My brother is cooler than me. And that's that. Why, you ask? How could someone possibly be cooler than you, Paige? Golly gosh, don't make me blush, you're too kind. ☺

As you can see, I have multiple personalities... so that's reason one. Reason two: he dresses better than me. Like, way better. James, of whom just turned the big 2-0!, has got that "I don't have to try to look cool because I'm just that cool" swag. It's a gift, really. He learned it allll thanks to his awesome-sauce big sister, then he passed me up. Kids these days.

He's the type of guy who will wear a Hawaiian button up, a pink snap back from Goodwill, orange pants, socks with cats shooting lasers out of their eyes, and beat up Converse and look great. Me, on the other hand, I have to put in a little more effort, and even then I get the occassional "are you really wearing that?" question. Yes, I am, shut up.

James is generally a laid back guy. His style comes naturally. His personality gets along with just about anyone, and he likes to do things at his own pace.

The one thing he is not laid back about, however, is getting his hands on a pair of Jordans no one else has.

I personally don't understand the hype. I've dated a couple guys who've had Jordan obsessions, and I never really understood it. What's the big deal, they're just a pair of shoes? And who care's about getting the latest pair, they look just like all the others and no one will even know how exclusive they are. Like seriously, what's the dealio?

Todays date, May 23, 2015, marks the release of the latest pair of Jordans: the highly-anticipated Air Jordan 11 Retro Low "Playoffs". But, these aren't like other shoes that normally hit shelves. There aren't truckloads of these things being delivered to stores. Nope, infact, each store only gets ONE PAIR PER SIZE. Meaning only a VERY select few will receive them.

(LaMarcus Aldridge wearing the Air Jordan 11 Low "Playoffs"/Kobe Bryant wearing the Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low PE's)

And that, friends, is why boys are so obsessed with Jordans. They're cool looking, their relatively expensive, and they're comfortable (so I've heard). But the number one reason boys literally trample over each other to get them is because of how exclusive they are.

Only a couple guys will get them today at 10:00 AM (their designated release time). No one else.

So, how do guys stand a chance? Well, some stores have lines that literally begin to form hours before hand, and some stores (like the ones here in SE Wisconsin) take a more subtle approach: they develop a lottery system. So, the hundreds of guys who want a chance at winning will put their name and contact info into a big bowl, and store owners will draw one name per size.

James, being the guy he is, signed up at not one store, not two stores, but three, all in hopes he'd get his name drawn. All the stores told him he had no chance. He's a size 12 foot, same as basically half the guy population (that play basketball and wanted the shoes, anyways), so his chances were slimmm to none.

Apparently, those slim chances worked in his favor, since he received a call a few days ago that the sneak's were his.

Feelin like Mr. Cool, he breezed into the store this morning, placed the $170 on the table, and grabbed the box with his name on it while onlookers unaware of the lottery and looking for a pair watched in envy.

James texted me telling me he got 'em, and I have no doubt he's wearing them as I type. 

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Jordans are exclusive. Only a small handful can have them, leaving everyone else out in the cold. JESUS of Nazareth, the son of God, is kind of like a pair of Jordans, except also extremely different. Bear with me...

Similarities:

• Jesus is worth a LOT. He lived a sinless life and was killed in a horiffic way in order for His blood to give us entrance into Heaven for all of eternity. Jordans are also worth a lot, a $170 (in store) and $500 (re-seller) sticker price is not exactly cheap.
• Jesus is beautiful, just like the shoes are pretty snazzy. When He was on the Earth, Isaiah explained there was nothing "overly beautiful" about His appearance. BUT, He's described in Revelation as a glorious man dressed in fine linen and riding on a big, white horse once in Heaven. I'm sure He'll be pretty dang cool when we meet Him upstairs.
• Jesus is comfortable. He's not going to judge you when you confess your wrongdoings. He's not going to hurt or harm you in any way. He wants to help you, hold you, and show you your worth. The shoes, in comparison, give people a feeling of "comfort and confidence," NBA baller DeAndre Jordan once said.

Differences:

• Unlike how Jordan sellers only choose a small number to sell to, Jesus opens His grace to everyone. Everyone, as in, people who don't go to church, people who have committed heinous crimes, people who don't live like angels... He died so YOU, yes you!, can go to Heaven for all of eternity. The only thing He asks is you trust and believe in Him. No one (who wants entrance) is left out in the cold.
• It seems every basketball-playing guy wants his hands on a pair of J's. But, unfortunately, not everyone wants their heart to belong to Christ. There's been a rumor the last 100 years or so that God is a judgemental, evil dictator sitting on His thrown mad at everyone for saying the word Hell and not living inside a church. Allow me to break that lie for you: He's a loving God who just wants to hang with you. Let Him.

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Jesus is pretty rad. In fact, He's cooler than a whole room full of brand new Jordans. He's not exclusive, He's ready and waiting to love you like you'd never imagine. And also, my deepest condolences to you boys who didn't win a pair.

Some inappropriate scenes***