I wonder if we know how much negativity comes out of our mouths. Do you?
Countless times as I’m walking somewhere I overhear something like, “I f***ing lost it on her,” “My truck is crap,” “This phone sucks,” “She pissed me off so bad,” or “She’s full of it, and I’m sick of it and I’m sick of her.” Okay, that last one was me...
But isn’t it okay to be angry at someone? Why? Kinda wasting your time, don’t you think? Maybe act in love? Turn your cheek the proverbial seventy times seven?
Yesterday I started out not talking at all, which I’m sure was frustrating at times for my parents as they tried to decode my hand signals and figure out exactly what their offspring wanted. This continued throughout the day and a little into the evening.
When I started talking again I was amazed at how much negativity comes out of my mouth without me realizing. Mom asked me a question and I immediately started complaining about the drama caused by this one person—and then, as if that wasn’t enough—I started harping on her life choices (and decision to broadcast her troubles on Facebook) as if I was the ultimate judge on the way one should act.
Newsflash: Jonathan, you’re not perfect.
So as it was hammered home to me that I say way too many things that aren’t positive, uplifting, or even kind about and/or to other people, I made a resolution. I couldn’t wait the four months to New Years either, because this is that important. More important than taking in as many episodes of The Office as I can now that I like the show.
Remember as kids when your parents told you, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Yeah, it’s still that simple.
So my resolution is to keep my mouth shut. Period.
Yeah, I’ll speak when spoken to and ask questions of people or tell them that funny story they all want to hear. The things you won’t hear me doing is complaining about someone, judging their decisions, being negative about how something is run, etc.
I challenge all of you to do the same!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
RESUME
THEATER:
PERFORMANCE:
DIRECTING:
WRITING:
PRODUCING:
OTHER PRODUCTION ROLES
* = Skyline High School Theater Department
** = Acting Award
PERFORMANCE:
| YEAR | SHOW | CHARACTER(S) |
| 2004 | A Cold Day In Hell* | Tony |
| The Beverly Hillbillies* | Mr. Oglethorpe / Fireman | |
| 2005 | The Gift | Kevin Lossner |
| 2006 | As The Stomach Turns* | Politician |
| The Sound of Music* | Extra | |
| Variations On The Death of Trotsky* | Leon Trotsky | |
| Macbeth Did It* | Duke Marlboro | |
| 2007 | Hound Of The Baskervilles* | Sherlock Holmes** |
| The Importance Of Being Earnest* | Algernon’s Butler | |
| 2008 | Room 306* | Bell Hop (understudy) |
| The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood* | Prince John | |
| 2009 | TLOJ: Chicken Theory | Harry Morgan |
| TLOJ: Joe’s Thanksgiving | Harry Morgan |
DIRECTING:
| YEAR | SHOW |
| 2005 | Untitled |
| 2008 | Room 306* |
| 2009 | TLOJ: Chicken Theory |
| TLOJ: Joe’s Thanksgiving |
WRITING:
| YEAR | SHOW |
| 2005 | Untitled |
| A Christmas Crisis (adaptation) | |
| 2008 | Room 306* |
| The Sound Of Freedom (co-writer) | |
| 2009 | TLOJ: Chicken Theory |
| TLOJ: Joe’s Thanksgiving |
PRODUCING:
| YEAR | SHOW |
| 2005 | Untitled (co-producer) |
| A Christmas Crisis (co-producer) | |
| 2008 | Room 306* (co-producer) |
| The Sound Of Freedom (co-producer) | |
| 2009 | TLOJ: Chicken Theory |
| TLOJ: Joe’s Thanksgiving |
OTHER PRODUCTION ROLES
| YEAR | SHOW | PRODUCTION ROLES |
| 2004 | The Beverly Hillbillies* | Set Construction |
| 2005 | Untitled | Production, Sound, Set & Costume Design / Props / Set Construction |
| A Christmas Crisis | Production, Sound & Set Design / Props / Set Construction | |
| The Gift | Set Construction | |
| 2006 | The Sound Of Music* | Set Construction |
| Macbeth Did It* | Set Construction | |
| 2007 | Hound Of The Baskervilles* | Set Construction |
| The Importance Of Being Earnest* | Set Construction | |
| 2008 | Room 306* | STAGE MANAGER / Production, Sound, Set & Costume Design / Props |
| The Somewhat True Tale Of Robin Hood* | Set Construction | |
| The Sound Of Freedom | Production, Sound & Set Design / Props | |
| 2009 | TLOJ: Chicken Theory | Production, Sound, Set & Costume Design / Props |
| TLOJ: Joe’s Thanksgiving | Musical Composer / Fight Choreography / Production, Sound, Set & Costume Design / Props / Set Construction |
* = Skyline High School Theater Department
** = Acting Award
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Stay Strong
There is a song that has really spoken to me in the past months. The chorus has the line: “Stay strong...you’ve come too far to loose your way.” Loosing one’s way covers a lot of different scenarios. Parts of me wanted to give up—which for me would be loosing my way—but I’m being told to stay strong. “Now, that’s just a song,” you say. Yeah, but God was using the song to speak to me. Not just, “Hey, this lyric makes a lot of sense. I can relate,” no, those were the exact words I needed to hear at the exact time I needed to hear them.
Another line in the first verse says, “You’re in the moment now, when all that you’ve been blessed with is not enough.” At the time, and sometimes still, I’m wondering why God is holding me back. I know he has this awesome plan for my life, but why can’t I just get on with it? Why do I have to wait? Then I heard the song...and had a very interesting conversation with myself. I realized that I was in the moment the song was talking about. All that I had been blessed with wasn’t enough—and I’ve been blessed with A LOT. Why wasn’t it enough?
Simple. I wanted my way—not God’s—which meant I needed to adjust my thinking. The line, “Have you forgotten who you are? Did you forget whose trip you’re on?” caused me to come to that conclusion.
Who am I? Well, that’s simple. I am a Child of God. What’s that mean? A lot of things, but the meaning I needed to realize at the time was God wants the best for me. He wouldn’t put me in a situation where I would go no where.
Whose trip am I on? God’s. There was—and is—a reason I am where I am today. I have to trust that the God who created the universe knows what He’s doing—and He did a pretty good job with the universe.
“Stay strong, you are not lost. Come on, fix your eyes ahead. There’s a new dawn to light our day.”
-JB
Quotes from: “Stay Strong” by “Newsboys”
Another line in the first verse says, “You’re in the moment now, when all that you’ve been blessed with is not enough.” At the time, and sometimes still, I’m wondering why God is holding me back. I know he has this awesome plan for my life, but why can’t I just get on with it? Why do I have to wait? Then I heard the song...and had a very interesting conversation with myself. I realized that I was in the moment the song was talking about. All that I had been blessed with wasn’t enough—and I’ve been blessed with A LOT. Why wasn’t it enough?
Simple. I wanted my way—not God’s—which meant I needed to adjust my thinking. The line, “Have you forgotten who you are? Did you forget whose trip you’re on?” caused me to come to that conclusion.
Who am I? Well, that’s simple. I am a Child of God. What’s that mean? A lot of things, but the meaning I needed to realize at the time was God wants the best for me. He wouldn’t put me in a situation where I would go no where.
Whose trip am I on? God’s. There was—and is—a reason I am where I am today. I have to trust that the God who created the universe knows what He’s doing—and He did a pretty good job with the universe.
“Stay strong, you are not lost. Come on, fix your eyes ahead. There’s a new dawn to light our day.”
-JB
Quotes from: “Stay Strong” by “Newsboys”
Monday, September 28, 2009
New Project...maybe
So as I sit around and consider pushing myself to continue working on "The Life of Joe" an idea that a friend and I have been batting around since 8th grade is starting to morph into a webseries...something which I am somewhat excited about.
Amidst that excitement, however, is a sence of dread. "The Life of Joe" is something I'm putting my heart into. I have invested myself into these characters. Each has their own set of quirks. I don't know what to make of the character's in this new project though. As a co-creator/writer/director for this show it's a given that I need to invest myself in these characters as well if the show is going to work.
I don't want to though.
The main characters aren't that likeable. Yes, this is partly my fault (50% anyway) and I will assume that responsibility.
If I want people to watch this I need to find a way to make them somewhat likeable--give them their own little redeaming qualities without sacrificing what makes the character who they are. My ego is screaming, "Yeah, go for it!!!" The practical part of me is forcing me to realize the amount of time I've put into "The Life of Joe," how far I'm not in getting a season of 12 30 minute episodes scriped, and do I really want to invest myself that much in this new project...
For now...for now I think I'll get back to Joe and the gang while periodically scripting this new show...
-J.B.
Amidst that excitement, however, is a sence of dread. "The Life of Joe" is something I'm putting my heart into. I have invested myself into these characters. Each has their own set of quirks. I don't know what to make of the character's in this new project though. As a co-creator/writer/director for this show it's a given that I need to invest myself in these characters as well if the show is going to work.
I don't want to though.
The main characters aren't that likeable. Yes, this is partly my fault (50% anyway) and I will assume that responsibility.
If I want people to watch this I need to find a way to make them somewhat likeable--give them their own little redeaming qualities without sacrificing what makes the character who they are. My ego is screaming, "Yeah, go for it!!!" The practical part of me is forcing me to realize the amount of time I've put into "The Life of Joe," how far I'm not in getting a season of 12 30 minute episodes scriped, and do I really want to invest myself that much in this new project...
For now...for now I think I'll get back to Joe and the gang while periodically scripting this new show...
-J.B.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Relate
Winter was fun.
I like the cold weather of winter rather than the warmth of summer for the simple reason that it is easier to get warm than it is to cool off. In cold (or "super-freezing-I-hope-we-don't-die" cold that Colorado sometimes has) one can always put on more clothes whereas in the borderline unbearable heat of Colorado summers taking one's clothes off in an attempt to cool off is frowned upon if you wind up taking too much off.
I like winter over summer.
What does this have to do with the subject of this journal, you may wonder. What does the word "Relate" have to do with me liking winter over summer? Is this how I "relate" to the weather of my fair state?
Sure. Okay, that sounds plausible--well, mostly because it is plausible and even likely--however that is not the reason I chose the word "Relate" as the subject for this entry.
"Relate" is the working title of a script I am currently co-writing with a friend.
But, you may ask, is that really enough to title this entry "Relate" when you focus more on Colorado weather and why you like winter more--as well as asking us why you titled this entry as you did?
Good point. Uh...
Oh yeah! Performance dates have also been scheduled for this piece, so for those of you who are interested "Act One" will be preformed on Wednesday, May 6 -- "Act Two" on Wednesday, May 13 -- "Act Three" on Wednesday, May 20. These performances will be part of the "Word Worship Fellowship" (WWF) connection group at New Creation Church in my fair city of Longmont, Colorado.
I like the cold weather of winter rather than the warmth of summer for the simple reason that it is easier to get warm than it is to cool off. In cold (or "super-freezing-I-hope-we-don't-die" cold that Colorado sometimes has) one can always put on more clothes whereas in the borderline unbearable heat of Colorado summers taking one's clothes off in an attempt to cool off is frowned upon if you wind up taking too much off.
I like winter over summer.
What does this have to do with the subject of this journal, you may wonder. What does the word "Relate" have to do with me liking winter over summer? Is this how I "relate" to the weather of my fair state?
Sure. Okay, that sounds plausible--well, mostly because it is plausible and even likely--however that is not the reason I chose the word "Relate" as the subject for this entry.
"Relate" is the working title of a script I am currently co-writing with a friend.
But, you may ask, is that really enough to title this entry "Relate" when you focus more on Colorado weather and why you like winter more--as well as asking us why you titled this entry as you did?
Good point. Uh...
Oh yeah! Performance dates have also been scheduled for this piece, so for those of you who are interested "Act One" will be preformed on Wednesday, May 6 -- "Act Two" on Wednesday, May 13 -- "Act Three" on Wednesday, May 20. These performances will be part of the "Word Worship Fellowship" (WWF) connection group at New Creation Church in my fair city of Longmont, Colorado.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Worship is all about God.
There is a question. I don’t know if it’s “age old” so I can’t really say “it’s an age-old question, but it is a question nonetheless.
That question is: What does it mean to be a Christian?
In these days, “Christian” is whoever claims to be a Christian. True “Christians” are those who faithfully attend Church every Sunday and Wednesday (provided their home Church does Wednesday services).
Is that it? Is that what it mean’s to be “Christian?”
What about a relationship with God?
God created mankind because He wanted a relationship. He walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and fellowshipped with him before The Fall.
God wants to have a relationship with every single person on this earth and he wants us to WANT to have a relationship with Him. He wants to walk with us and fellowship with us.
But what is that relationship?
In the nineteen years or so that I have been going to Church I have heard and observed different acts that people did to fellowship with God.
To me, it seemed as if I had to do the same if I wanted to fellowship with God yet I had no desire to do any of these things. Questions raced through my head: Am I being a bad Christian? Am I missing it somewhere? Am I doing something wrong?
After some discussion on the matter with my dad, and reading “Plans Purposes Pursuits” by Kenneth E Hagin I realized that I could worship God and fellowship with him in my own way. I didn’t have to pray out a long and drawn out prayer, even if it was the “accepted” way to fellowship. I could just spend time with my God. I could be totally silent and wait for him to speak to me or I could pray for His wisdom.
I could pray for a cowboy hat if I wanted to.
A little before seven tonight (11/09/08) I new I needed to get out of the house so I decided to go hang with my friend Tim. We talked until a quarter to ten then I left.
Now at this point in time God and I had some unresolved business. It wasn’t time for me to go home yet.
Near Tim’s place is a grass field that is often used for city sporting events. At night it is peaceful, the only distraction being the cars on Main a block away.
The next thirty or so minutes I spent on my knees in that park praying to my God. I prayed that He would show me what HE wanted me to do. I prayed that He would guide my life and help me live for him.
I prayed that He would give me peace.
After that I spent somewhere between five and fifteen minutes singing the songs “Heart of Worship” and “Breathe.” Sure, anyone walking by could have heard me singing these songs. Sure my pitch and tone (I think those are the technical terms) were probably off and there was the distinct probability that it didn’t really sound all that great. I didn’t care. I was singing those songs to my SAVIOR, I was singing to my GOD.
When it was time for me to go home, I didn’t stop singing. I didn’t really sing all that quieter either. Anyone near could have heard, and at that point I hoped that they did.
Now on the way home, there is a brown one-storey house that is somewhat shabby and run down. As far as I know, in the past less fortunate people and those with mental illness had lived there.
As I passed this house, a though came into my head. “Why don’t you go tell whoever is home that God loves them?” I even knew someone was home. The lights were on and he was easy to see through the front window. Was this God telling me to do this? I didn’t really know but I wasn’t about to ignore God.
It was about ten forty-seven at night.
Now I’m the kind of person who has to have their comfort zone firmly in place around them. The only time I really step out of it is...well...never.
So instead of going on my merry way like I desperately wanted to do, I walked up to the house and pressed the bell. Seconds later, a man with about a foot of beard and hair opens the door.
“Yeah?” he gruffly asked me.
“I just wanted to tell you that GOD LOVES YOU and He thinks that YOU’RE AWESOME,” I replied.
He responded to me in no uncertain terms: “Well, I think you’re full [of it] and in a couple of years you’re going to find out that there is life from other planets and there is no god.”
I walked away from the house happier that I had walked up to it. I KNOW that THERE IS A GOD. I KNOW that GOD LOVES EVERYONE. I KNOW that if there is life on other planets, GOD LOVES EVERYONE.
A common argument used to persuade a person to do something is, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
The worst that could happen to me when I walked up to that door was not getting the door slammed in my face. The worst was the door not being answered at all. Because that man chose to answer the door when I rang the doorbell, he knows that there is at least one person out there who believes that GOD LOVES HIM and that GOD THINKS HE IS AWESOME.
My middle name, “David” means “Beloved.” My name is a constant reminder to me that I am God’s beloved. Not everyone has that reminder.
When you worship, it’s all about Jesus. It’s all about your relationship with God. I realized that tonight. When I walked away from the brown house I was happy because it wasn’t about me. It was about God’s love. It was about letting the world know about God’s love. It was about worshipping God by letting others know of his love.
So what does it mean to be a “Christian?”
Being a Christian is all about worshiping God.
Remember: GOD LOVES YOU and YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD.
[John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.]
That question is: What does it mean to be a Christian?
In these days, “Christian” is whoever claims to be a Christian. True “Christians” are those who faithfully attend Church every Sunday and Wednesday (provided their home Church does Wednesday services).
Is that it? Is that what it mean’s to be “Christian?”
What about a relationship with God?
God created mankind because He wanted a relationship. He walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and fellowshipped with him before The Fall.
God wants to have a relationship with every single person on this earth and he wants us to WANT to have a relationship with Him. He wants to walk with us and fellowship with us.
But what is that relationship?
In the nineteen years or so that I have been going to Church I have heard and observed different acts that people did to fellowship with God.
To me, it seemed as if I had to do the same if I wanted to fellowship with God yet I had no desire to do any of these things. Questions raced through my head: Am I being a bad Christian? Am I missing it somewhere? Am I doing something wrong?
After some discussion on the matter with my dad, and reading “Plans Purposes Pursuits” by Kenneth E Hagin I realized that I could worship God and fellowship with him in my own way. I didn’t have to pray out a long and drawn out prayer, even if it was the “accepted” way to fellowship. I could just spend time with my God. I could be totally silent and wait for him to speak to me or I could pray for His wisdom.
I could pray for a cowboy hat if I wanted to.
A little before seven tonight (11/09/08) I new I needed to get out of the house so I decided to go hang with my friend Tim. We talked until a quarter to ten then I left.
Now at this point in time God and I had some unresolved business. It wasn’t time for me to go home yet.
Near Tim’s place is a grass field that is often used for city sporting events. At night it is peaceful, the only distraction being the cars on Main a block away.
The next thirty or so minutes I spent on my knees in that park praying to my God. I prayed that He would show me what HE wanted me to do. I prayed that He would guide my life and help me live for him.
I prayed that He would give me peace.
After that I spent somewhere between five and fifteen minutes singing the songs “Heart of Worship” and “Breathe.” Sure, anyone walking by could have heard me singing these songs. Sure my pitch and tone (I think those are the technical terms) were probably off and there was the distinct probability that it didn’t really sound all that great. I didn’t care. I was singing those songs to my SAVIOR, I was singing to my GOD.
When it was time for me to go home, I didn’t stop singing. I didn’t really sing all that quieter either. Anyone near could have heard, and at that point I hoped that they did.
Now on the way home, there is a brown one-storey house that is somewhat shabby and run down. As far as I know, in the past less fortunate people and those with mental illness had lived there.
As I passed this house, a though came into my head. “Why don’t you go tell whoever is home that God loves them?” I even knew someone was home. The lights were on and he was easy to see through the front window. Was this God telling me to do this? I didn’t really know but I wasn’t about to ignore God.
It was about ten forty-seven at night.
Now I’m the kind of person who has to have their comfort zone firmly in place around them. The only time I really step out of it is...well...never.
So instead of going on my merry way like I desperately wanted to do, I walked up to the house and pressed the bell. Seconds later, a man with about a foot of beard and hair opens the door.
“Yeah?” he gruffly asked me.
“I just wanted to tell you that GOD LOVES YOU and He thinks that YOU’RE AWESOME,” I replied.
He responded to me in no uncertain terms: “Well, I think you’re full [of it] and in a couple of years you’re going to find out that there is life from other planets and there is no god.”
I walked away from the house happier that I had walked up to it. I KNOW that THERE IS A GOD. I KNOW that GOD LOVES EVERYONE. I KNOW that if there is life on other planets, GOD LOVES EVERYONE.
A common argument used to persuade a person to do something is, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
The worst that could happen to me when I walked up to that door was not getting the door slammed in my face. The worst was the door not being answered at all. Because that man chose to answer the door when I rang the doorbell, he knows that there is at least one person out there who believes that GOD LOVES HIM and that GOD THINKS HE IS AWESOME.
My middle name, “David” means “Beloved.” My name is a constant reminder to me that I am God’s beloved. Not everyone has that reminder.
When you worship, it’s all about Jesus. It’s all about your relationship with God. I realized that tonight. When I walked away from the brown house I was happy because it wasn’t about me. It was about God’s love. It was about letting the world know about God’s love. It was about worshipping God by letting others know of his love.
So what does it mean to be a “Christian?”
Being a Christian is all about worshiping God.
Remember: GOD LOVES YOU and YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD.
[John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.]
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Zombies
General Update:
Work on the screenplay for the zombie flick produced and directed by myself and Tim Munnerlyn will resume this Tuesday (5/19/08). The script, tentatively titled "Survival," was put on hold sometime this last year because of budget and casting issues.
Work on the LakeBaldwin Entertainment triple feature as well as my Internet Sitcom “The Life of Joe” will begin before any serious production is even considered for this project but it is something to look forward to mid to late 2010 (tentatively).
For those looking forward to this project (that actually read my blog, anyway) I am sorry that it has taken so long to publish news or even resume work on the project.
J. Baldwin
JB Media
Contact:
jonathanbaldwinmedia@gmail.com
or
lakebaldwinentertainment@gmail.com
for more information.
Work on the screenplay for the zombie flick produced and directed by myself and Tim Munnerlyn will resume this Tuesday (5/19/08). The script, tentatively titled "Survival," was put on hold sometime this last year because of budget and casting issues.
Work on the LakeBaldwin Entertainment triple feature as well as my Internet Sitcom “The Life of Joe” will begin before any serious production is even considered for this project but it is something to look forward to mid to late 2010 (tentatively).
For those looking forward to this project (that actually read my blog, anyway) I am sorry that it has taken so long to publish news or even resume work on the project.
J. Baldwin
JB Media
Contact:
jonathanbaldwinmedia@gmail.com
or
lakebaldwinentertainment@gmail.com
for more information.
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