This Device They Call a Blog....

I find myself stepping into a foreign world. A world which is largely unknown in my land, but a world that is already highly populated and bustling with life! It is my hope that this, my own contribution to the "new world", will not be fruitless or useless, but a meaningful addition to be remembered. Stay as long as you like!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

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!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

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.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

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.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

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."