NEW POST!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while I've been out. (Nothing serious just surgery)
So what to talk about... Ah the light of my life, the life preserver that keeps my head above water, the food and water for my soul and mind. Yes the magical substance I am talking about is religion. The thing that keeps insanity at bay and clears away the confusion of the world (or at least part of it).
Now not all religions can do this in fact in my opinion only one, the one, you guessed it Judaism. Oh-yeah!
Judaism is a full body religion, an experience, you have to live Judaism to understand it, books are good, great really. but when it comes to certain things you have to experience them in order to understand them. And oh how I am experiencing Judaism!
Every time I turn around there is something else to love about Judaism. Holding the Torah, an Alliah picking fruit, yes even picking fruit is an experience. There is something about, having a certain prayer for every thing that makes life that much more meaningful.
Every morning, every night, every meal, it all has meaning and its wonderful, fantastic.
Well that's enough of my raving for a while.

Oh I almost forgot, my surgery was very minor I just got my tonsils removed, and I don't want to hear anyone telling me that its bad or that the doctors just do it for the money. I don't care its already been done. More on that later.

Live long and prosper.

Passover

Ah its that time of year again you know what I'm talking about. The bland food, the cracker crumbs. Passover is here.
So far my Passover has been pretty good. For the first Seder we went to the Rabbi's house. In all there were about twenty people at the Seder and we knew them all for the most part. I really enjoyed the Seder, it was entertaining (yes a Seder I didn't fall a sleep during) funny and meaningful all in one. The Hagada the Rabbi used this year was called "A Different Night" I forgot who wrote it but whom ever he is he got tired of the stereo typical boring Seder and made a new Seder for the A.D.D. in all of us. Anyway everyone had a great time and I really felt like a part of the community.
We have been volunteering as much as we can at the Shul, and right before Passover there's a whole lot to do. So we've been kind of getting in the community a little more which is nice. The people at Shul seem to be excepting us, some even want me to go out with their daughters but we wont go into details.
Yep conversion time is just around the corner and it feels like crunch time, I'm not worrying about the needle or about taking a bath in front of a witness. I am worrying about the Beit Din, I think I will be okay about the heart questions but if they ask any factual questions, I will either freeze up or not know the answer. Mom keeps telling me its not a test its just a inquiry to see if I really want to convert for the right reasons. I know I shouldn't worry but what can you do?
I really hope people don't think that I am converting because of my parents. I am doing this for me I have always wanted to convert and I have always loved Judaism, this is my decision. I am not really an excitable person and I don't openly show my emotions so I don't want it to look like I am going through this like a robot I am extremely exited and I have never wanted something so bad.
I hope everyone enjoys their season of flavorless crackers that spread crumbs all over the house and dry out your mouth. Hag Samayoch.

Peace out.

Ian Cauthen

P.S. did anyone else forget to count the Omer on the second night? My bad.

fear

I was mowing the grass yesterday and I came up with a new book idea. (I know I should finish the rest of the books I've started but whatever.) Anyway, the book is called Fearless and its just a concept right now but it shall evolve.

So now my adoring fans you are the first to read a (Very) very rough draft of an excerpt from

Fearless

"Every day all over the world people are born with a birth defect. Some are born without arms or legs, some without kidneys or any other organ or limb. Still others are born with a mental defect with varying details. John Doe (As I said so far its just a concept so the main character does not yet have a name.) was even more unfortunate than any of these. Some would argue that this isn't a defect that it is a plus or a power. They would be wrong for John Doe was born without fear.

Now fear isn't something we normally dwell on. Oh sure when something frightens us all we can think of is fear. But they are very basic, primal thoughts of survival not really thinking about what fear is.

If we didn't have fear we wouldn't have many things usually thought to be separate from fear. Without fear there wouldn't be a moral conscience, we would have no perception of "good and bad" and religiously speaking no belief in a higher power. For if we break it down a bit what is a moral conscience? The answer is simply the fear of getting caught or the fear of what people will think or do. And religion is the fear of an almighty.

So our John Doe has lived his life without any guidance what so ever. An unpleasant life indeed.

So what do you think? Am I crazy or stupid?