Back in NC...

I'm back in town.

One thing that I've remembered since being back here is that I've never been all that accepted here in North Carolina.

Those who claim to be my friends (I do have a few real friends out here, but not many) kind of get offended when I say that. If you're a real friend, you shouldn't be offended at what I'm typing. If you're offended, maybe you should re-think whether or not you're a real friend or if you should even claim to be my friend.

I came back here to get a job and make some money. But I have real friends in Redding, CA and other parts of the US. I have a few friends here, but most "friends" tolerate me more than they do celebrate me.

But I also realize that Jesus said a prophet is not welcome in his home.

Now really it's not a matter of being accepted. I'm accepted by God, and that's all I really need to care about. At the same time, Jesus did have friends. In my friendships here in Raleigh, I definitely think something needs to change. My close friends, for the most part, are in Redding. I have friends here who feel they're "close friends" with me, but honestly, I was much better friends with people in Redding. I hate to offend my Raleigh "friends" but it's true.

People in Raleigh don't know how to truly be friends. I don't know. People know how to put on the polite facade that everyone puts on in the south, that's for sure. But beyond that, they don't know how to be real friends.

People are going to be upset with me for saying these things, but it's true. Be upset with me if you'd like, because I don't care. I know I'm not welcome into the culture that dominates the Raleigh area and much of North Carolina. I just need to be here, find a job, make a living, find some work I can do some telecommuting with, and get the heck out of here. I'm not here to fit in to the "in-crowd" here, even in the "in-crowd" of the churches.

Just some things I needed to get off my chest. In the next few blog postings, I'll probably speak on what I believe a real friend is. No promises on that, though.