15 Minutes 15 Minutes with... JewishHobbit

[JewishHobbit]

Is it very difficult to do the job you are doing now?

Honestly... it's the easiest job I've ever done for the most money... A good payoff if you ask me. It's not very fulfilling, but it gives me a lot of time to think about writing, which is my real desire. So hopefully it's just a helpful step in that direction. And I hope to reach 1st shift in a few years so then I can maybe be in an elementary and can play with the kids a bit. I love kids.

Do you feel your faith brings you happiness?

I think it's one part of the happiness that I have. A lot of things make me happy, but the sense of security and love that comes from my faith is definately a big one... and the sense of family and love from my church is overwhelming.

Also, I didn't really have a father growing up (well, my father and I have no relationship and my stepfather was just all about getting drunk and high... so there was no male role model in my life). When I started going to church at 15 I started learning about God. I felt silly but i began praying to God 'the Father' and somehow it really helped... like I was finally able to just sit and talk with a dad like other kids. That feeling is still there to this day.

So yeah, anyway, my faith is a big part of my happiness.


And on a completely unrelated note... my daughter has just informed me that cops don't have elbows. Interesting.

What type of help would you hope for?

I honestly have all the help I need at the moment, everything is going well. I suppose a little help from someone in the writing biz to help me get a writing career started would be nice, but we'll see if I get there on my own. And well, technially I have received a little help in getting my first publication with the short comic story... so that's something.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Good job dude!

Thanks. We kinda fell out of it due to work and just being busy/lazy... but it got to the point where I realized I didn't really believe in God anymore. That, plus I would watch as my friends growing up had kids and my kids had no part of theirs because we never saw them anymore... and just the idea of my kids not being in church when it was such a huge part of my growing up just bothered me.

We tried to go back once but the church had a big split and there were issues, and I was looking for excuses not to go at that point anyway, so we left again. We tried other churches but I always found a reason not to like them.

Then something just clicked and I realized where I was spiritually and I hated it, and it scared me. I hated that my kids knew nothing about God, and I hated that we were lying to friends and family as to our 'attendance' at 'other churches'. So I had to fight with my wife to get us going again but finally I got her to listen to me and reluctantly she agreed. Now she's thankful and the kids are having a good time. And I feel a million times better and feel my faith coming back little by little... so it's definately good to be on the upward swing again.

I mean, I've seen and been through some serious stuff having to do with religious stuff... from minor miracles to exorsisms and all that... and yet somehow I stopped believing? I'm just glad to be back and am upset with myself that I let myself get away.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

You saw an exorcism? Nice, I saw one when I was like 10. I was hoping you'd find your way back to Jeebus, glad to hear it

 

[JewishHobbit]

Yeah, I've seen a few, participated in one. And done 3 house exorcisms. 1 was nuts, the rest subdued.

Scary at the time, awesome in hindsight

And I've also had confrontations with Demons in my own home on several occassions. They're not as big a deal as they're made out to be.

May have seen an angel once too. And I lost my vision in a car accident when I was 21 or so. My doctor told me my praying was the only way I got my vision back because that's the only way I could see like I did. It was the worst case of eye damage he'd seen.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

I don't really believe in demonic(or angelic by default) possession so it was just cool seeing this guy flip out while we prayed.

Most confusing book of the Bible?

Most inspirational?

Most badass Biblical figure(Samson excluded b/c we all know he's the OT's Alpha male)

Lucifer: misunderstood or just plain evil?

If God had to wipe out the Earth again, how would you want him to do it?

What would you do if you were left behind after the rapture?

 

[JewishHobbit]

I don't really believe in demonic(or angelic by default) possession so it was just cool seeing this guy flip out while we prayed.

There's possession and there's oppression. Possession is a bit more rare, Oppression is more common. It's basically where a Demon has kinda latched onto you, leading you into problems or depression and the such. That's more common because it's still you, just influenced. Possession is where the Demon is pretty much in you and mostly in control. I've never met a Possessed person that I'm aware of.

Most confusing book of the Bible?

Easily Revelation. It was also the first book of the Bible I've ever read, so it has a place in my heart. The visual images are cool to imagine. Personally, a nice interpretation of it that is explained as it goes is the Left Behind series. The movies and comics kinda sucked but I loved the novels. It's pretty much Revelation written out in human terms from the normal people's point of view. Again, it's the writers's rendition of the text, but it's still a good story.

Most inspirational?

Hmm... I've always torn between Genesis and Proverbs. I love all the stories in Genesis and all the problems that are overcome there. Not to mention the feeling of one-ness between God and man back then. Proverbs is just wisdom spoken about everyday life and it can at times really make sense of things that make no sense to me.

Most badass Biblical figure(Samson excluded b/c we all know he's the OT's Alpha male)

Man, there are so many cool characters in the Bible when you think about what they had to go through or what they accomplished... even from a purely fictional point of view for those of you who don't believe in it.

I'd say Peter. He had faith, he messed up, he got stronger faith. Dude was willing to lob a dude's ear off to defend his beliefs (though he later failed in them). Heck, people would be healed of sicknesses or whatever just by having his shadow fall on them. That's pretty awesome.

And he was supposedly crucificed upside down. What a cool way to be executed

I want to say it was Andrew who was crucified, flayed alive, burnt alive, and then beheaded. Let me tell you... people complain about God being tough back in the day... what about the Atheists he had to put up with?! That's just nuts!

Lucifer: misunderstood or just plain evil?

Well I guess if there's someone who is plain evil it'd be Lucifer. I hate using the term 'evil' so absolutely but I think it fits here. He was fine in the beginning but his corruption just continued and continues and if Revelation and other prophecies are true, he'll continue until the end of time. That much is just evil as he's defined it I suppose.

If God had to wipe out the Earth again, how would you want him to do it?

With pleasure. Multiple orgasms until you just can't take it anymore.

What would you do if you were left behind after the rapture?

Convert immediately! Those are actually thoughts I thought about up until a month or two ago. I pictured myself as a mixture of Bruce Barnes and Buck Williams from the Left Behind series. Bruce was a pastor who spoke but didn't believe it. Buck believed there was a God but wasn't sold on Jesus. If the Rapture happens, I didn't think I'd go. And of course, that goes without saying if I died in a car accident or something. But yeah, if the Rapture happened and I was left behind... I'd convert, start looking for signs of the Anti-Christ, and start preaching most likely, and helping those who were suffering as a result of the Rapture.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

There's possession and there's oppression. Possession is a bit more rare, Oppression is more common. It's basically where a Demon has kinda latched onto you, leading you into problems or depression and the such. That's more common because it's still you, just influenced. Possession is where the Demon is pretty much in you and mostly in control. I've never met a Possessed person that I'm aware of.

Interesting, I'm gonna do some homework on this oppression business. The guy I saw exorcised had a curse/hex/etc put on him by some lady. Haitians.

Easily Revelation. It was also the first book of the Bible I've ever read, so it has a place in my heart. The visual images are cool to imagine. Personally, a nice interpretation of it that is explained as it goes is the Left Behind series. The movies and comics kinda sucked but I loved the novels. It's pretty much Revelation written out in human terms from the normal people's point of view. Again, it's the writers's rendition of the text, but it's still a good story.

Aw man, Pickles, ComicChick, and I could talk your face off about the Left Behind books. I don't wanna be around for any of that crap

Hmm... I've always torn between Genesis and Proverbs. I love all the stories in Genesis and all the problems that are overcome there. Not to mention the feeling of one-ness between God and man back then. Proverbs is just wisdom spoken about everyday life and it can at times really make sense of things that make no sense to me.

See, I think Genesis is the most confusing. Not due to a lack of understanding, but I'm not sure how much of that I believe and how much is just a cool story.

Man, there are so many cool characters in the Bible when you think about what they had to go through or what they accomplished... even from a purely fictional point of view for those of you who don't believe in it.

I'd say Peter. He had faith, he messed up, he got stronger faith. Dude was willing to lob a dude's ear off to defend his beliefs (though he later failed in them). Heck, people would be healed of sicknesses or whatever just by having his shadow fall on them. That's pretty awesome.

And he was supposedly crucificed upside down. What a cool way to be executed

I want to say it was Andrew who was crucified, flayed alive, burnt alive, and then beheaded. Let me tell you... people complain about God being tough back in the day... what about the Atheists he had to put up with?! That's just nuts!

Crucified upside-down? Jeez

Well I guess if there's someone who is plain evil it'd be Lucifer. I hate using the term 'evil' so absolutely but I think it fits here. He was fine in the beginning but his corruption just continued and continues and if Revelation and other prophecies are true, he'll continue until the end of time. That much is just evil as he's defined it I suppose.

See, I'm torn on how to feel about the guy. I hardly think he's as evil as a lot of people think. I'm not saying he's a nice dude or anything. Maybe I don't respect Satan's gangsta enough haha.

With pleasure. Multiple orgasms until you just can't take it anymore.

Haha, I wish

Convert immediately! Those are actually thoughts I thought about up until a month or two ago. I pictured myself as a mixture of Bruce Barnes and Buck Williams from the Left Behind series. Bruce was a pastor who spoke but didn't believe it. Buck believed there was a God but wasn't sold on Jesus. If the Rapture happens, I didn't think I'd go. And of course, that goes without saying if I died in a car accident or something. But yeah, if the Rapture happened and I was left behind... I'd convert, start looking for signs of the Anti-Christ, and start preaching most likely, and helping those who were suffering as a result of the Rapture.

Geroge Sebastian was my fav single character of the series. But Mac&Abdullah FTMFW!

Interesting that you'd take up preaching. I wouldn't be so brave or selfless. You're a good man, my good man.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Were you spanked or scolded as a little nino?

Do your own kids fear the belt?

Does your wife? J/k, don't answer that.

Which ring of hell are we gonna get sent to for our comic pirating ways?

Ever gotten a black eye?

What's the minimum amount of money you'd require to live comfortably? Lump-sum, think lottery.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Heh, drinking's for the lame! But my drunken duet partner... TheOriginalBamfer! But having never drank... I can't guarentee I won't grope upon vocal epiphany. Consider yourself warned Bamf!



I Don't Want To Miss A Thing, by Aerosmith. Bamf's a screamer.

:heart:!!!

And, don't worry, I'll be drunk enough for the both of us!

 

[ComicChick]

which is your favorite book of the Left Behind series?

favoorite character(s)?

least favorite?

scene that stuck out in your mind?

have you read any of the prequels or the kids series?

 

[JewishHobbit]

Were you spanked or scolded as a little nino?

I was spanked with a belt and switch growing up. And eventually my stepdad upgraded to the 'butt burner'. It was basically a handled 2x4 piece of wood with all of our names on it. Every time we got hit, we got a notch by our name. My brother was the end of whoopin's though. My stepdad was yelling at him about something and grabbed it so my brother just turned and stood there. My stepdad broke it over his butt and my brother just kinda 'hah'd and my dad cursed a surprise and that was the end of it. None of us kids were ever spanked again.

Maybe because my ex-stepdad realized we were suddenly old enough to take it and dish it back if necessary. My brother anyway. I was a skinny little pup and was easily broken.

Do your own kids fear the belt?

I've never used anything other than my hand, and seldom even that. I believe in spankings when necessary and never to an extreme... but my kids are fortunately very well behaved and I have to spank them maybe once every few months. I don't think I've spanked them more than twice this whole past year to be honest.

Does your wife? J/k, don't answer that.

Yes she fears the belt! She never wears them and her butt cracks hangs out an inch and a half every time she bends over even a little... and I'm not a butt crack kinda guy!!!

Which ring of hell are we gonna get sent to for our comic pirating ways?

I actually don't know anything about those rings other than some people believe they are there... so I'm just going to say the 4th and hope for the best.... there's always that purgatory place that Catholics believe in, right?

Ever gotten a black eye?

Nope. Been blinded once, but never blackened.

What's the minimum amount of money you'd require to live comfortably? Lump-sum, think lottery.

More than I make now... let's just say that

 

[SuperFerret]

Hey! Do I look Jewish to you?! I have no idea what half (and by half I mean 3 or 4) of those words mean! But I can wing it

While we Hobbits do enjoy Kosher, Kosher tends to yell and scream when we try to eat her. I've digged and digged and digged, and I swear I haven't found a decent knish yet. I've heard they've found some knish fossels over in the Burrow Downs though, so I plan to check there next. I don't know, Sauron strikes me more as a homogegi... but that's just me. And despite popular belief, Frodo and Sam are straight... so I didn't have to shlep them at all

You have no idea how long I've been wanting to ask those.

A knish is a delicious Jewish food that's basically a thin bread pocket filled with potato. It's awesome with spicy mustard.

A schmegegi is basically a jerk, and occasionally slang for penis.

And shlepping is basically walking a LONG way, like from the Shire to Mordor.

 

[JewishHobbit]

which is your favorite book of the Left Behind series?

Assassins has always been my favorite. There was a lot of build up and in the end I wasn't really sure who the assassin would be. The suspense was wonderful and I couldn't put the book down. LOVED it! My second favorite was probably The Mark.

favorite character(s)?

The Underdogs and Other Guys! After a lot of thought I think my favorite character was David. He was kinda 'the other guy' who became a big and important player, which was awesome.

Runner ups... Ken, Abdullah, and Mac. Oh, and what was his name... the doctor... Doctor Floyd or something like that?

least favorite?

Hattie. She just didn't interest me in the slightest from beginning to end. The only scene that got to me was her and Mac in the hotel room (and wow does that sound misleading!)

scene that stuck out in your mind?

My favorite scene in the whole series, for the tragedy of it, was the big guilotine scene in the Mark with all the women in Greece. I don't tear up easily and that scene had me teared up big time.

have you read any of the prequels or the kids series?

I haven't read the prequels, or the sequal... but I did read about the first half of the kids series. Honestly, they were just as good as the adult stuff and just as adult, I think, save that the main characters were teenagers. I don't know why I stopped those though.

Honestly, since getting back into church I've REALLY wanted to get back into these... but it's been years since I've read the original series. I know that I've forgotten a lot so I'm wanting to reread them. Problem is, I had to sell them at one point when money was tight so I'm in the process of buying them back. I'm still missing a few, including the first couple in the series. But what I plan on doing is reading the prequels, then the main series, then the sequel book... straight through (interupted only by whatever book I'm reading for my book club each month). Then after those I want to go back and read the kids books.

I really did love this series. Book 6 was just about to come out when I started reading this series... Books 1-5 took me 1 day each to read... yeah, 5 days total. I then got a job so book 6, which came out a week later, took me a week, and that was about average for the rest of the series.

Man... now I REALLY want to go back and reread them.

 

[JewishHobbit]

You have no idea how long I've been wanting to ask those.

A knish is a delicious Jewish food that's basically a thin bread pocket filled with potato. It's awesome with spicy mustard.

A schmegegi is basically a jerk, and occasionally slang for penis.

And shlepping is basically walking a LONG way, like from the Shire to Mordor.

Hah! I wasn't even close. Honestly, I don't even know what a yaddle looks like... or how to spell it (as it may or may not be obvious judging by how I spelled it)

 

[SuperFerret]

You mean a yarmulke? The little hats they wear? I've never heard of a "yaddle".

 

[ComicChick]

Assassins has always been my favorite. There was a lot of build up and in the end I wasn't really sure who the assassin would be. The suspense was wonderful and I couldn't put the book down. LOVED it! My second favorite was probably The Mark.



The Underdogs and Other Guys! After a lot of thought I think my favorite character was David. He was kinda 'the other guy' who became a big and important player, which was awesome.

Runner ups... Ken, Abdullah, and Mac. Oh, and what was his name... the doctor... Doctor Floyd or something like that?



Hattie. She just didn't interest me in the slightest from beginning to end. The only scene that got to me was her and Mac in the hotel room (and wow does that sound misleading!)



My favorite scene in the whole series, for the tragedy of it, was the big guilotine scene in the Mark with all the women in Greece. I don't tear up easily and that scene had me teared up big time.



I haven't read the prequels, or the sequal... but I did read about the first half of the kids series. Honestly, they were just as good as the adult stuff and just as adult, I think, save that the main characters were teenagers. I don't know why I stopped those though.

Honestly, since getting back into church I've REALLY wanted to get back into these... but it's been years since I've read the original series. I know that I've forgotten a lot so I'm wanting to reread them. Problem is, I had to sell them at one point when money was tight so I'm in the process of buying them back. I'm still missing a few, including the first couple in the series. But what I plan on doing is reading the prequels, then the main series, then the sequel book... straight through (interupted only by whatever book I'm reading for my book club each month). Then after those I want to go back and read the kids books.

I really did love this series. Book 6 was just about to come out when I started reading this series... Books 1-5 took me 1 day each to read... yeah, 5 days total. I then got a job so book 6, which came out a week later, took me a week, and that was about average for the rest of the series.

Man... now I REALLY want to go back and reread them.

i wanna re-read them too. i'm on Kingdom Come, but I can't find it. it's in my house somewhere. I have some of the prequels too I want to read.

I got most of them on Amazon, all hardcovers. I bought them from the used stores, so I bough 90% of them for .01 there and 3.99 shipping so essentially 4 dollars a book rather than 12 a piece at B&N.

i really wish they'd to some big budget films or a long tv mini or something. do it right and the action and effects would be amazing

 

[JewishHobbit]

Interesting, I'm gonna do some homework on this oppression business. The guy I saw exorcised had a curse/hex/etc put on him by some lady. Haitians.

Spiritual Warfare can be freaky, but it's cool as can be once you realize that it's not as scary when they have to listen to you.

Aw man, Pickles, ComicChick, and I could talk your face off about the Left Behind books. I don't wanna be around for any of that crap

I do only to actually see how it plays out... but then again, I don't because I don't want to encounter any of that stuff. If you can't tell, I'm one of those guys that, when the tornado sirens go off, I run outside to see it instead of going to the basement.

I remember this one time my wife and my friend's wife who was over was yelling at my friend and I because the sirens were going off and we were out in the street watching the clouds. It's funny because all the other wives of the street were yelling at their husbands as well. We were all in the street pointing out clouds moving and odd spins and all that.

Men are so stupid. How have we lived this long?

See, I think Genesis is the most confusing. Not due to a lack of understanding, but I'm not sure how much of that I believe and how much is just a cool story.

I believe it all.. but the way I see it is this... if it really happened then awesome. If it didn't then it's some good analogies on God and his works and there's still something to be learned from it.

See, I'm torn on how to feel about the guy. I hardly think he's as evil as a lot of people think. I'm not saying he's a nice dude or anything. Maybe I don't respect Satan's gangsta enough haha.

I want to say that he's just a creature that fell like we fall... but then again, it's all supernatural beyond our understanding, so I don't know. His demons feel pretty evil though, so I'd imagine he'd be the same or worse.

Geroge Sebastian was my fav single character of the series. But Mac&Abdullah FTMFW!

What the heck is FTMFW?!

But yeah, I liked George a lot. He was a cool late comer. Funny how you liked the big muscle bound guy and I liked the little nerdy kid. What do you think that's saying about me?

Interesting that you'd take up preaching. I wouldn't be so brave or selfless. You're a good man, my good man.

It's in my nature. I've preached before and I've debated with athiests more times than I can count. And I'm not afraid of death or the afterlife or anything like that. The only thing about death that worries me is what my passing will mean to my loved ones... but for a cause like that I have no problems.

 

[JewishHobbit]

You mean a yarmulke? The little hats they wear? I've never heard of a "yaddle".

Is that how you spell a yamika?! What do you know! And maybe what I'm thinking if is a Dradle... does that sound familiar?

 

[SuperFerret]

Is that how you spell a yamika?! What do you know! And maybe what I'm thinking if is a Dradle... does that sound familiar?

Dredel, the little tops for Chanukah? I actually used to know how the game was played, but it's been a while.

 

[JewishHobbit]

i wanna re-read them too. i'm on Kingdom Come, but I can't find it. it's in my house somewhere. I have some of the prequels too I want to read.

I got most of them on Amazon, all hardcovers. I bought them from the used stores, so I bough 90% of them for .01 there and 3.99 shipping so essentially 4 dollars a book rather than 12 a piece at B&N.

i really wish they'd to some big budget films or a long tv mini or something. do it right and the action and effects would be amazing

I'm slowly aquiring them. I'm missing Left Behind, Tribulation Force, Soul Harvest, and Glorious Appearing from the original series. Then I still need Kingdom Come and the Prequals... and I plan on getting all of the kids books eventually.

Half Priced Books have been good to me, but I may have to get to Amazon soon to finish the rest of the gaps.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Dredel, the little tops for Chanukah? I actually used to know how the game was played, but it's been a while.

Something like that... I am officially the worst artificial Jew ever!

 

[SuperFerret]

Something like that... I am officially the worst artificial Jew ever!

Oy vey. Also, I'm not Jewish myself, all the stuff I know, I know because I was raised in Brooklyn, New York.

 

[JewishHobbit]

They have Jews in Brooklyn?! Gangsta Jews!

 

[SuperFerret]

There's at least two heavily Jewish areas in Brooklyn.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

If God is omniscient meaning he knows everything that is, that was and will be then did he create the Devil?