One issue that has been on my mind lately is: What does it take to be a man? This is a question that I though I knew the answer to. But apparently, I didn't.
There are all sorts of ways to answer this question: biologically, legally, culturally, etc. All of these have set answers. But what about the most important way to be a man: in the eyes of God?
Giving it some thought, I think I may have figured it out. At least partially. Being a man takes wisdom and love. Wisdom to know and APPLY the Word. Love to love God with all your heart, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.
"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." - Proverbs 4:7
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13
Rock On.
29 May 2006
27 May 2006
Late Night Conversations with a Battle Buddy
I don't know how to describe it. Simply inspiring.
Last night (OK, so I got in at One AM and am typing this shortly thereafter. Does it still count as tonight?), I went to see X-Men 3 with my friend, Hunter. That's not the awesome part (the movie was sub-par). Afterwards, we sat around and talked for two hours. The discussion covered almost everything imaginable. It was one of the most intense spiritual moments ever.
I hear people talking about there accountability partners all the time, but have never really had one. But after tonight, let me tell you: hearing people talk about how important they are can never prepare you for when you actually find one.
Go. Get one. Now.
Rock on.
Last night (OK, so I got in at One AM and am typing this shortly thereafter. Does it still count as tonight?), I went to see X-Men 3 with my friend, Hunter. That's not the awesome part (the movie was sub-par). Afterwards, we sat around and talked for two hours. The discussion covered almost everything imaginable. It was one of the most intense spiritual moments ever.
I hear people talking about there accountability partners all the time, but have never really had one. But after tonight, let me tell you: hearing people talk about how important they are can never prepare you for when you actually find one.
Go. Get one. Now.
Rock on.
23 May 2006
Graduation and Such
This weekend was, well, this weekend. I got out of school on Tuesday (w00t) and had Wednesday to do nothing (double w00t). Then my grandparents arrived on Wednesday night, I had Awards Night practice and Baccalaureate(sp) on Thursday, followed by FCA (yeah, I went to school at 6:45 after being released), Graduation practice, and picking up my sister on Friday. Saturday held the longest four hours of my life: Senior Awards Night. Then Sunday: Grajamanation (i is edukatet. i is a hi skool gradate!) and the awesomenastic party put on by the school. Oh, the fun.
And today? Uber sleep!
Random rambling about my week aside, there was something odd about Graduation. For the past few weeks (since Prom, really), I've had this feeling of, "Oh, crud. I'm not ready for this." But as I walked across the stage on Sunday night, those feelings kinda vanished. I realized that I'm going to miss my friends, but now I'm moving on to bigger things. No, I'm not ready to make it in the real world yet. That's what college is for.
Rock on.
And today? Uber sleep!
Random rambling about my week aside, there was something odd about Graduation. For the past few weeks (since Prom, really), I've had this feeling of, "Oh, crud. I'm not ready for this." But as I walked across the stage on Sunday night, those feelings kinda vanished. I realized that I'm going to miss my friends, but now I'm moving on to bigger things. No, I'm not ready to make it in the real world yet. That's what college is for.
Rock on.
16 May 2006
Three Years In a Shoebox, Four Years On a Bookshelf
Today is the last day of my senior year. As with the end of each school year, I have turned in everythign: my JROTC uniform, my textbooks, and my library books. My locker has been cleaned out and is now back to the valiant shade of school-gray.
Looking back at four years of high school, I realized something. What do I have to show for it? All of my ribbons, medals, ranks, and other various uniform items from JROTC, three years, worth of memories, are sitting in a shoebox in my room. Four years worth of yearbooks and FCA ministry material now sit on my bookshelf. I can't help but think: Is this all I have to show for my time in school? A few books and ribbons?
Or is there something more? Is there something more to high school than just the activities that I was involved in and the classes I took? In fact, there is. Over four years, I have great memories. Everything from the pseudo-philosophical conversations at Bible study ("They will know we are Christians by are kilts") to the random with friends (filming hobos in Colorado) to the just plain weird in class (Mr. Wisner's analysis of the Smurfs as Communist). I can look back on high school and say that I not only learned the curriculum, but I also learned about life. I can discuss both the impact of World War I on the Vietnam War and why it's a bad idea to eat six Zebra cakes in under five minutes (don't ask).
Rock on.
Looking back at four years of high school, I realized something. What do I have to show for it? All of my ribbons, medals, ranks, and other various uniform items from JROTC, three years, worth of memories, are sitting in a shoebox in my room. Four years worth of yearbooks and FCA ministry material now sit on my bookshelf. I can't help but think: Is this all I have to show for my time in school? A few books and ribbons?
Or is there something more? Is there something more to high school than just the activities that I was involved in and the classes I took? In fact, there is. Over four years, I have great memories. Everything from the pseudo-philosophical conversations at Bible study ("They will know we are Christians by are kilts") to the random with friends (filming hobos in Colorado) to the just plain weird in class (Mr. Wisner's analysis of the Smurfs as Communist). I can look back on high school and say that I not only learned the curriculum, but I also learned about life. I can discuss both the impact of World War I on the Vietnam War and why it's a bad idea to eat six Zebra cakes in under five minutes (don't ask).
Rock on.
08 May 2006
Prom
I was very surprised by prom. I had been expecting to have a good time with my friends before the dance (which I did), but I actually had fun at the dance. Weird.
Before hand, I picked up Bug, Ruth, Melanie, and Stephen (Steven?), and we went to se M:i III (all of my predictions came true: there was a rogue agent, people wore masks, and Ving Rhames wore expensive clothing). After the movie, to Outback! Four loaves of bread and a bloomin' onion (which lasted two minutes, at most) later, we dropped Steve off and got to the dance around 10. After the dance, we went to Sonic (oh, malts, how I love thee).
In other news, I actually danced. Go figure.
Rock on.
Before hand, I picked up Bug, Ruth, Melanie, and Stephen (Steven?), and we went to se M:i III (all of my predictions came true: there was a rogue agent, people wore masks, and Ving Rhames wore expensive clothing). After the movie, to Outback! Four loaves of bread and a bloomin' onion (which lasted two minutes, at most) later, we dropped Steve off and got to the dance around 10. After the dance, we went to Sonic (oh, malts, how I love thee).
In other news, I actually danced. Go figure.
Rock on.
03 May 2006
Today, I am a Man (I Hope)
Today I turned 18. In my mind this is the most important birthday I will have. It ranks one out of three: 13, 18, and 50.
In Jewish culture, when a boy turns 13, he becomes a man after under going a Bar Mitvah. In today's society, 13 still marks the age at which a child gains more trust and responsibility.
50 marks a half-century of life, and all the knowledge that comes with it.
18, however, marks something else entirely. It marks the point at which a person can finally give back to society. Instead of just taking up resources, one can finally work to create them. Instead of complaining about the world, a person can finally change it. Instead of merely enjoying freedom, one can finally defend it.
Rock on.
In Jewish culture, when a boy turns 13, he becomes a man after under going a Bar Mitvah. In today's society, 13 still marks the age at which a child gains more trust and responsibility.
50 marks a half-century of life, and all the knowledge that comes with it.
18, however, marks something else entirely. It marks the point at which a person can finally give back to society. Instead of just taking up resources, one can finally work to create them. Instead of complaining about the world, a person can finally change it. Instead of merely enjoying freedom, one can finally defend it.
Rock on.
30 April 2006
Fast Fasting
Wow, I haven't done a rambly, unfocused updated in quite some time. So, here we go...
I had a mock trial this week. I served as the defense attorney. My partner and I got our "client" off on one charge, but not the other two, so I count it as a loss (dumb jury who was only there for half the time, no offense to the two people on it who were).
This weekend was the Thirty Hour Famine, which was going to be awesome. Jon and I were gonna try to make it 48, and there was a huge hike and a camp out, and I had helped plan...and I got sick. I only made it 30 hours, missed the camp out, etc.
Saturday, I went to see the school play, Aladdin (not the best one they've done). Afterwards, Jon, Ruth, Melanie, Megan, and I (and Mack showed up for a while) went to China Buffet (Chinese food at 9. That's fun. Seriously.)
Speaking of Ruth and Melanie, I'm going to Prom with them and Bug. So I'm the only guy in a group of three girls. I'm kinda scared. But it'll be alright (we're going to see a movie before the dance, cause we're cool like that).
After church today (and four donuts), Jon and I went to Burger King. Now I remember why I never eat there.
Oh, and last Saturday was the JROTC Ball. It was ok. Better company than last year's, but other than that, it went down hill, despite the best efforts of the staff. But hey, I got to make a speach (ok, a "salute"), which was cool.
Now if only I could get someone to read my blog...
Rock on.
I had a mock trial this week. I served as the defense attorney. My partner and I got our "client" off on one charge, but not the other two, so I count it as a loss (dumb jury who was only there for half the time, no offense to the two people on it who were).
This weekend was the Thirty Hour Famine, which was going to be awesome. Jon and I were gonna try to make it 48, and there was a huge hike and a camp out, and I had helped plan...and I got sick. I only made it 30 hours, missed the camp out, etc.
Saturday, I went to see the school play, Aladdin (not the best one they've done). Afterwards, Jon, Ruth, Melanie, Megan, and I (and Mack showed up for a while) went to China Buffet (Chinese food at 9. That's fun. Seriously.)
Speaking of Ruth and Melanie, I'm going to Prom with them and Bug. So I'm the only guy in a group of three girls. I'm kinda scared. But it'll be alright (we're going to see a movie before the dance, cause we're cool like that).
After church today (and four donuts), Jon and I went to Burger King. Now I remember why I never eat there.
Oh, and last Saturday was the JROTC Ball. It was ok. Better company than last year's, but other than that, it went down hill, despite the best efforts of the staff. But hey, I got to make a speach (ok, a "salute"), which was cool.
Now if only I could get someone to read my blog...
Rock on.
24 April 2006
Invisible Children
My school is a so-called "Channel One" school meaning that we get a daily news broadcast called (what else) Channel One. Most days, I watch the news segments, tune out the commericials, and talk during their cheesy wonder-teen and health bits. But today something was different.
Now, they have had special episodes before, focusing on everything from cliques to the Sudan (my favorite), but today, something spectacular happened. They devoted the entire show to Invisible Children (see link on sidebar). I've been following this charity organization most of the year and own the documentary, and have been deeply moved by it. I was thrilled to see that Channel One showed clips of the documentary and at the end, interviewed a few of the film-makers. Hopefully, it will move all who saw it to get involved.
Rock on.
Now, they have had special episodes before, focusing on everything from cliques to the Sudan (my favorite), but today, something spectacular happened. They devoted the entire show to Invisible Children (see link on sidebar). I've been following this charity organization most of the year and own the documentary, and have been deeply moved by it. I was thrilled to see that Channel One showed clips of the documentary and at the end, interviewed a few of the film-makers. Hopefully, it will move all who saw it to get involved.
Rock on.
16 April 2006
14 April 2006
Good Friday
Today is the day we remember Christ's death on the cross.
He was betrayed, given a trial, beaten, and crucified. He was mocked and jeered. And all for what? The new covenant.
During the first Passover, the final plague was coming. The first born in every household was to be slain. For this to pass over the Israelite houses, each family killed a lamb and smeered the blood on the door frame. Likewise, God killed his only Son and atoned us through his blood so that the wages of sin might pass over us.
Rock on.
He was betrayed, given a trial, beaten, and crucified. He was mocked and jeered. And all for what? The new covenant.
During the first Passover, the final plague was coming. The first born in every household was to be slain. For this to pass over the Israelite houses, each family killed a lamb and smeered the blood on the door frame. Likewise, God killed his only Son and atoned us through his blood so that the wages of sin might pass over us.
Rock on.
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