Not The Beer Blog

Samuel Adams ... Not the Beer

[notthebeer-blog]

My Hometown

My hometown has been in the national news this week. Unfortunately, what occurred here is the third tragedy that captured the imagination of citizens around the world... a person with a gun who insanely thought he could negotiate a new outcome to perceived wrong that had been done to him with threats of violence.

But here in Texas, threatening anyone with a gun is taken seriously. There was a serious threat, people's lives were at risk and law enforcement officials were forced to take action. The gunman was killed and innocent lives were saved. 

So what is the take away from all of this?

First, guns should not be used to threaten others because of a perceived wrong.

Second, here in Texas, we take threats like these seriously, and wielding a weapon puts a target on you.

Third, there are no happy endings for gunmen.

Amarillo is my home. I would rather Amarillo be recognized nationally and internationally for the people of good character who live here, and not because the media latch onto a gun related story to further their own agendas.

If my father, mother, sister, brother or friend was in a similar situation with a gunman, I'm glad to know that the police will use the force necessary to save them from serious injury or worse without worrying about political correctness or fear from ACLU lawsuits.

Thanks to the Law Enforcement Community who keeps us safe.

God Bless Texas.

[notthebeer-blog]

Muhammad Ali - rest in peace

Following are my fifteen favorite Muhammad Ali quotes. I started out looking for five, but didn’t want to short change myself or you. May he rest in peace.

1. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

2. “Don’t count the days; make the days count.”

3. “If you even dream of beating me you’d better wake up and apologize.”

4. “Braggin’ is when a person says something and can’t do it. I do what I say.”

5. “Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”

6. “I’m so mean, I make medicine sick.”

7. “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

8. “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

9. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.‘”

10. "A man who has no imagination has no wings.“

11. “I’ve wrestled with alligators. I’ve tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning. And throw thunder in jail.”

12. "Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.”

13. “How tall are you? So I can know in advance how far to step back when you fall down!”

14. “It’s not bragging if you can back it up.”

15. “Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right."

[notthebeer-blog]

SJCA Class of 2016 Mission/Senior Trip to Belize

Randy Down, Superintendent of San Jacinto Christian Academy posted the following message on Facebook following our Class of 2016 Mission Trip to Belize. His words are reflective of how my classmates and I feel about the trip. Thank you Mr. Down.

“In the past 36 hours I completed a week in Belize with 27 seniors who grew into adulthood before my eyes through sacrificial love, service, and very hard labor that stretched them almost to a breaking point. We then spent 9 hours delayed coming home in Houston Bush Airport, sharing words that describe each other. It lasted 5 1/2 hours, but everyone was blessed and showered more love and affirmation to everyone.

“We got home at 3:00 am this morning, got ready for graduation, and celebrated the "Family ( per their request), not just class of 2016" until almost 10:00.

“I stayed and talked with some parents and dropped off my 27 Belizian coins, which were handed to me as I gave each student their diploma. I was walking toward my house when I saw a circled group of 27 seniors. Caleb and Sam opened their arms and beckoned me to join them in this sacred circle, where each shared a brief gratitude for being a part if this family. Then they asked me to pray for them, which is hard when overcome by so much raw living love. I told them that in most schools, students can't wait to leave and get far away from their high school. One said that they know they have to leave, but they also want to leave something here for other classes to follow.

“This group has had my heart since Day One, when on my first day a new senior approached me with a huge smile and enthusiasm, of festered her hand to shake and said, ‘Hi, I am Chandler. Are you the new superintendent?’

“I marked that moment, and God has kept this group in my sights all year long. And here I stood, shoulder to shoulder, with a small army of godly men and women who graduated hours ago.

“After I prayed a blessing over this family of 2016, Hannah challenged her class to meet up in August before school here starts and pray through the buildings for the underclassmen, so that they will have the same spirit in them that God showed them this year.

“I thought to myself as I slowly walked home (now 11:00), you guys already left something behind — a legacy of the Body of Christ at work.

“I got home, empty yet more full than I have been in a long time. Our God is faithful, and He is on the move at SJCA!”

[notthebeer-blog]

Not Named After Samuel Adams “the beer”

I’m Samuel Adams … not the beer.

I’m often asked if my parents named me after the beer. When I explain that I was named after the founding father Samuel Adams, the same man the beer is named after, most often the questioner never heard of the man.

It makes me laugh that people would even consider that my parents love beer so much that they would name me after a beer. But the question occurs so often that I’ve decided to brand myself “Samuel Adams … not the beer.”

I’m not old enough to drink alcohol, so I can’t say I’m a fan of Samuel Adams the beer. My dad seems to like it, although he doesn’t drink much.

I’m an advocate for drinking responsibly, which is what I’ve been taught at home. I’m not interested in the “college drinking scene,” I’m more interested in the “adventure scene” offered by the colleges I’m most interested in attending.

I love the mountains, fishing, hiking, camping, etc, but I’m also open to other colleges that offer other opportunities for adventure.

Like I’ve stated before, my personal goal is to attend a great university, study biology/chemistry, develop lifelong relationships, and have a lot of fun along the way, all without acquiring an avalanche of debt.

One of my favorite authors wrote:

“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So…get on your way!”

—Dr. Seuss

I’m ready to discover those Great Places and my mountain that is waiting. I just need a college willing to give me a chance to prove myself. If you know of one, please let me know.

Thanks for visiting, and come back soon.

Yours truly,

Samuel Adams…not the beer [email protected]

[notthebeer-blog]

Welcome to “Not The Beer”

Hi,

I’m Samuel Adams … not the beer.

I’m a high school senior about to graduate as a member of the Class of 2016. I’ve visited several universities, received a few offers to play D3 football, but no opportunities so far to attend college without requiring my family to carry a truckload of loans to finance my dreams.

The purpose of this website and blog is to attract the attention of a university representative willing to offer me a debt free education. It is my belief that some earthly angel is out there who can help me locate un-used scholarships, grants or other financial opportunities currently unknown to me.

My personal goal is to attend a great university, study biology/chemistry, develop lifelong relationships, and have a lot of fun along the way, all without acquiring an avalanche of debt.

In return, I will share my experiences as a college freshman with as many people as possible through social media, public speaking, and other venues.

If you are or know a visionary college president, dean, vice president of student affairs, faculty member, admissions coordinator, college relations manager, or financial aid officer, I need your help.

Imagine the possibilities of an out-of-the-box effort by an incoming freshman to enhance the college’s current public relations campaign by leveraging my authentic, upbeat and hopefully humorous perspective as a new student — a future member of the Class of 2020 — through the rocket fueled power of social media. Tweets, snaps, posts and more will be used to share my day-to-day joys, pains, challenges, successes and failures from now forward.

If you are even a little bit intrigued, please watch my video links.

Thanks for visiting, and come back soon.

Yours truly,

Samuel Adams…not the beer [email protected]

P.S. I will explain the name of this blog/website in my next post.