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Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:36:57 GMT

I want to let everyone know that I have started a new blog here, and a website here. I'm not shutting this blog down, at least not for some time, but I'm not going to be posting here very much either. So y'all need to head on over and check out my new sites! (The website is still under major construction so don't judge it too harshly yet!)

The Diary of a Dog and a Cat

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:46:21 GMT

The Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 PM - Dinner! My favorite thing!

7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine l avishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash
or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations
perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my
strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an Attempt to
disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse
and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike
fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities.
However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little
hunter" I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed
in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear
the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to
the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to
my advanta ge.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this
again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and Snitches.
The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to
be more than willing to return. He is obviously Retarded.

The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the Guards
regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have
arranged protective custody for him in an Elevated Cell, so he is safe.

For now.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:25:54 GMT

Sometimes me being in the kitchen is just a bad idea, Like yesterday. Being a klutz and being around boiling water do not go well together. Thankfully, by the time I managed to pour it on myself it was no longer boiling, just really, really hot. Still, it stung. The lady over the kitchen, Diane, brought me some ice packs for my shoulder and neck and we put my arm and hands under cold water. What can I say? I keep the place from getting too boring.

I had pulled a gallon of water out of the spaghetti (I was making 17 lbs. of it at once) and was taking it to the line when I slipped on some water. Normally I don't slip in restaurants, I'm pretty good at handling slick floors but this water was out of the spaghetti and had starch in it and was like wet ice. Thankfully I had set the container down for a few minutes first so my burns were all just first degree, no water blisters, and so not near as sore today. In fact, my hands don't hurt at all, I think the skin is tougher there. But my right wrist is pretty red even today and it's sore to bend, and most of my right arm and my shoulder arm feels like they've been sunburned. And when I slipped I didn't hit the ground because I caught myself on the counter and the kettle, so I have a narrow burn about an inch long on my shoulder from the kettle and a very impressive bruise forming on my left arm. Like I said, I keep it from being boring.

We finished our first class, Old Testament Survey, and started a new one yesterday, Theology 1. I'm already enjoying it. I love being pushed to think about topics I might not otherwise, to really have to study what the Bible says about something till I understand it well enough to write something coherent about it. It's fun. And our teacher is the Director of the school, Ken Krause, who is a great guy. I'm looking forward to the next weeks. Of course, out last teacher was so amazing to listen to. No, he wasn't exciting and sometimes a large amount of caffeine was required to have a hope of focusing BUT I had never heard Genesis and Creation taught from the prospective of a physicist before. It was amazing to hear him talk about the way our Universe is made and how little scientists actually understand about the vital parts of it, like four fundamental forces. (And who said I wouldn't learn any science here?) Listening to him erased any lingering thought in the back of my mind that Christian's studying mathematics or physics or any kind of theoretical science is a waste of time. It's not. It's amazing stuff.

Last Saturday was graduation here. The senior class was small even for Bethany, only 16 students, but it was diverse, Students from places as dissimilar as Georgia and California, Maine and Colorado, and as far away as Ecuador, South Korea, and Pakistan. As they gave out the diplomas they flashed pictures of each student up on the screen, mostly shots of them over a past couple of years but also some childhood pictures. My favorite one was of Cory, the guy from Pakistan. It was a picture of a group of about 8 men in very "authentic" clothes-robes, turbans, etc. They looked like men who had been living hard lives in the desert for a long time, like a National Geographic photo. And sitting right in the middle of them was this little blond haired boy in bright clothes with a big smile on his face. It was a great picture.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 00:43:36 GMT

So... I promised you more about the history of the school I'm at. And it's a cool history. :) It all started when these 5 families began meeting together for Bible study. After a while they decided God's command to go to the nations applied to all Christians and, unlike so many people who hear the call, they listened. They read in Acts that the early disciples sold all the had and lived in community, so that's what they did. They all sold their homes and possessions and pooled their money and bought one huge house and moved into it together. Now, I don't know the exact number of people off the top of my head but they all had kids so it was a healthy number of people living together. And no one "owned" anything in the house, so I'm sure it was rough to start with. However, they were determined to go the the mission field and thought this was the best way to save money and be trained. This was back in 1945.

Now other people started hear about what they were doing and wanted in on it. A place to learn how to live in Christian community and learn skills for the mission field sounded great. So, different people started coming to live with them. They quickly outgrew their house and chapel. So, in 1946 (told you it was quick) they bought about 60 acres of land in Bloomington, where the campus still sits today. The first class had 10 students, but more soon followed.

In the early days the school was free. Part of that was because the students were living there, not just attending school, and so did a fair share of the work (we still work 20 hours a week on campus to help keep costs down and provide practical training) and part of it was because they were very big into using business to support missions work. Bethany has at different times made toys, griddles, and even pop-up campers. The one business that stayed around was a printing press they started. Now it's been sold (for legal reasons I think) but the profits still go to support missionaries around the globe. In fact, Bethany Press is the largest Christian paperback book press in the country. Look in some of the books you have sitting around and I bet you'll find that some of them were printed right here, just outside my dorm window.

Of course, a lot of things have changed over the years. But we still work on campus, are still required to live on campus, attend chapel together several times a week, and eat pretty much of of our meals together. The whole point is to learn to live in a community, something they felt was lacking in the 40's but is virtually unheard of now in the 21st century. But it's not just a community of 18-25 year old's with a few teachers around. That's not a community, that's a group.

You see, those original founding members, and then some of the original missionaries, gave everything they had. They didn't keep back retirement, they didn't have a plan B. They decided to trust God and just let Him care for them. So when they got to an age where they just couldn't stay on the field anymore they didn't have anything to live off of, no home or big savings plan. So, the school took them in. They live here on campus with us and eat with us. These are folks in their 70's and 80's and 90's who have been serving God their entire life. At the other end of the spectrum are the kids. There are babies everywhere. :) Some of the students have kids. they live here on campus with their parents. And most of the staff have kids, with quite a few of the younger staff having a tiny one. Some live on campus, some don't, but either way they are always around with children in tow.

The thing that really strikes me is the feeling of peace here. It's quiet physically, but also spiritually. Not dead, just peaceful. Esp. the chapel. It's been turned into the Bethany House of Prayer and their goal is to eventually have 24/7 prayer watches, 365 days a year. It's got a long way to go, but it's getting there. Regardless, there is a very strong presence of God in that place. I noticed it the first day. I can only assume that it comes from the thousands of tears and millions of prayers that have been offered up in it since it was built.

As to what I've been up too... Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks. I'm adjusting to living with my roommate, Ashley, and sharing a dorm. I'm also adjusting to having homework to do, and on a deadline. LOL That's a novel thing for me. My PT (practical training) assignment is the kitchen and so we've been in training all week there. Starting Mon I have my "permanent" (but subject to change) assignment, There are 2 different dish crews (they also handle the cleaning), lunch and dinner, and then a prep crew (they help with the cooking). I was on the lunch dish crew during training, but now I'll be on the prep crew. Hopefully it won't take too long for me to catch on.

Well, away I go. I need to go eat lunch so that I can help clean the Sally Ann. It's a free thrift shop here on campus. If you need something you just take it, if you have something you don't need you just leave it there. Sounds cool, I guess I'll see for myself in a few minutes.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:25:31 GMT

Sometimes God broadsides us without any warning whatsoever. Last night was one of those times. God came and met with me on the floor of the chapel here on campus. I mean, He's always there but if He's ever come and MET you then you know what I mean. And it was completely out of the blue.

Most of the issues He and I dealt with last night were old, things I assumed were in my past and done with and handled. I was wrong... He showed me that even though it hurt this stuff had to be dealt with because it was blocking me, stopping my growth in some areas. Areas vital for a missionary, like loving people and allowing people to get close to me and allowing people to see weakness in me. And no, it's not done. It's going to take a long time to work through some of this stuff. But, here's the wonderful part, I realized last night that I DON'T have to deal with this alone. There are people here who care for me, even though I don't know them. And I know this because God sent one to me last night. She told me that God told her I needed her, needed to talk to her. And I did, more than even I knew.

I can already tell this is going to be a long, and sometimes painful, year. I'm already emotionally and physically exhausted. But I have a lightness, a freedom, deep inside I can't remember feeling before. I had come to think that the pain certain memories carried was normal, and unavoidable. Last night I realized the reason they still hurt so bad was because they never healed, even though it's been years. I had just dealt with it, handled it. I never let them heal, mainly because I didn't know how. But it's ok now because God told me something last night that has changed everything. And if this is only the first week...

And for those of you have no idea where I am - I arrived here at Bethany College of Missions (www.bcom.org) Monday morning. It's a little, very little, school in Bloomington, Minnesota that's whole purpose is to reach the entire world with the message of Christ. There is a history of sacrifice and dedication here, these people mean business and have since the beginning. And I want to share some of that, but not today. But I will say there is a feeling of peace on campus, a feeling that I suppose land gets after a certain length of time being entirely dedicated to God. It's especially noticeable in the chapel. That's a room that has had a million heartfelt prayers poured out in it, many on the behalf of others, and you can feel that in your spirit when you walk in.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:46:49 GMT

You Are a Pinky

You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird.
A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone.
You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are.

You get along well with: The Ring Finger

Stay away from: The Thumb

What Finger Are You?

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:16:14 GMT

Why must I be SO clumsy? WHY? I hate hurting myself all the time..... Monday morning at around 6am I awoke as I plummeted toward the ground. I became fully awake upon hitting in rather firmly. Yes, I fell out of bed and since I sleep on the top of a bunk bed it was some distance to the floor. I actually got out of it with less damage than I would have expected; I have a huge scrape/bruise down my right arm, peeled the skin off on several of my left toes, and my back is sore and stiff. All in all, it could have been far worse.

Sara left this morning at 10:35. She is officially the first of us to leave home. She is also the youngest. What does this say about me? Ah, well, I leave in 5 months.

Oh, my parents went toward Mobile, AL and found a place for us to live. It's this little campground in a town called Magnolia Springs. It's in a field, in the woods, at the end of a dirt road. I'm just hoping I can join the local cow-tipping team.... One upside is that I shouldn't have any trouble finding a job, the unemployment rate is something like 2% and my mom said everywhere they went was hiring. It's not far from Gulf Shores, or Foley. And about 30-45 minutes from Mobile or Pensacola, FL. So, not a bad place to live for a bit.

I have been thinking about getting a car but I don't want to have to pay for insurance and gas for one. Too expensive. And living here in Daytona Beach has stirred up a hankering.... a hankering for a motorcycle. Yes, I'm dying for one now. And Bike Week didn't help. There were about 500,000 bikers here in town and by the time they left it was too late for me. They are cheap and fuel-efficient and cool. And yes, I know they are deadly. But so are cars. And I used to ride crazy horses daily, which is just as bad. The tricky part will be learning how as I've never even been on one.... But I'm sure I can find someone to help me out.

And, hopefully, I'm learning to drive a stick tomorrow (if my dad leaves the truck here). I've never bothered to learn and I'm going to get my bro to teach me how. If you hear screaming and crashing sounds then you'll know how it's going.

One more thing-- I dyed my hair again. What do you think?

http://img476.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture029op3.jpg

Yes, I know this is a random and rambling post. Get over it.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 17:17:32 GMT

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club to discuss my hunger.

Thank you.

I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel to pray for my release.

Nice.

I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.

What good did that do?

I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.

But I needed you.

I was homeless and you preached to me of the shelter of the love of God.

I wish you had taken me home.

I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.

Why didn't you stay?

You seem so holy, so close to God;

but I am still very hungry, lonely, cold, and still in pain.

Does it matter?

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:48:22 GMT

Harriet Beecher Stowe praised him in the pages of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Novelist E. M. Forester compared him to Gandhi. Abraham Lincoln invoked his memory in a celebrated speech. In the houses of Parliament, Nelson Mandela recalled his tireless labors on behalf of the sons and daughters of Africa, calling Britain "the land of William Wilberforce—who dared to stand up to demand that the slaves in our country should be freed." The cat in residence at 10 Downing Street between 1973 and 1987 quickly earned a "Wilberforce-ian" reputation for catching mice, and as such was given the name Wilberforce and served under four prime ministers.

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) led the twenty-year fight to end the British slave trade, a victory now regarded as He finally succeeded in March 1807 and continued to fight for abolition until, days before his death in 1833, he saw the institution of slavery abolished throughout the British colonies. Not limiting himself to just abolitionist work, he dedicated his life to what he called his "two great objects:" abolishing slavery in the British Empire and what he called "the reformation of manners [society]." To this end, he advocated for child labor laws, campaigned for education of the blind and deaf, and founded organizations as diverse as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the National Gallery (of Art). "Good causes," it has been said, "stuck to him like pins to a magnet."

- Wilberforce biographer and Amazing Grace lead historical consultant, Kevin Belmonte

I went to see AMAZING GRACE (http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/) Sat, after work. It's a great movie. It is the story of William Wilberforce, the man behind the end of slavery in Great Briton. He poured his life into the work and it cost him a great deal, esp. his health. Still, in the end truth won and slavery was abolished and he won his place in the history books. The movie is beautifully filmed, with authentic sets and costuming. And that the acting is excellent. I encourage all of you to go see it on that basis alone.

However, there is another reason to go see it. Wilberforce was a devout Christian and the film doesn't hid that. Despite being made by a secular company for wide release it still has a very clear Christian message and theme. I was impressed. And Wilberforce's struggles at the start of his career hold echos to my own. After hearing God and being saved he struggles with the idea of giving up his just begun political career. He feels that a life of service to God and prayer (solitude) would be more honoring to God. That he has to choose between bettering the world through politics or serving God through the ministry. In the midst of his struggle to decide he goes to see John Newton, former slaver and now pastor in a church. Newton convinces him that politics is where God placed him, that God gave him the skills and abilities to do well and thus intends for him to use them. Basically, that he doesn't have to choose between doing good and being good, he can change the world and serve God at the same time. So, he does.

In other news, Sara is home till the 20th of March. Well, I say home. I think she considers Alabama her home. It's a little weird not all sharing a house but I know that's just a part of life. We're all old enough to be starting our own houses now. And we're going to be even more spread out when I head to MN this fall. Which, by the way, I have been watching the weather up there lately and I've only seen the temp above freezing a couple of times... BRR!

Not much else going on.... Still working at Einsteins, making bagels. Not terribly exciting, but not a bad place to work either. We are officially moving the end of March, so my last day at work will be around the 25th. One thing I won't miss about the place is the schedule, I'm still not accustomed to it. The work week starts on Wed and goes through Tues, I get Sun-Sat or Mon-Sun (most of my jobs have used that one) but I do not understand Wed-Tues. It's awkward! Who thought that was a good idea? And, I'd forgotten what is was like to only get payed every other week. Why does every business have to be different?

Friday, February 16, 2007

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:22:32 GMT