So, I was walking around campus for a while today. Going barefoot everywhere really make me feel better. It opens up more of my senses, and makes me feel more alive. Anyways, that was really off-topic. I was getting stuck in thoughts of past mistakes and foolish things I've done, and this question suddenly popped into my head:
"If you're going to live in the past, why don't you live in the death and resurrection of Christ?"
Dang. Why should I be so overcome with shame from the past when my shame has been taken away in the past as well? I need to live more out of thanksgiving. A good follow-up to my previous post, I think.
Peace.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Memory
So, I'm kind of sad today. I've been forgetting a lot of things lately. Last week, I forgot my backpack with my semester class notes in the DC, and I'm pretty sure someone stole it. It hasn't been returned to myself or to any lost and found area which it may have been left near. I was supposed to go hunting with my grampa last night (Porchfest night, for people from the Arb), and I forgot to tell him that I couldn't make it. I need to call him and apologize today. I forgot to set my alarm this morning to go to class, although I had prepared some homework to turn in, and I'm not doing as well as I could in the class already.
Just one of those days, you know?
At least I'm not addicted to cocaine.
Peace.
Just one of those days, you know?
At least I'm not addicted to cocaine.
Peace.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Woods
So, I decided (pretty last-minute) yesterday night that I was going to sleep in the woods at Spring Arbor. I grabbed my tent, sleeping bag, Bible, and some food and water, stuffed them into my backpacking pack, and found a good spot at around 2100 (9pm). I came back on campus once the tent was set up, and after hanging out with a couple friends, I went back and went to sleep.
Getting a tent set up in the woods in the dark by yourself is an interesting endeavour, to be sure. I was kind of freaked out for a while. It was very quiet where I was, so every little bug crawling on the forest floor sounded like a rabid raccoon coming for my ankles. At least that's what my brain kept going to. Really, though: all the little noises are amplified by about five times when they're the only noises you can hear. It's great.
While I was walking around in the dark, I couldn't help but think about God. Interesting how easy it was for me to turn my mind to Him when I was far away from all the fun things I like to do each day. So few distractions out in the woods.
Sleeping in itself was also an interesting experience. It actually felt pretty good to be sleeping on the ground, even with the sticks and stones underneath me. I just used my shirt as a cushion for my side, and by jacket for a pillow, and I slept great. When I woke up at about 630 the next morning, I honestly felt refreshed. I woke up to birds singing sweetly and the sun gently shining into my tent. It. Was. Fantastic. I did go back to sleep for another hour just because I was up late that night, but I was very ok with being up that early for once.
Part of the reason I felt so refreshed was just that waking up in the woods is something completely different. We're so used to waking up in our little boxes; our world starts when our alarms go off. We get up, get dressed, and go to work. When you wake up in the woods, the first thing you realize is that the world is already busy around you, and yet it's taking it's sweet time. You realize that you're part of something bigger. You realize that the world doesn't revolve around you and your silly plans. It's a humbling experience.
I'm planning on camping out at least one more time this semester, hopefully bringing a couple guys with me just so I can have some camaraderie. Next semester, I think it would be nice to camp out most weekends, if I get the chance. Just thought I would share some thoughts from this time around.
Peace.
Getting a tent set up in the woods in the dark by yourself is an interesting endeavour, to be sure. I was kind of freaked out for a while. It was very quiet where I was, so every little bug crawling on the forest floor sounded like a rabid raccoon coming for my ankles. At least that's what my brain kept going to. Really, though: all the little noises are amplified by about five times when they're the only noises you can hear. It's great.
While I was walking around in the dark, I couldn't help but think about God. Interesting how easy it was for me to turn my mind to Him when I was far away from all the fun things I like to do each day. So few distractions out in the woods.
Sleeping in itself was also an interesting experience. It actually felt pretty good to be sleeping on the ground, even with the sticks and stones underneath me. I just used my shirt as a cushion for my side, and by jacket for a pillow, and I slept great. When I woke up at about 630 the next morning, I honestly felt refreshed. I woke up to birds singing sweetly and the sun gently shining into my tent. It. Was. Fantastic. I did go back to sleep for another hour just because I was up late that night, but I was very ok with being up that early for once.
Part of the reason I felt so refreshed was just that waking up in the woods is something completely different. We're so used to waking up in our little boxes; our world starts when our alarms go off. We get up, get dressed, and go to work. When you wake up in the woods, the first thing you realize is that the world is already busy around you, and yet it's taking it's sweet time. You realize that you're part of something bigger. You realize that the world doesn't revolve around you and your silly plans. It's a humbling experience.
I'm planning on camping out at least one more time this semester, hopefully bringing a couple guys with me just so I can have some camaraderie. Next semester, I think it would be nice to camp out most weekends, if I get the chance. Just thought I would share some thoughts from this time around.
Peace.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Thoughts on Life #2
So, someone I know just posted a question on Facebook which made me very sad: "Does anyone know a place where I can find single Christian men?"
Sigh.
I've expressed my views on relationships on here before, and even more so to my friends in person, but I'll still say this: I do not believe everyone has to get married and be in a romantic relationship to be happy, and I also do not believe everyone is meant to get married.
For anyone who knows me and didn't already know this, I just recently broke up with my girlfriend, ending the longest dating relationship I have been in yet. We both realized we weren't really happy in the relationship, and that this was probably not going to change. On my own end, I've been finding Paul's words in 1 Corinthians more and more directed at me: "I wish all were as I am," him speaking of being single. I realized that I honestly don't want to be married anytime soon, and if that's the case, what is the point of being in a dating relationship right now? To make me feel better about myself? Unless I happen to run across someone who is willing to go crazy in life the way I'm trying to (and if I'm pretty good friends with them for a while first...not making that mistake ever again), I really don't want to have anything to do with a dating relationship right now. Now, I don't know if I'm going to feel the same way about this in five years or so, but those are definitely my thoughts right now, and I'm pretty dang happy with them. Whenever I ask God about it or start worrying/over-thinking things, He just keeps telling me to have patience and wait. So, that's what I'm going to do.
Some of my life goals currently: Get the heck out of Spring Arbor University with a degree. Find a really cheap (price and quality) apartment within a year. Sell/get rid of a bunch of crap. Find a job which will pay more than what I need to survive in said crappy apartment. Pay off student loans (I'm pretty sure debt is un-Biblical. Financially, I really regret coming to SAU. This is a subject for a whole other blog rant, though). Save up some money. Get a motorcycle. Save up some more money. Travel.
That's all for now, I guess.
Peace.
Sigh.
I've expressed my views on relationships on here before, and even more so to my friends in person, but I'll still say this: I do not believe everyone has to get married and be in a romantic relationship to be happy, and I also do not believe everyone is meant to get married.
For anyone who knows me and didn't already know this, I just recently broke up with my girlfriend, ending the longest dating relationship I have been in yet. We both realized we weren't really happy in the relationship, and that this was probably not going to change. On my own end, I've been finding Paul's words in 1 Corinthians more and more directed at me: "I wish all were as I am," him speaking of being single. I realized that I honestly don't want to be married anytime soon, and if that's the case, what is the point of being in a dating relationship right now? To make me feel better about myself? Unless I happen to run across someone who is willing to go crazy in life the way I'm trying to (and if I'm pretty good friends with them for a while first...not making that mistake ever again), I really don't want to have anything to do with a dating relationship right now. Now, I don't know if I'm going to feel the same way about this in five years or so, but those are definitely my thoughts right now, and I'm pretty dang happy with them. Whenever I ask God about it or start worrying/over-thinking things, He just keeps telling me to have patience and wait. So, that's what I'm going to do.
Some of my life goals currently: Get the heck out of Spring Arbor University with a degree. Find a really cheap (price and quality) apartment within a year. Sell/get rid of a bunch of crap. Find a job which will pay more than what I need to survive in said crappy apartment. Pay off student loans (I'm pretty sure debt is un-Biblical. Financially, I really regret coming to SAU. This is a subject for a whole other blog rant, though). Save up some money. Get a motorcycle. Save up some more money. Travel.
That's all for now, I guess.
Peace.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Psalm 130
So, I was reading out of this chapter today, and verses 3 and 4 really hit me:
"If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared."
The first half is enough to spend quite a while on in itself...but it doesn't stop there. God has forgiveness enough to forgive everyone. The last phrase actually has me kind of stumped right now:
"But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared."
Sounds paradoxical, right? We normally associate fear with UN-forgiveness. This verse sounds like it's saying God should be feared BECAUSE he forgives. Interesting, no? Anyone have any thoughts on that?
Peace.
"If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared."
The first half is enough to spend quite a while on in itself...but it doesn't stop there. God has forgiveness enough to forgive everyone. The last phrase actually has me kind of stumped right now:
"But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared."
Sounds paradoxical, right? We normally associate fear with UN-forgiveness. This verse sounds like it's saying God should be feared BECAUSE he forgives. Interesting, no? Anyone have any thoughts on that?
Peace.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Bible study
So, for one of my classes, I've had to create a Bible study series as an almost-final project. I'm just finishing it up now. I've really felt like someone in youth ministry doing this: I started with one whole topic for the series and objectives for it. I started making titles and objectives for each of the lessons, and as I wrote them, I have to keep going back and changing my objectives, because the direction kept changing. Now that I'm done, it looks like I need to change the general topic and objectives as well, since I took it all in a different direction than I anticipated. It's been really interesting, and helpful as well.
Also, I'm been thinking more lately about what I want to do after I graduate from Spring Arbor next fall. I'm strongly considering going to an outdoor leadership school after I get my loans paid off, if that happens relatively soon. Along with this, I really just want to travel all over after I'm done here. There are so many opportunities to go on adventures and have an impact on people's lives. I can't wait. Probably going to be stuck in some horrible job as soon as I graduate, but I think it would be worth it in the long run.
Peace.
Also, I'm been thinking more lately about what I want to do after I graduate from Spring Arbor next fall. I'm strongly considering going to an outdoor leadership school after I get my loans paid off, if that happens relatively soon. Along with this, I really just want to travel all over after I'm done here. There are so many opportunities to go on adventures and have an impact on people's lives. I can't wait. Probably going to be stuck in some horrible job as soon as I graduate, but I think it would be worth it in the long run.
Peace.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Mmmm, weather.
So, it snowed today. I woke up pretty upset about it. During Chapel, our chaplain subtly told us we have no right to be complaining about the weather, citing all the earthquakes, floods, nuclear accidents, and tornadoes which have been destroying people's homes and lives over the past month and are continuing. Definitely sobered me about how little my wet feet matter. Thought I would share this with anyone reading from Michigan who's also unhappy about the April snow.
Peace.
Peace.
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