understand it's not the easiest thing in the world, but denying someone a basic right (which by the way our state already had a law to begin with), is not o.k. in my book.

I have and still do identify myself as a conservative more or less leaning libertarian, and so often I am lumped into belonging to a certain political group. Most people have probably always assumed I am a staunch hard-core republican, which isn't necessarily true, but I still relate to many republican values. I've also more recently been called a "liberal" for my stance on gay marriage. So because of ONE issue, I am now a bleeding heart? I don't think so. No offense to anyone who identifies as "liberal", but it's not me.

Why must we label one another? We all do it. Even I do it all the time. It's not necessarily right, but there's not one single person who is reading this that hasn't been guilty of it before. I don't want to be placed or generalized into one certain group. I am my own person. I guarantee you if you've ever really got to know me, you know there's nobody else like me. And I hope that we could all say that. We should each be our own person. You're the only carbon copy of you that there is. Why would you want to be somebody else?

I also realize it's hard for some Christians to say they're ok with gay marriage. The way I see it, God created us all equal in his eyes. We are all loved by God and are all his children. We are all called to show Christ's love through our actions and words. These actions and words are not just meant for people who are exactly like us. That's too easy. You can't be scared of what you don't understand. We as humans don't understand a lot. That's what makes us human. But continuing to degrade someone because they are different than you is ludicrous. So I come to you with an open heart, and ask you to try harder. If I as a republican, white southerner can be accepting of others, why can't anyone else?

I leave you with a favorite Bible verse of mine:

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. "

- 1 John 4:7-8

Generalizing in Politics

Here recently I've decided to become less opinionated. At least in the political department anyways. I haven't always given my opinion freely, but sometime after I graduated college, I started to become more passionate about what I believed.

As I scroll through my facebook timeline and twitter feed on a regular basis, I observe a varying amount of different opinions, which is good, but at the same time, here lately I've started to feel like I've been lumped into belonging to a certain group, whether that be political or not. In the upcoming elections, a hot button issue that is at hand is the vote for OR against Amendment 1, which is the marriage amendment.

According to Amendment 1: The measure would define marriage in the state as between one man and one woman.[1][2] Same-sex marriage is already banned in the state of North Carolina. The proposed measure, however, would add the ban to the state constitution.[3]

No matter where you stand on this issue, your stance should be respected. Every single one of us has our own certain set of beliefs when it comes to politics. One thing I've noticed is that if you are a registered Republican, you are automatically assumed to be FOR this amendment, when is most certainly not true. I happen to be a registered Republican, but that does not mean I always vote that way, or believe what my fellow republican politicians believe. The same could be said about Democrats. Just because you are a registered Democrat by no means defines you as a person and in what you believe.

We're all different.

For me personally, I do tend to be more conservative than anything else, but that doesn't mean I'm always going to vote that way, or believe everything a Republican politician believes.

Unfortunately, our country has become a country of double standards, but that's a whole other topic which I may or may not dive into one day.

It just kills me when I see groups or facebook pages such as Crusaders Against Republicans (or vice versa). When did we all become politicians and stop being Americans? This country needs to come together and try to reach a middle ground before it's doomed. Right now, it seems we just keep heading further down a path of division, instead of unity. I'm not naive enough to realize there will probably never be true unity in Washington, but if we keep becoming divided by issues such as same-sex marriage or whether or not we should pray in public meetings or not, we're never going to get anything real accomplished. These issues are certainly of importance, but our country has far more important issues at stake.

I guess what I'm really trying to ask, is to be more open-minded when you go to the polls. Both sides of the political spectrum could use some sound level-headed advice.

Understanding Tebow mania

Tim Tebow, now currently quarterbacking the Denver Broncos to playoff wins, has always stood out. He's often been perceived by his naysayers as the "chosen one" who can do no wrong. Tebow is very forthcoming, but not "pushy" about his Christian faith. He's always been a great example as what Christians should be. This bothers some people.

 The problem with Tebow is the media has placed him on a pedestal, for which he did not ask to be placed on. Tebow has only went out and did his job. As a sports fan and Christian, I am a big Tebow supporter. But I'm also realistic, and know he's not your prototypical style quarterback. He may not ever be the greatest there ever was and he may be. I personally don't feel he'll ever be an elite quarterback, but I feel he will win a lot of ballgames.

 He has a good defense on his side this year, and that has helped, but the guy just knows how to win. He and the Denver Broncos beat a good Steelers team in overtime. Yes, the Steelers were banged up and missing their starting running back and one of their top defensive players, and I can recognize that, but the Broncos did what they had to do. But back to Tebow. Like him, love him, or hate him, you have to admit, you won't find a better role model for young people.

The guy doesn't sell drugs, doesn't have 15 children with 7 other women, and he doesn't play dirty. He is who he is, and he's not going to pretend to be anything else to better suit our politically correct society. That's why he relates so well with so many Christians. He doesn't push his faith in your face, but he will talk about it openly when asked, and he will show the Lord's love through his actions. What else do you want the guy to do? I suppose if suddenly one day, it came out of the woodwork that he had done something bad, he would become more relatable to some people. But that day has yet to happen. The media does overhype him, unfortunately. They criticize his every pass and run. Whether he should've done this or that, or he's just really not that good.

When someone hears his name every day, naturally they're going to tire of hearing it, just like anything else. Tebow can't help what the media says or writes about him. All his concern is going out and trying to be the best player he can be for the Denver Broncos. But to some people, he'll never be good enough.

I suppose if his career fizzles out, and he ends up having a nice, but not special tenure in the NFL over a 10-15 year period, and he never has a pro bowl season, or wins an NFC Championship game or a Superbowl, his naysayers will be right that he was never anything special. And you know what? As long as Tebow does what he does, and continues to be himself, I think he'd be alright with that. But I believe bigger things are in store for Tim.

 One more note I want to hit on before I sign off: Tebowing. Yes, the new craze sweeping the nation. Before games, Tebow prays silently to himself on the sideline, and gets down on one knee to do so. Apparently everyone from 11 year old boys, to 38 year old men have taken to emulating Tebow in his praying stance, and dubbed it "Tebowing." Very catchy I might add, and at first I thought it was funny. But after a while, I got to thinking (which is always dangerous), and the more I saw it, the more it bothered me. As a Christian, I am lucky to live in a country where I can pray and practice the religion that I was raised. I also supposed I could be overreacting to it bothering me, but then again, am I? Mocking one's faith is never cool in my book. And I may get in trouble for saying this, but I'm gonna say it anyways. If Tebow were a Jew or Muslim, and his praying were mocked on the sidelines, the world as we know it would be in a huge uproar. Religious leaders from around the world be calling for justice to be done on anyone mocking their faith. But I know, as Christains, we're just supposed to laugh and shrug it off as nothing, which we have. In reality, it's really NOT a big deal, even though it is getting a bit old. But I can live with it. I respect others religions and the way they want to practice their religion. Is it too much to ask for others to do the same?

 If you've stuck with my ramblings for this long, you must enjoy my writing, or you must like me. I welcome any civil discussion, and I'm always willing to look at things through different lenses. But for now, I can't wait to see what Tebow does next. And you shouldn't either.

Hectic life is the good life

The past month has been crazy for me. I've been extremely busy with lots of different things going on. On one hand, most of these things are very stressful, and on the other I wouldn't have it any other way.

 I do like to have times when I'm not so busy, because I do want to slow down and enjoy life, but I also feel like these times are necessary as well. With my job keeping me busy, doing various things for my church, and getting things together for my cousin's wedding next weekend in Florida, life has been a bit hectic. It's times like these that I stop and think about when I first graduated college and was absolutely bored out of my mind with seemingly no purpose or direction in life that I appreciate that my hands are not idle.

 It's a blessing really.

A busy blessing, but a blessing nonetheless. I try to balance out busy weeks with 'chill' weekends, which definitely helps, and I also take the time each day to just sit down and watch some television, have a beer or... *gulps* maybe one of these days... read a book. So with that, I'll leave you. Oh yeah, I changed the title of my blog (for now) to Sechler's [Pronounced Seck-LUR] Stance. No particular reason. It was Nicki Waycaster's idea, and I liked it. So there.

Blacksburg Black N Blues

So my first trip to watch Appalachian take on one of the big boys of college football didn't go as well as I had hoped. To say we were soundly beaten would not be an accurate statement. (66-13 cough cough) We got our you know what's kicked. VaTech obviously was not gonna let us sneak up on them much like James Madison did the year before (to them), and much like we had done to Michigan back in 2007. They came to play today. I had a feeling right from the onset that they were not playing around.

They had obviously prepared for this game much like they would an ACC Championship game, or an ACC opponent. Which gives me some solace in the fact that they had that respect for ASU, and what they had accomplished in the past.

The game was over very quickly. ASU turned it over on their very first possession and the Hokies took over from there.

It was a little disheartening. I mean, I had no expectations to win at all, but I had hoped to see some positive play from the Mountaineers, which I didn't see much at all, besides Sam Martin's punting yardage, and a few other things here and there.

I'm still glad I went to experience gameday at Lane Stadium. Enter Sandman (when Tech runs out on the field) is even more awesome in person. The fans are very loud, and most of them were very nice. We apparently were sitting on half a seat that wasn't ours, and a rude lady bluntly said to me that I was gonna have to move over. I guess the word please and excuse me aren't used by some folks these days. After the game, I also had a fan tell me that I must be a true fan to stick it out the whole game. Not only was App getting drilled, but it was miserably hot. One lady came up to me and shook my hand, telling me she was thankful that we had beaten Michigan in 2007 because she (insert expletive) hated Michigan. She apparently was from Michigan and went to school at Eastern Michigan University. Go figure.

So, although my Mountaineers didn't play particularly well, and were completely outmatched, it was still an enjoyable experience. And I would do it again.

End of times? Doubtful

I won't make this post too long, because honestly I don't have much to say. When I first heard of this Harold Camping character's predictions that Jesus would return on May 21, 2011, I didn't think much of it. I mean how can you take someone seriously who claims he can predict the exact date and time of Christ's return (See 1994), when clearly the Bible states in Matthew 24:36, 'Of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.'

That is pretty clear cut, and we're supposed to believe he can figure it out through long division? Come on dude. I don't know what grounds of credibility he stands on because I'm pretty sure we as Christians know this old goon is off his rocker. You know the big guy upstairs is probably chuckling a little bit.

I'm just saying.