Well, the news came out yesterday. The musical Oklahoma! has been chosen as the spring semester show. This announcement has lead to a solid decision in my mind. I cannot possibly participate in this musical, I am simply too busy otherwise.

This decision, while not earth shattering, is a significant one. Theater is a major portion of my life. Acting and/or the technical side of theatre has consumed countless hours of my life. I can honestly say I love it. So, it is no light matter to decide not to even try out for the show. I have, in a way, agonized over this decision. No, I haven’t lost any sleep over it, but it makes me step back and evaluate my time.

As a double major in both Bible and Com. I’ve spend most of my time, probably taking Communication classes. I’m closer to that degree right now than I am the Bible degree. I’m looking down the road, anticipating seminary and then entering into some form of ministry, whether it be pastoral, parachurch, or remaining in the world of academia. I ask myself, what role will theatre have in my life? Will I be regaled to just a spectator. Will, perhaps I have a chance to you my talents in concert with whatever form of vocational ministry I enter into. Will I do community theatre on the side? I don’t know.

I’m grateful however that I am just a junior. I still have next year’s shows to look forward to. But I do want to be intentional in how I spend my time and efforts. While I love the theatre, it is not my goal in life.

The test results are in, I don't have to take a collegiate math course (for a Gen Ed requirement)!

I went in yesterday and took the College Algebra CLEP (R) test. I went in fairly confident, I had up to a semester of calculus in high school, I figured that I would be ok with algebra. So, I borrowed a couple of algebra textbooks, and flipped through the pages, reminding myself of concepts and formulas etc. I bought the study guide and worked through the problems. I got about half of them right, which was Ok because it said that the CLEP tests were designed so an average student just completing that subject would get about half of them correct. Since I had completely forgot how to use logarithms I figured I'd remind myself of a couple of things and I would be fine.

So I get to the testing center and I was told that the pass fail line was 50. I was also told that each question resulted in one point. All of a sudden my odds didn't seem so good. The test was only 60 questions long... missing less than ten seemed a bit difficult. But, I went though with the test and, actually, it didn't have as many hard problems as the study guide. As time wound down I got down to just 10 questions that I honestly didn't know if they were right. I figured, well I hope that I didn't make any stupid mistakes any of the other problems...

The score popped up on the screen.... I got a 69, wait, the test was only 60 questions long.... and it wasn't supposed to be a percentage. Well, it turned out that the raw score is put on a scale from 20 to 80 and 50 on that scale is the pass fail line.

So it's official... I think I can graduate on time!

Blogspot is watching....

How so you may ask, well they lift key words from the text of my posts and put advertisements up. I've been watching to banner ad up top that makes this little blog free, and it follows my posts pretty closely.

I use words like Christ, Christian, faith, crucifixion, ads for Bible study and Calvinistic materials appear.

I comment on attending a New Years eve party, ads for party supplies etc.

Now this is all well and good, but annoying at times.

For example, I commented on a major event in my cousin's life, getting a wife. I'm not going to use the w word, because it might trigger ads again for someone who will perform that ceremony for g@y couples (notice I'm afraid to see what the real spelling of that word will bring to the banner ad) or other related issues.

But, I'm not annoyed enough that I'll pay for the site that is free of ads.

Just remember, Blogspot is watching...

I normally would just up and advertise for something... but I am really looking forward to "The Passion of the Christ" coming out sometime next month. What I've read about it makes me very excited. It's about time someone put a more graphic crucifixion on the screen. It's too easy to replace the depth of Christ's sacrifice and suffering with the pop artwork with just a few streaks of blood.

I know that trailers can be cut to make any movie (well just about any movie) look good, but I like what I've seen to this date, check it out for yourself. http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com .

The other night my next door neighbor in the dorm decided that a couple of minutes right before quiet hours that he would blast some music. The RA told him to turn it down, but he retorted "Its not quiet hours yet!" This was at least the second time that I have heard him make that defense for his music. I got mad... it doesn't happen too much, but I did.

I marched over to his room and told him that we needed to talk. I told him that he was following the letter of the rule, but not the spirit. He thought I was over-reacting. I was, in the sense that I confronted him angrily. When the exchange was over I was convicted with how I handled the entire situation. I should have calmed down before I confronted him. So, I had to swallow my pride and the next day I asked him for forgiveness on how I handled myself.

But my quandary is how do I confront him in the future? Just yesterday I was in my room working on some homework and some very loud music came through the wall from him. Part of me wanted to go back over and sarcastically thanking him for the privilege of listening to his music even louder after it comes through the wall than I normally listen to music. It didn't help that the lyrics to a couple of songs didn't strike me as being particularly appropriate. I'm not in a position to dictate what he listens to, but I would rather not listen to that junk. I don't care how cool a song sounds... I care about its lyrics just as much if not more. Since I had just blown a confrontation the previous day I didn't go over to his room. He's established a pattern of behavior that concerns me to some extent... I guess I'll just have to play this one by ear (no pun intended).

Well, beyond this neighbor issue someone went out of their way to encourage me on Sunday. Saturday night some people came over to the dorm and hung out in my room for a while. Someone was looking at my bookshelf and I used that opportunity to tell the story how I had lent a copy of a book to a friend over the summer. That book was chewed up by his dog. I said I was probably going to get another one when I has some spare money. I didn't think much of the issue, I'm getting a lot of mileage over that book getting eaten, hey it's a funny story. Well when I got back from doing laundry on Sunday there was a package on my desk. One of the people who was in my room gave me a copy of my eaten book. It was a very thoughtful gesture. And for those of you keeping etiquette score out there, yes I did send a thank-you note.

Whenever someone steps out of their way to encourage me it challenges me. It makes me realize how little I truly do things for others. Sure, if something is on the way I'll probably do it. There are times in my life when I make a concerted effort to "bend over backwards" for a friend, but could I do more? Probably. I guess that is another thing to add to the list of things I want to emulate in my life... an encouraging and giving spirit.

Crazy
by Mercy Me

Why would I spend my life longing for the day that it would end?
Why would I spend my time pointing to another man?
Isn't that crazy?

How can I find hope in dying with promises unseen?
How can I learn Your way is better in everything I'm taught to be?
Isn't that crazy?

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world
But to a God who's calling out to me
And even though the world may think
I'm losing touch with reality,
It would be crazy to choose this world
Over eternity.

And if I boast let me boast in filthy rags made clean
And if I glory let me glory in my Savior suffering
Isn't that crazy?

And as I live this daily life I trust You for everything
And I will only take a step when I feel You leading me
Isn't that crazy?

Call me crazy, you can call me crazy.

Call me crazy.

Every so often someone comes alongside of me, not necessarily physically to encourage me in my education. Whether it is a gift of money or a book or something like that I am always a little amazed at it. These are typically people who are back home, I have little to no contact with them because I'm away at school so much.

Well, yesterday I got a postcard in the mail. Someone from around home decided to give me a gift subscription to the Biblical Archeology Review. In fact my first edition came today. Now, I have a pretty good idea who sent me this gift, and I am appreciative. The man in question doesn't know me very well, but probably the two times that I've interacted with him about some resource, it has been anonymously given to me. Last year I got the IVP Bible Background commentary set.

I find myself in a place where I would like to give him thanks, but I'm not certain how to do it. Since he hasn't identified himself I don't want to assume to much. Despite the fact that I'm 95% certain who these gifts are from (even there I'm assuming they are from the same source) it is only an inductive inference. Perhaps I will send a short note to be put in the church bulletin back home.

Being encouraged in such a fashion makes me pose the question, How do I encourage others? I probably should go out of my way more than I do... anyway, it's an interesting thought.

My freshman year I got up almost every morning to pray with a senior on the hall, the student body chaplain. That year saw some good things happen in my life. The act of focusing on God and praying for others helped to focus me spiritually. It was a discipline that I valued immensely. My sophomore year I tried to start something up like that. However, it didn't quite work. I didn't have the same motivation that I had the previous year. So, that discipline vanished. I can honestly say that last year saw some steps backwards for me in the area of spiritual discipline.

This isn't something that I enjoy admitting. It would be wonderful if I had it "all together," but I don't. So, why do I bring this up? This semester a friend on the hall approached me to ask to pray regularly. He and I prayed a couple of times last year when I had some things weighing on my heart. So this first week of school, every night we have sat down, talked and prayed. Just this week I have seen a very positive improvement in my attitudes and ability to avoid sin. Was it a perfect week? No. But, I am re-discovering what I should not have forgotten. When one is spending time with God, the sinful things that previously had so much appeal are seen for what they truly are, deadly.

It's a struggle to get my Christianity to be consistently expressed in all my actions. I would say the lesson of this week is to not forget the power of prayer and fellowship with other believers.

The room is now re-arranged, and a new bookshelf graces a wall… well it doesn’t grace it, but it is laden with books anyway. It was a good thing that I bought a new one, my old one was just too small to hold all that I wanted it to. I now feel like I have oodles of room. One of the nice things is that I was able to bring in some extra lighting so I don’t have to depend on the florescent bulb in the room. It makes for a much more warm feeling to the room. My list of things I need to pick up from Wal-Mart is growing though… I look at the list and dread the total of what it will cost me when I go. Oh, well soon enough I will be able to stop spending money almost entirely and resume saving.

On another note today is the first full day of classes. I have had two already with one more on the way for today. Philosophy and Film, Faith, and Popular Culture are the two I’ve had so far. Both classes look like ones that I will enjoy very much. The Philosophy class looks like it may be time consuming to read the assigned reading several times to grasp it. The Film class doesn’t look like it’ll take too much time relatively. It seems with the exception of the weekly quiz and the paper everything will be done in class.

The thing that makes this semester so exciting (well one of the things) is the focused nature of all my classes. I’m taking 5 classes that pertain to my major and only 1 gen ed class. I will be in the stuff that interests me most this semester, I will be able to have a narrower academic focus in a sense. Now, the flip side of the coin is that this could make the semester the hardest on record, I guess only time will tell.

Well, It's good to be back at school. I now begin the fun process of getting all my stuff unpacked and put away. I need to go to Staples and get another bookshelf, my storage situation is getting kind of rediculus. With the books I got this break I now have them laying all over the place, and more are on the way.

Classes start on Wednesday. I have tonight and tomorrow to get myself ready.

I just upgraded the RAM on my laptop (I went from 128 to 256). The improvement in performance is marked. I didn't expect it to make as big a difference as it did. It boots up faster and programs open and close faster. I am pleased.

Well, it is a New Year... but more practically it is about time for a new semester. I am looking forward to it very much. I will be taking:
Use of Old Testament in Hebrews (it's a Greek Class)
Philosophy and Christian Thought
Genre: Epistles
Defining Doctrines of the Christian Faith
Film, Faith, & Popular Culture
Physical Science Survey (hey, I have to get a science gen-ed in)
Yes, you did count right, that is 6 classes and at 3 hours each means that I will have 18 hours of classes. It's a heavy load, but with the exception of the Physical Science survey class they are all classes that I am looking forward to, and it's not that I think I won't like the science class; I think I will.

Also, I will probably be involved in some way with the spring show. I'm crossing my fingers that Mike will realize that a musical is not a good idea and will do another play. If it is a musical I'm not certain that I can be in the cast with everything I have going on... but I'll still be involved... Who am I kidding? I think it's physically impossible for me not to show up at an audition.

Another exciting thing about this upcoming semester is my involvement in a drama ministry team. We will finally pull together our skits and take them to various churches and schools. Spring break will include suffering in Florida while sharing our skits.

Finally, I'm looking forward to getting a room to myself. My roommate from last semester is moving off campus and I've secured the room for myself. Now, Tobe, if you read this I'm not saying "good-riddance." Your presence on the hall will be missed. It will be nice, however, to be able to turn off the light when I go to bed and turn it on right when I get up. I won't have to sneak around in the morning or night trying to avoid waking up a room-mate. And I will get to spread out, I know this is sad, but my room at home is smaller than my dorm room. (anyone who has seen Beta will realize this)

All these factors, and more that I won't bother to mention right now make me want to get back to school. I'll be heading up Monday morning. I love my family, but it's about time for this break to be over and the work to resume.