does it really matter?

Yes, it does. But in what view? The micro view to be sure. How far out do we have to zoom to realize the unimportance of this election? Not too far I think.

God sets up and takes down. We know this. God punishes a people by allowing their sin to abound. America has been asking for God's judgment for a LONG time. So, disappointed? Yeah, I am. But I'm not too terribly shocked. We made it through Clinton. We did. I remember the elections and the voting. What I don't remember (probably because I was a kid) is anything that happened in those 8 years. I remember fervently, praying that he would get kicked out of office. I remember checking the votes on the TV every break in school. . .but do I remember a thing Clinton did? Nope. The joy of being a kid.

Of course the story is different now. I have my own place, my own family, and I will end up dealing with everything that happens. Such is life.

School is school. It is somewhat frustrating when I have so much to do and I can't get it all done. On the other hand it is extremely gratifying when I can get it all done, which I did today. ;)

We are looking at this other church. . .doctrinal statement is good again. So, we are looking at at least 3 independent kjv baptist churches with good hymnals within 20 minutes of us. So, this isn't like seeing horrible things and then settling on what fits. We have real options. So, we are still praying.

I got a key to the gym, so I will be trying to work out regularly now. I'm excited. I miss it.

I should go now. . .not getting any more typing done. Peace.

Oct 31st.

The new bond looks cool. Its weird that they moved the release date back. We were well aware that it was coming out on the 7th since that is Kaylynn's birthday, but now it is out on the 14th. Not a big deal though.

School seems busy. I took a day off when we had Josiah & Karleen down. It took me almost all week to catch up with the grading. Stats kids were way out of hand the other day. I sent three to the office. /shrug. Gotta do what ya gotta do.

They asked for handouts, and maybe that is a good idea. I can give handouts. It will be more work each week, but I can do it.

I had lunch duty again this week. It is annoying for a few reasons. 1. I can't go home for lunch to see my wife and Will. 2. I have to watch and pick up after disrespectful kids who should know how to throw their trash out. 3. My prep time is disrupted. I like to use lunch period to prep for the class immediately following. It is harder when I'm sitting at a picnic table away from my desk.

I haven't picked up my Java since the last time I blogged. Company and school have kept me preoccupied. /shrug. I can see how getting an advanced degree with a family is very difficult.

On that note, MBBC is offering an M. Div. now. This is the degree that is waaay better than what I was going for, and would be more widely recognized. My credits will of course all apply. I believe I have 32, if I figure correctly. The downside of course is that the new degree requires....wait for it......96 hours!! doh! That means a lot more credits. I took about 6-8 per semester while I was living there.

Options:

1. Move back and finish working fulltime and going to school fulltime. bleah! The thought of living in WI, the thought of cold (real cold), the thought of working a poor paying job supporting a wife, and possibly some kids (well, we are talking the future here) while attending school fulltime. bleah!!

2. I could take 1-3 online classes a year; depending on what they offer, and depending on the money issue. That way, we stay whereever we happen to be; I just take some classes in addition to work. In addition, MBBC offers module courses. These are courses where the entire classroom period fits in one week. The three papers and test, then get mailed in, up to 9 weeks later.

3. I don't need to finish with an M. Div, and then I can just finish what I have via internet/module.

I'm guessing 2 is my option.

I would like to be back in class. I miss the classes. I never thought I would say that, but yeah, I do miss the classes.

I want to argue something. Not as in the common connotation of argue. I want to present logical thought-out argumentation that someone or something is right and someone or something is wrong. I want to be dogmatic and sure. But, here, I'm not met with anything. . .sure the music is dumb, and the kids are brats. The most theology I talk about is dumb little stuff in the library. bleah! bleah I say!!

Every now and then I talk to someone on the phone who has something. . .but not often enough.

Mike V told me he was going to call to talk about "nothing." That was two weeks ago. So, here I am not knowing anything about "nothing."

I need to argue fundamentalism or versions, or calvinism, or redemption or SOMETHING!!!

Anyway...I can't even think of anything to just argue blindly here. I can argue when something makes me frustrated/mad. But I can't sit here and type out a arguement for total depravity when I have no source to direct it at.

I need to exercise my brain. I can't write much more notes for a book that I have no sources to cite.

Idk, maybe I should try to start an exegesis of a book. Just work my way through little by little through each verse/chapter/etc. That's probably a good idea. I probably won't do it either. Oh well.

Parents will be here in the morning. Exciting. Its nice having family come to visit. Its nice having furniture for them to sit on too.

I should go...cake and ice cream sound good.

Peace.

redundancy

I find that I like to use some of the same phrases too often. I borrow from Hamlet. . .I like when I think in similar terms. I like thinking in terms of Shakespeare, Twain, Dickens, Turretin, Whitaker, etc. I wish I did more. I don't read enough to keep my thoughts like that. I try.

Every day at school the Bible teacher runs some copies of the crosswords out of the daily paper. So, Matt sat down and grabbed one one day, and so I did too. (Things like that are always better with someone to compare notes with.) I came home and told Kaylynn and within a few days we had a website ( http://www.boatloadpuzzles.com/playcrossword ) that had 1,000s of crosswords. So, after a week or two we got a book, and now we do crosswords, about everyday. Of course, the ones online have a lot of repeats. So do the ones in the paper. It is good for me. Ever since watching my great Grandma do them over and over I have thought about how good it would be for me. . .I'm glad to have finally started.

I miss blogging. But I can't blog at school, and that is when I have the most time. I would like to blog more though...

I have been reading my Java book again. Of course, my free time is all at school after class. And I can't fit the book in my bag, so I don't spend as much time as I would like reading it. I would like to read all sorts of things.

I started an idea for a book. I have a few pages of notes, etc. I want to write. I think I can. . .but I need WAY more research before the book actually goes. That means I need time and access to a library. I started reading some ideas, and read that one of the most important facets to writing a book is to be consistent. If I write one page a day, then within two years, I will have a book. Then editting, etc. While this might take a long time, it also seems it could prevent getting discouraged. I have often gotten discouraged when I would try to do something. I would try by scheduling lots of time or effort to something to finish it in like a month or something. Too much work, and not enough time always meant that I didn't finish.

So, I start again. This time I think I'm doing better. Except the research part is a HUGE snag. I don't have time for research. I don't have easy access to a good library. Which means, even though now, I may have a good plan, and a good outline, and some good starting notes. I don't have a personal library large enough to do this. I know PhD's with enough books in their personal library. I don't think I will ever own all the books I know now I need to reference, besides all the books I'm not even aware of yet. Phooey.

Students talk about WoW. Steve and Tim and Matt and I talked about it a bit this past weekend. I asked Matt if it made him want to play. I don't think I miss it. But I do think I miss something about it. It isn't WoW I miss. . .maybe its the social aspect. Maybe its the running the guild. Maybe its the fact that the things I was doing I was good at. I played through Diablo a few weeks ago. Several times. I played a mage for the first time. I enjoyed it.

What now? What more should I be doing? I'm working on a book (maybe.) I'm trying to read regularly. (need more variety in reading though). I'm trying to learn Java (still.)

God has blessed greatly in the last couple months. Free: bed, dining room table, 4 chairs, office chair, card table, couch, reclyner, two TVs, 3 end tables, 2 dressers, 3 stools, 2 mirrors, shower curtains, bath rugs, 2 lamps, book shelf, microwave, and probably lots of other stuff I can't remember. Amazing. We have so much far sooner than I anticipated.

We are trying to be content, and when looking at God's blessings, it isn't too hard.

Church shopping is interesting. We have been to a couple KJVO, Independent, Baptist. Doctrinal statements all right. But the one pastor is quite arminian in preaching (seems to think he is responsible for getting people down to the altar.) The other pastor seems shallow, but it might just be this series. We are leaning towards the latter for a few reasons, one of which is that I am sick of the arminian stuff.

We both miss friends and family. We have a busy couple weeks coming up. Siblings here tomorrow, and parents in a week and a half.

Planning/living with a budget is interesting. . .anyway, my time is about up. I got stuff to do and the battery is low....hi to all.

I try to call now and then...but you can call to. Don't forget it: friends/friendships take work. Don't let them go to waste.

Peace.

our new place

Address was here. . .Then it was removed because I don't really need any stranger happening by to see it. Call me if you want it.

We are 5-10 minutes from Wal-Mart, Save-A-Lot, the airport, Work, Bank, etc etc.

Not much more to say really right now. peace.

to blog

I have thought about writing some short poetry lately. . .but the kids in Matt's class have been coming up with some "ok" to deep stuff. It makes me not want to, because instead of just letting it flow, I would be trying too hard to make it fit. That isn't the type of writing I need to do. I don't write for a living, so I just write what flows.

Class is weird. I am making tons of mistakes. I am learning lots.

I have had very little parent interaction. Which somewhat scares me. . .I have caught up a lot with the "teaching" and kid interaction, but parent stuff I know I don't know how to do.

Watching movies with some kinda swear removal is weird. . .especially when even the taped TV versions have some kind profanity in that silent moment.

Jenn blogs regularly. It is great. Keep it up. Btw, we are happy that things are going better. . .very happy.

Although, all the boy comments are interesting....but I think in the end they make me happy too. Just be careful. I don't want to have to tell Micah to take advantage of his security job to take care of some kid. ;)

I would recommend buying the Name of the Wind. Thanks to Matt for the recommendation.

The new MTG set looks cool. I have seen some cards I would probably play. But, you know . . . when you spend 30 minutes during class breaks to look at a budget, MTG takes a back seat...to a great many things. I guess growing up has to happen some time....when you get poor.

I talked to the gym guys (don't know their names yet). They said I could get into the weight room early on school days if I wanted. I plan on lifting again, starting in a week or two.

I'm fat.

My wife makes the most delicious cookies. WOW! mmMMmm

I wish I could blog at school...It would make it easier.

Anyway, I need to go. Have a good night, and weekend. Remember, if you want to stay in touch with people, or be friends, you have to work at being friends, and have to call them. . .don't just expect them to call you.....I'm trying to remember this, and slowly making the rounds. But, if I get swamped and forget this little piece...CALL me. Peace.

Life at school

Life is weird at school. Lots of business and bustling around and I just feel bored. I don't have a classroom to decorate. I float around three classrooms. My Stat kids will be in a math room, but my Algebra, and AoF kids will be in Spanish and History/Politics respectively. /shrug. What can I do? nothing....

Anyway, the people are nice. I have already been offered a bunch of other part time jobs, like substituting and after school care. Both of which I have accepted after a few days of thinking and stuff. Apartments are a little more than we anticipated. And that is if those are available. . .otherwise they will be a lot more than anticipated. If I figured right, without the substituting we should be a little better than even. If I can sub even two days a week, that will be great. Of course, at first I doubt that will happen but later in the year.

Matt consistently reminds me that I have not blogged. Its easier for him now when he doesn't actually have to comment to remind me.

Jenn blogs a lot. Good job Jenn.

I printed up the monkey problem for my algebra kids. I'm thinking it will be extra credit later in the year. We will see how the class does.

My AoF class has 21 kids in it. My stats are 19. And Algebra is like 15. Figures, the easiest class is the least kids.

Sounds like we are almost ready to go apartment shopping so I need to go....

Peace.

thinketh no evil

So, I have this friend that is going through a really hard time. Lots of stuff in her life that is just not good. It doesn't make sense. One thing after another. She is sweet and kind, and extremely patient. We wonder why this stuff keeps happening. It has been going on for over a year, and it has been very very hard on her.

Sometimes I catch myself wondering, just wondering, if maybe she isn't doing right. But then I remember. . .

There is nothing in her life to make me think she is in sin. She has a good testimony, and continually seeks Godly counsel. She is patient, and very prayerful.

So, who am I to say that she is lying to me when she says, that she is right with God? Who is anyone to tell another Christian that they are lying about their relationship with Christ without any known and habitual, unrepentant sin?

Any persons relationship with Christ, is between them and the Saviour. So why do we have so much gossip/tale-bearing/assuming about people? I have had talks for a couple hours and gotten back and thought "wow. . .was that talk just gossip? How much of that was really necessary to talk about?"

Especially in my family and extended family. . . .it just seems its so easy to make everyones business our business. Is it really my business what is going on with cousin X?? Now if he/she calls and tells me and spills the beans . . . but then, what right do I have to tell the rest of you? Is it really your business?

My conclusion, is that we lack charity. I think many of us could have come to that conclusion anyway, through different channels of thought, but for me, today, and for the last several weeks/months, it has been because of all the evil we think/say regarding people. Maybe it isn't "murder and blaspheme" evil, but we don't think good about them. We assign them bad motives, and attitudes for things we make excuses for.

We used to have this saying around the house when I was younger. It was always something to the effect that each person needs to ensure they are doing right and not wrong, because that is too big a job for them, and they don't have time to worry about each other. . . .it is still true.

I don't have the time to worry about any of you. . .My fault list is too long. . . . . .