For the One's I Love: Thoughts Inspired by my friends and family

By Paul A Bryan

This book was written based on a conversation that started with my brother. As time went by and I thought about our conversation, one thought led to another. Then I thought that all whom I love may be intrigued and be able to benefit from this conversation. Hence, this book is written "for the one's I love" and any other person who may want to r

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stratton Press
• Release date: Sep 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798887641881

Paul A Bryan

Paul A Bryan is one of nine children. He has had the privilege to have traveled throughout South America and Europe. Besides the knowledge of his own family and culture, he has learned that most people have the same needs and wants.

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Introduction

The idea of this book started from a conversation that I had with one of my family members.

I started to write a letter that led to this book. It developed into something more than I had planned.

As I continued studying the Bible, I felt a strong conviction that the chapter below applied to me and this book. Not that I have more authority than anyone else in my family or anyone else in general. I just felt that it was my turn to be the watchman for my people, the house of Bryan, on the wall. There are some things that I know through my life’s convictions, and there are things which I am still learning.

 Ezekiel 33 (KJV)

Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

He heard the sound of the trumpet and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore, thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

May God release His knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to you as you read this book.

To the Ones I Love

Irecently came back from visiting Kaz in California. As always, we had a great time. We talked about a lot of things, and his big heart shone as always.

I left California feeling that something was not quite complete on my side. Eventually, I had the idea of what it is that was incomplete, and I did not know when I would get the chance to sit with Kaz and discuss my concerns.

Then I got the bright idea that I would put the information on paper and send the information to Kaz personally and individually. This would allow Kaz to share the information with other family members if he pleases.

But something always came up, and it seemed that I was always missing the opportunity to write the information on paper or email.

Two to three weeks had passed by, and the itch was still there, but it was wearing down a bit.

One morning I was worshipping in church, and there were two different sets of older couples close to me. One couple was next to me, and the other was in front of me. Something occurred, not so unusual to me but very unusual to many others.

I started to feel nauseated and sick, almost to the point of vomiting. I started to feel sick because one of the couples or both, for all I know, were heavily medicated. I was able to smell and sense the medication as one did when being close to another who had been heavily drinking the night before. My senses were working, and I felt as if I could taste the medications as well as smell them.

I related to a conversation I had with Kaz about the medications we were accepting from the pharmaceutical companies and the side effects that they have on all of us in one form or another.

A seed was enlarged and growing in my heart.

I have a great family, and I love them all including their children, my nephews, and my nieces.

I had always wanted to spend time with each of them, but life never permitted the time needed. Besides, whenever we did have time together, we were always caught up with so many other things that took precedence over the things that I want to bring to light.

As I contemplated on this idea, I thought the best way to deliver this message would be in the form of a book. Hence, this book that I hope the world will enjoy reading, eventually.

Disclaimer? Maybe! I must throw this out up front.

Some may be offended by this book; some may agree and not even know why they agree.

Please keep in mind that my purpose for this book is not to offend anyone but to open your minds and your thought process to find the truth—the truth for you, your loved ones, and the people who are in you sphere of influence. Your influencing abilities could be the entire world.

I do believe that we are all influenced and connected to each other in one way or another.

When I write, I purposely try to leave some unanswered questions so that you can go do the research on your own or ask yourself what it is he is trying to say. You are intelligent people, why should you rely on my information alone?

Go find your truth, then it will stick with you longer; it will relate to you and your situations, and you will have your own experience to talk about.

Okay, loved ones, where do I start? I am going to try and stem from one of the oldest sayings, which I can remember hearing. The term I will focus on is mind, body, and soul. Therefore, I will start with the mind.

Guard your heart, which can be translated to guard your mind. The apostle Paul says it this way:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

(Philippians 4:8)

I cannot express how important this statement is. It is also simple to follow, but we have drifted away from such ways of simplicity.

Our Minds

Throughout this chapter, I will use a car as an example in most of my illustrations.

I am using a car because I think we can all easily relate to the specifics of this machine. Let us say that the engine is your mind, and the engine needs oil to function properly. You can put all kinds of oil in the engine, and it will still function, but there are a few types that will keep the engine functioning at its top performance and its ability.

The good types of oil include elements that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and things of good report. The other type of oil may include elements of lies, deceit, hatred, fear, and other harmful emotions. Placing the manufactured recommended oil in your car engine will allow your car to run as best as it can for the life of the car.

This is the manufactures recommendations. The manufacture has made the car and knows what is best for the car and know how He wants the car to perform and for how long.

The car is not a prototype, and the manufacture has been making this type of car forever. As a matter of fact, this manufacture has made many different types of machinery and done the research, and He knows what is best for your car. He has tested and proven the elements for this car, and He knows what is best for the car.

The car routinely requires oil changes at different stages of its life cycle. With each oil change, in order to get the best results, particular grades of oil are recommended by the manufacture.

The manufacture is the expert in this field. Trust Him. So the manufacture of the car says use this oil that contains these elements, and your car will perform and endure according to its allotted time.

As a young man, I owned many cars. With all the cars I have had, there were times that I would not follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as to when and what oil to use in the cars I drove, or sometimes I just did not even change the oil at all.

You know what? The car still ran, but I am sure that I was doing damage to the car. I was careless, and I expected to replace my cars often.

Unfortunately, we cannot replace the one life that we have been given. It is in our best interest to take care of it.

Those who know me know that I am a bit peculiar. I always have been and more than likely will continue to be a peculiar person. In everything I do, I tend to rise to the top. Not because I am better than another person. Just that I have learned over the years how to focus and ask for what I want. I often take the time to stay by myself and question the things I did or do. I will include in my questioning the things I did, the things people said about me, the results of things I tried and succeeded or failed, and many more.

A few questions I may ask myself be If I did not know me, would I want to be my friend? Why or Why not? I may also ask, Why did I do that? Did I get the results that I was looking for? What could I have done differently?

I have said all that to show you a discovery I made when I was a sales agent in a well-known consumer store.

The pay was based on commissions, and I was growing, rising to the top.

I was a single dad and doing the best I could to keep things going.

While other associates were taking cigarette breaks, I was pulling the highest ticketed item’s manuals and reading them from cover to cover. In between customers and during my downtime, I would ask myself a few of the questions listed above and others such as Why did I lose that customer, or why did I gain that customer? I kept a mental note as to how I did in my sales from day to day, week to week, and month to month.

After a while, I started to notice a pattern in my sales ability and that it had a direct correlation with how I viewed people. In fact, how I viewed people had a direct correlation with what I did the night before or that day.

This was the pattern that I recognized. If I had focused on the news and the negative things that were going on around me,