Ah the joys of procrastinating... This week "Dead week" is going to be just that. I haven't gotten much school done, 'cause I've been enjoying relaxing too much. I don't think that tomorrow will be much more productive than today has been. Though I did get some greek stuff done! *pats self on the back*

I've been writing emails and talking on MSN for a good part of the day. I'm happy! getting back in touch with some good friends as well as starting some new friendships. Tis cool. Can't wait until this term is over and I can do all this every day for 3 weeks! *laughs* I'm way too much the computer geek.

speaking about computers... My brother got a job contracting for a local computer store. Looks like he'll be getting a few hours a week at around $20 an hour. Very cool. Me want his job. That type of job is what I've been wanting for ages. And then my brother gets it. grrrrr... *winks*

But, the computer lab is fun and I've finally got the confidence to be able to work on my own and get things done. Now that's with hardware. I really want to build my software skill up, but I'm not sure of how to do that. any ideas?

I'm hoping that this summer I'll be able to get a similar job and be able to have the skills to be able to build computers and troubleshoot them in a professional store. Once the middle of May comes around I'll be taking my resume into many computer stores in Eugene and hopefully I'll get something. Otherwise I'll probably end up working at Wal - mizzy or some other chain store. *shudders*

Let's see, what homework do I have to do and what it requires.

Three Native American Lit Papers

3-5 pages double spaced on the books we've been reading. I have to look at the questions and write some sort of analytical paper. I have some ideas on two of the questions, so once I get motivated (in other words: panicked) I'll have something to build on.

Sociology Project

Stupid survey didn't work out. Either I go to the rooms and drag it out by force or I choose another topic. Grrrrrrr.... I wonder if J to the osho has something yet.

Greek

I'm wondering how I'll do on the final... the tests haven't been going to o good. However that's the homework I have been doing, so maybe I'll do well on the final and maybe get a low B.

Speech

*groans* I have a speech on an area of interest. Problem is, I'm not sure what I'm interested in. I've been thinking of Dating but I wrote a research paper about that and half of the class heard my presentation... Hmmm... Maybe more of a look at preparing for marriage instead of looking for a mate. Talk about how we can prepare without dating... hmmm... That might work for a six to eight minute speech. However the outline is due on Monday. hmmmmm..... Ideas... Come forth, I command you! *hums* nope, that doesn't work. hmmm... maybe I'll be dreaming about it tonight and wake up witha perfect speech in mind... Nice bed.

Is that it? Oh wait, I have to start studying for finals as well. Blah. Oh well, once that's over, I'll be done for the term! Yipppppppeeeeeee!

Here's a question for ya... In order to be saying you're in ministry, do you have to be in a church or in a program or in something organized?

What is ministry? Why do we get our socks in knot whenever that word comes up? Is it important or is it just something pastors do and want others to do?

Do I answer that or do I get feedback first? I think I'll try and answer it.

I'm thinking that ministry isn't program, or a platform, or a label. I think it's more of an attitude towards others. It's how you behave towards them that matters. Whether "them" is the homeless, or whether "them" is a hurting teenage in your church or whether "them" is a brother or sister on the Internet going through a tough time, ministry is being Christ-like in everything we do!

Yeah, I'm human and I'm a fleshful person. Yeah, I haven't yet rolled down my window to talk to a guy on the corner and I have problems even thinking about that. Yeah, I'm speaking to myself. I really want my life to be full of serving. Where would I be without Christ serving me?

But still, I have the image of ministry being a pastorate or something similar. Ministry is being Christ-like!!!!!

Okay I've been meaning to update, but my computer time has been short lately.

I'm actually in Madras right now. I had missed my first class (late night last night) and went to my second class. I was sitting in the cafeteria thinking about skipping chapel and my last class when I realized that it was rainging. If it's raining, it must be snowing on the pass and I don't want to get stuck in Eugene for Thanksgiving. So, I went and filled up my gas tank, got my tires aired up, bought some chains and left Eugene around 10:46 or so. I got to Santiam Pass and yes indeed, I had to chain up. I forgot that I had front wheel drive so I was trying, without success, to install them on the back tires. Once I realized that it was front wheel drive, it was easy to do so. I'm really glad I had chains, 'cause it was snowing over the entire pass and putting down a lot. The chains were helping me go faster than 10MPH and I actually got to 35mph at places. Needless to say, it was a long journey. Got into Madras at 4:15 or so and have had a lovely evening with my family.

Problem is, I need to figure out my homework. It's going to be extremely hard to get anything done 'cause I just want to relax. I'm going to have to use tomorrow and buckle down.

Any ideas on what I'm interested in? I have a speech outline due next monday and the subject is an area of interest. Grrrr... that's way too much.

Life has been extremely interesting and I'm really looking forward to the Christmas break.

Jen, give me a call sometime if I don't get to it first...

Okay, so I'm an extremely busy person! *grins*

Can't say much right now 'cause I really need to get going on a paper, but I am alive and I am still plugging away at the grindstone.

Can't wait until Thanksgiving! 4 day weekend!

Saw Pirates of the C. this friday. That movie rocks!

couple new pictures from September are up. That one on the left and there's one in the gallery under misc/me pics. Wish I had the time to upload the rest of the steveliz trip! Those would rock!

Oh, and I have to get a couple rolls developed to be able to share the beardless JC with you. That probably won't happen until Christmas break. Sorry.

http://www.ssiamerica.com/products/neo35/

hmmm... not bad. If I get a good job, that might be an option. Forget the CD player, I'll just upgrade to MP3s. *grins*

Stardate 11012003.21.25

I sit in my office thinking upon the adventure I have just had. It was a choice I made, but now I almost regret it. No, I must stand by my choice. They depend on me and I must not let them down! When that razor touched my cheeks, banishing those hairs forever, I was committed to the race. This month shall be hard… It shall be cold at first… But we shall persevere and reach our goal. I will not give up!

*laughs* Okay, to translate that into English… I shaved all my facial hair off yesterday. I have no gotee, no sideburns, and no mustache. It’s a very, very, very weird feeling. Now the reason that I did this is because the dorms are doing a no-shave November in which the person with the longest beard at the end of the month will win. So to make things fair I had to get rid of my beard. Believe me, it hurt. I look in the mirror and am wondering who this person is. Believe it or not, I actually bear some resemblance to my brother now! *laughs* I’m thinking that this month needs to pass by quickly.

However, it does appear that the gals here at the college like clean-shaven guys. I’ve had many comments that I look “better” without the facial hair. *ponders* hmmmm…. mayhap I need to do this again… *grins* Nah! I think I don’t need to tempt the gals. *winks* I’m thinking my beard is going to be a full beard and very long by the end of the school year… It’ll keep the girls away.

Heh… my life is always interesting…

I watched SWAT today. It was pretty good for an action film. While there were a few sexual remarks and a couple close ups of things I didn’t need to see, there wasn’t a sex scene. It was mostly about the SWAT team and their dedication to each other and to get the job done no matter what. I saw several things in that movie that I could admire.

Let’s see… What school work do I need to do? I’ve done Chapter 13 in Sociology. I’ve done four of the six sentences to translate in Greek. I’ve made flashcards of the personal pronouns and pasa. I’m reading some books on Tolkien for my speech on an individual for Speech. hmmm… Guess I need to work more on that. My outline is due a week from this Monday and my speech is that Thursday. So I need to have some content and direction by tomorrow evening. I’m rather intrigued by his love of languages and the fact that he made Middle-Earth for the language he created. Now to take that and flesh it out into a 5-7 minute speech. hmmmmmmmmmm

*yawns* however, I could definitely go to bed. That’d be cool as well.

Stardate 110203.16.16

Church was good today. I’m continuing to see how much my walk with Christ has been changing. I’m taking a class, Music and Worship, and we’ve been talking about the different types of worship and it’s been opening my eyes to how I worship. The songs at Christ Fellowship are awesome ‘cause they’ve been singing ones that focus on God. I’ve been discovering that I really enter into worship when the leaders choose songs that focus on Christ. It’s amazing…

I’ve also been discovering that God is inside me. Yeah, elementary, but let me explain. See, I’ve been talking to Dr. O. and he showed me a diagram that really opened my eyes. Okay, we were created in the IMAGE of God, so we had a spirit, mind, body, emotions, and will. Well, Adam sinned and that spirit died. Now that we have the gift of Christ’s death, the Holy Spirit replaces that dead spirit. So we’re actually better off than Adam. Amazing thought, isn’t it? But see, our life is actually a process of bringing our mind, emotions, will and body under the control the Holy Spirit. That’s why Paul’s verse in Romans “I know not why I do the things I don’t want to do.” (Jc’s paraphrase) is so appropriate to this. But the freeing thing is that I don’t have to do anything besides reminding myself that the Holy Spirit is in me and is over everything I do. It’s extremely freeing and I’m finding that my life has more meaning.

Yeah, I’ve been stressed out and not having devotions and sinning, but then I stop and I just remind myself of the awesomeness of my God and I have a joy, even in my struggle. Read Phillipians.

Well, I’m going to burn this to a CD and then take it down to the student center and post it.