We as people have many different moods. Changing from moment to moment. We must not censor ourselves, or be so easily offended. Sensitivity is a good thing. It becomes great when it is used to benefit the hearts of others. This is how we find balance. Without balance, we have not yet achieved responsibility. Our responsibility to ourselves is to be responsible for others. In today's world we have lost a sense of humor. We have lost the ability to forgive or put ourselves in another man's shoes. We pick and choose who is important to us and most of the time, this decision is based upon fear. Many times in movies, fear is addressed as a good thing. I disagree. It restricts us from natural growth. Growth in our humanity.
Through my health issues I have learned many things, first, I find myself in a place where I can not stand using the word things. Yet, many times simplicity is better. To cause another man fear is to cause another man harm. To live within fear ourselves we accomplish nothing. Righteousness is an absolute gift, but just like everything else must be chosen. And most importantly must be applied. I have seen people who need validation and they achieve this by bullying, lying, deceiving, by trying to intimidate. Many of these people come in the form of police officers and doctors. They take an oath to save and protect lives. But they hide behind the power that is given them to destroy. To take away safety, to take away lives. Most of the time, just because they can.
We live in the world of guilty before innocence. I have experienced this many times and both my wife and I are, as of this moment. We forget about the sayings that we were taught as children. Two wrongs don't make a right. Yet, we hold on to the ignorance of sayings such as where there's smoke there's fire. This is a world that I don't want to live in, but it is a world that I do. It is something that we as people, if we join together, have the ability to stop and change. I have found the words and actions of others horrifying. Is it really the strong that prey on the sick and weak? Or is it the weak that do so? My definition of becoming a man and growing as a man is to forgive those.
But sometimes in life, as I believe no one has ever went a lifetime without experiencing this corruption. We find ourselves living in fear without control or power. Misinterpretation is one of the greatest tragedies of this world.
Take it as you will, but I will give you an example, as I will paraphrase. As people, it is our responsibility to plant seeds. The person or persons we are doing this for, it is their responsibility to accept that gift, to tend to their crops, their heart their spirit, and to grow. A misinterpretation: Tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye. And simply as humans we decide to leave this as just that. Yet that is not how the statement ends. Again paraphrasing: A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye, only a man that lives his life foolishly lives by this path. Without it being taken in it's full context the message is lost as we manipulate whatever we want to achieve our own answers that benefit us and us alone.
As people we must remove fear from our lives. To achieve this we must not put fear on another man or let them put it on us. Today's world there are so many foundations that represent this same exact thing. As we overlook the obvious and what is in the dark is left in the dark. It is our responsibility to bring light to all of these problems.
I heard recently that they are choosing a woman to be on the ten dollar bill. The uproar was quite chaotic. Does it really matter? Is this really the affirmation or validation that we need? Does it change anything? How fickle we are. My wife and I were talking about this. Of course, it is obvious that women were not allowed to have a voice, but is that a choice? When looking through history, is there a woman that had set themselves apart, that without their words and actions the world may be different than we know today, and of course I mean worse? And my wife and I came to the conclusion of Rosa Parks. A woman who did not live her life in fear. And because of her, this generation's life and world is completely different, and proof that one simple action can change the world for the better for all generations to come.
At some point and time, no matter what our race, we are all minorities. But what we do as human beings, when righteous, creates a majority. Most of us have went through the exact same things as the person we may or may not know that is standing right next to us. Yet somehow, through our rose colored glasses, we say we are different. The only difference between us and the person standing next to us are the people along the way that change one of these person's life for the better. I am a fighter. And no, I don't mean literally in violence. I am a fighter of all things righteous. I have been fighting for my life for over 15 years. For some reason, my heart is still beating. As I've said before, I doubt there are few people that can relate to what I have been through and what I am going through. But that does not mean it is unrelatable.
The word comprehension is lost. It is lost through ignorance. It is lost through selfishness. To comprehend is to understand. Do we even take the time to do this? Do we live in ourself to understand only those things that reflect our lives, that affect our lives, that we are interested in? How could we not be interested in all aspects of humanity?
I have seen people be so jaded, but if hardship comes knocking on a person's door; we overlook as that hardship may have fallen on us just the day before. Is there not enough time in this world? Is that not what we were given? There is always enough time. We find time for what we want, but can we find time for what others need?
A simple kind word. A small gesture. That could turn into something so large and remarkable, that the snowball effect becomes unparalleled. I have never found myself lost in the confusion of the difference between right and wrong. But I have found myself confused by those who are lost in their ability to determine between right and wrong.
So I ask you to think of this: We always know the difference between right and wrong. There is no gray area in this. The only time we ever find a gray area is when it applies to us and us alone. To an individual. We become lost in he said she said. We interfere in lives, involving ourself in something that we have no business doing so. Yet, we idly stand by and watch the destruction of another man because it's none of our business. This contradiction does not go overlooked. It's just overpassed. And to rephrase that we simply pass over.
Those who are sick that can not get medical treatment. Those who are innocent of crime, but have no legal representation. This world has been filled with title, fame and money, as the only result of this means to an end is safety. Safety of physical persecution. Many of the greatest men to ever walk this earth, had to endure trials and tribulations that we can not possibly fathom. And many of them had not a dollar to their name.
So please do not take your health or freedom for granted. Please help those that do not have the ability to get themselves out of a mess that someone else created for them. An olive branch. A helping hand. In my 40 years on this planet, to say the least my life has been tragic. I have seen the ugliness of this world, but more importantly the ugliness of man. We often validate ourselves by the power and control that we hold over others. This has nothing to do with fairness. This has to do with righteousness or the lack thereof.
Soon I will be sharing a story that will make you understand exactly what I am saying. A story about my life, about my wife's. We do not live separate lives, it is our life. This is something that we have chosen. The responsibility of another is never overlooked. Without responsibility, there can be no such thing as love. It is a very overused word. As the meaning behind it is determined by each individual. It is used to make a person look or sound better. When the definition of love for a person is to just be better. It's the only thing that could drive you to do so.
So as I stated; I will be sharing a story shortly. I have learned that my life unfolds, not just by my own choices, but by the choices of man; the purpose given to me by God. My destiny that ultimately aligns me with another. I have seen passiveness, aggressiveness, passive-aggressiveness. But very seldom have I seen assertiveness, conviction. We are our own worst enemy. And in this case, the enemy of my enemy can not be my friend. With my last question, not only to all of you, but to myself: when something happens so bad caused by man, how could another man help you? Within this lies fear. So of course, it comes down to simply God.
In our situation, I will do something openly that I have never done openly. I have always believed my faith is enough. But I am asking God to reach down and save myself and my family. I have been a faithful servant of the Lord since I could remember. I have believed in my healing; as without this my purpose would be lost and my existence would be in vain. This is not a proclamation, this is an expectation. Please do not lose faith in God or each other. Believe me when I tell you, as I speak the truth, that there is always someone that is going through something that can not be comprehended. But this is because of their lack of faith and discernment. Not for God. Not for other men, but within themselves. Definition Ignorance.
Take Care and God Bless.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
Post Script: I have been called or deemed a warrior, a fighter, a man possessing infinite grace, patience, wisdom, conviction, forgiveness, sympathy, empathy, and I could go on. I have had people call me an angel, metaphorically and literally. All of these would be considered great. All incredible virtues. I am very hardened, very tough, I am what you would call old school. A man's man. We truly can not understand ourself, or others if we have not had a gift taken away. If it is by our own doing, we still deserve compassion. If it is by another man's, we deserve redemption.
Through my hardships, because of my health or lack thereof, in my heart, I have been treated with disrespect to that of a child. Because my health issues are so prominent, I struggle with the battle to walk tall. As simply, I am broken. Many times in my life, people have referred to me as being insatiably nice/kind. In my youth, I had an easier time expressing my appreciation to others and then I went through these unbelievable trials. For some time I had lost that. When I met my wife, I had learned or rather was taught, how to speak through my heart again.
I find men having a very difficult time showing appreciation to others in a proper manner, as somehow this can make a man feel less than, not only the man speaking, the man listening, creating a loss of comfort and becoming unresponsive, almost being ashamed. To be a man, we must be open. We must be confident. We must walk softly and speak to others with generosity. My father is an example of the opposite of this. He is degrading, temperamental, irresponsible. My mother is the same. Yet, these two people were the ones that taught me how to grow up and be a man.
I don't know if somewhere along the lines they lost their way, or they had just never found it, and to put it simply were faking it, based upon what they had seen their parents do. My father is very degrading and disrespectful, very loud and obnoxious, very rude. He cares nothing of anyone else. Complains like an infant. And anything that he does for you, even if not asked, he will hold over your head. He is 62 years old, soon to be 63. Because I have seen this, that is one of the realizations that has come upon me to understand that who we are is a choice. To have dreams and goals, aspirations. To believe in a better future. This allows us to look back in retrospect, reflect, to grow and change and to give humility, because humility is an incredible gift.
In today's world, speaking our heart is somehow considered feminine and weak. It is nothing of the sort. This stems from love and humility. I speak of men specifically feeling uncomfortable with soft words. When I was growing up, if you spoke softly to another male, you would be called gay, or a homo. We don't use these words like we used to, but we feel just the same. But we must learn how to be all things to all men. Maybe, just maybe, if we spoke more openly about our heart, through our heart, we could change this type of behavior. There are so many contradictions. A woman wants a sensitive man, but also a tough guy. She wants to be spoken to in a lovely manner, with appreciation and respect. Men want the same thing.
Compliments are not what I am talking about. I have always taken compliments with a grain of salt. They are usually only beneficial to the person speaking them. But I believe we know the difference when we are paid a true compliment. This is called discernment.
So it comes back to comprehension and accountability. To be able to understand and comprehend a man's heart, to be able to speak accordingly, and be able to speak righteously or soundly without judgment or condemnation that we are lacking in our manhood. If being a man means being shut off, unresponsive, vocalizing our feelings through anger, aggression, through intimidation, so we can feel better about ourselves; being loud has nothing to do with conviction. No man speaks just one way. He adapts to the people around him. Holding onto his own character, but understanding the individuals that he is talking to.
Politics is an example of this. It is juvenile at best. As I see the presidential candidates come about; they talk as if they know so much, yet they know nothing. Giving false hope by phrasing their words, by adjusting their facial expressions, so that they can convince others to believe in them. We all see through lies and ignorance. Yet, we choose to overlook it and believe what is coming out of their mouth. When we open up our hearts, we must open up our hearts to everyone.
Every man has an enemy, and every man is an enemy. Yet, we were not born of this. Speak softly, but with conviction. Do your best to make people think, but allow them enough information to come to their own conclusion and make their own decision. And lastly, let them know who you are through your words and actions that stem through the heart so we can know each other. And to do this, there is only one way: to know who we are in Christ. Whether you are in a crisis of faith, or simply a crisis, the old saying, the old biblical verse, the hymn: I was lost, but now am found. Even those who are found, many times become lost. We must find out way back and help others to do just the same.
There can not be revolution without resolution.
The Sounds of Heaven
Showing posts with label Tragedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tragedy. Show all posts
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
The Story of Joshua
As we embark on this journey of the telling of The Story of Joshua we will be adding in stories from his current day. His struggles throughout childhood and as he grew up are numerous, but the real inspiration comes from the fight that he continues to make today to stay alive. Please come with us on this journey of hell and tribulation and support this wonderful man and his vision to make sure everyone has a voice, especially those who can't speak for themselves.
~~~~~~~~
At the age of 34, Joshua hit a point of remission. He had spent 3 and a half years alone n a house, with no medical treatment, undergoing pain and sickness that can't even be imagined. It seemed that after such a long torturous time, overnight something changed. He immediately fought himself up to begin rehabilitating himself, having always pushed himself to be the best possible person, physically, mentally, compassionately and spiritually that he could be. He wasn't back to 100%. In fact, he was only at about 30% of health. But he took the little mercy he was given and had no doubt that he would do everything with it that he could.
He went to the gym to begin building his body back. The first several days he was only able to walk on a treadmill for 15 minutes. Then he would sit in the sauna to try to ease the excruciating pain that it had caused. Slowly, he worked his body back, walking, stretching, lifting. Doing anything and everything to gain back as much of his strength as possible. He had already lost a third of his life to sickness and torture, he wasn't going to let a second of wasted time go by that he had. He worked himself up to working out 5 and a half hours a day, eating ten times a day. He fought to finish everything he had begun; fine-tuning his screenplay (that had already been purchased), recording his album (signed to be released by a major record label), fine-tuning his voice, getting back everything he had lost and had been taken from him.
The thought of what this man has done in his sickness, imagining the greatness that he could achieve in his health. He has battled through life-threatening illnesses for years, losing inches off of his height from his spine being crushed in a car accident that no man should have lived through (detailed story to come) dropping down from 6'3'' and 285lbs with a 34" waist, losing 85lbs after throwing up so violently that it tore his stomach muscles leaving his abdomen herniated. He had fought to go to the chiropractor every day for a year, seeing a doctor once a week, flying back and forth all over the world, and then no hope. Nothing. The car accident with absolutely no treatment; being released from the hospital within 12 hours. Having been clinically dead for 2 hours before being resuscitated and lying in a coma for 40 days before waking, and being discharged the very next day(detailed story to come.
In spite of the hells he's been through he fought. Fought to regain his strength. Fought to regain his body. Fought to regain his health. Fought to regain and refine his musical gifts that are so far beyond anything that has ever been heard or heard of. Music being the only true international language. Connecting the world. Changing the world. Everything that has been taken from him he has fought to reclaim so that he could play his music, share his life, use them to help those who have no voice for himself. His mission. His purpose. His calling. He fought. The true seventh son (detailed story to come), the last warrior, Joshua.
But remission did not last long. His health went bad again quickly to where he is the sickest he has ever been for the longest period of time. It's a strength that no man should ever have to have. It can not be experienced. It can not be learned.
He has lived his life believing that you are always worth something as is everyone. Never better, nor worse just wonderful people. That we are all special and all have a purpose that is greater than ourself, but also allows us to live our life in joy. Always believing that happiness is an emotion based upon a reaction to something, but joy is a condition of the spirit. Where we can truly be proud and not prideful. Live our life with conviction in love. Achieving success and greatness. Wanting, needing and helping every other person to have the same. Waiting for those surgeries or waiting for that day that God decides to heal him. Confused as to why it hasn't happened yet and why he has so many gifts, and worked so hard to refine them while battling illness and circumstances, reaching the point of torture that would have toppled any other man, hasn't been able to use them, with a heart that lies only in love.
Joshua has an understanding of human nature. Allowing him to forgive. Allowing him to forget. The pains that have been inflicted upon him by others, but yet never truly understanding the ability to hurt or destroy. Always giving the benefit of the doubt. Always believing the best in a person. And wanting to see them live their life righteously by accepting their flaws and accepting others' through truth of discernment and again through a heart filled with love that has no room for hate. One of the most important things he always says is to be honest. No matter how bad the truth is, it's always better than the best lie. Allowing everyone to know where they stand. Giving everyone the ability to accept each other. And knowing that the one thing that comes out of this is trust from the love that we all have in our heart. For we all have the same spirit. Therefore we live in one heart. One love.
He never has any arrogance, because he's always trying to better himself through the world and for the world but never being of this world, no matter what he is going through, no matter how restricted or limited, always with a heart for others.
(On a side note: To understand a little bit more about Joshua, so sick that many times he can not even stand, eat for days, sleep peacefully, for his day is filled with sufferings and they never stop. And every night collapsing from pure sickness and exhaustion. Spending time, even on social media, wanting to talk and reply, thinking and listening of everyone and will put off his starvation and dehydration and his pain to do just that for he is always a man of his word. Many times having to be dragged away from the computer so he can nourish his body and try to rest. Trying to pick up his guitar when he can barely move his hands to finish what he has started because of what his music has to say. Not being able to use his beautiful, powerful voice. What our team wanted to add is to explain why he has not been able to get his surgeries, life saving surgeries, as of now, just one of the many reasons is he has been treated so badly by the medical community that his survival rate of living through these surgeries is just a few percent. Having trouble finding any physician that will do this because of the liability. All of this has allowed him to be able to relate to all pain and all sickness. All sufferings. Though he has always had a tremendous heart, the pain he feels for others stays with him day and night. And how he wants to do so much of course for himself and his family, but for everyone. He is not infallible. He sees people in this world taking for granted their blessings, manipulating and using others for personal gain. Causing frustration and even anger for him. But always uplifting us all with a smile or a comment or a gesture, making joy and love the priority. The Truth. Though we believe what he has gone through and what he is going through no man ever has, we all know that there are people out there that are suffering that truly need help. And there are many people that are out there that have the ability to do so, but don't. Whether he gets better and is out in the open for the world to see, or he dies, this will not detour us from his purpose that is now our purpose. What a tragedy to not see this man get better and enjoy the gifts that he has been given as we have stated earlier that no one has ever heard the likes of. And not to be able to help others reveal, live their gifts and the beauty that each person holds.
Additionally; because some of the work that he has done he had attended several award shows. Putting on his smile, uplifting others, while going through incredible pain. As he had given his word that he would be there as he has so missed his colleagues and many friends. Taking whatever opportunity he has to keep growing and embracing whatever joys there are. Joshua is not well known through out the world as what we call celebrity due mainly to his life of illness. Though his family is and always has been, yet he has had to work for everything on his own. His family deriving from selfishness, which has allowed him to be selfless and have self-worth. He is what many call a behind the scenes man. Fame is something that he never wanted. Just health and the ability to love and be loved unconditionally. Though now it is something that he wants and embraces. As he is always honest, he would want us to say that it is for himself as well as others. He wants to shine. The most amazing voice, so powerful, playing the guitar like no other with such passion and intensity, writing songs, embracing every human emotion. But as for the several people on our team, we can state truthfully with no doubt that the biggest reason for wanting this is how he has come to realize that he can help every person. He has never doubted his purpose. He is a man of such wisdom, vision and strength and never lacking in conviction or grace; that in his heart he knows that he can help change the lives of every person on this planet for the better, even if it's one person at a time and takes him his entire life. A leader among leaders. And when you read this, understand, we all can do this. It only takes one person to start. Living by these three mottos: Your words and your actions are only as good as the heart behind them. That if you are selfless, there is no need to be selfish for we are all getting and giving, and understanding that to lead we must follow and to follow we must lead. These three simple things will change the world. It all starts and ends with one thing: love.)
to be continued...
~~~~~~~~
At the age of 34, Joshua hit a point of remission. He had spent 3 and a half years alone n a house, with no medical treatment, undergoing pain and sickness that can't even be imagined. It seemed that after such a long torturous time, overnight something changed. He immediately fought himself up to begin rehabilitating himself, having always pushed himself to be the best possible person, physically, mentally, compassionately and spiritually that he could be. He wasn't back to 100%. In fact, he was only at about 30% of health. But he took the little mercy he was given and had no doubt that he would do everything with it that he could.
 |
| Joshua always fought to rebuild his body even during chemotherapy treatment |
He went to the gym to begin building his body back. The first several days he was only able to walk on a treadmill for 15 minutes. Then he would sit in the sauna to try to ease the excruciating pain that it had caused. Slowly, he worked his body back, walking, stretching, lifting. Doing anything and everything to gain back as much of his strength as possible. He had already lost a third of his life to sickness and torture, he wasn't going to let a second of wasted time go by that he had. He worked himself up to working out 5 and a half hours a day, eating ten times a day. He fought to finish everything he had begun; fine-tuning his screenplay (that had already been purchased), recording his album (signed to be released by a major record label), fine-tuning his voice, getting back everything he had lost and had been taken from him.The thought of what this man has done in his sickness, imagining the greatness that he could achieve in his health. He has battled through life-threatening illnesses for years, losing inches off of his height from his spine being crushed in a car accident that no man should have lived through (detailed story to come) dropping down from 6'3'' and 285lbs with a 34" waist, losing 85lbs after throwing up so violently that it tore his stomach muscles leaving his abdomen herniated. He had fought to go to the chiropractor every day for a year, seeing a doctor once a week, flying back and forth all over the world, and then no hope. Nothing. The car accident with absolutely no treatment; being released from the hospital within 12 hours. Having been clinically dead for 2 hours before being resuscitated and lying in a coma for 40 days before waking, and being discharged the very next day(detailed story to come.In spite of the hells he's been through he fought. Fought to regain his strength. Fought to regain his body. Fought to regain his health. Fought to regain and refine his musical gifts that are so far beyond anything that has ever been heard or heard of. Music being the only true international language. Connecting the world. Changing the world. Everything that has been taken from him he has fought to reclaim so that he could play his music, share his life, use them to help those who have no voice for himself. His mission. His purpose. His calling. He fought. The true seventh son (detailed story to come), the last warrior, Joshua.
But remission did not last long. His health went bad again quickly to where he is the sickest he has ever been for the longest period of time. It's a strength that no man should ever have to have. It can not be experienced. It can not be learned.
He has lived his life believing that you are always worth something as is everyone. Never better, nor worse just wonderful people. That we are all special and all have a purpose that is greater than ourself, but also allows us to live our life in joy. Always believing that happiness is an emotion based upon a reaction to something, but joy is a condition of the spirit. Where we can truly be proud and not prideful. Live our life with conviction in love. Achieving success and greatness. Wanting, needing and helping every other person to have the same. Waiting for those surgeries or waiting for that day that God decides to heal him. Confused as to why it hasn't happened yet and why he has so many gifts, and worked so hard to refine them while battling illness and circumstances, reaching the point of torture that would have toppled any other man, hasn't been able to use them, with a heart that lies only in love.
Joshua has an understanding of human nature. Allowing him to forgive. Allowing him to forget. The pains that have been inflicted upon him by others, but yet never truly understanding the ability to hurt or destroy. Always giving the benefit of the doubt. Always believing the best in a person. And wanting to see them live their life righteously by accepting their flaws and accepting others' through truth of discernment and again through a heart filled with love that has no room for hate. One of the most important things he always says is to be honest. No matter how bad the truth is, it's always better than the best lie. Allowing everyone to know where they stand. Giving everyone the ability to accept each other. And knowing that the one thing that comes out of this is trust from the love that we all have in our heart. For we all have the same spirit. Therefore we live in one heart. One love.
He never has any arrogance, because he's always trying to better himself through the world and for the world but never being of this world, no matter what he is going through, no matter how restricted or limited, always with a heart for others.
(On a side note: To understand a little bit more about Joshua, so sick that many times he can not even stand, eat for days, sleep peacefully, for his day is filled with sufferings and they never stop. And every night collapsing from pure sickness and exhaustion. Spending time, even on social media, wanting to talk and reply, thinking and listening of everyone and will put off his starvation and dehydration and his pain to do just that for he is always a man of his word. Many times having to be dragged away from the computer so he can nourish his body and try to rest. Trying to pick up his guitar when he can barely move his hands to finish what he has started because of what his music has to say. Not being able to use his beautiful, powerful voice. What our team wanted to add is to explain why he has not been able to get his surgeries, life saving surgeries, as of now, just one of the many reasons is he has been treated so badly by the medical community that his survival rate of living through these surgeries is just a few percent. Having trouble finding any physician that will do this because of the liability. All of this has allowed him to be able to relate to all pain and all sickness. All sufferings. Though he has always had a tremendous heart, the pain he feels for others stays with him day and night. And how he wants to do so much of course for himself and his family, but for everyone. He is not infallible. He sees people in this world taking for granted their blessings, manipulating and using others for personal gain. Causing frustration and even anger for him. But always uplifting us all with a smile or a comment or a gesture, making joy and love the priority. The Truth. Though we believe what he has gone through and what he is going through no man ever has, we all know that there are people out there that are suffering that truly need help. And there are many people that are out there that have the ability to do so, but don't. Whether he gets better and is out in the open for the world to see, or he dies, this will not detour us from his purpose that is now our purpose. What a tragedy to not see this man get better and enjoy the gifts that he has been given as we have stated earlier that no one has ever heard the likes of. And not to be able to help others reveal, live their gifts and the beauty that each person holds.
Additionally; because some of the work that he has done he had attended several award shows. Putting on his smile, uplifting others, while going through incredible pain. As he had given his word that he would be there as he has so missed his colleagues and many friends. Taking whatever opportunity he has to keep growing and embracing whatever joys there are. Joshua is not well known through out the world as what we call celebrity due mainly to his life of illness. Though his family is and always has been, yet he has had to work for everything on his own. His family deriving from selfishness, which has allowed him to be selfless and have self-worth. He is what many call a behind the scenes man. Fame is something that he never wanted. Just health and the ability to love and be loved unconditionally. Though now it is something that he wants and embraces. As he is always honest, he would want us to say that it is for himself as well as others. He wants to shine. The most amazing voice, so powerful, playing the guitar like no other with such passion and intensity, writing songs, embracing every human emotion. But as for the several people on our team, we can state truthfully with no doubt that the biggest reason for wanting this is how he has come to realize that he can help every person. He has never doubted his purpose. He is a man of such wisdom, vision and strength and never lacking in conviction or grace; that in his heart he knows that he can help change the lives of every person on this planet for the better, even if it's one person at a time and takes him his entire life. A leader among leaders. And when you read this, understand, we all can do this. It only takes one person to start. Living by these three mottos: Your words and your actions are only as good as the heart behind them. That if you are selfless, there is no need to be selfish for we are all getting and giving, and understanding that to lead we must follow and to follow we must lead. These three simple things will change the world. It all starts and ends with one thing: love.)
to be continued...
Monday, February 2, 2015
The Story of Joshua~Intro and Chapter 1
As our team has been reading through everyone's submissions (and thank you so much to everyone who has submitted a story so far) we would like to share with you the story of the man who created the idea and vision of "The Greatest Stories Ever Told" project. Joshua is an amazing man who has been through and is still going through a tormentous journey; fighting for his life. He has spent his life fighting for himself, and even when it puts his life in jeopardy, fighting for others. He is the inspiration to our entire team and we are blessed not just to know him, but to carry out his vision and to share with you the story of this awe-inspiring man.
Over the next few weeks while the submitted stories are edited, reviewed, and we contact the authors for permission rights, we'd like share pieces of his long, tribulation filled journey. We hope that it inspires you and lifts you up like he does for us each and every day.
This is the beginning...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's hard to begin a story where the hero is a man who has more grace and patience than a man should be capable of. It's hard to begin when the story of the horrors he has lived through at the hands of people who should have taken care of him are immense and numerous.
Since before birth, Death has been aching for Joshua's life. Joshua was almost never born, and the world would be a much worse off place if that were so. The night his mother went into labor there was a terrible snow storm. His father, driving the car, hit a patch of ice, slid, and hit another car. This happened to be a police officer vehicle. The police officer assisted them on making it to the hospital, wrote Joshua's father a ticket, and Joshua was born. The story was so remarkable that it made the front page on every local newspaper, and was picked up and run in several national papers as well. The headline: Joshua Arrives!
Joshua has always been an incredibly gifted and advanced person. He was walking and talking at 8 months old. During this time, furnaces would commonly have to be stoked by using a small amount of fuel oil. His relative would keep a small amount of fuel oil in an opened soup can next to the furnace for that purpose. Joshua had decided to drink it. (I imagine he would jokingly say, way ahead of the curve huh?) Well, he immediately turned blue, was rushed to the hospital, but evaded Death's grasp once again. The interesting part is that no one had spoken of this til he had mentioned it at the age of 4, remembering everything.
He spent his youth neglected and ignored by his family, except when there was a need for someone to blame. His heart reached out, though, and saw none of it as neglect, but just the way things were. His capability for forgiveness of crimes against his innocence astounds me every day. When he was 5 years old he started working in the woods with his father, a logger and woodcutter, doing harder labor than most adult men will ever see in their lifetime. But as a child he lifted, threw, and chopped wood with the endurance that adults couldn't handle, because he had to.
At the age of 8, a neighbor boy by the name of Tommy, lifted him up by the head, shaking him. He jostled him around in this manner, kinking up Joshua's little neck and body. It was the beginning of summer and he spent the rest of it in bed suffering from horrible migraines and sickness. He still has migraines to this day. He was never taken to a doctor or a hospital, but lived by his family's motto of walking it off.
During the winter of his 8th year, Joshua attended a youth group outing. They were playing basketball in the gym when he and the youth pastor tripped over each other and fell to the ground. Joshua got up laughing, as children do when such an incident occurs, but the pastor was enraged. He took Joshua by the throat and threw him down a flight of stairs. Afterwards picking him up, again by the throat, dragging him to another flight of stairs and throwing him down those. The pastor picked up a dazed and confused Joshua and slammed him into a chair, bleeding, and told him that if he got out of the chair before he was given permission that the pastor would kill him. Joshua's older sister, who was also at the event did nothing. The pastor offered his sister to give them both a ride home, and on the way stopped at another patron of the church's house. They stayed inside for three hours, while Joshua sat in the shut off car, while it was well below zero outside. When he got home, and told his parents what had happened, because his face was black and blue, they told him they would go to the church deacons to report what had happened. When the pastor came over the next day, Joshua's father asked him about the incident, and the pastor not only admitted to it, but said that he would do it again. Nothing else was said about it for 20 years. When a friend of the family brought up Joshua's name, the pastor wife replied, yes we had an incident with him before. How tough this grown 30 something man must have felt nearly killing an 8 year old boy.
To be continued...
Over the next few weeks while the submitted stories are edited, reviewed, and we contact the authors for permission rights, we'd like share pieces of his long, tribulation filled journey. We hope that it inspires you and lifts you up like he does for us each and every day.
This is the beginning...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's hard to begin a story where the hero is a man who has more grace and patience than a man should be capable of. It's hard to begin when the story of the horrors he has lived through at the hands of people who should have taken care of him are immense and numerous.
Since before birth, Death has been aching for Joshua's life. Joshua was almost never born, and the world would be a much worse off place if that were so. The night his mother went into labor there was a terrible snow storm. His father, driving the car, hit a patch of ice, slid, and hit another car. This happened to be a police officer vehicle. The police officer assisted them on making it to the hospital, wrote Joshua's father a ticket, and Joshua was born. The story was so remarkable that it made the front page on every local newspaper, and was picked up and run in several national papers as well. The headline: Joshua Arrives!
Joshua has always been an incredibly gifted and advanced person. He was walking and talking at 8 months old. During this time, furnaces would commonly have to be stoked by using a small amount of fuel oil. His relative would keep a small amount of fuel oil in an opened soup can next to the furnace for that purpose. Joshua had decided to drink it. (I imagine he would jokingly say, way ahead of the curve huh?) Well, he immediately turned blue, was rushed to the hospital, but evaded Death's grasp once again. The interesting part is that no one had spoken of this til he had mentioned it at the age of 4, remembering everything.
He spent his youth neglected and ignored by his family, except when there was a need for someone to blame. His heart reached out, though, and saw none of it as neglect, but just the way things were. His capability for forgiveness of crimes against his innocence astounds me every day. When he was 5 years old he started working in the woods with his father, a logger and woodcutter, doing harder labor than most adult men will ever see in their lifetime. But as a child he lifted, threw, and chopped wood with the endurance that adults couldn't handle, because he had to.
At the age of 8, a neighbor boy by the name of Tommy, lifted him up by the head, shaking him. He jostled him around in this manner, kinking up Joshua's little neck and body. It was the beginning of summer and he spent the rest of it in bed suffering from horrible migraines and sickness. He still has migraines to this day. He was never taken to a doctor or a hospital, but lived by his family's motto of walking it off.
During the winter of his 8th year, Joshua attended a youth group outing. They were playing basketball in the gym when he and the youth pastor tripped over each other and fell to the ground. Joshua got up laughing, as children do when such an incident occurs, but the pastor was enraged. He took Joshua by the throat and threw him down a flight of stairs. Afterwards picking him up, again by the throat, dragging him to another flight of stairs and throwing him down those. The pastor picked up a dazed and confused Joshua and slammed him into a chair, bleeding, and told him that if he got out of the chair before he was given permission that the pastor would kill him. Joshua's older sister, who was also at the event did nothing. The pastor offered his sister to give them both a ride home, and on the way stopped at another patron of the church's house. They stayed inside for three hours, while Joshua sat in the shut off car, while it was well below zero outside. When he got home, and told his parents what had happened, because his face was black and blue, they told him they would go to the church deacons to report what had happened. When the pastor came over the next day, Joshua's father asked him about the incident, and the pastor not only admitted to it, but said that he would do it again. Nothing else was said about it for 20 years. When a friend of the family brought up Joshua's name, the pastor wife replied, yes we had an incident with him before. How tough this grown 30 something man must have felt nearly killing an 8 year old boy.
To be continued...
Sunday, February 1, 2015
The Story of Joshua~Detailed story of the Tubing Incident
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| Example of a 185 hsp Engine Bass Boat |
The family had cared nothing of him, and using all the strength he had, he was forced to walk home. No one amongst the hundreds of 4th of July celebrators noticed this broken young man struggling to make his way home, struggling to breathe, suffering from injuries that no young body could handle.
As his yard and both homes were filled with campers, tents and all bedrooms were taken; he immediately went into his parents bed to lay down. Several hours had passed before it was even noticed that he was not amongst all the family and friends.
As they were partying and having a good time, until around 4 am where finally his parents came in and reclaimed their bedroom. As his bedroom was taken up by relatives, he was forced to sleep on the floor, as people would come in and out of the home all hours of the day and night to use the rest room and to grab food. Where daily he would return to his parents bed.
No attention was given to him at all. Though at this time, praying, shedding a tear was not a possibility for it was not accepted. At this age, he was considered to be a grown man. And to suck it up.
And though knowing that this was not right, he had entrusted his family for knowing what was best. This, with many more tragedies has affected his health for years to come up until this very moment and continuing. One of the characteristics that he has stood by with conviction comes from incidences like this. To never ignore, to never take for granted, to always keep your word, to be trustworthy, to always speak the truth and back it up with your actions. Giving him an understanding of human nature, yet a confusion that still lies in his heart today.
Just one of the many stories that has made him who he is. Always allowing and embracing the weight of the world on his shoulders. Though he wants to live, fulfill his dreams and goals; he has understood that one of his purposes in life, no matter what he is going through is to be there for someone when no one else will. No matter what the cost. This is not just to tell you about his pain, his sufferings, but as you will see in the end result that no matter what you go through; there is a purpose bigger than yourself. The potential, the dreams and goals of others that have not been met, because of illness. Because of our own selves, because of others. Our needs met and changed. Standing on one foundation. That foundation is love.
The Story of Joshua~Additions and Extended Details
As we publish The Story of Joshua there will be additions and extension versions of some of the smaller anecdotes that will be added later. There has been so much tragedy in this man's life that those of us at The Greatest Stories Ever Told team are still in shock and awe of this great man that has risen from so much pain and triumphed and fought to live where no other man would. The inspiration of his vision and his heart carries us all.
We will also be adding pictures to his story. Though many pictures were taken of the rest of his family, very few were taken of Joshua in his youth and throughout his life. These rare peeks into the life of this great man, whom we all here admire; we are sure will draw you even further into the remarkable story of his journey. We hope that you are as touched and inspired as all of us on the GSET team are.
We are hoping that by the time his story reaches current day that he is healthy enough so that when his album and movie come out that it will bring more attention to this page so that when the stories of many others are released the world can hear and feel them and we can all start helping those who are in need and together change the world. Starting with one story and one heart. Healing one heart at a time, until everyone is heard, and everyone is helped. And no one is crying out anymore. We can do this.
We will also be adding pictures to his story. Though many pictures were taken of the rest of his family, very few were taken of Joshua in his youth and throughout his life. These rare peeks into the life of this great man, whom we all here admire; we are sure will draw you even further into the remarkable story of his journey. We hope that you are as touched and inspired as all of us on the GSET team are.
We are hoping that by the time his story reaches current day that he is healthy enough so that when his album and movie come out that it will bring more attention to this page so that when the stories of many others are released the world can hear and feel them and we can all start helping those who are in need and together change the world. Starting with one story and one heart. Healing one heart at a time, until everyone is heard, and everyone is helped. And no one is crying out anymore. We can do this.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Miss May and Hound
*Names have been changed to protect the people in the story
We got to Biloxi Mississippi about a year after Hurricane Katrina hit. It was absurd, stunning and mind blowing how much damage and wreckage still existed after a year. We were a youth group mission group of about 75 high schoolers and junior high students packed onto two charter buses. And at first we were excited and eager to be going somewhere until we saw how much devastation there still was, and then we were ready to help and heart broken for the people in need that we saw.
Our group was assigned to work on the finishing touches of a house that was being rebuilt for one Miss May. An older black woman in her late 60's, she lived with a gentleman name Hound in his early 30's. Hound had found Miss May shortly after Hurricane Katrina, and she took him in in exchange for protection. It was a symbiotic relationship like Mother and son, and their love for each other was obvious to anyone.
With all of the looting, Hound had saved Miss May's life on several occasions, fighting off, barehanded, people who had come to take what was left of Miss May's, then destroyed, home. They would seek out food and other assistance together, and he would help her carry it home.
The house was almost complete, and we were determined to be the team to do all of the finishing touches. Paint. Trim. Molding. Doors. Locks. Windows. And moving in. We had two weeks to complete. During this time Miss May and Hound took what they were able to earn and spent it on us. They would treat us to home cooked meals, and we all tried Popeye's for the first time.
The day before the two weeks were up, we did it! We finished Miss May's house and had moved all of their belongings in. Hound now had his own mini apartment within the house, with a private bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette. They were thrilled, and no two people had ever been as gracious or generous when receiving a gift. The last day, we opted to go back to Miss May's house. Let's face it, we were proud of our work. Miss May and Hound threw us a barbeque, complete with chicken and burgers on the grill, with corn on the cob and fried okra. Hound had built a makeshift open fire grill in the back yard and we all sat around singing, talking, laughing and loving each other.
Were we going to miss them.
We filmed a documentary while in Biloxi. Anyone who watches it can see the unconditional love between Miss May and Hound.
Two weeks after we returned home we received a phone call from the Biloxi Police Department at our church. Miss May had been brutally murdered, and Hound was missing. The house had been ransacked and destroyed, windows shattered, the kitchen destroyed, appliances missing, as well as all of Miss May and Hounds belongings. The BPD were searching for Hound as a suspect and wanted to speak with each of us who had worked on the project. Since most of us were minors, not many were legally forced to depose over the phone. But I swore, on the record, that Hound did not do this. No two people had ever found each other in a time of need and formed a love so pure and innocent to survive together. Of all the other's interviewed for our documentary, no one had come out as joyful as these two for having found a family from tragedy.
Hound's body was found a month later. The police determined that looters had come, murdered Miss May and later Hound. These two people who had shown us so much love, when we had thought that was what we were there for, had taught us an invaluable lesson, but didn't even get to enjoy the gifts we had to share. I will live with their memory for the rest of my life, and I pray that they found love, peace, and each other in heaven.
We got to Biloxi Mississippi about a year after Hurricane Katrina hit. It was absurd, stunning and mind blowing how much damage and wreckage still existed after a year. We were a youth group mission group of about 75 high schoolers and junior high students packed onto two charter buses. And at first we were excited and eager to be going somewhere until we saw how much devastation there still was, and then we were ready to help and heart broken for the people in need that we saw.
Our group was assigned to work on the finishing touches of a house that was being rebuilt for one Miss May. An older black woman in her late 60's, she lived with a gentleman name Hound in his early 30's. Hound had found Miss May shortly after Hurricane Katrina, and she took him in in exchange for protection. It was a symbiotic relationship like Mother and son, and their love for each other was obvious to anyone.
With all of the looting, Hound had saved Miss May's life on several occasions, fighting off, barehanded, people who had come to take what was left of Miss May's, then destroyed, home. They would seek out food and other assistance together, and he would help her carry it home.
The house was almost complete, and we were determined to be the team to do all of the finishing touches. Paint. Trim. Molding. Doors. Locks. Windows. And moving in. We had two weeks to complete. During this time Miss May and Hound took what they were able to earn and spent it on us. They would treat us to home cooked meals, and we all tried Popeye's for the first time.
The day before the two weeks were up, we did it! We finished Miss May's house and had moved all of their belongings in. Hound now had his own mini apartment within the house, with a private bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette. They were thrilled, and no two people had ever been as gracious or generous when receiving a gift. The last day, we opted to go back to Miss May's house. Let's face it, we were proud of our work. Miss May and Hound threw us a barbeque, complete with chicken and burgers on the grill, with corn on the cob and fried okra. Hound had built a makeshift open fire grill in the back yard and we all sat around singing, talking, laughing and loving each other.
Were we going to miss them.
We filmed a documentary while in Biloxi. Anyone who watches it can see the unconditional love between Miss May and Hound.
Two weeks after we returned home we received a phone call from the Biloxi Police Department at our church. Miss May had been brutally murdered, and Hound was missing. The house had been ransacked and destroyed, windows shattered, the kitchen destroyed, appliances missing, as well as all of Miss May and Hounds belongings. The BPD were searching for Hound as a suspect and wanted to speak with each of us who had worked on the project. Since most of us were minors, not many were legally forced to depose over the phone. But I swore, on the record, that Hound did not do this. No two people had ever found each other in a time of need and formed a love so pure and innocent to survive together. Of all the other's interviewed for our documentary, no one had come out as joyful as these two for having found a family from tragedy.
Hound's body was found a month later. The police determined that looters had come, murdered Miss May and later Hound. These two people who had shown us so much love, when we had thought that was what we were there for, had taught us an invaluable lesson, but didn't even get to enjoy the gifts we had to share. I will live with their memory for the rest of my life, and I pray that they found love, peace, and each other in heaven.
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