Major

I've decided to major in Biblical Studies instead of Christian Ministries. I know more about ministry than I know about the bible, so it seems logical to go this way. I haven't picked classes for next semester yet though. I'm still glad this semester's about over, and I'm ready to start my next round of classes.

What a tease

Thanksgiving was great. But it turned out to be a big tease. I still have to go back to school, with homework ready to turn in. I don't want to go to school. I want to stay home and bake cookies with you.

The Psychology of Biblical Interpretation

Just read through this book written by Cedric B. Johnson in about an hour and a half or two hours. It's about 120 pages. Decent book. If you haven't had any classes about philosophy and psychology, there's probably going to be a lot you don't understand. I've taken one class in each, and there was some stuff that just went right over my head. Plus I'm like falling asleep, so that probably didn't help in understanding.

Basically the book warns that you need to be careful when interpreting the bible. You come to the Bible with experiences, fears, influences, culture, and yadda yadda ya. I liked the book because it had to do with understanding how people work (and for some reason that always earns my attention). But I don't really think the book changes anything with how I'm going to interpret the bible. It has given me a new understanding that will help when I teach the bible to others.

It's not an entertaining book, not full of tons of useful and practical stuff, not long. Not the best book to read, but it wouldn't hurt to read if you've got two spare hours.

How far is heaven?

I've been struggling through two ideas, heaven and selfishness, that are really intertwined for me, and I haven't really come to a conclusion that satisfies me. I'm not even really sure how to organize all my thoughts into coherent statements. Basically, I'm tired of hearing about becoming a Christian so you get out of Hell. I hear "It's not about religion, it's about the relationship," and then two seconds later "and you get out of Hell." People talk about being selfless as a Christian, but being Christian is selfish. ¹⁹"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, ... ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." How is that not selfish? Would people love Christ if going to Heaven when we die wasn't part of the deal?

I think the big issue is that I'm selfish. I've got selfish motivations. I really want to be selfless, but I don't feel like I'm being selfless. I don't feel selfless storing up treasures in Heaven. I even feel selfish accepting love and peace and other blessings from God. I just feel like it's so much about me, what I want, and what God can give me.

Strengthsquest

According to Strengthsquest, my top 5 strengths are:

1. Adaptability. People especially talented in the Adaptability theme prefer to “go with the flow.” They tend to be “now” people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.
2. Communication. People especially talented in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.
3. Ideation. People especially talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.
   
4. Includer. People especially talented in the Includer theme are accepting of others. They show awareness of those who feel left out, and make an effort to include them.
5. Strategic. People especially talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.

Does that sound like me?

Like a UFO

Dear Abby,
I strange phenomena has been happening to me recently. It's as strange as being abducted by a UFO. About a half hour after I eat, even if I completely glutton myself to death, I feel hungry. It's the weirdest thing. I'll just be stuffed out of my mind, and then before I know it, my stomach's telling me to eat more food. I have been able to ignore it thus far, but I'm growing weak against the forces of this misleading hunger. I fear that I may soon give into this. I've already gained about ten pounds since going to school here, so that really wouldn't help me out too much. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do about this. I'm just so confused about it. What should I do?

Signed,
Stuffed-yet-hungry.

A new plan

I've had several sorry attempts at memorizing scripture, so now I'm on a new venture. My last try was recently, within the past month, to try to memorize Galatians by Christmas. I quickly realized this was a task only for the hardcore, super committed, and plenty of available time person. Not me. I also understood that it was, in a way, rushing too much. In one of my classes we were talking about the best way to memorize scripture (its crazy how your issues get addressed in places or ways you don't expect). I think my plan of action now is to go one verse at a time, adding a verse every 4 days. Each day I aim to recite the verse(s). So for the first 4 days i will recite galatians 1:1, then the next 4 days, 1:1-2. next 4 days 1:1-3. and on and on. When I get to chapter 2, the first day i will recite chapter 1 with the first verse of chapter 2. then after that i won't recite chapter 1 anymore. except when i get to chapter 3, then i will do all of chapter 1 and 2. make sense? probably not, but i get it in my mind.

I've already got one other person in on this, mostly serving as an accountability and encouragement kinda thing. I forget a lot, so it helps to have somebody reminding me. Plus its easier for me to remember to remind somebody else to do something than to remember my own things to do. Da?

Pshea!

Here's the DL

• HP is finally sending me a box. A box that I put my laptop in. A box I then mail in. Then they fix it and mail it back in a new box. They mail back a new laptop with my stuff on it. A working laptop. I'm freakin pumped.
• I started a new checking account. Chase College Checking. No monthly or yearly fees. Needed 25 dollars to start. Realized I had -95 bux in my other account. 2 overdraft fees. 32 bucks for the first one. 64 for the second. Got them both reversed. YEAH!
• Had a ten page paper returned to me with a 55/60. Nice.
• Got a 5-7 page paper due today thats worth 120 (or 160... not sure). I think I did a terrible job on it. I worked hard on it... it's just a weak paper. I was not satisfied when I was finished. I had time to go back and redo stuff, but I just didn't know what to do, so I left it.
• I think my truck's leaking power steering fluid. This past summer whenever I turned the wheel it was all jerky. I had like no fluid. I filled it up. It's jerky again. I need a new exhaust too.
• I've applied for a few jobs and heard nothing. I just applied for a mail job on campus. Hope I get that.
• I have made a goal to memorize the whole book of Galatians by the new year. I'm excited. I have to do about 3 verses a day to make it. So far so good.
• Just finished reading Blood Brothers. Fantastic book.
• Just started reading i am not but i know I AM
  
• Just got a job at trinity. You may now call me "Mailman"