Just a Blurb to Expound Upon Later

The fall of year is here, for which I am excited and refreshed. This past week I've developed a healthy desire to take a walk through the woods. Time has not cooperated, so I have yet to see my desire filled. I plan to try after work this evening, though I have plenty of schoolwork to keep me occupied. I think I will take Augustine with me on my walk to the park. I will walk with him, swing with him, and, hopefully, learn from him. I will have accomplished two things at the same time by doing this.

Yesterday I had such an intense thirst for solitude--well, not complete solitude; I wanted one-on-one time with God in a quiet place, particularly outside. I wanted to get away from all distraction and noise. I only wanted to hear the birds' songs and the crickets' ceaseless rhythms and the gentle voice of the Lord by His Spirit through His Word. I sat down on a grassy hill, almost hidden from sight, drinking some of the Scriptures. It was a good time, but only for a little while. I had to concede to my evening responsibilities.

We'll see. Maybe today.

Deactivate Facebook.

To inform all my friends on Facebook and anyone else who cares, I am going to deactivate my Facebook account very soon. If you need to get a hold of me, you can email me, write me, call me, comment on my blog, or--best of all--talk to me in person. Before I bring my Facebook tenure to a close, I will log everyone's contact information and birthdays into an Excel spreadsheet to create a contact list of sorts.

To answer the inevitable question, here are the reasons why I am abandoning Facebook (but not abandoning my friends):

1. Too popular--when things get trendy, I get out.
2. Superficiality--people don't have to be real on FB (it's so popular, it gets its own abbreviation); they can present whatever they want about themselves and edit their responses
3. Cowardice--FB is too often an excuse for someone to act like a coward. If someone doesn't have the nerve to talk to someone face to face, what does he do? He sends a FB message. In particular, I am thinking of those young men--and they are probably nice guys--who don't have the guts to talk to a girl of interest and proceed to ask her out via FB. Bad move! Trust me, guys, ladies would rather you talk to them in person about that one. I could elaborate, but I will sustain.
4. Lower-quality relationships--it is true that relationships on Facebook are real, though cyber; however, these relationships can never compare to person-to-person interaction--hearing someone's tone, seeing someone's facial expressions and body language, touching, and sharing material possesions. It is impersonal and much too convenient. (If you weren't on FB, how many people would tell you "happy birthday"? If people really care about your birthday, they'll congratulate you by other means, which I know requires more effort.) It is also illogical: Why would we want to decline to a lower quality of life with our friends? If people want relationships, shouldn't they strive for the best, namely, flesh and blood?
5. Bulding from reason #3, most of my FB friends are not actually my friends at all; they are my acquaintances, most of whom I rarely, if ever, speak to in person or online. Why would we want to deceive ourselves into thinking that we have a ton of friends when really we don't know them that well at all? How could anyone have 230 close friends?
6. It's a distraction and, thus, a waste of time. Think of how easy it is just to say to yourself, "I'll only be on there for a minute" and then end up being on there for a good hour or so. Really, we could do so much better with an hour than that. Not having FB around means I don't have to discipline myself about it.
7. Fewer emails--I will no longer have a list of emails to delete almost every time I check my inbox. (I understand that one can alter the settings for FB email notifications, but I used the emails as a way to know when to get on FB. Sometimes, even when I get an email from FB, I don't access my FB account.)
8. Facebook "society"--I am partially antisocial. I generally get along with everyone, whether by enjoyinng them or tolerating them, but--this may sound mean--there are some people at MBU who haven't matured yet. I don't like being around them on campus or online. Part of it is just my personality. People after a while drain me instead of energize me. I am an introvert, not an extravert.

My recent experience of FB hacking has further encouraged me to deactivate my acccount. Oh, the thought of being "disconnected from the world" is liberating! I like things simplified, and this is one step in that direction. Will anyone join me?

Let's Put the Whole Thing Off

I am falling--or maybe I have fallen--into the procrastination habit. I worked hard last semester to not procrastinate, but this year I have used extensive free time to indulge myself in hardly productive activities instead of keeping my nose to the grindstone. I have a huge project due at the end of semester in one of my classes that I have not even begun. How are far are we into FA-08? Oh, five weeks! I need to--if I may resort to cliche--get my tail in gear.

I have an assignment due this Friday and another due on Monday. Have I even commenced organizing material or reading? Not at all! I do have plans, however, to go out for ice cream, lead a small group meeting, and color with some ladies while watching Disney movies. I am sure I will find time, I think to myself. Of course, I need to finish last week's reading assignment first! Do you see my dilemma? I am sure you can identify with it very easily.

Procrastination is a potentially fatal disorder plaguing college students of epic proportions. What can we do to solve this problem? Will generation after generation fall into this trap and carry it into their professional lives? Something must be done. Let us brainstorm for a moment in our efforts... but first, I need to get back to work here in EXCEL. I'll think of ideas later.

180 + Greek

I've struggled with some things as of late. These struggles include anger, frustration, confusion, heartache, pity, and disappointment. My respect for certain authority figures came into question--I had so many questions. I have resolved not to release information about the circumstances themselves to the World Wide Web, and I will continue not to not share in the writing of this blog. I do, however, want to explain my current condition.

I have performed an almost 180-degree turn in my response to all that went down. I still have questions, but I think I have more answers. Even now, I want to bow my head deep and enter fervent prayer over this because of my change of heart--a change of heart that can only be credited to God. My respect for the authority figures I mentioned is restored, maybe heightened.

I horribly pre- and misjudged. I feel so sorry. I love my leaders dearly. I have come to realize my role in all this: to pray and nurture. As I was praying in the early morning hours of Sunday, words from the Psalms came to my mind, and the thought came to me that maybe that is why God is having me learn them--to share them in comforting my leaders (Oh, my heart goes out to them!) as well as my personal enjoyment of them and for His glory.

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him,
my salvation and my God." (Psalm 42:5-6)
________

To the second part of my post, Greek has been meaty. I like Greek class anyway, but since we have started working through Ephesians, I have gained a new appreciation for the class. I love going through Paul's letter! I am learning so much about Greek syntax and Ephesians, and I like how Dr. McClain designed the work as a group effort. Koine Greek is such a beautiful language to me, and, of course, it is the perfect language for the New Testament, as the perfect God so perfectly chose it. New Testament Greek is so much more specific than English. It has admirable nuances, and the Greek letters themselves are pleasing to the eye. Am I rambling like a mad college student? I apologize.

I encourage you to learn Greek. It is time-consuming and what I like to call "ever-present," but it is worth all the time and effort you put into it. It can enhance your Bible study. There are things in the Greek New Testament that cannot be translated into English with its full meaning intact. Also, by knowing how to parse, diagram, understand syntax, and translate, you may feel closer to God's Word. Does that sound strange? Maybe it does, but that's how it is for me.

Please pray for me as I plan to do a couple things in the near future that will make me and the people to whom I talk vulnerable and of which are a heavy burden for me. Thank you.