wow... This is the longest in a long time that I've been absent from my blogger. Internet activity is way cut back on account of not working in the computer lab this year and not having access in my apartment.

I could update on the activities of the last few weeks, but that's not what's on my mind right now. Yesterday's occurences are what my thoughts are dwelling on.

I had arranged to go take some engagement pictures for my friends Leanna and Brandon. They had a couple things to do right after classes so I went home. While I was sitting at the table, eating and talking with my roommate, I get a phone call. This guy, Gary, had received my name and number as someone who would talk with him about "Christian Doubts." I arranged a time, 4pm to meet with him at the Public Library. I took pictures at the Rose Garden of Brandon and Leanna and then they dropped me off at the Library.

Gary... A guy who has had a hard life, bouncing from job to job, from city to city. Got saved in New Orleans (maybe ten or twenty years ago) but because of his appearance the churches wouldn't accept him. His story is typical - he has been burned by people who wouldn't put action behind his love. I started to try and encourage him, but he cut me off with "I've heard all the pat answers... and I know the Bible." He mentioned James 2. And then he told me that he had a chance at a good job down in LA but needed money to get into a rooming house.

Of course, I was suspicious, but then I thought about it - this guy has met Christians who talk about love, but don't put action behind their words. I could give him a sermon, pat him on the back, and send him on his way, but would that really bring him closer to Christ? Well, I gave him some money and told him that the reason I was giving him this was so that he would know that there are Christians who put action behind their words and who truly love.

Maybe I was taken for a sucker, maybe not, but I feel I did what Jesus would have had me do. Talking with Isaac and Heather afterwards (they had given him my number), we compared stories and senses of what God was doing in this situation. He had said the same thing to Isaac and they had talked about some theological stuff. It's tough to know what to do in those situations, and I have second-guessed myself, but I still think I did what God wanted me to do.

I have his email address, so I'm going to see about keeping in touch with him.

So if you have a minute, pray for Gary.

I think today's post is going to be a quick update on happenings.

We got approved for our apartment on Friday. Reese left for NIKO early Saturday, so I had to move in by myself. I discovered that you can fit a lot in those little Hatchback Civics. I got most of the boxes moved in, then relaxed for awhile. Jason helped me with the rest of the furniture (who knew my car could hold a dresser?). I was looking for a person who had a vehicle large enough to move the couch out of storage. that was hard, but I finally got ahold of James. He has a minivan that he took the chairs out of. We got the sofa in and were able to actually close the door. Got it up the stairs and then hit a problem. The door to our apartment is smaller than standard. The couch is wide and long. No matter what we did, it wouldn't go through the door. Thus, it went to Goodwill. We'll still have to get a couch, but we will be measuring before we try to move it in.

I have a boxspring and will be getting a mattress from James. So at least I'll have a place to sleep.

Jason and his wife had me over for dinner. Very tasty on an exhausted boy's stomach. We played games for awhile and then I went home and unpacked some. I didn't have any hangers, so that curtailed my unpacking.

Then Sunday morning I left around eleven and drove over the mountains to Madras. I got to spend time with my parents yesterday and today and tomorrow I leave to return to Eugene. I packed my car with all of my stuff this morning. It's going to be nice to have hangers and bookshelves.

Freshman orientation is next week and I have two meetings to go to on account of being a Senior (Seniors lead freshmen small groups). I'll probably be involved with the different activities throughout the week. I have to register and start looking for good prices on books.

It's going to be good to see everyone who returns.

Do you ever feel like you're pushing through mud in order to get to where God wants you? Circumstances, emotions, distractions, all seem to be slogging you down? That's where I'm at today. I've been sooo excited about getting an apartment and getting settled and then starting school and seeing where God is taking me this year. Well, being approved for the apartment is taking a long time, mainly because we didn't get some paperwork done with the financial aid office at EBC. That of course is depressing me.

I have to remember that no matter what the circumstance, no matter what my state of mind is, that God has a plan and a future for me. Today is the day. I can make a difference by being cheerful, by realizing Who my Father is, and by rejoicing in Him.

I've been getting my devotions and journaling done the last few days and God has really been showing me that I need to Obey, no matter where He leads me. So that's the theme of this year: Obey in everything. Take a look at Ezekiel, he laid on his side for 490 days, eating food cooked over manure. Think about how radical that is. "Oh, did you hear about Zeke? Yeah, he's gone crazy and is laying down on the corner of 5th and Broadway. Some sort of example for the Jews... Weird guy." Am I willing to do that? Am I ready to be a fanatic for Christ? Are you?

I just added several new bloggers to my list: Foz - College friend, Patrick - Interesting guy, Ryan and Kristine - Iowan couple, Jowy - Strange young warrior, David E. - Warrior of God in Afganistan. If you see your blog in that list and don't want it on the sidebar, just tell me and I'll remove it.

I probably have a few more in my bookmarks folder, but I think that's enough for today.

I've packed my car, except for a few things. I'm going to try and get to bed around 6ish or 7ish. Whether I'll sleep is another story. Then I wake up at 1ish, get ready to go, and leave around 2. Should be a good trip. I dunno when I'll be back online - depends on whether I can get to the computers at school.

Pray for the apartment process. We need to get it asap.

I'm bored... Waiting for my friends to show up.

In other news... My brother called me today. He's back in AZ and just now moved into an apartment. It took some doing to find a place, but he's in and will be getting some funiture soon. I'm happy for him. Having an apartment is going to be a good thing for him.

Makes me antsy for a place of my own. Now that the internship is over, I can't wait to get back to Eugene. Tomorrow it will be officially ten weeks that I've spent up here. While I'm going to miss it, I'm also ready to return to school and to Eugene. I have great expectations for this year.

I'm also looking forward to not having a TV. Stephen made a rant about that and I agree with him. TV is addicting and I've wasted a lot of time here watching the tube. It will help to not have one in my apartment this year. I'm also seriously considering not have a TV for the foreseeable years ahead.

Dice game

Black and White
Originally uploaded by jcforgod.

I went to a friend's house and we played a few games, talked, and prayed. It was the last time I would see these guys while I'm up in Everett. Thus, it was a good opportunity for some pictures. I think I annoyed my friends though... They made me stop taking pictures. :(

I have been avoiding the whole Katrina thing, thinking same old hurricane stuff (bad I know, but I've become rather hardened when it comes to natural disasters), then I saw a couple newscasts and it really made me realize this is going to change a lot of people's lives, not to mention the idiots who are looting...

I've also been reading Patrick's Blogger and he is a refugee from there. He's having to face the realities of this.

Lord, I lift up the people of New Orleans and the other towns affected by this storm. I pray for sanity and order. A lot of people are going nuts and I pray that they will calm down and find you in the middle of this mess. I pray that families and friends will be reunited. I pray that people will be able to make a new start where they need to. Provide food and water for all of these people. I also pray that those not affected will open their hearts and do what they can for those affected. Amen.

I also wonder what will happen to the city... I was talking to a guy who thinks they should abandon the city. Think about it, you've got all that sewage and all that trash, plus the aligators, and the West Nile Virus... You've got a breeding ground for disease. Plus, if they have the right spot, this won't happen again. *shrugs* I could be wrong of course, they could sink billions into rebuilding...