Summer Burnout

Summer School

I am working on my last paper for the summer and I cannot tell you how happy I will be when it is done. I feel like this has been a less than relaxing summer. It started with me spending 4 hours a day in class for six weeks straight and it is ending with papers and a horrible sunburn. I have been working furiously (because I procrastinated) on a few papers for my last two classes. I want to find the person who invented the quarter system and punch him in the face. It is a tricky way for schools to take more of your money, make summer classes a requirement and force a semester of work into 3 months.

The Beach

I went to the beach with Melody a little over a week ago and I underestimated the power of the sun. We got up early on a Saturday and drove out to Malibu to enjoy some Southern California weather. We found a nice spot and set up our beach blanket. The waves were particularly strong so we couldn't do very much swimming. We found this out the hard way by getting our butts kicked by a giant wave. It hit us so hard that my knee was bleeding from the sand rubbing against it. We then decided it would be a good idea to stay out of the water and just do some sunbathing. I put on sunblock, but I must have missed a few key areas on my chest and my feet especially. Basically, I got the worst sunburn of my life. I will spare you the details but I missed 4 days of work and had second degree burns over both my feet and couldn't sleep for 2 days. I know what your thinking. Aren't you from California? Didn't you grow up in the Central Valley where it is especially hot? Don't you know that the sun is hot? The answer to all of the above is yes, but I got lazy and did not heed all of warnings from the Coppertone commercials (the ones with the dermaphoto booth). I really cannot wait for a cold, windy and miserable day with no sun.

There's No Time Like the Present

Buddhism emphasizes living in the present moment. This means that one must focus on the present and not reminisce about the past or worry about the future. Jesus said something similar in Luke chapter 12:22-31. One of my goals this year has been to live in the present moment. I want to enjoy the good times without worrying about when they might end. I want to get everything out of my present experience before moving on to the next. It is important to reflect on the past and consider the future, but I don't want to miss out on the present.  

Hot, Hot, Sweatin' Like a Pig!

When I was in the 7th grade and attending Ione Middle School, I used to ride the bus to school everyday. I would have to get to the bus stop by 6:45 or the bus would just keep on going. Everyday on the bus a song would come on at exactly 7:00. I heard this song so many times that it is now engrained in my memory. I shared it with Melody a few days ago and she thinks it is pretty funny. I hope you enjoy it as well.

You're on the Verge of a Miracle - Thanks, Rich Mullins

Melody and I have been in search of a new church. This is a topic worthy of its own blog, but for now I would like to focus on something more pressing on my mind. I have become increasingly interested in charismatic church services. A charismatic student in one of my classes made an interesting point regarding churches in his denomination. He said that in some charismatic churches there can be disappointment if something miraculous doesn't happen every Sunday. It made me think about how content I am with nothing miraculous happening at church. I get up and go to church expecting to worship God in song, expecting to pray, expecting the pastor to bring a word from the Lord, but almost never expecting a miracle. I would rather expect a miracle every Sunday and be let down once in a while, than to continue expecting nothing and have my expectations met.

Counting My Blessings

I feel so privileged to  be in seminary right now. It has been such a blessing to learn in this multicultural, multi-denominational setting.  Melody has been incredibly supportive in every way and she always listens patiently as I ramble on about my newest idea or theory. 

Our new city is also starting to grow on us and I feel more at home every day. Melody mentioned that we were probably in culture shock when we first got here and I agreed. Everyday I feel like God blesses me in ways that I don't acknowledge or even know about. There are countless small provisions that the Lord brings throughout the day that show me what a loving God we have.

Much Study Wearies The Body

Ecclesiastes 12:12, "Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body."

I started a new job today. I will be working in the library in the periodicals section. Working in this section brought me to the realization that there are many papers written by many people over the past century. I often wonder how anyone can add anything new to these vast collections. Will something I write end up in one of these journals?  Some of the journals are over a 100 years old and look as though no one has touched them in that time. I often wonder if there is an article in one of them that has an incredible insight. It could just be waiting to be discovered.

It is easy to become overwhelmed when I think about the idea of trying to have an original idea in writing my papers. It seems as though everything has been said and every insight explored. All I can do is try and add my thoughts and hope they will be original

Live Long and Prosper

Today, I was walking out of one of my classes and right into someone's conversation. It was one of those conversations that you have no context for and only hear a few lines in passing. The tone is one of interogation.

Student A: "Hey are you a REAL Treky (Star Trek Fanatic)? I mean have you seen every espisode?"

Student B: "Well, Yeah, I mean I have seen...."(I left too soon and missed the end)