Dance the Night Away

When I walked through the door this evening, my wife had not been home from the store for very long. She excitedly informed me that she had planned a date and we had to clean up beforehand. Looking back on it now...I feel gotten. Anyway, she had rented a video game from redbox (all of the sudden, the cleaning doesn't sound so devious after all). The name of the game she had rented was, "Just Dance 4."

For those of you who don't know, just dance is about popular songs that an animated character on the screen dances along with. The game console uses cameras and sensors to "watch" you dance a long and mimic the screen character's moves. You are then scored based off of how well you do. I know it sounds like cruel and unusual punishment, but playing with more than one person (or a room full) can get quite entertaining. It did not take long for me to remember why I love dancing.

While I typically classify myself as an extrovert, I am not someone who will jump into the middle of a dance circle. I do enjoy dancing for the fun and making people smile. When I was dancing this evening, I was reminded of several other reasons and benefits to busting a move.

1. God enjoys dance.

Ecclesiastes 3 lists numerous activities that there are "times" for. For example, there is a time to be born, a time to die, and a time to hug. It would behoove you to read the chapter for yourself. But take my word for it, the passage says that there is a time to dance. I personally feel like that time (along with singing) comes much more often than any of the others. It has always interested me at just how uncomfortable many evangelical churches are with the thought that dancing can be God-honoring. I firmly believe that using dancing and singing are two of the greatest forms of worship because you are using the tools that God directly and naturally gave to you. Not to mention, God explicitly tells us in Psalms to praise him with the dance.

2. Masculinity   

Some of you just laughed. I know because I heard it through your screen. Hear me out. While dancing has probably never been seen as something especially manly, every self-respecting gentleman should be able to lead his lady around a dance floor. There is nothing quite as distinguished as a black tie formal where ballroom dancing is involved. Dancing with my wife is one of my favorite things to do in the world. Just make sure you take some advise from Captain America and wait until you find the right partner. Dancing with the right person can be one of the most wonderful things in the world.

3. Stress Relief

Exercise and movement are a couple of the greatest stress relievers known to man. That's why you stand up to loosen up. Working up a good sweat while dancing helps your balance, posture, and control over both your body and your emotions. If you literally cannot dance at all, wait until you're around people to try. A good laugh is the best stress reliever ever. 

On a serious note, dancing is a wonderful tool for enjoyment. I personally am quite thankful that my wife came home with Just Dance 4. I've had a blast! It seems like it is so easy to simply get lost in the activity as opposed to  being worried about those around you. I encourage you to learn to dance and use the rhythm for your enjoyment. Have fun with it and make sure  that you pick a good partner. You will not regret knowing how, trust me. Until next time, stay classy.

-Andrew

Why We Do What We Do

My wife and I try to give 100% in everything that we do. We believe that much more is learned when trying hard then when not trying at all. Finding and joining a church in Hamburg, AR was no exception. 

Not long after we were first married and searching for a church to call home, we found that we both worship best when we are working for and ministering to others. We have been very blessed at both churches that we have called our respective home in that, we are loved and the people enjoy allowing us opportunities to experience and show love as well. Of the ministries that we have been a part of, Awana is definitely one of my favorites.

This is a program for children that is based around memorizing God's Word. I can honestly say that I remember more of the Bible because of my time in Awana than I do any other way. My wife and I are privileged to help with the "TNT" (4th-6th grade) group. God constantly reminds me of why we enjoy this kind of loving so much and I was very encouraged to see another of those reminders tonight. 

The last half-hour of Awana is spent in a teaching time. Our pastor's wife teaches the kids and everyone just sits and listens. Tonight was especially interesting because the lesson she taught was on salvation. Understand that I am a firm believer in presenting the Gospel message every time the Bible is opened. That specific message was obviously weighing heavy on her tonight. 

Once the teaching had ended, I went downstairs to the gym to play with some of the kids. Before leaving the room, I noticed a group of girls who have all become especially fond of my wife gathering around her. It was only once we got in the car to drive the 30 minutes home that I realized just how special that moment was. She told me about the questions that the girls asked her. They discussed spiritual lessons and several highly debated topics in the evangelical realm. The final question asked of my lovely wife was one that I think I will remember forever. A young lady asked, "Do you think God planned for us to all be up here talking about this?" That made me think. I have posted previously about playing the hand you're dealt and not being able to control what life throws at you. I still stand by that. However, I also believe that sometimes, God puts you into circumstances that will make you look to Him and ultimately, more like his Son, Jesus. 

I was reminded this evening of the impact ministry has on both the ministers and the students. I was reminded that, according to Proverbs, God ordains the ways of the righteous and sets their paths. I was reminded that we have a choice to minister to others or to refrain. I was reminded why my wife and I drive each other to continually minister even when it is not the easiest thing to do. More often than not, we have no idea of the lasting impact we have. I will forever be encouraged by the memory of tonight and by what the apostle Paul said in Galatians 6:9-10. " And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

I realize this post was a bit more of a rant than usual. Thank you for sticking with me. Maybe someone out there needed to internalize it. Until next time, stay classy.

-Andrew

Shoot the Moon

I recently spent a Saturday morning in an old-fashioned barber shop playing dominoes with gentlemen three-to-four times my age. At first glance, I realize that statement makes it seem like I've lost my mind. To be quite honest, I came for the haircut and I stayed because of a long wait in line. Playing dominoes was a great way to pass the time. 

The name of the game was Moon. It is a classic bid, trump, and trick type of game. If you're reading this, you probably are not all that interested in the actual game play and, quite honestly, it is entirely too complicated for me to explain. But if you're like me as a person who just likes to know things, the official rules can be found here. 

Don't quit on me just yet. I promise this will not be the dry, boring post you're expecting after an intro like that. Bear with me for a couple of more paragraphs and judge for yourself. Moon is all about trusting your partner. It is a perfect blend of strategy, teamwork, and luck. As someone who tends to gravitate towards cards, it took me a while to actually understand the methodology and begin to enjoy the game. What I have learned are some great reminders about games and life in general.

You cannot control the hand you're dealt.

This is a phrase that many people have been told numerous times. Another way of saying it is, "Life's not fair." I would like to take this reminder a step further to say that you cannot control the hand that those around you are dealt. It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. When other players begin "showing their hands," we tend to play for the sake of competing. While this may not sound like a terrible philosophy at first, the game of Moon is significantly more realistic. There is a certain degree of reacting to the pieces that are played, but the advantage comes when you have the ability to lead out with the first play. Having confidence and playing the hand you're dealt gives you an edge over your competition. You still sometimes lose in those instances, but you learn much more about the way both you and the other people at the table play when you play your hand and not another person's. 

You must trust your partner.

Moon has an unspoken rule: You always bid as if your partner is going to be able to help you out. If your partner cannot help, he/she is not considered a very good partner. This rule is a harsh one to think about, but makes perfect sense as it relates to life. Zig Ziglar says, "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." When you help others and trust them to be able to help you, life flows much more easily. I am not advocating naive trust. What I am advocating is a mindset that not everyone is out to get you. When you help others, you will be helped in return. You don't have to take my word for it. God said in wonderfully in Galatians 6:7. The passage reads, "...whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." 

These two lessons are constant reminders to approach life with the right attitude. I enjoy the competition. But even more so, I enjoy the lessons learned from competing. Always try your best and you will take something meaningful away. If you're still with me, I appreciate your patience while I reminisce over a dominoes game. Shoot for the moon. It means you'll at least be aiming in the right direction. Until next time, stay classy.

-Andrew

Why blogging? (Part 2): "By Any Other Name"

"What's in a name?"

This question was famously asked in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The story has always struck me as ironic because the two star-crossed lovers attempt to prove that their given, family names do not mean as much as they are made out to mean. SPOILER ALERT: The irony comes in the fact that, in the end, the lovers' names end up costing their lives and proving that they are, indeed, quite important.

All of that to say, choosing a name for this blog was a hefty task in itself. While I realize that you may not be entirely interested about Professional Rhetoric's origin, I feel like this will give readers a clear lens through which to view the various posts.

As I began thinking about what all a blog's title was supposed to achieve, I quickly became overwhelmed. I wanted a name that would draw viewers to the site. I also wanted the name to be descriptive and essentially capture the aura of the site as a whole. On top of all that, it had to pass my personal satisfaction to the point that I would enjoy telling people about it and not tire of looking at it every day. Needless to say, my task was laid out and it seemed daunting.

After perusing several ideas (some of which were already taken and others that sounded much worse in the blog-o-sphere than they did in my head), I did what I would do in any situation where I did not like any of the options. I reevaluated my goals. I thought about what I wanted to achieve personally and the types of posts that would enable me to best achieve those goals. The word, "Professional" kept coming to mind.

My mother always told me that a professional was anyone who got paid to do something. From that definition, this blog title is definitely a far cry. But as a person who works to achieve and find fulfillment in my work, I believe that being a professional is more than a paycheck, but a way of life. Being a professional is about how you conduct yourself. Taking honest pride in your behavior, appearance, and etiquette is a key stepping stone to getting where you want to be. I truly believe that if you first take in to account how you act, it is much easier to adjust accordingly and achieve results.

Unfortunately, I didn't really like the idea of a blog called, "Professional." As you can see, there is not much of a ring to it. I then began to examine what a blog was actually designed to do and "Rhetoric" definitely encompasses that.

Rhetoric is most commonly seen as the art of discourse. Verbally or non-verbally attempting to persuade, inform, or motivate action out of an audience. I realize that my earlier post seemed quite selfish in my reasons for blogging. Those are still 100% true. However, if I were just writing to appease my own ambition, this would never be a public site.

I am writing because I want to offer something to others. If there is one person that can be impacted by this blog in the ways I have been, every second of thought and work that has gone into this little project is completely worth it. I believe that investing in others and being friendly enables us to see things from different points of view. The best way to find good advice and good people is to give good advice and be a good person. Please note that I am not trying to portray myself as some all-knowing guru at all. I am simply someone just like you. I am searching for ways to better myself and take as many with me as I can. To close, I want to thank you for taking this journey with me. I genuinely look forward to what we can achieve together. Until next time, stay classy.

-Andrew

Why blogging? (Part 1): Reasons to Write

The titular question is one that I have been seriously pondering over the past week. It seems like, every time I turn around, a new blog has posted something I am interested in or an entirely new blog has been created. For the longest time, my thought was, "What's the big deal?" I was never in to writing in high school and, for some reason, the whole "xanga" phase missed me.

On top of my lack of interests, there were also hesitations. I began to think about all of the blogs I knew of that only had a few subscribers or posts that were not considered "high-traffic". Doubts immediately began to fill my head about the interest in my posts, the solidification of anything on the internet, and the work required to keep up a successful blog. The idea was quickly dismissed.

At the risk of stating the obvious, you are reading a blog post from yours truly. What changed? There were several supporting factors that inspired the creation of this blog. I felt it was only fitting to begin with those factors in the event that there are any hesitant readers in attendance.

Factor 1: Skill Development

As I mentioned previously, I was never really that excited about writing in high school. But through competitive speech and debate, I quickly grew to enjoy the art of communication. Being able to verbally inform, persuade, and motivate an audience really excited me. I also met my lovely wife through speech and debate so you could say that I came out with a great deal more than a sharpened tongue.

I was able to take the same communication skills with me to college. In my English and technical writing courses, those skills proved to be invaluable. Blogging is a way to continually improve my communication abilities and sharpen my mind in the process.

Factor 2: Creative Mindset

One of the greatest gifts that God gave to man is the mind. It controls actions, abilities, talent, and dedication. My dad always said, "You can do anything you set your mind to." I can honestly say that, until I began making the effort a few years ago to sharpen my mind, I never really understood or appreciated the magnitude of that statement. Blogging forces me to constantly think and work my brain to think creatively. It also allows an outlet for my creativity that does not come from music, exercise, or other hobbies.

Factor 3: Professional Development

The final factor is this: I work hard to constantly better myself. Writing and thinking at a creative level were both areas that I knew were not being constantly challenged. I needed something that would effectively put these attributes to work. I honestly believe that the sharpening of these skills will spill over into my job and the rest of my life. Challenging myself is the best way to grow into a better professional tomorrow.

There you have them. These are my reasons for starting Professional Rhetoric. The next post will include more content as it relates to the blog title and the reasoning behind it. Until next time, stay classy.

- Andrew