Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Little by Little

Married life is great. I love it and highly recommend it. Katie is amazing and wonderful; the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love her very much, and can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together!

Life is starting to get crazy again. OE season is about to start back up again, and football season is finally back. We're finally getting some more rain again, and that means that the quiet gray days that I love are coming back.

This summer has been a little weird for me. I've missed the students that come out here, and (to an extent) the craziness that that brings. I think I'll be glad when they start coming in and this year can get underway.

I bought the new Goo Goo Dolls album. And I must say that it's pretty awesome. Here's one of my favorites: Not Broken.




(If the video doesn't work, then click here!)

Little by little, one walks far. - Peruvian proverb

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Learning from Toys

Normally, I don't really cry in movies or previews for that matter. But today, it happened twice in the same theater.

There was a trailer for the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia movie: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. And I don't know; there was just something about it that just hit that nerve. Like I said, I don't really know what it was there. Something maybe about seeing the Lion, Reepicheep, Caspian, and the others once again on screen. Or maybe seeing the different scenes of the book coming to life again. Or maybe just knowing who and what the Dufflepuds and the Island Where Dreams Come True are and anticipating what will happen with them. Needless to say, I'm very excited for this movie.

The second round of tears came during the incredibly awesome movie, Toy Story 3. I can't really say to much without ruining the plot, but there was a section in the movie where Woody, Buzz, and the gang were in a very bad situation. So bad, that even Woody was resolved to the only fate that he could see. Through an unexpected (and hilarious) turn of events, Woody, Buzz, and the rest were okay. Since I can't really go that much into detail, I'll just say that the filmmakers gave me a much needed glimpse of God's love, providence, and rescue.

And it was just what I needed.

My last post was a reaction to things that were going on around me that I ultimately have very little control over. It was a post from a weary mind in a weary moment of weakness.

There is so much to be joyful about. See my previous posts if you want to read the extended lists.

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us... We are far too easily pleased. - from C.S. Lewis' "The Weight of Glory"

I am a half-hearted creature. Infinite joy is offered to someone who seems to only wants to sulk in his own self-pity. I am far too easily pleased with this. Joy is not happiness. Happiness is temporary while joy is an attitude.

In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37


Friday, June 18, 2010

Striving

My last post detailed some of the little things that I look for and appreciate. I must admit that, for whatever reason, I'm finding this to be somewhat difficult these last few days. And the worst part is that I can't really put my finger on what exactly is making it difficult.

It's tough. And some days I don't want to even try. I just feel like curling back up in bed and sleeping it all away. There are days where I'm just weary.

I feel that there are days where I have to try very hard to find any joy. I know that I'm blessed beyond imagining. Some days and some hours, I have a difficult time actually remembering that.

So I put on my big boy smile, and press on.

Sometimes for days on end.

Striving to find that joy.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Little Things

Over the last few days, I've tried to come up with something meaningful to post here. It's turning out to be a lot easier said than done.

Awhile back, I posted a list of little things that I was thankful for that I might/usually take for granted. Some of these might be repeats of the last entry, but that's okay. In no particular order, here goes:

A wonderful fiancee'.
A good bed.
Great friends.
Fruit snacks.
Nature documentaries like Planet Earth and Life.
Solitude.
Creme soda.
Rain.
Family.
Rest.
Stars.
Campfires.
Laughter.
Peace.
Joy.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

John 8:9-11

9. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.

10. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11. "No one, sir," she replied.


"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Toby, Trip, and a New One

TobyMac's new CD came out tonight, and I've spent the last few minutes listening to it. The little that I've heard is very good, and I would highly recommend it. Especially this song called "Hold On". It's really good. Oh and this one too!

I've also been listening to Lecrae's prodigy, Trip Lee, the last couple of days. In his song, "Who He Is," Trip Lee sings:

If I'm worth dying for, yes this God is worth living for.

I've never thought of it quite like that. Never really put it together that I'm worth it.

Awesome...

Here's a new one for everyone. I recently found this again, and after a few minor touches, here it is for your enjoyment:

Tell Of His Power
Oh praise the One who hung the stars
Stringing up Orion's belt
Who sees the heavens darkest part
And strokes Ursa's starry pelt

Sing power to the Name who flings
Bright comets across the way
Who listens as the sunrise sings
And smears clouds across the day

Tremble before He who holds the Moon
On high with silvery dignified grace
Who shakes the mountains into dunes

And breathes the breeze across your face

Sing, my soul, with awestruck wonder
To Him who pours out time
He knows each storm; each peal of thunder
And every tear you cry

How high, how wide is His tender love
Deeper than the ocean floor
More gentle than the purest dove

More terrible than the storm

Cry mercy, oh my withered soul
Though you are worthy of none
And He will speak and make you whole
Proudly proclaiming you His son

The angels stand and cower before Him
Adoring but terrified
Draw near, my spirit, to His loving power
Come closer and be purified.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Haiti, Waterslides, Life and Matthew

I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't really followed the crisis down in Haiti. I have no excuse really. I'd see the little blurbs and hear the stories and for whatever reason, I would tune it out; ignore it. It never really cracked this callous shell that I built up to isolate myself from all of it. And tonight was the first time that I ever really looked at anything about it. I don't know where that came from, but I don't like it.

Which got me thinking about some things...

Over the last few days, my co-workers and I have been working on the waterslides at Sky Ranch. Using handheld paint scrapers, we've been slowly scraping the top layers away, trying to get to the fiberglass underneath. This in turn will allow those that know about such things to replace the plastic coating with a new coating that will allow kids to slide better. It has been hand-crampingly slow work, but as my friend, Kate, would readily attest, there are some things to gain from such work.

Primarily, if you can manage, you can find yourself working all by yourself. Just you, a scraper, and a stubborn piece of plastic coating. This in turn led me to let my mind wander as my fingers worked on auto-pilot. Scrape, scrape, scrape. So many life analogies.

Imagine you were the slide with the stubborn piece of plastic coating (it's a tan color to help you visualize). That plastic coating is your shield, put there to protect you from life's troubles. And you're happy with that shield. But then the scraper comes along and starts slowly and carefully chipping away at everything you were using to protect yourself. Everything you were holding on to is slowly, but deliberately, being removed. Fiberglass shards start flying. Large chunks are falling away. But it doesn't go smoothly.

It doesn't go smoothly....

It hurts....

And to me (and some others) this is Life. We have a tendency to make ourselves comfortable with this little life as we know it, content to hide behind all kinds of things to fool ourselves into thinking we're happy. And for the most part we succeed.

And then God comes along.

And He slowly starts chipping away at us. And it hurts.

But God is always right there next us, whispering, "I know it hurts. But I have something so much better for you. Please just trust Me."

Most of the time I think that we can't hear Him because we're too focused on the sounds of our own shattered kingdoms to notice.

Because it hurts.... because it isn't what we want.... because we don't understand it....

I don't understand the magnitude of earthquake in Haiti. I don't think anyone does. What came to mind when I tried to understand it all was Matthew 24:6-7:

6. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see that you are not alarmed. Such things MUST happen, but the end is still to come.
7. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

There is a certain level of comfort in knowing that Jesus said all of this had to happen. It helps me to know that He is sovereign in all of this. I don't have to understand why it happened. Jesus knows why.

And He's in control...

The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!"
-Matthew 8:27

Monday, January 25, 2010

Wii Fit

So last Friday I bought Katie a Wii Fit Plus for our 2 year anniversary. It's safe to say that I am NOT in shape at all. First time a video game literally kicked my butt...



Been a long time...

My apologies for my extended absence from this place. I've fallen victim to laziness and the oft-used excuse of "I've got so much going on right now..." So we'll just skip the awkwardness and pretend that I've been here all along... And now at the urgent request of Katie and my friends at Growing Freely and Just a Little Mishap....

On with the show...

For those who didn't hear (or see the video), I'm engaged now! Katie said yes! We're going to be married on July 17th, 2010! And then it's a long, fun week in Walt Disney World staying in the Animal Kingdom Lodge! It's going to be so much fun!