Post-Family Camp Checklist

Very bad attitude and disposition about the whole thing the night before we left-CHECK!

Woke up feeling better and got packed in record time-CHECK!

Easy setup and general yay at our arrival-CHECK!

Partial music video involving a trash can and romance; shot w/ Luke-CHECK!

Awesome talks/laughs/prayers with Kevin and Alex-CHECK!

Terminator Salvation on iPad with Kev, Alejandro, and Daniel until 1am-CHECK!

Bible reading with the guys, bigger than I anticipated, great time-CHECK!

Volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee: The Version Where We Got Smoked-CHECK!

Expedition in a new direction with Kevin and Alex-CHECK!

Found a road and followed it past the No Trespassing sign-CHECK!

Turned around when we saw campers through the trees-CHECK!

Found awesome old logging bridge over creek-CHECK!

Followed CAT track on other side for a long time, Chief Bushwhacker/Trailblazer=Kevin Peanut Butter Pants ;D-CHECK!

Found horse trail and followed it for another long time-CHECK!

Popped out in somebody's backyard on top of a hill-CHECK!

Quickly turned around-CHECK!

Left the trail and fell down a hillside-CHECK!

Continued exploration on another horse trail-CHECK!

Discovered clearcut, made our way towards it in search of a view-CHECK!

Ambushed and pursued by sneaky ninja hornets-CHECK!

Stung at the bridge of the nose-CHECK!

Energetically fleeing downhill out of the clearcut-CHECK!

Located creek and hiked it all the way back up to the camp-CHECK!

Talent night, song with Luke, Kev, and Joseph, visited by a Mormon bike evangelist!-CHECK!

Not being able to do the tributary in the dark-CHECK!

Receiving a proper education on the Minnasotan dialect-CHECK!

First rain arrives about 3am-CHECK!

Bible reading/prayer again in the morning, even bigger this time, at the Tauscher's "house" :)-CHECK!

Reading my story in posh British accents with two of my biggest fans and a few others, a simply grand time!-CHECK!

Trip to Estacada w/ Kevin and Alex for coffee, cell reception, WiFi, and a tour of that homey place-CHECK!

Listening to Prairie Home Companion's radio show-CHECK!

Getting VERY dizzy at a park with a cool play structure-CHECK!

Realizing we had enough time to do the tributary before dinner-CHECK!

Didn't count on the rocks being so slippery-CHECK!

Took longer than expected, but still a ton of fun-CHECK!

Quickly became late for Alex's dinner but could not rush him-CHECK!

Realized at the end of the trek that Kev and I were actually much later than Alex-CHECK!

Ran back to site-CHECK!

Dinner w/ Grafs-CHECK!

Singing and campfire-CHECK!

Great talks with Adam D., got to relive Challenge a little bit-CHECK!

More good late-night talks and prayer with Kevin and Alex-CHECK!

Rain in the morning, worse this time, Kevin sleeping in a stream-CHECK!

Wet breakfast-CHECK!

Church prep/setup-CHECK!

Very cold, wet church time-CHECK!

Misunderstanding that put myself and the Frenches breaking down camp while the fam ate lunch-CHECK!

Eventual understanding and food with the new family-CHECK!

Came back to reclaim our gear from the ponds and finish breaking camp-CHECK!

Stuff wet tents and general stuff into trailer and get OUTTA there!-CHECK!

Five minutes down the road remember that the dryer at home is broken-CHECK!

Dryer fixed now-CHECK!

Still trying to get everything cleaned up-CHECK!

Most spiritually enriching campout I've ever been a part of-CHEEEEEEEECK!

Graduated! woot...

What a strange feeling. Everyone keeps asking me if I feel any difference now that I'm officially graduated, and I always have to shake my head and say "not a bit"! It's not like I love saying that, but it's the truth. I... I just... can't allow myself the satisfaction of graduating in my own mind. Probably mostly because I actually haven't finished, and I have perty much no confidence that I'll whip it out here quick and be done. And... I don't know what all to say. I just have major issues with myself that I intentionally set up to hinder my enjoyment of just about anything... grand. So, here is your seriously depressed, self-loathing, "accomplished and we're-so-proud-or-you"(ICK!) psuedo-graduate saying, fare well. Fare better than I, because I wish this trash on no one.

A shout-out to the few who will see this...

I just wanted to let you all know that whatever it is that makes you think I'm such a jolly guy with minimal problems who always has something funny to say, it's a mask, one that I wear so often I frequently forget I have it on. So... don't think that I have any answers or anything. And don't believe it when it looks like I'm happy, because I've just forgetten myself for a while.

That is all.

A Good Reminder/Refreshing Perspective on Legalism...

I found this is the book I'm read called Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn. He's speaking in the context of tithing, specifically excuses people might make not to tithe. But what he says is so well put and important, I just had to post it. :)

Excuse: "Tithing is legalistic."

Response: "Any legitimate practice can be done with a legalistic attitude. The fault is with the heart, not tithing itself. What I have noticed, however, is that some people call anything "legalism" that sets a responsiblity upon them or requires discipline from them. If any principle gets too close to home, starts meddling in my life, requires sacrifice or commitment on my part, then I can dismiss it simply by calling it "legalistic". Hence, legalism easily becomes a convenient label to cover up my own unwillingness to obey God."

Christmas Eve and an Excited God

Last night, during Mr. Rouse's message at the Christmas Eve service, I was struck by how God, and probably Jesus, and the angels, must have all felt that night Jesus was born.



I mean, they were all there when Adam and Eve were created, and it was the grandest time anyone on this earth's ever had.



They were also there when the two human image-bearers decided that they wanted something that sounded better, and ended up getting the worst deal possible. Even though God knew it would happen, I can't imagine that there wasn't some sadness involved in the heavenly places.



All through the ages, prophets would come, angels would appear, and God would use various circumstances to point to the coming of a human Savior. But only God knew the timing on that one! What about the angels, constantly serving but just wondering "how long Lord? How long until you finally set your master plan in motion?"



And then, the night came. It's almost like opening night for the biggest Broadway production ever. And God's plan got seriously underway. Thousand of years of anticipation and foretelling were, at LONG last, beginning to unfold!



What would it have been like to hear those angels singing to the shepherds? What they said was just about the most natural thing to say, considering the situation. "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace among men on whom His favor rests!" God was firing up Phase 2 and it was EXCITING!

(continued from Christmas morning...)

So, are we as excited about the Savior coming as they were? And we even get to see the whole picture front to back! Perhaps we're in need of an enthusiasim adjustment... :)

Life...

Man, I have not posted in forever! I had a great Thanksgiving, and hope you all did as well. I am really looking forward to this Christmas season and all it may bring. Speech class isn't easy, but I am enjoying my duo with Rachel A. quite a lot. I am so thankful for all the awesome opportunities God has given me, for the unfathomable ways He has blessed me, and how He is working in mine and my friends' lives! He's just awesome like that..... :) Someday hopefully I will post the two great stories of the past months for your enjoyment and edification.

Resuming...

It's been busy since I got back from TPC, but many great lessons were learned, lots of practical knowledge was bestowed upon me, and I had a great time! Now, back to life as a sorta-senior. Cheers!