Strange but true

As blogged earlier I have no cable TV. I do have a nice TV and DVD/VCR though so I wanted to make use of them in some way. I have heard of people using their TVs as false fish tanks and things like that. So I investigated a bit and ended up getting an aquarium DVD and a Fireplace DVD. Both are really cool and come with several different options to choose from. The fireplace is nice to relax to at night, giving off the light flickers and crackling sounds. The aquarium is just as nice and both DVDs have roughly a 1/2 hour of footage before they seamlessly loop. (Or at least I haven't noticed a seam yet.) After figuring how nice these were to have around. I went online and recorded a few loop sound clips. All the loops are of rain in some form, heavy, light, on roof, on concrete, with wind chimes, with thunder, etc... Then I turned my favorite 6 loops into 10 minute tracks and burned them to CD. Talk about relaxing. Just last night I fell asleep to that CD and woke up when it was over. Aslo a nice combo with the fireplace.

I will probly do a little more investigating with the sound loops to get some nice background noise for day to day stuff. Maybe some ocean sounds, trees and birds, and stuff...

Timeing is everything?

Normaly I am an on-time type of guy, though I have had a few blemishes on that record. Mostly with family events. I thought maybe I should get another watch, why not. So I left Panara early on Sunday and went next door to the K-Mart. Cheap is fine. Chances are I'll loose it well before I break it. So I wandered through the watch section there looking for a pocket watch. Not sure why I prefer a pocket watch, but I do. Problem is they are rare in comparison especially in a K-Mart. Even then I am picky with my watches, as with most everything. =P The ones they had didn't thrill me so I went to the normal wrist watches and found a nice one from Sharp. Metal, Non-digital, calendar date, flexible linnk band, and dark grey with gold trim. All around a very nice looking and affordable watch. When I got it out to the car and put it on I remembered the two reasons I like pocket watches.

A.My arm is to hairy. The links sometimes catch and pull. Slightly uncomfortable, but wouldn't happen if not for reason B.

B.My wrist is apparently to small for normal guy watches. It is also to large for normal kids watches. So any guy watch I get slides and flips around on my wrist.

This leads me to why I am wearing my watch on my hand. I didnt remember until it was to late, but I had to do the same thing on my last wrist watch. It looks like I tried to put it on normal but couldn't get it over my thumb. So here I sit with the actuall clock face resting on the back of my hand. Makes me think how much I changed and yet didn't. Part of me always enjoyed doing things differently and now those differences are my commonplace. Planting such a seed in my head now will likely bear fruit later. We'll see...

Summer School

It was only a matter of time I suppose. Back to school time. Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary this time, with the course being Biblical Studies. I am very much looking forward to it and not sure exactly when it will start. I put in my application and the application fee a couple days ago. I remember how much I couldn't stand the grade schools. All that junk I didn't care about or need after it was over. But I also remember what it was like at the technical school. It was fun and interesting because I wanted to know and I enjoyed doing it. This is going to be the same for me, I can already feel it. Ultimately I will be going back at least one more time after this (Biblical Counseling or Evangelism and Missions), but I am undecided as to where I want to focus assuming I dont go back for both of the options. At any rate, it is an online course with a simple diploma waiting at the end. I have all the information that I need aside from the starting date and my login/password. I'm pretty sure I can go as fast or slow as I feel, but I will probly push through it so long as I don't miss anything. Deffinatley don't want to miss anything...

D.A.R.E.

Morning everyone. I am happy today. I had a God moment again last night. I think that, combined with a busy schedual today, put me in a happy place. Today I woke up from a late gaming night (which was most fun) and wrote a 'to do' list for the day. A Big one too.

One of the things on the list was a um...mask? You know, one you put over your eyes to make things seem darker when you sleep. Er, sleep mask. But I hate to drop $10 on a frilly mask when the 'DARE Role Model' shirt I have been pulling over my head was working fine. (It's ok to laugh. =] ) So I had another Magyver moment. =P I grabbed my good scissors and made the shirt sleeveless. w00t! Now I have two free and perfectly fitting black masks from the short sleeves. I also have now a DARE muscle shirt with which to show my toothpick arms off. Nothing screams early 90's like a D.A.R.E. muscle shirt. (Just kidding, I have nothing against the DARE group.)

Anyway, today should be eventfull and I get the feeling I should be wearing an 'I'm Blogging this.' T-shirt. I'll probly be back later... ::wink::

Devotions

So in addition to the books I am reading a Daily Devotional, though admittedly not daily. It is so far the best little devotional I have read. When I read it it reminds me of Proverbs in that it is direct and has a short but sweet feel to it, often a bullseye and without filler. Such was my appreciation of Proverbs and this book is written with a similar feel. Some days are what I need to hear and some are what I want to hear. In an effort to catch up last night I ripped through the last several days worth. (I'm embarassed to say just how far behind I was.) A few of them hit harder than others for me. The topics were;

1-Living without regret [Acts 24:16]

2-Failure and success [1 John 5:12]

3-Lord of Lords [Psalm 33:18]

I have always been in the mindset that regret was part of life and so was failure. Truth is that statement is not completely wrong, but it doesn't have to be like it was/is. Failure doesn't have to keep me from trying and since my regrets are based on not trying the two devotions went together well. The third one comes into play to essentialy fix the other two. When read these pages make complete sence, but as always will probly not come easily. Still, it's nice to have this book of neatly packaged perspectives to carry around from day to day.

Windows

I was looking out the window on Sunday. I was looking out into the beautiful day that had come. Watching the breeze move through the trees and the clouds through the sky. Listening to the birds tuneing in their voices for another summer of early wake ups and the sound of the windchimes on the porch. I couldn't help but be appreciative of what I was seeing at the moment. Even through my crappy old windows. It was one of those moments when the world outside seemed peaceful and soothing. It made me consider the idea of how many windows I have viewed the world through. By windows I mean non-literal windows of course. Each window is different in what it shows and how things appear through it. Some are cloudy and some are streaked. Some are cracked and others are warped. Some are clear and some just seem to be clear. We all look through our own windows at the world and mine has been cloudy. (Man my windows are dirty.) For some time now I have been looking through a window with some apprehension of what is outside that I can not see. The things that I am unfamiliar with because of the limits of my view. It occured to me that I would be better off circumventing the window all together. Why do we sit and look through a distorted view of the world. Basing our views on what we can or have viewed, as if that is all their was to view. This is not a new idea to most people I would assume. In fact it was not a new idea to me either, but at that moment it seemed fresh. Did I go outside? Nope, I took in my view and went back to what I was doing. Again, touching on the reality of what many people like me do. But I will go outside. One day soon.

Life of a LockBox

"Well, it worked didn't it?" said I. "Yup." said I back to me.

Yea, I talk to myself. Sometimes I get pretty good conversations and good laughs out of those moments. This time though it was about my lockbox. Something my parents (I think) had gotten me when I moved into this apartment. It is more than enough room for me and my important junk. However, I recently became aware that if I were not home and someone came in to rob me, the lockbox is complete with a handy carry grip thinger. Also, it weighs about 2pounds. Making it much less a safe place than I had give credit. So I was online looking at those min-safes that bolt down, have digital keypads, and etc. They are very pricy so they are not an option. Besides, the lockbox is planty big for me.

[ Que the music from Magyver. ]

So I decided to make my lockbox into a safe. I grabbed my power drill and bore a couple of holes into it, just big enough to hook a pad lock through. Then went to the local Home Depot for the padlock. After getting the lock home and trying it for fit I had to fix the holes. Then, taking a break from the lock I tried to find a place to bolt it down. I spent a week wondering where to do it. I didn't want to use the floor as it's not really my floor, but everything that was mine could be broken and/or carried off. Eventually I realized I could use the oversized (as in way to long) bolts on my steal punching bag frame. I bore another hole in the back ot the lockbox, slid it over the bolt, and screwed another nut onto the bolt on the inside. Then put my junk in the lockbox and slapped the pad lock on it. That suckers going nowhere without a torch or the key!

So...yep. That's basically was when I congratulated myself for being creative and inventive. I may not be as clean as I would like at times but I love a problem to solve.

Except those wooden puzzles. They are still a bit much for me. =P

(Un)Necessary

Ok, so their are many things that I have interest in. Arts. Entertainment. Learning. Some are normal and some are unusual, but truthfully not much is free these days and that limits things a bit. Even then I realize how much money I've dumped into junk I would one day come to throw out. Deep down I don't like the idea of me being the average consumer. Always getting something new to replace the old something, irregardless of how much I will actually use it. Justifying expences because I "might" need it, or it "would be much easier to buy the updated version to save time", like a few seconds of work is worth it to most people. Like their is nothing better to do with my "hard earned" money. That mini-rant out of the way, I will mention 2 exeptions in my little world. My car, and my computer. (Topic was brought up on account of two recent occurances.)

First occurance - I live logged on. I work and play at a machine. Though some of you may think that is sad I assure you I am not sad. (IOW, I also live a "normal" life away from my computers. =] ) But because they are so important to me I need to at least keep up with the general movement of technology. I'm not talking about getting gadgets to show off my coolness. I mean I need computer hardware to keep up with me, a surpriseingly difficult job. Anyway, A friend of mine just went all out and bought a new machine, or peices of a new machine which he then put together. At the thought of its nifftyness I was torn. I don't care a bit that my machine is a not better than the next guy. I just wanted to Mod my machine for some time now and hearing all about his machine (with its lights and tubes and case) got me excited. It is sooooo unnecessary. It works just fine as it is right now.

Second occurance - I love my car. Not like crazy kind of love where I need to wax it a lot and park sideways in parking lots to avoid getting clipped. I just mean I spend a lot of time in my car and I love open road with the right music. (Have since I learned to drive.) So I bought a nice 8" bass tube online and then mounted it in the trunk. Having no prior experiance I was unaware one needs an amp to really get power to such a device. So now to get it working correctly I would have to buy an amp, then have it installed. Bah! Again, another waste of money as it works well enough. Though underpowered it is noticable and that is enough for me.

I wish I didn't want so much "stuff". The type of junk that a person loses money to with no real value returned. When their are so many other things (worthy causes) around. Some would say we all have a weakness that we play to and becasue everyone has one that justifies it's existance. I'd like to think I know better than that. I know the differance between real fulfillment and the temporary happiness "stuff" brings. Now if I could just keep my mind from wandering from that understanding. Maybe I could prove to be that much more usefull with this borrowed time. Something else to be mindful of...

Puzzled

So I was at the mall today during lunch. For...things. Anyway, I stopped in at the KB Toys Store to browse the goods. Yes, I am nearly 26 and I still have moments I want to play with GI Joes or Micro Machines. Laugh if you like. :) So as I was wandering the isles I saw a set of three wooden puzzels for eight bucks. I had enough on me and I love these types of puzzels so I bought it. After work I went home and broke it out on the couch. The puzzels are of the "sure you can take it apart, but I bet you can't put it back together" variety. I saw what I thought to be the simple one and proceded to undo it. An hour later I was looking at the cheat sheet and laughing at myself. I couldn't do it... So I picked up the one that looked the hardest and examined it. I remember clearly thinking..."wait, this will be uber easy!". Yea, right. The instant it came undone I realized why it would never go back together in my hands. (BTW, a cheat sheet is only helpful if you understand "step 1". =/ sigh) Ok, since I have effectivly crushed my ego by this point, lets try the third one. I'll just say I wasn't able to take it apart...their by defeating the purpose of having it.

Good thing my ego is not important to me or these puzzles would have reduced me to a shell of a man. =D

Study Thoughts

Ok, so I know I just posted earlier but I just got back from the second of the two bible studies. The group itself is comprised of good people all of which are roughly my age. The study is a video course and coresponding book of things to read, questions, and hints. The group meeting is always fun and refreshing in the sense of fellowship, but tonight it was also refreshing in what I took from watching the video itself.

The video took place somewhere in the Negeve. (Though I doubt that's how it is spelled) I thought and contained many visuals which helped put things in context. It was about the "wilderness" and the relation of God to man as seen through the relationship of shepherd and sheep. Just a few things that I found interesting (but probly will not explain correctly) are;

- That the "wilderness" was not what I had imagined. It was majoritivly tall hills and steep rocky cliffs. Ceating a true need for shepherds to be active and truly devote their lives to their work. Keeping the sheep from starving was as dificult a task as keeping them from getting lost. But often they did so by simply moving onward. Their was rarely a place to stay at and graze for more than a few hours. Just enough to get a few bits in and then the group had to move to eat. Similarly, God does the same with us. He promised provision for the moment not for tomorrow. We aren't to find a good place and sit down. We are to be moving where He leads us trusting in Him for the moment we are in.

- Goats and sheep were grouped together in the herds. Goats wander off easily but sheep only follow whats in front of them. In relation (as stated in the bible) God will one day seperate the goats and the sheep. Which made me realise the connection that many christians have trouble with. Following, or going with the flow of, whatever is in front of them. Just like a sheep may end up away from the flock for having followed the goat who thinks he knows where to go on his own. In that way we sometimes take our eyes off the Fathers feet and do not heed his voice. Finding ourselves far from where we should be.

- The trees that are out in the middle of the apparent wasteland are few and far between, but do exist. The speaker made a similar metaphor to the strong trees are the ones who had been able to find water storages under ground. The waters were not visible on the surface. He related the water to the living waters of God and the trees were the people who had access to it. Nothing else good grew as well in those lands and so we can see how connected a person is at times to Gods living waters not because he seems to be sitting in a pool of it, but by the growth and fruit he will produce from a life fed by it..

Their were several other thoughts I or the group had, but the post will get very long if I dont stop myself. Maybe another time and post....(Sorry about the spelling/grammar, I didn't feel up to combing through it all.)

Busy Busy Busy

Strange, I expected to be bored alot without cable TV. (Cable TV being a part of who I have always been. ) But these days I just seem to have so much to do at night. Reading books, online articles, and forums takes up a lot of time and is much better than watching the same episode of American Choppers for the 5th time. Currently I have 3 books, 1 devotional, and 1 study guide going. On the shelves I have 2 books and 1 devotional waiting. Beyond all that reading I still have scripture of course and printed research on theology and appologetics to go through.

Sheesh... It's still nice to get outside, watch a movie, or do some web work to break up the reading.

Like last Wednesday I was invited out with my family to go golfing. It's one of three family sports so-to-speak. And I have to say I had a wonderfull time walking 9 holes. The atmosphere was good enough to eat, it was very affordable (since I now have my own gear), and I made a point to try to learn the sport some while not keeping track of score. Then, immediatly following the outing, I went almost directly to a bible study and ended up a bit late and bit sore. Not all nights are so outwardly busy for me, but that kind of night happens once or twice a week now. It just suprises me, that's all.

To be wired or not to be wired

So recently I made it a weekly matter to go to Panera Bread (a coffee house chain) on Sundays and have lunch while I read. It's a very nice, if not a bit crowded environment, for a person to sit and study or chat. They also have free wireless net access, but I have no lappy at this time. Anyway, I was told by my friend to try the "iced carmel" drink. I did and man it was good, but it was not de-caf and since I had given up caffee products almost a year ago it did a number on me. I came home and did several house chores in under ten minutes. Then sat myself down after realizing I had been singing aloud the hyper active "Weeee" song and my hands were shaking. So needless to say I am switching back to Iced Tea next Sunday.

For those of you who don't know the Weee song their is no provided link as the song and the page it is on are not christian related. Both of which contain language and referances not suited to Gods intended lifestyle. I am almost ashamed to say that I am aware of it at all, but truth is I have been many places I should not have been on the web. This fact does not mean I approve or go back to those places.