"How Marvelous, How [Incredible]!"

I was just thinking about how incredible Passion07 was and how incredible it was that I was a part of it. I am listening to Charlie Hall on the Passion06 CD (Everything Glorious), which sparked my thinking. Imagine with me: 25,000 students gathered together in the name of Jesus to bring glory to the Father and enjoy Him, standing unified with Christ by Christ for the same cause, the same purpose--all together, in one place--the presence of God unmistakable. I do not have to imagine. I only have to remember. That is incredible.

New Developments in the Case Man vs. Squirrel

I thought the squirrel guard put an end to it, but I was wrong. Last weekend, I learned that the squirrels had chewed off part of the funnel's rim, and one of the furry creatures was basking in the sun on the perch of the birdfeeder, according to a first-hand, eye-witness account. My dad resolved to not give up but to "go to the mattresses." He put a shield of some sort over portions of the funnel. (Note that this action is perfectly legal as it was done in self-defense.) I cannot recall the material of this shield, but for now, his efforts have succeeded. The suspect, however, remains unapprehended. This was [supposedly] derived from an old police report:

WANTED

Current alias: Squirrely "The Unstoppable" Varment
Age: Unknown
Height: 7"
Weight: 1.5 lbs.
Description: "Squirrels are generally clever and persistent animals. In residential neighborhoods they are notorious for eating out of bird feeders, digging in potted plants either to bury or recover seeds, and for setting up house in sheltered areas including attics. While many companies sell bird feeders which are supposedly 'squirrel-proof,' very few of them really are" (Wikipedia).

Original photo derived from Digital Photography: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0Je5qgyt1NG1hEBfkCjzbkF/SIG=12c7iqmps/EXP=1179977906/**http%3A//www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php%3Fphoto=65859

FRIGID... Part 2

I must follow up on my my last post. I went to class yesterday, and the AC was NOT running in Room 310! I did not take my sock cap, so it's a good thing it was taking a break. Talk about basking in the "WARMTH"* of the room--while still in my hoodie, mind you. I thought to myself as I was basking, My blog post must have done some good; maybe I should blog about stuff like that more often! My idea was crushed when the air came blasting out of the duct toward the end of class.

NOTE: "Toward the end of class" does not indicate 3:25 p.m., the scheduled dismissal time, but rather the point at which we students began our course evaluations--around 1:30. NOTE AGAIN: It is with pleasure I wrote the previous sentence. I am NOT complaining.

*Did you notice how funny warmth looks in ALL CAPS? Did you also notice the word was in quotation marks? It was not WARM in the room; it was CHILLY, a considerable upgrade from FRIGID.

It's time to get serious...

FRIGID.

Today is approaching mid-May, without the rain it'd be around 83 degrees outside, and I'm sitting in the Records Office here at MBU in a hoodie. Does that make sense? Do not misunderstand me, I am not complaining about the AC in the basement of the Field building--I know what it is like to work without it--so just keep reading.

I started taking my hoodie with me to school for my three-week May-term Business Writing class. It's in Field 310, the corner room, and without a hoodie, it is FRIGID. The air blows from the vent straight down to my head. Now don't imagine a line drive of cold air; this blast is more like a radioactive bomb--it has a radius, not just one endpoint. Therefore, I cannot simply move to a nearby seat to avoid it. If I move to the back or across the room, I might escape, but then I would alienate myself from my prof and six peers. I opt for a hoodie and, starting today, a sock cap. That's right. I'm not messing around anymore--a sock cap means business.

It's so cold in Business Writing, I have to "shoo away the penguins" (Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond).

Recent Developments in Man vs. Squirrel

My dad may have finally defeated the squirrel(s). No, it was not the PVC pipe--though it may have worked if it was not removed for a more sophisticated tool. My mom kindly ordered a squirrel guard with which my dad is, so far, very pleased. It favors an upside-down funnel with a lip circumferencing (if that is a word) the bottom. When the squirrel tries to grab this lip in efforts to go above the guard and to the bird feeder, the lip collapses under the little creature's weight, and the creature falls to the ground. It has worked so far. After two or three attempts, the squirrel suddenly became content with feeding on the ground, at least for now. Recent developments may have unfolded without my knowledge. Unless I am informed of something different, think SUCCESS! The epic war may have finally ended with my father's victory at the Battle of Squirrel Guard!

Matthew 11:28

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Down but Not without Hope

To my surprise, my last post was coherent.

I don't know what to say, but I am hoping to let out some of my mixture of emotions (or lack thereof) by writing. It is hard for me to accurately describe what is going on inside me, and it has been like this for a couple days. I feel as though I am troubled, but with what am I troubled? I am not at rest. I am uncomfortable, but I don't know why. Most likely, I need to renew my mind with the transforming power of God's Word. I need to spend some one-on-one time with Jesus. I usually get like this when I slack in this one-on-one time.

Then again, a part of me feels almost numb. I went to bed fine--more accurately, happy--on Saturday night and woke up Sunday morning with no passion, no zeal, no zest, no vigor... and it hasn't come back yet.

I was inspired by Job this evening. Job worshiped God for the good and the bad times and recognized God's sovereignty. He lost his kids to a storm and was able to see the situation with this perspective. "...The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). It would be good for me to "stop and consider the wondrous works of God" (Job 37:14).

It would be great to take a vacation from myself for a while, so I think I might just do what the previous Scripture says.

A Waste of Space (And Time)

Right now, I am putting one of my best tactics into practice--procrastinaiton. I just lost most of my motivation to work on my homework (time-consuming homework at that) and am seriously considering shutting down my computer and participating in the conversation around me. I'm sitting by the fireplace in the campus coffehouse, The Perk--I recommend this place by the way; it's nice.

Anyway, the art of procrastination is easily learned but not easily forgotten. It does indeed become a habit that mostly likely won't break automatically when college is over. It will, I predict, carry on into my work life, if I don't bear down.

Now about this homework. I'm taking a May-term class that lasts three weeks--that's four days a week for a scheduled three and a half hours a day. Note, however, that I have yet to remain in class for the scheduled amount of time. This class is not too intense but could become so if I put off my latest assignment until last minute. This sucker, I promisse you, is time-consuming!

Yet, here I am, still typing out this blog post and not doing my homework. I know you can relate. Procrastination plagues just about every college student. Why do we procrastinate? Why? What psychological processes go on to make us official procrastinators?

I'm just throwing this question out there. I'm sure the art of procrastination cannot be boiled down to just a few (or several) steps of psychological processes, but my current state of A.D.D.-like behavior is hindering me from intellectually brainstorming for better ideas. I hope all this is coherent; I am not sure.

Request for Help with 1 Corinthians 9:16-18

I recently read 1 Corinthians 9:16-18:

"Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it."

Is Paul saying that his reward is to offer the Gospel free of charge? If so, how is it his reward? Paul did say earlier in the chapter that he would rather die than not have his boast of not using his rights, making it clear that "[offering the Gospel] free of charge" is of value to him (qualifying it as a reward, maybe?). What are his "rights in preaching it"? Material support from the Corinthians? I'd appreciate some help with this if you have anything to offer or if you need to correct me.

Speaking of Squirrels...

On further thought, it seems that squirrels have taunted not just my family and the Crowders but others as well. It's like an epidemic! I remember a friend called Drew having a terrifying encounter with a squirrel on his campus. Also, my boss knows someone who has had squirrel issues. The list goes on and on! Maybe squirrels really are evil...

Sorry, Audience.

No easy way to say this exists, so I am just going to say it bluntly: My promised picture of the bird feeder contraption (See "Amusing Events" and the end of "Ol' Sup" posts.) will never come. I am sure you're reaching for a tissue right now in pure agony. Believe me when I say, I am sorry.

This is what happened. I kept forgetting to take the picture, and then my dad decided to try some friends' advice to use a PVC pipe. In the process, he removed the contraption. The PVC pipe he had handy is not large enough in diameter, so it only hindered the squirrel(s) temporarily. He is wanting to buy a larger one. I will try to keep you posted (no pun intended).

Check This Out

This is great. I was watching some DC*B videos on YouTube the other night (when I should have been sleeping) and ran across this one. Today, I thought I'd catch up on Crowder's blog and saw that he had just posted the same video May 1 on his blog! Hilarity. I'll give you the link to his blog: http://www.xanga.com/emprise34. Once you're on YouTube, look to the left of the video to the related videos pane and click on the "Foreverandever Etc." animated music video. It's pretty good. The follow-up video to "Evil Squirrel by David Crowder" is also in the related videos pane. I believe there is also a part three in the series, but I have not watched it yet. Anyway, enjoy!

From the Seed Springs Forth the Flower

This is not actually a poem. It does not even qualify as blank verse. It is, however, my expression of the condition of my soul on February 13.

O little flower, you sprung up so quickly.
O little seed, what outward beauty you have produced!
But inside your stem is rubble.
Inside your petals is deadening deceit.
For through your outward beauty you deceive many,
And few know the depravity of your soul.

O little flower! O little seed!
May death take you over if no Soil comes to save.
Where is your Rescuer? Where shall He,
Whose savor is sweet, come from?
Be sure that if the seed desires, He will be found
And the flower will live.

For His sweet savor will take root in the seed
And flourish in the flower.