Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving Break has been one of many travels.  It started on Thursday (since I do not have class Friday).  I remained busy all day Friday and did not get everything done that I had anticipated.  Oh well.  I went ice skating and then had ISF Friday night, which was really good.  I then drove home late that night to catch my flight on Saturday morning.  I then flew to L.A. and had an awesome time.  I got to hang out with friends and it was like nothing had changed between us.  I really enjoyed getting to see everyone and have the chance to talk one-on-one with most of them.  We seemed to do a little bit of anything.  We went up to the mountains thanks to Brian's planning, which I really enjoyed.  There were some pretty cool views from up there overlooking the city.  We ate a LOT, which seems to be what a lot of XA things are based around.  We hung out and just had fun together.  Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a blast. 

After that, I flew to Corpus Cristi to spend Thanksgiving Day with my family.  CC is where Nathan is stationed.  I must say that I had a hard time staying awake all day and had to take a nap for about an hour.  I did not really get to sleep Wednesday night because I plane left at 12:40am between Wednesday and Thursday.  And sleeping on a plane is not really that great of sleep, if you can get any at all.  We then saw Disney's Monsters, Inc. on ice that night.  Today we played some racquetball and went to play in the ocean.  Other than that, we have just hung out and played games.  I think my parents and I start our long journey back to Missouri tomorrow and I am told that it will take us two days to get back.  I guess that I will be able to catch up on my sleep then.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this week so wonderful.  If you want more info, you probably know where to find me.

Wedding and God

So, it again has been forever since I last posted.  For once, I am posting on my own.  I do not know why I continue to post since it is so seldom, but yet, I feel that since I have an account, I should.

Rather than trying to update everything since my last post, I will focus on the more recent events.  There are two things that come to mind more readily (as the title would imply).

First, my brother got married this last weekend.  I am happy for him, though I do wonder what will happen between him and I now that there is a wife in the picture.  The good thing is, I get along great with her.  Of all the people he could have chosen, I am happy with his decision.  I also had a great time at his wedding, which I was not totally expecting.  If you want more information about that, you must ask, because I will not post those details here.

Second, God is an amazing God.  I have begun to realize a couple things that pertain directly to me over the last couple months, but specifically the last week.  God is faithful and does answer prayers, even when we do not see it.  Eventually, we will recognize it.  God has been faithful as I have learned to trust Him more and to try to view myself how He does.  Our true identity is in Him alone, and I am beginning to look at that a little bit more closely.  Again, if you are wanting more concrete concepts, just ask.

Well, I best be off because I have to go to class.

Friendships

Yes, I know that I am “overdue” for a post.  I really have not had free time in order to write stuff on Zanga.  I have found other things to be more important.  I know, that just should not happen and I need to prioritize better.  Anyway, since a couple people have told me to, I am finally writing another post for those faithful people who still check my account.

There is so much that I could write and update about, but if you know me at all, you probably have heard about the different things that have been going on recently.  So, I will continue with my thoughts, as I typically have done.

One thought that has come from everything is that faithful friends are truly gifts from God.  If people stop and think about how many truly faithful friends they have, most cannot come up with many if they can come up with one at all.  God has definitely blessed me with many friends that have stuck by my side.  There are all sorts of friends as well.  The ones I am referring to are the ones that you can ask to pray with you, or let you cry on their shoulder, or laugh with you, or simply sit in the same room.  Those ones that will ask questions when they need to be asked and listen when that is what is needed.  As I was reading the story of the paraplegic in Luke, I was reminded just how important faithful friends are.  It was due to the friends’ determination, faith and love that this man was healed.  I have added love, though it was not really stated in Luke because I believe that it goes back to the fact that through love Jesus laid His life down for His friends.  I think that this is the same concept on a smaller scale.  And this should be the same with the friends we have.  We should have a faith for our friends and a determination to help them before we think of ourselves.

As I have reflected on this, I have begun to look at myself to see if I live up to this standard.  I challenge others to do this as well.  Are you being the type of friend that God has called you to be? 

Thank you to all of my faithful friends.  I do believe that you know who you are.  May God bless all who read this with stronger friendships built on faith and love.

Update

OK. So I am not the best at posting here.  I just do not want to write for the sake of writing.  I decided that I should update everyone.  Sorry to anyone that I have lost contact with lately.  I will try to answer e-mails and such soon.

I have finished another semester at Mizzou.  I will go back in the fall and start some graduate courses as I finish up the undergrad courses.  This is a blessing to be able to do this.  Over the summer, I am working at St. Charles County in the GIS department.  That about covers everything in the general sense.

Preconceived Notions

OK.  So I have not written in a while.  I guess I have not really felt that I have had anything of importance to share.  Due to many requests, I suppose that I will write now though.

I have realized recently how judgmental people are.  This includes myself.  In realizing this, I am convicted that I need to try harder to follow God's command and not judge, but leave that up to him.  Let me give my story of what made this so real to me recently.  As most of you, my readers, know, I am on the Mizzou Racing team.  I had a very strong preconceived notion going into the team, despite the people I knew from the team before I joined.  In no way were my notions based on the two that I knew.  I saw them as being engineers who liked to drink and make crude jokes, which they do both.  But I allowed no other thoughts to come through.  Over time, I have seen the morals that most of the guys have on the team.  I realize that they are willing and have stuck up for me, even if it wasn't necessarily the "cool" thing.  I have respect for these guys, even if they do not live exactly as I have been taught to live.

So, what have I learned from this group?  People are people.  We have no way of telling how a person really is without giving them the chance to show us.  I am not perfect at not judging, but I desire to be better.  The other side of this can be just as dangerous.  What I mean is that we should also be careful to not put unreasonable standards on others because we do not know everything about anyone.

So that is what I have.  Be careful of your thoughts about others and do not judge based upon anything besides true interactions with people.  I am very thankful for the guys on the team and the things I have learned from them.