Posts
All of that and I forgot to mention that I took a worldview quiz I had read about in an article. The guy who wrote the article teaches at a Christian college (some kind) and failed the test with the result of socialism. I figured I might as well take it. I did, and I scored extremely well: 166 out of 174, or something. 95%. So, they sent me to this other page where I could print out a certificate saying I had a Christian Worldview. I saved it so I can print it out when I get to school and have access to a printer. It wasn't hard. Unfortunately, I think I may have misplaced that link too....not very good of me lately. Let me see if I can find it.
http://www.worldviewweekend.com/test/register.php
You have to give your email and name and stuff. It claims it takes like 30-45 minutes, but it didn't take me that long. Most of the questions don't require a lot of thought imo. Anyway, if you want a certificate from this supposedly reputable organization then take the test. I think you only need a 75% to get it. . .
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
i want to blog -- be warned, this is 6 pages long
I want to blog. Every now and then I have strands of thought worth blogging about, but they don't last long. It isn't as if I have been extra busy. I haven't.
NOTE: Now that I see this is 6 pages long I have notated good places to stop for a break. Aren't I a nice guy? :)
One of my only and most enjoyable activities of late has been working out. Mike was right. He told me once if I really worked out for several months I wouldn't want to stop. I had a hard time accepting that at first since I had worked out on and off for several years, but this past year at the gym really helped. Of course, maybe I also grew up some and realized that anything worth doing takes perseverance and diligence. And then I decided I wanted this, and so I worked towards it....could be.
I really admired the way my sister had been reading through the NT and decided it was foolish of me not to be spending a good amount of time in the Bible. Doesn't matter if I have a PhD, an MA, or a ThM. God doesn't require those things. God does require that we know Him. That we live for Him. I have been trying for 10 chapters a day. Not so grand a goal perhaps, but a good one for me. That is reading the entire Bible twice in a little under a year. I would be very pleased if I kept it up a year. Though reading the Bible through in a year was a good habit I had during my youth group years, it is not one I held onto long after. And I have never held a more advanced schedule. I remember my mom reading throught the Bible twice a year when I was a kid. That, and similar memories are good memories. They speak of Christian character being acted out, and not just preached to us. That is something I greatly appreciate from my memory.
I was thinking the other day, and my parents have always been working to stay in shape as well. Whether it was dumbbells in the corner of the living room, VHS exercise tapes, Tae Bo, or walking, they have always been keeping themselves healthy. A good example for me. It is hard to me to make myself walk. I am honestly trying to find a good time to walk.
It is such a contrast to other people and other families. My parents regularly watching their diets. Exercising. Doing devotions. Working on the house. Family devotions. Things I know that are right and do by habit; I find the reason for doing them in my parents doing them.
I have a dilemma. Based on my weight and how hard I have been working out, I should be consuming around 170-200g or protein a day. That is a lot of protein. I eat two eggs in the morning = 14. 2 cans of tuna throughout the day = 52. 2 scoops of whey = 52. That is only 118. I bought cottage cheese, but I cannot make myself eat it. I really wished I liked it. It looks fine, I just cannot eat it. So, I got the recipe from my mom for the green salad and I'm going to try that. That is 12g before bed. Milk is 8g if I make myself take a glass. I suppose if I add one more scoop of whey that puts me at around 164. Another scoop would put me at 190. Not too shabby if I can get that. However, three scoops of whey a day is more than I currently budgeted. It was hard for me to budget 2 scoops, since last year I was taking 1. The tuna comes out to be about the same price as the whey (per gram of protein), and Milk is really close. Milk is always in the house, and is a necessity. Last year I maybe had a glass a month...maybe. If I took one every day, that would certainly make us run out of milk faster. Of course, there is always actual dinner. That is never a consistent number of grams, but I do get protein through ground beef or chicken, etc. Thus, my dilemma. Yeah, its a big one.
School is starting soon. Monday I have a meeting. Then teacher orientation stuff starts Wednesday. I have grand plans of getting ahead so that I am ultra prepared material-wise and I only have to really worry about the kids. That is the way it should be, but HA! So, I praying towards that end, so that it is not just my foolish hopes, but that I might actually put work towards them.
I currently have four books under my belt. I plan on finishing the 5th tomorrow/Friday.
Warbreaker -- downloaded version. Good book. Thanks to Phil for the recommendation.
The Name of the Wind -- again. Still a great book. No real news on the 2nd. I follow him on FB now though.
Christian Apologetics -- Interesting. Higher thinking than I am used to. Good for me.
Writing with Style -- One of the few books I kept from College that was not Math or computers. Good book, and maybe one of these days I will summarize the chapter on common writing myths that I found interesting.
Portrait of Calvin -- Downloaded this one. More than halfway through. Not a long book, but since Calvin was honestly such a huge influence on life as we know it, I figured I should read something of his life. Already he has proven to be a genius beyond my ability -- about what I expected. I apologize that I do not have the exact link. It was republished from the Desiring God website. I'm sure a search will bring it up.
Not the 5 books I was planning on reading, but still I'm happy with it. I did make it through 250 pages of "Things to Come" by Pentacost. A must read on dispensationalism from what I hear, and the first 3rd proved as much. I started (about 1 chapter) "Christ of the Covenants" (the must read on covenantal theology) but I was quickly dissuaded by the distinctions he started with between covenants and testaments. I had the feeling the beginning was setting up the entire book, and it would have required a lot of extra reading/research in the first chapter for me to be able to disprove his later conclusions. I wasn't feeling up to it.
I read an article by a pastor and seminary president that suggested every pastor should be reading at least one book a week. He implied it was necessary. This of course makes my 5 books in a summer not that great, but I am still happy about it at the moment.
BREAK POINT -- get a drink and stretch
I checked my blog a little back and realized I left some things hanging. I did not buy the protein/creatine I had talked about that was so expensive. After two days and hours of reading I decided against it. Protein being the most important I will continue buying my walmart brand of that. I bought some supposedly pure creatine that lots and lots of people said was good, just nothing added to it. It was about the cheaper than what I get at walmart, so that was cool. I also bought some NO Xplode. That is new to me. I was taking (again) walmart NO, but not noticing what I am noticing now. I also got some glutamine, and dextrose. Those were quite cheap, and since I was ordering figured I would throw them in. I do notice the pump lasting, which is great. I have been upping weight since I've been back. This is my third week. I would expect to up at least three weeks anyway, since I came back guessing weight to use. After two months off, I wasn't going to throw what I had been repping on. I am supersetting a lot right now. I find that I get more or the same amount of total exercises in in less time. I was often pressing over an hour last year. This year an hour is my long day. That is good since my schedule is so tight already.
I will have to mix it up some time. They say I need to confuse my muscles, and that means switching it up. I like what I'm doing now, but I need to make sure I swap things in a month or so. They also say I should cycle Creatine. That I am unsure about but when I run out of everything near the end of Sept I plan on taking Oct off taking anything but protein. Well, that is the plan. We will see what happens.
I worked on Mike's website some more. I would have done more sooner, but I was told I was creating a place holder and someone else would have a more professional one up in two weeks. That would have been almost three weeks ago. So, I went back to work on it and got a system so Mike/Em could login and change the things they wanted changing without having to email me about it. Good for me; better for them. I woulda hated to have to do it, but they were patient and didn't put any pressure on or anything. They are currently at 389 in case you haven't heard. The signatures now are for him to run as Rebuplican. He thinks it will work better this way. From the little I know, this sounds better to me too.
I'm losing weight again, but not enough for me. From everything I know about me and have read about others, it seems that the hardest weight to lose is that around my lower abs...my belly fat. I took "before" measurements, but forgot to weigh myself. Now if I do it, I will definitely be lower as I can see the difference, but I still need to to give myself some kind of idea where I am.
I haven't had the MTG bite me to get me wanting to build any decks. It is harder when I have used them more recently. Maybe in a few months I will go through and take apart a few of my loser decks.
Stopped in my old guild's website because it was bookmarked and I was cleaning my bookmarks out. Not much going on. Almost commented on a thread, but decided against it.
My char is probably still pretty solid. I was mostly purple with a few blues before I left with epic mount....low/no gold though. My friend has about 17k on his account. He is also under level 50. He ran the AH. I don't want to play though....that's good. Let's hope it stays that way.
I need to have a desire to read. That is hard. If I have a reason, then that is easy. I was working on the website and that was something that needed to be done and I spent a few days reading, watching tutorials, etc. I wanted to learn about Calvin and so I started reading this biography. But when I don't have that desire, then I look for stupid stuff to occupy me. I almost bought Kingdom hearts 2. If I had a PS2 memory card I may have....don't know where I lost mine, but it saved me $20. Instead, I played Jardinains on easy (because I forgot to change the setting and didnt remember till I was in the 30s) and it was soooo slow. On lvl 51 with 15 lives and I left it paused. I will go back sometime in another year or so and keep going.....maybe.
We went out for Matt's b-day last week. Kobe steakhouse. While others fell prey to the yummy-yummy sauce, I escaped unscathed. It was good though. I always hesitate to get shrimp because I am sure I will not like it. I tried it and it was ok, but I will go with steak next time. It was good steak. I am not a steak eater...and it was good.
I read that pasta fell into the good carb category and thus, I have been eating my tuna in pasta rather than white bread which fell into the worst carb category. However, tuna salad gets dry rather easily. In order to keep it a delicacy instead of a dry meal, you need to ensure plenty of mayo. That of course is on the list of bad food. Lately the salad has been too dry, but its better for me that way, and the bread was never that good anyway. The other problem is the proper amount of noodle to tuna ratio. Mom always made the salad with about 1 can tuna / 2 cups noodles (I think). I made mine with 1:1. But looking at the cost and the carb/calorie/protein ratio, I need 4 can:1 cup. That is an off ratio and makes for mostly forks full of tuna with a few noodles every now and then. But I'm losing weight....life is full of sacrifices. heh.
I have budgeted to pay off all my debt and finish my classes this year. Lord permitting we should be able to do that. Of course it leaves us in about the same place as we were last year living wise. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't relaxed either. We were content and so will continue to pray for contentment. It is wonderful.
Then next year we have to wonder what we are doing. Do we look for a house? Well, we aren't putting any money away for a down payment this year, so we probably can't. What if we didn't pay off the debt, put all the money away and then bought a house next year? The lower monthly payment for living would mean we could easily pay off the debt next year. maybe. Lots of variables and things to consider.
LAST BREAK -- you can do it, go go go!
I try to pray for all of you. I know I don't call or write as often as I can, but everyone I can imagine reading this I try to keep in my prayers.
One thing that has been on my mind recently, and then even more so as I read this biography on Calvin is that I am a very blunt person. I also tend to feel some pull of responsibility to contribute my opinion when I see others in uncouth circumstances. Sometimes this is received rather pleasantly; others it is like how dare I comment on your private situation. The thing is, if I know about it, it isn't that private, or maybe it is private, and I just happen to be on the inside. I think it is something faulty in us (pride comes to mind) that tells us to be offended when other people sincerely try to help. Perhaps not. And that is where prudence is key. When to actually open my mouth and say something to a person. Maybe I think I have insight they don't have. Often the case that you can see something from the distance that you can't when you are coming up on it. I try to be careful. People make their own decisions, and often through much prayer you and I both come to different decisions but we are both sure that is what is for us. That must be understood.
Especially when you have taken the time to give your opinion, even had it listened to and heard fairly, and then rejected on reasonable basis. You then have to accept it. Maybe you could not do it. It doesn't matter; it is not your life.
After all of that, I wonder how many people would confront me like that. How many people, if I were to open something to them would just listen and not feel the inclination to tell me why they are sure I am wrong. Maybe they think it is not their business. If I tell them, it becomes their business (obviously depending on the degree of information relayed, and many things, etc.). I need people to tell me where I am wrong.
I have always prided myself on being able to detect to a fairly accurate degree my faults/sins. Often when I sinned, I knew it was sin. This -- trait, I guess you would call it comes in very handy now. Maybe I matured a little, but now when I recognize something as sin I find it very hard to continue through with it. I often immediately start to pray about it, and confess the thought. But with my aging I also know that my self-detection ability is not near what I took it to be. I don't see things. The wisdom I am gaining is enough to recognize my pride as giving me a false sense of things. I need people...friends, and family. I need them to come to me with genuine prayer-filled thoughts about something in my life they think I could change. It doesn't mean it is about sin. It is about a foolish decision they see me leading up to that they made in their life...or saw someone make. The more I live the more I sense that it is foolish to ignore advice from older people. But, of course, it is not just older people. I have gained a wealth of advice/knowledge/wisdom/experience from my peers. I value that.
There have been times in my life where people stood by and watched me do something without a word, yet they had serious misgivings about it. In one instance it wasn't until later that I actually found that out. I'm glad I found out though.
I think a big part of this is my integral need for honesty. I cannot abide falsehood. If all we have in life is communication, and if that communication cannot be trusted to mean what it says, then what do we have? However, if I am to be honest to you, I cannot sit by silently. Silence is assent. However, much we may disgree this is true. If I sit by silently while you go and make the biggest mistake of your life, and I say nothing because it is your life and your decision, I am granting my assent to the situation. In your mind, I don't care enough about you to object, or I don't think I need to object. A sad state.
Back to where I was, I need people to be honest with me. I need people to tell me my ideas stink. I need people to tell me that I am off; that I am missing something; that they don't think I can do such-and-such; that I would be better at something else, etc. One of my roommate told me once he didn't think I could be a pastor, but said I would make a good lawyer. I believe I blogged about it on more than one occasion. I was upset. I couldn't believe it. Yet, the more I thought about it, I was glad he was willing to tell me.
I had considered singing in the choir. My parents told me church choirs were for people with good voices. Hard to hear, but true.
I am still of the opinion that I can do pretty much anything I set my mind to (though my mental list of things I cannot is getting longer). However, I am getting old, and soon I will be jumping over many things that I will no longer be capable of doing. Only 4 years ago I was seriously considering law school. When I mention it, Kaylynn says, "Yeah, I thought I was going to marry a lawyer." Yet, today, had that thought not occured to me, it wouldn't even be a possible option. Further, I have a wife now. We all know it is possible to go through school with a wife and kids, but no one will ever say it is ideal. Necessary for some people for what God has called them too, but not ideal. At 26, in one year, when (if I finish my MA) I can truly begin my next pursuit, I must look at how long it will take me. Yes, having a PhD at 35 would be superb, but Lord willing we will have some children by then, and how much of their lives will I have missed? What will I be asking Kaylynn to go through?
You see, part of the reason I blog is for others to help me. I need help. I need advice, and advisors. I'm not asking you to all comment on everything and say don't do x, do do y. But, I would ask that you pray for me and my house.
It is late; I should go. I suppose the one reason for me to blog more often is so you don't get stuck reading 6 page blogs, ha!
NOTE: Now that I see this is 6 pages long I have notated good places to stop for a break. Aren't I a nice guy? :)
One of my only and most enjoyable activities of late has been working out. Mike was right. He told me once if I really worked out for several months I wouldn't want to stop. I had a hard time accepting that at first since I had worked out on and off for several years, but this past year at the gym really helped. Of course, maybe I also grew up some and realized that anything worth doing takes perseverance and diligence. And then I decided I wanted this, and so I worked towards it....could be.
I really admired the way my sister had been reading through the NT and decided it was foolish of me not to be spending a good amount of time in the Bible. Doesn't matter if I have a PhD, an MA, or a ThM. God doesn't require those things. God does require that we know Him. That we live for Him. I have been trying for 10 chapters a day. Not so grand a goal perhaps, but a good one for me. That is reading the entire Bible twice in a little under a year. I would be very pleased if I kept it up a year. Though reading the Bible through in a year was a good habit I had during my youth group years, it is not one I held onto long after. And I have never held a more advanced schedule. I remember my mom reading throught the Bible twice a year when I was a kid. That, and similar memories are good memories. They speak of Christian character being acted out, and not just preached to us. That is something I greatly appreciate from my memory.
I was thinking the other day, and my parents have always been working to stay in shape as well. Whether it was dumbbells in the corner of the living room, VHS exercise tapes, Tae Bo, or walking, they have always been keeping themselves healthy. A good example for me. It is hard to me to make myself walk. I am honestly trying to find a good time to walk.
It is such a contrast to other people and other families. My parents regularly watching their diets. Exercising. Doing devotions. Working on the house. Family devotions. Things I know that are right and do by habit; I find the reason for doing them in my parents doing them.
I have a dilemma. Based on my weight and how hard I have been working out, I should be consuming around 170-200g or protein a day. That is a lot of protein. I eat two eggs in the morning = 14. 2 cans of tuna throughout the day = 52. 2 scoops of whey = 52. That is only 118. I bought cottage cheese, but I cannot make myself eat it. I really wished I liked it. It looks fine, I just cannot eat it. So, I got the recipe from my mom for the green salad and I'm going to try that. That is 12g before bed. Milk is 8g if I make myself take a glass. I suppose if I add one more scoop of whey that puts me at around 164. Another scoop would put me at 190. Not too shabby if I can get that. However, three scoops of whey a day is more than I currently budgeted. It was hard for me to budget 2 scoops, since last year I was taking 1. The tuna comes out to be about the same price as the whey (per gram of protein), and Milk is really close. Milk is always in the house, and is a necessity. Last year I maybe had a glass a month...maybe. If I took one every day, that would certainly make us run out of milk faster. Of course, there is always actual dinner. That is never a consistent number of grams, but I do get protein through ground beef or chicken, etc. Thus, my dilemma. Yeah, its a big one.
School is starting soon. Monday I have a meeting. Then teacher orientation stuff starts Wednesday. I have grand plans of getting ahead so that I am ultra prepared material-wise and I only have to really worry about the kids. That is the way it should be, but HA! So, I praying towards that end, so that it is not just my foolish hopes, but that I might actually put work towards them.
I currently have four books under my belt. I plan on finishing the 5th tomorrow/Friday.
Warbreaker -- downloaded version. Good book. Thanks to Phil for the recommendation.
The Name of the Wind -- again. Still a great book. No real news on the 2nd. I follow him on FB now though.
Christian Apologetics -- Interesting. Higher thinking than I am used to. Good for me.
Writing with Style -- One of the few books I kept from College that was not Math or computers. Good book, and maybe one of these days I will summarize the chapter on common writing myths that I found interesting.
Portrait of Calvin -- Downloaded this one. More than halfway through. Not a long book, but since Calvin was honestly such a huge influence on life as we know it, I figured I should read something of his life. Already he has proven to be a genius beyond my ability -- about what I expected. I apologize that I do not have the exact link. It was republished from the Desiring God website. I'm sure a search will bring it up.
Not the 5 books I was planning on reading, but still I'm happy with it. I did make it through 250 pages of "Things to Come" by Pentacost. A must read on dispensationalism from what I hear, and the first 3rd proved as much. I started (about 1 chapter) "Christ of the Covenants" (the must read on covenantal theology) but I was quickly dissuaded by the distinctions he started with between covenants and testaments. I had the feeling the beginning was setting up the entire book, and it would have required a lot of extra reading/research in the first chapter for me to be able to disprove his later conclusions. I wasn't feeling up to it.
I read an article by a pastor and seminary president that suggested every pastor should be reading at least one book a week. He implied it was necessary. This of course makes my 5 books in a summer not that great, but I am still happy about it at the moment.
BREAK POINT -- get a drink and stretch
I checked my blog a little back and realized I left some things hanging. I did not buy the protein/creatine I had talked about that was so expensive. After two days and hours of reading I decided against it. Protein being the most important I will continue buying my walmart brand of that. I bought some supposedly pure creatine that lots and lots of people said was good, just nothing added to it. It was about the cheaper than what I get at walmart, so that was cool. I also bought some NO Xplode. That is new to me. I was taking (again) walmart NO, but not noticing what I am noticing now. I also got some glutamine, and dextrose. Those were quite cheap, and since I was ordering figured I would throw them in. I do notice the pump lasting, which is great. I have been upping weight since I've been back. This is my third week. I would expect to up at least three weeks anyway, since I came back guessing weight to use. After two months off, I wasn't going to throw what I had been repping on. I am supersetting a lot right now. I find that I get more or the same amount of total exercises in in less time. I was often pressing over an hour last year. This year an hour is my long day. That is good since my schedule is so tight already.
I will have to mix it up some time. They say I need to confuse my muscles, and that means switching it up. I like what I'm doing now, but I need to make sure I swap things in a month or so. They also say I should cycle Creatine. That I am unsure about but when I run out of everything near the end of Sept I plan on taking Oct off taking anything but protein. Well, that is the plan. We will see what happens.
I worked on Mike's website some more. I would have done more sooner, but I was told I was creating a place holder and someone else would have a more professional one up in two weeks. That would have been almost three weeks ago. So, I went back to work on it and got a system so Mike/Em could login and change the things they wanted changing without having to email me about it. Good for me; better for them. I woulda hated to have to do it, but they were patient and didn't put any pressure on or anything. They are currently at 389 in case you haven't heard. The signatures now are for him to run as Rebuplican. He thinks it will work better this way. From the little I know, this sounds better to me too.
I'm losing weight again, but not enough for me. From everything I know about me and have read about others, it seems that the hardest weight to lose is that around my lower abs...my belly fat. I took "before" measurements, but forgot to weigh myself. Now if I do it, I will definitely be lower as I can see the difference, but I still need to to give myself some kind of idea where I am.
I haven't had the MTG bite me to get me wanting to build any decks. It is harder when I have used them more recently. Maybe in a few months I will go through and take apart a few of my loser decks.
Stopped in my old guild's website because it was bookmarked and I was cleaning my bookmarks out. Not much going on. Almost commented on a thread, but decided against it.
My char is probably still pretty solid. I was mostly purple with a few blues before I left with epic mount....low/no gold though. My friend has about 17k on his account. He is also under level 50. He ran the AH. I don't want to play though....that's good. Let's hope it stays that way.
I need to have a desire to read. That is hard. If I have a reason, then that is easy. I was working on the website and that was something that needed to be done and I spent a few days reading, watching tutorials, etc. I wanted to learn about Calvin and so I started reading this biography. But when I don't have that desire, then I look for stupid stuff to occupy me. I almost bought Kingdom hearts 2. If I had a PS2 memory card I may have....don't know where I lost mine, but it saved me $20. Instead, I played Jardinains on easy (because I forgot to change the setting and didnt remember till I was in the 30s) and it was soooo slow. On lvl 51 with 15 lives and I left it paused. I will go back sometime in another year or so and keep going.....maybe.
We went out for Matt's b-day last week. Kobe steakhouse. While others fell prey to the yummy-yummy sauce, I escaped unscathed. It was good though. I always hesitate to get shrimp because I am sure I will not like it. I tried it and it was ok, but I will go with steak next time. It was good steak. I am not a steak eater...and it was good.
I read that pasta fell into the good carb category and thus, I have been eating my tuna in pasta rather than white bread which fell into the worst carb category. However, tuna salad gets dry rather easily. In order to keep it a delicacy instead of a dry meal, you need to ensure plenty of mayo. That of course is on the list of bad food. Lately the salad has been too dry, but its better for me that way, and the bread was never that good anyway. The other problem is the proper amount of noodle to tuna ratio. Mom always made the salad with about 1 can tuna / 2 cups noodles (I think). I made mine with 1:1. But looking at the cost and the carb/calorie/protein ratio, I need 4 can:1 cup. That is an off ratio and makes for mostly forks full of tuna with a few noodles every now and then. But I'm losing weight....life is full of sacrifices. heh.
I have budgeted to pay off all my debt and finish my classes this year. Lord permitting we should be able to do that. Of course it leaves us in about the same place as we were last year living wise. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't relaxed either. We were content and so will continue to pray for contentment. It is wonderful.
Then next year we have to wonder what we are doing. Do we look for a house? Well, we aren't putting any money away for a down payment this year, so we probably can't. What if we didn't pay off the debt, put all the money away and then bought a house next year? The lower monthly payment for living would mean we could easily pay off the debt next year. maybe. Lots of variables and things to consider.
LAST BREAK -- you can do it, go go go!
I try to pray for all of you. I know I don't call or write as often as I can, but everyone I can imagine reading this I try to keep in my prayers.
One thing that has been on my mind recently, and then even more so as I read this biography on Calvin is that I am a very blunt person. I also tend to feel some pull of responsibility to contribute my opinion when I see others in uncouth circumstances. Sometimes this is received rather pleasantly; others it is like how dare I comment on your private situation. The thing is, if I know about it, it isn't that private, or maybe it is private, and I just happen to be on the inside. I think it is something faulty in us (pride comes to mind) that tells us to be offended when other people sincerely try to help. Perhaps not. And that is where prudence is key. When to actually open my mouth and say something to a person. Maybe I think I have insight they don't have. Often the case that you can see something from the distance that you can't when you are coming up on it. I try to be careful. People make their own decisions, and often through much prayer you and I both come to different decisions but we are both sure that is what is for us. That must be understood.
Especially when you have taken the time to give your opinion, even had it listened to and heard fairly, and then rejected on reasonable basis. You then have to accept it. Maybe you could not do it. It doesn't matter; it is not your life.
After all of that, I wonder how many people would confront me like that. How many people, if I were to open something to them would just listen and not feel the inclination to tell me why they are sure I am wrong. Maybe they think it is not their business. If I tell them, it becomes their business (obviously depending on the degree of information relayed, and many things, etc.). I need people to tell me where I am wrong.
I have always prided myself on being able to detect to a fairly accurate degree my faults/sins. Often when I sinned, I knew it was sin. This -- trait, I guess you would call it comes in very handy now. Maybe I matured a little, but now when I recognize something as sin I find it very hard to continue through with it. I often immediately start to pray about it, and confess the thought. But with my aging I also know that my self-detection ability is not near what I took it to be. I don't see things. The wisdom I am gaining is enough to recognize my pride as giving me a false sense of things. I need people...friends, and family. I need them to come to me with genuine prayer-filled thoughts about something in my life they think I could change. It doesn't mean it is about sin. It is about a foolish decision they see me leading up to that they made in their life...or saw someone make. The more I live the more I sense that it is foolish to ignore advice from older people. But, of course, it is not just older people. I have gained a wealth of advice/knowledge/wisdom/experience from my peers. I value that.
There have been times in my life where people stood by and watched me do something without a word, yet they had serious misgivings about it. In one instance it wasn't until later that I actually found that out. I'm glad I found out though.
I think a big part of this is my integral need for honesty. I cannot abide falsehood. If all we have in life is communication, and if that communication cannot be trusted to mean what it says, then what do we have? However, if I am to be honest to you, I cannot sit by silently. Silence is assent. However, much we may disgree this is true. If I sit by silently while you go and make the biggest mistake of your life, and I say nothing because it is your life and your decision, I am granting my assent to the situation. In your mind, I don't care enough about you to object, or I don't think I need to object. A sad state.
Back to where I was, I need people to be honest with me. I need people to tell me my ideas stink. I need people to tell me that I am off; that I am missing something; that they don't think I can do such-and-such; that I would be better at something else, etc. One of my roommate told me once he didn't think I could be a pastor, but said I would make a good lawyer. I believe I blogged about it on more than one occasion. I was upset. I couldn't believe it. Yet, the more I thought about it, I was glad he was willing to tell me.
I had considered singing in the choir. My parents told me church choirs were for people with good voices. Hard to hear, but true.
I am still of the opinion that I can do pretty much anything I set my mind to (though my mental list of things I cannot is getting longer). However, I am getting old, and soon I will be jumping over many things that I will no longer be capable of doing. Only 4 years ago I was seriously considering law school. When I mention it, Kaylynn says, "Yeah, I thought I was going to marry a lawyer." Yet, today, had that thought not occured to me, it wouldn't even be a possible option. Further, I have a wife now. We all know it is possible to go through school with a wife and kids, but no one will ever say it is ideal. Necessary for some people for what God has called them too, but not ideal. At 26, in one year, when (if I finish my MA) I can truly begin my next pursuit, I must look at how long it will take me. Yes, having a PhD at 35 would be superb, but Lord willing we will have some children by then, and how much of their lives will I have missed? What will I be asking Kaylynn to go through?
You see, part of the reason I blog is for others to help me. I need help. I need advice, and advisors. I'm not asking you to all comment on everything and say don't do x, do do y. But, I would ask that you pray for me and my house.
It is late; I should go. I suppose the one reason for me to blog more often is so you don't get stuck reading 6 page blogs, ha!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
miracles
Do miracles happen any more? This question was posed to me while in MI during one of my first couple weeks there. I answered it; we debated briefly, and then we moved on. It did not reoccur to me until last night. Here is the dilemma.
How do we define miracles? Are miracles special revelation or general revelation? These two questions settle the matter. First, if we cannot define miracles, then how will we know if they still happen? Further, with a completely ludicrous definition, we could say there have never been such a thing as miracles. (Such would be nonsense for the Bible clearly speaks of miracles (in 37 different verses).)
But, how do we define revelation? Let us pause here to first consider some facts.
Special revelation as we have classically defined it has ceased. This argument we must have, and can prove from Scripture against the Catholics, and the Pentecostals.
Miracles, as commonly defined do happen. Since again, we are dealing with the very word which we want defined, we shall instead clarify our meaning by citing examples: A man wrought with a fatal illness to which no person (but one, whose mind had become mush) has ever been recorded surviving, suddenly was cured and retain no sign that he had ever possessed the disease. This is something we would refer to as a miracle. With this wonder, that escapes the explanations of science and medicine we see what we are considering. [The response to this not being a miracle is that there is something within nature that we have yet to discover that healed this man of this disease. And, that science, given several hundred more years would be able to explain this away. Before resorting to such a leap (which is an excuse that could almost certainly be used in infinite ways always claiming a lack of ignorance to be explained in the future), let us instead turn back to our problem of revelation.]
[Let me clarify here that this is without any research besides a brief concordance search. I have not ran my definitions through any systematics, nor compared them to my present theology looking for errors. This is a working definition for the time present. I hope, that if my findings change significantly, that I will have the time to return and expand upon them.]
Now then, we define special revelation as that that points directly to Jehovah or to Christ, and general revelation as that that points to the Almighty, or the Creator. (Notice the difference here: As Christians we can equate these terms, Christ and Creator, but the Bible speaks that nature and general revelation point not to Christ, but rather to the Almighty. Nature, and so we define general revelation points to the fact that there must be a Supreme Being. It does not point to Christ specifically. Man only comes to that conclusion via special revelation as found in Scripture.)
These definitions work for our purposes. Again, Special revelation points specifically to Christ. General revelation points to An Almighty Being. If this is the case, then miracles as defined via example can and do fall within the venue of general revelation. For, they do not point to any specific god, but to A God. However, not all miracles are the same.
For out present age/dispensation, we are safe to say that miracles fall into general revelation, but in the Scriptures, miracles were used to identify a prophet as truly being from the god that sent them. Moses and Aaron performed miracles before the elders of Israel showing that they were really from Jehovah God. Pharaoh's magicians performed their miracles in an attempt to demonstrate that their god was just as powerful. The miracles performed by Christ were a sign and condemnation to the cities in which they were done for they clearly showed Him to be the Messiah of Israel, and He was rejected. Further, the early church was accompanied by miracles to demonstrate that the speakers were from God. These miracles gave credence to the performer. They neither pointed to Christ per se, nor to Almighty God.
We have yet to have define a miracle. This is not easily done. First, there are several unsaved philosophers (Kant is a big name you should probably be somewhat familiar with) that provide a definition one might easily accept. Some Christian philosophers insist that it is impossible to put a definition to a miracle. Further, one must be careful not to abandon the definition just because they provide it, but to provide a definition based solely on what merits it stands.
If we say that miracles are that which is not normal, we must then define what is normal. That in itself is a harder question then we may be able to answer here. Theologians say that God is the ultimate Norm. If God is the standard by which we judge normal, then miracles are obviously normal.
If we say that it is contrary to nature, we know that God has not just set the Earth on its course and let it go, but that He upholds all things by the Word of his power, and that he is the Sustainer of all things. Further, our proper understanding of his sovereignty tells us that every drop of rain falls where He desires, and how He desires and thus God is personally active in everyday events.
I think, that if we define miracles experiencially, rather than ontologically we have a much easier time of it. Experientially, we know miracles to be the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, the deaf hearing, the dumb speaking, and the dead coming back to life. The curing of all manner of diseases falls into this category as well as per the Gospels, and so, given this definition, and the previous definitions of revelation we can say with certainty that miracles do take place.
I have been having less and less blogging time/material as I have been emailing my cousin. But I have also been trying to spend time talking through everything in good detail with my wife. It is good for me, her, and us, and to be honest, it is more enjoyable than blogging about it. I will try to continue to blog though. That is good for me, you, and us as well. ;)
How do we define miracles? Are miracles special revelation or general revelation? These two questions settle the matter. First, if we cannot define miracles, then how will we know if they still happen? Further, with a completely ludicrous definition, we could say there have never been such a thing as miracles. (Such would be nonsense for the Bible clearly speaks of miracles (in 37 different verses).)
But, how do we define revelation? Let us pause here to first consider some facts.
Special revelation as we have classically defined it has ceased. This argument we must have, and can prove from Scripture against the Catholics, and the Pentecostals.
Miracles, as commonly defined do happen. Since again, we are dealing with the very word which we want defined, we shall instead clarify our meaning by citing examples: A man wrought with a fatal illness to which no person (but one, whose mind had become mush) has ever been recorded surviving, suddenly was cured and retain no sign that he had ever possessed the disease. This is something we would refer to as a miracle. With this wonder, that escapes the explanations of science and medicine we see what we are considering. [The response to this not being a miracle is that there is something within nature that we have yet to discover that healed this man of this disease. And, that science, given several hundred more years would be able to explain this away. Before resorting to such a leap (which is an excuse that could almost certainly be used in infinite ways always claiming a lack of ignorance to be explained in the future), let us instead turn back to our problem of revelation.]
[Let me clarify here that this is without any research besides a brief concordance search. I have not ran my definitions through any systematics, nor compared them to my present theology looking for errors. This is a working definition for the time present. I hope, that if my findings change significantly, that I will have the time to return and expand upon them.]
Now then, we define special revelation as that that points directly to Jehovah or to Christ, and general revelation as that that points to the Almighty, or the Creator. (Notice the difference here: As Christians we can equate these terms, Christ and Creator, but the Bible speaks that nature and general revelation point not to Christ, but rather to the Almighty. Nature, and so we define general revelation points to the fact that there must be a Supreme Being. It does not point to Christ specifically. Man only comes to that conclusion via special revelation as found in Scripture.)
These definitions work for our purposes. Again, Special revelation points specifically to Christ. General revelation points to An Almighty Being. If this is the case, then miracles as defined via example can and do fall within the venue of general revelation. For, they do not point to any specific god, but to A God. However, not all miracles are the same.
For out present age/dispensation, we are safe to say that miracles fall into general revelation, but in the Scriptures, miracles were used to identify a prophet as truly being from the god that sent them. Moses and Aaron performed miracles before the elders of Israel showing that they were really from Jehovah God. Pharaoh's magicians performed their miracles in an attempt to demonstrate that their god was just as powerful. The miracles performed by Christ were a sign and condemnation to the cities in which they were done for they clearly showed Him to be the Messiah of Israel, and He was rejected. Further, the early church was accompanied by miracles to demonstrate that the speakers were from God. These miracles gave credence to the performer. They neither pointed to Christ per se, nor to Almighty God.
We have yet to have define a miracle. This is not easily done. First, there are several unsaved philosophers (Kant is a big name you should probably be somewhat familiar with) that provide a definition one might easily accept. Some Christian philosophers insist that it is impossible to put a definition to a miracle. Further, one must be careful not to abandon the definition just because they provide it, but to provide a definition based solely on what merits it stands.
If we say that miracles are that which is not normal, we must then define what is normal. That in itself is a harder question then we may be able to answer here. Theologians say that God is the ultimate Norm. If God is the standard by which we judge normal, then miracles are obviously normal.
If we say that it is contrary to nature, we know that God has not just set the Earth on its course and let it go, but that He upholds all things by the Word of his power, and that he is the Sustainer of all things. Further, our proper understanding of his sovereignty tells us that every drop of rain falls where He desires, and how He desires and thus God is personally active in everyday events.
I think, that if we define miracles experiencially, rather than ontologically we have a much easier time of it. Experientially, we know miracles to be the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, the deaf hearing, the dumb speaking, and the dead coming back to life. The curing of all manner of diseases falls into this category as well as per the Gospels, and so, given this definition, and the previous definitions of revelation we can say with certainty that miracles do take place.
I have been having less and less blogging time/material as I have been emailing my cousin. But I have also been trying to spend time talking through everything in good detail with my wife. It is good for me, her, and us, and to be honest, it is more enjoyable than blogging about it. I will try to continue to blog though. That is good for me, you, and us as well. ;)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
quick update
As it is 1:20am, I need to make this quick.
If you recall, back in May/June I spoke about the FBFI and the message preached by one Dan Sweatt. This message bashed Calvinism. Dr. Bauder from Central Seminary in MN rebuked him in his weekly newsletter and called for the leaders of FBFI to do something.
They did do something. It can be found at their website if you care. They basically said that they have always included calvinists and non and that everyone needs to speak with grace via the pulpit or keyboards. (Apparently their was a great storm of bloggers who were very unhappy with the message.) A week after Bauder's initial email, he emailed again. This one commending them for their response.
Then, the third week, he copied/pasted dozens of emails he had received regarding the issue. Several were appreciative, and some were not so much.
The question remaining is whether the response was appropriate and enough or not? Dr. Bauder believes it is for the time being. Many do not share his optimism. The result? Fundamentalism is still falling apart. As much now as ever.
If it weren't 1:25am I would blog more, but i need to go to bed. Good night!
If you recall, back in May/June I spoke about the FBFI and the message preached by one Dan Sweatt. This message bashed Calvinism. Dr. Bauder from Central Seminary in MN rebuked him in his weekly newsletter and called for the leaders of FBFI to do something.
They did do something. It can be found at their website if you care. They basically said that they have always included calvinists and non and that everyone needs to speak with grace via the pulpit or keyboards. (Apparently their was a great storm of bloggers who were very unhappy with the message.) A week after Bauder's initial email, he emailed again. This one commending them for their response.
Then, the third week, he copied/pasted dozens of emails he had received regarding the issue. Several were appreciative, and some were not so much.
The question remaining is whether the response was appropriate and enough or not? Dr. Bauder believes it is for the time being. Many do not share his optimism. The result? Fundamentalism is still falling apart. As much now as ever.
If it weren't 1:25am I would blog more, but i need to go to bed. Good night!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
again
I've been emailing back and forth with someone and as I write, I notice things that seem to belong here. I think I'm going to copy/paste some of them and try to expand on my thoughts.
I'm finding that I miss the learning that comes from college. I can read a book or two or five on my own, but I don't learn as much. The Dmin always seems the easiest Doctorate to get, but its not the one I want and its not even possible for me since I'm not in the ministry and it usually requires active ministry. Anyway, that is the more recent problem I have. One of the possible solutions that I have found is SES.
I have been considering this school http://www.ses.edu/Home/DoctrinalStatement/tabid/70/Default.aspx after I finish my current MA. I was looking at their MA in Apologetics. I noticed where the profs got their degrees, and was happy with that. I was looking at the distance learning. I would have to start slow since I don't know what I can handle, but I'm thinking 5 years for 60 credits (hopefully max). I think i can do it faster, but I don't want to get my hopes up. The other thing is money, and one of their classes must be taken on campus. I can't find anywhere if it is a module, or if I have to be there an entire semester. That would rot. I was looking all over for an MA in apologetics, and it was hard to find anything that even looked reputable offering that. So I found a list of schools offering it, and this had distance option, plus I was happy with the profs education.
I've been considering writing a book for some time now. It was always a KJB book, since I don't really know too many things, and I have a pull to write something. I love the format that Whitaker uses. I've got quotes, references, several different 1-2 pages starts, etc. About a week ago, I almost started really going at it....then I stopped again. Does it even need to be written? This has gone on for around 100 years; would anyone read it? Would it accomplish anything? Maybe writing like old reformers won't accomplish anything today. Maybe it needs to be easy to read. Can it be deep and easy to read? Then I wonder if writing anything accomplishes anything any more. Those are my thoughts on writing; though I still want to write. But I have decided not to pursue this topic currently. I still want to write. I just need to find something worth pursuing and writing about.
I was directed to BBC in Clarks Summit. This tends to be a better solution than the SES, although it completely abandons the Apologetic trail. They offer a PhD in Theology online and through modules. The modules occur three times a year for one week. That would be fantastic. They want a MDiv before you enter the PhD, but they also say they will work with MAs to get them to the proper place for the PhD. Just what I need. Of course, it takes 3 years full time. For most who have fulltime jobs, etc, it takes 5-6 years. For me, who needs to finish my current MA (1 year) and then fill in the gaps I'm missing (1-2 more years) and then the 6 years of PhD work, I'm now 35. Honestly not too bad.
I am 20 minutes from Clearwater College and I can use their library for $35 a year. That is a great price to get into the library if it is any good. I'm guessing it has to have enough for me at this time. If only I knew what I needed to reference.
I have also debated on many occasions writing a commentary. If I were to preach through a book, I believe that I could write a commentary on it at the time. Since, I am not a greek scholar I would have to go easy on the Greek, but not all commentators have greek, and indeed, even at the MA level not everything I read disected the Greek anyway. (The cool part then was that since we didn't know Greek, we were permited to skip any Greek exegesis. . .we liked books with pages of greek/endnotes. ;))
I made list of all the things I would like to accomplish this year and numbered them, and put Greek fairly high up. . .and then I realized that both my Greek books and index cards are in my parents basement. I don't know how I will ever get three huge bins down here. . .maybe someday I will have a house, and an office and all my books.
The other good news about BBC is that they only require Greek and Hebrew. Only, you say? Yes, most PhD programs require two modern languages as well, usually German and French (Latin is usually permitted if desired). Though this sounds like good news, maybe it isn't. Maybe I should be pushing myself to learn those other two languages. Maybe I need to make my brain study like that. Maybe I will find it necessary to read Barth in the original language and not be able to, /GASP. At the moment I think, meh.
I have been inspired by my sister, and am trying to read the Bible 30 minutes a day. That is more than I have purposefully planned in a good while. It is going well thus far.
I started working out again. I missed it. It feels soo good to be sore again. Interesting sentence that. Yes, I have to make myself to deadlifts now. And yes, I force myself to work my legs. But it is good for me. The creatine/protein that I read is the best costs an outrageous amount. . .but the guys in the trial added over 80lbs average to their bench in 12 weeks. That would be fantastic. But, forget that. I'm even going to try *whispers* running.
Kaylynn has been looking at houses and apartments lately. We like where we are, but thought it would be good to look around as well. Our rent is going up $10. That isn't at all bad considering they wanted to charge us that last time but the lady had told us in a moment of weakness that since it wasn't a pool view she would take $10 off. Ha! Plus, we have a Washer/Dryer here.
We aren't sure what she will be doing this year. We won't have William =(, so she has been trying to think about different things. I was told today that tons of people were applying at the school for positions. I guess they have lots of people wanting to Sub. She was considering subing, but after I heard that I don't know if she would get it anymore. Last year it was like a shortage. They made it sound like it is always hard to find subs. This year they made it sound like they weren't going to be able to use everyone that wanted a job.
I was offered the after-school job again. I got my email a couple weeks ago that said "I hate after school care!" Yeah, I remembered how much I hated it, buuuut, it would be nice to have the extra money. The few classes I have left are going to be about $600 each, and afterschool care will take care of the rest of this degree. It will be nice to know that I won't have to find that extra money some place. . .if I take it. If I do, that would mean being at school from 7-6. That is a long time. And since we only have one car, Kaylynn will either be home alone, or we have to find her a job in the next two weeks. Just pray. We are trusting the Lord that He will provide whatever we need. She really really doesn't want to be home alone for 11 hours. Who would?
I've played a good deal of poker over this past weekend. Won a good amount. Lost a fair amount. I came in 3rd out of 90 in the last 90 person I played. I was quite happy with that honestly. I'm at about $19k, fake of course.
I keep updating Mike's website as I am told things, or invited to things through FB.
I've been struggling to make it through this book. I told myself I needed to finish it before I start the next one, and I told myself I *had* to finish the next one before school starts. I am also reading a book on writing on the side. It is good, and I have always found it helpful. If only I was a good writer. I need a better vocabulary. But I don't have time. I have every hour planned out for the next semester/year and I don't have much free time. If I end up watching an extra TV show, or playing a computer game then I suddenly lost something important. That can be good or bad.
The Truth Project will be starting up again in January. I thought they had said it would be in the fall, but I guess not. So, January it is. For a brief moment today, I thought Mrs. Coney was going to say something about it not being that great afterall. . .but no, it is that great and amazing etc. Maybe it really will be. Maybe I will have to get on here and say I was completely wrong and it is fantastic. I doubt it though.
I bought Psych seasons 1 and 2. We have one episode left. /shrug.
Time to go. Goodnight all. And remember, I have nothing constraining me right now, so it is your responsibility to call me when you are free. I don't want to wake you up or disturb you. :P
I'm finding that I miss the learning that comes from college. I can read a book or two or five on my own, but I don't learn as much. The Dmin always seems the easiest Doctorate to get, but its not the one I want and its not even possible for me since I'm not in the ministry and it usually requires active ministry. Anyway, that is the more recent problem I have. One of the possible solutions that I have found is SES.
I have been considering this school http://www.ses.edu/Home/DoctrinalStatement/tabid/70/Default.aspx after I finish my current MA. I was looking at their MA in Apologetics. I noticed where the profs got their degrees, and was happy with that. I was looking at the distance learning. I would have to start slow since I don't know what I can handle, but I'm thinking 5 years for 60 credits (hopefully max). I think i can do it faster, but I don't want to get my hopes up. The other thing is money, and one of their classes must be taken on campus. I can't find anywhere if it is a module, or if I have to be there an entire semester. That would rot. I was looking all over for an MA in apologetics, and it was hard to find anything that even looked reputable offering that. So I found a list of schools offering it, and this had distance option, plus I was happy with the profs education.
I've been considering writing a book for some time now. It was always a KJB book, since I don't really know too many things, and I have a pull to write something. I love the format that Whitaker uses. I've got quotes, references, several different 1-2 pages starts, etc. About a week ago, I almost started really going at it....then I stopped again. Does it even need to be written? This has gone on for around 100 years; would anyone read it? Would it accomplish anything? Maybe writing like old reformers won't accomplish anything today. Maybe it needs to be easy to read. Can it be deep and easy to read? Then I wonder if writing anything accomplishes anything any more. Those are my thoughts on writing; though I still want to write. But I have decided not to pursue this topic currently. I still want to write. I just need to find something worth pursuing and writing about.
I was directed to BBC in Clarks Summit. This tends to be a better solution than the SES, although it completely abandons the Apologetic trail. They offer a PhD in Theology online and through modules. The modules occur three times a year for one week. That would be fantastic. They want a MDiv before you enter the PhD, but they also say they will work with MAs to get them to the proper place for the PhD. Just what I need. Of course, it takes 3 years full time. For most who have fulltime jobs, etc, it takes 5-6 years. For me, who needs to finish my current MA (1 year) and then fill in the gaps I'm missing (1-2 more years) and then the 6 years of PhD work, I'm now 35. Honestly not too bad.
I am 20 minutes from Clearwater College and I can use their library for $35 a year. That is a great price to get into the library if it is any good. I'm guessing it has to have enough for me at this time. If only I knew what I needed to reference.
I have also debated on many occasions writing a commentary. If I were to preach through a book, I believe that I could write a commentary on it at the time. Since, I am not a greek scholar I would have to go easy on the Greek, but not all commentators have greek, and indeed, even at the MA level not everything I read disected the Greek anyway. (The cool part then was that since we didn't know Greek, we were permited to skip any Greek exegesis. . .we liked books with pages of greek/endnotes. ;))
I made list of all the things I would like to accomplish this year and numbered them, and put Greek fairly high up. . .and then I realized that both my Greek books and index cards are in my parents basement. I don't know how I will ever get three huge bins down here. . .maybe someday I will have a house, and an office and all my books.
The other good news about BBC is that they only require Greek and Hebrew. Only, you say? Yes, most PhD programs require two modern languages as well, usually German and French (Latin is usually permitted if desired). Though this sounds like good news, maybe it isn't. Maybe I should be pushing myself to learn those other two languages. Maybe I need to make my brain study like that. Maybe I will find it necessary to read Barth in the original language and not be able to, /GASP. At the moment I think, meh.
I have been inspired by my sister, and am trying to read the Bible 30 minutes a day. That is more than I have purposefully planned in a good while. It is going well thus far.
I started working out again. I missed it. It feels soo good to be sore again. Interesting sentence that. Yes, I have to make myself to deadlifts now. And yes, I force myself to work my legs. But it is good for me. The creatine/protein that I read is the best costs an outrageous amount. . .but the guys in the trial added over 80lbs average to their bench in 12 weeks. That would be fantastic. But, forget that. I'm even going to try *whispers* running.
Kaylynn has been looking at houses and apartments lately. We like where we are, but thought it would be good to look around as well. Our rent is going up $10. That isn't at all bad considering they wanted to charge us that last time but the lady had told us in a moment of weakness that since it wasn't a pool view she would take $10 off. Ha! Plus, we have a Washer/Dryer here.
We aren't sure what she will be doing this year. We won't have William =(, so she has been trying to think about different things. I was told today that tons of people were applying at the school for positions. I guess they have lots of people wanting to Sub. She was considering subing, but after I heard that I don't know if she would get it anymore. Last year it was like a shortage. They made it sound like it is always hard to find subs. This year they made it sound like they weren't going to be able to use everyone that wanted a job.
I was offered the after-school job again. I got my email a couple weeks ago that said "I hate after school care!" Yeah, I remembered how much I hated it, buuuut, it would be nice to have the extra money. The few classes I have left are going to be about $600 each, and afterschool care will take care of the rest of this degree. It will be nice to know that I won't have to find that extra money some place. . .if I take it. If I do, that would mean being at school from 7-6. That is a long time. And since we only have one car, Kaylynn will either be home alone, or we have to find her a job in the next two weeks. Just pray. We are trusting the Lord that He will provide whatever we need. She really really doesn't want to be home alone for 11 hours. Who would?
I've played a good deal of poker over this past weekend. Won a good amount. Lost a fair amount. I came in 3rd out of 90 in the last 90 person I played. I was quite happy with that honestly. I'm at about $19k, fake of course.
I keep updating Mike's website as I am told things, or invited to things through FB.
I've been struggling to make it through this book. I told myself I needed to finish it before I start the next one, and I told myself I *had* to finish the next one before school starts. I am also reading a book on writing on the side. It is good, and I have always found it helpful. If only I was a good writer. I need a better vocabulary. But I don't have time. I have every hour planned out for the next semester/year and I don't have much free time. If I end up watching an extra TV show, or playing a computer game then I suddenly lost something important. That can be good or bad.
The Truth Project will be starting up again in January. I thought they had said it would be in the fall, but I guess not. So, January it is. For a brief moment today, I thought Mrs. Coney was going to say something about it not being that great afterall. . .but no, it is that great and amazing etc. Maybe it really will be. Maybe I will have to get on here and say I was completely wrong and it is fantastic. I doubt it though.
I bought Psych seasons 1 and 2. We have one episode left. /shrug.
Time to go. Goodnight all. And remember, I have nothing constraining me right now, so it is your responsibility to call me when you are free. I don't want to wake you up or disturb you. :P
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
more links for writers
http://greatcloud.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/10-great-blogs-for-writers/
Number 2 in the list looked the most interesting to me. While it says not found within the page, you can look around to find plenty of actual work for writing. Sounds like a great start to me. Like this: http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2009/07/40-freelance-writing-markets-paying-100-or-more-much-more/
And this looks cool too: http://beaguide.about.com/ That one is like $600 a month for a few articles...I'm not sure I could come up with an article a week. Seems like I should be able to, but meh.
That's about it for now...I started lifting again. Feels good to be sore.
Number 2 in the list looked the most interesting to me. While it says not found within the page, you can look around to find plenty of actual work for writing. Sounds like a great start to me. Like this: http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2009/07/40-freelance-writing-markets-paying-100-or-more-much-more/
And this looks cool too: http://beaguide.about.com/ That one is like $600 a month for a few articles...I'm not sure I could come up with an article a week. Seems like I should be able to, but meh.
That's about it for now...I started lifting again. Feels good to be sore.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
more
Staying with the last blog's theme briefly:
My wife reminded me that the mental abuse is often as bad or worse than the physical abuse. Even in houses that are not "as bad," the mental abuse takes a long time to get over. And it is there.
My mom didn't like how I labeled these people in the beginning as fundamental baptist right-wing homeschoolers, because that is what she is. I am too. I thought I qualified them with the following statements. The reason I chose to describe them that way is because they are in our supposed circles. These things don't just happen in the trashy homes of the lost. These are the people we go to church with. And you don't know it. Yes, it happens outside our circle too, but it happens inside it.
Now, on to other things.
You may have noticed I added several links to others blogs and things on the side. I figure its about time I help people out that way, since they have been linking to me for forever.
I am sure a couple of those people are not active bloggers anymore, but still, their blogs are not deleted like some I have been following.
I would recommend google home page for everyone. You can have new headlines, weather forecasts, quotes, stocks, blog updater, etc. It is fantastic and it saves from clicking on everyone's blog every day. Anyone can use a google homepage. Create a google ID, and then customize the page. Then set it to your home page. Not hard.
I noticed people using the "follow" thing on the blogs. I think I'm going to try it and I'll give feedback on it.
I'll probably post more this afternoon. That is the other reason to have some plan for following blogs. Because if I post again this afternoon, and you haven't checked since yesterday evening, you are very likely to miss two posts -- this and the previous.
EDIT 1: I added actual blog snippets from other blogs so you can check out who has blogged if you stop here. I added a subscribe page, so if you RSS, you can subscribe easily, but that is about the same as what Google Reader does. I also added the follower link. This is all on the left sidebar, and you have to scroll to see it all.
EDIT 2: For some reason I couldn't add Patrick Rothfuss to the list of blogs. I did link his blog down below the others. It is worth keeping up on imho.
My wife reminded me that the mental abuse is often as bad or worse than the physical abuse. Even in houses that are not "as bad," the mental abuse takes a long time to get over. And it is there.
My mom didn't like how I labeled these people in the beginning as fundamental baptist right-wing homeschoolers, because that is what she is. I am too. I thought I qualified them with the following statements. The reason I chose to describe them that way is because they are in our supposed circles. These things don't just happen in the trashy homes of the lost. These are the people we go to church with. And you don't know it. Yes, it happens outside our circle too, but it happens inside it.
Now, on to other things.
You may have noticed I added several links to others blogs and things on the side. I figure its about time I help people out that way, since they have been linking to me for forever.
I am sure a couple of those people are not active bloggers anymore, but still, their blogs are not deleted like some I have been following.
I would recommend google home page for everyone. You can have new headlines, weather forecasts, quotes, stocks, blog updater, etc. It is fantastic and it saves from clicking on everyone's blog every day. Anyone can use a google homepage. Create a google ID, and then customize the page. Then set it to your home page. Not hard.
I noticed people using the "follow" thing on the blogs. I think I'm going to try it and I'll give feedback on it.
I'll probably post more this afternoon. That is the other reason to have some plan for following blogs. Because if I post again this afternoon, and you haven't checked since yesterday evening, you are very likely to miss two posts -- this and the previous.
EDIT 1: I added actual blog snippets from other blogs so you can check out who has blogged if you stop here. I added a subscribe page, so if you RSS, you can subscribe easily, but that is about the same as what Google Reader does. I also added the follower link. This is all on the left sidebar, and you have to scroll to see it all.
EDIT 2: For some reason I couldn't add Patrick Rothfuss to the list of blogs. I did link his blog down below the others. It is worth keeping up on imho.
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