Home

It's not that I didn't like being gone for the week....but it's nice to finally be back home. Well, mostly because not only was I gone all week, but I pretty much was gone the whole weekend before as well. I'm kind of overwhelmed with this whole John paper I've got to write. It's really not even supposed to be that long (7 pages) or that in depth I don't think, but all the sources he wants me to read total up to more pages than I could possibly ever read in less than 2 weeks. I guess that's the part I'm overwhelmed with. But honestly, I've only got one paper to write this entire semester...which is pretty good. I'm doing well with keeping up on school work and reading and such as well too. Well, sorry there's nothing too intriguing here today...I'm just sort of worn out from the week. Have a good day.

Let's Help

Well, this semester is treating me fairly well so far. Nothing too unbearable yet...but I guess that's what everyone always says in the first couple weeks of classes. Haha. My Mondays and Wednesdays can be a little overwhelming...but I love Fridays because there's no chapel and one of my classes is MW only. I kind of stayed home a lot this week to catch up on a bunch of reading that I put off over the weekend. Now I'm almost all the way caught up in everything! (even the read the bible in 4 months deal!) I think next week will be good for that as well because I'm going to be house-sitting over at the Kohler's (which is going to be a blast with Kaity!)

It seems like there has been so much going on lately with all different stuff...and I've been learning a lot and trying to put it all into practice. I've found that's hard to do. I can "know" everything and what i'm "supposed" to do...but a lot of the time it's actually doing it that is the tough part. But that's the beauty of christian community...we have eachother to rely on in order to help eachother put things into practice. So here's...well....I'm not sure if it's a request or just a statement but...let's help eachother be what God's intended us to be.

What A Weekend

The ski trip was great. I love my friends. There is nothing I'd rather be doing.


"You've captured my heart again."

Gone.

Oftentimes the Christian community has sent the message that we love people and build relationships in order to convert them to Christian faith. So there is an agenda. And when there is an agenda, it isn't really love, is it? It's something else. We have to rediscover love, period. Love that loves because it is what Jesus teaches us to do. We have to surrender our agendas.

"The Outpouring"

I thought this picture would be appropriate for the blog. Think about it and see if you come up with the same thing as I do...

Well, So I'm finally getting around to really learning how to mess with pictures and such on this thing. Take a look around...there's some new stuff and some not so new stuff...that is if people actually come here...who knows...I'm probably just talking to myself most of the time. haha.

An Old Theme Revisited

I really don't know what to think. I just got home from Starbucks....it was great conversation...but during so I realized something is wrong. I've allowed myself to forget....I had forgotten the intense passion (and hence sometimes my frustration) for the Senior High ministry. I'm just not sure of what I should be doing different. I guess sometimes as a "leader" I can say something or try to exemplify the idea that I'm trying to get across...but that's all I can do. I can't force things to happen, but I feel like it all rests upon my shoulders in the end. It's not about me or what I'm doing at all...all the "doing" that needs to be done is giving myself to God and allowing him to use me in this ministry....so do whatever You want with me...for You are God and I am not.

"' For your thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are your ways my ways' declares the Lord" --Isaiah 55

A Good Day

So today was a great day. It was the last day for me to sleep in before the semester starts on Monday...so I did. Then I spent the morning/afternoon reading, listening to 'reading' music, drinking chai, and having good conversations on the phone. I wish life was always that relaxing and carefree. It was good to have a day off before things get back to normal here in the next week or so. I seriously don't know where my break went. I had a whole month off...and I can't believe all the school craziness is about to begin again! Well sorry I didn't have anything particularly intriguing to say today...goodnight.

(oh, and if you haven't already, read my last post and check out the pics via flickr!)

Flickr!

Well, now that I've started aquiring some pictures on my phone, I created a flickr account where various pictures are posted. Look for the picture banner on the side of my blog underneath my previous posts. (not the link that says flickr....look lower!) It's also right above "some interesting stuff."

I've been enjoying my break. Still working at the church a lot, but not nearly as much as last week. Tomorrow I'll probably be there the majority of the day cleaning and such for the "preview" on sunday. Yes, you heard it right, this Sunday will only be a preview of the room. Unfortunately, we did not get all the pieces/parts of the room all pulled together (mainly one big piece that we're still waiting to be deliverd...but what it is is classified information! haha) before our deadline so this week will be considered a "sneak preview" then the following week (atleast the SH) will be in New York for the ski trip and then everything will be done by the following week. Today I went and purchased my books for next semester...it was still pricey, but it was somehow nearly $200 less than my first semester. (which was an outrageous $500!!) Anytime I go into a place with books I am seriously like a little kid in a candy store....and it's even sadder that it was all textbooks. I guess I still just excited about the fact that I am required to read books that I actually look forward to reading for my classes. I put some the stuff I got up in my "interesting stuff" thing if you want to check them out.

Well, it is nearly 12:30 now and I must get going. I've committed with a group of people to read the entire bible....cover to cover....in 4 months and I have not completed the readings for today yet. That sounds bad. It sounds as if it feels like a chore...but it isn't. This is something that I want to do....and it's just that I haven't had the time yet today to sit down and start. I'm excited. I think sometimes, especially with taking Bible classes and all, it's really easy to fall into a trap allowing your academic studies to become your personal studies...so I'm reading....just reading. I'm not looking for something to write a paper on or searching for some incredible theological revelation. (not that that can't happen naturally of course) But I'm reading to read....to look at the Bible as a whole. To feel the same passions and emotions that the authors felt. And to experience God without the formulas and agendas of our own making.