Tears In Rainhttp://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/It's not an easy thing to meet your maker.en-US2012-02-17T00:39:56ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)I guess I'm going to be 'That Guy'http://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2011/7/23/i-guess-im-going-to-be-that-guy.htmlMark Johns2011-07-24T04:34:45ZAmy Winehouse is dead. I’m sure I’ve heard her music, since everyone else claims she was an amazing talent, and thus must have been all over the radio, etc. I’m pretty sure I cannot name any of her songs without Google or iTunes, although I will admit I’m not a fan of most popular music these days.

The accounts I’ve seen say she died at the age of 27, of a drug overdose. Her attitude towards getting clean seemed to be summed up in a song where she says over and over that she won’t go to rehab, No, no, no.

Here’s a question: If you die of a drug overdose, without making a serious effort to get clean, is it suicide?

Here’s another question: If someone you love dies of a drug overdose, and you didn’t do everything you could to get them clean, and help them stay that way, is it assisted suicide?

I’m sorry if this seems a little harsh, but it’s not a tragedy. A tragedy is the death of the little Anthony girl. A tragedy is the death of someone killed by a drunk driver. It’s not the death of a wealthy pop star by her own hand.

Here’s my last question: Did she know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour? Was there anyone in her life who witnessed to her the power of a loving God, who wanted an eternal relationship with her? 

I guess that’s the ultimate tragedy, if the answers to these last questions are “No”.

]]>Humility and Hopehttp://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2011/4/1/humility-and-hope.htmlMark Johns2011-04-01T20:58:22ZTomorrow, I go hat in hand to my Credit Union, asking them to pre-approve me for a mortgage. Lori and I found a house that we CAN afford on my income. Under ordinary circumstances, I would not be too concerned. But I have as bad a credit report as you can have, after filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year. This is as a result of my divorce, my long period of unemployment and crushing uninsured medical bills.

I KNOW this is the right place for us, and that we would have a great life there, with room for family and friends. But I also know that it’s a real long shot.

I’ll update after I find out the news.

]]>A wiseguy once said...http://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2011/3/21/a-wiseguy-once-said.htmlMark Johns2011-03-21T13:15:11ZAshes, Ashes, We all fall down.http://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2011/3/9/ashes-ashes-we-all-fall-down.htmlMark Johns2011-03-09T15:33:02ZLent ashes cleansingAslan is on the movehttp://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2011/1/28/aslan-is-on-the-move.htmlMark Johns2011-01-28T08:22:08ZAslan Family Job Narnia Thoughts christian life depressionFriendly Fire/Shoot the Woundedhttp://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2010/10/11/friendly-fireshoot-the-wounded.htmlMark Johns2010-10-11T15:52:42ZThoughts life regret religionAgnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundihttp://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2010/4/2/agnus-dei-qui-tollis-peccata-mundi.htmlMark Johns2010-04-02T12:59:12ZGood Friday Thoughts redemption sinsMillion Meals for Haitihttp://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2010/3/10/million-meals-for-haiti.htmlMark Johns2010-03-11T05:59:05ZGenesis took their turn at packing meals for Haiti this week. This was shot at the end of the night at Heartland. It was a very long day for Aaron, who was a table leader for Auburn's turn at packing meals.

 

Genesis Packing Meals I'm proud of Aaron, and glad to see Kyle having a good time.]]>Entitlement and Free Web Serviceshttp://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2009/10/25/entitlement-and-free-web-services.htmlMark Johns2009-10-26T03:31:29ZSt. Paul Lutheran School 8th Grade Trip 2007http://www.the-johns-family.com/tears/2009/9/23/st-paul-lutheran-school-8th-grade-trip-2007.htmlMark Johns2009-09-24T01:14:04Z2007 Chicago Class Trip Family School St. Paul VideoI put this slideshow together from the pictures Aaron and I took during our trip to the Windy City. It rained, but everyone had a lot of fun.

 

Slideshow Movie

 

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