Posts
Wow, yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of this blog and I didn't even remember it until now. I am a bad blogger.
Thank goodness the blog does not talk back or else I'd be sleeping on the couch...or something like that ;P.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Good Movie
This weekend in my crazy boredom I decided to rent a movie. While walking along the aisles I noticed a box with the title All I Want aka Try Seventeen. The stars of the movie included Elijah Wood and Mandy Moore. Being a fan of each (Elijah Wood as far back as The Good Son...ok...yes I am a Mandy Moore fan, deal with it ;P ). I had read something about this movie sometime back, but I thought it would have a wider screen release and we would have all heard about it on the TV. But anyway, the movie is very good. Wood plays a 17 year old college dropout living on his mother's family money. He lives in an apartment building with a unique cast of characters including Moore (a vain but likeable wannabe actress) and Franka Potente (a photographer with some history) among others. It could be considered a "coming of age" movie, but I think it has a little more on most of the recent movies fitting that description. It’s very funny, but in a subtle way, it discusses many issues pertinent to the current generation, and it adds a little bit of off the wall humor as well. Quite enjoyable and I would rank it as one of my favorite movies of 2003.
Argh...it is late and I had so much more I wanted to do tonight.
This weekend in my crazy boredom I decided to rent a movie. While walking along the aisles I noticed a box with the title All I Want aka Try Seventeen. The stars of the movie included Elijah Wood and Mandy Moore. Being a fan of each (Elijah Wood as far back as The Good Son...ok...yes I am a Mandy Moore fan, deal with it ;P ). I had read something about this movie sometime back, but I thought it would have a wider screen release and we would have all heard about it on the TV. But anyway, the movie is very good. Wood plays a 17 year old college dropout living on his mother's family money. He lives in an apartment building with a unique cast of characters including Moore (a vain but likeable wannabe actress) and Franka Potente (a photographer with some history) among others. It could be considered a "coming of age" movie, but I think it has a little more on most of the recent movies fitting that description. It’s very funny, but in a subtle way, it discusses many issues pertinent to the current generation, and it adds a little bit of off the wall humor as well. Quite enjoyable and I would rank it as one of my favorite movies of 2003.
Argh...it is late and I had so much more I wanted to do tonight.
Friday, September 26, 2003
Cliques
Now that we are all grown we know that cliques are a thing of the past right? We all live/work/go to school together in this wonderful tolerant and loving society right?
I don't believe that there is any place in the Western world where cliques do not exist. I hope for goodness sake that I am wrong. But I get that funny feeling in my tummy that I am not wrong in this statement. I loathe cliques, I always have. Maybe thats because I never fit into a clique, maybe because I am jealous of the people in the cliques I am not in. I say this becuase moving to a new place and starting school has allowed me to see the new cliques in this new place and new school. I see it even in my group of classmates. I hate it, I want to get to know all my classmates, but it seems that there are already 3 cliques, and its only a class of 21. I don't know how to break it, but maybe that will take some time. I think maybe it is in human nature to form cliques, if so we as humans need to break that. The stereotypes are so horrible in my class. I don't care about what groups these people could fall into, I just want to know them personally, not superficially. But anyway, it would be nice for the group to mesh, but maybe its too late or too early for that to happen.
On a related note I like Tubb's take on a similar issue as it relates to Christians in his entry Acknowledging fellow members of the Body
I think maybe I'll write more on this later.
Now that we are all grown we know that cliques are a thing of the past right? We all live/work/go to school together in this wonderful tolerant and loving society right?
I don't believe that there is any place in the Western world where cliques do not exist. I hope for goodness sake that I am wrong. But I get that funny feeling in my tummy that I am not wrong in this statement. I loathe cliques, I always have. Maybe thats because I never fit into a clique, maybe because I am jealous of the people in the cliques I am not in. I say this becuase moving to a new place and starting school has allowed me to see the new cliques in this new place and new school. I see it even in my group of classmates. I hate it, I want to get to know all my classmates, but it seems that there are already 3 cliques, and its only a class of 21. I don't know how to break it, but maybe that will take some time. I think maybe it is in human nature to form cliques, if so we as humans need to break that. The stereotypes are so horrible in my class. I don't care about what groups these people could fall into, I just want to know them personally, not superficially. But anyway, it would be nice for the group to mesh, but maybe its too late or too early for that to happen.
On a related note I like Tubb's take on a similar issue as it relates to Christians in his entry Acknowledging fellow members of the Body
I think maybe I'll write more on this later.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Complete Craziness
Hectic. School is hectic, work is really hectic and life, yes, life is also very hectic. I try to keep my self sane by praying, reading, writing and taking that occasional drive deep into the Ozark mountains. (Well not really "deep" more wherever the highway and God take me). So the Ozarks are absolutely beautiful. I could just walk and drive around them for hours on end. Northwest Arkansas is really a great place. Other than the way some folks drive, I have no complaints. But anyway...all the talk about the beauty of the state just makes me anticipate autumn even more.
Something is afoot right now. I cannot be sure whether is just me, or if the world as a whole is preparing for something new, different, and possibly life altering. I am sure its the lack of sleep that makes me talk of such rubbish. I know I am changing. I knew it would come as I forced myself into a new and unfamiliar situation. I was not expecting a smooth transition, I was not expecting a smooth anything. I expected bumps and dips and small crashes along the way. Maybe I underestimated, maybe I overestimated. But at least I estimated :-P. It is all so new, I feel like I am starting college all over again, but then again its nothing like starting college again.
I am filled with questions. If I were not I would be worried. I don't have answers, all I have are very subjective observations and unfounded guesses. Knowing that I don't have to know the answers is somewhat comforting, but not knowing the future also scares me.
The joke was when someone caught my grandfather talking to himself they would always ask him why he talked to himself. His response, "You have to have an intelligent conversation with somebody". While I am not necessarily talking to myself, nor I am necessarily providing any examples of any intelligence sometimes I must work things out for myself in writing. Instead of keeping this writing in my own written journal I write here in hopes of my better understanding myself.
I feel like Austin Powers, "let me allow myself to introduce...Myself"
On another note
I, like much of the blogging world it seems, am preparing to celebrate a blogging anniversary. yes, this blog is about to reach the big one year mark. Wow...I am sure I will have some comments on that later.
Hectic. School is hectic, work is really hectic and life, yes, life is also very hectic. I try to keep my self sane by praying, reading, writing and taking that occasional drive deep into the Ozark mountains. (Well not really "deep" more wherever the highway and God take me). So the Ozarks are absolutely beautiful. I could just walk and drive around them for hours on end. Northwest Arkansas is really a great place. Other than the way some folks drive, I have no complaints. But anyway...all the talk about the beauty of the state just makes me anticipate autumn even more.
Something is afoot right now. I cannot be sure whether is just me, or if the world as a whole is preparing for something new, different, and possibly life altering. I am sure its the lack of sleep that makes me talk of such rubbish. I know I am changing. I knew it would come as I forced myself into a new and unfamiliar situation. I was not expecting a smooth transition, I was not expecting a smooth anything. I expected bumps and dips and small crashes along the way. Maybe I underestimated, maybe I overestimated. But at least I estimated :-P. It is all so new, I feel like I am starting college all over again, but then again its nothing like starting college again.
I am filled with questions. If I were not I would be worried. I don't have answers, all I have are very subjective observations and unfounded guesses. Knowing that I don't have to know the answers is somewhat comforting, but not knowing the future also scares me.
The joke was when someone caught my grandfather talking to himself they would always ask him why he talked to himself. His response, "You have to have an intelligent conversation with somebody". While I am not necessarily talking to myself, nor I am necessarily providing any examples of any intelligence sometimes I must work things out for myself in writing. Instead of keeping this writing in my own written journal I write here in hopes of my better understanding myself.
I feel like Austin Powers, "let me allow myself to introduce...Myself"
On another note
I, like much of the blogging world it seems, am preparing to celebrate a blogging anniversary. yes, this blog is about to reach the big one year mark. Wow...I am sure I will have some comments on that later.
Friday, September 19, 2003
Interview Questions for Michelle
1) If given the choice where would you most like to do minstry? Why?
2) What made you want to begin to blog?
3)What has been the biggest difference or change for you from college to graduate school?
4) When did you first know that God existed? and (borrowing a question from Jen at Meditatio) what was your most powerful spiritual experience?
5) When you lived in the United States did you notice many cultural differences between the US and Canada?
1) If given the choice where would you most like to do minstry? Why?
2) What made you want to begin to blog?
3)What has been the biggest difference or change for you from college to graduate school?
4) When did you first know that God existed? and (borrowing a question from Jen at Meditatio) what was your most powerful spiritual experience?
5) When you lived in the United States did you notice many cultural differences between the US and Canada?
Friday, September 12, 2003
All I can say is Go HOGS! I've never really liked the state of Texas (while knowing some good people from there) and now that I am attending the U of A I have a good reason to give an upside down Longhorn. It's like a battle between the states of the last two U.S. Presidents...and well I know I am on the correct side ;-P. Anyway...its too bad the game is in Austin this year, but next year the Longhorns come to Fayetteville...it will be pure chaos.
Go HOGS!!
Go HOGS!!
Interview Meme Questions from Jen
1.) You've lived all or most of your life in Colorado and now you're doing grad stuff in Arkansas? How do the cultures in each place differ?
Good question. They differ quite a bit. The last place I lived in Colorado was very, very relaxed, very wealthy and very educated. To the contrary NW Arkansas is relaxed, but more formal with keeping traditions (Southern Hospitality all the way). There is an economic boom here (yes, unlike the rest of the country), but it’s not wealthy like Durango was. Arkansas is also not nearly as well educated (and I mean only formally...a smaller percent of the population have college degrees and what not) as Colorado.
I do really enjoy many of the traditions (in regards to state pride, school pride, etc). Colorado just did not have these traditions. I also think that the people here are very friendly; they will talk to you on the bus, or at the store. Many times Coloradoans (specifically in Durango and much of the Denver area) are not as willing to do this.
All said and done I still Love Colorado, but I really like it down here.
2.) What is your impression of what I would be like in real life if you were to meet me?
I think you would be shy and reserved, but still very thoughtful and kind. I think it would take a little while for you to open up, but once you did you probably would not be nearly as shy.
3.) Flash forward to the future when you are married and have kids. What would be the two things you'd want for them?
Wow, really tough question. First and foremost I'd want them to grow up as individuals. I want them to discover things on their own while still learning the values that my wife and I would teach them. I would not want to shelter them, but I want them to know what is right and what is wrong. Second, I would want them to have a quality education. My parents have always held education very high, I would do the same.
4.) Describe your ideal church.
Hmm...Right now in my life my ideal church would be a place geared towards "spiritual seekers" and "new" Christians. It would be a place where discussion was encouraged and there would be learned "pastors" who would facilitate discussion and help the members with the questions they had on their journey through and with Faith. Smaller would be better because of discussion and a church of people from the same community would also be very cool. The Biblical values I'd like a church to emphasize would be Faith, Grace, Love, Authenticity and Missions. I see it that Christianity is about the life of Jesus Christ so I think a church should emphasize (while still keeping and teaching the Old Testament) the teachings of Christ. However, I am still very attached to rituals, in particular Communion, statement of faith, Lord's Prayer, etc...I think music is essential to worship, but I think a more acoustic style is the most welcoming style...especially those who are searching and are not familiar with the idea of “Church”.
5.) What is the most powerful spiritual experience that you've had?
I don't think I can narrow it down to one experience so I will talk about the one that happened at a really good time.
I can remember one of the first real experiences that solidified my belief in God shortly after becoming a Christian. This took place on Sept. 8, 2000 at of all things a Moby concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver, CO. It was during the song "Next is the E" at the point where Moby screams (which is pretty inaudible unless you knew it was coming) "Now lift your hands to heaven". Being outside on beautiful autumn night with 10,000 other people, I could feel the presence of God. Arguably Moby is a Christian and he has admitted making some of his music for Jesus Christ, but I just think that his music in general is so spiritual.
But that’s it…thanks for the questions Jen.
The Interview Meme
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions — each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal or blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
1.) You've lived all or most of your life in Colorado and now you're doing grad stuff in Arkansas? How do the cultures in each place differ?
Good question. They differ quite a bit. The last place I lived in Colorado was very, very relaxed, very wealthy and very educated. To the contrary NW Arkansas is relaxed, but more formal with keeping traditions (Southern Hospitality all the way). There is an economic boom here (yes, unlike the rest of the country), but it’s not wealthy like Durango was. Arkansas is also not nearly as well educated (and I mean only formally...a smaller percent of the population have college degrees and what not) as Colorado.
I do really enjoy many of the traditions (in regards to state pride, school pride, etc). Colorado just did not have these traditions. I also think that the people here are very friendly; they will talk to you on the bus, or at the store. Many times Coloradoans (specifically in Durango and much of the Denver area) are not as willing to do this.
All said and done I still Love Colorado, but I really like it down here.
2.) What is your impression of what I would be like in real life if you were to meet me?
I think you would be shy and reserved, but still very thoughtful and kind. I think it would take a little while for you to open up, but once you did you probably would not be nearly as shy.
3.) Flash forward to the future when you are married and have kids. What would be the two things you'd want for them?
Wow, really tough question. First and foremost I'd want them to grow up as individuals. I want them to discover things on their own while still learning the values that my wife and I would teach them. I would not want to shelter them, but I want them to know what is right and what is wrong. Second, I would want them to have a quality education. My parents have always held education very high, I would do the same.
4.) Describe your ideal church.
Hmm...Right now in my life my ideal church would be a place geared towards "spiritual seekers" and "new" Christians. It would be a place where discussion was encouraged and there would be learned "pastors" who would facilitate discussion and help the members with the questions they had on their journey through and with Faith. Smaller would be better because of discussion and a church of people from the same community would also be very cool. The Biblical values I'd like a church to emphasize would be Faith, Grace, Love, Authenticity and Missions. I see it that Christianity is about the life of Jesus Christ so I think a church should emphasize (while still keeping and teaching the Old Testament) the teachings of Christ. However, I am still very attached to rituals, in particular Communion, statement of faith, Lord's Prayer, etc...I think music is essential to worship, but I think a more acoustic style is the most welcoming style...especially those who are searching and are not familiar with the idea of “Church”.
5.) What is the most powerful spiritual experience that you've had?
I don't think I can narrow it down to one experience so I will talk about the one that happened at a really good time.
I can remember one of the first real experiences that solidified my belief in God shortly after becoming a Christian. This took place on Sept. 8, 2000 at of all things a Moby concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver, CO. It was during the song "Next is the E" at the point where Moby screams (which is pretty inaudible unless you knew it was coming) "Now lift your hands to heaven". Being outside on beautiful autumn night with 10,000 other people, I could feel the presence of God. Arguably Moby is a Christian and he has admitted making some of his music for Jesus Christ, but I just think that his music in general is so spiritual.
But that’s it…thanks for the questions Jen.
The Interview Meme
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions — each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal or blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Thoughts
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices when truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“ There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love”. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Through all the tragedies and events that have happened in my lifetime I have learned a few important things that I must not forget:
Keep the faith: Know that there are reasons why things happen.
Love: Love those people whom I don't understand or whose actions I do not understand. Treat all with the respect I would want to be treated with. Accept my own failures and the failures of others, but do not hold those failures against myself or others.
Prayer: Spend time alone and with God each day. Talk and pray about the things I don't understand and the things that I am having trouble with.
Friendship: Spend time with those I love.
Honesty: Be honest in all that I do and expect no less from others.
There are other things, but in light of what today represents, these things are the things I must never forget.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices when truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“ There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love”. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Through all the tragedies and events that have happened in my lifetime I have learned a few important things that I must not forget:
There are other things, but in light of what today represents, these things are the things I must never forget.
Saturday, September 06, 2003
Thoughts on the Blogging/Journal world
I like to read other blogs way more than I like to write on this one. I am so intrigued by what some people will share with the world. Its almost like sitting in a mall people watching and being able to hear a little about what is going on inside each person's head.
On a related note, I am not sure what I would say if I met a person whose blog I read. Outside the cyber world I do not think anyone I know blogs...I wonder how my opinion of someone would be changed if I knew they blogged. I also wonder if blogging is just an exercise in vanity. Are we just people who love to hear ourselves talk (or in this case write)? Are we just doing this to boost our hurt egos? Are we trying to be the popular kids because high school was so horrible? I don't really know the answers to these questions and maybe I never will.
More blog talk
Joe over at Simple Complexities wrote a great entry title "I Love Jesus"... I recommend reading the short entry, but just in case you do not here is a little bit of it:
"Just trying to be faithful. There is nothing harder. Being faithful to God is the most difficult process that I have ever entered into. It's surprising how many people are so sure that you are not being faithful by looking at your life from afar. It is ironic that the very things they see in you as unfaithfulness are the very results of some previously scary and difficult leap of faith."
I like honesty, I like it a lot. I think that honesty (especially in regards to faith) is the main reason I enjoy blogs and journals. Honest people kick some major arse. In regards to this honesty in faith I think my favorite personal blog/journals dealing with faith(besides Simple Complexities) are from Tubbs at Jazz Daddy's Journal, Jen at Meditatio, Michelle at Mikao's World and last but not least Matt at Mystical Matt's. I cannot put into words what makes each of these people standout...they just do.
Life
Tomorrow I get to experience my first "big time" college football game. I am very excited. "Wooooo Pig Sooie"
An end
I am still debating in my head whether or not to keep this thing (aka the blog) going. We will see, eh?
I like to read other blogs way more than I like to write on this one. I am so intrigued by what some people will share with the world. Its almost like sitting in a mall people watching and being able to hear a little about what is going on inside each person's head.
On a related note, I am not sure what I would say if I met a person whose blog I read. Outside the cyber world I do not think anyone I know blogs...I wonder how my opinion of someone would be changed if I knew they blogged. I also wonder if blogging is just an exercise in vanity. Are we just people who love to hear ourselves talk (or in this case write)? Are we just doing this to boost our hurt egos? Are we trying to be the popular kids because high school was so horrible? I don't really know the answers to these questions and maybe I never will.
More blog talk
Joe over at Simple Complexities wrote a great entry title "I Love Jesus"... I recommend reading the short entry, but just in case you do not here is a little bit of it:
"Just trying to be faithful. There is nothing harder. Being faithful to God is the most difficult process that I have ever entered into. It's surprising how many people are so sure that you are not being faithful by looking at your life from afar. It is ironic that the very things they see in you as unfaithfulness are the very results of some previously scary and difficult leap of faith."
I like honesty, I like it a lot. I think that honesty (especially in regards to faith) is the main reason I enjoy blogs and journals. Honest people kick some major arse. In regards to this honesty in faith I think my favorite personal blog/journals dealing with faith(besides Simple Complexities) are from Tubbs at Jazz Daddy's Journal, Jen at Meditatio, Michelle at Mikao's World and last but not least Matt at Mystical Matt's. I cannot put into words what makes each of these people standout...they just do.
Life
Tomorrow I get to experience my first "big time" college football game. I am very excited. "Wooooo Pig Sooie"
An end
I am still debating in my head whether or not to keep this thing (aka the blog) going. We will see, eh?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
