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theUNthug
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Name: Tom
Metro: Philadelphia
Birthday: 5/9/1986
Gender: Male
Interests: Jesus Christ.....writing short stories, acting, reading, collecting TV shows on DVD, studying to become a youth pastor, music (Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, KJ-52, Downhere, Sanctus Real, FFH, ApologetiX, Tait, Bryan Duncan, Newsboys, and too many more to list), watching way to much TV, hanging out with my friends, and lots of other things, but who has the time?
Expertise: I don't have expertise. It's me.
Occupation: Student
Message: message meEmail: email me
AIM:  janglespleen
Member Since:
8/13/2004
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| Thanksgiving. The forgotten holiday.
Alright, it's probably true that Arbor Day is less celebrated than Thanksgiving, but it's an exaggeration for effect.
When I look around at the way the world is and the way people act, it at least looks like no one remembers Thanksgiving.
After all, why would people want to remember a holiday that wants them to reflect on all the things that they have that they should be appreciating...especially when the next day is the the biggest bargin day of the year.
I see too many people that no sooner have the hung up their Halloween costumes, they break out the Christmas lights. Even PBU put up Christmas trees a week before Thanksgiving break. Now, if you know me, you know that I'm one of the biggest Christmas nuts around, but it saddens me when that holiday in the middle never gets properly celebrated.
We need to properly celebrate Thanksgiving. Well, I do anyway. I need to take time to think about all that I have. God has blessed me so much, how dare I think about not thanking Him. Should I be thanking Him every day? Of course! So before anyone decides to tell me that, do not misunderstand me. But when there is a day that is nationally set aside for this very purpose, I see a great opportunity for a time of reflection and gratitude.
So eat, after all everyone loves turkey (well mostly everyone). Be with family. Give thanks. Don't worry about Christmas shopping yet. Give thanks and then when you do begin the Chirstmas season, things will be in a much better perspective.
There should be more people giving thanks than just the supermarkets.
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| I think I hate commentaries.
What is the purpose of a commentary on the Bible? Isn't it to help you understand and dicipher a passage? What good is it if you need something else to help you understand and dicipher the commentary?
I was reading one of these excuses for helpfulness last night. I had no idea what in the world it was saying. Four of us where there trying to figure out what we're supposed to get out of this reading.
I'm fine with intelligent people.
But why do intelligent people feel that they need to talk in talk that only other intelligent people can understand? I've actually heard a professor say, "Well, I would never say it like this in a book, but here's a simple way to get it." Why can't you put it in a book that way? If something is simple, say it simply! There is no need to overcomplicate things if you don't have to.
Especially when it comes to the Bible, people often go way out of the way to say something that was so easily explained.
I want to write my own commentary on the Bible. I'm going to call it "So, Here's What I Think This Means."
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| And now for some all new professor quotes:
"The hour is a touchy subject. I think once we know what an one hour is, we can understand what 24 of them would be."
-Dr. Yoder, Astronomy
"I have fun. Just not in front of you."
-Todd Williams, Chapel
"Do I believe in tounges today? Let me say this: I believe both believers and unbelievers speak in tounges."
- Eddy Field, Church History
"I just slipped a little Mickey in there."
-Tom Allen, Greek I
"You're not on crack right now are you?"
-Mike Dittman, Spiritual Formation
"Well, God's not an American, now is He?"
-Mr. Schnittjer, Prophetics I
"Are you still on your honeymoon?"
-Miss Minto, Lit and Arts I
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| School has returned. I'm quite glad. I've been looking forward to classes and friends again. Here's some observations thus far:
I think I like to learn. I'm not sure why, but I think I do.
Living with Mark The RA is proving not to be difficult at all. And I'm enjoy getting to know a bunch of the freshman.
Even living on the other side of campus from Joel and Dave is better than I thought it would be. It's still not great, but I'm up there quite a bit.
I'm not scared of Greek anymore. I think I'll survive.
I'm working in the cafeteria again. I have to get up at 6:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for shifts. I miss sleeping.
I'm using my first paycheck to buy an Easy Button from Staples.
Eddy Field waved another research paper.
It's good to busy again. A little.
Mark and I started a "room fund." But he won't let me buy the Easy Button with it.
Everybody laughed at my Forest Guard comic books. I'm entering their email addresses anyway.
I get to have breakfast again.
There are no fun chapels this semester. No comedians. No Danny Oertli.
I haven't bought any books yet.
I should sleep soon.
But I probably won't.
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| Why does everything always have to be about faith? You ever notice that? No matter what is happening in life, God always makes sure to say, "All it takes is faith." Why can't He ever say, "All it takes is that you do this..." I'd be so up for that.
I don't want God to leave it all in my hands. I can't handle that. I don't want Him to even say, "You figure it out." I just want Him to say, "This is the plan. Just do these three things and you'll be good."
But, no. He never does that. Instead, He says, "Have faith. Trust in Me. Be Paitent. My plan doesn't involve you actually doing all that much. And when you are going to do something, you won't know about it until like an hour before you're doing it anyway. So just relax."
I can't relax. How can He tell me to relax? Relaxing is the only thing that I don't want to be told to do.
So God and I talk about this every now and then. And He shakes His head at me and says:
"If you only knew what was ahead."
"If You would only tell me."
"I can't do that. It would be worse if you knew, trust Me."
"How could it be worse? If what's ahead is so great, wouldn't I benefit from knowing now?"
"No."
"I don't understand."
"You're not supposed to."
"Well that what do I do? I mean, right now, what do I do?"
"Trust Me."
"That's it?"
"Yes, that's it. Any more questions?"
"Are You going to answer them?"
"Probably not. But that doesn't mean you can't ask."
"When will I know?"
"When it's time."
"When will it be time?"
"I'll let you know."
"God?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't know why....but I feel better."
"Good. I want you to feel better. I love you."
"I love You, too."
God is the only person who I can get absolutely nowhere with....but get so far at the same time. And after we have it out, I do feel better. I have no new control....but I do feel better. Somehow God convinces me He knows best. Father knows best? It's true.
Faith and trust in God. Not a bad course of action, really. Just a tough one. Just a really tough one.
"God?"
"Yeah?"
"You're really gonna make me have faith?"
"I am."
"Alright, fine. I'll trust You, but I'm gonna be struggling. So You're gonna have to put up with me talking to You like every day."
"I think you're finally catching on."
"Does that mean you're gonna tell me now?"
"No."
"Then I'll see you in an hour."
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