"I honor the Holy One who lives in you"

Disc Golf?

2009-03-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

Some who know me may have no clue sometimes when I talk about Disc Golf...let me you some simple to understand ideas about what it is.

Think of a Frisbee and Golf put together as One.

There is a tee pad that you start your first throw from, and there is a target called the basket...made of metal and has chains and a basket, that you have to make it in.

After the first throw you go up to your disc and from that spot throw again at the basket, until you make it in.

They are usually par 3 (you can make it from tee pad to basket in three throws)

Its great fun, super cheap, and a good walk.

I just bought a new disc I am proud to have its called the GROOVE and its pink, and not shy about it at all(shown above)...

If you want to play contact me and I will make time for us to play.

SOME DAY I WILL GET THAT FIRST ACE!!!

Karl Barth

2009-03-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

Karl Barth said this,
"Early Christians once were persecuted for being atheists, it will be a good - sign when Christians will again be called atheists."

Think about it...(o and back when he is talking about calling Christians atheists, was because we believe in one God, not all the Roman gods).

Dan Kimball

2009-02-23T13:52:00.000-08:00

Dan Kimball came and talked at our school chapel today, and it was really interesting. First of all the girl I was sitting by when he came up was amazed at how he looked, I don't think she was ready for it at all...

But otherwise he talked about the view of non-Christians (lost) and how they viewed Christians. And like I have heard before they most the time think Christians are arrogant, hypocritical, and not what Jesus was about.

So Dan talked about how we need to get out and be friends with people, that we don't need to go out and "evangelize" them, but just be friends with them.

He said that he was talking with some of his Christian friends, and wanted to see how many hung out with non Christians, and they all pretty much said they didn't. That we are forming the Christian bubble....

His main point was to pretty much get up, get out, and be friends with everyone, hang out with them, don't preach at them.

He showed a little graph that was true...and sad....the longer you have been a Christian the less non Christian friends you have...

So lets all try to get out there and make some friends.

The Grove

2009-02-21T17:44:00.000-08:00

The Grove is starting up and the meetings were great...I am so excited to be involved in this...

UPDATES

2009-01-16T13:13:00.001-08:00

Hey,
I haven't been on this in a while, and I was wanting to do them more often...but haven't. SO here is some update news about my life and school and all...

School- First semester was really great, no problems at all, learned a lot of new stuff and thought about a lot of new ideas. This semester a little more work will have to be done, that means a little less play...

Car- I did actually end buying a car over break, if you didn't know I had been looking for one for some time now. But I ended buying John B's old car, its awesome I really enjoy it...

Graduation- I will be graduating in less than a year now, actually next Dec. It is pretty crazy to think I will be done with school in the year 2009 which is the year we are in now...a little shell shocked but I will get all that stuff rolling here real soon.

AND NOW FOR THE AWESOME ONE

I AM HEADED TO GHANA!!!!!! THAT'S RIGHT GHANA

The do a thing here at GFU where your able to go on like little trips to all over the world really, and I signed up for the one to Ghana, which is in Africa. And if you think of Africa looking like a "q" then its on the round part towards the bottom right along the ocean.

It is going to be awesome for sure, going to get to see a lot of amazing things I am sure. I am pretty much going to be gone the whole month of May, which will suck but it will be great at the same time!!!

OK so those are some updates about me and my life

This again is during studying time...but its my last final so it dont really matter...right?

2008-12-18T21:16:00.001-08:00

See more funny videos and Entertainment Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Aarons Movie Reviews

2008-12-17T22:46:00.000-08:00

Its finals week here at GFU and instead of study I watched a movie...and ill be posting about movies I watch and what I think about them. The first section will not tell details so that one can go watch the movie, but the second part will have spoilers just and fyi for further posts.

I have been really getting into Alfred Hitchcock films, I really liked the Birds when I saw that and still do, so I started to watch some more of his films. Today I watched one called Vertigo, it tells the story of a retired policeman who falls in love with a mysterious woman he has been hired to follow. I think that it was a great movie for sure, lots of twists and things you think are about to happen and things you think will happen don't. CHECK IT OUT

(spoiler area)
I thought at first that it was a little bit drawn out, there were times of him driving around that seemed as if they could have been cut out of the movie, like ok i get what he is doing lets move on. And after the first ending i thought they were going to try and stretch out the rest of his life, but there is a pretty good twist and i really did like it. Not super crazy about the very last scene and how it leaves you but i think that was something that made it interesting, because everyone wants to leave on the upbeat note and not the downbeat. I guess in the original air there is another scene that shows him back with his somewhat earlier girlfriend, and they are happy because the husband was caught in London. But I think someone in London made him take it out of the movie...don't really know why.

Overall I liked the movie and it was really a good thriller of its time, and I don't see why we need such special effects to make great movies when these guys were doing it old school. But I would like to have seen him and that crazy mind today and seen what he would have came up with.

While I was studian

2008-12-15T16:19:00.001-08:00

while i was studian for finals that start tomorrow, I found this...

See more funny videos and Music Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Super Aaron

2008-12-13T01:15:00.000-08:00

Thats right the secret is out now....check it out and you will all know the truth...

WARNING WARNING

2008-12-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

WARNING!!!!!

Before you read any farther, or click on the link...make sure you have a minimum of hour of time able to be wasted....

stumbleupon.com is crazy...

you get some awesome cool websites...

all i have to say is check it out!!!!

this was one of the pics i found off of this...check it out glad your never in this situation in Oregon

cold

Wii remote fun

2008-12-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

ok....so most know about the wii remote and how you can make your own smart board with it...but i was watching a video and found this out too..if you know the whole wii smartboard thing skip to min 3 of the video....

i am so happy i have seen game tech grow so far and so fast!!!!!

Daniel

2008-12-05T00:06:00.000-08:00

Daniel and his buds are awesome....Shadrach Meshach Abednego are people I cant wait to meet in heaven.

Most have heard of the story about the fiery furnace, and how these guys dont bow down to the bunny get tossed into the fire and then there are four...walk out not even smellin like a fire, King Neb starts to rethink his ole idol thing.

When I re-read this, its amazing just to think what was really happening at the time and what they stood up for.

All the big shots got invited and thousands bow, and these three dont...then they go to king and are like ya whats up were not scared of you look at our God, he take us out of here whenever he wants, and if not thats cool too (ALT Aarons Living Translation)

So king brings up fire 7 times hotter (holy number) and toss em in...I see em just kinda like walkin into cause the guards holdin em up are droppin and there not feeling a thing so there like heck lets get in there.

Then something cool happens Neb sees another guy "looks like a son of gods" how would you even know what this really looks like? his glow? he have a name tag? but instantly Neb knows who it really is.

Then Neb calls em out of the fire, and they dont even smell like fire, and we all know if you talk to someone who has been around a fire you then smell like one....

but when they were in the fire it never even says if they noticed that Jesus was there with them at all, it wasnt like they saw Him and were talkin to Him.

Sometimes God is in our situations and we dont even know it until later, so dont think He is not with you.

But this made me start to think, what would i have done in this situation at all? would i stand up for God, do i do things today that i should stop because its bowing and i need to stand up? How often do i take a back seat and not stand up or speak out when i need to.

We all need to stand up for whats right!!

Micro Loans?

2008-12-01T23:22:00.000-08:00

Kiva is an organization that helps out others in countries all over the world who are in need of a little bit of help. Instead of America throwing are money at problems and others governments being corrupt and taking the money for their own needs, this organization goes right to the source. Kiva goes out and talk to people who only need small amounts of money (compared to what we have) to help them out with their business to get off the ground and help them and the economy of where they are at.

It is a really amazing thing to think of, I first saw this on the Colbert Report a while back and heard about it the other day in class...I think its really awesome for a few reasons I can think of.

First would have to be- being able to help out others and trying to help them get a start, and improve their business to help themselves.
Second is that those who get these micro loans, 90% pay back the loans they get, so then you are able to put the money back to someone else who needs it again.
Third is that the loans are small, so in actuality you could find someone who is in need and fulfill their whole loan, or you can donate something like 25 to add into part of the loan...

So I think this would be awesome for families, friends, churches, small groups, high schoolers, middle schoolers, anyone with some spare cash to throw it all together and help others out.

I still havent donated or anything like that yet, but i know that i really want to get some peeps together and do this for sure....

BLOCKLES REPORT

2008-11-23T22:29:00.000-08:00

ok so i havent been keeping track of perfectly how many days it has been, but i have been off of iminlikewithyou for some time now. I really feel proud of my self because i was totally addicted to that website for some time, like it was my homepage so that i wouldnt have to type it in the address bar or whatever and it would come up automatically.

i think i have detoxed off of it long enough to try and start back up again from time and again for just a little bit a day...so if you have been wondering where i am on it becasue your trying to beat me..ill be back..just not as often

but if you havent found it out what im talking about look it up its awesome

Something we looked at in class

2008-11-13T23:31:00.002-08:00

In my Christian Discipling class on Wednesdays we usually talk about prayer, either some different forms of prayer or something along the lines with prayer, and it has been very interesting actually.

So last class we looked at how Jesus prayed for others, because we thought it would be good to see how The Master actually prays. So we looked in John 16.33-17.25. The first section Jesus prays for Himself, then for His disciples and then all believers.
Which is something really awesome to think about in the first place because Jesus is actually praying for you and me. This somewhat really was astonishing to think that Jesus would pray for us, I know He loves and cares for us, but this is just seems such more personal, because it is a human act to pray...and Jesus was fully human.

But the other part that was really interesting was in 17.33 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." This was crazy to think about because if you were to ask someone what is eternal life, I think most would say like living in heaven with God, or being in heaven. But this is really showing that eternal life is here on earth as well, that we know GOD the only god, and Jesus Christ...

(This is what David Guzik has to say about it)
"Life is active involvement in an environment; death is the absence of that active involvement. Eternal life means that we are alive and active to God's environment. If our lives are not dominated by God and the spiritual environment, we have the same life as animals, and are dead to God and His environment."

All I really have to say is that it was something really interesting to me and something that I guess I never really thought about at all...

I love God and the Logos because every time I open it I learn something new....sweet

P.O.D.

2008-11-10T23:05:00.000-08:00

SO the other day we were at Target...and I saw that POD came out with a new cd...the crazy thing is that i had no clue that they were even still a band anymore...but it came out like 6months ago too...i have gotten all their cds since like sunff the punk or brown something like that...i really like their music for sure...and even though this is named really weird and all, there still are some really good songs on it for sure...im glad thier still around and all becasue they were around before i think i was even in high school, so im not old and like ppl in the band is dying away yet...

well check it out on you tube or something if your a real fan

THE OFFICE

2008-11-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

ok so i have to watch the office online cause fox doesnt have cable...well they do i just have to pay for it extra and all...like im not paying enough already...so i just watched the newest episode...and i feel that the office is not being funny enough...i feel like they are trying to move into more of a serious tone and its really not working for them...why does every week have to end on a downer...i remember when we would be laughing and making jokes about the whole episode before...but not there is like one funny thing that happens that we have to stretch out for the whole week...im somewhat depressed...could it because of the downer show tone, or that i feel the office is slowly coming to a close...

TIME WASTER!!!

2008-10-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

ok so if you use to love tetris but it was to old and boring for you...

STEP IT UP WITH BLOCKLES

you play online against others and you get almost wepons to use on others or saves to use on your own...

just google it or find in on addictinggames.com and play...

its agood one for now

time

2008-10-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about this for some TIME but, i don't have enough to really think about it, so I'm writing it out maybe some others, or like the two people who look at this say something or what they have noticed...

Time has become something that is so important to us, that we have schedules for years in advance of things already planned out and ready to go. Everything in America is so timed base that if you are late to some things it almost means your dysfunctional...like what were you really doing something else more important to be late at my thing...

is time valuable?
i think that yes it is, but maybe not in the way i normally think about it...i think we have all heard the saying time is money, but that is because if were not working were not making money...so waisting time is actually costing us money, which is another topic about how were addicted to money...but time is something were addicted to as well.

i know that there are some places that don't really keep track as much as Americans do, and that things are more like when i get there i get there sort of mindset, but then there are others who its more, if something comes up i need to take care of it.

why are we so addicted to time?

just the other day i was heading early in the morning from the church to my girlfriends house, i saw a kid that i just said hi to about 2 hours ago and asked how he was doing walking on the street towards his house. it was pretty cold out, and he was in shorts and a t-shirt. i looked at him walking, he was a little ways away, and i thought to myself should i go up there and pick him up or see if he wants a ride to his house? i sat there for almost a min. thinking to myself. but after that min i decided to somewhat con myself out of going, saying he is probably close to home, or he will say no thanks to my ride, not see that it was someone who he knew...so i drove off not giving him a ride at all...i honestly could have taken 1 min picked him up dropped him off and been on my way, but i didn't.

i am reading this new book and its really getting go me and it was talking about how everyone is our neighbor and how we should treat everyone, and looking at my past Ive been a freaking bad neighbor for sure....

so maybe the next time your hurrying off to go get food, or towards something that you cant miss or be late for, to just take a sec 1 SEC and see what really needs to be addressed at that time....maybe God just needs America and the world to slow down to really see him....or maybe at least me.

wow redone

2008-10-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

ok check out the video now of my scooter hero it should work now

wow...

2008-10-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

i just bought a razor scooter...if you didnt know its red..so it goes faster

but this kid is my new scooter hero...some day i hope to grow up just to be like him

i needed a place to vent...thanks mr. blog

2008-10-02T23:19:00.000-07:00

i just watched a movie about America and i had to vent to someone so who better than mr blog...

i dont need to say who directed it or the movie title at all. if you dont guess anyway.

it was about America's healthcare system and how much is SUCKS....i am so worked up right now about all the things that were talked about in other countries that have government paid healthcare, and hospitals, perscriptions, anything you can think of the government was taking care of everyone...it just looks so amazing what the gov. is doing for their people. adn then i look at us here, and what they said on the movie and literally, the healthcare systems are deny ppl money to pay for bills so that they can save a buck...even if it costs a life...WHAT IN THE WORLD....

i dont know what im saying im just mad...it says towards the end of the movie how cuba has better healthcare system and they go there and actually have ppl from America go and get help, and probably better help than they recieved in america...

also they talked of hospitals that would put ppl into a cab that couldnt pay their bills and ship them to some sort of shelter...because they couldnt pay...

i can see why so many other places hate americans so much...and i dont know i know its our falut for doing and making it this way...but its because i know its all i have seen and heard..you would think america is heaven....but after this we are the only place in the western hemisphere without government healthcare...

i almost wish i could move to anywhere else for some of the things, but that would be a cop out and we need to do something here, and try to make a change...

gosh it was so sad...i dont even know what to say

SCHOOL

2008-09-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

ok so i have been in school for like three weeks now and things are crazy...its pretty nice actually...for some reason i have a ton of reading, like they are trying to make me learn or something like that its a lil crazy.

finished like my first longer book today it was called in his steps...it was just a story about a pastor who asks the question what would Jesus do? and then miraculous things happen for his church and then for other peoples church as well...

but now i get to start into a new book called hurt by chap clark, and i guess its suppose to be really good book and all so i hope that it is. its about teenagers and kinda how their lives are going and why some of them just suck..i think thats what its about...i havent started it yet...

but otherwise school has been going good, trying to meet some new peeps and all for sure so thats always interesting for sure....

but ya so enough of this for now...i prolly got something i should be doing...like playin cs with the bros..

ok peaceout

hey

2008-09-03T13:06:00.001-07:00

you must be pretty bored if you lookin at my blog so go check this out its a fun time waster...you have to download it but its small...but just look at the screenshots if you want to its prettt fun...

soldat.pl

guess what

2008-09-01T23:57:00.000-07:00

I am now back at school and that means i have some spare time to start blogging again woot woot...ok so i just started a new school things are going ok....need to find some peeps to hang out with for sure...but things are going good, i took a nap today and almost over slept one of my classes that was cool...but otherwise the school seems really great so far and im really likin it a ton....

more to come soon...
have a new book ive been reading and its pretty freakin awsome...

o and if you super bored and want something really dumb to look at...check out...

reverendfun.com
thats the funny pic stuff up top

updates

2008-06-11T12:25:00.001-07:00

here are some updates about what has been going on in my life just so you can keep up with me

-bought a car...1993 toyota camry...runs great so far and gets me from point a to b and i havent had a car in like 2 years so its crazy to think that i have one now

-started another blog for my photography site, its called swank photograhy...its just a start to something i hope make bigger and better.

-my brother is getting married this weekend so thats crazy wierd for sure

-still playin disk golf starting to be a lil more consistent, but hurt my back the other day...so michelle my athletic trainer told me to rest from playin for a few days...haha

there are some things that have happened lately...keep in touch

peaceout

looking for a car and job

2008-05-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

looking for a car really does suck when you dont have a lot of money and your very picky...thats me...i think my sights are set to high for how much money i have but then again i really want a good car thats going to last me for a long time cause it takes a while to save up enough money to buy a car and all...at least for me being a student and all...

also looking for a job is no fun either, i always think for some reason its going to be super easy for me and all, that it will just fall into my lap...like it did for michelle...but no i have to take the long road...i guess im not as motivated as i prolly should be cause work isnt all that fun...but seeing the bank acount slowly dwindle and nothing go into really does suck too...

im happy i have a family that really is here and supports me and helps me, cause if i was living on my own i do have to think that i would be dead by now...not fun...

ok well peaceout

Title goes here...

2008-05-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

OK so I think i am going to start up a 2nd blog or maybe just another part off of this one...i will still have this one and all but the other one will be more like for a Bible, (not study but discussion??) ITs not like i have the thing to say and want to share with everyone...but more like i want to see what others have to say about the Bible and verses and everything like that...

so i will start by throwing up some passages, this way if you dont think you have time for reading the Bible and all, you can come and look here write a lil and more discuss about it...maybe a lil more interesting and that way to keep you more accountable and interested in it...

ok so just wait and hopefully here real soon ill have something up and running...if you have any suggestions of a name for the site that would be great....

ok peaceout hope to see you at the new one sometime...

You never know....

2008-05-18T00:58:00.000-07:00

Life is something I take for granted way to much, mine and the ones I love so much. Today I had news that a son lost his son, it was intense for me and I didn't even know the son, mother or father who passed away in a car crash...it really just hit me on how delicate life really is.

This song is a really emotional song for me and after the first time I heard it, it really just made me think, and feel so blah....

Remeber that the when you say bye to someone it could be the last time...I know its kinda a downer subject and all but really....

peaceout

Changing it up...

2008-05-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

If you didnt know yet, I am not going to Simpson University down in Redding, CA. anymore...Ill be moving up north back to the home state and be going to George Fox University...know by the local as FOX...Im trying to be hip with it up here and all.

It will be pretty crazy to be going to a new college and all, it should be really great though, Fox is really a great school and im really happy to be going there, it will be an adventure and a great thing for me for sure.

Moved back up here to be a lil closer to the family and to M. instead of a 6hr drive its only like an hour...so its a lot better for sure...it will be good to be closer to the ones I love....

so just thought i should let you all just know...but im guessin you already knew....

peaceout

Back at home....

2008-04-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hi there...

well the school year is offically over and i am now back at home...we have like a computer room and i just set up and its pretty awsome...i got a nice recliner and all to sit in and my screen looks nice...its just good to be home for sure...

now i guess i have to start looking for a job and all that good stuff...got to make some money....

well i hope to keep posts going over the summer this year...and abnout the new book i just started...i had to stop readin in cause of finals and all but now thats all over i can get back to it...

well have a great one see ya around....

peaceout

Cleaning

2008-04-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

Today was about cleaning the dorm and the bathrooms...its not a great day cause there is all this cleaning and packing and all, but its great because tomarrow im out of here...its kinda crazy still to think that the year and all..

i dont like cleaning thats for sure, i hopefully just keep cleaner then its not as bad at the end of the year next time...it wasnt bad this year but still cleaning is cleannig...

peaceout

see all you albanians soon

all done!!!!

2008-04-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

ok so today was my last day of real finals...at least hard ones...i have one more tomarrow but it will b an easy one for sure...i cant believe that summer is already here its pretty crazy for sure!!!!

i cant believe that the school year is all done no more hw no more dorm no more cafe food...thank God for that...

the summer should be great...i cant wait...

well finally schools over...

hopefully ill keep up on posts...we have fast internet at home so why not...haha

peaceout

Finals Day 1 complete

2008-04-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

So today we had our first day of finals and I had two of them. They were both really easy so it was a good day to just get in the finals mode and get them over with...nothing to special there.

the worst part is that i have my possibly medium hardness test on wensday and also my hard test on wensday as well....so i have been studian all day for those...well as much as my brain can handle....

but we did find this great new game...actually 2 but i like one better, the one i like is called dice wars...google it its pretty awsome, its like risk but a lot easier and faster...and if you get real good, theres a mutiplayer site you can hit up and try to raise your ranks there....its pretty hard...

the other is called bloxorz...gooogle that too, its pretty fun, a real brain twister...thats why i like the other one better, not as much thinking involved...but i did beat all the levels...thank you...

well day one of 4, so thats not to bad at all...then summer break and then i get to chill with michelle and the family again...it will be great

peaceout

A look at my title

2008-04-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

A little while ago I was going to change my little heading thing that says "I honor the Holy One who lives in you" but never got around to it, and glad that I didnt.

The other day for some reason was just a really great day, and that saying really just hit me all over again like I had never heard it before.

In all of us we have this image of God, becuase HE lives in us...that sparkel in your eye or something you do, its just the image of God.

I really think it is amazing how you can see this in people and in different situations, if its just a good word someone says to you or even someone else, or a smile, or possibly even just someone saying hi. anyways...

when you are with other people, remember God is there with them, treat them with the respect you would treat Jesus, love them, care for them, help them in what they need...go out of your way to do something nice, it really goes a long way.

peaceout

Woot Woot

2008-04-16T20:41:00.001-07:00

I offically packed my first box for the summer, it was full of school books and dvds that im not going to watch from now till who knows maybe next school year even...its great and crazy to think that the school year is already over and its summer...i do still have 6 days of school left but hey its better than like 200 something days i guesss...crazy to think its another year down...and more in debt...hahah

peaceout

New Book

2008-04-13T23:21:00.000-07:00

I finished my last fun book that I had been reading called The New Chrstians by Tony Jones. It was a really great book for sure, and some really interesting and new ideas in it for sure...i really like the book..

So it was time to get a new book and I got one today from church actually tonite, called Jesus for President...by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw.

I really like Shane he is a great guy, i actually got to meet him and shake his hand...hes a lot taller in real life for sure...and you think he may smell bad but in all reality he didnt smell that bad at all....

so i got this new book and am going to read it over the summer, hopefully not the whole summer thats for sure...

but i may throw some posts on it up here every once in a while...looks like it should be a good read for sure...

peaceout

Final Stretch

2008-04-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

We officially have 2 weeks of school left...1 week of class and then 1 week of finals...i cant believe that the year has gone by so fast it seems...actually whenever i wanted it to go by fast it would go so and vise versa....so that's not really that cool at all...cause right now i just want to be done.

finals don't look super hard there are a few classes that will be a little ch alleging but that's about it, other than i have to touch up my 10pg psalms paper as well, for Tuesday...and that's not going to be great cause I'm not the best in the whole writing category for sure....

otherwise i cant wait for the summer to be here, get to be back with the family, back with Michelle, and just home...its funny how you always want to get away so bad and then when your away you want to just be home again....kinda funny how that works and all....

well wish all of us here at Simpson luck the last two weeks
peaceout

FINALLY

2008-04-10T23:18:00.000-07:00

It is about time...i needed a fix for sure. Today was a great day in history, the office finally came back on air after the writer strike had been going. It was a great one by the way, some very good issues were brought up and some good flare for the first office coming back.

i have a lot of speculations about whats going to happen this year, and i hope they come true...as long as it keeps going on forever like frineds i will be happy...

i really think its a great show...and im glad its back...it makes me laugh and makes me glad

thanks nbc

Cirque du Soleil

2008-04-02T21:58:00.000-07:00

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS GOOGLE IT!!!

this is a pretty awesome circus, it is not the normal thing that you think of when you say the word circus, its not stupid, there aren't animals, no elephants,

this is some amazing acrobats and amazing things that they do right in front of you....
this was something great to go to and was something i would do again in a heartbeat for sure, it was suspenseful but yet also for sure. it was fun and a great time!!!!!

http://youtube.com/

this is a youtube video of it, watch it..

Small Groups

2008-04-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

Today for my small groups class we had to do little summaries from a website that was actually really helpful and interesting. It was all about small groups and the such it was really neat....so i am going to add the website to my site...i made this lil fact sheet about 3 of the articles i feel pretty proud of how it came out its pretty awsome for sure. click the title or sidebar to see if interested....

peaceout

Spring Break

2008-03-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

ok we have t minus 2 days till spring break, and you think i would be totally excited....i am, but not untill tomarrow is over, i have a pretty big test that i missed a class of notes, so i dont think its going to go to well...but i just want wensday to be over and its smooth sailing from there...

after spring break school looks like it should be pretty "easy" compared to the last 2 weeks of school for sure, so hopefully i make it through....

i dont know why im writing this now even cuase i should be studian, but i cant do that all day...

uh school it takes a lot out of ya, but you gain so muhc, what a love hate relationship...

peaceout

Procrastination...

2008-02-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

I have a love hate relationship with it, I love to procrastinate, but I hate having to do all the work at the last min. For some reason I feel exhausted and done with homework, I don't get why I am paying people good money, and then them turn around and make me stress with papers and tests, midterms and finals....maybe we should cut their pay till they make us not do these then give em back their money...i wish....

i don't want to do it anymore!!!! so ill procrastinate a little more...

Theology class

2008-02-25T19:18:00.000-08:00

today in Theo class we were talking about sin and evil, so we had to get to the topic of the problem of evil... the problem is this...

1)A perfectly good God would want to stop evil.
2) A perfectly powerful God could stop evil.
3) Evil exists.
=
Therefore God is either good, but not powerful, powerful, but not good, or neither powerful nor good.
(All this is thought up by Leibniz, this is not the final answer because anyone reading this can see there are other options as well)

But then the teacher asked about "why cant we associate evil with God, we always think that evil is on one side and God is the opposite, how could we ever say God near evil, or that it is God's problem...

The this verse came up Isaiah 45:7 "The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these things."

This is a verse we don't here very often at all, calamity means disaster, ie God creates disaster...this is crazy for some to think of!!! (it took me pretty off balance at first)

but then we ask if God creates it and it is His problem why doesn't He fix it then...and the thing is and its a big THING....He has....God sent His Son to fix the problem of evil.

God may have created them, but he also healed them...and now its us who brings them upon ourselves...we do the evil on our own...not God...

I don't know its a pretty bold verse and something really to think about, I may have not got 100% the right words across here, but in my mind its a lot more clear....

just something to look at.

fun fact

2008-02-23T23:41:00.000-08:00

no two lip impressions are the same!!

distance

2008-02-23T23:33:00.000-08:00

this is the time in my life i call DISTANCE. (i watched the pursuit of happyness and will labels things like this and i like it, so i may steal it, just trying it on see how it feels)

you man be asking why would i label a part of my life with distance, i mean how can one be distant from oneself...but it is who i am distant from that is the hard thing...I have been in a long term relationship for now over 2.5yrs, which for some ppl seems like a crazy long time(because it is) but the last 1.5yrs ish we have been having to do the whole long distance relationship, and it gets harder and harder everyday.

before i came to college here in Cali, we were talkin with a married couple that had went through long distant relationship as well, and we asked was it hard? And the guy said bluntly yes!!! it felt like he hit me in the face with a brick...that wasnt the answer i was looking for...i remember saying to myself and probably others as well that it was proabably just hard for them, were in a better relationship it will be fine...

how wrong was I, this is prolly the hardest thing i have ever gone through, i think that at first yes it was great that i moved away and i think it really did make us a lot stronger and really was good for both of us, but now it just SUCKS!!!!

we dont know why were in this situation i guess its cause we chose it, but it really does hurt a lot, the distance hurts a lot....

Imago dei

2008-02-20T23:41:00.000-08:00

Imago dei "the image of God"

We talked about this in my theology class today and for some reason it really stood out to me... I have heard it before and knew what it was all about and things like that, so it wasn't like the first time I have heard it.

But this time I heard it, it was almost like I saw it new, everyone was created imago dei ...everyone was created in the image of God...everyone has the image of God in them...(i know your all saying duh to me, dont judge me)

I just think it hit me cuase i realized how much judging I do to others or treat them like garbage, and I really needd to stop that.

The title of my blog is namaste which means "I honor the Holy One who lives in you" and now Imago Dei "The image of God"

I love people and thats why I want to become a pastor, cause Im starting to realize more about everyone...its amazing!!!!

Thank you Lord for making us in the image of you!!!

Fun Fact

2008-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

Slugs have four noses

Little book

2008-02-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

I recently recieved a little book by A.W. Tozer, How to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Its only about 60 pages long and are a few sermons of Tozer about the Holy Spirit. I read it in a day, 1 because it was super interesting and 2 beacuse it was pretty short and i didnt feel like reading stuff for school at the time. There are some things that he said that really kinda took me back for a second...or like im still thinkin about them now.

The first thing that really blew me away was that of the Holy Spirit coming down at the Pentecost. He asks the question that since the Holy Ghost came down on them...does that mean it is here for us as well, or do we need Him to fall on us as well.

The thing that what brought me back is the thought that "duh He is here" but then I started to think about it, and maybe He is here on earth, but is He in my life?

Tozer goes on to some really convicting questions (that are really good for one to ask oneself) about ones life and what it means to really be filled with the Holy Spirit.

It was a little book that I thought I was just going to read and maybe get something from it, I didn't think that it would be something that made me review my life with God...but im glad it was given to me, its something I will be looking at for awhile now.

Paperclips (areas i paperclip in the book and are what i think are good sayins from the book)

'"do you believe that the Lord answers prayer and heals the sick?" he would reply, "sure i do" he believes it, but he dosnt teach it, and what you dont believe strongly enough to teach doesnt do you any good'

'you want His help (Gods): yes, you want a lot of His benefits, yes, but are you willing to go with Him in His opposition to the easygoing ways of the world?'

Its been awhile

2008-02-11T23:24:00.001-08:00

Alright, I know that it has been a while (ie 2 months) since my last time i wrote something on this, but i am really going to be trying to type more on here and just do things on the blog...

i think it will be fun to really be able to get to learn all this stuff, and I have a lot of things on my mind that I would like to put up as well.

So when i get some downtime (get bored at school) I think ill be writing on here a lot more often.

peACEout

Finals WEEEK

2007-12-10T00:03:00.001-08:00

holy crap I cant believe that it is already finals week at school, this year is going by fast, thats good thing but also a scary thing. please pray for every student that you know to give them strength, the great thing is that after finals ppl get to go home for a well needed break, pray for safty.

thanks everyone
peaceout

Something from church

2007-12-03T14:33:00.000-08:00

Last nite I went to The Stirring, and Nate, the pastor was teaching, he was teaching about marriage and how God needs to be the center of it.

But off that he was talking about in Exodus and how Israelites were slaves and then were freed and went into the wilderness. Then he said this, "Wilderness was so hard for them sometimes, they wanted to go back to slavery."

For some reason this really hit me, it was like sometimes it feels so hard to follow Jesus, that sin is so much easier to fall into. I think that it was something that he just kinda said and that was it but for some reason this really hit me, and I think should be thought about more.

To see that sometimes this relationship is hard with Christ, and that it feels so easy to just want to go back to our "old" ways, and just forget it.

I think its OK that I ask this question and all, its just I don't know if I have an answer at all about the question. Will we honestly get to a point where sin doesn't entice us?

Im still thinking about this, I just have to go to class now!!!

a.k.a "Lost"

2007-11-27T13:45:00.000-08:00

Chapter 5- This chapter is all about just being able to talk to people, not about major topics or trying to convert someone, but really just small talk. It is something that everyone can do and that it is something we do naturally and on a daily basis. The thing is we just do not think that it is really worth anything, but more just something of life, but not part of our life for God. I really like how Jim is really stressing that small talk is something that can mean so much to someone, that giving them your time and by the motives you really have are great. I also thought the part where you invite “missing people” to something that Christians are helping others with is a great thing. I had never thought of that, all the time you think about going and doing things just with the church body, but to invite them makes so much sense, this really stood out to me.

Chapter 6- This was all about listening, and asking questions. That one way that we can really have others respect us is to just be able to listen to what they have to say. That after asking a question to wait for a few seconds and let the person have a time to think and respond. Also that asking questions is a great way to have a conversation with someone, and not in a rude tone, but just generally asking about how they are and things of that nature, and being able to really listen to what they have to say.

Chapter 7- This chapter was all about being able to do what is doable. This at first kind of sounds confusing but in the end it makes a lot of sense. This is that we need to make goals that we know we will be able to keep and not try to make a huge deal out of not doing something grand. He talks about a nurse that just plants a seed in someone who she had helped while a man was in the hospital, and that she prayed for him behind his back. I really liked how that all she did was pray and was there for him, and that later in life something grew out of the seed she planted. I guess it almost takes a lot of stress off of us when we know that all we can do is be ourselves and just do what God wants us to do, and the Big Man will take it from there for us.

Chapter 8- Lastly this chapter was mainly about how we need to take religion and almost give it a face lift. To show those around and to ourselves that the view of Christians needs to change, and that we are not the stereotypical Christian that we are made out to be. And that Jesus was not in this world to combat others about who He was and all, but really to show love to others. Jim has a line that really I loved, “Who has the greatest influence with this gay student—those wanting to correct or those trying to connect?” This is something that really needs to be a main topic in the life of a Christian as I see it in our society today.

Is my "Christian" school any different than your "Secular" school

2007-11-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

The title of this one ain't that catchy or anything, its just been something on my mind for a while now. What is the difference of me going to a christian college or a non-Christan college. Right now it doesn't look like a lot. I know you can find all the same things in this school than any other school around.

I guess it feels like our motives here are the same as anywhere else, yes we do have a religious backing, but don't most students who are going to school now have some sort of belief that stand for? Why is it that we have to go out and almost try to sound like were better than others because hey look I'm at a Christan college, I'm way more holy than you are.

I guess i just don't see why that at a secular college can i not get a degree in pastoral studies or something with a Biblical background? yes they may have some classes on religion, but if we are to go out and make disciples (living with people who don't know Christ and just having a normal friendship with them). I really feel like this "bubble" that we have really does suck.

Another thing that bothers me is the other day in our chapel the president of the school was talking, and he made it clear that all we need at the school is "enrollment, enrollment, enrollment" that we just need more people. Sounds kinda funny to me, the other day reading in a.k.a. Lost, it said that maybe we need to stop going a mile wide and an inch deep with followers to know about Christ. And this is making more and more sense everyday.

a.k.a "Lost" by Jim Henderson

2007-11-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

For a class I just starting reading a new book, and surprisingly it is actually not that bad at all. So far I have read the first 4 chapters and they are pretty amazing for sure, its a great lil book and a really quick read.

Chapter one- Being the first chapter in the book it seemed like it went by so quick, but the whole time reading it, I felt as if I was taking every word of it in. The chapter is just simply talking about giving some of your time to those who are around you. To give them your attention and really listen to what they have to say, that just listening is something that is almost a lost art, and something that we need to do; and is easy to do. Another thing was the ordinary attempts, and these are simply just giving away your free attention. Just offering to pray for someone when they least expect it, or to pray behind someones back. This seems like such a simple task because it is, we just need to give our time away to others.

Chapter two- There are two major points in this chapter the first being to change a person's life you must first change their metaphor. This is simply stating that if you change the way that we look at people we will act different towards them. The way that we do this is with the people that do not know God, instead of calling them “lost,” we should more likely call them missing. That to call someone lost is to not have any love for them. But when you love those around you, and want to interact with them, and be with them, its a lo0t easier to do these if we just consider them “missing.” This way we know that we are looking to help and be with them, and find them. So that they know they are not lost, forever, just missing.

Chapter three- This chapter is titled ordinary makes a comeback, which is honestly just the simple thought of the whole chapter; about how being ordinary is something Jesus has always been a part of. It is weird to think of the people in the Bible times as just regular ordinary people, but in all actuality this is all they really are; there is nothing super special about them and they were just living the life that they saw Jesus living. I think that were to focused on the final goal of “converting” someone and not just going on a ride of life with them. That we always have to have an alternative motive, and that needs to change in our minds. But something that really stood out was when Henderson said, “when we love people, we take risks and do irrational things.” I really see that this is the movement that we need, just to love others, and that once we start doing that things will just to begin to happen in our relationships with them.

Chapter four- The Gospel according to you, is all about how we just need to be ourselves in life, and conversations will spark up that we never thought were possible. We need to preach as if were serving and serve as if were preaching; what this means to be yourself, be human, be normal, be real, and be intentional. With this were able to expand Jesus's kingdom further into the hearts of the people Jesus misses. We just need to be open in being ourselves and the situations and opportunities to talk to someone will open up. This is something that can be done very simply, how hard can it really be to just be ourselves.

How far can we push the Holy Spirit?

2007-10-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

I have a class here at Simpson University that is called Spiritual Formation in the Church. We have been reading a book by Dallas Willard called Hearing God. The book at first I was very questionable about it but I am starting to like it, but back to the story. So our teacher has been talkin a lot about how he was at this conference and was praying for the people around him (which he and everyone else was told to do by the director) and that while praying to look for a symbol or picture, word, phrase that comes to mind. Then to ask the person that your praying with if that relates to anything. So I knew it was a matter of time before we did it in class, and today was the day.

So to show us how it was done, the teacher did a demo run with another student, and came up with some picture in his head and saw if it meant anything to the student and it didnt. So he tells us to go ahead and try it out. So I prayed for some sort of something to come to me for the guy i was praying for.... and I got nothing.

First of all maybe I just wasnt ready to have a symbol come to me for this guy I was praying for, but I really saw this as a time of really trying to push the Holy Spirit into doing something for me when Im pretty much demanding it. I mean i have never done this b4 and im pretty sceptical right then, but how can a class of 25 of us, all the sudden recieve these items in our minds for other people right away. I mean yes i think it really could have happened and i know God could do that.

It felt like that whatever people were saying were so broad that it could have worked in almost everyones life. But I cant say that it wasnt God showing them those things. Maybe its just me whos not in the right state of mind, but I really thought that why do we think that if we pray to see something, God's going to show us something, maybe thats me just thinkin wrong. But then why isnt this taught as soon as im in the church.

Overall I thought that we were really almost fortune telling, or possibly it could have been the same as the pet doctor that was on tv who could talk to their animals, anything is possible if i know any context.

But who is it me to say that God didnt show those others items, I think that would be awsome.
It just right now in my walk with Him bothers me.

Great Divorce

2007-09-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

ok so last weekend i finished reading the Great Divorce by C.S.Lewis. And let me tell you that was one crazy book as i had said before. It really opens your brain to something that you have never really pictued before. It is just about a story of a man, who is actually in purgitory, and the reality that he is in is just so off the wall. The thought of how where he is actually relating to hell and heaven was just unbelieveable. I deffinitly will be reading another of his books, cause i need to for school, but because it was so interesting.

It just really puts a twist on my thoughts, not that i am changing my whole life around this book, but it just makes me wonder what restrants have i put on the stories i have heard so many times in the Bible, and what i guess those stories could be.

God is so freakin awsome, Im super glad hes my God.
I wish i would stop being so lazy!! and for all of us, because i cant say everyone when im not doing anything either. (dang it)

peaceout

C.S. Lewis

2007-09-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

ok so today i started my first ever C S Lewis book, The Great Divorce, and let me tell you it is crazy so far. I am only really into the 6th chapter but the thing is off the wall crazy. I dont know where Lewis is gettin his thoughts from, they are so off the wall its just wierd right now. I really hope that the rest of the book is this great and that maybe i start to understand a little more of what he is talkin about cause right now im lost...

well i just needed to write this down and all, cause its crazy good, go out and get it!!!!

pecaeout

life

2007-09-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

life is crazy, i still dont understand it and i dont think that i ever will. so many times in my short life so far you think somethings going one way and in all reality its going a totally different way. (ie life is crazy)

sometimes it feels like you cant be under any more pressure or stress in life, and then something else gets piled on. this reminds me of a verse though that i have always known in my heart from since i was a little kid, 1 Corinthians 10:13 i really like the Message version cause it says tests at the begginning of it, and i really do think that is a part of it also.

So i thank God for always being there for me and that i know i always have Him there when im falling he will be there for me, always. what an amazing person.

A big theme that i have been seeing in school this few weeks is to stop worrian about crap, because there is so much that you can worry about, that it will take up your whole life and then you wont be able to live, youll just worry. I love God, what an amazing man.

peaceout

cross country

2007-09-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

ok today was my first cross country meet of the season and lets just say it sucked!!! i didnt take last though!!(woot woot) its funny (?) that we/I put myself to so much effort of running to pretty much just get humiliated. But for some reason i still get out there and run in my tiny little shorts and take almost last.

its funny that we all go out and run in a circle and do all this work just to end up in the same spot we left, and then drive our car back home and all. I dont really get the whole point to it, but i know im supose to go out and run.

Sometimes i feel like this is our journey with God also, that we do what we think is a lot of great stuff to be helping ourselves out, or others, and actually its just a big circle and were ending up in the same spot as where we are starting from... I guess i get nervous that being at college that im not learning enough or growing. and it makes me wonder about a lot, but i know that God is always there for me.

From the begginning of the race where i start to the end, he is there, and i know that if i take the wrong path he is still there waiting me to find the right one again. I just hope im on the right path and not really just lost in life.

yep thats my ramble for now, maybe ill think of something finally smart to say one day.
peaceout

back to schoool

2007-09-02T20:35:00.001-07:00

today i have offically moved back into a dorm and am now living at my school. it was a hard day to leave michelle (my girl) and know that we will only see each other on certain breaks and some long weekends.

its funny going from your summer vacation back to school, where its a christian school, things are just so much different than the things that go on in the real world with how things at my work went this summer. at times i almost feel as if being stuck in the school, that i dont feel as if i am being as much as a follower of God as i should be. when i was at work this summer, i could really see how God has changed my life and how i see the world as something that is not as perminent as others believe. I thank God for the gifts he has given me, and the things he showed me this summer. But i feel as if i have slowly fallen away from God this summer, and i dont want to have this roller coster ride from school and summer vacation.

life is hard right now and im very well off compared to some ppl, but i know that i can get through it for sure.

so school has started and im really going to enjoy learing this year to help me in the long run for sure, its crazy to think that God has this great plan and that im part of it. i am scared but excited to see where my life is going for sure!!!

back to school

2007-08-30T00:09:00.000-07:00

cleaning and packing

2007-04-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

today is a day that most kids here at college love and hate, why? cause we are all packing up to get away for the summer, so we love it, but everyone hates cleaning thats for sure, well all the normal ppl at least. so today i have been packing every once in a while and slowly gettin it all done. the worst part is that its like mid 90s right now, i never thought i would complain about nice weather. but its not the best to be working in a prison cell trying to clean it up for sure.

and later tonite i will be taking about my computer, and i will have no contact with the outside world for a while, except my phone. its a little scary for sure, but you got to do what you got to do. ill take one for the team this time.

well things are going good, and summer like it should be a good one, im excited, as long as it dosnt go by to quick.

ok well i should prolly be cleanin something

peaceout

Finals and School OVER!!

2007-04-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

well today was my last day of school for the year woot woot. it is so wierd to think that next week ill be home and not have to worry about studian anymore, or stressin out about school, dang it will be good.

it was really awsome too because my last final was really hard for me at least and i think that i did pretty good for sure, i dont know really yet i just got to wait and see, but it felt good, and thats what really matters right??

well at least im done and now im on to the task of packing and cleaning, thats gonna suck cause i gots lots of crap for sure.

but for everyone who has helped me through the year, prayed for me, gave me stuff, thanks those things are really great, and thanks for being there for me even though i dont know who you are.

all i can say is im a step closer in fulfilling my vocation. (not vacation)

peaceout

Scot McKnight

2007-04-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

Just mins ago during a break from studian for my last final of the year i finished my book by the title guy, The Jesus Creed. If you like any sort of reading, and like reading good books this is another one, it will really make you look at your life and see how your living. And also just a great way to analyze the Bible. The Shema is the baisis for the book, and everything is broke off of that.

it is amazing and there are some really great things in here for sure, im glad i read it and own it, Jesus Creed has deffinitly helped me grow, and relize things i have never seen before. So it was worth the 4.99 for it for sure.

GO Get IT!
peaeout

Finals week

2007-04-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Ok so its finals week here in Redding Cali.

Its so funny for me to see some ppl stressing so much about finals, but maybe its cause there a lot more worried about the grade than i am, but i think i am more in it for the class than the grade. ya i know it sucks if i get a bad grade, but i feel as if ppl worry to much on the grade and not what they are gettin out of the class.

but finals week has been pretty chill for me, i only have like 3 finals, cause 1 was a take home, easy and another was an essay, which sucked but still i dont have to study for it.

so things are going pretty good, cuase i still havent even taken one yet, i have 2 on wensday and 1 on thursday, so ya it will be good to be done for sure, but then i have to pack, and i got lots of crap for sure.

but nothing to bad, i made a vow that i wasnt going to play online games for the whole last 2 weeks, and i havent played em (even though someone beat my mini put score, Andrew!!) but let me tell ya, im gettin better at solitare. haha its not online so i thought i could still play it, my brain needs a rest every once in a while.

so overall finals week going smooth untill i get my grades back then we will really see how it went

peaceout

books

2007-04-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

i really like to read books that are theologically based, and really make me think, and i finished reading Postmodern by Tony Jones for a 2nd time about a 4 weeks ago. I think that reading a book is sometimes like watching a good movie for me, i could read through it a lot of times and stil get something new out of it. In Postmodern it really just open your eyes to something that seems so right, and very true to what i believe. SOME things are stil a little out there and im still trying to find the answer, or look at other people for other answrers. But if you really want to get a little intro on the whole postmodern thing its a really great book, and tony jones is super tight cuase he wirtes you back in emails. It was a great book for sure, ill make sure i use it for a resource later in my life, if my brother gives it back.

pointless (ie this writing)

2007-04-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

dang ok again its been way to long but now im really going to start writing more often cuase it will be more fun for me that way

today was the last official class of World Civ.2 and you know that there is a God on earth cause if not this day would have never come around thats for sure. Only one more test for the class and its over with, i didnt know i would be so happy to get out of a class.

Why is life so hard? (this is my topic for now)

Now for being in Bible college for a year some things in my life have really changed, my money has been well spent on some classes, and not so good on others. Coming to this college you see everyone in such happy good places in their lives, like this is heaven to some. And i guess it can be for some, but for me I feel alone here. It could be cause I dont have a lot of frineds, but maybe its cause i dont got the balls to go out and find them.

I have relized that being away from someone who you care for so much is hard too. I didnt even think i would be in a relationship going into college, i have always thought that i would be alone the rest of my life, even though i didnt ever want that, and then i found her, and shes amazing. Its just hard being away, and when things are rough, it feels like i have lost part of me. I wish i had a magic snap to make everything better, but i dont.

Some days i feel like the most slow person on campus, Bible wise and knowledge wise. I feel like i dont know crap, and maybe its cause im not hooked up with a church and get to be around kids which i dearly love to do, and its time for me to get back into it.

All i konw that even though my times are hard, God is still there for me, and always has been. When i got crap on my plate, I give it to Him, and it really helps. Its amazing to have a growing relationship with Him. at least i know where ever i am either spiritualy or emotioinaly he is always there for me. Thanks GOD!

well that was me ranting.

way to long

2007-02-05T23:58:00.000-08:00

you know that it has been way to long if you cant remember your password or login stuff ill tell ya that much, but shortly i should be writing a real thing for this cause i have recently finished my book Postmodern by Tony Jones, now im going through it agian. Hopefully Ill understand it more

peace
out

its been a while

2007-01-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

i know that i have such an abundent amount of readers on this so sorry for taking so long to write one this for sure. i dont know really what to write about at the moment casue there has been a lot since the last write so i guess ill just start something.

i think this post will be about postmodern

im reading a book by tony jones that is really good called postmodern, now this post isnt about that its more about me. It has been really hard to comprehend some of the things that tony has been talkin about for sure. I think that the main reason is that i was born and raised in the same church all my life, and its really hard for me to just get over some of the things i have know was right all my life. i think that the funny thing is that the last few years of highschool when we got a youth pastor at our church he was teaching us how to be or show us that we are postmodern even though he never really said he was doing it to us.

now i know that some things were still the "modern" styles of teaching at least i think becuase it talks about it in the book, but its really wierd. For some reason the postmodern thinking for being a youth pastor is the way i want to go, just there are a few things in the way.

1) im still learning a ton about it and i feel as if sometimes the things i read or am told about are just so over my head i think to myself how am i ever really understand this?

2) its really hard to change the way that i have been thinking all my life, and i know that everyone says you cant change your ways after a certain age and i really think thats gettin close, but i know i can, its just hard.

3) at our school postmodern is very looked down upon, now im not bashing them or anything like that but its just kinda funny that the postmodern view is to accept everyone for whatever they believe and i really like that, and here is my prof sayin how stupid it is.

(sidenote: i emaild tony jones about this, like what should i do if a teacher says something like this. and even though i had a great idea what he was going to tell me i thought maybe he will say something else. but i was right he said you just sit there pretty much and you dont get red in the face, cause if i did do that i would be just like him. now i may be doing it right here and now, but i just had to tell someone so i might as well tell the internet.)

4) its hard to try to start thinkin postmodern when were still in the shift from a modern time to a new time, and even though maybe postmodern time isnt the perfect thing, i think its the best thing for right now.

ok thats all i have to say for now, i feel really stupid
bye

part 2

2006-12-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

ok so my last post was about the teacher and me having dissagreements on out theology, so i guess that ill list some of what those were now.

now im not sayin that my teacher is crazy, casue hes a really good guy adn all, he knows his stuff really good. which is a little stressfull cause he wants us to be little hims and thats not happeneing at all.

I think that the main thing that he talked about that i would have to say that i dont believe on at all was the whole TULIP theory. I know that I dont know everything in the Bible and so there could be things that may change my mind but prolly not. Just some of the things that relates to it just seems so much like that we dont have a choice in our lives at all. LIke we are little lego ppl and God has already made the movie and now were out acting out our lives to what he has already made for us to do. and its not like i could piock a top one that i dissaprove of more cause when i read them over they all just make me feel wierd, like thats not the God i picture in my head.

Now i do know that i have been raised pretty much with these views all my life so i know that i could be one sided, but i think with the information that i know and the point in life where i am now that i like what i believe.

if you want to check out the TULIP idea you can look at them on the website here
but i know that you already know what they all are for sure James.

And im not sayin that the people who are in love with this are going to hell or anything like that, its just simply i think they way there lookin at things are a little different.

you got to love college

2006-11-30T22:09:00.000-08:00

Today was a day that i had been waiting for since i have started this college. I knew that going into it, and any Christian college that it was going to be a good experience. And today was the first day that a teacher had told me that my way of thinking about Christianity was not the right way. Now he didnt say that i was going to hell or that i wasn't going to pass the class if i don't convert my thinkings at all, it was just we had difference of options. And not like im saying that this is the the first time it has happened with other things, this is just the bigger topic.

It was really cool to see i guess what other beliefs are about what the Bible says and all, which really interests me so it was really cool for sure, it was one of the first days that was really stimulating to my brain where it felt like i knew what was going on and that i was getting something out of college.

Now i love all my classes but music really and there ok, and ya i learn a lot from the other classes but a lot of it was just the basics, but really good to look at, so im really glad that im here, it makes me feel good when i know the money that is being spent on me actually like is money well worth it, and it makes me feel good cause it feels as if God is here saying your on the right path, which is really good for me right now,

im really excited that the semester is almost over thats for sure, ill get to be home for a few weeks so thats great, it was just like a little tease only being home for a few days on thanksgiving but ill take what i can get for sure.

I feel renewed today and it feels good

life

2006-11-28T20:29:00.000-08:00

man why does life have to be so hard? some days i can feel as if im on the top of the freakin world and that nothing could take me off the top, then bam im back down to the freakin bottom of the world. I dont know why sometimes im on such a high horse and then im gettin stomped on. dang all i know is that the low points sure do suck, and its a lot harder to pull myself up than to be dropped thats for sure.

and why does it feel like God is so distant, when in my mind i should be the closet to him now than ever?

life, sometimes i just dont get it!!

i dont know what to put in this stupid title spot

2006-11-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

ok so i just got back from church ya thats right the service starts at like 7 so i get to sleep in. I think that the found out that God can be reached at any time of the day, and its a lot easier for us (college age) to find Him later in the day.

I went to church at what is call The Stirring they have a little motto that is Community of Faith. Love and Hope. which is pretty cool. The guy in charge is Nathan Edwardson, he looks like he could be in his mid to late 20s or something like that.

The church is cool because its actually like a community within a church, the Church that meets there on sunday morning is Risin King, and then they do this at nite, for more of a way to connect to my age group of people, and its really working.

It was crazy this week becasue i havent gone in a while to it, but today the did a thing on lectio devina, its crazy because i am reading and going through this book that is called Enjoy the Silence, By Maggie and Duffy Robbins and its all about lectio devina, so its pretty cool, i think that it has been helping me out becasue sometimes it feels like i just cant hear God, and this is a good way in my day to get out of my surroundings and just take a quite time out and read the Bible passage adn really meditate on it and all. So now i think that today was great because it was almost as if God was showing me how much this church really connected to me. i really like the whole atmosphere and how it felt like they really cared about God and the things i care about a lot. just really cool,

So today was a pretty pointless day all day till i went to church, so im pretty freakin happy and feelin good right now, so praise the Lord for him being in our lives.

Peaceout

Just the highest points of NYWC

2006-11-11T17:53:00.000-08:00

some things that really stand out in my mind from the weekend at the NYWC.

Tony Jones- Wow what an amazing guy, i have read a book by him and i knew that he was a great guy, but as i met him and went to some of his seminars, it was probably the best thing in the world for me. He really knows his stuff, and what hes doing, and hes freakin smart. One nite we went to a diccusion about theology of post modernism, and it was awsome, some stuff went way over my head, but here is something said by him that makes me think: maybe Jesus' divinity was hidden from Him all his life until His 3 years of ministry, and thenit is slowly revealed to Him. WHAT!!!! thats not what i have been tought my whole life, crazy but dang sounds a lot more logical to me after talkin about it, but im still not done thinkin about it.

Doug Fields- just a really great guy and knows what he is doing, just someone that i really look up to a lot more, because hes just like me, hes funny and messed up on stuff, he just made me see how you can have fun and really love God and show others that you can have fun and be a Christian too.

Tony Campolo- Man first of all he is the oldest coolest person in athe world. it just felt like everything he was saying should be wrote down and put into a book, which he prolly has already done, but he is just out there living his faith and its cool to see such and old guy have so much fire in his life, most ppl that have had a stroke and are that old are living in a retierment home (he does this) and just sit around and wait to die (he isnt doing that) and it shows me how if this old guy can be doing it why not me.

Shane Claiborne- ok if you know who i am at all, you know this guy is the freakin man!!!(as james put it, rob bell to james is like shane claiborne to me) well it may not that bad because as of right now i havent started dressing like shane, even though i am done buying sweatshop clothes thats for sure. But i think that the craziest thing that ill tell you about him was that he took the money that he was earning from talking at the convention and put it all in to 1 dollar bills. after this he put a stamp on everyone that says "love" on it and he said that he prayed over every one of them, and i dont think shane is lying so he prolly did it. then he spread them out in front of the stage, and told us that we need to go out and pretty much become Christians, to go out into the world and love, what i heard was go out there and take care of the ppl that God is wanting us to take care of, but yet so many ppl just look over. he is just such a role model in my life now and for a little while now, oh ya i also talked to him and freakin shook his hand and talked to him, hes a lot taller than i thought. so ya crazy cool.

dave crowder band- all i have to say is dang the church that he plays at every week im guessin is huge, but ya they were awsome for sure, instant fan from the weekend for sure

the whole weekend was great, i know im missin a lot but sometimes i get tired writing and being on the computer this long so ya, but ill never forget hiding under the bleachers with jeremy, or seeing lacy shake like crazy on stage with illusionist, or gettin lost going from the elevator to my room,

it was an all around great weekend and i think i learned so much in the weekend it was pretty crazy, i just want to say thanks for the church for giving me the oppertunity to be able to go down there for sure. wow ya thats a lot sorry if you read it all

peaceout

Ill never forget my first time

2006-11-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

I know i havent really posted anything in a really long time, but i have some important things to say now so ill write a little bit about it.

Even though its been a week ago, with my church we went to the National Youth Worker Convention, the people from SACC that went was James Heather Jeremy Jason Lacy and me. there were about 17 of us total that came all together from our conference all to the convention.

I think ill just do a little quick write about each day, and some interesting facts and stuff from the day.

THURSDAY-
I woke up at 4 in the morning. Took the taxi to the airport which wasnt bad adn then found out my plane would be delayed, the battery didnt get charged the night before, as long as it was not going to crash i was happy. so im off to san fran got there in time made my flight to OC, found Jason with the biggest bag in the world for a 5 day trip, he didnt even pack that much to college. whatever.
we all made it safely to the airport and stuff, so we were off to the hotel/convention center. we checked in and everything was good, i slept in a room with jason and jeremy, which is another story in itself, thats for sure.
so my first class of the day was by Chirs Flomsbee, he is like a big wig with the Sonlife ppl. He told us all about what Sonlife is doing, and then talked all about Developing Students who share in the mission of God. He was really good at talking and made it a really fun thing to do casue we were there for 5hrs one day and 3 the next. I learned a lot of great stuff adn it was a really good time that was for sure. They teach about the Great Commision and the Great Commandment and how they see those like almost as the root and then thinkgs break off of that, which is really neat and pretty much how i see things as, they just made it sound a lot better than i could ever.

ok this is going to be way to long of a thing so im going to do it a little different and just hit some high points in the week, well the highest points in the week cause they were all great.

NYWC

2006-10-11T14:57:00.001-07:00

National Youth Worker Convention

Its really great to know that I have a church back home that really does care for me. You ask how do I know this, well there sending me with them to the NYWC which is pretty much the biggest and best thing for youth workers. Im not an offical youth worker but yes i have worked with highschoolers and love them and im going to do it for the rest of my life, untill i get to old and they kick me out off the job. but i have never gone, only have heard stories. James and Jeremy went last year i know and they loved it for sure, and this year i have been looking on peoples blogs that went to the one in austin texas and how much they love it.

Its great to know that my church wants to make a difference in my life even though im just a college student by letting me go and learn from some of the best people on the world.

Im really excitted to go for sure, and im counting down the days for sure. As long as things go good for sure which they will, but ya it should be a great experience for sure.

Thanks SACC (the ppl not the actuall building) for everything you have done in my life, I would be in a whole different stiuation if you werent there for me. I dont know what i would have done or been without you. Keep up the great work for sure.

Peaceout

the "box" is so comfortable

2006-10-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

So being home last weekend showed me how easy it is to just be stuck inside a box of comfort all your life. As soon as i was home on friday night it just felt good to be able to know where everything was, and that i have friends near by and i know where all the roads lead to. which is not a bad thing at all, it just makes things really easy i guess.

Its just so easy for someone to go to school and even college in albany and get a job that your not happy with, but its makin you money, and your hateing every day of it. And that could be the easy safe comfortable way to do it, but i felt that God was saying that i needed to go, and so i went. And now im outside of A box that i was in, but now im making a new box. one where im all good and everything is all good inside this little christian college. we have no clue what is going on out there in the world, and its sad. You can tell people are happy in this box, but i know i need to get out of it, and soon before its to hard to leave. I want to get out and help the teens and the poor. I just need to stop sayin it and go and do it.

Im not saying at all that living in the same town and going to the same church and stuff is not good for everyone, it was good for me to get a new change. I really liked where i was and James is a great pastor, and the church is a loving church that i really care for, but you get into so much of a rutine sometimes, it feels like im moving along in life, but just repeating the same day over(grondhogs day).

I guess it was good for me to just get out albany and move on with my life for sure. Im really liking school right now, so thats good for sure. Even though i wish i could be home, because its comfortable, its good to be here, and learning, and growin in knowledge closer to God. I really like where Im at, and i think it is good.

I can't describe what Im feeling, other than a change

2006-09-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Today i finished my book Irresistible Revolution (tear). But I didn't know that when I started to read this book, it was going to change me the way that I think it has. Shane puts things that seem so clear out there that you never hear of in the church. Its really makes me happy to see that Shane and a bunch of people that he knows are out there doing this, it just blows my mind away really. After reading this book I can tell that God is here in our world not in some distant place, He is here and with us. And I want to be doing everything I can for Gods kingdom.

In the last chapter Shane was talking about how we as Christians are told we are suppose to be, like candles that light up the darkness, then he says this,"Candles can be snuffed out be the slightest wind or by the smallest child on their birthday. But it's way harder to put out a fire. We are to be fire". And when I read this I thought to myself how can I be a fire in my community. Ya im going to a Christian school and all that crap but that means nothing cause all the crap that happens at a normall college/town happens here too. So i want to get out there and start making a mark on the community for God, so that when Im a fire I can start to light others on fire. Thats my goal.

Shane talks a lot about the poor and how much we seperate ourselves from them, and that really hurt me too. I really just want to go hang out with the poor and homeless and show that I love them.

Its crazy to think of what just one book can do to change your life, and not Shanes book but the Bible.

Sorry i did a lot of just rambbling I like to do that and its my blog ha!

God is good

2006-09-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

last night started as a hard, but God is good and the day keeps going. So i started out today by going to a church, the name is Risen King Commnuity Church. It was really good actually and i was supprised at how laid back the worrship was and it felt really good. the pastor was a little to not focused at times, but i still really got something out of the service.

And what is really good is that they have a church within a church like my one back at home is starting. and i guess that it seems to be doing really good so that gives me hope for my church back home for sure.

but i was reading in my book today by shane claiborne and the last thing that i read really for some reason felt really good. i have never really been around a lot of ethnic groups but i have been around the poor and homeless and i think sometimes we (as ppl in the world) look down on them all the time, and i know its bad and all but still we do it, but shane says this, "We are made of the same dust. We cry the same tears. No one is beyond redemption. And we are free to imagine a revolution that sets both the oppressed and the oppressors free".

and that just really hit home that we are all made from the same dust, like i never really looked at it that way before, that we all came from the same place i guess ya i always really knew that and all but for some reason it hit home. and i keep saying that i want to go and do these things like go out and help more, but i keep on putting up barriors for myself like reasons that i can justify why im not doing it. i guess that i just need a LOT more work done, i dont think ill ever stop growing.

so ya it was a good day in all, its funny how God really talks to people, cause for some resaon i always feel like i cant hear what He is saying, but i think i just dont know if its just cause im scared to hear what he is going to tell me. i guess thats like a little prayer for myself.

man that was a lot of writing im going to go read some more of my book peace out

today was a good day to be here

2006-09-09T00:20:00.000-07:00

the first part of the day started early,

with my old testement class which was somewhat ok, were just movin very fast through it for sure. then i sadly skipped out on chapel today cause i went to go and get my physical. luckily someone drove me there or it would have been a long walk, but i sat there for 2 hours in the waiting room just WAITING doing nothing. finally they called me to the back and took 10 mins to ask me if i was healthy, i told them yes, turned around out of the doors and left. it was a waste of mine and my frineds day man, that part of the day sucked for sure.

But the rest of the day got a lot better,

first i actually saw clouds in the sky so i knew running in the afternoon would be great and windy and not as hot as death. then when i was done running later in the night we started a campfire around 9 oclock. it was just out the back of our room on a patio and it started out slow, pretty much just the "Original 5" (thats what i call us in my head) but then it started to get moving and a lot of ppl ended up there prolly a good 25 for a while.

i have been reading a lot about community in the irrisitiable revolution, and i think that were actrually gettin that here in just the week of simpson. we are all getting so close to each other it just feels so good to be here, i wouldnt trade anything for these moments in the world. i was really scared that i wouldnt get any frineds and be a loner, not that i dont like my alone time, but i have really grown with ppl and its awsome.

its amazing to see what God will really do if you let him take your life, not that im perfect but i feel like im gettin closer to God than i have been for a while. which is a good thing,

i still have a long journey ahead of me, but so far, the start has been revealing to me for sure.

i miss the people back home and its hard to live without them, but its good to "grow up" as much as i can.

my verse for the day is matthew 1:21 "becasue He will save his people from their sins" its alwasy good to know that God is near and here to be ready to catch me for sure. im glad that im on His side, and that He is on mine!

What my title is

2006-09-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

Namaste

what the heck is that, well let me tell ya. I have been reading this great new book The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne(who has chilled with mother theresa), and is just making my whole life change, well as long as i start to act how im fealing right now. But back to the word, Shane was in Calcutta at a place where a bunch of lepers were, and they would wisper this mystical word namaste to him. The word meant, I honor the Holy one who lives in you. It just blows my mind away that Shane is out there being a Christian like i want to be. What a great guy, so i stole the word from him, but now its my word.