October 5, 2000 12:34 am

I know it's been a while since I updated. :) It's been kinda busy. Really busy.

As I wrote before, I did go to Monterrey, Mexico, with Lisa, Marta, Kyle, Michelle, and some others, to see where they spent their summer, to meet their friends, and just to get a feel for what God is doing down there. It was pretty sweet :-) I got to have those fresh fruit puree popsicles again, and even met a student at Tec who was working on my campus for a year in east asia! :-)

The bus ride up and down was a little harsh though, especially since our driver on the way down was a little trigger happy with the cabin light up front, making it difficult for us to sleep. My chair was also broken on that bus - it wouldn't lean back. The bus on the way back up was much better. Plus, we got to sit further back, away from the lights, which was good.

I just loved it down there. I love Mexico. Actually, I think I just love seeing God work. It really doesn't matter where. I loved seeing God work in DC my freshman year. I loved seeing God work in east asia. I loved seeing God work in Acuña. I loved seeing how God is working in Monterrey. Yeah. I think that's what I love.

If you're reading this, you obviously found out about the test security system I just put up for the deep end. I'm not sure if it's going to stay or not, but it's there for now.

I'm totally enjoying leading the now sophomore Hanszen-Sid men's Bible study with Ryan. I mean, the guys are great, and they're dedicated and committed to coming, and talking, and learning. I just pray that their learning leads to life change. Tonight, we reiterated to them that life change is what it's all about, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lately, I've been learning a lot about communication. I think that's what God has really been teaching me a lot about this year. First, it was (and still is) the issue with communication between the Christian groups. Then there were several times where I learned a lot about interpersonal communication, and how I still am not very good at it. I don't think there's any ONE specific thing that God is trying to tell me, except that communication is extremely important in ministry on the organizational level and on the personal level. That's something that I definitely need to work on.

There's a Caedmon's concert in a week and a half at Second Baptist :-) Wheeeeee!!!! Fall Conference is that weekend also! Wheeeeee!!!! :-) :-)

Just thoughts.

October 6, 2000 12:24 am

I wonder how President Bush felt/dealt with the fact that Barbara was pro-choice. I mean, she did a good job of not mentioning it much at all. That, and the media never grabbed a hold of it.

As I look at the presidential race, the more I realize the candidates aren't all that smart. It's the people around them that are. All the random policy experts in the random areas that advise them are the people with the real brains. Those analysts, and their corresponding Congressional counterparts are the people who really get things done in this country.

Chief Executives have so little real power in this country. Supreme Court justices. That's about it. And even then, they can't control the justices.

Just thoughts.

October 19, 2000 7:32 pm

I've forgotten how much I love "classical" music. Actually, it's everything from Baroque through the Romantic period, but you know what I mean. I got this one set of 10 CDs, 10 songs/CD, and it has all the classic stuff. Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Pachelbel's Canon in D, and more. And I got it for $20 at Price Club. Such a great deal :)

Med school applications have been going nicely. So far, only 1 rejection letter, and it was sorta expected. It was from University of Washington, and as an out-of-stater, I figured my chances weren't that great. I also did some research into my loans for school, and how it relates the possibility of STINTing with Crusade. It looks like I'll have to start paying back those loans. That's something to at least consider in the decision.

Things have been pretty laid back, with the exception of a flurry of work packed into a few days every once in a while. I like being a senior. Although it's less time doing schoolwork, I think that time has just been used up in working on my applications. All in all, I'm enjoying this semester a whole lot.

This past weekend was our mid-semester break, and it was also Crusade's Fall Retreat up at Pineywoods Baptist Encampment, a couple hours north of her. Unfortunately, Lisa did not come :( But it was still a good weekend. It was nice to get away, and just hang out with some friends, and get to know some of the freshmen. I remember, as a freshman, wondering why the seniors didn't try to get to know us better, and I realize now that it's just hard, since we don't exactly run in the same circles. At the same time, it gives me a real appreciation for the seniors who did try and reach out to me then. And it reminds me to continue my efforts to get to know and connect with freshmen here at Sid and in the Body here in general. The retreat speaker really didn't say anything that I hadn't heard before, but he did say lots that I needed to hear again. A few things that stuck with me: 1) God LAVISHED His love on us. Lavished. A word of excess. The biggest bottle of hydrogen peroxide (you had to be there to see it) :) 2) Freedom. That's what salvation is about, but how often do we talk about that as we're sharing Christ with a non-believer? and 3) at the end of our life, can we say that we lived well? Things to ponder.

Cædmon's just released Long Line of Leavers and had their release concert on Sunday evening, after the retreat. It was another large-ish concert at 2nd Baptist, similar to their 40 Acres release concert. Of course, they did the live thing really well. Live CC is truly the best way to see them, and get a feel for what they're really like as a band. :) Go and get LLOL if you haven't already. Go. Now! :)

We've really been juicing up the SFC BBS lately. Go check it out. There's lots of fun stuff, as well as good thinking material.

Just thoughts.

October 21, 2000 11:45 pm

Darin challenged us to memorize Philippians with him in 28 days. We're nuts, but I think it's going to worth a shot. After all, the Word of God is worth it, right? There are Christians in other parts of the world that would do almost anything to get a copy of the Bible, willing to memorize entire books because they don't normally have access to a Bible, because they just want to know the Word of God.

Why don't we thirst like that?

Just thoughts.