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The Prodigal has returned! I just purchased internet service today and have been kinda catching up. I still can't be on long, 'cause I'm tying up the phone, but you'll hear from me every so often. Pretty much the highlight of the first two weeks was orientation week, and in order to tell you about that, I'm inserting a letter that I wrote to Samuel. (BTW, I'm going to write a little bit after it so stay tuned even if you've seen the letter before.)

To: The Missile? (where'd you get that?)
From: The Tree
Subject: Takeover is working as planned.

I am still a tiny bit sick.. I think my body is recovering, but very slowly. The cold moved to the chest and is dissipating now.
This weekend was really cool. Annie had called earlier in the week and told us that she was wanting to come down but didn't know exactly when. Well, Saturday morning she calls and said that she was ready to come down and was leaving around 2 or so. She made it in 2 and ahalf hours... We had dinner about 6 or so and talked all evening. Dave and Anne stayed up until 12 but I had needed to head to bed earlier. Then we all went to church at the school. (New Joy has moved into a school for awhile. Very nice to have room!) Pastor Tim talked about September 11th and had some really good things to say.

~~Much Later~~

~~Almost a week later in fact~~

~~Monday the 16th is the date if you wanted to know~~

~~Taking down a computer doesn't help the email writing business~~

Hey, I am now sitting in my dorm room, listening to Carman, and thinking that writing email when I don't have a dial tone doesn't work out very well for sending email. Oh well, at least you'll get this eventually.

I took down the computer on the 12th and packed all my stuff into my car. If it wasn't for the printer table, I'd have been able to fit everything into my car. Very cool. We left about 9 or so Friday morning and got to my Great-Uncle Ray's about 7 or 8. Took a long time 'cause we took the scenic route through MacKensie Pass. Curves galore. Think Keller grade and take Oklahoma's width of road and trees and stretch it out to 22 miles or so and you have that pass. Totally amazing scenery, though. Once I develop my pics and track down a scanner, I'll get them put up on the site.

We then went to the coast on Saturday. Walked around the rocky beaches and had fun looking at the tide pools and watching the waves. I really enjoyed that and I hope I get to go back there.

Sunday we went to a Foursquare in Springfield and enjoyed that service. It was a second service and looked to be about 200 people or so. The worship was good and the pastor's sermon was on shaping your child and he had several good points to make.

Then we went over to Eugene and had burgers at Burger King. *grins* I was wanting something light, 'cause my stomach was rather touchy and I didn't want to overload it, but we got burgers. It wasn't too bad, but I did have issues later on... And part of the problem was that I did have some nerves.

EBC then was graced with the presence of the Reagans and we move me into the dorms. Room 204 in the front. I have the top bunk and Kevin Irwin has the bottom. He didn't bring all that much stuff, being from phoenix, but I did! *grins* My mother prepared me well. So we got me all unpacked and settled in and headed down to the park for the send-off.

The Send Off was awesome! Good food, Tri tip and the trimmings! Then we has some introductions, the staff, ASB, and the freshmen introduced themselves. Then we worshiped and after that did a send off thing with our families. I don't think I've seen such pride or emotion in my father before. It was something else to see how God has used them to bring me to this point in my life.

~~Next day~~

~~It's been raining all day long~~

~~Cloudy skies~~

~~Hope I get used to it~~

Okay, so where was I? Oh Send-off... After the send-off, we walked around a little and Dad and I played a game of pool in the Student Center. They then went back to the W's and I got to sleep on my bunk for the first time.

Next day we had all the firsts... First worship service, first assembly, etc... Very interesting and very fun. The food is excellent and I think that if I don't watch it, I'll end up putting some pounds on. *grins* I like all the staff and faculty. They seem to be annointed of God for this task of preparing leaders.

I took my first test yesterday. It was an English Placement test and they wanted a 1 page essay on this article. Very annoying and I didn't do very well. So I'm probably going to be put into the English 101. I guess that would be fine, 'cause I'd be where I need to be...

Then today I had a Bible proficiency test. It was actually pretty easy... 'cept for the 'who's the father of some guy that I've never heard of in my whole life' type of questions... *laughs*

Next up is lunch and then we pretty much have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves. This evening, our class advisor is having a small group of us over to his house. I am looking forward to this intensely, it'll be the first small group outing that I'll have done.


~~Evening~~

~~Well, night if you aren't a college student~~

~~9:46 to be precise~~

This is totally cool! Just met with my class advisor and the other students he's advising. We went to his house and did some activities (and ate food) that got us familiar with each other. There's some very cool people here.

What is interesting is that a good part of the students... and the faculty, play the guitar or do something worshipful. Being around these guys, who are actually quite good, has been reawakening my desire to learn guitar. I have wanted to learn to play for a long time, as I think I've mentioned to you. But I have never had the discipline to do any type of musical intrument. Well... Now that I'm in college, preparing myself for ministry and learning the skills of discipline (at least I hope so) I think I'll be able to sit myself down and practice. However, I think I shouldn't rush into this. It's a commitment and something that if I do do it, I want to do it the very best I can and stick to it. I want to glorify God with it. And if I start it and don't stay with it, I let God down. Obviously I don't want to do that. So in the next two weeks to a month I'm going to do some serious thinking and praying about learning the guitar and investing the time and money into that. Pray for me that I'll make the right decisions.

~~9 again~~

~~next day~~

~~this might turn into a blogger entry~~

Just got back from visiting a local church. It was one of the three Open Bible churches in eugene. I liked it. They had some worship and then the pastor started teaching for some sort of membership classes. Basically he's going over the basics. Tonight was about Salvation and the various aspects of it. Pretty good. I liked the pastor. Then we went over to the Youth Center and I got to talk with the youth pastor. Now that was majorly cool, 'cause of my calling. I got to see a little about how he viewed YM. (youth ministry)

So I'm going to be heading over to a camp tomorrow. They do this overnight retreat and apparently it is a highlight. I've been starting to talk to upperclassmen and seeing how things work around here and they say that Camp Lane is a very cool experience and that we'll like it. So I am looking forward to that.

Did registration today. I figured out my schedule and all the different classes I was taking. Very cool.

Here's a list of them:

Acts -- MTF -- Second period which is 8:30 to 9:20
Spiritual Formation -- M -- Third Period 9:30 to 10:20
CHapel -- T -- Third Period
Discipleship Groups -- W -- Third Period
Student Life and Ministry -- Th -- Third Period
Biology Lab -- F -- Third Period
Old Testament Survey -- MWF -- Fourth Period 10:30 to 11:20
Expository Writing -- TTh -- Extended Fourth Period 10:50 to 12:20
Bible Study Methods -- MWF -- Fifth Period 11:30 to 12:20
General Biology -- MWF -- Sixth Period 1 to 1:50

I was able to get my schedule so that I didn't have to do any thing at7:30 in the morning. That was a relief, 'cause of my contact and also because my brain takes 2 hours or so to wake up. *grins*

I'm taking 17 credit hours and 2 Independent Study hours. One is a Learning Skills Enhancement course and the other is Study Skills. The LSE is a course that works to help you expand your brain and develop better skills of retention and memorization. It sounds really cool. Study Skills is something I was really hoping that they would have, 'cause I'm not a good studier...

I've had an interesting day.

~~Wheeeee!~~

~~It's Friday night!~~

~~I'm not doing anything really~~

Well, we did the retreat! I was majorly touched last night and this morning. Last night we had a hour long worship service that God was in! Man, the Spirit was most definitely there. One of the faculty (I forget what department he's head of...) spoke. He talked about how this is a time for focus and how we may have messed up in the past, but God has forgiven us. That's History and we can forget about it. Instead, look forward to our destiny and to what God wants to do NOW. *whistles* that was a powerful teaching! He finished about 10:00, but the night was still young. It was now time for an activity that required trust.

They had us line up in single file and then blindfolded us! Dark and blindfolded they lead us all over the campground. We had to pay attention to the people in front and in back of us and also to listen to the student leaders 'cause they could see! They led us to an area and had us sit down. Then Mr. Smith led us in a 'burning' service. This was a time to take things that we wanted to give up to God and burn them in a symbolic gesture. Some people burned fear, some did a sin or something like that. It was tight! (New word in my vocabulary! *grins* Rad, cool, awesome, and.. tight.) That really enabled me to let go of some things.

We then played a game and watched some leaders get whipped cream in their faces! (that was the consequences for getting discovered) After that and eating s'mores, it was bed time at 1 o'clock! I had worn my contact for 18 hours! A record for me, I think. Normally, and perhaps wisely, my limit is 12 - 14 hours. So this was amazing for me to see that I didn't have too much problem with it.

This morning they got us up at 8 and we hung around for a half hour. Then we worshiped, shared, and basically let God work. After the majority of the morning, they did something really awesome! All the student leaders lined up in two rows. Then the freshmen filed between them and they prayed for us. Wow! Wow! That's really all I can say....

We then headed home and had the afternoon and evening free. So I'm free until Monday morning when the work starts.

So God is Good and I love Him so much!

It's time to close this letter and I'll be getting internet service soon so I'll be able to send it.

Signing off,

The Tree

~~This is going to be a blogger entry~~

~~Everything is included in this letter~~

It's really bedtime, 11:49pm, but I wanted to tell a little bit about classes. The book for BSM is awesome! I'm going to be enjoying Living by the Book and it's going to help me develop a desire for the word. The other classes are cool too... OT Survey is awesome! the Teacher also is a greek teacher and interjects stuff about greek and hebrew into his classes. We sange a song in Hebrew today...

My hardest class, because of the homework is the expository writing. I had a ton of reading and then writing. took me all evening to get it done and I finally got it done at 11. Man...

Anyways... God is moving and I love Him so much!

Bah... Blogger messed up and I lost my last entry... grrrr...

Anyways, I'm off to Eugene tomorrow. We're going to stay with my Great-Uncle and go to the coast on Saturday. Sunday we'll try to go to a church and then in the afternoon I move into my dormroom. New things... Very interesting. Pray.

However, that also means I'll have to take down my computer! Oh no! What'll I do without it for 4 days?! *snorts*

Internet will come, but I'll have to get a phone and then subscribe to a service, so it might be awhile...

God bless and I'll see you on the other side!

It's that day... September 11th... That date will always be ingrained into our memories...

I wasn't really thinking about it all that much today. I knew that it had happened a year ago, but didn't really think about it.. Then the radio station played Meet Me In The Stairwell. [..download here..] Wow. That made me remember and to think and pray about our nation...

Lord I pray for the people who have been hit the hardest by this anniversary. The people of New York... The widows and the children of all those people... I pray you will comfort them. Give them strength to make it through today and the memories. I ask that if they do not know you, please draw them to you. Touch our nation and bring it back to the Cross. Thank You Lord, for loving us even in our sin. Amen.

I don't know if I've ever mentioned it on here, but besides being a pastor, my dad has an excellent voice. Combine that with my mother's piano playing and you get a very cool ministry. While we pastored in Wilbur, Dad and mom did the worship. Since then, they haven't done much singing. It's too bad, 'cause it is so awesome!

At the moment a friend, Anne from Wilbur, is visiting and she is a singer as well. There is an arrangment for Psalm 91 that Dad and Anne do. Very cool! They just sang it and I was impressed! *grins*

Okay, I didn't go to sleep. I was still wide awake. So I went through my email and wrote a couple letters and organized some of it. Something I've been needing to do in a long time. I also found a Survey! Yay! so here ya go, more nonsense about JC!

Fill this out and send to all of your friends so they can get to know you a
little better send this to everyone even the person that sent this to you.


1.Time you started?1:55 Saturday morning
2.Full name? Eh... That'd be telling... JC Reagan is all you're going to get
3.Date of birth? 02-01-1983
4.Nicknames? The Tree, Jolly Green Giant, Harry the Philodendron
5.Do you believe in God? With all my heart and soul and mind
6.Hometown? Heh. I have moved 19 times average in my 19 years and am about to move again. You think I have a hometown? Welll... Fairfield, ID with my Grandma R. and Butte, MT with my Grandma H.
7.Where do you live now? Smack dab in the middle of a bed
8.Height? 6 foot
9.Weight? 215 last time I looked. I am about 30 or so pound overweight. I need to exercise!
10.Eye color? blue
11.Hair color? Depends on when you're asking. Last fall it was bleached, last month I didn't have any, and now... well, now it's brown
12.Do you plan to have Kids? Yessirree bob! Depending on how God works, 5 or 6 sounds like a good number
13.Most embarrassing moment? eh... three nights ago when I made some tea for my sore throat and set it next to me on the bed. I proceeded to go to sleep and you guessed it! Hot, spilled, tea is not good on the skin nor the sheets. I spent the rest of the night on the couch.
14.Do you have a Boyfriend/Girlfriend? nope. I do not.
15.Ever been out of the country? Yes. I took a trip to the UK in 1998.
16.Ever done a drug? Tylenol, Codine, Sudephed, Topical Steroids for my cornea transplant...
17.Ever loved someone? Define love, but yes, I have loved pretty much everyone I come into contact with. God has endowed me with a big heart that doesn't like seeing people hurting.
18.Ever had your heart broken? yeah
19.Ever dumped someone? nope
20.Ever been in a car accident? Well, the brakes gave out on our old Jeep pickup and I was stopped by the shop table... I have also had a few close calls...
21.Ever had sex? Oh, that is a very blunt question. I am a firm believer in Abstinence until the Wedding night.
22.If not what’s the most you’ve done with a guy/girl? I also believe in purity and keeping yourself unspoiled for your future wife.
23.Ever had a crush on a friend? yup
24.Favorite band? Third Day
25.Favorite rapper? Eh... Rap is not high on my list
26.Favorite singer? Male: Michael W. Smith Female: Rebecca St. James
27.Favorite color? I tend towards the cool colors... Blue, green, maroon..
28.Favorite number? 3.14.... etc.
29.Favorite holiday? Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection
30.Favorite book? Just one? Lord of the Rings, the Narnia series, Cheaper By The Dozen, Firebird Trilogy, The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen Lawhead, The Last Gaurdian, The ScrewTape Letters... and the list goes on and on!
31.Favorite food? Pizza!!
32.Favorite web site? http://the-ri.com
33.Favorite season? (as in summer spring ect. Not as in food ) Cinnamon... *snickers* okay, Spring, and then fall. winter is next and Summer is last 'cause you can only take so many layers off.
34.Favorite Sport? To watch I'd say Basketball. I don't like sports all that much though...
35.Favorite T.V. show? Don't have a TV, but I used to really like Early Edition!
36.Favorite movie? Hmmm... Right now Lord of the Rings:Fellowship of the Ring is at the top... The Matrix is next and then some of those old movies...
37.Favorite song style? Worship and then Christian Pop
38.Do you have any pets? Well, they are the family's.. Daisy, half German shepherd and two cats. Tabs and Pepperanne
39.Do you live with your parents? At the moment. Ask me again in a little over a week.
40.Do you like school? Haven't been in school for a year... again, ask me in a week or three.
41.Do you like math? nope
42.Do you think you look good? I don't have too many zits on my face and I shaved the other day...
43.Do you like the person that sent this to you? I do not remember who sent this to me. I suppose I do like them, I like most everybody.
44.What kind of grades do you get? Never really ever got grades. Ask me after this quarter ends.
45.What kind of people do you like? Pretty much everybody, but the people I click with have a deep desire to serve God
46.What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? Like I'm going to tell you...
47.What’s the most fun you’ve ever had? Oh, gee.... I can't pick... I have sooo much fun with my family.. especially at dinner time.
48.Best friends name? eh... at the moment I don't have any one that I'd consider "best" In fact, I've never really held with the 'best friend' thing...
49.First pet’s name? Oh... What was it? Pokey, after a little kid's story about pokey puppy... My pokey died after being ran over... I was four... *sniff* it was sad.
50.First loves name? Say what?
51.Boyfriend/Girlfriend’s name? Didn't I just say I didn't have one?
52.Favorite teacher’s name? Mother!
53.Time you finished this survey? Oh gee, I'm almost afraid to look... 2:20 took me 25 minutes to write this... Now, do I put it on my blog or send it to my address book... How about both!?

I am tired but I don't know if I'm tired enough to sleep... my eye is saying yes, sleep, but my brain seems to be still active. Maybe I'll edit those typos in the last post... Nah, I'll let you see me in my blind glory!

Well, good morning! I bet you're still asleep unless you're Jen and even she should be asleep since it is 4am her time... My day tomorrow is going to be interesting... Hopefully I get my eight hours which would mean if I was able to get to sleep in 3 minutes at 2:30, I'd have to sleep until 10. It's hard to sleep when the light comes in your window even with the blinds closed... so I may not get my sleep... Oh well, such is life... Such is the price you pay for late nights... I really should stop typing... I'm starting to make absolutely no sense at all... What do you think? am I making sense?

I now feel officially, absolutely, positively busehed. It's eleven fifty and I CANNOT get to sleep. Thought just keep zipping in there and I cant seem to quiet them down. Thus, I've turned on the computer and ame typing in my blogger. Now, I'm not wearing gleasses and I'm not even looking at the screen... So I warn you, there will be some awful typos.

Okay, I told you that I was going to tell you about my life lately... I think I'll start off with a momentous occaision! I have rededicated my life to god. I don't know, if you're a regular reader of my blog, but you may have noticed that 've been down and struggling with my walk with God. I have a sin that is like a cliff in my life and it's been a pain and a barier. Well I was talking with Steve on... gee I don't remember now... well, it was a few nights ago. I was telling him about the fact that I have had a hard time with getting through to God and it was because of this sin and I couldn't go any further because of it. After chatting with him and telling him I was hopoing that going to college would bring a breakthrough,I stayed up late thinking. Why wait until college? So I got up, went to take a showere (didn't want to bother the fam with my talking) and basically poured my heart out to God, I told Him that He could have everything and that He could have this sin as well. After praying, I felt the Holy Spirit come upon me and felt this peace. It was a n assurance that my Father heard me... So latley the last couple of days, I've been reading the Word a little more and praying more often. It's been awesome!

I have had a little problem with that sin, but giod is just and has forgiven me.

Well, besides gett9ing right with God, I've been sick. I think I overexteneded myself in the month of Aughust, 'cause once m famUncle and family left, I got sick with a terrible head cold. for twoor three days I felt prety bad, but nthen I started getting better day by day. Today was one of the best days this week. I actually got most of my room cleaned and ready for Mom. See, I'm not going to be here, and we may be instore for a move. (don't know anything yet) Soo, just in case, I have packed most of the things that I'm not going to need for schoole and made the other thingsready for Mom to pack and move quickly. So I'm happy... Got things done.

As far as the stuff to take to school... Ive got a lot... we've got the spare room set up for me to deposit me items ofdormroom living. I have almost everyting gather aed and I'm surpried at how much stuff I have. should be interesting to see if I have room for it al, or if I have to send some back with the parents...

Speaking about parents... The andre beingnice to me and helping me take tings ovr. I'm glad, 'cause I have aaaaatable for my computer that I ned, and if Ididn't have the help, Idon't knowf my car would handle it.... Supose I sould put it on the roof...

LET"S SEE... am I still an insomniac?.... Yeah, I a...

i did something today that made my dad laugh at me. I took two candles and went outside and played with hot wax! *grins* YYeah I know, it is a little silly, but it's something I've always wanted to do... btu never was old enough or mature enugh to play with fire. Well, I am now! My Dad cracked up when he saw me in thedriveway with these candles...

Well, I thinkI will post this and see if my body will let m sleep. It's now twele twelve.... So hs will be a nwday's entry... Aeekfrom tdaand "LL e at my Great-Uncle's house in Eugene....

Hi! I know, I need to update you on what's going on... Believe me, I would, but it's too late and I need sleep! I actually didn't turn my computer on until 12pm this afternoon! You should be proud of me!

Ta Ta!

Wheee... I made a new username for this blogger and went in and made my changes in the template, and saved... And it actually saved!! Wow... So I'm happy... Now the body of the posts is not so squished.

I should tell you about what's been going on yesterday and today, but I'm tired and I need to go to bed. Good night.

An article that Brian found, gives us the enviromentalists attitude in their own words. Some scary stuff... Here are a few of the quotes:

Human beings, as a species, have no more value than slugs. -- John Davis, editor of Earth First! Journal

I'm glad you have such a high opinion of yourself.

Phasing out the human race will solve every problem on earth, social and environmental. -- Dave Forman, Founder of Earth First!

Okayyyy... Whatever you say...

Cannibalism is a "radical but realistic solution to the problem of overpopulation." -- Lyall Watson, The Financial Times, 15 July 1995

Now that's just SICK!

The Wisdom of God -- 1Corinthians 1:18 - 31

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29 so that no man may boast before God.
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update,

find your inner PIE @ stvlive.com

I'm a pie now... very interesting...

by node id all stubbed ubd! In other words, I have a head cold. Started out as a sore throat thingy, but now my room is a blanket of white tissues. I have proceeded to use up my family's supply of Kleenex, and now am starting in on the TP. (ouch, my poor nose...) My life feels stuffed up at the moment; I haven't worn my contact since contracting this stuff and my vision is awfully blurred. I need some chicken soup...

Besides having a carpet of tissue, I've also been reading some books. Finished Firebird by Kathy Tyers. I've read it before and enjoyed it as always. It's one of those 'what if' books. What if Israel was scattered among the stars before Jesus came? This book (and the other two in the Trilogy) is based on that premise. Also read another 'what if' book. The Brother by Dorothy Clarke Wilson tells the story of James, the brother of Jesus. Very cool book. I've always enjoyed it.

10 days left to leave for Eugene....

it's not...

I wonder if my blogger template is saving

let us find out...

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