Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

All my plotting had failed. My strategies crumbled. My schemes were seen through. Now I was pushed into a corner with no possibility of escape. Surrounded by soldiers, unwavering and strong. Plastic armor glistening in the sun. My time was beginning to run short. Agonizing seconds clicked down, slowly, quickly, all transporting me to my rueful end. I surveyed my position. Its hopelessness evident to the most optimistic child. I sighed in defeat. Fight gone from my eyes. I moved away, but the action was futile. “Checkmate,” he said. “Good game,” said I.

Why "Select Chicken"? That question has been asked of me countless times. It is an odd username, to be sure. Why, of all the possible things to be known as publically would I choose "Select Chicken"? Well, the answer is actually fairly simple. It is the same reason I play gambit: There simply is no other option.

Frankly, the reason I play chess is because it's fun. there is nothing quite like winning a hard-fought battle between light and dark chessmen. Two players pitting their wits in an epic struggle of the mind manifested on an 8x8 grid. The giddy feeling of outfoxing your opponent, or even the contentedness of knowing you gave your all and put up a herculean struggle is hardly comparable to anything else. I don't get the same joy from any other games involving elements of luck or physical capabilities. Only the noble game of chess provides that grand of a feeling of accomplishment for me. This is why I devote my time to the plastic armies and their unchanging checkered battlefield.

There is a distinct beauty in aggressive play. While nothing is wrong with playing slow and solid, I generally eschew positional openings in favor of gambits and aggressive advances. Positions without a sharp threat of danger bore me. I love becoming engaged in a back-in-the-fourth battle of tactics and it is not uncommon to find me playing risky openings with little theory.

Beyond chess, I have a number of other hobbies that come and go as I discover new interests or forget past ones. I much enjoy creative writing. It is something I have always enjoyed, even before I could spell the most basic words. I have always dreamed of being an author, and more recently I have finally attempted to get a few of my short stories published in various magazines. So far, the process is ongoing.

I enjoy reading the same types of stories I enjoy writing, that being realistic fiction and historical fiction. My favorite author at the moment is Patrick D. Smith because of his phenomenal storytelling skills and ability to write provoking and impactful novels.

Hiking and Geocaching are two things I have always enjoyed. There is nothing quite as peaceful as walking through the woods and observing the natural world. Likewise, there is no great adventure as leaving the well-worn trails in search of a plastic container hidden in a thicket. I also enjoy taking photos of nature scenery, specifically that of wetlands. The is nothing that can compare to the breathtaking beauty of a cypress dome in mid-spring with its stark green and browns in near-perfect rows of trees of unique symmetry.

Similar to Geocaching, although arguably better, TerraCaching.com is a website similar to geocaching.com, however, it offers a broader range of ways to enjoy the hunt, such as traditional caches, cyber caches, and loctionless caches.

Friends! This is where I will pretend to have friends and fail at describing them. Don't fret, this will likely be a short list for obvious reasons. In fact, if you're reading this and on my profile for some reason, you either are one or accidentally clicked on my username (most likely the latter).

EvidentRoad: One couldn't ask for a better best friend. Some have even called us cousins. It has been a tremendous honor to have known you for the past decade. I am so glad you God put in my life, and I am looking for many more years of our friendship. We've had great times together, from countless games of chess, discussing life, writing songs, talking Bible, and even getting lost in the woods together while Geocaching! Words cannot express how much you mean to me, Devon. Here's to a lifetime of more great memories!

I was reading a book recently and I came across a section that was just so incredible I had to share it. In the story the hero allowed himself to be killed in order to save everyone else. The way the author phrased it really made me think. Imagine what it would be like to be one of those people. How would you live out your life if you knew that someone had given theirs to save yours? How would I? I think it would almost be impossible to live the same, knowing that someone thought you were worth giving up their own life for. How could we simply go through the motions of this life if our very existence in that moment was paid for by a heavy cost? Wouldn't it be irresponsible if we wasted our own lives after that?

Yet more than giving our lives meaning if someone sacrificed themselves for us, why don't we live life to the fullest on a daily basis? It seems most people go through their days surviving. Life is too precious for this reckless wastefulness. We should thrive. Even in the tough times, there is beauty in simply being alive. There is a reason you are here now, where you are now.

I challenge you now, look around you. Look at the people in your life. All of us have our struggles, fears, desires, and needs. Maybe it's time for us to stop being selfish and sacrifice our lives for our friends and our loved ones. I don't mean literally die as a martyr; I simply mean that we should care. That's it. Just care. Care for the people around us, make our lives mission to love those in our lives selflessly, and make a difference in this cruel world.

So many people cannot see past themselves and their aspirations today. Changing the world is not as hard as it sounds. A small gust can cause a wave to travel for miles, so why not be the one to start that ripple? Look past yourself and you will make a difference.

Here is what the book said. Whether you are religious or not I encourage you to read the words below. You don't need to believe in a God to believe that loving others selflessly can make a difference. This passage is something we should all live by no matter what religion, philosophy, or political view we follow. Love is universal. It isn't always easy, but it is so worth the cost.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Outro: This is where I thank you for having no life and nothing better to do than stalk my profile.

Anything I am forgetting?

Select_Chicken