Coffee and Cigarettes

The best talks with my brothers, sisters and mentors were always over coffee and with my biggest mentor he would burn cigarettes while he drank that coffee. There was something about those times that was a chance to stop and be real about weaknesses, joys, victories, fears, and hurts. We could share wisdom, experiences, and brainstorm to make dreams into reality. Coffee and cigarette's. life at its rawest core.

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[jspark3000]

J.S. Park

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I think that this needs to be read and understood! In democracy it's okay to have different views and practices, However, you can not have groups try to monopolize the views and rights. What that means is that no group has the right to take the rights away from another group. This is such a blurred topic in this country right now. Tolerance does not mean that you can take away the rights of another group to progress yours. Tolerance is agreeing to disagree and still making things function in a healthy and progressive way for the society as a whole.

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This is a little section from a book I've been working on about stating mentally strong in life. We forget to value ourselves as humans and are often times too hard and so much so that we devalue ourselves into believing we are nothing. Remember to never let yourself sink.

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Santacruz Saturdays. #santacruz #westcoas #tillys (at Tilly's)

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Haha my sister called us a boy band. Happy Easter from the William's and Watkins dudes.

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My thought for you all.

I just wanted to let you know no matter who you are, you’re amazing. If you’re reading this you’re alive and that is worth something. Something huge. Life can be insane, ugly and heavy. You made it through today. You’re doing great.

Love yourself. Know that no one and nothing will ever replace you. You are made of Gold. You are kings and Queens. Constantly keep moving forward and making yourself better. We are all broken messed up and works in progress. Love yourself and love others as they are.

Love others, let them know you love and appriciate them. Life is too short to not let people know their value. This world is full of people that need someone to remind them they're worth something.Hold the door open for someone. Thank the person who runs trash in your neighborhood. Give a tip and an honest thanks at a restaurant. Hug your mom and dad.

Enjoy the sunshine. Enjoy the quiet. Listen to a good songs. Smile. Laugh. Go for a drive. Get coffee with a friend. Life is always beautiful, the hardest part is trying to always keep that perspective. Everything in life is a gift. The good, the bad and the beautiful. You are loved. Stay Golden my friends.

[kallelundholm]

VOTE NOW!

Stoked to have 2 of my photos in this “Photo of the year” by Drift Surfing.

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Christianity?

So the other day I was at a local coffee shop working on a logo for a buddy, when a guy across the table saw my “Hope” tattoo on my arm and asked if I was a Christian. That has always been a hard question for me to answer. Some will say it shouldn’t be and give me trash for it, as you read this. Now let me explain a little as to my conflict in answering that loaded question. I never fully know how to answer it because it’s both a title I don’t like due to the negative reputation it carries, and a title I know I am unfit to carry. So here is a synopsis of my beliefs, weather or not it defines me as a “Christian” is for you to decide. I know what I believe. Where I believe I stand with God, and my purpose and calling he has for me in this world. I know my weaknesses and my strengths. At the end of the day the only one who’s opinions matter are that of my Father above that I believe in.

I am not perfect, I in no way claim to be, I mess up every day. At times I don’t intended to, sometimes I damn well know what I’m doing is wrong, and doit anyways.

I love inconsistently and have a heart that has hate for people who I am yet to forgive. My birth mom is still one who after 20 something years I still hate her. Working on that one. I have a huge love hate relationship with forgiveness. I am humbled and blessed at the fact I’m forgiven for all the times I have lived out my pure assery, and rebelious behaviors, yet I am so stingy and unwilling to offer that same forgiveness and understanding that we all make mistakes. I’m selfish like that still. Working on that also. (Romans 3:23-26)

I will never tell you you’re going to hell, and I know alot of Christians will disagree with me for that. I won’t say you’re going to hell because I am not God.The God I believe in is one of both punishment and mercy. I live at his mercy so who am I to say who goes to hell. (1 Corinthians 5:12&13, Matthew 7:1-5)

If you ask me about the Bible I’ll share what I believe about it. Tell you where I question. And even share my doubts and the things I don’t understand about it. I’ve been through seminary school. I know about manuscripts, translations and the history of them. But let’s be honest man kind screws things up, but I think the Bible we have now is as good as were gonna get.

I do not think there is one “true” church that has it right. Sorry Church of Christ’s, Baptist, and methodists, but no one of you has the whole “one Church of God” down. Stop being arrogant about it. Realize doctrine and salvation are different. things like instruments, buildings and the term of minister VS pastor are arguments and devisions that just show how weak we can be. Instead of trying to separate churches shouldn’t we shift our focus to those who don’t know love? (1 John 3:18, 2 Timothy 2:23&24, Romans 14…the WHOLE thing)

I believe that “cursing” is something people need to get over and that the whole “roca” verse in the Bible is less about the word and more about who its directed to. There’s a difference between stubbing your pinky toe and dropping the F bomb vs. Harshly and hurtfully saying it to a person. (Matthew 5:21&22) Words change with time and regions. Lol I’m sorry mom, but “Awe blast!” Has the same place value as “awee shit!” When you drop something on that pinky toe. Like our language we use, life can be rough brutal and gritty, and not every one was brought up in suburbia.We just have such soft skins here we expect every one to bend and yeild to our offensive mentality. Speech included. If cursing offendes you, maybe you need to rethink your judgment of a person’s speech and think of loving them and listen to what they say, you’ll learn alot when you look past what makes you uncomfortable. To find gold and diamonds you have to get past rock, and dirt. PS Paul (Philippians 3:8) says shit in the Bible. The Greek has harsher translations in that verse and several others in the Bible. The English translation’s lose alot of the raw writing of the original writing.

I believe we as Christians need to stop posting and moaning about politics and social changes. Maybe instead of waisting so much times acting like Dallas cowboys fans talking about the “good ol days”, or living in the deluted idea that being against Gay marriage, protecting gun rights, or bashing Obama makes you a stronger stance for Christianity, we sack up and start living as brighter lights (Philippians 2:15&26). P.S. if you believe in the Bible you need uphold to it and respect the leaders and know God put him there for a reason.(Romans 13:1-7) Posting and protesting just prevokes anger. Living out feeding the hungry, taking care of the helpless and looking out for each other will speak so much louder than a “repost if you love Jesus.” Or a “repost if you think we need to return to being a Christian nation” I believe we’re called to live quiet and huble lives working hard with our hands so that no one can say anything bad about Gods kids. (1 Thess 4:11) I will respect and listen to your beliefs and views. I will love you the best I can even if we disagree. It’s how I believe the world should work. If you’re Buddhist, Muslim atheist. Whatever. I’ll hear you out. Listen and respect you. I only ask the same from you. I think you need to always have an open mind to see the big picture. How will any one hear you, or see any validity of truth if they don’t feel respected. (Proverbs 2:2 , James 1:19 , Titus 3:2)

I’m a horrible Christian at times. At times in an ok one. At times I guess I can be a good one.It’s It’s life you’re never gonna get it 100% perfect. Just like I’ll never understand God. You just need to try the best you can. Love how you can. And learn always, and when life gets heavy and messy just keep going.Trust. love and keep an open mind.

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Fan club is the key here…and there can be good fans but then there are THOSE fans you know them. The ones that can ruin it for everyone: 1)The band wagoners. The fans who don’t know jack about the sport or why the hell they are there,they just think it’s a good look on them. 2)Then the 10'oclock news fans. The ones who riot after a win, and sometimes mug the opposing team’s Fan’s after the game, making the whole team and everyone associated with them look bad. 3)The good loyal peaceful fans. The ones who can remember the last time their team actually made it to the world series or Superbowl, and sadly are stuck in the “back In the day” mindset. 4) The back seat driver fans. The one’s yelling at coaches and players about how to do their jobs….even though they are the ones making millions playing and coaching. Instead these fans watch on screen or in the stands. Don’t be that fan who makes the whole program look bad. Be a roach, a team player or even freakin water boy. Just be something and do something to make a difference.

[tastefullyoffensive]

(photos by cbmlmz)

[tessbegg]

[itslatingirl]

[musabaiana]

[labella-instagram]

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The Beauty of palm trees

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Why things don’t get better

Today as I was pointlessly scrolling through Facebook, I came across a post that said something

“We will never be rid of bullying. We should teach kid’s how to stand up for themselves instead of wearing pink ribbons and passing anti-bullying laws to create a society of victims.”

At first read I thought to myself, yeah that’s right! I do agree; We do very much live and at times endorse a victim mentality that has crippled a lot of potential to our grow and over come issues that can hinder the mental strength and drive of this generation. I’m hoping that positive psychology starts to cross over into the psychological field to endorse and help build confidence and mental strength to over come in the future practices. However the problem I have, is that it just will help that person, and I will say this, there will always be bullying, yes. but we can lessen it.

  As a society we are very much a “Look the other way” or “I wish somebody would help” society. We don’t like to take action, or responsibility for our actions, nor for the investment into change. It’s easy to sit on Facebook and Like a post that says you want to stop world hunger, or share a post that says by sharing this the magical Facebook fairy will come and save one person from being bullied, or that a picture of Jesus makes you some kind of extra credit earning Christian. As I type this is know I’m shooting myself in my own foot. I will admit it’s so much easier to sit on a screen and say “this world is going to hell in a a hand basket” or these “Kids are so screwed up, I hope something or some one can fix them.Maybe a republican president can magically revive to the United States to its former southern glory where every one was moral and all of our inhabitants were the icons of morality. (ask the Natives how that was)

  There is so much focus on leaders,political figures, teachers and pastors to be responsible for the moral state and the humanitarian needs of the Country. Maybe we should stop praying for the right president to be elected, or for morality to be brought back into schools, and start doing it ourselves? Instead of posting about depression in the young and the old, maybe make yourself available to visit a nursing home and lift spirits? Or get involved in someones life who needs someone to show them love because their parents don’t? Instead of saying we need to make the world stop bullying, maybe when you see it happen stand up for the Kid who is struggling with their sexuality when you see them being bigoted? Especially as a Christian. this is huge, I am a Christian and had co workers who were Gay/Lesbian, when ever we had customers who were rude to them for it I would defend my team. I was talking to a someone about it and I remember them questioning my choice to “Defend something that went against the Bible.” I bring this up not because I  see myself as better, but because its a conviction of mine. For all you Bible readers John 8:1-11, read it and tell me that in today’s situations Jesus wouldn’t have done the same or similar.

  The world will never change if we sit around waiting for someone to change it for us. In final thoughts, I think of a special I about the D-day invasion. In it the soldiers all talked about how in their training every one knew what their mission was, so that whenever the superior officer was killed or injured and was unable to complete the mission the troops under them would still progress. The key determinant as to why the D-day invasion was a success was because of privates, and other lower ranking soldiers who lead forces up the beach because they knew their job. They knew that if they didn’t do anything. they would fail and die. That same war time idea applies to us in everyday. we know our job is to take care of each other, to protect each other and build a united society. we can put aside differences and make a place that will thrive. We, myself included just need to start taking the initiative and stop complaining,and posting and start doing.

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laguna, ca