Hello everyone... well, Mom, Grammie and Donna I think.
Just wanted to let you guys know that I will probably still be in SK on Sunday night so I won't be able to write at my usual time. I'll do my best to write as soon as I can.
Thanks guys!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Theology, Valentine's and snow caves
Hello everybody!
Sorry, I'm a day late! Sunday's are way more hectic than I usually anticipate so it gets hard to write Sunday night when I try to make it. SO! Another big week, seems like they get bigger and bigger each week!
I'll give you the events and then I'll give you some heart in it all:
Monday was kind of a work day, we had three assignments due the next day for Theology class. We needed to write a psalm, write a response to a theology textbook we had to read and had to find six images and do write-ups on them, three images of humanity and three of God. Kind of interesting. I pretty much slacked off/did another almost as important things all weekend so it was a bit of a rush on Monday to get everything done but I did it!
Theology class was Tuesday. I enjoy theology quite a bit but our teacher can be a little much at times. He's a guy from Poland and I have a great respect for him. He holds to the truth in the face of probably any ridicule and won't candy coat faith for anyone. At the same time, he can be a little harsh in his presentation of things. The morning was really interesting but then he gave us a homiletics assignment which seemed out of the realm of what we should have been learning and then spent the afternoon tearing us apart because we're not preachers... I learned in the afternoon but my heart was a little tired of the beating by the end...
Wednesday we got up early and headed off to Mt Washington again! Snow caving!! We all had our big packs on, stuffed with food and firewood and whatever we needed for clothes overnight and up the mountain we hiked with snowshoes on. We found a wide open space and picked out our spots and started digging. I was with two other guys which made us the smallest group which made it a bunch harder for us to have less people to help us dig our cave but we made a really great cave!
By 6:00 we had finished our cave and it was looking great! Made sure the floor of it where we would sleep was flattened and made sure the roof didn't have any points that water would condense and drip down on us. We watched the sun go down and hunkered down in front of the fire for a couple hours and just spent time together. Good time was had by all I think, the girls were getting pretty cold. Finally time for bed, it's a lot easier to go to bed early when there's no light or warmth. :P Slept like a baby. I tested my warmth and it won! Had a great sleep breathing fresh air and woke up happy. Had breakfast and tried to eat a fraction of the food we brought which was WAY too much and hiked back down the mountain.
Friday was a lax day. I told the group my testimony at chapel which was neat and I think I good connection to get in with them a little better. Still a bit of a struggle to fit in but it's a lot better, I have much more of a foundation which I didn't have before so as I push and try and get in closer, I have a place to fall back into now with these people rather than no place at all. It's been a neat learning experience to have to work SO hard to fit in. I've never come up against this kind of challenge because God has always blessed me with a quick door into any group.
Had youth in the night. We played a game called Jewel Heist which is just a turn all the lights off in the church game with Security, so we all dressed entirely in black and walked around scaring the crap out of kids. A great time was had by all I think. Went out to Boston Pizza after which was neat cause that's never happened before. The youth program is really evolving which is neat. It's becoming a lot more than it was and is providing so much more for the kids involved. Pretty neat how God gets what He wants.
Saturday was another day to just work... or not work depending on your disposition I suppose. One of the girls sisters came which was neat, it's a good time anytime there are visitors. Nice to see some new faces, especially when those faces look a lot like a face you're very accustomed to. We had a movie night in the evening and they watched Freedom Writers, which I didn't stay for. Not really sure, just wasn't feeling it. Which is weird because I love movies, especially ones I've never seen before. Still trying to figure that one out. Played soccer after that which was a good time. I've avoided soccer lately, probably for the same reason that I didn't stay for the movie, neither of which I understand yet. Just like a block or something I have against it. :S Playing in nets which has been interesting cause I've always hated nets but I've been playing really well and who doesn't enjoy something they're excelling at?
Sunday! I really have come to love Sundays in a new way! Get to sleep in because we go to the second service at our church. Usually enjoy the service a lot. Mark talked about servant hood and just what that means which was neat. It's nice to have Mark Buchannan preaching to you each Sunday. Then we went to a lady named Faith Whittaker's house. She's a really neat woman. She just opens her house to youth people and hangs out with them and calls them her friends. It's really interesting and shows in her youth how God has blessed her in it. We talked about the Shack for a while which was neat to hear what she had to say and get to verbalize my thoughts on the book in new ways. We just laid in the sun for an hour or two and just enjoyed the joy that is held in a relaxing Sunday afternoon away from home.
Came home and got back to work. I'm reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship which is a crazy book! So much to take out of it and so little time! I have to write a paper on it for Wednesday and I'm only half done so I have my work cut out for me. We had a New York team meeting which was a good time as usual. Kim and Kim who are the couple that are taking us down weren't there so I volunteered to run the group which I enjoy but I feel weird leading people that often I feel I haven't worked up the authority or right to instruct... at the same time, I'm very used to being in charge of people their age... there's a lot of emotions.
I'll give you my Monday while I'm here. Woke up late, went to chapel. We just had a prayer time which was neat. Good to hear where people are because we spend so much time together and yet so much of it is just surfacey... seems like a waste to me. Read half of the book today and had a nap till 3:30, had my interview for getting the job as assistant head counselor which went well I think. I enjoy interviews because I've learned the true value of things and understand that if I'm not to have this job, God will put the person that should in that position. So I have to wait till after reading break to find out what happens.
So yeah, this week is reading that book, writing a paper on it due Wednesday. Then Thursday will be quiet cause everyone gets on the bus to go and I'm flying so fly out Friday morning I guess...
Prayer requests: that if I'm supposed to work Assistant Head, they would decide right. I really want the position because it'll stretch me in new ways!
Trying to root through what motivates what I do and get rid of the excess and be motivated by God alone. This Bonhoeffer is eating my believes alive and I'm hoping what comes out the other side will be much greater.
Thanks for reading what I write and caring about me!
Sorry, I'm a day late! Sunday's are way more hectic than I usually anticipate so it gets hard to write Sunday night when I try to make it. SO! Another big week, seems like they get bigger and bigger each week!
I'll give you the events and then I'll give you some heart in it all:
Monday was kind of a work day, we had three assignments due the next day for Theology class. We needed to write a psalm, write a response to a theology textbook we had to read and had to find six images and do write-ups on them, three images of humanity and three of God. Kind of interesting. I pretty much slacked off/did another almost as important things all weekend so it was a bit of a rush on Monday to get everything done but I did it!
Theology class was Tuesday. I enjoy theology quite a bit but our teacher can be a little much at times. He's a guy from Poland and I have a great respect for him. He holds to the truth in the face of probably any ridicule and won't candy coat faith for anyone. At the same time, he can be a little harsh in his presentation of things. The morning was really interesting but then he gave us a homiletics assignment which seemed out of the realm of what we should have been learning and then spent the afternoon tearing us apart because we're not preachers... I learned in the afternoon but my heart was a little tired of the beating by the end...
Wednesday we got up early and headed off to Mt Washington again! Snow caving!! We all had our big packs on, stuffed with food and firewood and whatever we needed for clothes overnight and up the mountain we hiked with snowshoes on. We found a wide open space and picked out our spots and started digging. I was with two other guys which made us the smallest group which made it a bunch harder for us to have less people to help us dig our cave but we made a really great cave!
By 6:00 we had finished our cave and it was looking great! Made sure the floor of it where we would sleep was flattened and made sure the roof didn't have any points that water would condense and drip down on us. We watched the sun go down and hunkered down in front of the fire for a couple hours and just spent time together. Good time was had by all I think, the girls were getting pretty cold. Finally time for bed, it's a lot easier to go to bed early when there's no light or warmth. :P Slept like a baby. I tested my warmth and it won! Had a great sleep breathing fresh air and woke up happy. Had breakfast and tried to eat a fraction of the food we brought which was WAY too much and hiked back down the mountain.
Friday was a lax day. I told the group my testimony at chapel which was neat and I think I good connection to get in with them a little better. Still a bit of a struggle to fit in but it's a lot better, I have much more of a foundation which I didn't have before so as I push and try and get in closer, I have a place to fall back into now with these people rather than no place at all. It's been a neat learning experience to have to work SO hard to fit in. I've never come up against this kind of challenge because God has always blessed me with a quick door into any group.
Had youth in the night. We played a game called Jewel Heist which is just a turn all the lights off in the church game with Security, so we all dressed entirely in black and walked around scaring the crap out of kids. A great time was had by all I think. Went out to Boston Pizza after which was neat cause that's never happened before. The youth program is really evolving which is neat. It's becoming a lot more than it was and is providing so much more for the kids involved. Pretty neat how God gets what He wants.
Saturday was another day to just work... or not work depending on your disposition I suppose. One of the girls sisters came which was neat, it's a good time anytime there are visitors. Nice to see some new faces, especially when those faces look a lot like a face you're very accustomed to. We had a movie night in the evening and they watched Freedom Writers, which I didn't stay for. Not really sure, just wasn't feeling it. Which is weird because I love movies, especially ones I've never seen before. Still trying to figure that one out. Played soccer after that which was a good time. I've avoided soccer lately, probably for the same reason that I didn't stay for the movie, neither of which I understand yet. Just like a block or something I have against it. :S Playing in nets which has been interesting cause I've always hated nets but I've been playing really well and who doesn't enjoy something they're excelling at?
Sunday! I really have come to love Sundays in a new way! Get to sleep in because we go to the second service at our church. Usually enjoy the service a lot. Mark talked about servant hood and just what that means which was neat. It's nice to have Mark Buchannan preaching to you each Sunday. Then we went to a lady named Faith Whittaker's house. She's a really neat woman. She just opens her house to youth people and hangs out with them and calls them her friends. It's really interesting and shows in her youth how God has blessed her in it. We talked about the Shack for a while which was neat to hear what she had to say and get to verbalize my thoughts on the book in new ways. We just laid in the sun for an hour or two and just enjoyed the joy that is held in a relaxing Sunday afternoon away from home.
Came home and got back to work. I'm reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship which is a crazy book! So much to take out of it and so little time! I have to write a paper on it for Wednesday and I'm only half done so I have my work cut out for me. We had a New York team meeting which was a good time as usual. Kim and Kim who are the couple that are taking us down weren't there so I volunteered to run the group which I enjoy but I feel weird leading people that often I feel I haven't worked up the authority or right to instruct... at the same time, I'm very used to being in charge of people their age... there's a lot of emotions.
I'll give you my Monday while I'm here. Woke up late, went to chapel. We just had a prayer time which was neat. Good to hear where people are because we spend so much time together and yet so much of it is just surfacey... seems like a waste to me. Read half of the book today and had a nap till 3:30, had my interview for getting the job as assistant head counselor which went well I think. I enjoy interviews because I've learned the true value of things and understand that if I'm not to have this job, God will put the person that should in that position. So I have to wait till after reading break to find out what happens.
So yeah, this week is reading that book, writing a paper on it due Wednesday. Then Thursday will be quiet cause everyone gets on the bus to go and I'm flying so fly out Friday morning I guess...
Prayer requests: that if I'm supposed to work Assistant Head, they would decide right. I really want the position because it'll stretch me in new ways!
Trying to root through what motivates what I do and get rid of the excess and be motivated by God alone. This Bonhoeffer is eating my believes alive and I'm hoping what comes out the other side will be much greater.
Thanks for reading what I write and caring about me!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Mixing bowl of events!
Hello all!
Once again, a crazy week has transpired here in Crofton, British Columbia. Some highs, some lows and a lot of in betweens.
Alright, let me run through the week for you. This week was Gospels class which was quite something! Our professor was Wes Olmstead who is a heck of guy. Knows his stuff through and through! He actually read all of his scripture references out of a Greek bible that he just translates to us as he reads! Wacky!
So that was really neat! Learned a lot, maybe a little too much! I woke up on Wednesday and really needed to take the day off to try and churn over what has already been crammed in my brain! It was all good information and great to hear, but perhaps a little (or a lot) too much in such a short period of time!
We had a quiz on Friday because over the course of the course... we had to memorize the chapter contents of the entire book of Matthew. So as best as I know, I could tell you where everything in Matthew happens based on their chapters. So on the final quiz of that, got 15/20 which sucked cause I made a couple stupid mistakes, but quickly forgiven because I could barely remember my name because my brain is doing it's best to store all this information!
So a great week, it's neat to have your focus of your life (job, school etc) focused on the Word and figuring it out and talking about it. I quite enjoy it!!
We sat down for supper one evening and there was a girl sitting with us who is now on staff and was from a Kaleo from a past year and her first question was "did you get angry?" which I thought was an obscure question right off but thinking about it afterwards, I was a definite "Yes!". It was a tiring class not only because of the information overload, it also entailed really taking it in and testing it against your own personal theology and seeing what matches and what really doesn't. So there were a few hours in there that I just hated being there because either he was trying to make a point by holding the whole point back or just coming at something from a weird angle.
Another qualm that I had, and struggled with is that I learn by taking what I am being taught and building on it or applying it or connecting it to other things. Briercrest doesn't seem to lend well to that. (e.g. In Pentateuch class, we were talking about the Flood and it's philosophical and theological meanings and they were tying it back into the Pentateuch with examples and I raised my hand and brought up a connection with baptism and how that would be a great connection. Got shot down and dropped... ) So there's a seeming one-trackedness to the whole thing which I don't respond well to.
But enough griping and complaining, sorry about that. :)
Fun stuff! We went curling on Saturday night!! I've never curled before and am certainly no prodigy but the sliding was a good time. Actually my favorite part of the whole experience. Curling was fun too.
We had Youth on Friday which went amazingly. There was a leaders meeting on Thursday and God really moved in it. There's a new pastor at New Life now and he's stepping up and pushing God where God needs to be in the youth program so Youth on Friday was a lot of leadership confession and letting the kids know that they have been let down as far as models of the Faith goes which I think the kids responded to in a huge way! So exciting events seeing God moving in His church with a new generation!
Prayer: I haven't been sleeping well and been really lonely in my heart which I don't really understand. I'm looking forward to figuring out what this is for. I am going to write an exam in two hours which I'm thinking is not going to go well. The principle of the whole thing is that we pretty much have to prepare 9 essays and 3 will be on this exam and we have to recite what we had... I don't like the principle. So I'm not sure what you'd pray for that... that it doesn't hurt to much? :P We'll see, I've learned what I want from the class and the exam seems to be a 'recite back to me what you learned' which I don't quite agree with.
I am hopefully going to have my interview soon for Assistant Head Counselor which I'm excited about but haven't heard anything or been called for it so not sure what that's all about.
Thank you for your prayers, you are taking great care of me and I thank you for keeping me safe and sound in Him.
Once again, a crazy week has transpired here in Crofton, British Columbia. Some highs, some lows and a lot of in betweens.
Alright, let me run through the week for you. This week was Gospels class which was quite something! Our professor was Wes Olmstead who is a heck of guy. Knows his stuff through and through! He actually read all of his scripture references out of a Greek bible that he just translates to us as he reads! Wacky!
So that was really neat! Learned a lot, maybe a little too much! I woke up on Wednesday and really needed to take the day off to try and churn over what has already been crammed in my brain! It was all good information and great to hear, but perhaps a little (or a lot) too much in such a short period of time!
We had a quiz on Friday because over the course of the course... we had to memorize the chapter contents of the entire book of Matthew. So as best as I know, I could tell you where everything in Matthew happens based on their chapters. So on the final quiz of that, got 15/20 which sucked cause I made a couple stupid mistakes, but quickly forgiven because I could barely remember my name because my brain is doing it's best to store all this information!
So a great week, it's neat to have your focus of your life (job, school etc) focused on the Word and figuring it out and talking about it. I quite enjoy it!!
We sat down for supper one evening and there was a girl sitting with us who is now on staff and was from a Kaleo from a past year and her first question was "did you get angry?" which I thought was an obscure question right off but thinking about it afterwards, I was a definite "Yes!". It was a tiring class not only because of the information overload, it also entailed really taking it in and testing it against your own personal theology and seeing what matches and what really doesn't. So there were a few hours in there that I just hated being there because either he was trying to make a point by holding the whole point back or just coming at something from a weird angle.
Another qualm that I had, and struggled with is that I learn by taking what I am being taught and building on it or applying it or connecting it to other things. Briercrest doesn't seem to lend well to that. (e.g. In Pentateuch class, we were talking about the Flood and it's philosophical and theological meanings and they were tying it back into the Pentateuch with examples and I raised my hand and brought up a connection with baptism and how that would be a great connection. Got shot down and dropped... ) So there's a seeming one-trackedness to the whole thing which I don't respond well to.
But enough griping and complaining, sorry about that. :)
Fun stuff! We went curling on Saturday night!! I've never curled before and am certainly no prodigy but the sliding was a good time. Actually my favorite part of the whole experience. Curling was fun too.
We had Youth on Friday which went amazingly. There was a leaders meeting on Thursday and God really moved in it. There's a new pastor at New Life now and he's stepping up and pushing God where God needs to be in the youth program so Youth on Friday was a lot of leadership confession and letting the kids know that they have been let down as far as models of the Faith goes which I think the kids responded to in a huge way! So exciting events seeing God moving in His church with a new generation!
Prayer: I haven't been sleeping well and been really lonely in my heart which I don't really understand. I'm looking forward to figuring out what this is for. I am going to write an exam in two hours which I'm thinking is not going to go well. The principle of the whole thing is that we pretty much have to prepare 9 essays and 3 will be on this exam and we have to recite what we had... I don't like the principle. So I'm not sure what you'd pray for that... that it doesn't hurt to much? :P We'll see, I've learned what I want from the class and the exam seems to be a 'recite back to me what you learned' which I don't quite agree with.
I am hopefully going to have my interview soon for Assistant Head Counselor which I'm excited about but haven't heard anything or been called for it so not sure what that's all about.
Thank you for your prayers, you are taking great care of me and I thank you for keeping me safe and sound in Him.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Monday after Monday...
Holy smokes it's Monday again! Okay, so where am I today? Last week was reading reading reading! I had an ENTIRE textbook and the four Gospels to read in a week! Kinda ridiculous, eh. The principle of reading a textbook in the first place puts me off a lil' so to be instructed to do so was not a friendly prospect.
So off I go, at a reasonable pace. One thing I discovered was that I have great naps when I have to read a textbook. One day I read one page which was followed by a half hour nap... then I kicked it up to two and a half pages which lent to a 2 hour nap. Needless to say I have been using my time as wisely as usual.
Monday evening, we had an information session of sorts for Qwanoes and the camp that happens in the summer. I'm planning on staying and have applied for the position of assistant head counselor which would be really exciting!
On top of the mass readings, Tuesday we had a full day of Theology class once again. In case I haven't explained before, unlike most classes which happen over the course of five days straight in a week and then it's over, Theology is on Tuesdays over a bunch of weeks. Probably because our poor brains can't take it all in at once. So there goes another precious day of reading out the window. Then Wednesday we went back to Mt Washington for another day of snowboarding, the last of the year.
The rest of the week was reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Gospels and learned a lot through that. Reading through Matthew it's amazing to see what a bomb was dropped on Israel as Jesus walks around. They don't even know what to do with him!! What he does and what he says is like nothing ever seen before!
Friday was Youth at New Life. We had a chance to run the whole thing which was sweet. It's weird to be a part of a youth group and have so little responsibility or sway. I was a bit of a bystander through the whole thing. Everything went well though and I think the kids enjoyed having Youth run differently. We were able to challenge them and test them spiritually rather than just giving them a place to play games and hang out.
Saturday was a lax day. Went into town with a bunch of people and had a REALLY great time! Just nice to be away with people. Yeah, just a great time.
Sunday went to church, really good. We went to Jr Church to see their youth worship who just so happen to be amazing! I haven't seen so many actions in so few songs. I could barely keep up but the kids loved it! There was a new members lunch after the service which was neat cause I got to talk to people and meet some new people. Mark Buchannan came over and I got to talk to him more than just the usual "hey Mark!" that usually goes on in the hallway. He's a great guy.
OH! I got my Pentateuch exam mark back too! 88.1! Not bad at all! I think I got one of the higher marks in class. I don't know everyone's marks but I think that's pretty great! Jim said it was good!
Other than all that... I've been kicking the Japanese studying to a new level. I know a lot but at the same time, I don't know much but I'm really enjoying it.
Prayer: we have Gospel class this week. Pray once again for my brain to be less like a stone and more like a sponge. The teacher is really awesome which helps a lot.
I have another textbook to read. (barf)
shoot, I had a whole bunch I was thinking of but I can't remember now... I'll get back to you on that. So yeah, that's the update right now.
So off I go, at a reasonable pace. One thing I discovered was that I have great naps when I have to read a textbook. One day I read one page which was followed by a half hour nap... then I kicked it up to two and a half pages which lent to a 2 hour nap. Needless to say I have been using my time as wisely as usual.
Monday evening, we had an information session of sorts for Qwanoes and the camp that happens in the summer. I'm planning on staying and have applied for the position of assistant head counselor which would be really exciting!
On top of the mass readings, Tuesday we had a full day of Theology class once again. In case I haven't explained before, unlike most classes which happen over the course of five days straight in a week and then it's over, Theology is on Tuesdays over a bunch of weeks. Probably because our poor brains can't take it all in at once. So there goes another precious day of reading out the window. Then Wednesday we went back to Mt Washington for another day of snowboarding, the last of the year.
The rest of the week was reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Gospels and learned a lot through that. Reading through Matthew it's amazing to see what a bomb was dropped on Israel as Jesus walks around. They don't even know what to do with him!! What he does and what he says is like nothing ever seen before!
Friday was Youth at New Life. We had a chance to run the whole thing which was sweet. It's weird to be a part of a youth group and have so little responsibility or sway. I was a bit of a bystander through the whole thing. Everything went well though and I think the kids enjoyed having Youth run differently. We were able to challenge them and test them spiritually rather than just giving them a place to play games and hang out.
Saturday was a lax day. Went into town with a bunch of people and had a REALLY great time! Just nice to be away with people. Yeah, just a great time.
Sunday went to church, really good. We went to Jr Church to see their youth worship who just so happen to be amazing! I haven't seen so many actions in so few songs. I could barely keep up but the kids loved it! There was a new members lunch after the service which was neat cause I got to talk to people and meet some new people. Mark Buchannan came over and I got to talk to him more than just the usual "hey Mark!" that usually goes on in the hallway. He's a great guy.
OH! I got my Pentateuch exam mark back too! 88.1! Not bad at all! I think I got one of the higher marks in class. I don't know everyone's marks but I think that's pretty great! Jim said it was good!
Other than all that... I've been kicking the Japanese studying to a new level. I know a lot but at the same time, I don't know much but I'm really enjoying it.
Prayer: we have Gospel class this week. Pray once again for my brain to be less like a stone and more like a sponge. The teacher is really awesome which helps a lot.
I have another textbook to read. (barf)
shoot, I had a whole bunch I was thinking of but I can't remember now... I'll get back to you on that. So yeah, that's the update right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)