August 2011
6 posts
“Grace isn’t amazing unless you’re a wretch.”
– Professor Michael Bruner
“In everything that [Hezekiah] undertook in the service of God’s temple and...”
– 2 Chronicles 31:21
This is going to be my hall’s theme verse for the year
My first residents!
As a freshman RA, I’m really excited about how soon my residents are coming. I was worried a little bit before, but I have 6 residents living on my hall 2 weeks early because they came for football. Meeting them blew any of my fears out of the water, and I had to stop typing this to talk to a couple guys because they just wanted to say hi. I’m pumped about this year! I saw 11 residents...
Dexter!
Sorry about that. I was out of commission for a little bit and never really responded to that message. But I do believe that quote was originally used in the context of people proving a point. For example, one saying “The Bible says this and the Bible is infallible.” When they’re attempting to make a point, so they use the Bible, and instantly that idea becomes infallible to...
“Anyone claiming the Bible is infallible also claims their interpretation of the...”
– Professor Michael Bruner, Azusa Pacific University
Reading through my old notes...
I found some great quotes from one of my classes. I think I’ll by sporadically putting them out there in the near future. That class was easily my favorite class of all time.
July 2011
2 posts
A new day blossoms...: I'm Not a Christian, But... →
by Thomas Weaver
Okay I’m not a Christian, but I’ve finally made the decision to come to your church this Sunday. Don’t expect much from me though. If something comes up I might not, but right now I’m planning on it. I feel like I need to go, but I’m not sure why. I want…
tuneage:
Saturday treat: Mumford & Sons
...
May 2011
9 posts
So I blogged this in January, before I left for South Africa.
“Nevertheless, among churchmen, beyond their rites and ceremonies, luxury is a crime. It seems to disclose habits which are not truly charitable. A wealthy priest is a contradiction. He ought to keep himself near the poor. But, who can be in contact continually, by night as well as day, with all distresses, all misfortunes, all...
It's amazing what will lead people to treat you...
Today, at Jimmy John’s, they were very nice to me. There was a girl at the counter who was really sweet when she took my order. Then the guy who handed me my sandwich gave me an “aw, shucks” look when I said thanks for the sandwich. Compared with the dirty looks i was getting in Jamba Juice last week, it was like something had changed drastically.
Something had. I mean, I had a...
I'm still a giddy little schoolboy.
I just was reading a little Bible, and came up with a question on the law codes of Ancient Near Eastern societies. I got out of bed to send one of my old teachers an email about it, and now I’m not tired at all. Thinking about this question will probably keep me up for another 2 hours. I hope this never changes
There's some points that shouldn't be reached
There’s some places that you go, mentally, that really are unacceptable to be. I mean, they’re totally understandable, given the circumstances, but they still shouldn’t be reached. It’s just sad, you know?
I’m sitting here, reminiscing about my time in South Africa. And thinking about walking down Long Street in Cape Town, and having a knife pulled on me two nights...
I'm in that place again
feeling worthless because I’m defining myself by a girl I don’t have. And it’s not even midnight yet. It’s going to be a long night.
Good news:
Free dinner.
Bad news: Dinner with a bunch of people who think they know South Africa really well, and will talk about how well they know it, when they’ve only been there for a week.
Bad news: I will possibly be the center of attention, seeing that I just returned from 4 months in South Africa.
Good news: I’ll see Neil. I love that man.
I always come back to this place. And I don’t have bad memories, or crappy times, or anything associated with it. The only thing I associate with this is stagnancy. Summers sitting in this room, doing nothing, watching movies, listening to music, and reading, wasting days away. That’s what I associate with this place.
And that’s okay. The problem is, I just got back from South...
And suddenly
Any self-confidence I’ve built over the past semester is gone. Poof.
Edit: really though. It’s the first night I’ve been alone since I’ve been back from South Africa, and I am a mess of emotions right now.
April 2011
2 posts
Nearing the End
We leave in 5 days, and I have no idea where my head is at. Today is Saturday, and on Wednesday we leave. I have tentative plans for every day before we leave, and I’m about ready to get home. But I don’t know what’s going on inside this little head of mine. I don’t think I’m ready to go home, because there’s still things I want to do. Still things I need to figure out. Some selfish, some not so...
Location, Location, Location.
It’s amazing how easy it is to adapt to new places. I’ve talked to other people, so I know it’s not just me, but I feel like I’m in a constant state of change at this point in my life. After 4 months at APU freshman year, it was another month at home and 4 months at APU again. Then it was 3 months at home, 4 at APU, one at home, and now 3 and a half in South Africa. And...
March 2011
2 posts
click here: The signs of the defeat of Libyan... →
untilallarefreenooneisfree:
I call on all the peoples to support us, the Egyptians, Tunisians, French, even Chinese, all the peoples of the world, we welcome their support and sympathy. In a few hours, the UN Security Council will decide to start air strikes against Libya. France has said…
I found this incredibly interesting. You might too. An inside view of foreign aid in Libya.
So much running through my mind right now.
Hopefully up for an update later. We’ll see how I’m doing after a movie
February 2011
2 posts
1 tag
Father
Teach me to love. Teach me to be accepting of people despite the initial prejudices I see in them: selfishness, coldness, or even just a lack of motivation or intelligence. Help me to understand that I don’t understand. Help me to know how I don’t know. When I think of shortcomings in others, help me to look past them the way you look past mine. Allow me to seek to understand others...
January 2011
9 posts
holier than thou
Christians can really piss me off sometimes, and right now, I’m pretty pissed. I can understand why people don’t like Christians when I’m in this environment. Like, I’m fine with you having your beliefs, but when you try to force your personal beliefs on someone else who has a different belief than you, that’s just ridiculous. And it’s pissing me off because I...
I don't understand how people can be so damn...
When a chapel speaker gives a message where he continually says that regardless of what he believes, it’s not about the theology as much as the service and advancing the kingdom, and the first thing I hear after the chapel is a conversation about his theological viewpoints. Completely missed the entire service because of the fact that they may or may not believe in the idea of Original...
“Don’t look for a perfect church. And if you find one, do us all a favor...”
– Dr. Reg Codrington
Africa Blog
justanotherxenophobe.blogspot.com
This is probably what I’ll be posting on for most of the next couple months. This is my blog for while I’m studying abroad in South Africa.
I’ve been on it quite a bit the past week because I have so much time, but I definitely won’t be posting at the same frequency while I’m over there.
I’ll still be on tumblr occasionally,...
Why
pemmons:
Why is it that it takes great tragedy for a person, or in this case a nation, to turn to God?? For instance Obama quoted scripture tonight multiple times. I’m pretty sure that’s a first. Or lebron, saying on his twitter that “gods always watching”. I guess it just frustrates me when people do stuff like that. I mean I know it’s not wrong for people to do so, but still.
Such a great...
I don't think you understand.
You don’t have to keep apologizing about things. I understand you’re sorry, and I have forgiven you. With that in mind, that doesn’t mean everything is going to be the exact same way it was before.
What you did was stupid. It was childish and dumb, and lying to me about it afterwards was complete bullshit, especially when I knew it was you. I’m not upset about what you...
I was already planning on this, I swear.
I’m not stealing this idea from anyone. I’m just acting on it a little later than everyone.
justanotherxenophobe.blogspot.com
Packing.
Oh South Africa, you are coming soon. So very soon.
December 2010
13 posts
This summer I want to
greaterthings:
Go to South Africa
Climb in South Africa?
Go rafting in the Grand Canyon
Climb in the Grand Canyon
Climb at Joshua Tree
Climb in Malibu
Build something
Camp everywhere
Go to High Sierra
Climb at Boulder
Hike to the summit of Snowbowl…
In short, have multiple epic adventures! But as for now, it is 30 degrees outside and hailing, so I will continue to daydream
...
“Wealthy institutions and individuals are the easy targets when it comes to...”
– Mark Sanford and Steve Wilkens, Hidden Worldviews
Emphasis added
I keep thinking about "bettering myself"
I just don’t understand it. I mean, I do understand it. It makes sense, and is reasonable and rational, and probably a good thing. I want to be the best I can be. That’s great. But there are some little questions that are nibbling at me as I think about it.
Bettering yourself is great. I have lots of goals, some of them unreasonable, about things to do over this break. Whether...
tl;dr
Too long; Didn’t read.
I know that’s what this is going to be for all of you. But seeing as I blog for me and not for you, this is irrelevant. But let me warn you now, if you do read this, the thoughts may be scattered. Give me a break, it’s Christmas eve (now Christmas!).
There’s something about La Casa, my home church in Phoenix, that always gets me thinking. Went there...
So much for that
Apparently 7 minutes a mile isn’t a great pace for a half-marathon. I gave up after 4 miles and 29 minutes. Not in as great of shape as I thought I was
Lord of the Rings Albums? Check.
Course? Check.
Running Shoes? Check.
Water? Check.
Ipod/headphones? Check.
Motivation? Check.
Training? Damn. Forgot the training. Guess I’m just going to try to run a half marathon without training then. I’ll let you all know how it goes.
In my best behavior, I am really just like him.
Look beneath the floorboards for the secrets I have hid
As of right now
32 hours straight awake. And honestly, it wasn’t that bad, and only took two cups of coffee. Fortunately, I didn’t have to do it alone.
I’m going to sleep forever.
Figured it out!
Not totally. And not on my own. But I was just reading some great insight into biblical interpretation, and, well, let me give it to you real quick.
“We’re asking the question, How do we go about understanding which biblical words LIVE today, and which don’t? I know it’s always intimidating for seminary students when such a notion comes up in a class lecture or discussion....
“Wrestling with Scripture, far from a sign of weakness, is a reflection of...”
– William Sloane Coffin
Damn. Lost my blogmentum.
Halfway through a post and I just ran out of gas. Guess it’s homework time.
November 2010
17 posts
So many people don't know what they believe
That’s frustrating to me. I understand it, but it’s frustrating to me.
So many people don’t care to know what they believe. That’s what really gets me. I can’t find any excuse for that.
Sorry about that.
I know it’s thanksgiving, and I know everyone thinks we’re supposed to be grateful for our stuff. The question I’m wrestling with right now is, can I really be grateful for these things, when these things aren’t making my life better at all?
What are the necessities of Life?
And I’m not thinking bare-boned necessities. How much can you take away before your quality of life is suffering because of it?
So much stuff.
I’m feeling worn out. It’s not just today, it’s this past week, but I’m just feeling out of it. I feel like it’s taking all of my strength and desire to interact in the now, and not sit around and think about philosophy, theology, and my feelings. I’ve been trying to sort through these feelings, and I know there’s a lot more than just this one point, but...
“But we may say more particularly and more precisely that the reading of the...”
– Walter Bruegemann, Struggling with Scripture