Saturday, April 24, 2010

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

April 21st

It is hard to believe that the end of the semester is already so close. It seems like just the other day I said goodbye to my Dad after he dropped me off for school. Now I'm signing up for my junior and senior year of school and figuring out roommates and all that. I know that I really have no idea because I am so young, but time is passing quick.

I taught for youth group tonight. I honestly think that I learn more from youth group than most of the kids there. Trying to stay humble as I teach and not make it about me is very hard, because I always think that my lesson is great. I spent 10 minutes before the lesson just to pray, and then I was caught off guard when we sang songs. We normally just go right into lesson, but this time we sang and did one song, and I think that it really helped. When we started singing it moved my focus off myself and onto God and relaxed me enough to remember the message that I had prepared to tell the kids.

I was still really nervous when I gave it, but Rachel said that it went really well. I was amazed at how much my own pride got in the way of what God could possibly do with His word. When I was getting ready to give my lesson a passage came to mind. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9 about disciplining his own body so that he would not be disqualified. He wanted to be sure to practice what he preached (disciplining his body), so that he would not be disqualified from ministry. If the Apostle Paul had to practice what he preached, how much more should I have to practice what I am teaching these students. I need to be learning and practicing what I present to these kids just as much as we expect them to be growing. I need to work at being teachable and humble. And that is the youth group experience for the week.

I have gotten the chance to get out riding a few times recently. It has been nice to blow off some steam and get off campus. I am really looking forward to this weekend! I think that I will try and do a group ride on Saturday with some of the local people that ride every weekend, at least a longer ride for a change. I have only been doing 10mi rides so far, and it would be nice to get some longer ones in. Finals are just around the corner, and after that I am free to ride. I'll have work, but nothing like I have now.

I think that is all for now. I don't have much to do, but I still would like to get some sleep. For those that read this tell everyone that I say "Hi"
Later

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Stradivarius

I went to a stradivarius violin concert over the weekend. For those that don't know what that means (much like I didn't), it is a concert of played on violins that are over 300 years old and should be in museums in glass boxes... not played on. It is incredible to ever get to see one, much less hear one played. I had the chance to see and hear two of them played by professionals.

That is all for now, I have a long weekend ahead of me and might not get the chance to update again.

later

Monday, April 12, 2010

3 more mondays

It is crazy to think that all there is left of this semester is three weeks. 15 more class days, finals, and then we're done for the summer. I don't know what I will do with all my free time though. I normally have a job and school; if school is done that give me a lot of extra time that I don't normally have. oh well.

Last week was enjoyable. Rachel and I celebrated Easter up at her grandparents. Got all dressed up in a nice shirt and jean, went to church in the morning, then came back went on a Easter egg hunt with the kids. I spent more time finding Rachel's than I did my own. As a result I never found all of mine, but did find Rachel's. We also had a huge meal that I could not finish. It was comparable to a normal thanksgiving meal. we also went for a walk around the pond and went for a golf-cart ride.

Relationships here at school seem to be changing with the weather. There is three relationships with close friends alone that happened in the last 3 weeks. Most of them for not very good reasons from what I could tell. It is strange to see these people that I respect and look-up to in terms of relationships end them the way that they did. It is helpful for me though, because now I get to learn from all their mistakes and failures so that I don't have to have the same end to mine. It also puts a new fear in me to be very careful with Rachel knowing that we might end it. If I were to end it I want to know that she is better because of the time we spent together, not broken. I do not want to be the person to leave a mess for someone else to clean up, I have done that already and it is not good.

I am still trying to figure out when would be a good time to head home for a week. I have a three week window in June where I can go home, but I don't know when I want to. It would be great if it wasn't hot out when I go home, so I could do some biking when I am home.

Not a whole lot else is happening. My sister turns 14 this weekend, it is very exciting. That all for now folks

Later

P.S. Remember to wear your helmet!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Pedals

Here is the pedals again, this time on the bike. they are pretty cool I think

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Shoes and pedals

Pedals and shoes came today. Rode them around for a while and they work great! I'll add some more pictures later of what it looks like on the bike.
Later

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Bike!

My bike is near fully functional again. I just finished lacing and truing the back wheel. It is rough in one spot, but I think that it will work for what I intend to use it for. If I were doing any races this weekend I would say differently, but it is just a "here and there" bike so I'm not going to worry about it.

I ordered my peddles and shoes last night totally less than $80. I am excited about them getting here. Next purchase is going to be chain rings, shorts, and maybe a jersey. Bike shorts are probably the top priority though.

I'm really excited to get out and ride soon. I went for a run the other day and it just wasn't the same.

Later

Friday, April 2, 2010

April

April is here, and spring seems to be following quickly after it. It is absolutely wonderful outside right now. It is about 65* and sunny with a slight breeze. Great biking weather!

Yesterday I was in New york city all day on a field trip. I meant to write about this before leaving but I lacked the chance and motivation. This week I had some more midterms and test for classes, meaning that we are more than two thirds the way done with this semester already! I have a lot to do between now and the end of the semester, but it is nice knowing that the semester is almost over.

New york was fairly uneventful, we didn't do much. I went with Rachel to meet her sister and hangout with her for a while, and than got some lunch. After sending Rachel's sister on the subway, the two of us hiked through central park and made our way to the south end to do some rock climbing. I ended up saying there for about two and a half hours doing the same route. It was great.

It was very interesting just being there, but not being from there. I wanted to be very respectful of the climbers that are always there and so I waited for my turn. I did not want to seem like a tourist, so I ended up waiting a half hour before climbing any rocks. It was worth waiting though.

After that we made a mad dash to the opera house to make the show in time, but we forgot dinner. We stopped in a small shop and got some dinner. This meal consisted of a muffin for each of us, an apple and Gatorade for Rachel, two Cliff bars for me, and we shared a pint of ice cream. The only problem was the ice cream. We didn't eat in time and so I put in my bag as we watched the opera. I wrapped it well enough that it didn't melt and we ate it afterwords. It made for a funny story.
This weekend I'll be heading up with Rachel to her Grandparents to their house. Have saturday and sunday dinner with them and then come back for work on sunday night do be back into things monday morning for classes.

I plan on buying bike parts this weekend as well. with this spring weather coming so quickly it would be nice to have my bike back together.

That is all for now. I hope to get back to updating regularly again. Have a great weekend remember the Lord's death for us on the cross. Don't waste the opportunity to thank him for that this weekend. Later