The Times They Are A Changin'...but We Ain't!

I got to go home this past weekend which was a real blessing. I got to see my family which of whom I really missed, I got to eat great food (BBQ) and I got to spend some quality time with my girlfriend Kate, and that is always a good thing.

However something else happened when I went home, I got a haircut. Now I am not just talking a trim here, which is what my full intentions of getting were, but a full fledged cut. No more hair in the eyes, no more wings out the side of my hat and no more almost mullet. This was a big deal for me and I don't know why. I guess maybe I don't like change? But what does that say about my personality and character? How will I be able to cope with huge changes when I let such a little one have an effect on me?

Now I am kind of exaggerating here but I think you get the point. We live in a world that doesn't like change but contrary to that fact is changing constantly. We have become so accustomed to this continuous change that those who hear the Gospel for the first time are taken aback by the fact that it is the same Gospel it was 2000 years ago. How do we effectively show people that it hasn't changed and that it won't be changing anytime soon either?

Mid-Terms...That Don't Make No Sense!

Well it is once again the best time of the semester...Mid-terms!! Actually this is the part of the year that makes absolutely no sense to me. I mean these test are worth pretty much the same amount as our final exams, for which we have the whole week without classes, but in the case of mid-terms everything is exactly the same. So that fact combined with the over-whelming feeling that I haven't learned diddly so far this semester can be kind of stressful.

However I have come to teach myself not to be stressed over tests and exams anymore because it doesn't do me any good when I am. Is it apathy? I don't think so, it's more of a realization that it's not the be-all-end-all of life like some people think it is. I guess another thing that should be taken into account is that I am not of the academic type and so I sometimes fail to see the point of this stuff.

Since we are talking about school and things, let's recap some things that happened over the weekend that reminded me of my high school days. Remember the short-bus? Yeah you know what I am talking about! Well I am thoroughly convinced that both the NHL & the NHLPA rode that bus to school each day. Cancel the season...not exactly the smartest thing for any professional sport and baseball is a prime example of that. Yes I know that MLB never cancelled a full season but the strike definitely hurt the fan base. And I would just like to state that both sides are morons and I want hockey back!!

In case you didn't know the Chinese New Year was rung in the past weekend and guess what one of the number one way of wishing people a Happy New Year was? Text messaging from cell phones! It is estimated that nearly 11 Billion, yes that is with a B like in Botox, were sent over the weekend in China. These messages brought in nearly $133 Million in charges. "I used to think that $133 Million could be used for something noble like finding a cure for cancer, but this has taught me it's not always the case." - Jon Stewart

And finally I thought that I would share some of my artistic venture with you. I am still fairly new to the whole Photoshop thing but I have been playing around with it the last little bit. This is definitely on of my favorite things that I have done with it so far. This is just a picture that I took in my hallway here at school at sunset. The sun always cast such a great shadow on the wall as it's going down everyday and the filters that I used in Photoshop really made it look cool.

Very Responsive Reading

Today at chapel we had one of the most different but yet cool services we have ever had since I have been here at school. Today there was no message and most of the music were hymns. We had what is called a Wesleyan Covenant Service and it was amazing.

At the beginning of the service we all received a booklet, and I am not talking about two pages but four or five of them, that was filled with basically the whole order of service. It contained responsive readings as well scripture and towards the end of the service we had Communion. Taken from John Wesley this service seemed to catch some people off-guard and I can imagine that there were some people who didn't like it.

I don't know why people wouldn't have liked it. It had a deeper meaning then most of our services I found. It was simple and maybe it was that simplicity that people didn't like. We are always so busy on our quest for the "new thing" that will help the church grow deeper in their faith, maybe we need to look back instead of forward.

Wow, what a shocker...not.

So here's some news for anyone who doesn't follow any kind of reporting. North Korea is claiming that they have nukes and that they are going to "bolster" their supply of them too. Any American troops wanna go to Korea? Ha I bet they are as thrilled to hear that as they are the possibility of a war in Iran.

Most people probably think that something needs to happen in North Korea because they are a "threat" to them. You know what maybe they are, but have you ever thought they are a threat to you because you have threatened them? I mean obviously they are getting the feeling that the US doesn't like them very much. But where did that feeling come from? Maybe because they started a war over "weapons of mass destruction" but when questioned on it later, denied that was one of the reasons...maybe cause they didn't find any. So they said because of terrorism. Did Iraq attack? Oh wait no it was Osama and his friends.

Maybe President Bush should step back and review his reasons for this war. If he can come up with some solid evidence then go to it. But that evidence should be made public and should be confirmed instead of these statements of "we've heard reports" blah, blah, blah. And did anyone stop to think that maybe places like North Korea and Iraq view the US as terrorists? Just because it's right from the US's point of view doesn't make it right in theirs. Hmmm...maybe the US is the bully...I know I would be on the defensive too if I heard these words,

"If you're not with us, you're with the terrorists." - President Bush

30 Seconds

How much is 30 seconds worth to you? Well if you know anything about football, it means a lot to advertisers. That's right, here are the Superbowl ads from 2005! I have to say since I didn't watch the Superbowl that I was glad to find a place on the internet that has them all. I think my favorite is the FedEx one with Burt Reynolds, cause it's better, better then your regular commercials. (SNL reference) So enjoy!!

Cookies & Cash

Story taken from here.

We've all been there. It's late at night, you're watching TV or blogging as I am right now and you're hungry. You think to yourself, "Man wouldn't it be great to have some cookies!" The thought that you wish someone else may even make you some might run through your mind as it does mine...but let me throw this idea out to you. Freshly baked cookies, made by someone else, delivered to your door and you get them to pay you $9oo. Sounds pretty sweet huh?

Well believe it or not, our world has sunk to a new low, a 49 year old lady from Colorado got just that. Apparently some girls were being nice and baking cookies for their neighbors instead of going to a dance where there may have been drinking and such. Sounds pretty good huh? But wait until you hear what these malicious attackers did next. They put the cookies on the doorsteps of their neighbors, rang the door bell and ran away. What a hideous act. It was so traumatizing that this one lady apparently had an anxiety attack.

So what else would you expect to happen the in country where they sue for anything? She took the girls to court! Ok so no case right? Oh how we have thought that so many times before. The judge found the girls guilty of...didn't really say what...and were forced to pay $900 dollars to the lady.

And I bet you she kept the cookies too!!

Memoirs of a President

The other day I had the privilege of sweeping. Now I know that this may not seem like a big deal to anyone, however it was what was taking place around me as I was sweeping that made me feel privileged. As I was sweeping there was a meeting taking place in the cafeteria at our school with our school's President in attendance.

I have found myself, and others here at school, often making light of the fact that Prez, is never around, or that he doesn't even know that I go to this school...and I have been here for 3 1/2 years. (Our school is only 300 or so.) He talks about the new library and the athletic center, and we often say, "yeah, that's been 10 years in the planning". Resounding of hurt due to the fact that we won't be here when everything is done. But last night I became convicted of that.

The meeting that was taking place was for one of the building projects, I am not sure witch one, but I overheard Pres. Medders and some of what he was saying. Then it hit me, he's passionate about this school, about seeing it grow...he has a vision for this place. And I believe that vision is from God. I think that sometimes that I forget how hard at work he is on these projects, no wonder he is never here. I forget the great responsibility and resources it takes to do something like this, no wonder it has taken so long. But even through all these things, he has never lost sight of his vision from God. He still strives for it, even after setbacks.

I want a vision, and when I receive that vision for God I pray that I can have the ability to pursue it in the way that Prez does. I respect that man very much for all his hard work, and even if these projects aren't done until 2015, I will still feel the same way because he paved the way for it. Keep on truckin' Prez, keep on truckin'.